BLOOD RIVER – Synopsis
It's just the turn of
the nineteenth century, and West Africa, to be precise, the upper reaches of
the Kandiachana River, one of the feeder tributaries to the Congo basin.
Reginald
Dartington-Grant is a British expeditionary explorer, looking for precious
gemstones and metals in the deep jungles of Africa. He finds one of the richest
seams of corundum (aluminium oxide) in Africa, where the crystals have been
corrupted by chromium, giving them a deep, blood red colour. Rubies, as big as and
better quality than those from the Indian continent. It's not a simple matter
of staking a claim, he has to document his find, have the stones confirmed and
lodge a formal expedition request to the governments involved. Then he must get
men and equipment out to the area and establish a defendable mining town. News
travels fast and the loose tongue of a drunken bearer in a coastal bar has the
world set aflame. Suddenly the race is on, the Germans, the French and the
Dutch all becoming actively involved in making the river and its rocky treasure
store theirs. The local Shibumba natives, cannibals and headhunters, add to the
drama. As if that isn't enough, the river is full of hungry crocodiles and the
jungle well populated with predators and poisonous creatures of all kinds. Jurgens
Kootzee, a South African diamond and emerald expert, recruits his own team and
tries to beat the lot to the best mining corridor. Hans Freyer, sent by the
Kaiser himself, will stop at nothing to secure the rubies for the Fatherland. Michael
Smith, despatched by a wealthy stockbroker, has little back up to help his
quest, while two near neighbours, Jean Gristeau, Paris, and Henri Mars,
Brussels, nearly kill each other on the ship,
before they even get there. How Dartington-Grant survived and succeeded is the
most amazing story. I am pleased to be your storyteller.
Bob Curby 2012©
WRITING COMMENCED MARCH 2012, TARGET COMPLETION DECEMBER 2013
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