Book excerpt: The Emerald Orchid takes the reader on an exciting adventure starting in Southern California and progressing to Singapore and from there into northern Thailand. Here our heroes, George and his wife Matilda, together with their associates William, Jake and Great-aunt Bertha have been forced by circumstances to try to steal the pollen from a fabulous emerald orchid. Along the way they meet an assorted cast of characters who either stand in their way or help them overcome great hardships, not to mention of course flying snakes, little dragons and elephants. And do demons really demand blood sacrifices when the moon is half-full?