The Devil's Key: Panama Jihad

The settings of this book are many and varied. One setting is the Philippine city of Manila; the next setting is the container ship which transports the villains. The third setting is the Panama Canal; the fourth setting is the Republic of Panama itself. Nick Savage is the protagonist secretly employed as a sleeper agent, working for the CIA to keep watch over the Panama Canal. He is to report anything suspicious and discovers an Al-Queda plot to destabilize the free world, using the Panama Canal as a pawn. The antagonists in this book are a group of Philippine Nationals of a designated "Moro" faction of an Al-Queda branch. This book is likely to appeal to readers because therein is a plot that leads the reader through true descriptions of many of the Panama Canal Locks operations and hardware. The target audience could be anyone who enjoys an action adventure with a different plot With a lot of insight into the operation and maintenance of the Canal itself. I worked at the Panama Canal Locks so that the reader will benefit from an insider's look at the operation of the Panama Canal. I also know the weaknesses that are inherent in the operation. I lead the reader through many of my own personal experiences on board ships, and an abundant knowledge of ship handling from many aspects.

The author was born at Gorgas Hospital, in Ancon, in the former Canal Zone.He attended High School in Balboa, was a member of the army ROTC, and in 1949 worked for the United Fruit Company in the Chiriqui province of northern Panama as assistant paymaster, traveling throughout all the Banana plantations and becoming acquainted with the Guaymi Indian tribes.In 1951 he tried to enlist in the US Air Force in Panama, because of the Korean War. Unable to do so because there was no Air Force recruiting station in the Canal Zone. He traveled to the United States via the Panama Canal ship "Cristobal", which stopped at Guantanamo Bay Cuba; proceeded to New York City. Here, he was able to join the US Air Force, underwent Basic training at Sampson Air Force Base. After basic training he was assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base from where he was sent overseas. His last posting was at Castle AFB, in Merced California, a SAC Base where he designed and built reciprocating, as well as Jet engine run up stands, he worked on the B-47's and B-52's. He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, but turned down a commission to work on the fledgling rocket program at Patrick AFB, due to his father's sickness with cancer in Panama. Returning to the US after his father's demise, he attended electrical schools in Chicago. Returning to the Canal Zone, he was employed by the electrical division, and later the Locks division from where he retired in 1983.He now makes his home in Orlando, Florida where he worked for Universal Studios during the startup of the many rides.