In Jutland a scientific instrument is discovered in an archaeological dig and a young Turkish archaelogist is invited to examine its possible origins. This opening episode takes the reader back in time to 16th century Algiers. A noble- man has fallen in love with one of his servants and it transpires that both she and the nobleman's wife give birth on the same day. One of the "twins" becomes a slave to his brother bud decides torun away to educate himself and stop being a slave. He joins the crew of a ship bound for the new world, which is caught in a storm, drowning everyone except him. He is washed up on the shores of Jut- land and rescued, then goes to Cyprus where he spends 3 years reading and learn-ing and becomes a scholar working in a library. He returns first to Jutland thenheads south on a ship which will take him back to the world he left behind.