Gavin Black: Suddenly, at Singapore (UK 1977)

From the Publisher:
"Paul Harris is up there is the major league" -- New York Times
The patrol boat was closing in, its lights very yellow, the siren screaming. The junk's crew stood about watching. I don't think anyone except See Fin saw me go over the side.

I didn't think about sharks going down, only about men with guns. I clawed at planks with my nails, feeling the water sucking at my body. Then I got hold of the rusty chain to the rudder, hanging on, only my head and arms out.

it wasn't easy. Salt water in my uicers made me want to shout. Then I thought of sharks, though there wasn't a fin in sight. They even come into the shallows in these waters and take off a man's leg when he's fishing waist-deep.

Maybe vicers aren't appetising...

"Very intelligent thriller.. smooth and strong on background" -- Sunday Times
"Good fast thriller." -- Daily Express

Gavin Black: Suddenly, at Singapore. Gun-running in the South China Sea. London: Fontana, 1977, ISBN: 0006147844, 192 p., 70p.