Green Fire Page #3

Well, I want provisions

for 25 men for a month.

I can arrange that.

Then I want the men

and a couple of horses.

I can arrange that also.

Uh-huh.

We'll be working a mine.

It'll be mostly pick and shovel.

A mine?

Where is this mine?

It's the mountain above

the Knowland place.

What's the matter?

My men will not go with you.

Why not?

They will not go with you.

Well, how do you know?

I know.

Guess this just

isn't your lucky day.

Yeah, well the day is young yet.

Where are you going?

To church.

Gotta be a first time

for everything.

Hola, Senorita Knowland.

Senor Ruiz.

Well, if it's, uh,

about the men for the harvest,

I was not expecting you

until next month.

Yes, I know.

But, we ran short of supplies.

Well, I'm always very happy

to serve you.

Were there, uh,

any passengers for the village?

Uh, two meesters.

He's in church.

Who is?

The other "meester."

Oh, you must be

the partner he mentioned.

Vic Leonard.

You're Catherine Knowland,

who foolishly helped

to save his life.

He was a little, uh, surprised

when you didn't show up

to meet him.

Oh, the confident type.

Yeah, this time

I think he's overmatched.

Nuts?

Heh, yes, I think I will.

Ah, Senor Mitchell.

I will be with you in a moment.

You have played tejo?

I've been known to.

A wonderful game.

One day you and I

must oppose each other.

I have a feeling

we're playing right now.

Something is wrong?

You must preach

a powerful sermon, Father.

I mean, the one that keeps

everyone off the mountain.

Oh, that one.

Yes, it was one of my best.

What do you do,

threaten everyone

with fire and brimstone?

No, no.

I merely told them

the story of a man

who climbed a mountain

looking for treasure.

He was robbed and shot

by El Moro's bandits

and he would have been clawed

to death by a jaguar.

But for the hand of Providence.

Hmm, a real thriller.

It does seem to have given them

a measure of wisdom.

I wouldn't bet Sunday's

collection on it, Father.

Well, you see, there are

only two places in the world

where you find emeralds.

Colombia and Siberia.

And one of those

is a closed corporation.

What happens if the men

won't go to the mountain?

Then we're sunk.

For gold, you can go out alone

with a prayer and a pan,

but for emeralds,

you have to have manpower.

Hi there.

You're late.

I'm sorry.

I was trying to arrange

for a red carpet

and a brass band.

Ha, ha.

Hmm.

You two seem

to be getting along.

Splendidly.

You didn't tell me

how charming your partner was.

I never noticed.

But what kind of a doctor

do you call yourself?

You haven't even inquired

about my side.

Well, I assumed

you'd be bright enough

to stay off bumpy roads.

Forgive me.

How is your side?

Well, I think it's gonna need

a lot of attention.

Look, uh, how is your

engagement book fixed

for uh, say, Saturday?

Dinnertime?

Saturday's fine, but,

will you still be here?

Why not?

Look, charm boy,

she knows, if we can't get

enough men to work the mine,

by Saturday we'll be halfway

back to the city.

Vic, you ought to know

I wouldn't let

a little labor problem

interfere with my social life.

Well, what are you going

to do about it?

I'm about to clear that up.

Your partner specializes

in getting his own way.

I'm the living proof.

Right now, there's a steamer

bound for Canada

with one empty stateroom.

Mine.

All right, you're hired.

You're hired!

Okay.

You, take off your shirt.

Take off your shirt.

All right, you're hired.

Heh. All right,

muscles, go on.

You're hired.

You...

Not so frightened of El Moro

this morning, eh, Father?

Obviously, your sermon

was more powerful than mine.

Oh, I just used

a different text.

Greed is stronger than fear.

I offered a thousand pesos

to the first man

who found an emerald.

You.

It is more than they would see

in a lifetime.

I wish them good fortune.

Ah, are you the one

that speaks English?

Yes, patron.

What's your name?

Manuel.

Manuel. All right,

Manuel, you're in charge.

Tell those boys to be ready

in one hour.

And get rid of these, huh?

Yes, patron.

All right, boys. All clear.

Back you go...

Hey.

Make a nice paperweight.

Manuel, you got

the guards posted?

Yes, senor.

Phew. Well, another day,

another nothing.

Heh. Why don't you ever look

on the sunny side?

Oh, I do, I do.

It just eludes me.

Where are you bound for,

the opera?

You know,

I'm worried about you, Vic.

You can't seem to get your mind

off emeralds.

You mustn't let it become

an obsession, you know.

All work and no play.

Hey, we got a dinner date.

That's right.

Of course, if you had

the inclination

to work a night shift,

I'll make your apologies.

Ha, ha. Very funny.

Senores!

Someone is coming.

Halt.

Hello there.

Hey, you must be Donald.

Last time we met, you weren't

in any shape for introductions.

Heh. This is my partner,

Vic Leonard.

This is Cathy's brother.

How do you do.

How are you?

Thought you might like

some company riding down.

Well, that's very thoughtful

of you. Like a drink?

No.

I'll, uh, just be a minute.

Better pack a couple

of toothbrushes.

Be too dangerous

to come back tonight

with El Moro on the loose.

Cathy's prettying up

the guest room.

Hey, that is not only

thoughtful, that is inspired.

Like to look around?

You bet I would.

Okay. Come on.

Now mind your head.

It's pretty low in here.

Wait a minute.

We'll get a light going.

There we are.

Quite a setup.

Hmm.

Most of it was done for us

by the Conquistadors.

That's the original timber.

It's been there hundreds

of years.

Of course,

we have to shore it up

as we go along

or we'll be wearing a mountain

or a hat.

Look.

See that rock formation?

See where the green shows?

That's what keeps

the miners going.

That's a sure sign

that emeralds are around.

Any luck yet?

Heh.

What we've found so far

wouldn't make a trinket counter

at the five and ten.

Nature's pretty cagey

about her emeralds.

He hides them away

in little pockets.

Look. Like that.

I think she forgot

to leave one in that one.

Now, that's the trouble

about tunneling.

You can come within six inches

of a million dollars

and still walk out a beggar.

Of course, I could do better

if I could step-dig.

Step-dig?

Yeah, you know, cut the mountain

down from the top,

layer by layer. You don't miss

a pebble that way.

Well, why don't you?

Why the...

The miner's lament.

Money.

Step-digging takes hundreds

of men and massive equipment.

All the same, Rian,

I'm betting on you,

even in a tunnel.

I only wish

I were up here with you.

What's the matter?

You lost your taste for coffee?

I've been a disappointment

about that to everyone.

The only son, family tradition,

you know how it is.

But it takes a green thumb

to run a plantation.

That's one thing

I didn't inherit.

You've got the right idea, Rian.

Move around, take your chances,

don't get stuck in one place.

Oh, don't get fooled

by all this.

This is a grubby life.

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