In this eighth installment of the DOPS series, all secrets of family lineage are laid bare as the connections between key figures in Pilothead Sound and those of Espiri country are revealed in all their convoluted glory. Abel's lifelong, fervent prayer to have his scattered family reunited is indeed bearing fruit, sometimes in disconcerting and even scary ways when a life-threatening ordeal strikes his oldest brother Mar-Ti Lawrentia, known in the Sound simply as "Lawrie," and his newly-espoused partner, Cass. In the aftermath of Lawrie's near-fatal trauma, Abel still must deal with the fact that his brother has abdicated from his responsibilities as Heir of the Espiridion lineage and ministry, and that an empire that has been waiting for him for over a century will now be left basically defenseless unless Abel himself, the "Young Heir," steps in to take up his older twin's mantle. This of course means he must resign as captain of the Claire du Monde, and to complicate matters, some of his closest friends aboard the ship have no place to go except to Pilothead Sound, where at least one of them has a "widow" who still mourns him. Eydie and Devon's future is uncertain, and Abel resolves to find work for them near their old chum Cass, whose recent marriage to Lawrie may make this awkward. Ramon, meanwhile, having fully recovered his health, must now deal with duties he secretly dreads, namely assuming governorship of Marisco's former estate. However, the news that there may be an older heir with a more legitimate claim to that title and position gives him new hope for a return to his beloved city of Aroyo. And Caupoc, still imprisoned with Falco and Akele in the jungle pit of the capricious ayahuasquero Don Hidalgo, vows to make good on long-ago intents to court his long-estranged lover, and adopt the fierce and flighty Ramon as his son. Cato is presented with an entirely unforeseen opportunity to go forth in the ministry to his people that he's always dreamed of-but in a completely unanticipated way and location. The prestige and politics involved are burdens to which he feels himself unequal, but in the midst of this proposal waits a most worthy prayer-partner and sidekick-Abel.