Julie Hawkins' father obtained a job in Angola, and his wife insisted she and their daughter, Julie, go with him. So too did the fates, with Julie being their target. Her father was killed in the raid on their house by a rebellion gang who had hoped to detain them as hostages but regarded Julie and her mother as still valuable. Over the months their group was attacked by other rebel groups and Julie and her mother had new masters several times, with Julie's first aid knowledge being of use to them. Julia's mother died, leaving her on her own. While trying to move to a safer area, the group was trapped by the Zaire troops. Fearing an international incident, the Zaire government placed her on a British cargo ship to return her home and she was put under the ship's steward's care, Sam Robinson. Slowly he began to find out what she had been through and her real fear was only revealed when they reached Southampton. She had killed one of the rebels to save her mother and thought she would be hanged for murder. He tried to convince her she was safe, but she was stabbed in Sam's house and nearly died. When she comes out of hospital, they move to a small Suffolk village where Sam spent holidays with his grandfather. It seems the fates had given up on Julie and turned their attention to Sam...