Blood Tide Read online

  Chris palmed the boat into gear and we sped towards San Diego. Ten minutes later we beached at the cove, winched the vessel onto the trailer and hitched it to the Unimog. We then dropped it off at Carl’s friend’s house, and caught the next flight to Alaska.

  We had quite a reception committee at Anvik Airport. Including, Mr. Santana. He was about to catch a plane back to Colombia.

  “My friend, you and Carl interest me very much. I was an army office during Pablo Escobar’s reign of terror and have made some discreet enquiries about what you have been up to. Our paths will meet again.”

  He handed me a card. Even though he was no longer in the military, it still stated his rank: Colonel Carlos Santana. That must have caused some mirth among his men. Or maybe not. His hawk-eye stare as he spoke indicated a man of iron resolve.

  I replied in Spanish. “I look forward to that.”

  I rejoined our group. Debra and Chris were still in a clinch. “Did everything go OK?”

  “Exactly as planned. I was just the boat jockey.”

  “That I don’t believe.”

  “For once he’s telling the truth,” I said. “This was Carl’s and my mission.”

  Caitlin leaned up and whispered in my ear. “You listened to me. You came back. I like that.”

  Epilogue

  THE ANVIK EXPERIENCE fishing lodge usually closed for winter on the last week of September when the Silver Salmon run ended.

  Not this year. If fact, the lodge was full to capacity with as diverse a crowd of people as one would find anywhere. They had come to witness the wedding of Chris and Debra Stone.

  The furthest travelers were from South Africa, Debra’s parents Andrew and Anne Gordon, her sister Josie, a world renowned conservationist, and brother Brian. Also with them was a tough-looking man who introduced himself as Hardus Venter, a South African detective and former soldier who knew Nick from an African war most people had either forgotten or wished to forget.

  Also present was Alejandro Dumas, now recovered from his bullet wounds. He had been granted asylum. He was considering setting up a practice in Los Angeles and was already assured of one lucrative client — the Anvik Experience River Fishing Lodge. With him was a teenage boy whom he introduced as Andrea’s son Ernesto. Ernesto put out his hand. For several moments, neither Carl nor I could speak. We shook hands. Then we grabbed and hugged him.

  Fishing clients came from every corner of the American continent, as well as much of Europe and Asia. I had no idea how revered Chris was, and I suspect he didn’t either. Also, the entire Athabascan village pitched up. The elder’s simple yet infinitely dignified benediction of the newly-weds was, in my opinion, a highlight of the day

  Caitlin and Josie were bridesmaids, and Nick was best man. Carl and I were groomsmen. I’m not sure what I did to deserve that, but maybe Caitlin put in a word for me.

  Blessings were bestowed and the wedding cake — shaped like a leaping wild salmon — was ceremoniously cut as cameras flashed. Glasses spilled over with champagne fizz. Chris rose to speak.

  “I spent much of my life living in limbo, not dead, but not alive. Ten years ago I altered that with a simple decision; that it doesn’t have to be that way.

  “I am lucky to have a woman who is not only beautiful, but brave. Some of you may know her story*. It is a triumph of the human spirit. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I must have been St. Francis of Assisi in a previous life to be so richly rewarded with her in this one. I know I do not deserve her, but as my friend Kelly Murdoch says … hey, take a win when you can.

  “I also have a daughter, who is special beyond the meaning of the word. We are only now getting to know each other, and the more that happens, the more I adore her. Please stand, sweetheart.”

  Caitlin rose to loud applause and some wolf whistling. OK, the whistling was from me. It was the first time I saw her blush.

  “Finally, I have what few others are blessed with. I have blood brothers and sisters. I am not just talking about blood family. I am talking about blood in its purest, most scared element. Blood that stands by you no matter what. Blood that never yields. Blood that is unconquerable.”

  He raised a glass.

  “My blood brothers and sisters, you know who you are.”

  We did.

  The End

  *As told in The Apocalypse Chase

  If you enjoyed Blood Tide, here are some reviews of the other books in the Chris Stone Series. For more information, please visit my website www.grahamspence.com or contact me [email protected]:

  Bloodhorn

  An absolute must-read in an up-to-the-minute setting

  In spite of the backdrop of the horrors of the rhino horn trade, this fast-paced and exciting novel leads up to one of the most satisfying endings you will find in the genre. Following the changes of country and the twists and turns of the story you will watch Chris Stone and his team of family and friends outfacing one of the most heartless villains you are likely to come across. Very good read indeed, I couldn't put it down - this is an all-nighter if you are one of the readers who has to know what happens next!

  High-Stakes Thriller Depicting an Important Issue!

  An important book about the corruption of big game hunting, particularly the exploitation of rhinos, in Africa and the heroes trying to save wildlife. Chris Stone is a guys-guy. Chris is a war veteran trying to live a quiet life as a fisherman's guide in Alaska but when his girlfriend's sister, a game warden in South Africa is kidnapped, he is launched into a high-stakes situation of life and death. Readers that enjoy Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series will enjoy this book.

  Blood Brothers

  An up-to-the-minute African adventure

  I loved the earlier Chris Stone adventures, The Apocalypse Chase and Bloodhorn. Now comes a third all-action thriller set mostly in Africa, this time in the world of international terrorism. You'll never guess where the story leads you, and you'll be kept on your toes all the way through.

  I like Chris Stone and his brave and resourceful friends. They are real and human, and the situations they face are as real as today's news, if you have seen coverage of horrors committed under the name of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Africa. This time the good side wins!

  Can't wait till the next Chris Stone adventure hits Kindle!!

  Best of the series

  What a great book. Well researched. Holds your attention from start to finish. Best in the series. What’s next please...

  The Apocalypse Chase

  A terrific fishing tale...

  So what makes a good fishing tale? Perhaps it is a little like real estate: location, location, location (or, as the Australians like to say, “position, position, position...”) But it is more than that…it is the temperament of the fisherman, the poles, the flies, the weather, the obstacles to success…as well as the size of the catch. There also has to be a little time for contemplation, and ruminations about the state of the world, both personally and globally. All this is here for the taking in this first self-published novel by Graham Spence, co-author of several nonfiction titles about the African bush with the fabled conservationist Lawrence Anthony, who died in 2012.

  I read this story in a day because Spence made this fiction absolutely propulsive. The central character, Chris, sells advertising for a small newspaper in Queens, New York and is bored with his life. He is middle-aged, divorced, and barely speaks to his wife or daughter anymore. After experiencing a “heart incident” in a meeting one day at work, he decides to go ahead and live before he dies. He wants to fish the wild places where fish have never seen a human. This is the tale.

  He first chooses South Africa. The narrative shifts between moments of sunny calm with great, satisfying catches and moments of breath-catching, death-defying horror. The absolute best part of this narrative (who really trusts a fisherman/storyteller anyway?) are the details and keen insights that convince us that this is the real thing, the actual location, the true situa
tion. It is fascinating. But Chris doesn’t end there.

  The next location is Colombia, South America of all places. Chris thinks that no one in their right mind would go to Colombia with all the FARC activity and kidnappings, so he won't have any competition for fish. He researches locations and decides fishing along the coastline beaches and away from the jungle would probably be safe. His Colombia section just reminds us just what a fisherman (tall tales) Chris really is. But he is so good at storytelling and fishing, we find it hard to put the book down. He survives (!) his travels in Africa and South America and we move on. But I don’t want to give away all his secrets. This is something you need to discover for yourselves. I thought it was a blast.

  So I discovered this title when I began researching the authors of THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER, an exceptionally well-written nonfiction about game conservation and elephant killings in Africa.

  Do yourself a favor. I can guarantee you will have an unusual (and terrific!) day’s reading ahead with a natural raconteur, especially if you like fly fishing stories.

  Immersive and well written adventure story

  I am not a fisherman, nor have I ever been interested in fishing, and so I was not sure that this was going to be a story I enjoyed. Pretty much from the first 10 pages, however, I was hooked (excuse the pun). Whilst the story revolves around a protagonist who loves his fishing, it is far from a "fishing yarn". An exciting and entertaining book that is super relaxed and easy to read. The biggest surprise was that I got completely immersed in the pictures the author painted of these exotic fishing locations and actually found myself yearning to try it out as a sport. But great adventure all round. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

  About the author

  Born in Zimbabwe, Graham Spence was a journalist for 25 years in South Africa reporting on the turbulent apartheid era.

  He now lives in Berkshire, England with his wife and two sons and is a full time writer.

  His previous non-fiction books, The Elephant Whisperer, Babylon’s Ark and The Last Rhino, written with his brother-in-law Lawrence Anthony, are global best sellers. Lawrence Anthony was known as the ‘Indiana Jones of conservation’.

  After the death of Lawrence in 2012, Spence started fiction writing, basing his plots on factual events.

  His first novel, The Apocalypse Chase, is about a businessman suffering an existential crisis and decides to go fishing in the world’s most dangerous places, seeking adventure and fish that have never seen humans before. Spence combines his love of the outdoors with fast-paced action as his lead character Chris Stone is kidnapped by Marxist revolutionaries, confronts Islamic jihadists, and fights for his life during an epic wilderness trip.

  His next novel, Bloodhorn, deals with the wildlife mafia that is annihilating Africa’s rhino. Again based on fact, the action moves from South Africa to Vietnam, and the harsh reality where game guards armed with bolt-action rifles daily put their lives on the line against heavily-armed mercenaries.

  The third book in the Chris Stone series, Blood Brothers, deals with terrorism in Africa, fueled by the abundance of uranium and vast reserves of other mineral wealth in the continent.

  Spence has an intimate knowledge of Africa. During his years as a newspaper reporter, he covered a variety of news beats including crime and politics, although much of his work was reporting on the low level civil war that simmered in South Africa for two decades. He edited a regional newspaper, The Zululand Observer, for seven years after Nelson Mandela was released.

  His ‘spiritual’ home is in the African wilderness. He grew up in Mozambique, where his parents were British expatriates, and spent much of his childhood either exploring the bush on his doorstep, or fishing and sailing with his father.

  His relatives own a game reserve in Zululand, and he is currently working on a memoir of a conservationist at the forefront of the fight to save the African rhino, something Spence’s former mentor Lawrence Anthony would applaud.