William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But William had read about windmills, and he dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water.

This is a modern rendition in written form, of the popular Malawian folktale, 'The Orphan and the Slave', passed down through oral tradition. The traditional version, included alongside this modern work of fiction, tells of a boy who is orphaned, and returns to his village, taking his slave with him. The slave tricks the boy into giving him his possessions, and assumes his master's identity.