February, 1942: Singapore lay burning and shattered, defenseless before the conquering hordes of Japanese, as the last boat slipped out of the harbor into the South China Sea. On board were a desperate group of people, each with a secret to guard, each willing to kill to keep that secret safe. Who or what was the dissolute Englishman, Farnholme? The elegant Dutch planter, Van Effen? The strangely beautiful Eurasian girl, Gurdun? The slave trader, Siran? The smiling and silent Nicholson who was never without his gun? Only one thing was certain: The rotting tramp steamer was a floating death trap, carrying a cargo of human TNT.