Globusz^® Publishing 

he following morning at 8:30 Peter, David and Helen were sitting down having breakfast when Helen raised the question that had been puzzling her all night. “Peter, yesterday evening before you stopped her, Teresa said that the minister was concerned about paying for the dam. But as I understand it the (IMAF) have not received a penny. Isn’t that to a degree why we are here?”

Peter looked at her hard. “Yes you're right on both accounts Helen, but this is big business, big big money. In this game we try and see all the cards of the opposition without showing any of ours... It was interesting to know that some people think they have been paying already, especially his secretary. But let’s not tell them that we know this isn’t true, at least not yet. Let’s get all the facts first.”

“Oh! Peter you’re just infatuated with Teresa. Can’t you see this stands the whole thing on its head, if they are paying for the dam and the electricity it generates? Yet the (IMAF) are not getting the money, then where is it going?”

Peter ignored the jibe about Teresa. “Precisely! So where is it going? They have made six payments in the last six months. All large sums of money, but not to the (IMAF), so where did it go?”

David interrupted with a question. “Six payments? How do you know that Peter? Where does that information come from? It’s not in my briefing and I never heard Teresa say how many payments had been made.”

“Listen both of you, I’ll say it once again this is big business. They, whoever they are, have made a mistake already.” He paused for a reaction but only saw a puzzled frown. “They let us talk to the secretary without supervision. She’s not in the know. She isn’t part of the fraud. Now...”

David interrupted him. ”How do you know she isn’t part of it? And as regards talking to her, that didn’t get us very far, you shut her up when Helen mentioned business.”

Helen reached over and patted David's hand. “David can’t you see? She just flashes those big brown eyes at Peter and he just knows she is innocent.”

“Hold it, both of you. First I only stopped her from talking business to all three of us because... Well! One, she didn’t want to and two, she wasn’t going to say much more in front of the three of us. Secondly, I’m not sweet on her. Don’t you see she loved the role that she was playing; entertaining important guests of her country...? I bet she has never ridden in that limo’ before yesterday afternoon. So when you two went outside to admire the sunset after dinner, we got talking some more. She told me the problems. Several payments have been made, six in all... Then.”

Helen interrupted him. “Oh! So she’s not a ‘fame fatale’ it’s you who is a... whatever they call a man.”

“A gigolo?” volunteered David.

“No! Not at all. I didn’t seduce her or anything. She was more forthcoming talking to me on my own – and...”

Helen interrupted him, “So that is how you gather information by taking ladies out to dine and filling them full of wine?”

“I didn’t fill her full of wine and for that matter neither did I fill you full of wine when we dined together if you recall.” Peter snapped rather angrily. “We just talked and I consider talking a reasonable way of doing business, obtaining information and ascertaining the truth... She also told me the electrical power, it’s not reliable, as we already know, and is always breaking down or fading. Also, to top it all, they’re unsure the dam will stand the strain when the lake fills up and the water gets higher. Apparently they believe the dam has moved a few centimetres all ready”

David’s face went purple as he almost exploded at this comment. “That’s rubbish! That’s utter rubbish! Of course it will stand the strain. What do you believe we do, when we design a dam? ... Do you think we guess about the load factors? Of course the dam has moved, it’s supposed to move.”

Peter held his hands up in mock surrender. “Whoa! David calm down. Someone is feeding them duff information. They only know what they’ve been told... I know that you know the dam will take the strain... But someone is whispering, and people are tuning in to it.” He glanced at Helen for support, trying to calm David.

Helen, still smarting at being snapped at hesitated, but her temper was not implacable and leaning forward grasped David’s hand then spoke quietly so that he would have to concentrate to hear. “David, we know everything is all right. The strain gauge readings are correct, even less than predicted you said. And the movement of the dam is well within bounds. So relax.”

“Movement! You mean it has moved, it’s shifted,” exclaimed Peter.

“Of course it has,” was the contemptuous reply from David. “And the movement is well within design limits, but the dam is only just over half full of water. They keep on opening the bypass sluice and dumping the water. That’s one of the reasons I need to talk to the chief engineer. Why are they dumping water like that?”

Another quiet word from Helen made David lean forward. “David could they be dumping water because it’s moved and they are afraid to stress the dam? ... I mean because they don’t know anything better.”

Peter interjected with a question. “If it’s moved, then how do they know? For that matter, how does anyone know that the dam has moved? Wouldn’t it need to be surveyed?”

David looked at him, the anger ebbing away and then smiled. “Ah! I didn’t cover that in my lecture did I? Let me brief you some more. – Consider... The dam is an arch, or rather two arches, one vertical and one horizontal. When a load is applied to an arch, ever so slightly it ‘gives’ as the forces are transferred to the arch supports, the granite buttresses. The amount of give depends on the strength of the arch and the load imposed on it. We then measure this ‘give’ or movement and compare it to known criteria... Now this dam is half full of water therefore a force has been applied, Q.E.D. the arch has moved.” He sat back rather like a magician having produced a rabbit out of a hat.

Peter, normally more sagacious, absorbed this before asking another question, partially to calm David down even more but also to further his education. “So when and how are you going to measure this movement?”

“When!” Again that smile played around his face. “I’ve done it. It’s done continually. We do it with lasers. In the centre of the dam are two lasers pointing outwards towards a target on each buttress. We can measure the distance, compute the angle and tell exactly how much the centre of the dam has moved.”

“So do you know what these figures are? Do you know if it has moved a few centimetres?”

“Yes! It has. I have a copy of the daily figures for the strain gauges, movement, sump, water level, water flow etc. I have them for the whole dam since completion... They are on my laptop in our room.”

Peter looked surprised. “Where did you get all that information from? ... And who else would have access to these figures?”

“Oh! They are not secret, well not really. The figures are automatically transmitted daily or on demand, over the Internet to head office so we can keep an eye on things. But the figures are meaningless on their own and need to be interpreted by a program. I downloaded the latest figures yesterday just after we arrived.”

“So that’s what you were doing whilst I was having a shower,” said Helen, with a hurt tone in her voice.

“Well yes!” David glanced at her and smiled before turning his attention back to Peter. “And I can tell you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that dam, apart from the engineer continually dumping water... But that’s really nothing to do with me. That is operations.”

“So you’re checking on the dam, you’re keeping an eye on it, scrutinizing it all the time. Is it a risky design or something?”

“Certainly not! We’re monitoring it, to check everything is going Okay... You don’t just build something this important then walk away. The data we collect from this dam helps towards the design of the next one, and so on.”

Peter absent mindfully picked up his cup for a drink only to find the coffee had already gone cold. “So someone in this country could be monitoring this data as well.”

“Yes! But what good would it do them. Unless they have the interpretation program and know the design criteria. But if they did then they would know that it was okay. I don’t see what you are driving at Peter.”

“If I was to ask you in a court of law. ‘Has the dam moved since it was completed?’ What would be your answer?”

“Well, during the design we anticipate these... factors.”

Peter quickly interrupted. “Stop! I’m only a layman. Yes! Or No! Has the dam moved?”

“Yes, of course it’s moved. As I was telling you it’s supposed to move.”

Peter suddenly leant forward and trying to emphasise the point raised his hand with a finger pointing at David. “Yes! You said. The dam has moved. But the people out there, the jury, they are like me; they don’t believe a dam moves. Not unless it is about to break. To the people out there a dam is a great big slab of concrete, a solid immovable mass.” He leant back... his point made.

Helen smiled and turned to David. “Who was it who said ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’. I recall that from somewhere.”

The conversation stopped for a while as they each tried to make sense of it.

It was Peter who broke the deadlock. “So, what we have is this. Someone who has access to the figures is selectively leaking information, at the same time possibly instigating sabotage and also possibly diverting a good deal of money... I wonder, is this the same person?” There was another pause in the conversation before Peter asked a further question. “David! How do I get a copy of this program... the program that interprets the monitoring figures? Does the chief engineer at the dam have a copy?”

“No Peter! It’s a company thing, the computer program is company confidential... they wouldn’t even let you have a copy. Of course the engineer at the dam would have a copy of the design criteria. But... blast! Someone may have a copy. Yes! One of the engineers had his laptop stolen. It was last year near the end of the build. That would have had the program installed on it.” Then as an after thought he added. “But they would need his password to use it.”

Peter just smiled as another piece of the jigsaw fell into place. ‘Password! On a laptop computer.’ He turned to David. “After breakfast, in fact I think we have finished now. Could you show me these figures that you have? On your laptop I mean. I need to further my education.”

They adjourned and went up to David and Helens room to continue the discussion. It took only moments for David to set up his laptop and bring the program up. “Here it is Peter, here are the latest figures that I downloaded, then I imported them into the program and it interpreted them. The results are displayed on this graph. The bottom line is time and the vertical is value and this light green swath running across is the tolerance area. The readings are computed against the amount of water in the dam, the water level, and should lie within this area.”

Peter looking over his shoulder immediately noticed one thin red line outside the green area running across the bottom of the graph. “So what is this line here,” he said pointing at the red line.

David turned his head and gave him a quizzical look. “Yes well you would spot that, it is strain gauge number W4 on the West buttress, it has been broken since about a week after we completed. It doesn’t matter because the strain gauges either side, number 2 and 6 are reading correctly, we just haven't bothered to change it.”

Helen, looking over his other shoulder, queried this. “How do you mean 2 and 6 either side of number 4? What happened to the odd numbers?”

“Oh! The odd numbers are on the wet wall. These are readings for the dry wall, dear.”

“So where is the movement line, can you isolate or highlight it?” Peter asked.

“Certainly!” David moved the pointer to the top and brought down a menu, clicked once and a dotted line appeared right along the middle of the green area. “As you can see it’s ‘right in the green’. Exactly as predicted.”

“I see, that looks easy... thanks David that answers a lot of questions.” 

“Maybe we will get some more answers when we see the Minister of the Interior later this morning.” Helen said, adding hopefully. “Are we all going in?”

David concurred. “Yes! I think we should, I would like you to take shorthand notes. I don’t think the minister would like us to use a tape recorder... too much like an inquisition.”

“It may look like an inquisition anyway, three against one. Then if we start asking questions about where the money is going, and start taking notes, we could get slung out... How about if Helen stayed outside the office and talked some more to the secretary.”

Helen quickly broke in. “Surly wouldn’t it be best if you spoke to her and gave her a big smile?”

“I have to see the minister. Remember you were only last minute additions for the visit. Besides, on her home ground as it were, and woman to woman she may feel more secure. Perhaps you could mention money, exchange rates Helen? I believe when they do pay it will be in dollars. Don’t mention six payments though. Now that would make it two to one with the minister. David if you took charge of the meeting, ask technical questions. Like: do they have the latest monitoring readings? Pretend you don’t have them. Perhaps you could also ask why they are dumping all that water. He’ll feel much less threatened. I intend to just ask, how we can best help. As far as he is concerned I would like him to think we are here to help and not to investigate.”

Helen, normally quite astute, was disappointed at being left out and looked a moment at David. Peter ever mindful of a team effort, rushed to assure her she would be much more useful getting more information from Teresa.

* * *

They presented themselves at the office of the Minister of the Interior at 10 o’clock. Teresa was at her desk outside his office looking subdued. Not only had she been told off for using his name at the restaurant, after she had owned up and explained why. But she had also been reprimanded for becoming too familiar with his guests. Teresa escorted them through to his office and did the introductions before quickly withdrawing, Helen followed close behind her.

Noberto gestured to the extra chair that had been brought into his office. “Please sit down. First I must apologise for not greeting you personally yesterday but something came up, affairs of state, you know how it is.” He flopped into his chair then immediately sat upright again. “I understand from my secretary that you had a pleasant evening yesterday. Perhaps she told you about the troubles we are having with generating and distributing the electricity? The whole system has been so unreliable.”

David quickly stepped in before Peter could rush to the defence of Teresa. “Actually no! Your secretary refused to discuss business with us. She said it was not her place to discuss the problems and that you would tell us all that was happening this morning.”

“Ah! Quite. Well you have no doubt seen the reports we have sent, about the reliability of the system, we haven't been getting anything like the electrical power we were led to expect either.”

“Yes we have read the reports, the electrical power you have available is quite consistent with the water level in the dam. Could you perhaps tell me why so much water is being bypassed? You would have much more power available if the dam were full.”

“Ah! Well. You will perhaps appreciate the political situation we have here I have to contend with all sorts of persuasions... As you will no doubt realise the design is very advanced.” With this comment David’s eyebrows shot up. The minister was quick to notice and hastily added. “Of course you know as you were involved in the design... No matter, some people are of the opinion that we should not put too big a strain on the dam in these early stages.”

Peter, having difficulty trying to suppress a smile at this remark, moved his right foot and pressed down on David’s left foot. ‘Calm down David, calm down, keep your cool,’ he thought almost aloud. David in turn took a big breath. “I can understand that some... poorly informed persons may be concerned. I take it you gave the order to bypass some of the water then. It really is not necessary I can assure you that the dam is behaving perfectly. Or rather it was several days ago. I don’t have the latest monitoring figures, perhaps you could oblige.”

“The monitoring figures? Ah! You mean all the movement, load factors and water level readings. They don’t mean much to me I’m afraid. The chief engineer at the dam will be able to give you those; I understand he records them all.”

David looked at Peter who was gazing absentmindedly at the view out of the window. “We will require access to the dam to inves--, to find out how we can help resolve the reliability issues that you appear to be experiencing. I don’t know how we can help with the electricity grid problems though, that seems like a security issue. Perhaps you could inform the chief engineer that we will be visiting the dam soon. Peter, when would be the best time do you think?”

“Uh! Pardon?”

David sighed. “I said when do you think would be the best time to visit the dam?”

“Oh! Any time, whenever suits you... and the minister of course. We don’t want to get in the way, only trying to help. When do you think it would be convenient minister?”

“Well there's no point in waiting around, I suggest you visit the dam...” Noberto looked at his watch. “I think tomorrow. I will let the chief engineer know to expect you; he will be able to show you around him self. Err! I would advise you use a four wheel drive vehicle. Our roads up country are not too good. The sooner this thing is sorted the better. It is a very expensive business producing electricity on this scale.”

Peter quickly seized the opportunity. “Yes very expensive business indeed, the (IMAF) were expecting to have received some returns on their investment by now. It is a big problem.”

Noberto sat up straight. “Yes! Quite, it is fortunate the contract... as you said there is a great deal of money is involved.”

* * *

Half an hour later they found themselves out on the pavement as it were. Peter was leading and outpacing the others, walked to a quiet spot on the bank of the Rio Milagro. He sat down and waited. Helen and David deep in conversation eventually joined him. David sat down beside him. “What was all that about?” He asked. “You acted real dumb and left all the questions to me apart from that remark about things being expensive for the (IMAF).”

“Yes! Well I hope I didn’t sound too dumb. You were doing okay with the questions. The thing is, was it a successful meeting? I think it was. We didn’t tell him anything, and yet we got answers to our questions.”

“Pardon! What answers are you referring to? It seemed very mean and petty, just a waste of time to me.”

“Oh! Come on David! Think! We now know they have the computer program, else he wouldn’t have known the figures referred to load factors, water level and especially movement. I bet he knows a bit more about what they mean than he is letting on. He also knows that the (IMAF) has not received any money, directly the opposite to what his secretary thinks. We also learnt that he is in a hurry for us to be finished. He wants rid of us quickly. Why, when we have just come to help?”

“I see what you mean Peter, I hadn’t thought of it quite that way. Why do you say he is in a hurry to get rid of us though?”

“Because he looked at his watch when we asked about visiting the dam, his first thought was today. And David, we also know why they are dumping water, though that doesn’t make too much sense. I wonder if those political factions he mentioned are just a figment of his imagination.”

Peter leant forward and looked across at Helen. “Did you find out anything more Helen, or did she just flash those big brown eyes at you?”

Helen frowned at the return of the jibe from this morning’s conversation. “I think she has more sense than to try those big brown eyes with me. I didn’t learn much I’m afraid. There have been six payments. In dollar's. Paid to, and I quote ‘the Swiss bank account of the (IMAF)’ unquote.”

“Oh! That’s interesting,” said Peter. “The (IMAF) bank with Banco Espaņa in Madrid. The Spanish government fought very hard for that privilege. I wonder who owns that Swiss account?”

David turned to Helen, “You know girl this guy is quite astute and not as dumb as he acts. Maybe we will be able to tie this thing up quicker than we thought.”

“Are you sure David? I mean when you say he isn’t so dumb.”

Peter quickly reacted to these comments. “Hey! Don’t go booking your return flight yet. We have to find a lot more answers first. I think we should hire a four wheel drive as the minister suggested. That was a bit mean, don’t you think, you would suppose they could provide us with transport... Anyhow, if we hire one for tomorrow and go ‘up country’ to visit the dam we could have a word with the chief engineer. You never know he may just let something slip.”

“Yes! I want to have a look at that control panel that blew up, if they still have it there. I hope they haven't left it out in the rain though.”

“David didn’t you say there was a train line up to the dam? Could we catch the train?”

“Yes, if there were any trains running. The roads here are terrible. But I don’t think they use the railway anymore, we built it to facilitate building the dam and that is the only place it runs to. It may be worth checking out though.”

* * *

The minister spun his chair around and put his feet up as the door closed behind his visitors. ‘What a jerk, the dumb ass was gazing out the window most of the time. Why send a guy like that to help sort out our troubles. The other one knew the score though. But then he was the designer. He got a bit upset when I suggested we were taking it cautiously. Now that wife of his, she was really interesting, I wouldn’t mind a piece of that myself.’ He ran over all that had been said during the meeting and decided there was nothing to worry about. ‘Still better get Teresa in and double check that she had said nothing.’

He spun the chair back around his feet landing on the floor as his hand reached for the intercom switch. “Seņorita Alvarez, could I see you a minute.”

She came in with a pen and note pad in her hand, ready to take his notes of the meeting that had just finished. Without being asked she sat in her usual chair. Noberto had an instinct for making other people uncomfortable and nervous when in his office. He sat still looking at his desk, said nothing and waited. In this case his secretary was wise to it, she knew that she had done nothing wrong and sat quietly in the chair, after a minute she flicked back through her note pad, ostensibly checking the last letter he had dictated. In the end it was the minister who broke the silence. “Teresa you said before that you had not spoken about business with our visitors, but they tell me you mentioned the problems we were having. What does this mean?”

The soft tone and the use of her first name were not lost on Teresa. She flicked to another page in the note pad thinking quickly. ‘I distinctly remembered telling them nothing in the ‘limo’ but later talking to Peter. What was it I said then? Only about the money.’ She raised her eyes and looked directly at her boss. “I said at first I couldn’t talk about the problems we were having, well I don’t know them, and then later whilst talking about the candles in the restaurant, I said it was a lot of money to pay for electricity that was so unreliable.”

Noberto cringed inwardly. “You mentioned the payments that had been made to the (IMAF).”

Again thinking quickly. ‘He couldn’t possibly have any inkling of what I had just told Helen.’ She fidgeted uncomfortably on the hard chair. “I didn’t say how much money we have paid minister, I haven't added it up; I only said that it was a lot of money.”

“Yes! It is a lot of money and that is why you shouldn’t be discussing it with anyone for that matter. You may go now... And tell Seņor Perez Gamboa I wish to see him immediately.

A short time later there was a knock on the door and Fidel walked in. Before he managed to shut the door Noberto almost shouted. “Tell Teresa we want two coffees... now.”

Fidel turned and looked at Teresa who nodded, jumped up and made her way to the coffee machine. Leaving the door wide open, Fidel sat in the uncomfortable visitors chair and contemplated his fingernails until the coffee arrived and then, only after Teresa had left and the door closed behind her, did they get down to business. Noberto reached for his coffee “Those (IMAF) people, they know about the money, or at least they suspect something. My secretary, Teresa, you know she met them, yesterday, at the airport. Well she had dinner with them in the evening and just happened to let slip that it was expensive and unreliable electricity. Now I have just spoken to them and they didn’t mention that she had said expensive.”

Fidel took a sip of his coffee. “Damn! That’s hot,” he said wiping his lips. “I thought you told her to keep her damn mouth shut and wasn’t to discuss business that went on in the office with anyone.”

“Of course I did. She didn’t discuss it, just said it was damned expensive electricity when it was so unreliable. Anyhow they would have got that from somebody soon enough. From what was said in this office they also know that we have not yet paid anything to the (IMAF). They must be wondering why it is so expensive when we haven't paid anything and where all the money is going.

“Where are they now?

“They’ve left. About thirty minutes ago.”

“Are they going to the dam?”

“Not until tomorrow morning, too late today. I suggested they hire a four wheel drive. Damned if I’m going to wet nurse them.”

“Noberto we have to stop them from contacting their office at the (IMAF). Chances are though; they won’t try until they have been to the dam tomorrow. They’ll want to get all the facts they can, and then compile some sort of a report. That’s the way these people work.”

“Don’t try and tell me what they will or won’t do, your only guessing like I would. However we have got one thing going for us, we are five hours behind Europe in time. It’s lunch-time here that means they have finished work and gone home over there. The earliest they can contact their office is in the morning.”

Fidel thought about this for a moment. “What about e-mail's, they could send an e-mail. The architect guy, Mirand, he has a laptop PC in his room at the Hotel. But no! I don’t think they would send a report this big by e-mail, not even an interim report.”

Noberto got up from his chair and began to pace the room, a thing he never usually did. Six strides this way, six strides back, out again and back. “You’re right; they’ll sit on it today and hope to get more facts from the dam then try and get a flight tomorrow evening or early the next day. At least that’s what I would do. They don’t know that I have found them out. As a precaution you disable the phones from the Hotel, stop only international calls and calls to the Internet. Can you do that?”

“Yes! No problem, I have the Hotel telephone operator ‘under contract’ as it were. That Mirand guy has already been on the Internet, just as soon as they checked in it seems. But that only takes care of them until they come back from the dam.” The minister was still striding up and down obviously agitated. Fidel started pondering, ‘how do I stop then from sending an e-mail, that’s local lines to the ISP server and then on to the Internet. Can I take the server down? Yes! I can kill two birds with one stone. We’ll have a power cut, this evening.’ He looked up at the minister who was showing his nervousness. ‘No he said he doesn’t want to be informed... Surprise!’

Another six strides out, another six strides back, and he sat down. “Then they mustn't come back from the dam... In fact you may as well stop them before they get there.”

“Another ‘kidnapping’ this is becoming a habit Noberto; you want me to put them with the others up in the hills.”

“Eventually yes. Can you hold them at some jail out of town for a while first?

Fidel casually nodded affirmative.

“That prison Fidel, are you sure that prison in the hills is secure?”

“Noberto! No one, not one person has escaped from that place and stayed free for more that five minutes. Alive that is. There is no way over the mountains without the proper gear, and they can’t walk through the rain forest without shoes. So anyone escaping must come down the valley. It’s over a hundred miles, one rough road, no one to help them and they will only have rope sandals. That is if they get past the guards and can out run the dogs from the prison of course.

Are you going to hold them to ransom like that senator guy? A waste of time that is, you will never get anything from the North Americans. The US government don’t pay ransom money.”

“Just the contrary Fidel, I have already had some words with the American ambassador. Those norteamericanos are very concerned for their senator’s assistant. They will pay a ransom so long as it does not become public knowledge. What was it he said, best all round if the guerrillas let him ‘escape’ when they get the money.”

“You can’t let him go; you're not going to free him?”

The minister had already thought long and hard about this. If he were to let him go then he would have to lose Fidel. Not a good idea, at the moment. He may need a scapegoat if things went wrong later. For now he just wanted to bate Fidel a little. “But of course I will. I would be honour bound to free him if I take the ransom money.”

Fidel was cautious. He could feel his leg being pulled but played up to it. “He knows too much, though he doesn’t know you he has seen my face. It would all be bound to come out.”

“I didn’t say he would live Fidel. What do you think would happen if he were in the valley when the dam broke? Would it not be tragic, the guerrillas, the hostages and the money all gone. Isn’t there a disused building somewhere below the dam that we could hold him in, temporarily I mean?”

Fidel caught on quickly. “Ah! Yes, if we could have a ransom paid for these people at the same time. This place below the dam it would obviously be the guerrillas hide out. So where else would you expect to find them? I’ll make a search of the area and find a suitable place.” Then with a smirk on his face added. “Perhaps there is a suitable building on El Presidante’s ranch do you think.”

* * *

They came out of the restaurant late, it was still warm, there was no wind and the chill of the night hadn’t yet arrived. Neon lights were glowing in a city that was heaving with late night revellers. Though tired all three of them had that warm feeling of a decent meal several glasses of wine and some pleasant company. Helen was in the middle, David on her right arm and Peter, walking separate, to her left as they made their way down the road towards the water front and their hotel. It wasn’t far and on a nice evening like this they agreed it was better to walk than catch a cab. As they arrived at the esplanade they could just make out the oily appearance of the sea at the top of the tide leaving small ripples to break on the beach. They were just merry enough to kick off their shoes and stroll along the beach at the waters edge whilst talking with amity between them. All was well with the world. Then the lights went out. Like a flick of a switch the street lights and all the hotels, bars and shop fronts went into darkness. At the moment the traffic along the esplanade was light so they were even denied the glow from headlights. But immediately the lights went out there was the clamour of car horns as everyone greeted yet another power cut. The moon hadn’t risen, the stars still hidden behind thin clouds, couldn’t be seen, it was so dark they could barely see each other. “Whoa!” said Peter. “There’s some more work for you David, what do you think caused that?”

“I have absolutely no idea. With the electrical load that was on the main grid when it tripped it must have caused some damage somewhere. The whole city appears to have lost power; I can’t see any lights other than that building over there, which I suppose is the hospital using emergency power.” Then holding his hand out towards Helen he added. “I think we had best make our way back to the road and the hotel before we get completely lost. I doubt that they will be restoring power very quickly tonight. Even if they know what caused the failure they’ll have to check everything out before restoring power gradually to each area in turn.”

“It’s your fault Peter,” she said taking David’s proffered hand whilst refusing his. “You said we have an early start tomorrow, is this to ensure we have an early night too?” Helen mocked him.

“Yes well! It’s a good idea, an early night I mean. Even with that Land Rover I hired. If the roads are as bad as David said. It’s going to take all day to drive up country to the dam and then back again. But I was going to send off an e-mail to keep the boss happy before I went to sleep.”

* * *

It was late and very dark. There were few lights on anywhere. Vittorio and the grey haired man were talking quietly when Tino arrived at the barn looking very pleased with him self.

“Oh! Hello Vittorio, I didn’t know you would be here, I just came to talk to the old man.”

“Hey! Less of this old stuff now! This is premature grey,” he said, grabbing hold of a handful off hair on his head. “Now what do you have to tell us? You sounded mysterious on the phone.”

“I’ve just left Teresa; we had a date this evening...”

Vittorio quickly butted in. “Mama Mia! That’s exciting. Could it not wait until tomorrow?”

“Vittorio. Shut up... unless you have something intelligent to add. Go on Tino.”

“Well! We were going to go out yesterday evening but she had to cancel at the last minute her boss asked her to meet some people at the airport and she went out to dinner with them. She said they have come to investigate the dam and power failures.” Tino spoke quickly then stopped and took a deep breath.

“Whoa! Slow down. There is no rush now, we have all night.”

“How many people?” Vittorio asked.

“Three, two men and a woman, one of the men is her husband. Teresa says they are from International Aid or something... She says they own the dam.”

“Rubbish, the dam belongs to the country.”

“No Vittorio it doesn’t. And yes they probably do own it... in a way. They are from the International Monetary Aid Foundation. Eh! ... And they are investigating? ... That’s interesting. They must be the people that you saw in the minister’s office this morning. We have their photographs. I wonder why he didn’t meet them him self, they must be important people.”

“Teresa says he was very annoyed with her for going out to dinner with them. He told her to keep her damn mouth shut and not to tell anyone.”

“So why did she tell you Tino?”

“Why Vittorio! Because I am not anyone I am Tino... I tell her this and she smiled.”

“Tino! Did she tell you where they are staying, which hotel are they staying at?”

“Not exactly, she had the use of a limousine to pick them up from the airport, imagine riding in a long black Mercedes limousine and they used it in the evening... To go to the restaurant.”

“Tino! Where did it take them?”

“Oh! Some posh restaurant across the Rio Milagro.”

The old man sighed. “Not the restaurant Tino. Which hotel did it take them too?”

“Didn’t I say? ... The Hotel Cordillera, the big posh one on la carretera.”

“Si! I know the hotel. I must go and speak to them.” He looked at his watch. “Too late now, I will speak to them tomorrow... Do you know their names? Did she tell you their names?”

Tino looked crestfallen for a moment, then brightened. “Two saints... Seņor David and Seņor Peter. I forget the woman’s name.”

“Fool” Vittorio burst out. “Those are their first names they’ll be called Mister something.”

“Never mind, never mind it shouldn’t be too hard to find out. There cannot be too many European people in the hotel who go around in three’s and we know what they look like... Thank you Tino you have done well. You are getting on fine with this Teresa?”

“Si! We get on like that,” he said holding up crossed fingers.