Karin lived in a refugee camp in Italy at the end of the war. She had no money to leave there to make a living elsewhere. In the camp, she met Antonio, an Italian soldier, married him and followed him back to his hometown of Strombo. On the desolate volcanic island, Karin felt very lost by the living habits and customs of the local people. Everything she did was considered to be against folkways and was a bad woman. Karin wanted to escape from the island. She fled to the volcano and woke up in a coma. Alone, she had no choice but to pray to God for help and inspiration.