High up in the rainforest canopy sits a stranded pirate ship, many miles from the sea. On board, Captain Henry Morgan lies dying, surrounded by magnificent jewels, artefacts and coins accumulated over a lifetime. Centuries later, Severo Bracamonte arrives in a remote Venezuelan village in search of the captain's legendary hoard. He is given lodging by the Otero family, to whom he promises a share of his find, but, despite his relentless efforts, the treasure seems destined to remain undiscovered...Miguel Bonnefoy's captivating fable on the evils of greed is also a fascinating portrait of Venezuela's development in the twentieth century.