Golden Buddha

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 Oregon that I described in the Pitt tale titled Flood Tide.

Beneath her derelict superstructure and rusty hull, Oregon is 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