Great things are happening in Moominvalley. Snorkmaiden's brother, the Snork, has finally completed the model of his new flying ship and it seems to work, being a bit more sensibly constructed than the first one. On the not-so-scientific front the witch's granddaughter, Alicia, has graduated to her first instruction in real witchcraft, a stunning feat which the Snork immediately tries to emulate. And finally Snufkin and the Hemulen try to catch the Mameluke, a fish that is not only very, very large, but also very, very hungry.