 Halfway across the Mediterranean his boat is ambushed by pirates who sell him to a Muslim grandee in Antioch in Syria, Bembel Redzuk.Pilgermann and Bembel become friends, although never social equals (as a Jew Pilgermann can only ever be a dhimmi in Muslim society).Pilgermann conceives of, designs and builds an enormous Kabbalistic courtyard and tower with a patterned design on the floor for Bembel which rapidly takes on numinous power among the community, attracting the displeasure of the Islamic authorities.