In the wet, warm ecosystem of the Costa Rican rainforest, a deadly amphibian pathogen lies in wait for the unwary, as well as the cunning. Years earlier, this pathogen infected and decimated frog populations. Now, silently, the mutated microorganism allows amphibian-to-human transmission. Brightly colored imported frogs, sold as pets, enter the United States. An abused wife, her heart set on revenge, purchases a vial of powder, whispered to have magical powers: an aphrodisiac if only a tiny amount is used; a larger dose results in the "bleeding death." Experts at the Centers for Disease Control identify the pathogen, but is it too late? Has it already made the leap to human-to-human transfer? What happens when the impending peril reaches high into the U.S. political scene, all the way to the President of the United States?

by John P. Matsis

A shortage of cadavers, necessary for medical school anatomy classes, creates a global market for bodies of the unfortunate dead. With no regulations to govern their acquisition and transport, the scene is ripe for disaster.

The Miranda, an ocean-faring vessel, makes regular eight-week voyages. Traveling to the Far East, it loads up with electronics and heavy equipment, sweeps south into the Indian Ocean through the Straights of Sumatra, and then on to East Africa, where the vessel takes on several thousand barrels of F4 oil. Along the way, Captain Stenovich picks up a steady supply of cadavers, which harbor the seeds of disease and death.

On another front, a diabolical plot--decades in the planning--swirls around Professor of Anatomy
Helene Astik. Test assassinations, using biological agents, allow the cause to fine-tune their ultimate campaign. Without a shot being fired or a device exploding within a crowd, she plans to take down the President of the United States