Description: |
The heroine is Karenn Crown and she is the estranged daughter of King Rodon of Maurania, an actual African sanctuary that 19th century travellers believed to be Paradise on earth (some of you may also remember a 1923 Heurcule Poirot short story “The King of Clubs” that featured a Prince Paul of Maurania). As King Rodon’s health deteriorates from a tropical disease, he reaches out to make amends with his daughter and she concedes to return from Switzerland for one last visit with her father.
Unbeknownst to Karenn, Maurania is in turmoil as an uprising against the atrocities of King Rodon has begun and rebel forces shoot down her plane before it can land safely at the airport.
Forced to crash-land in the desert near the city of Madargane - and the only survivor of the wreckage – the injured Karenn wanders the desert until found by authorities from nearby Madargane. With the help of clues found in her personal belongings, she soon remembers details of her personal live in Switzerland, but not of her heritage. She is determined to return to Europe and the Prince of Madargane agrees to help her escape to the south, but only if she will take with her a special black leopard that must be returned to where it was born.
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