Book excerpt: This exciting novel about a young Air Force pilot on secret duty in Laos after the February 1973 cease-fire is based on actual historical events in that landlocked Kingdom. After the shoot down and capture of his best friend by the communist Pathet Lao, Brian Marshall, a raven FAC, devises and executes an unauthorized rescue attempt. However, it is more than just a war story. It is also the story of one man's attempt to overcome his own weaknesses and the political and bureaucratic obstacles in his way. Details of Laos history at the time the story takes place build the perception that the story might not really be fiction. The story covers 10 days in August 1973 and takes place in Washington, D. C., Bangkok, Thailand, Vientiane, Laos, and the jungles near the Plain of Jars, and is based on the author's personal experiences.