The Early Years

Rasputin deserts the Russian army at the end of the Russo-Japanese war in 1905. While trying to avoid detection by the Russians and Japanese, he meets American war correspondent Jack London, who is there as an observer. London agrees to help Rasputin escape by putting him in touch with his friend, Corto Maltese, who is about to depart Manchuria for Africa. While trying to find Corto, London has a confrontation with a Japanese officer who challenges him to a duel. Rasputin tracks the officer down and kills him. Corto and Rasputin leave as London is taken for questioning about the murder.