Resurrection (Paperback)

Chapter One

BAGAMOYO, TANZANIA, ON THE COAST OF AFRICA.

... SO YOU'VE TOLD ME. BUT THE QUESTION IS STILL, WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?

FIVE PERCENT OF THE PROFITS- IN CASH, OR IN RAW STONE. YOUR CHOICE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW RICH THE MINE WILL BE? THIS IS A BIG ENDEAVOR YOU ARE WISHING FROM ME.

A SURFACE SAMPLING DREDGED UP SOME RATHER ...

... REMARKABLE RESULTS.

THIS MUST WEIGH-

IT'S EIGHTY-NINE CARATS UNCUT. ESTIMATED REFINED VALUE OF ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS.

AND THIS IS FROM A SURFACE SAMPLE?

IT IS. AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. A MISSIONARY AND HIS WIFE ARE IN THE TOWN NOW, AND THEY PLAN TO DIG THE VILLAGE A WELL ... ONCE ANOTHER TANZANITE IS DISCOVERED ...

YOU WILL NOT HAVE A CHANCE AT ACQUIRING THE LAND.

CORRECT. I WANT THAT LAND VACATED YESTERDAY.

THEN I WILL NEED TWENTY PERCENT.

I WILL GRANT YOU TEN PERCENT, OR I WILL DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH GENERAL DOZA IN THE SOUTHERN REGION.

WHY DON'T I JUST KILL YOU AND TAKE THE LAND FOR MYSELF?

BECAUSE, DEAR GENERAL ...

I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU WHERE IT IS.

HAHAHA ... YOU ARE NOT AN EASY MAN TO INTIMIDATE, MY FRIEND. I WILL TAKE FIFTEEN PERCENT AND SAVE YOU A TRIP DOWN SOUTH.

I CAN AGREE TO THAT. BESIDES, THAT DOZA FELLOW HAS A BEASTLY TEMPER.

HAHAHAHA!

SO, THEN, CIGAR?

NO, THANK YOU. I DON'T SMOKE.

PITY. SO ... WHERE IS THIS VILLAGE?

IT IS IN THE HEART OF WAKANDI, THE TOWN OF BATZULU.

AH ...

AND NOW THAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME, WHAT IS KEEPING ME FROM KILLING YOU AND TAKING THE LAND FOR MYSELF?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

(Continues...)