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China Sunset

by Richard L. Jones

192 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0873; ISBN 1-55395-159-X; US$21.00, C$24.99, EUR17.50, £12.00

Escape from China during the Communist take over and a love story of an American man and a eurasian woman. They have to part for patriotic reasons, then must find a way to get back together.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book American flyer Mark Wilson was working for an American Freight carrier in China when he finds himself stranded. He and his friend and co-pilot, Ralph Denning, are assigned the task of staying behind to load and fly the company's heavy equipment from Hahgzhou, China, to Hong Kong, where the company was moving because of the Communist take over. Mark and Ralph are shot down by fighter planes while taking off. Ralph is killed. Mark returns to Hahgzhou to ask his Chinese house boy to help him get to Hong Kong. He cannot find him and is stranded. He is shot by Communists soldiers while trying to get out of town, but is rescued by Nationalist Patriots who agree to help him. While recovering in the Patriots hideaway, he meets a Eurasian girl, Teriko. They eventually fall in love. Turmoil separates the two when Teriko is assigned a job with the Patriots and Mark goes to Formosa to become an Flight Instructor for the Nationalist Air Force. Teriko works as a dancer at a Communists officers club, eventually meeting the Commandant of the fortress. She moves in with him in order to get information for the Patriots. During one of Mark's training missions a student is shot down by a Communist fighter plane. Mark tries to rescue him when he crashes on the Mainland, onlt to find the student is dead and his body is trapped in the airplane. Upon leaving the area Mark is captured and taken to the fortress where Teriko was assigned. The Communists are using drugs to make Mark confess he is flying for the U.S. They want to involve the U.S. in the China conflict to show the World that the U.S. is interfering in their civil war. The Patriots help rescue Mark and Teriko but while escaping the Communists force their truck over a cliff. Teriko is injured badly. Mark carries her down to the beach but is shot by the pursuers. The Nationalists from Formosa had been looking for Mark and the student pilot and were able to rescue Mark and Teriko. The Korean war starts and Mark resigns from the Nationalist Air force and rejoins the U.S. Airs Force in Japan.

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About the Author Richard Jones grew up in a small town in Kansas during the Great Depression. He contracted odd jobs in his preteens and worked with his Dad as a building contractor. He loved flying and while in High School he spent every penny on flying lessons, receiving his private license during that time. When he graduated, he joined the Navy and was assigned to the Amphibious forces. His ship was sent to Hong Kong to support the U.S. Consulate during the Communist take over of mainland China in 1949. During his tenure in Hong Kong, the Korean War started an his ship was ordered to Japan to prepare for the Inchon Landing on September 15, 1950. They landed the Marines 1'st division on Wolmi-Do in the morning and were the control vessel for the Inchon landing in the afternoon. Later they were assigned to the East coast of Korea making many raids and destroying bridges and tunnels supporting British Commandos and Underwater Demolition Teams. Jones returned to the San Diego Naval Hospital due to injuries after about eight months. He was medically discharged from the Navy. In 1952 he joined the Northrop Aircraft Division in Hawthorne, California. He worked there for thirty-one years and retired as an Executive in the Manufacturing Engineering operation supporting Design Engineering in developing new technology for future aircraft. Upon retiring, he moved to Colorado and established a Manufacturing Engineering Consulting Company and worked for the U.S. Census Bureau, among other tasks to keep him busy. He loved writing so he now is using some of his memories since he can no longer do physical labor.

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Sample Excerpt

Chapter 2: Still Alive

The air was heavy with the smell of incense mixed with burning wood. There were voices speaking softly in Chinese, so as not to awaken the still figure stretched out on the cot.

Outside the rain had ceased and the moisture was still hanging heavily on the foliage. The sun was slowly rising in the east, pulling the dampness from the saturated earth. The warmth of the darting sunrays was chasing the chill of the night rain as they penetrated the branches of the trees and valleys of the land.

Birds were busily awakening the day, hunting for the worms that had been driven from the earth by the rain, happily hopping along and chirping. Others sat on the dripping branches singing in a carefree manner, greeting the warmth as it filtered through to them.

Mark, hearing the voices and the chirping of the birds, was slowly opening his eyes, but for a moment they wouldn't focus. As his vision cleared he could see two men and a young woman sitting on the floor next to a small open fire. An iron pot was hanging over it, suspended by a crudely shaped iron rod supported by rocks. The contents of the pot would bubble up and as the woman stirred the mixture it would smooth out and once again begin to bubble.

As Mark pushed himself up on his elbow, all eyes turned to him. The young woman smiled and arose from the floor. "You must lie still, you have been hurt badly." She ordered. She went to the cot and gently pushed him down.

Mark, closed his eyes momentarily to let the dizziness pass and once again he opened them. The woman was beautiful he could see in her features that she was Eurasian. Her long black hair flowed downward loosely and lightly caressed her partially bare shoulders.

In the semi-darkness her eyes sparkled, but were filled with sternness that most of the young Chinese possessed in these harsh years. The garment she wore was not the traditional high-necked dress with the slits on the side, but more of a sarong that might be worn in the South Pacific.

Although Mark, was very sick, he couldn't help but notice the mild and alluring scent of this woman as she bent over him, he noticed the firmness of her breasts and the slender body that aroused him, the pain in his side seemed to fade away for a moment.

"You are very lucky to be alive." She said. "If these two men had not been nearby, you would not be here now. They heard the shots and saw you run into the alley, they were able to reach you in time and fight your attackers."

Mark gave them a weak smile and thanked them. They returned a warm smile and nodded their heads. "Where am I, and who are you?" Mark asked, "Whoa! Slow down, one question at a time," She laughed. Her laughter was warm and sincere, Mark relaxed and listened to the beautiful woman.

"My name is Teriko," the girl explained. "And these men are part of our underground workers. You are in a safe place for the time being, but in a few days we will have to move you to our headquarters in the hill." Mark noticed Teriko had a British accent and was about to inquire of this, but changed his mind. The girl spoke to the two men in Chinese, they nodded and left the small building.

"I have sent the men to Che Woo my close companion, he will bring a cart for transporting you," she explained. Teriko went to the pot, dipped a bowl of the mixture and returned to him. "Here, eat some of this, it will give you strength." Sitting down next to him on the cot, she proceeded to feed him.

The contents of the bowl looked like an ordinary broth, but had the taste of green grass and burnt wood. The warmth of the broth, and the gentleness of the lovely women, caused Mark to relax and shortly after eating the whole bowl of food, fell into a deep sleep.

Teriko let him sleep most of the day. His sleep was very disturbed, he would start to have nightmares of the previous day, he rolled and tossed, his face would contort as if it were happening again. Teriko would go to the cot and gently take his hand and at the same time stroke his hair. The rolling and tossing would subside and once again his sleep would become peaceful.

It was late afternoon when he finally awakened. Teriko was humming a Chinese melody while feeding fuel to the fire, he didn't say anything, but lay there watching the graceful woman at work.

As though she sensed him watching her she turned and immediately went to him. "I think I will live, but boy am I dizzy." "You lay right there you need plenty of rest." She ordered. "You have lost a lot of blood, and you know what? We don't even know your name."

"Mark Wilson, I was working for the Carter Freight Service in Hangzhou, they are now in Hong Kong, that is where I was attempting to go when I was rudely interrupted. Do you think I have a chance to get there?" "There is a good chance, but right now you must get more rest." She unconsciously stroked his hair, he took her hand in his and kissed it gently and thanked her for helping him. Teriko's face became flushed but the gentleness of this handsome man gave her a sense of love that she hadn't felt for a long time. She liked this man very much, even though she had known him for a few hours.

Days came and went, at times he felt like getting up but Teriko made him lie there and rest. Her commands were stern but yet gentle, he obeyed as though she were the supreme commander. Mark let her treat his wound and care for him did everything she told him to do.

Teriko seemed to enjoy nursing him and frequently she would sit on the cot next to him and stroke his hair and ramble on about nothing in particular, she enjoyed speaking in English, it had been a long time since she talked this way, it was almost as if she was a little girl again.

She remembered it would irritate her Father he would be working on his Consul reports and she would be asking questions one after another and before he could answer, she would ask another. Her Father would then yell at her to shut up a minute. Tears would well up in her eyes and she would pout, then he would take her in his arms and kiss her, and tell her that he was sorry for yelling at her.

Three days had passed since Mark had been rescued. Teriko continued to tend his wound, feed him and comfort him during his nightmares, he gained strength steadily and wanted to get up but Teriko continued to insist that he remain lying down.

As Mark became stronger, she became more alluring, as she was giving him his daily rub down to prevent soreness, she was massaging his chest and arms he very gently pulled her down to him, "Teriko, you're so beautiful, so wonderful." he kissed her on the lips, she began to push away but Mark's arms went around her, he could feel her breathing heavily as her body contacted his.

"Mark, we can't do this, you will hurt yourself." He kissed her again his lips were burning with desire. Teriko's desire was also being stirred she returned the kiss fervently. Mark felt the soft velvety flesh under her clothing, as his hands were groping for an entrance.

"No Mark! No!" She pulled herself away from him and went to the other side of the room. This man had inflamed her as no man had, but in his condition this could open his wound once again. "I'm sorry Honey, I just couldn't help myself. "Don't be sorry I understand, I too have been lonely, so be patient."

"I believe I should get up and try walking, I'm sure it will help build up my strength." He was trying to ease the tension of the moment be pushed himself up on his elbow and started to swing his legs from the cot.

"Here let me help you, if you insist that you must get up," she took his arm and held him as he wavered on the edge of the cot for a moment. He hadn't realized he had become so weak, he was sorry that he had let Teriko make him stay down so long. She had overwhelmed him with all the attention.

His side was very sore as he started to stand up it felt as though his wound was tearing itself open. He pushed this fear aside and continued to rise. Teriko held him and could feel his body tremble from the effort of just standing there motionless.

Mark stood there, bent over, to relieve the tension on the sore muscles of his side. Then feebly he shuffled his feet along the sodden floor. "I don't think I will ever get my strength back, I guess you will have to take care of me for the rest of my life." He kidded Teriko. She smiled and said, "It was a deal," The both laughed and started back to the cot. Sitting on the edge of the cot, Mark became very talkative and began to tell Teriko how he decided to come to China, then he talked of his childhood days in Texas.

Those earlier years in Texas were unpleasant ones as he recalled. His Mother and Father were his whole world. His Father was Co-owner of the Golden Horse Oil Company, which had offices in Austin. His Father was so wrapped up in the business, that he had very little time for Mark and his Mother. They were never lacking for money and the essentials of life, but they needed more than that.

His mother couldn't stand the loneliness and ran off with a lawyer when Mark was seven years old. Mark had gone with his Mother later but returned to live with his Father in less than a year, after it became apparent that his Mothers new husband disliked him. When Mark was fourteen the Golden Horse Oil Company went bankrupt, they had over extended themselves in other endeavors, bills couldn't be paid and the oil company couldn't reorganize because no one would refinance them, their debts were too high and they couldn't find a way out.

Shortly after the oil company went bankrupt, Mark's Father shot himself. Mark then returned to his Mother who had since divorced the lawyer and was living alone in Dallas. he completed his high school there and then with the trust fund that his Father somehow was able to put away safely and couldn't by touched by anyone until he was eighteen, he entered the University of Texas. His second year at the University it became apparent the war in Europe was expanding and the U.S. would probably get pulled into it... The Army Air Corps was subsidizing several private Flying schools throughout the nation to take selected boys from college and train them to fly they then would become commissioned officers in the reserve Army Air Corp. and would be available when needed.

Mark became commissioned this way, and when Pearl Harbor was attacked he was called into active duty and was assigned to Randolph field in Texas for further training for combat flying.

"I'm sorry Teriko, I didn't mean to bore you with my life's story," He apologized "Please continue, it's very interesting." She wanted more. "Well that's about it actually, the war came and went and as you see I survived now here I am in another war. What about you Teriko? I'm curious, you have a very distinct British accent."

"Yes, my Father was a British subject, he came to China when he was very young as a diplomat in the British Consulate. He married my Mother, who was Chinese and they were very happy for many years before the war with Japan.

My Mother died in 1939, my Father was devastated, the country was in an uproar, so he decided to leave China and return to England. I was seventeen when we arrived there. I had been there before on vacations, but I wasn't real happy about leaving China, so I sulked a lot when we first arrived there. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving all of my friends in China. I just know the world had come to an end.

My Father saw to it that we attended many social affairs and eventually I began to enjoy England and the social gatherings. I met many nice young people and I began to live once again.

As the war progressed London became a frequent target of the German bombers, then the buzz bombs began to dive blindly onto the city, I became terrified, and prayed silently that we would move to the safety of the country, by my Father had become attached to the War Ministry and could not leave the city, so I suffered silently.

I met Grant during this period, he was a pilot also, he made the troubled world seem so far away, then he was killed, again my world collapsed." Her eyes filled with tears from the fond memory. Mark pulled her to him as he sat on the cot, he nestled her to his chest. "I'm sorry Teriko you have had it pretty rough." He comforted her.

"Now look at me." She pulled away from him. "Getting sentimental over things that happened a thousand years ago." She stood up and went to the black iron pot and commenced to prepare the stew.

"Teriko when are we going to leave here? I'm sure I can travel now. I know this place isn't safe for you." Mark knew she was risking her life nursing him back to health and he felt guilty, but was grateful to have someone care enough to help him.

"Don't worry, this place is safe enough, the Communists are too busy looting and destroying the cities to bother us right now. Che should arrive here tomorrow, then we will move." She was thinking of the trip it would be rough on Mark, but she couldn't think of an easy way to move him. She was sure the roads would be heavily patrolled, but they had to take the risk.

Food rations were becoming short they didn't have many ingredients, but it was warm and if you ate enough it was filling. After the two had completed eating, Teriko went to the cot and sat on the floor next to Mark. They made small talk for a few moments, each acting as though they had just met for the first time.

As she talked, Mark looked at her beautiful feature, his heart went out to her. He couldn't resist the temptation any longer, he gently kissed her on the forehead as she talked, then he kissed her nose, then moved to her lips. Teriko responded the air became electrified as she arose from the floor and lay next to him, the small cot brought them close together. The small talk ceased as the two were brought together as though they were magnetized.

In the distance the clatter of steel wheels could be heard approaching the small building, this shattered the heavenly world the two had been approaching, Teriko was on her feet very quickly, she hurried to the door and opened it slightly and peered cautiously up the road.

"It's Che, he is a day early, something must be wrong." She stepped outside to greet him. She saw from the expression on his face that things were not good. "Hoi! Hoi! Che how are you." She yelled. He waved back energetically and smiled. It was like old times she thought when he smiled that way.

The cart was pulled up close to the shack. Che jumped down and took her hand. "Say you look real good, what's going on?" He chided. She blushed at this and gave him a punch in the chest. "Come in I want you to meet your passenger."

The two entered the room laughing, Che holding Teriko's hand as though they were lovers. A pang of jealousy sprang up in Mark. "Mark, this is my adopted brother." Che was very pleased with Teriko's introduction, he took Mark's hand and shook it warmly as though he were a long lost friend.

Mark felt foolish, because of the feeling of jealousy, he returned the greeting with a smile. "I've heard a lot about you Che, Teriko has told me many nice things about you." "She is a very dear friend, I'm sure she has exaggerated." His English was very good, it came easy for him as though it were his natural language.

Che attended the English school in Tsingtao, with Teriko. He also lived with her family for a few years after his parents passed away, he became a member of the family, an adopted brother as Teriko had stated. You came a day early Che, had something happened?" She questioned.

"The Communist patrols are becoming more frequent, the are beginning to patrol the rural areas. They are determined to destroy all that oppose them, their strength is unbelievable, it seems as though they are a different race of people. Their tenacity and cruelty are beyond all reason." Che grew very serious as he described the new regime.

"Mark, even those that we grew up with and played with us as youngsters, have turned on us and have every intention of destroying us, as though we were a disease. Yes, Teriko, I came a day early because Mat Sin has ordered all patriots to be ready to move south in four days. He wants to join the Nationalists troops as soon as possible.

The urgency in Che's voice moved Teriko into action, she started picking up a few of her personal things and tossed them into a small woolen bag that had seen many fast moves of this sort in the past.

"Mark we have almost thirty kilometers to go its going to be dark and we have to stay off the main roads." Teriko was filling him in on the travel plan as she moved swiftly about the room. "You will be in the cart with straw and a few light boxes on top of you. No matter how much pain you might have you must not make a sound while traveling." She looked at him to see if he had any doubts. "I'm sure I can make it alright, don't worry I won't make a sound." Mark smiled at her confidently.

"Well Che I guess we are ready if you are." Teriko had the bag in her hand and went to assist Mark to his feet, Che moved beside Mark also together they steadied him while he stood up, he felt dizzy and nauseous, but he fought it back he didn't feel this bad when he was up earlier, what now he thought.

"Are you okay?" Teriko inquired. "Yeah, just fine." He lied. "Lets go." He said this a little harsh, he hoped they hadn't noticed. Che opened the door and looked outside, all was clear, so he opened the door wide and the three moved out into the night.

The moon had not arisen yet, but the sun had just gone below the horizon, and the atmosphere was still illuminated by its brightness in the West. It was a very clear night and the stars were beginning to appear brighter as the sun sank lower below the horizon.

The movement of the three only broke the silence as they shuffled toward the lonely cart that sat near the shack. The oxen stood motionless in the traces as through asleep, they were taking advantage of the rest stop and could care less for the troubles of the world. The cart was bare and looked very uncomfortable, the boards were uneven from the many years of use and haphazard repairs.

"Sit here on the cart a moment Mark I will get a blanket to lay in the cart." Teriko hurried into the shack while Che eased Mark to a setting position. Teriko immediately returned with the blanket. Che went to a pile straw that was nearby and spread it across the floor of the cart. Teriko spread the blanket over the straw, they eased Mark onto his makes shift bed.

Once more Mark had to fight back the rising feeling in his stomach, when he was fully reclined the feeling subsided and was comfortable with the straw to help eliminate the rough surface of the cart Che slipped a board between the rails of the cart it passed a few inches above Mark's head. "This will give you a little air space after we pile the straw and boxes over you." Che explained.

Mark, I'm going to leave now." It was Teriko, bidding him farewell. "I am going across country and will see you tomorrow." she took Mark's hand and squeezed it gently. His heart swelled with love for his courageous girl. He wanted to pull her to him and hold her forever. "See you in the morning." Before he completed the sentence she was gone into the night.

Che began to pile the straw over Mark, the small space over his head became very dark, the darkness and the slight pressure gave him claustrophobia, he fought the feeling of panic and resigned himself to the journey. The wound in his side began to throb slightly, he couldn't move around very much, but managed to find a position that eased the pain a little. "Are you okay Mark?" Cheung questioned. "Everything is okay, I'm ready if you are." He answered. The cart began to move, bumping and bouncing along the trail that would lead them to the highlands.

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Catalogue Information

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