Then the Westerners arrive: Andria, Ista, Flip, Mendoza and Ronje, who crash-land on Shavi while King Patayon the Slow is holding a conversation with his wife.

The westerners join in the farming and trading of the Shavians, while they work on fueling and repairing their plane called "Newark".

The Westerners finally return to England with industrial diamond and crystals and also Asogba, the son of Patayon the Slow.

Asogba on the other hands extorts his people and neighbouring villagers, in order to send diamond and crystal to Mendoza.

"[3] Michiko Kakutani while reviewing the book for The New York Times noted that "Emecheta's interpretation, in contrast, is so pat, so superficial, that the reader is barely moved to shrug.