Summary

Chapter 31 continues the third person narration following Rustem Bey, who arrives in Istanbul. It is an irritatingly difficult trip, so he immediately finds a place to stay, bathes, relaxes, and has a barber trim his facial hair.

In Chapter 32, Rustem Bey prays at the mosque for god’s assistance. He then goes to Galata, which is known for harboring violent and sexual criminals. He is nervous but pretends to be confident. Rustem asks a child to lead him to where he wants to go, and is shocked at all of the death he sees around him.

In Chapter 33, Rustem Bey is brought to a building run by an androgynous woman named Kardelen. Rustem tells Kardelen that he wants a Circassian women. While they speak, the women in the back whisper to one another. None of them are Circassian, so they know they...