We Now Carry Author, Buzz Harcus Books




China Marine: Tsingtao Treasure
A Marine Returns to China in Search of Hidden Treasure
by Buzz Harcus

440 pages
Publication date: September 2005
List Price: $14.95


DESCRIPTION:

 

Corporal Harry Martin served with the US Marines in China after World War 11 until the Communist takeover in 1949. Harry witnessed China in the raw, and was happy to get back home to Michigan in one piece and return to civilian life. For thirty years he put China out of his mind, until one day when a notorious blackmarketeer, Joe Gionetti, appeared. Joe had been caught and brought to trial. Harry was a key witness that put Joe away. Joe had served his time in prison and refused to disclose where he and his partner had stashed millions away in China. Joe was now terminally ill and he asked Harry to return to Tsingtao to retrieve the money. Could Harry trust Joe? Would the money still be there? How could Harry get back to Tsingtao, not an easy thing to do in 1978? Luck fell Joe’s way when he was offered a position as mate aboard a Swedish grain ship leaving the Great Lakes bound for Shanghai and Tsingtao. Harry took the position and found more adventure than he bargained for, from the very moment he stepped aboard an ill fated ship until he reached Tsingtao where his troubles really began.

See below for an excerpt from China Marine: Tsingtao Traeasure

Readers thoughts on Tsingtao Treasure

Ray Walsh, Lansing (MI) State Journal Book Reviews:
"Harcus has created a memorable cast of characters and a variety of stimulating situations in his debut novel: excellent cover art makes this title more appealing."

Bill Seyffarth (China Marine) Hicksville, NY:
"I finished reading your book and it was a pleasure to read a good story again. Good plot, descriptive, devious twists and turns and above all, well defined and informative Good job!"

Dorothy Luxton, Bellaire, MI :
"Congratulations!!!! I loved the book. I finished it last night. You bet it kept my attention. It moved fast and was fun to read. When is the next one coming out?"

Mike Schreiner, Lansing MI:
"Your writing style made the book a hard one to lay down. I found myself placing it on the floor by my easy chair for a few minutes and being compelled to pick it up again so as to experience the next chain of events."

Ole Olsen (China Marine) Ontario, CA:
"Read your book and really enjoyed it. You painted a good picture of Tsingtao. The story line was very good and descriptions of places were excellent. I did think you were a bit heavy on sex, but hell, who doesn’t like sex!"

Jim Rice, Ballston Spa, NY:
"I really enjoyed reading China Marine: Tsingtao Treasure. I liked the way you developed your characters and brought them together. Harry became a good friend from the start -- a bit of a hero like Mickey Spillane, but yet, not overdone. Your book certainly has the right mix of suspense, intrigue, excitement and humor."

EXCERPTS

CHAPTER 46
LIBERTY IN SIN CITY

Harry inspected himself in the mirror. After all these weeks at sea it was hard to believe the clean-shaven, well-groomed man looking back at him was really him. It felt different being reasonably dressed after living in work clothes for so long. He checked out his black dress slacks and black flannel shirt again. Even his dress shoes felt light, awkward, after heavy workshoes. He looked down several times to assure himself he was wearing shoes.
Flaring the collar of his shirt, he held up the heavy gold pendent to his neck, then hesitated. Naw, he thought after a moment with a subtle shake of his head. Sandy would have liked it. Maybe he was getting a little too old for pendants and bracelets. He’d let it pass for now. Dropping the pendent back in his dresser drawer, he reached beyond it to a pair of rolled up socks. Unrolling them, he took out a roll of bills. Peeling off four fifties, a couple of twenties a few ten spots and several singles he balled the rest back into the socks and stuffed them to the back of the drawer. Good old American greenbacks ought to pay for a hot night in Shanghai.
Slipping on his old leather jacket, he grabbed a pair of warm leather gloves, stuffed them in his pocket, picked up his pass from the desktop and headed for the main deck humming to himself.
Evening was the nicest time of the day, he thought, as he watched the late slanting rays of sunlight breaking through the cloud cover, reflecting off the dull, dirty windows of several taller buildings. He shivered. It was chilly. Hurriedly, he made his way down the gangway and headed for the guardhouse by the main gate. He showed his pass to a Chinese soldier with a burp gun casually slung over his shoulder, and was waved through.
Harry stood just outside the gate and looked about him. No rickshaws? Not even a pedicab. What gives, he wondered. The street was crowded with people, and as he looked at them closer, he saw they all seemed to be dressed alike in blue and black Mao jackets, even the women. No chatter, no hustle, no “Hey, sailor, no momma, no poppa, need money, can get you a deal, got my sister – “ Nothing. And not one damned rickshaw in sight! He’d have to hoof it up to the Bund on foot. And any action, he thought, well, just looking at the female population wrapped up tight in high-collared Mao jackets was not really a turn on. Hell, there had to be a place for action, even in Communist China. Sin couldn’t have been outlawed; where there was a will, there was a way. He was sure of that.
Thirty years, and a lifetime earlier, he’d taken a rickshaw to the Enlisted Men’s Club in Shanghai. That turned into a hell of an experience when the boy demanded screaming rickshaw boys suddenly surrounded more money and him. Thankfully, an MP Sergeant had come to his rescue, beating his way through the crowd with a billy club. This time he wasn’t the “boot” Marine wet behind the ears. No. He was ready.
It didn’t bother him that most of the crew had headed ashore an hour earlier. The last time he’d been in Shanghai, he’d felt really rushed tagging along with his buddies, having to see as much as possible, to get to the Enlisted Men’s Club, the shops, everything before liberty ended. This time he planned to shop, to look around, to enjoy himself, not rushing helter-skelter through the city. If Shanghai hadn’t changed too drastically under Communist rule, he might even find himself enjoying sexual gratification in the arms of a dark-eyed Chinese whore. The thought excited him Shanghai, he mulled the name several times. It was exciting to be here.
He started off walking at a fairly brisk pace making his way through the teeming crowds, watchful for pickpockets, inhaling the smell of garlic and onions, dodging a sea of bikes, older model cars and the press of people as he made his way along the Bund. Before long, he headed in toward Nanking Road Here, he took time to windowshop, to browse in several small, obscure shops, stopping to check the prices on embroidered jackets, carved ivory, jade and native made bric-a-brac. Pickings were slim. Although the gates to China had been open for a while, there was still a limited supply of “touristy-type” goods.