William is dark, mysterious and inexplicable to his lovers, Trudy and Claire. Only the powerful survive by trading secrets and goods for protection, a bartering process that inadvertently and literally fosters life and death to the careful or lucky few. These evolving moods are a microcosmic window into the larger historical tone evident in Hong Kong’s decline from a profligate center of Asian prosperity to a very dangerous, suspicious marketplace. Lee’s story is unique for its characters’ moods as they manifest and infuse into their surroundings. Many novels have been written about the Japanese takeover of China in 1942, including the horrific prisoner of war camps, the brutal raping and murder of local Chinese and foreigners, the greedy acquisition of Chinese artistic treasures, and the post-war attempt to escape responsibility for one’s moral and immoral actions. Each character carries a heavy burden of war memories, a time when one did what was necessary to survive. Claire falls for William, the Chen family chauffeur and former lover of Trudy Liang. Claire and Martin Pendleton arrive in Hong Kong: Martin to work in “water,” and Claire to teach piano to Locket, daughter of wealthy Chinese parents, Victor and Melody Chen.
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