Golden Buddha

Golden Buddha by Cussler, Clive. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780141010311.

The creator of the bestselling "NUMA and Dirk Pitt" series, is back with his latest and most intriguing high seas action hero: the enigmatic captain of the "Oregon", Juan Cabrillo. Only Cabrillo could convert the interior of a nondescript lumber hauler into a state of the art spy ship - and only he could take the helm on the dangerous covert missions it carries out for whatever U.S. agency pays the price. In his first feature length adventure, its up to Cabrillo and his crew of expert intelligence and naval men to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese. His gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land. But first, hell have to locate - and steal - the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see him fail...