pAdolescents Elizabeth and Tururu--she's white, he's black--share an uneasy friendship on a sisal plantation in Colonial Zimbabwe when Britain declares the country part of a Federation without consulting the natives. Festering resentment to white rule is about to erupt. Elizabeth can't wait for the birth of her baby brother, while Tururu reluctantly helps his witchdoctor grandmother, Anesu, cast spells to drive out the whites.p pIn a bid for power and with a plan to kill the whites, Anesu's heir apparent, Karari, tries to steal her magic amulet. She confronts him and he inadvertently sets the emngoziem, powerful fire spirits, against her, not realizing that he has tapped into their evil energy. Badly injured, Anesu manages to control the emngozi emand banish Karari.p pUnaware of his new power, Karari poisons the white's food supply, but only Elizabeth is poisoned. Tururu saves her with a magic potion and is accused of being part of the plot. He escapes, steals his grandmother's amulet,