Aboard the Bird of Paradys, Zoltan deals with a hyperactive Pouncer, and his enthusiastic son, Enos, as they make their way to the sky island of Paradys on a ship crewed by Paradysian Sphynxes and a few trusted comrades. Star (aka Moon-Brow) tries to keep the cubs in check, while Herbir watches with airs of disapproval. Zoltan has Star keep the cubs entertained, while he tries to go strike up a conversation with his father.

Herbir indicates that the ship is somewhat late in finding Paradys, prompting Zoltan to wonder if this should be considered suspicious … but the sky island is spotted before they can finish their discussion. The cubs are quite happy to reach the island, and Herbir is obviously dazzled by seeing this place of Vartan legend.

The Airship Graveyard, once home to the cannibalistic followers of Amenlichtli, has been transformed into a patchy-looking town for the Paradysian Sphynxes and several immigrants – Vartans, Eeee, and various Vartan half-breeds. The "metal bird" that Zoltan found the Boomers on has been extracted from the larger airship it had crashed into, and appears to be undergoing restoration.

Zoltan visits the central tower, in hopes of meeting Kryago, but is instead met by a white lion-Sphynx named Krazuu. He is informed that Kryago passed on, never recovering from wounds sustained during the attack by the Babelites. It is confirmed that Paradys is changing its long-standing circuitous course around the globe, and Zoltan is concerned enough by this that he volunteers to try the Dreaming Machine in order to find answers.

Zoltan tries on the "Golden Crown" of the Dreaming Machine – a device much like the "Learning Helmets" used by the Temple – and is only able to find a limited amount of information from the computer. He is given a map showing Paradys' original course, and its deviations so far … and he ejects from the session right before being deluged with a tidal wave of medical information. Zoltan then shares his findings with the others, and learns that Shokar's airship has been discovered … and some books as well. Zoltan looks forward to studying each in turn, hoping to learn more of the mystery of Shokar's disappearance.