The Good Guys and the Bad Guys! Cast of Characters for the new book

Cast of Characters for The General and the Elephant Clock of Al-Jazari!


General John Mitchel:

John Mitchel is a retired army brigadier general, a scholar and leader. His last assignment before retirement was for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he made his reputation as a man who could find peaceful solutions to some of the world’s thorniest problems. After retirement he brought his skills and knowledge to the academic world, and, at the urging of his longtime lover, Gabriel Sanchez, took the first steps out of the closet.

The Horse-Lord, Gabriel Sanchez:

A legend among the wild brotherhood of helicopter pilots for his daring and bravery, Gabriel Sanchez was the man who had John Mitchel’s back during twenty-five years of military service. He also had John’s heart, and loved him with great passion. After the army, Gabriel went to law school, took the bar in Albuquerque. He convinced John the time was right for them to step out of the shadows and love in the light.

The Families:

Kim Baker: John’s beloved nephew, adopted from a Korean orphanage when he was six months old. An artist, Kim has a wild and brilliant mind, and John spends much of his waking time wondering what Kim is up to and how to keep him safe.

Abdullah al-Salim: The son of John’s old professor. Gabriel and John rescued Abdullah from war-torn Kuwait when he was a child. A cellist with the San Francisco Symphony, Abdullah has been roped into one of Kim’s projects.

Billy Dial: A young art student, Billy lives with John and Gabriel since his attack by an abusive professor several months earlier.

Cody Dial: Billy’s father and a former world champion bull rider, Cody Dial is a man of action, not words. He has a cattle ranch in Cheyenne.

Martha Sanchez: Gabriel’s wife, Martha is furious and heartbroken since he asked her for a divorce. She doesn’t give a shit if John and Gabriel have been in love for twenty-five years, but she is trying to keep it together for the kids.

Juan Sanchez: Gabriel’s son is fifteen and he’s having a crisis of his own.

Martie Sanchez: Martie thought the whole thing was cool until she realized her dad was actually moving out of the house.

General David Painter: a former colleague, David Painter hires John to head up a rescue mission for a couple of his men thrown into prison in Tunisia.


The Wardroom in Tunisia:

Sam Brightman: a former Ranger, Sam is roped into duty as General Mitchel’s aide.

Jennifer Painter: General Painter’s daughter, Jen has been in Tunisia, developing a network for pro-democracy women bloggers. She thinks it’s her fault the guys were thrown into prison.

Eli Hannibal Green: Beat up and thrown in prison for blasphemy, Eli just wanted to look at a picture of the elephant clock on his first trip to Carthage.

Daniel Forsyth: Eli’s best friend, he went along for the trip and to watch his buddy’s back. He’s looked up to the Horse-Lord since he was a kid.

Wylie and Jackson: USMC, assigned to the embassy, they provide security at critical moments.


Friendlies in Tunisia:

Greg Mortimer: Regional security officer at the US embassy in Tunis.
Madeline Grant: Head of station for the US embassy, Tunis.

Youssef Shakir: a man of great heart and bravery, father to Amira, a pro-democracy blogger on the run from the Salafists, and also the father to the young doctor who came to their aid.

The director of the Bardo Museum, Ibrahim ibn Saeed ibn Ahmad al-Aziz: A man of great wisdom and learning, he offers his hand to Eli and Daniel and helps them bring a sky full of color and joy to Carthage.


Bad Guys in Tunisia:

Ali Bahktar and his gang of Salafist thugs and bullies. Ali has been a thorn in John’s backside since he was a teenager.