Who is Ike Crockett? Why is he in an unfamiliar cave at the beginning of the novel? What does he find there? What does Ike find unusual about this thing? Why does he separate from the rest of his group? What does he find when he goes in search of his group? Who has taken his lover, Kora? How does Ike know this? What happens to Ike after this event? How does it change his life?

Who is Ali? Where is she when the reader first meets her? How does her situation compare with Ike's in the first chapter? Why does Ali believe she is being punished by the Catholic Church? How does Ali appear to feel about her future as a nun? Does Ali make a good nun? Explain. What is Ali's relationship to Cornelia January? How does Ali find herself on the...