Solo cruiser in extremely remote part of s pacific.  Anchored at 
barren desert Island.  Exploring, finds an evil looking monkey head 
on a black pedestal.  Absolutely clean and black.  No salt, no bird 
shit, no fading from the sun, reflects very little light, like a 
black plastic in texture, but can't be moved.  SC decides to
spend some time studying it., maybe plans to take it back to civilization.

[Sub-plot about why SC is alone in the middle of the pacific.]

Gets some tools, camping gear, camera, etc from boat, and settles in.

Tries to move  it.  Silver sphere appears , and starts to talk to  SC.

Statue is actually a prison for a being.  Inside it is a chunk of
organic matter -- the brain of the criminal, which has been pruned
drastically from what it was, leaving only the core necessary to
maintain identity.  Pedestal includes a power source and artificial
intelligence far beyond what our technology can imagine.  Also, 
provides all sustenance and sensory input for the individual inside. 
-- the only need for organic matter is that it is only organic 
matter that actually provides awareness.

Turns out that the entity  inside falls in love w/ Our Hero.  They 
spend weeks together on the island.  It gets harder and harder to 
distinguish reality from fantasy, because the entity learns to alter 
OH's sensory inputs.  Entity offers to make OH like it, connected to 
an essentially all-powerful  energy machine.

OH has a family, though, that would be very hard for him to abandon, 
even though he has already in a sense.

Ends when the "warden" shows up, and takes control of the entities 
machinery.  OH wakes to find himself an emaciated skeleton, barely 
able to move.  The warden helps him to his boat, where he finds food 
and water.  He is left wondering if it was all a dream...