

| Availability: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, this website and book stores worldwide. |
| Excerpt: “Chanda Shachi is more interested in Blake Steel than Harbour Ships,” Jeff explained. “They’re building some really solid economic relationships with key countries right now, particularly Egypt. This year India received approximately four hundred million dollars from exports to Egypt. Steel is one of their largest exports to that country. In return they have imported about one hundred million from Egypt with an emphasis on petroleum. This year they are hoping to increase exports to Egypt by ten per cent and increase their petroleum imports by at least twenty-five per cent. If we can plug Blake Steel into that formula we not only reap the financial awards, but political gain as well.” “It gives us an edge in the petroleum industry coming out of Egypt,” Channing mused. “And perhaps even refineries in the States.” “Steel for gas and oil?” Quinn asked. “That’s the bottom line,” Cabe answered. “Yes. There’s some problems though, Jeff. Petroleum is a hot spot for conflict right now in the Middle East crisis. Egypt lost something like twenty billion dollars from the Gulf War and there are insurgents posing some viable threats to India’s borders.” Jeff nodded. “I’m aware of that. The United States cancelled a six point seven billion dollar military debt to Egypt after that loss and Japan gave them six hundred million dollars in emergency commodity loans.” “My concern is that an alliance with India and Egypt to get petroleum might be inviting more political problems into our back yard. You’re already dealing with one paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. Now if you use this formula to align us with India and Egypt for oil in a private business sector, you might be looking at problems with the Pakistani’s.” “Its business, Cabe,” Chad interjected. “It’s not a military agreement.” Channing shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, son. Jeff, proceed with caution, and I’d prefer that you let any business negotiations fall directly on Chanda Shachi. Who does he want to deal with in Egypt?” “Dakari Lubicz.” Channing whistled and rose from his chair. “Jesus Christ. That’s a statement, Jeff.” “Statements need to be made, Dad.” Cabe’s eyes narrowed on his older brother. “Isn’t Dakari Lubicz the Egyptian who blew the whistle on a few CIA agents in Uzbekistan last year?” “Yes, he is. They sent three Egyptian terrorist suspects to Tashkent who were then transferred to an Uzbek jail for types of torture that we can’t impose here in the States.” Quinn was stunned. “Like we need that, Jeff?” “If we play our cards right, Quinn -” “Jeff, we got into this for a cause that’s broken down into maybe a few hundred militants on each side at this point. Sinn Féin is working toward peace talks as we speak and we have some real leverage against the loyalists because of that film we have. This will piss off a whole new group of people that we don’t need pissed off at us.” “We don’t own all of this, Quinn. We own forty per cent. Don’t think for a second that Chanda Shachi and Jiang Hai put in thirty per cent each without their own agendas. This is a legal business venture. Love him or hate him, Dakari Lubicz is a legal businessman.” “You let this fall on Shachi,” Channing reiterated. “He is the spokesman for this deal and it falls out that this is for India, not the United States.” Jeff nodded. “I can do that.” |

| Excerpt at bottom of page. Click HERE to view book trailer. |
| © 2007-2008 Dory Maust, All Rights Reserved |