No, Guest, it wasn't purloined, but your enigmatic story reminded me of Engine Summer, which is possibly the most enigmatic novel I have ever read. I read it as an "experience" more than the "I wonder what happens next" kind of book. You may like it. Then again, you may not.

I think there is a... not a similarity ...but a connection to the premise of the book that you might like. You won't get the point of the connection until you read all the way through, though.

Helen