When physiotherapist Pat Fenley boarded the liner Walhara with her young patient Deva Wadia, she looked forward to a pleasant voyage to Colombo, where she was to return Deva to her family. She certainly didn't expect to find her unpleasant stepmother on board, for Kristin had deserted her family years ago and Pat had accepted that she had seen the last of her. Nor did she anticipate that Deva would be haunted by a premonition of danger - a premonition that was to turn into unpleasant reality. And least of all was Pat prepared for the shattering effect that the ship's surgeon, Bill Norton, was to have on her.