Modesty Blaise's close friend Tarrant of British Intelligence, thought to be dead, has instead been captured by Colonel Jim, a criminal tycoon. Can Modesty and Willie Garvin find him before he breaks under interrogation? They hunt for Tarrant through Macao and the Pyrenees but their plans go awry, for the rescuers become captives. Can they find an escape, to do so Modesty must defeat the invincible Mr Sexton, the greatest combat-man in the world?