Anatole 'Annie' Doultry is in his early 50s, a man of imposing physical presence with a reputation on the high seas from the Philippines to Shanghai. It is 1927, and while serving sixmonths in a hellish Hong Kong prison he one day saves the life of a Chinese prisoner.

The prisoner's employer turns out to be Madame Lai Choi San:beautiful, ruthless and shrewd, she is one of the most notorious gangsters in Asia. When Annie gets out of prison, she thankshim with an offer of inconceivable wealth if he will join her in

the biggest act of piracy of her career. Madame Lai is aseductive and powerful ally, but Annie is about to discover that she can be an even more powerful - and dangerous - enemy.