In the mountains of Tibet, the enigmatic Deucalion lives among Buddhist monks. He is more than 200 years old and used to be the monster in a freak show. He would first sit with the handsome side of his face turned to the audience, then turn to reveal the ruined side - scarred by primitive surgery all the way down his body. A letter arrives from an old friend in New Orleans and Deucalion announces he must leave. Before he goes, an old monk tattoos his face to cover the scars. In New Orleans, detectives Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison find a dead woman with her hands cut off in the City Park lagoon. It's the sixth killing in a few weeks. Others have had ears, feet, or other body parts removed. Then, there's Roy Pribeaux, determined to find the perfect woman - even if it has to be one piece at a time.