Gortokai is the son of a contract laborer on Fernando Po, who works in conditions akin to slavery. The man returns to Liberia to find that his contract is subject to barter, making him a virtual slave. He has to give up his son Gortokai, who is fostered by a family from Bendabli. They are Joma, an older man, and his wife Sombo Karn, with their daughters Kema and Tene. Gortokai does not know that he is not born to the family until told years later by Tene.