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LaBas lectures extendedly on the history of Jes Grew. It can be traced back to the work of Osiris in Ancient Egypt. Osiris encourages a society that is musical, loving, and vivacious. His brother, Set, is jealous of Osiris’s marriage to their sister Isis. Set seeks to rule Egypt as a strict disciplinarian.

Osiris’s dances are anthologized in the Book of Thoth, now sought by Jes Grew. Osiris leaves Egypt to spread his dances across the world. Set sees this as his opportunity for ascension. Osiris returns and Set orchestrates his killing. Set gains power, but Osiris still has tremendous influence among the people. Osirian dances are spread to Greece by Dionysus. Greeks and Romans celebrate at their temples of Osiris and Isis. In 378 AD, the Atonists ruin these temples and their associated “pagan systems.” Atonists continue their brutal attacks on Osirian temples and beliefs, blazing the trail for the spread of Christianity.

The Egyptians still love Osiris, which Set cannot stand. He responds by banning dancing, sex, and life itself. To distinguish himself from the cult of Osiris, Set establishes his own religion based on Aton, the sun’s flaming disc. This, he feels, will “overcome the nature religion of Osiris” (174).

After Set’s death, Thermuthis, the daughter of a pharaoh, adopts an abandoned child, Moses. In adolescence, Moses worships Osiris. Moses goes on a journey to learn beautiful songs from Jethro. To learn the family’s secret music, he hatches a plan to marry Jethro’s daughter. Jethro tells him that the Book of Thoth is at the Temple of Osiris and Isis in Koptos. Moses makes an excuse and leaves the family to start his search. Alone in the wilderness and near death, Moses has a vision. A Specter (Set) comes to him and tells him he will guide him to the Book, but only if Moses restores Atonism to Egypt. Moses then makes an appearance at Jethro’s ranch before insulting him and setting off for Koptos.

Continuing his speech, LaBas states that Moses arrives in Koptos. Moses explores the temple and then goes to sleep in its bedroom of mysteries. He awakes at 2 a.m. to Isis running her hand through his hair. Isis tells him that she will give him what he wants if he gives her what she wants. He makes love to her and then gives her gifts of scarves, liquors, jewelry, and chickens. She says this is not enough and that he must talk sweetly to her. After she shares the contents of the Book with him, he returns to Egypt.

As a ruler in Egypt, Moses employs Atonist tactics. The people resist mightily, and he has them beaten. When he sings them words from the Book of Thoth, people’s ears start to bleed. The people then relax and play their own Osirian music, which Moses won’t tolerate. He tries to have them arrested, but the Osirians begin to kill every Atonist they can. Moses escapes to his palace with the people in pursuit. Moses then removes a leaf from the Book and reads it to the people from the balcony. A silence falls, and a mushroom cloud rises. The people scatter, trampling each other. Moses then escapes into exile.

Centuries later, in 1118, the Knights Templar are at the height of their power. Von Vampton is working as the Templar librarian and discovers the Book of Thoth. The Book will not allow the Knights to translate it, and it awaits its reunion with its dance and music. Eventually, the Knights fall out of favor in Europe and are routinely executed. However, Von Vampton escapes and hides with sympathizers for centuries. He immigrates to America in the 1890s, bringing along the Book. Jes Grew senses its text and rises from dormancy, hoping for a reunification. The Wallflower Order tries to track down Von Vampton, aiming to gain control of the Book. He then comes up with the idea to pay 14 Jes Grew Cathedral members to pass it between themselves, which is supposed to keep anyone from getting suspicious.

LaBas explains that Abdul was given the Book and then translated it. Upon his death, he left a clue about the Book’s location. When LaBas dug up the book, he found the Templar’s seal upon it, which is the same seal that Von Vampton is now wearing at this party. LaBas connects Von Vampton’s work to the Wallflower Order and explains his use of the Talking Android. The guests turn their attention toward Von Vampton, who smiles weakly.

The Guianese art critic disputes the charges against Von Vampton and continues to defend him. Buddy Jackson acknowledges that he was the one of the 14 members who gave the Book to Abdul. The crowd, still skeptical, requests that LaBas show them the Book.

News breaks that Jes Grew has fully dissolved. The Guianese art critic then declares that LaBas and company must be lying because if they had the Book, Jes Grew would be seeking them. T Malice goes out to the car to retrieve the Book. The audience gawks at the Book’s ornate box. But when the box is opened, it is empty.

Nonetheless, LaBas and company take away Von Vampton and Gould. When they are accused of making a false arrest, LaBas tells the captives that he has jurisdiction in Haiti. He brings them to the Black Plume and turns them over to Battraville. LaBas asks Battraville why Jes Grew has waned. Battraville knows the answer but tells LaBas he must figure it out for himself. Von Vampton and Gould are taken away to Haiti.

LaBas goes back to the Kathedral, where a letter to him from Abdul has finally arrived. In it, Abdul invites LaBas to look over the manuscript. He says he wanted LaBas and Black Herman to see the Book of Thoth, but that cannot happen now because he has burned it. LaBas sees this as an act of censorship. Now he understands why Jes Grew “just withered up and died” (203). He believes that Jes Grew will still return and that they will have to make their own future text, one created by a new generation of young artists.

In 1970, at 100 years old, LaBas is giving a university lecture. He explains how Freud was dispatched to America to diagnose Jes Grew. However, “his real talent lies in the coinage of new terms for processes as old as the Ark” (208). LaBas goes on to describe the circumstances of the 1920 outbreak. The students adore the eccentric old man and wear Jes Grew buttons.

The novel concludes with a bibliography of the author’s sources.