Summary

Lefty and Desdemona arrive in Detroit by train after having successfully survived Ellis Island. They lost Dr. Philobosian, who was marked because of an eye infection. Desdemona is forced to cut her waist-length hair and throw away her “parasitic” silkworm eggs. Though Lefty takes comfort in the Greek architecture as the world flies by during their journey, America is taller and more mechanized than their homeland, with an unpleasant chemical smell.

They arrive at Grand Trunk Station, and Lefty leaves Desdemona while he searches for their cousin, Sourmelina (Lina) Zizmo, whom he barely recognizes in her flapper dress and thinned out accent. Sourmelina, aged 28, teases Lefty about his new wife and abandoned sister until Lefty makes clear to her that Desdemona is his wife. Desdemona begs Lina to keep their secret, and Lina takes it in stride, having secrets...