An American PhD student, Jill Pipkin, disillusioned with research physics, quits her academic program, and splits from her husband. She joins the Peace Corps but finds it too confining. After seeing postcards of beautiful mosaics and Islamic tiles in ancient Istanbul, she travels to Istanbul to photograph them. But Istanbul is a scary place for a young single woman. She is preparing to leave for Iran when she happens across a postcard of a mysterious and exotic ancient hybrid dragon. Mesmerized by its strange image she goes to see it at the Museum of the Ancient Orient. But the museum is closed for renovation. A young man invites her into the museum to see the dragon. He offers to help her find the mosaics and tiles. then invites her to a special dinner and offers her raki, a strong licorice liquer. It has a powerful aphrodisiac effect on her; she seduces him, leading to a life-threatening situation.