Krakatoa, East of Java

Singapore -- 1883. Waves of heat... exotic scents and sounds... ships of every knid crowding the harbor... coolies swarming on the quais.... Here the Batavia Queen rode at anchor. In her sweltering holds, a gang of convicts bound for a living death. In her closed cabins, a strange assortment of men and women, adventurers all, handpicked by the closemouthed man called Chris Hanson. It was Hanson who was the Captain of this ship. Hanson who was master of the fate of every soul aboard. Hanson who would guide them to fabulous treasure -- or to final doom!