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the villagers had gone out to pan the area, but the results had been disappointing.

Karl came back to the hut all wound up and raring to go. He told us what he had learned and was already making plans.

'The villagers don't use very sophisticated mining techniques. They can't really judge the potential this area might have. I'm going to have a look for myself tomorrow. If there is any gold to speak of, I'll return with a machine that does the panning automatically. I can buy everything I need in Apolo and bring it here on pack mules. I'll fly in the fuel for the machine in a Piper that can land on the river. It's a big advantage having a village right here. I can live here, buy my food here. It will be good for the village too. Bring a little prosperity. I'll be able to hire a few men. Peddlers will start coming, bringing their goods to the village. The villagers will be able to sell their produce to them . . .'

Within five minutes Karl was a millionaire and had transformed Asriamas into a bustling metropolis. Throughout his recitation Kevin and Marcus had gone on with their reading. I was the only one who took him seriously, and we formed a partnership. He was glad to find a sympathetic ear.

The next morning at the crack of dawn we left Marcus and Kevin in the hut and set off for Don Pablo's house. He lived on the other side of the village, an hour's walk from our hut. We had a