Determined to experience the ayahuasca and chacruna leaves entheogen and to learn its preparation, Shi-yin and some of her companions journey up the Amazon River in a sailing launch while their ship awaits them in the estuary. They have many adventures in the Amazon, on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean, and in New York City. While awaiting her mother's return to the ship, Watching Dwelling encounters a Shaman in Mazagao and is invited to a series of ayahuasca medicine circles and taught the preparation for the entheogen.