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Summary: Chapters 17 & 18

Chapter 17

As they arrive in Canton, Robin feels empty. Mr. Baylis from Jardine, Matheson & Co. meets them at the harbor and shows the cohort their lodgings, acting largely dismissive towards Victoire and Letty. He tells them of Lin Zexu, the new Imperial Commissioner who demanded that all incoming opium be surrendered to China. Baylis reports that Lin put the British under siege, and punishment is needed. That night, dinner is excruciating as Baylis and the other men from the company make numerous racist comments, and Robin feels guilty around the Cantonese servants. Baylis speaks about upcoming negotiation plans during which Robin is expected to translate. The sought-after outcome is a guarantee of undisputed free trade so that the British can continue bringing opium to China unrestricted. The men maintain that opium is perfectly safe and that, because opium is the only British commodity that China wants, they'll pay anything for it. Baylis would prefer if every man, woman, and child in China became dependent on the drug, which Robin remarks is cruel. Baylis responds by arguing that the Chinese are an inferior race. 

Robin translates the next morning and is restless and uncomfortable throughout. He goes into Canton with Ramy, and Robin struggles to see Canton as home. They find Robin's old house, though it has been replaced by shops—one of which is an opium den. They go inside and Robin tries opium before Ramy drags him out. On the way home, Robin apologizes for not telling Ramy about Hermes. Ramy reflects on the opium fields back in India, noting that the British have transformed India into a narco-military state to supply drugs to China, connecting Robin's and Ramy's home countries. Britain always comes out on top and the boys acknowledge their complicity in “colonial labour and colonial pain.” It is harder to ignore injustice when it is right in front of them. Robin thinks of the Empire as immovable, reflecting that Griffin is wrong to think he can make a difference. Crossing over a bridge, a distraught Robin seems to briefly and vaguely consider suicide, but Ramy ushers him off the bridge and they return home.

Robin translates again the next day and meets Commissioner Lin. Baylis demands that China open its trade borders and return or at least reimburse the opium they have seized. Lin argues that England itself has outlawed opium, which suggests they understand its dangers. The Emperor has passed a new law banning foreign traders from bringing the drug into China. Baylis appears to threaten British retaliation. Lin then requests to speak with Robin alone and questions whether negotiations are futile. Robin speaks candidly with Lin, explaining that the British view the Chinese as animals—mere obstacles to be overcome—and that there's no point in continuing negotiations. Lin remarks on the hypocrisy, given England’s alleged commitment to rights and liberty, but Robin points out that, to the English, those ideals only apply to those they deem human. Robin is unsure if he revealed something he shouldn't have during the meeting. 

Back with his cohort, Robin suddenly sees a great fire outside the window. Lin is burning the opium that the Chinese government has confiscated from British traders. Lovell barges in, furiously grabbing Robin and demanding an explanation. He orders the group to return to the ship as they will be departing for England immediately. 

Chapter 18

Back on the ship, Lovell takes Robin aside and once again demands an explanation, revealing that over two million pounds worth of opium was burned. Robin maintains that he did nothing to sway Lin's decision. When Lovell demands honesty, Robin snaps, revealing his disgust with Jardine & Matheson and their disregard for human life. Lovell calls Robin ungrateful, but Robin finally confronts his father, arguing that Lovell did not bring Robin to England for Robin's sake but to secure a student fluent in Mandarin. Robin feels he cannot continue to live as a torn man. He demands to know who his mother was to Lovell but Lovell refuses to refer to her by name, using only a racist slur. Robin finally sees that due to his Chinese heritage, he will never be a human in Lovell's eyes, only an asset. Robin grows angry and, in his immense rage, kills his father using the same bar that Griffin used to kill Evie. Later, he'll never truly understand what happened and whether or not he was acting in self-defense. Ramy, Victoire, and Letty burst in and see the dead body, but all Ramy says is, "What now?"

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