Chapter 44 Summary

Dirk sails the lorcha to Aberdeen to keep his midnight appointment with Scragger. Fong, one of the men he is training, goes with him. They find a sack which they cut open. Inside is Scragger's limbless body. Wu Kwok appears. He is angry about the frigate attack at Quemoy. Shooting begins as both crews start firing. Wu Kwok calls out that his pirates will be attacking Dirk's ships. Both men say they will kill each other as they return to their ships.

Dirk, sickened by what happened to Scragger, has trouble trying to sleep. He knew of the torture technique favored by Fu Fang Chi and Wu Kwok and how it isorchestrated.

May-may is awaiting Dirk's arrival and thinking of her conversation with Gordon Chen. The assassin had named Gordon as a leader of the Triads. May-may is mad because the man was...