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For my brothers
Larry, Steve, Cliff and John,
and my sister, Dawn,
who never let a busy day
get in the way of a good nap.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
CAST OF CHARACTERS
PRELUDE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
EPILOGUE
FOREWORD
Just so you know, this is not a Dirk Pitt adventure, nor a NUMA Files–Kurt Austin story. This book is based on the old tramp cargo ship Oregonthat I described in the Pitt tale titled Flood Tide.
Beneath her derelict superstructure and rusty hull, Oregonis a mechanical marvel of technology and scientific genius. She is crewed by a group of highly educated and intelligent mercenaries who function under the myriad umbrellas of a far-flung corporate conglomerate. They contract with governments, corporations and private interests around the world to fight corruption and challenge the sinister threats of rogue villains in the exotic ports of the seven seas.
Craig Dirgo and I worked together to create an entirely new series of adventures with a cast of characters unlike any ever seen before.
I sincerely hope you will find it an enjoyable departure as well as a fun read.
Clive Cussler
GOLDEN
BUDDHA
CAST OF CHARACTERS
THE CORPORATION TEAM
JUAN CABRILLO:
Chairman of the Corporation
MAX HANLEY:
President of the Corporation
RICHARD TRUITT:
Vice President of Operations for the Corporation
THE CREW
(in alphabetic order)
GEORGE ADAMS:
Helicopter Pilot/Operative
RICK BARRETT:
Assistant Chef/Operative
MONICA CRABTREE:
Supply and Logistics Coordinator/Operative
CARL GANNON:
General Operations/Operative
CHUCK “TINY” GUNDERSON:
Chief Pilot/Operative
MICHAEL HALPERT:
Finance and Accounting/Operative
CLIFF HORNSBY:
General Operations/Operative
JULIA HUXLEY:
Medical Officer/Operative
PETE JONES:
General Operations/Operative
HALI KASIM:
Communications Expert/Operative
LARRY KING:
Sniper/Operative
FRANKLIN LINCOLN:
General Operations/Operative
BOB MEADOWS:
General Operations/Operative
MARK MURPHY:
Weapons Specialist/Operative
KEVIN NIXON:
Magic Shop Specialist/Operative
SAM PRYOR:
Propulsion Engineer/Operative
GUNTHER REINHOLT:
Propulsion Engineer/Operative
TOM REYES:
General Operations/Operative
LINDA ROSS:
Security and Surveillance/Operative
EDDIE SENG:
Director of Shore Operations/Operative
ERIC STONE:
Control Room Operations/Operative