Atek lives in remote village, working hard for his uncle. Everyone except his aunt bullies him because of his ‘white eyes’.
Atek’s mother is dead and his father disappeared long ago. Atek dreams that he is still alive and that he will somehow find him again.
There comes a day when Atek feels he can take no more, and hides in the cart of a band of traders who call at the village. Perhaps at last he will be free to search for his father.
But then the traders are attacked by robbers and Atek finds himself alone in dangerous country, with no idea where to go or what to do.