In a land called the Whykatto, south of the city of Orklun, the sun rises angry in the sky, eats the winter grass and flames towards the western horizon. As the sky turns fiery, figures appear in the a boy, limping, accompanied by an old woman. Cast out from their tribe they make the Journey alone, away from the sun' rage, away from the deserts of the north, toward the southern lands. This is Ishs tale, a tale of rejection, of survival against the odds, of growing up in an age when much is feared, and few can be trusted.

In this sequel to The shaman and the droll, Ish attempts to rescue children terrorized by a cruel and primitive society where fear and supperstition rule.

Pursued by the hateful Salt Men, Ish flees south with his friend Taur, the mute Bull Man. But nowhere is there refuge from the brutal Squint-face, who wants his greenstone god back, and wants Ishs life. Across the ice loom the mountains of the South Land. Is there a future there, in the land of the mountain that ate the sun? Is there escape from the relentless pursuit? Here is the riveting sequel to award-winning Because We Were the Travellers by master story-teller, Jack Lasenby. In a future where the elements have scoured the land, and the sun turned enemy, Ishs dream is simply to find peace, a place, and a people to call his own.

In the harsh land of the Great White Bear, Ish the Traveller finds a rescuer and companion the Bear Man. Through their friendship Ish discovers the Bear Man is a servant of the village people; their wise one, their healer, their Shaman. In this timeless, universal story Ish gains wisdom and a place. He learns the profound power of knowledge, the terrifying force of superstition, and witnesses first hand the mysteries of the human spirit. But in this land of blinding light there lurks a dark, menacing presence threatening all who may offend her. Here is the third title in the award-winning Travellers series by master story-teller Jack Lasenby. Because We Were the Travellers is the first, and Taur, winner of the 1999 NZ Post Childrens Book Award, is the second. Larger than life, The Shaman and the Droll is an extraordinary tale.