The Manuscript Read online

  The Delphi Chronicle

  Russell Blake

  © 2011

  Rave reviews for Russell Blake books:

  For “The Geronimo Breach”

  “The best thriller I’ve ever read. How often do you hear a review say that? Well. that’s what I’m saying. Other reviews describing it as near perfection and incredibly well written aren’t lying. Russell Blake is on par with the biggest names in the business. And I mean Grisham, Turrow, Ludlum, Forsyth, Brown. The plot is intricate and completely unexpected at every turn. Al Ross is a hateful, extremely well-written character with believable complexity and nuance, plunged into a global conspiracy nightmare he’s ill-equipped to survive. Don’t want to spoil the end, but it’s a barn-burner. Overall, the best read ever.” jennifer989

  “The artistry in this work as the brush strokes build layers, brings you to wonder if something like this could be true! That’s the work of a true artist. Many works of fiction have a main character that is so scrubbed up that he no longer resembles a human male. No problems with this one. You start out despising him, then start to feel sorry for him, until finally you almost like him and wish him well - although that outcome seems unlikely, the way the story develops. This is almost a ‘How to..’ for budding writers. How to write without one word or one sentence that could be edited out! Tight narrative, great story, scary scenario. I almost never give five stars, but this has earned it!” K. McDicken

  “Russell Blake is fast becoming my favorite new author. Take an unlikely main character, a scarily probable conspiracy, a government run amok, cocaine dealers, commandos, whores, a burro, and a tightly meshed action/intrigue plot, and you have what to me is the most original thriller of the year. I don’t want to spoil the ending but it completely blew me away, and how the suspense was sustained to the last few pages as a surprise was great. I loved Fatal Exchange and had tears of laughter running down my face for How to Sell A Gazillion Ebooks, and now spent a big chunk of my night reading till 4AM to get to the end of Geronimo Breach. Highest recommendation for a highly original and entertaining novel.” Semi-Used

  “Okay, I’m from the other side of the pond (you can find most of my reviews and on the UK site) and I’m not a patient/forgiving reader if the writer confuses me or dawdles in their narrative. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself going along with the easy style and broad strokes of the narrative. The plot is very skillfully contrived but the real art I found was in the affinity I found myself unable to resist with the down-on-his-life main character, Al. I also love burros after following Al’s steady transition as he encounters hurdle after hurdle. I laughed aloud in some scenes (I won’t spoil it) when Al is, let’s say…compromised. I loved the ending but also wished the story hadn’t ended - so for that reason I’m taking the trouble to recommend it.” Write Into Print

  For the “Zero Sum trilogy”

  “Blake’s latest is absolutely amazing. I literally could not put down my Kindle until I finished all three books in the trilogy! Russell Blake has a very unique talent at painting a beautiful story with words, and the Zero Sum trilogy practically reads like poetry. 5 stars aren’t enough to rate this wonderful trilogy: 10 stars would be more accurate!” Amber Norrgard

  “Russell Blake’s Zero Sum Trilogy is truly amazing. I initially downloaded Book 1 because it was free and before I was done I had purchased the Book 2 & 3 bundle. This is my first time reading a book from Russell Blake and I felt privileged to have found a book written so intelligently with such a powerful impact.

  Nicolas Griffen is a character that you will grow to despise. A Wall Street financier associated with organized crime and government agencies using the stock market to make huge amounts of money to the detriment of others. Dr. Steven Archer is determined to stop this activity by publishing a website to expose Griffen and his associates for what they really are. When he is discovered to be the owner of the website life is forever changed as he is now the target to be destroyed.

  This trilogy will take you on a extremely fast paced and unexpected roller coaster ride of the fight between good and evil. Zero Sum is an addicting complex thriller that you will not be able to put down. I highly recommend this book, it is writing at it’s best.

  I look forward to reading more from Russell Blake.” Marilou George (The Kindle Book Review)

  “I read a review of the Zero Sum trilogy on Steven Konkoly’s blog, and then several reviews here, so I took the plunge. I mean, I don’t know a put from a call (though I did get a short lesson from Mr. Blake when I mentioned that) but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this thrill ride. I was recuperating from a medical procedure, so I read all three books over the weekend. I even kept a map of one of the locations open on the computer and that made the story all the more vivid. The hero was smart, made good use of his resources, yet still kept a bit of naïveté that had some almost disastrous results. There was a bit of irony at the end, but it worked. I’d like to see more of Steven Archer…” Ms. Nancy L. Barth

  For “Fatal Exchange”

  “Fatal Exchange is a page-turning roller coaster ride of action, adventure and thrills. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this presumably debut offering from Russell Blake. It’s an awesome read. I couldn’t put it down, and stayed up all night to finish it, no exaggeration. Six Stars, if they had that high a review!” Katherina J.

  “This is a book that took me completely by surprise. I thought I’d give it a shot based on the Amazon description and 5 star reviews, and it quickly became a page turner I couldn’t put down. The plot is complex, sort of like a Forsyth or Ludlum, and the characters are gripping. It’s a real novel. Can’t wait to see what Blake does next.” Anthony M.

  “A woman on the airplane sitting next to me was entranced with the book and recommended it to me, and I have to say it’s a great read by a complete unknown. Kind of like caramel pop-corn in the guilty pleasure department. It tastes so good you don’t want to stop munching. A must read for action or intrigue junkies.” David A.

  “Fatal Exchange is a gritty,” edge of your seat” thriller by first time author Russell Blake. The author cleverly combines a well paced, CSI styled crime thriller, with a “no holds barred”, plausible international conspiracy. […] I can honestly say, that if I could find more books like Fatal Exchange, I would be left with absolutely no reason to read some of the “Brand” name authors on the market today.” Steven K.

  “This book is in a class by itself. The main plot of the book is exciting and scary (and maybe a little graphic). The pacing is fast, the descriptions are visceral and the twists are unexpected.” Stacy K.

  For “King of Swords”

  “I’ve read Blake’s other books so when I saw he’d just released a new one I snapped it up. Nothing could have prepared me for what King of Swords was like. In fact, I can’t think of any other book that I’ve read that’s like it.

  It takes place in Mexico and follows the hunt for a super assassin who’s out to kill the Mexican and American Presidents. But it’s so much more than that. It’s depictions of the cartel violence are uncomfortable and graphic and put you on the ground in the thick of the danger. It’s an epic story in every sense, with more twists and surprises than the Da Vinci Code. It moves so fast it leaves you exhausted. About a third of the way through I realized that this isn’t only a book or only a thriller. This is something more. I don’t know how else to describe it but OMG.” Andfur

  “If there’s one Blake book you should read (and that’s just crazy talk… buy and read all of them, they’re wonderful!), make it the King of Swords. It grips your mind and pulls you into the story immediately, and doesn’t let go until the very end. The twist and turns continue until the very last page.

  If the
re was any way for Russell Blake to trump his previous excellent novels, this is it..” Amber Norrgard

  “Russell Blake’s latest, King of Swords, is described in the product description as “epic” “gritty” and “a rule-breaking rush.” What I can say after reading it is that the description radically underplayed it. This is simply one of the best books I’ve read. I could write pages to describe all the twists and unexpected shocks but it would be a waste of time. Anyone considering reading it should prepare for an amazing ride that will jar, sicken, fascinate and delight. Unbelievable achievement.” Jennifer989

  Excerpts from Russell Blake’s books

  King of Swords By Russell Blake

  King of Swords is an epic assassination thriller set in present-day Mexico. Captain Romero Cruz of the Federal Police must find and stop “El Rey” - the King of Swords, a faceless super-assassin targeting the U.S. and Mexican presidents - before he can turn the upcoming G-20 financial summit into a slaughterhouse. A gritty, unflinching, roller-coaster.

  Go to the King of Swords excerpt

  Purchase King of Swords

  The Geronimo Breach By Russell Blake

  The Geronimo Breach is a breakneck-paced thrill ride that pits a despicable protagonist against the world’s deadliest adversaries. When a pilfered object goes missing, he unwittingly becomes the object of a murderous jungle manhunt to retrieve a stolen secret so shocking it would alter the world’s balance of power.

  Go to The Geronimo Breach excerpt

  Purchase The Geronimo Breach

  About the Author

  Russell Blake lives full time on the Pacific coast of Mexico. He is the acclaimed author of the thrillers: Fatal Exchange, The Geronimo Breach, the Zero Sum trilogy (Kotov Syndrome, Focal Point and Checkmate), The Delphi Chronicle trilogy, King of Swords and Night of the Assassin.

  Non-fiction novels include the international bestseller An Angel With Fur (animal biography) and How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks (while drunk, high or incarcerated) – a joyfully vicious parody of all things writing and self-publishing related.

  “Capt.” Russell, 52, enjoys writing, fishing, playing with his dogs, collecting and sampling tequila, and waging an ongoing battle against world domination by clowns.

  The Delphi Chronicle serial trilogy is a work of fiction. Any similarity to persons living or dead is completely coincidental. Historical events and public figures have been used liberally throughout, however it is not the author’s intention to claim that any of the events portrayed herein are factual.

  Copyright © 2011 by Russell Blake

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law, or in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, contact [email protected].

  Foreward

  The goal of any good fiction is to blend fact and fantasy with such dexterity that it’s difficult to tell where the invention ends and the truth begins. The best lies are always based in fact, and writers are liars – they make things up for a living, or sometimes just for fun. They fabricate; they twist events to suit their whims; they tell fish stories, spin yarns, erect tall tales. They’re like politicians in that regard, although I believe that most writers are basically honest.

  It’s almost impossible to verify with one hundred percent certainty what is fact and what is fiction when examining the world of covert operations and intelligence agencies. Those interested in learning more about the allegations used as the basis of this fictional story are invited to do an internet search on The Pegasus File, or to explore the allegations of sustained criminality in the market system made by any number of websites, or to read the essays of brilliant social commentators like Noam Chomsky.

  The underlying sentiment that the criminalization of drugs in the U.S. has resulted in a centi-billion dollar expense to the nation for a completely failed ‘War On Drugs’ that began in the 1970s under then-president, Richard Nixon, is rooted in fact. As is the observation that the U.S. is the largest consumer of drugs in the world – after over forty-something years of this war – ensuring that those who profit from the continued battle, either financially or through consolidation of their power, will have a continued windfall for as long as the battle wages. The U.S. currently spends $500 dollars a second waging the War On Drugs and has the highest incarceration rate of any nation on the planet.

  Some cynics believe that in our modern geo-political world, large-scale wars like those common throughout human history are no longer viable; so the ideal strategy for a military/industrial/financial complex run amok to maximize its earnings is to formulate limited-scope wars without end – conflicts with no defined goal, and thus no definition of what constitutes a win. The War On Drugs certainly falls into that category, and it is without question that the bloated profits associated with the traffic, as well as with battling the traffic, are maintained by the illegality of it. That might be morally uncomfortable for some readers, however, it is also undeniable.

  There are no easy solutions to this quandary; and so the status quo result is obvious: more of the same.

  Book 1 – The Manuscript

  It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.

  Sun Tzu, The Art of War

  Introduction

  July, 1995

  The warm glow of the two story house’s lights glinted off the water, where a rubber inflatable boat approached, propelled by a nearly-silent electric motor. The small craft was almost invisible against the inky surface at that hour of night, as were the two figures in the bow of the black-hulled skiff.

  The pilot pulled up to the rickety floating platform at the water’s edge, where a 38 foot Mediterranean sports fishing yacht rested, rocking gently from the breeze and the barely perceptible surge of the inter-coastal waterway. His two passengers soundlessly pulled themselves onto the dock, scrutinizing their surroundings to verify they were alone. They’d researched the area and studied reconnaissance photos taken during the day; the closest neighboring house was thirty yards away, and dark, the residents evidently on vacation during the low season. A 65 foot Hatteras bobbed gently in the gloom at the empty residence’s dock, beyond which were still more private estates with various sized watercraft dotting the shoreline.

  Crickets chirped their nocturnal mating call from the surrounding trees. The area was verdant, lushly landscaped and thick with exotic plants arranged to simulate a tropical botanical garden.

  Even at eleven at night, the temperature was oven-like, the humidity rivaling that of a rain forest. It was hurricane season, muggy and still; the climate on the Florida gulf coast mirrored the sub-tropics from June through October.

  In spite of the heat, the two men wore black pants and long-sleeved windbreakers. The smaller man made a hand signal to his partner, who crept stealthily up the gangplank and onto the path that led to the back yard. Solar lighting along the boundary of the lot provided scant illumination as the moon lay hidden behind the cloudy night sky.

  Barking sounded from a garden a few docks down – the strident yapping of a highly-strung lap dog. Sound carried eerily on the water, distorting volume and direction; an elderly female voice reverberated off the glassy surface and seemed to come from everywhere as the dog was called back inside. Both men instinctively froze and crouched low while the battle of wills played out between owner and animal. ‘Pooka’ yelped out a parting canine soliloquy, followed by the distinctive slamming of a door. The lights in Pooka’s house went out now the dog was safely inside,
leaving the coast largely darkened except for the home that was their object of interest.

  The men exchanged glances; the one still on the dock made another hand signal – an abrupt gesture the smaller man correctly interpreted as one of impatience.

  From inside the house, Billie Holiday’s voice crooned a bluesy ballad in the living room, where a pregnant woman sat on the sofa reading a magazine by the soft amber light of a table lamp. In the office at the far end of the house, a man’s head shook almost imperceptibly through the partially-closed blinds as he pored over a stack of paperwork atop a cherry-wood desk. The walls were decorated with nautical equipment – an ancient sextant, a barometer, several shark jaws, a rusted harpoon tip. The seated figure was absorbed in his task, so he didn’t register the movement a few yards outside the window.

  Sarasota, Florida was a peaceful retirement community, largely inhabited by those life had rewarded with reasonable prosperity and a love of the water. Crime was predominately limited to vacant home burglaries and the occasional stolen car. The well-heeled paid a premium to live along the bay; the exclusive waterfront neighborhoods were considered safe and inviting.

  The muffled report of a silenced rifle caused a flock of seabirds to alight from the marsh grass at the water’s edge, as two of the small window panes in the office shattered and the man’s head exploded in a spray of bloody emulsion. The pregnant woman looked up from her reading and called the man’s name over the dusky, soulful singing. Outside, the black-clad assassin hastily jogged in a crouch back to the dock and the waiting inflatable.

  By the time screaming shattered the night’s tranquility, the darkened shape of the Zodiac was thirty yards from shore, making its way to a sleek cigarette boat a quarter mile away. When the trio was alongside the high speed cruiser, the passengers climbed aboard. The pilot of the dinghy methodically slashed its vinyl hull with a razor-sharp combat knife. The captain nodded to the two new arrivals, gesturing with his head at a pile of heavy anchor chain. The men quickly passed it over the side, and within moments, five hundred pounds of rusting metal sat in the center portion of the sinking tender while it plunged to the muddy bottom of the channel.