Tom MacLaine is force marched north on the Ho Chi Minh Trail into Laos. Along the way, he is abused, harassed, and humiliated by his captors and the turncoat American traitor. Desperate to escape, he takes a chance that compels him to kill to be free. An Air Force mercy mission to rescue him ends in disaster. Nevertheless, he gains his freedom but is still a captive of his environment-the remote mountains of Laos. Elizabeth has a frustrating love affair with the Marine officer assigned to handle Tom's POW-MIA case. The officer becomes involved in an ongoing blood feud between the MacLaine and Chisholm families. Several participants in the feud end up dead. Despite one adversity after another, Elizabeth goes to great lengths to persevere in her personal and professional lives. Above all, she remains steadfast in her determination to gain Tom's ultimate freedom.