In Desert and Wilderness

A teenage Polish boy named Stas and his eight‑year‑old English companion, Nell, find themselves on the bustling banks of the Suez Canal as the shadow of the Mahdi’s revolt spreads across Egypt and Sudan. Their innocent chatter about arrests, hidden loyalties and the looming threat of the Mahdist army quickly turns into a lesson in the harsh realities of colonial politics, where even a mother’s desperate attempt to leave Port Said becomes a pawn in a larger game.

Against this tense backdrop, the two children escape into the desert’s stark beauty, watching pelicans glide over Lake Menzaleh and flamingoes dot the horizon. Their curiosity drives them to mimic the birds’ flight, dreaming of rifles and adventures far beyond the dyke. As they wander, the landscape’s vastness mirrors the uncertainty ahead, promising a journey that will test their courage, friendship, and the fragile hope of a world on the brink of change.