1912-1928

In the spring of 1920, teenaged siblings Rebecca and Doug MacKenzie continue their adventures on their uncle's ship, sailing through a typhoon into the Celebes Sea in pursuit of a missing "gyrolabe" which may be connected to the disappearance of their parents.

The posthumous papers of Rebecca MacKenzie document her adventures, along with her brother Doug, in 1920s China as the teenaged siblings are sent to live aboard their uncle's ship where they become involved in the dangerous activities of a mysterious secret society called the Honourable Guild of Specialists.

Yanyan, having always wanted to be a doctor, makes a difficult decision to leave the exciting Liang Baoshu behind in China and moves to New York to attend medical school.