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Winter Break

by Manuel Parra

143 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1029; ISBN 1-4120-0659-7; US$16.50, C$19.95, EUR12.95, £9.50

To his students, Paul Madison is a high energy, fun-loving seventh Grade Science teacher who makes learning fun and exciting. To his clients, he is a shield form death and their only lifeline home. But, home is sometimes where the greatest danger lies. From Chicago to San Francisco, then to Japan this teacher has more to correct than spelling mistakes over...Winter Break.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Paul Madison is a teacher by day who loves his job. Middle school science is interesting enough to keep him busy and hold his attention. At night and on his vacations, his interest is held by walking on the razors edge of death. Placing himself in harms way to protect his clients comes as easy to Paul as grading an exam. In Winter Break, Paul is called to work for Ishihara Yamoto. He has worked for Yamoto before and this assignment will be no less dangerous. Yamamoto has spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to collect his families ancient Katana. He has found the last piece of the collection and needs Paul to help him get it. Surrounded in deception, lies, sabotage and death, Paul blends the ancient world of the Samurai Code with the modern world of thievery and revenge to retrieve the sword. Along the way many must die, but many loos ends are still left undone. From Chicago to San Francisco then finally to Japan, the action never stops as Paul warns Yamamoto... "Keep your enemies close to you, but your friends even closer." The events culminate with an unexpected ending before Paul returns to school from ... Winter break.

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About the Author Manuel Parra is a Science Teacher in Northern California where he has trained in the Martial arts since he was nine years old. He spends his time raising, training, and playing with his daughter.

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Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

The team waited for nightfall. The two guards at the gate were at heightened awareness, but when the shot comes from a quarter mile away there is no time to react. They fell with ease. Once in the compound, Kenji entered the house first. When he entered the main room, all five men jumped to their feet. The first one up fell before he even got to full stance. A smashing chop to his neck broke it without resistance. The next was pressed against a wall until his lungs popped. The other three were in full attack mode and ready to fight. They attacked Kenji as a thousand ants would attack a spider. Kenji stood his ground. He fended them off with slaps to their bodies that could topple trees. Bodies flew everywhere. He finally got a hold of one and smashed his head into the man's forehead. The soldiers skull cracked then his body went limp. The last two were defeated when Kenji grabbed a hold of them with a bear hug that could bend a tire in half. Both bodies fell to the floor simultaneously. Kenji bowed to his fallen opponents and went in search for the rest of the team. By this time Tori was in the compound headed for the house. Juno had found Akiko and her guard and was ready to release the arrow. Akiko was brushing her hair with the guard standing over her. When she turned from replacing the brush on her vanity, the guard was pinned against the wall with a three foot arrow sticking out of his back. Juno had hit the man directly in the left lung. The soldier never had the opportunity to make a sound before the second arrow pierced the base of his skull. Tori entered the room and grabbed Akiko by the hand. Now it was Paul's turn.

Paul walked along the long hallway that lead to the training hall. Hiro was in the hall working on his sword technique with a bokken. His guard was standing in as his sparing partner. Paul walked through the door and stood in front of the shomen. Hiro turned and faced him, but did not move. He knew of his brother's gaijin assassin, but he had never met him. He did, however, recognize him from a photograph that he had obtained.

"So, my brother has attempted to retrieve his niece and he has sent his gaijin dog to fetch her." Hiro said with disgust.

"We already have Akiko." Paul answered. "All of your men are dead. Now, there is only one task left for this dog to accomplish. I am here to fetch your head for my master."

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Catalogue Information

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