Night of Battle (synopsis)

Introduction

“Night of Battle” the synopsis. See “Night of Battle“, the full story for more details.

Here is a summary that captures the central events and main characters directly from the synopsis, aiming to give a clear picture of the proposed plot.

Summary

In “Night of Battle,” Steve arrives in Singapore with $50, ready to fight Black Mike O’Brien in a ten-round match. Before the fight, a young boy named Johnny seeks refuge in Steve’s room, claiming he’s uncovered secrets about a gang of thieves and fears for his safety. Steve, wary of pickpockets, hands his $50 to Johnny for safekeeping. At the arena, both fighters are paid in advance and bet their $50 on themselves, entrusting it to a drifter who is unfortunately inebriated, though they are unaware of his condition.

The fight between Steve and Mike ends in a draw, with both pondering how another fighter, Bad Bill Kerney, had previously managed to knock out Mike. Post-match, they discover Johnny has disappeared with Steve’s $50, leaving a dubious note. The search for their stakeholder leads them to a gambling den run by Bad Bill, where they find the stakeholder has lost their money. A confrontation ensues, leading to a brutal bare-knuckle fight between Steve and Kerney. Steve overcomes Kerney’s jiu-jitsu, the same trick used on Mike, and discovers Johnny bound behind a wall.

The gambling den erupts into chaos as the gang attacks, but the old stakeholder fetches the police in time to thwart the criminals. The revelation of Steve’s use of a double-headed coin to ensure his fight against Kerney strains his relationship with Mike, leading them to agree to another official bout.

Characters

  • Steve Costigan: The protagonist, is a sailor and boxer, in Singapore.
  • Black Mike O’Brien: Steve’s opponent in the ring, who has recently suffered a defeat.
  • Johnny: A young boy who uncovers a gang’s secrets and seeks Steve’s protection.
  • Bad Bill Kerney: A fighter and the antagonist who runs a gambling den and has previously defeated Black Mike.
  • Old Stakeholder/Drifter: Holds the betting money for Steve and Mike, loses it while gambling drunk.
  • Gang of Thieves: Criminals involved with Bad Bill Kerney.

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