The Dragon and the Pearl

It is 1901. The great land of China is a giant cauldron simmering with tension. Stirred and fuelled by the secret society called Yiheqhan (Righteous and Harmonious Fists) – known to Westerners as The Boxers – resentment of Westerners and their religions, and especially of the Christian Missionaries who arrogantly requisitioned Chinese Temples and declared them their own, threatens to boil over into a bloody and historic rebellion. The British Government identifies one remaining progressive Chinese leader with the power and influence to bring things under control – the Manchurian Li Hung-Chang – but who dares undertake the terrifyingly perilous mission of seeking him out? Only one man has the intelligence, cunning and courage for such a task – and soon the Prime Minister calls, as he so often has before, “Send for Stanton Ware!” And so, disguised as a Manchu, begins another mission for the intrepid international adventurer and acknowledged expert in Far Eastern affairs. In China he re-visits ‘The House of a Thousand Joys’ and its resident beauties, Diverse Delight, Happy Hour and Celestial Flower, but it is Zivana, the young part-English, part-Russian, part-Manchu beauty who is to be his partner for the mission who takes away his breath – and ultimately his heart.

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Stanton Ware pondered the person who would be chosen as his companion on this dangerous mission to Peking. Undoubtedly it would be a man who was used to spy out the secrets of rivals. Certainly he would be a brave and patriotic companion.

The door opened. Stanton almost betrayed him-self by uttering an exclamation.

For, it was not a man who had entered the room, but undoubtedly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life! She was the exotic Zinvana.