In Desert and Wilderness

Set during the Mahdist War in Sudan, the tale blends colonial dynamics with local resistance. Long desert marches, sieges, and disease define the era, with notable events like the Fall of Khartoum shaping the protagonists' hopes and peril.

The story unfolds from Port Said in Egypt through Khartoum and Omdurman in Sudan, amid the Mahdist War. The narrative then traverses the Sahara and reaches remote African towns and jungles, including Mount Linde and the Lake Rudolf region, highlighting a perilous trek across war-torn and arid landscapes characteristic of late 19th-century Africa.

🛡️ Courage

Staś repeatedly places himself between danger and Nell, enduring punishment and hardship to protect her. His quick wit and resolve drive the duo forward when escape seems impossible, highlighting youthful bravery in extreme circumstances.

💧 Survival

The journey is a relentless test of endurance—thirst, hunger, disease, and hostile terrain force the children and their companions to rely on ingenuity and each other to stay alive. Moments of relief are rare and precious.

🌍 Colonial Encounters

The narrative situates imperial projects and regional power struggles within a broader cross-cultural landscape. Encounters with Arab captors, European explorers, and tribal communities reveal tensions and uneasy alliances in a colonial-era Africa.

✝️ Faith and Conversion

The group’s Christianization of Kali, Mea, and Nasibu sits against a backdrop of competing beliefs and moral tests. Faith is portrayed as a source of hope and conflict, shaping choices and loyalties during a life-or-death journey.