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Five Fires are the symbolic number of fires used in the traditional wandering yogis' ascetic practice of enduring heat. In this story, however, the heat that is endured is the righteous anger that Indira, a young woman, feels over the extremely brutal and murderous reign of a number of local landlords, who in one case had a pack of dogs rip a pregnant woman apart for protesting their regime. She murders the main scoundrel, knowing full well she will go to prison for the deed. She is eventually released early on parole to attend her dying mother and, despite her pariah status with friends and relatives, things seem to be going well, as a kindly journalist takes her to his bed. However, when yet another gross injustice comes to her attention, she again feels compelled to be the one who rights that wrong through murder, and she is sent away again.