Tom Stratton, expert on the priceless Qin Dynasty artefacts. And his mentor, Professor David Wang - more informed than any politician about crimes against the state. But when Wang disappears, Stratton must face the dangerous guardians of Chinese morality alone. Standing between him and the truth: a nightmare interrogation at the hands of the Public Security Bureau - and the memory of one tortured, beautiful comrade who will haunt his dying dreams . . .