The story revolves around two children: Dodola, who was sold to marriage at the age of nine by her illiterate parents then kidnapped by slave traders, and an infant dark-skinned Zam whom she also calls “Habibi”. After their escape from slave traders, they find a boat in the middle of the desert where both live there for nine years. Dodola raises Zam as a mother would raise her child. As the years pass and they got older, they are like brother and sister. To pass time, Dodola tells Zam stories from the Qur’an. To provide food for themselves, Dodola prostitutes herself to caravans passing in the desert in exchange of food. One day, Zam follows her and watches Dodola get raped which haunts him for the rest of the story. Dodola is then kidnapped
