Molly Durberville and George Wilford, foreign lawyers working in the country, are assigned to untangle the legal issues surrounding a plane crash. They are led to a struggle between the Burmese military and the Kachin Independence Army. Ultimately, they realize that the origin of the crash has been from within their law firm. Though Molly has been assigned to spy on George, through their adventures they become lovers. George is torn by his realization, however, that Molly is attracted to Zaw Dan, a general in the Kachin army. One facet of the novel examines the legal profession from the perspectives of two women lawyers-Molly and Khine San Myo, who is housebound because of her history and that of the country.