There is no calamity greater than lavish desires
There is no greater guilt than discontent
There is no greater disaster than greed." Lao-tzu
BUMWAD a novel by John M Powers ....a story that plays out in the remarkable settings of The Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Key West, Gitmo & Havana, Cuba. With a mysterious Latin Beauty named Lena, Big Money Marlin Tournaments, a huge Drug Empire, US Marine Special Forces 4Stars, a Full Bird, Mayor Rudy Giuliani & Greed. Ian McLeod, an Architect & Fishing Captain, with his two sons, see Hemingway's Cuba through Lena's, eyes. She calls out McLeod that he is too much like Hemmingway, both artists, loving the local Artistry on the cracked walls, the music played by mistrals in the Shanty towns, his love of her Cuban people, his lack of fear walking around a Communist Cuba, like he owned the place, both men testing the dangers of life and way too passionate for their own good. Unbeknownst to him, her father is the Don of the largest Drug Operation in the world, The GROGGASS Empire, that has been operating in pure stealth, in Cuba, on a 5000-acre Sugar Cane Plantation for 25 years at the blessing of Rual Castro and his Generals. An attack on The Groggass Cortel & Cuba is imminent. An unlikely group of men, meet in Johnny Smilin' Dudley's Abaco, Bahamas, oceanfront home, Ian designed 20 years ago. It's on a hill in Guano Cay, (named for bird dung) not far from the famous old Nippers Bar & just across the Abaco Bay from the huge Boat Harbor Marina, where Ian is fishing in the huge 94 boat Bacardi Shootout & Junkanoo Festival. Smilin', a long time friend of Ian's, is a hilarious but brilliant man, who lives half his life in the Bahamas, matches wits with the NY Mayor. They plan an attack on Cuba with a 100 Combat Marines, an Op called Fidel, a crossing of the Gulfstream and the likes few "Military Minds" have ever been a part of. Never in history. Ian may claim the fame of Jack Weis-played by Redford in HAVANA. She calls him "a hero in tarnished armor."
