In a distant future, science is able to cure any former lethal diseases. Population is therefore growing at a tremendous rate. In order to avoid overpopulation, the ministry of population control hires an army of "furets" (French word for 'ferret") who are to kill people from every class and kind, randomly selected by a computer. Arthur is a "furet" and he loves his job until the day he finds his girlfriend's name on his list. Trying to save her, he will discover the hidden mechanisms and purpose of his profession to which the balance of population is submitted.