A war-torn country . . . a town that is burning. A single ship waits at the port for those who can escape. How can a boy and his grandfather hope to get on board? And will they find his mother before it leaves? When Papa meets two old friends, he makes a deal that could save them all. But this is only the beginning of the journey for Malik. If he is to escape, he will need all of his courage, his sense of right and wrong and a magic trick that he must practise till it's perfect.