Summary of 'The Enemy' by Pearl S. Buck

Dr. Sadao Hoki is a highly skilled Japanese surgeon who lives in a house by the sea. One night during WWII, he and his wife, Hana, find a man washed ashore. To their shock, the man is an American Prisoner of War (POW)—an enemy soldier. He is severely wounded by a bullet and is bleeding to death.

Dr. Sadao faces a terrible dilemma:

• As a Patriot: It is his duty as a Japanese citizen to hand the American over to the police, which means certain death for the prisoner.
• As a Doctor: He has taken an oath to save human life, regardless of who the patient is. Despite knowing they could be arrested for treason, Sadao and Hana's humanity wins. They carry the unconscious enemy into their home.

The domestic servants are horrified and refuse to help wash an American. They eventually quit their jobs in protest. Despite the lack of help, Sadao performs a dangerous surgery, successfully removes the bullet near the kidney, and saves the soldier's life. Hana bravely helps nurse the enemy back to health.

Sadao eventually confesses to the old, sick Japanese General about the prisoner. The General, who needs Sadao for his own medical care, selfishly promises to send private assassins to silently kill the American in his sleep, solving the problem.

Sadao waits nervously for three nights, but the assassins never arrive (the General forgot his promise). Unable to bear the guilt of waiting for the man to be murdered, Sadao takes matters into his own hands. He provides the fully recovered American with a boat, food, and a flashlight, and helps him escape safely to a nearby island to be rescued by a Korean fishing boat.