"With his wife and five children--one boy and three girls--they found a valley that was protected from the west by high rocky cliffs that flowed into a verdant grassland on down to the wide river to the east. Here, with another family of husband, wife, and six children--seven boys less one girl--they bullt their home and became bankers who paid to have someone else plow their fields and raise voles.

"From the river they pulled great slapping silver fish and the occasional drowned parrot. Their orchards spread to the west and their vineyards produced wine that became their downfall.

"To this day, the men and women live on the river, spreading out only as the the rainy season floods them out. Except for Red Harry. He was always happily drunk and lived in town sorting grapes."