This Ms. is written in the romantic adventure genre, with the various love affairs of the characters taking place against the 1960S backdrop of South West Africa and Angola, when it declared its independence from Portugal, becoming the Peoples Republic of Angola in November 1975. The characters include:

Nord

The only son of the farming Nordman family. His actual mother is a Nama girl, of Dutch and Khoi-Khoi descent. He is brought up by the farmers Dutch wife, Grietje, as her own son.

Emilie

The daughter of the wealthy neighbouring farmer, Antonin, and his wife, Gina. Emilie is born when Nord is 12 years of age (and like a member of their family). Emilie's mother dies after a snake-bite on the farm when Emilie is 6 years old.

Shaba

A young African boy who loses his family in a village massacre in Zaire. He flees with his grandfather, the only surviving family of the ruling chief, and they disappear into the highlands of neighbouring Angola. A lonely child, his grandfather looks after him, but only with a sense of duty. He finds consolation with a herd of the royal black sable, following them in the forests until he is 10 years of age, when he accompanies his grandfather, recruited by Antonin to work for him on the farm in South West Africa. When Emilie learns to walk, the 15 year-old Shaba becomes her guardian.

Ki

The Bushman who is sent to the Nordman farm when he loses his right hand in a trap. He adopts the young boy as his spiritual son, and teaches him to live in the bush. Nord adopts his values and his expertise, which stands him in good stead when he becomes a reconnaissance scout for the South West African police force on the border of South West and Angola in the 1960s and 70s.

The Bushman is always in the background, and an integral part of the novel.