Escaping the Triad

Superb historical novel with supernatural overtones. The main protagonist, My Li, is a young man growing up in nineteenth century China, when that country was going through a period of economic and political turmoil and corrupt tongs or triads dominated day to day life. My Li's family falls foul of their local warlord and, before she dies, My Li's mother arranges for My Li and his sister to join the gold rush in Australia - the Great South Land - where she hopes they will find security and their fortunes. After the untimely death of his sister, My Li inadvertently finds himself in possession of an important talisman belonging to the Triad. Two assassins - or 'Red Poles' - are sent to retrieve it. My Li befriends an elderly, spiritually orientated Chinese who decides it is his destiny to accompany the young man and guide him on his journey. In Australia, they are initially used as slave labour by the infamous William Macarthur, an unscrupulous squatter or land-owner. Evading the Red Poles and meeting an Aboriginal youth who assists them, they reach the goldfields. However, unable to avoid his pursuers and his fate, My Li learns he has to come to terms with life as it is - not how he would like it to be.