Content Warning: This section contains depictions of child abuse and sexual abuse.

The narrator reflects that her history has been buried and admits she has kept a plundered treasure of her own. She speaks of a child hiding in a palace during a revolution, a general taking over a palace, and spectators watching to see what will happen, including a silver-haired American woman. She will tell the story of the girl in hiding.

The narrator, Sitara, and her best friend, Neelab, are playing in the library of the presidential palace, called Arg. Sitara is interested in The Book of Fixed Stars written by an ancient astronomer. Neelab is the granddaughter of Daoud Khan, the president of Afghanistan. She and Sitara frequently play games re-enacting Afghan history and “the never-ending fight for our country’s independence from foreign invasion” (10).

Sitara is summoned by her mother to stay with her younger brother, Faheem. Sitara admires her beautiful mother as she dresses for an evening function. Sitara’s father is an advisor to the president, who has been welcoming both American and Soviet diplomats into the country, though Sitara has heard whispers of dissent among the people. Sitara is proud of her heritage and her culture.