“This is paradise,” Jeremy said as he removed his Ray Ban shades and alighted from the SUV. He looked at the aquamarine colored ocean and squinted at the sunlight reflected on a golden beach bordered by clumps of ruby red bougainvillea and the clumps of mangrove. Because of the war, the Dubai hotel project was shelved which was the reason for the luxury hotel and spa project on this Bali like island.

“When built, the resort will make the other luxury escapes seem like slums,” Nathan replied.

“I can’t wait to get started.”

“You’re like your father when it comes to achieving goals, a heat seeking missile. We’re great partners.”

Remembering the high school yearbook description of himself as
“Success is in his Genes,” Jeremy thought about his present venture. As the heir designate of Chatwin Enterprises, the owner of a a string of luxury hotels in Asia, Jeremy’s dad told him to establish a joint venture on the coast of the island paradise. Nathan, the joint venture partner of CE, selected because of his connections with government, alighted from his SUV with highly tinted windows as they arrived.

The five acre property on the palm fringed coast adjoining the aquamarine colored ocean was an ideal spot for a luxury hotel. Designated as an environmental haven, the land was closed to property development but Nathan assured Jeremy’s dad that this was nothing to worry about. This was the global south, after all, where a chasm separated the law from its practice.

The first stone bounced off the windscreen of the SUV. Another stone struck the six foot Jeremy on his shoulder. He avoided another stone by ducking. The driver of the SUV jumped out the vehicle, an automatic rifle in his hand. The man let loose a burst of automatic fire above the heads of a throng villagers who screamed in terror. The hail of stones stopped.

“What the!” Jeremy shouted pushing back his blonde curls.

Nathan barked something in his native language to the driver who reluctantly lowered his automatic weapon.

Nathan gripped Jeremy’s arm. “Don’t worry, peasants trying to blackmail us.”

“Blackmail?”

“They say the hotel would drain the water table they need to irrigate their rice-fields.

“True?”

“Who cares! We told these peasants they will have jobs in the hotel. Much better deal than growing their dead-beat crops.”

“Is it our business to tell them how to live their lives?”

“Someone has to. They’re ignorant.”

Jeremy told Nathan, “Nothing about this in your due diligence report.

“Not relevant. We’ll clear them. Rabid dogs.”

“The world has changed. Something like this can torpedo the enterprise if it becomes viral on the Net.”

“A temporary blip. The world has an attention span of a gnat.”

Sirens heralded a convoy of jeeps and SUVs preceded by a police car. Flashing lights signalled the arrival of the tourism minister and the American ambassador in tinted SUVs. When it came to a stop, a group of soldiers got down and formed a line. The tourism minister, a dark skinned jowly man alighted. One soldier barked an order, and the line of soldiers presented arms. The tourism minister reciprocated with a salute and then wiped the sweat off his nut brown bald head with a handkerchief. The gold rings on his stubby fingers glinted in the sunlight.

The ambassador, wiped some sweat off his red face, and greeted the minister. He introduced Jeremy to the minister. “I’m so glad that your prestigious brand will invest in my country,” the minister said shaking Jeremy’s hand with his sweaty palms.

Jeremy was guided away from the group by the ambassador. He saw the minister summoning Nathan. They seemed to be arguing. After some discussion, Nathan moved away scowling. The minister plugged on a wireless microphone and addressed the crowd.

“Today is a great day for you. You are farmers now, but farmers with no fertilizer because of the war in Iran. You have no future as farmers but this hotel will bring you jobs, jobs that won’t require you to plow the fields in the burning sun, jobs that won’t require you to pray for rain, and chase the birds that feed off your crops. Think of the money you’ll be making on tips alone.”

The crowd was silent and then they began to heckle the minister and soon they were booing him. As the ambassador and Jeremy watched, the soldiers set upon the protesting villagers and assaulted them with the butts of their rifles. As Jeremy watched, a woman carrying a child was knocked to the ground and the soldier stomped on her. Jeremy ran to her, pushed the soldier away, and helped her get up. The crowd fell silent.

Jeremy raised one hand and with the other held the child. The ambassador removed his sunglasses and again wiped his profusely sweating face. Jeremy looked around. The only sound was the cawing from a murder of crows. He said, “I’ve come from New York after helping my friend the mayor greet British royalty.” The crowd’’s leader translated. The American ambassador exchanged a look with the Tourism Minister and shrugged.

“In 1849, the British snatched one of the largest diamonds, the Koh-I-Noor from a frightened ten 10 year old boy surrounded by soldiers, a maharajah in India. The mayor asked the king to return the stolen diamond,” Jeremy said.

The Tourism Minister glared at Nathan who shook his head.

“If this project goes ahead,” Jeremy continued, “What will be taken from you will not be a priceless piece of carbon but the even more precious resource of water so vital for life. I’m sorry Nathan, Mr. Minister, Mr. Ambassador, Chatwin Enterprises will not be a party to such a crime.”

The leader of the villagers hesitated, then continued to translate. There was a stunned silence. Then the cheers broke out. The soldiers cast angry looks at Jeremy. Some peasants ran and kissed Jeremy’s hand. Nathan joined the minister who slapped him and stalked off.
The American ambassador gripped Jeremy’s arm and led him to his official SUV flying the stars and stripes. The ambassador’s security pulled out a revolver and escorted them.

“Today, after a long time, I’m proud of being an American,” he told Jeremy as he joined him.