Transformation Formula
Part II Paradise Lost
by
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Exasperated, Ralph tuned in and tried his new and improved Spanish language lessons in a loud forceful tone. “Donde esta GOR-DI-TO?”
With the sound of the name reverberating off the back wall mirror, the noise level in the barroom dropped to a mild and uneasy silence. Alex and Ralph got off their elbows and set their beer bottles down—almost empty. The large floor-standing fan was the only sound heard now as it pushed and oscillated the stale air around the foul-smelling room. The guitar player tucked the plastic pick between the guitar strings, stowed his instrument in its black case, and relit a musty stale cigarette. He leaned his chair up against the back wall and thought; It is going to be one of those nights.
A heavyset, pock-faced, muscular hombre pulled some customers away from the bar and questioned the two new strangers.
“Why ju wan to see Gordito? Ju policeman?” he asked as he nosed closer to Ralph. A dirty dozen nasty-looking men of proven ability to break up a party seemed to appear and circled around Alex and Ralph.
“No, we’re not policemen,” injected Alex. “We just want to talk to Gordito.”
A short fat man with bushy eyebrows and a stubby cigar glued into the corner of his mouth stepped forward between two of the menacing gang members.
“I am de one called Gordito, and what is jor business?”
“You seem to use young boys to do your sneaky work delivering notes to peoples’ houses,” Alex maneuvered straight to the fat man. Gordito’s eyes widened then narrowed. He removed the soggy cigar from his tobacco-stained lips and let a wad of sour spit dribble onto the already dirty floor. The memory of a pirate spitting on the deck of his boat years ago jolted Ralph with a rage for combat. I’m going to nail this SOB. He slowly turned to Alex and said, “You know, ol buddy, I seem to remember an old movie with Bing and Bob when they did their Patty cake, patty cake, bake your cake routine. How about you, Al, remember those good old films?”
“Hmmm, yes, indeed I do. Would you care to dance with me to ol’ Patty cake on three?”
“Why I’d love to,” replied Ralph smiling and making a slight bow. “One—two—three.” Alex and Ralph made quick turns and back-to-back, struck and connected with hard punches to the nearest badass hombres. A dandy donnybrook had begun.
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About the Book
After surviving the CIA investigation of a terrorist bomb plot, then a plane crash in a Florida swamp, engineer Alex Marzoni, along with his wife Marisa and his karate trainer and friend, Ralph Sorenson, recover from their ordeal. They begin to resume their lives on their island homes off the coast of Panama. However, with the help of an international drugs and arms dealer, a villain resurfaces and sets up on a Caribbean Island as he plots his diabolical schemes against Alex, his friends, and the rest of the world.
This tale of adventure and torture takes our heroes from the
How can our team track the villains and stay alive to prevent world wide terrorist attacks led by their insane enemy? Also, Can Alex survive the battle with his own inner demons and fears?
About the Author
M.L. (Matt) Barbani has worked and traveled to many parts of the world and has experienced the good, the bad, and the unthinkable. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve, then in the US Air Force, and was stationed in
Matt has written two other books. His first, an autobiography, The Way It Was, highlights his true adventures and travels. He lived and worked in various countries as Spain, Nigeria, Mexico, Bosnia, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
The second book, his first novel, The Transformation Formula published in 2004. It was the prelude to this sequel, Part II, Paradise Lost.
M.L.Barbani is now happily retired, lives, writes, and paints along the Pamlico/Tar River in Washington, North Carolina. Being an accomplished oil painter, one of Barbani's paintings was selected for the Office of Economic Advisors-The White House, Washington, DC.
M.L.Barbani is also a member, and editor of the Pamlico Writer’s Group.