Chapter 4, In which Esther gets a nose job, Chapter 5, in which Stencil goes West with an alligator, and Chapter 6, In which Profane returns to street level Summary

Esther Harvitz rides a bus in Manhattan to visit her lover, Dr. Schoenmaker. Schoenmaker wanted to fly planes in the military, but was only a mechanic. Another young pilot, Evan Godolphin, whom he idolized, was injured and needed facial reconstruction, which was how Schoenmaker was introduced to plastic surgery. He was shocked at the primitive methods used, which meant the surgery would only stand up for about six months. He performed Esther's nose job, talking her through the operation. The operation leaves her sexually attracted to Schoenmaker and when she returns they have...