Summary

In Chapter 43, Amanda told Ensinanco she used to be confused about how “a woman opened up for a man” during sex (130). The lovers discussed the possibilities of men and women opening themselves spiritually to one another.

In Chapter 44, Amanda is tired of talking about Ensinanco. She would rather talk about her other lover Vinandratsy and his sister Miandra. The siblings lived together. Miandra disliked Amanda.

In Chapter 45, Amanda met Vinandratsy at a flower stand in Madagascar. He told her everything he knew about orchids. When they went around together, he revealed he knew nothing about mountains. Back at Vinandratsy’s house, Miandra was displeased by Amanda. She was engaged to a man she never touched, and who she also disliked.

In Chapter 46, while Amanda and Vinandratsy studied maps, Miandra made them “tea out of scorched rice” for their journey to the mountains (138).

In...