David Dai is nervous about his new job. All bank executives in the underwater country of Caribe are obliged to have bodyguards, and Mayla Ling is no exception, but something about the task of guarding Mayla makes David uneasy. Perhaps it's the transition from the sunny plains of Africa to the chilled darkness of life underwater, or the random nature of terrorist attacks on government officials and other influential Caribe citizens. At any rate, David learns the routine and accompanies Mayla through her working and resting hours, always wary, always wondering how much he truly comprehends of the dangers in Caribe. After a bomb destroys Mayla's house, David descends into anonymity in Caribe's lower levels. His disappearance raises government suspicions about Mayla. Has she been harboring a terrorist? Is she to be trusted? When her application for a travel visa is denied, she recognizes her vulnerability and goes in search of David, the only one she can trust. Their journey through Caribe's underworld in pursuit of documents that will allow them to leave brings the pair close to danger and reveals their inner strengths and weaknesses. McHugh (China Mountain Zhang, not reviewed) once again creates an astonishing world, filled with utterly believable characters. If only the suspense were as real, this novel would be splendid.
