The Time it Takes – Richard Cox

Description

Richard Cox, bestselling author of SAM 7 and Auction has set his gripping new novel in the Belgian Congo n the period immediately after independence when Tshombe was fighting for the survival of his secessionist province of Katanga, and the word “mercenary” hit the world’s headlines. UN troops, Baluba guerillas, Belgian-officered gendarmerie, and a handful of hired professional soldiers clash in a many-sided conflict, as the ordered life of the old Belgian colony collapses into bloodshed and chaos.

Into this tragic situation come three men, old comrades whose service together in an RAF reserve squadron has ended in disgrace and bitterness. Mike Russell, a professional flyer and the son of Kenya settlers, tries to maintain the values of courage and decency in a world sinking into barbarism. Steve Barlow, lawyer and UN official, tries and fails to live by high sentiments and legalistic values. Robert Kane, ruthless and self-seeking, recognises in the agony of the Congo a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make his fortune. As nightmare takes over in the beleaguered province, the conflicting destinies of the three men lead irrevocably to a deadly conclusion.

This is Richard Cox’s most ambitious novel to date. He brings to it his on-the-spot observations and mercenaries in action, his first-hand knowledge of flying in Africa, and the gift of authentic and convincing detail that has established him as a powerful new force in adventure and thriller fiction.