In the first novella and title story, the attractive wife of a veterinarian, Dr. Kipnis is nostalgic for her earlier life Poland, where she was courted by impressive cavalry officers."[1] She is unhappy in the harsh middle eastern heat and tires of the conversation among the men and retreats into her world of piano and Chopin."[1]
Following a ball at the British High Commissioner's residence on the Hill of Evil Counsel, Dr. Kipnis searches for her his wife, who is being courted by a British admiral and womanizer."[1] His wife never returns to the marital home. Their son, Hillel is sent to live on a kibbutz, where he is raised."[1]
Mr Nehamkin, an older man and poet dreams of a Jerusalem where there lurks beneath a secret green sea."[1] Meanwhile, his son, Ephraim is in the underground and therefore only appears at the home sporadically to sleep in the afternoon."[1] His sleeping quarters are guarded by Mr Nehamkin and a boy, Uri Kolodny from the legion of women that have fallen in love with him."[1] Ephraim has violent, disturbing dreams of destruction on earth."[1] Uri becomes preoccupied by his plots to expel the British, who stand in the way of the establishment of a Jewish state."[1]
The third and final story is composed of letters from Dr. Nussbaum, who is dying of cancer to Mina, a woman with whom he had an affair.[1] He volunteers his scientific expertise to support a report for David Ben-Gurion and other prominent pioneers on way to create cheap explosives.[1]