At the start of the narrative, Sru and Niya sit by a mountain pool in Ponape, where Niya sings the "Song of Luliban." Their conversation centers around Luliban, a character from local lore who is torn between two lovers: her husband, Red-Hair the White Man, and Harry, a tattooed beachcomber. As Niya recounts Luliban's tale, which involves themes of love, rivalry, and betrayal against a backdrop of local customs and mythical beliefs, the complexity of relationships and the influence of external forces on the island life are vividly painted. This opening serves to set up the intertwining of folklore with the everyday experiences of the characters, suggesting deeper explorations of identity and cultural interaction throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)