Publisher's Synopsis
Alex - Synopsis May 1850. Kilmarnock, in the Rideau Valley; Constable Ian Campbell and a farmer, Sam McDermott wake Doctor Alexander MacTavish. They have brought a patient; a boy found in McDermott's barn. Believing him to be a fox Sam had shot him. Alex tends the boy but the effort leaves him exhausted. The boy refuses to speak. Alex picks a name for him, Peter. The boy ignores the name. One morning aware of his own exhaustion Alex tells the boy that he can leave. Peter screams at him. Alex crumples to the floor. He awakes, his room clean and Peter polishing his boots. In June three men arrive from New York City: Karl Radek and his two servants Franz and Ferdinand Leuger . Radek explains that the boy, Josef Benes, belongs to Radek's employer Baron Von Kraunitz whom he robbed while in Kingston. Alex will not surrender the boy without the court's approval. Frustrated Radek leaves. Alex says nothing about Radek to Peter, instead asking him to become his son. In July Ian Paisley appears, a spy sent by RadekAlex and Peter travel to Kilmarnock Hill the home of his niece Maureen and her husband Doctor George McKay. He announces that Peter is now his son. The decision infuriates Maureen. She slaps Alex and orders him out of the house. Only after Alex is gone does George tell her that Alex has cancer. Alex tries to flee to Perth to find refuge for the boy with Judge Strachan. He collapses. The Mckays and Constable Campbell find Peter and Alex in an abandoned cabin and bring him back to Kilmarnock Hill.In New York the Baron dies from an overdose of opium. Radek is informed by the baron's attorney that he is no longer overseer and is ordered to produce Josef. Radek sends the Leuger twins and Paisley to silence the boy. Paisley leads the doctor away from the house. Disgusted with the Leugers and Radek he lets the doctor go and flees. The Leuger twins break in. Alex kills Ferdinand but is killed by Franz. Maureen tries to stop him but is so terrified she drops the pistol Alex has given her. Franz tells Maureen that they call Peter, the Pig. Peter mouths one word, go. Maureen flees as far as the stairway. Franz seizes Peter's throat. Maureen, unnoticed returns, takes the pistol and fires.After Alex's funeral Peter reveals his past. Sold by his father, to Radek, to be used in the baron's bed and as Radek's spy. He escapes in Kingston and wanders north. After three days exhausted and too afraid to ask for help he staggers into McDermott's barn. The judge asks why he is telling them this, Peter replies Alex was his friend. That night, believing he will be sent away Peter packs. Maureen unpacks his things and tells him that he will stay. The McKays, Constable Campbell and Judge Strachan travel to New York. There they find an ally, Katrina sister of the Leuger brothers. They also find Radek away . When Radek returns he is met by Katrina who serves him coffee. As he sips it Judge Strachan enters and shoots him. After putting Katrina on a boat to California, the McKays, the Constable and the Judge drop Radek's body off in a swamp. The journey home begins. Maureen curls up against George and sleeps.
