Dreams of Sumatra

Plot

Jack is approached by Louise Nettles, whose daughter, Jesse, has vanished whilst doing anthropological research in Sumatra. An exotic and unusual country where Islam has been integrated happily into a matriarchal society. Indranee, Jesse's teacher, helps Jack to investigate the Kabut, a secret society practicing ancient tribal magic. She also calls in another expert in tribal magic - a certain piano player called Mojo Sam. Together they must dodge the Bukittinggi Vortex, end of Ramadan fireworks and, most importantly, two factions of a dangerous organization engaged in an internal power-struggle, neither of which wants outside interference.

Quotes

Jack: "I have looked into the gaping mouth of that Vortex and there is no way in hell I'm going in there. Period. Savvy?"

Credits

"Production was made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Garuda Indonesia Airlines, Garuda Orient Holidays, the Indonesian Tourist Office for North America and Aerowisata Hotels."

Travels with Jack

All of the installments in this sub-series are entitled Dreams of ... although there are two others with a similar title - Dreams of Rio and Dreams of the Blue Morpho - which are not part of it.

Each story involves Jack being approached by a beautiful woman who asks for his help. In three of them he is sitting in a restaurant, eating alone, when this happens. The fourth (Dreams of Bali), while it begins with a strange dream concerning food, starts after Jack has already accepted the invitation and been flown out.

These are the only stories that Jack asks for his expenses be paid for.