Product Overview
When an American scout cruiser drops anchor in Zanzibar, young seaman William Sprague expects nothing more dangerous than a few hours of shore leave. Instead, a stray puppy, an oversized ebony elephant, and the company of hulking machinist’s mate Martin Donnelly lead him through the island’s crowded bazaars, moonlit roads, and stranger-than-fiction entertainments.
A chance encounter at a Japanese coffeehouse turns a festive evening into an international brawl, and the consequences carry the sailors far beyond the reach of their ship’s liberty boat. With an unflappable pay clerk, a wary Arab nobleman, and a small dog who refuses to be ignored, the two bluejackets must rely on nerve, loyalty, and improvised seafaring ingenuity. Against the scented heat and labyrinthine streets of an exotic port, a routine outing becomes a breathless test of friendship and resourcefulness.
