‘He goes on my reaction,’ Haut said. ‘We’ve had so many issues with people trying to do damage to me and my equipment, Mac’s always at the ready. He has a real instinct for those who would do me harm.’

Haut went to a portable fridge, pulled out two more cans of beer and handed one to Cavalier.

‘You out here alone, apart from Mac?’

‘Once or twice a week. I have six men working for me. They have tonight off.’

‘Why all the opposition to your discoveries?’

‘Huh! Where do I start?’

‘Wombat tells me you’ve had trouble with the state’s mines department, MRT.’

‘And the rest! I’ve got leases they want. Try the European Conquer Group, for starters. They don’t want my wells drilled. They’ll wait and try to take up the leases themselves. In the meantime, they’ll bribe anyone to kill my company’s operations. Conquer has tens of billions to play with.’

‘I know a little about them. I read Anthony Sampson’s book The Seven Sisters.’

‘There are five big conglomerates now. You’ve haven’t worked for any of them, I hope?’

Cavalier shook his head. Haut stared for a moment. Cavalier returned the look without giving anything away. He guessed that Wombat may have hinted to Haut about Cavalier’s second, secret profession. Mac lumbered back into the tent and lay at Haut’s feet.

‘Conquer would do anything to get those leases,’ Haut said, fondling Mac’s ears. ‘They stole my assay reports. They know I’m sitting on the world’s biggest find. It would lift their reserves worldwide by maybe twenty-five per cent. They’ve already bribed officials here to destroy my report.’

Cavalier glanced at his tape recorder.

‘You can publish all that,’ Haut said.

‘It’s a big story but no paper would risk a law suit.’

‘Have a look at Conquer’s record. Nothing stands between them and the sniff of a big oil find.’

‘Still can’t make unsubstantiated claims about your situation.’

‘It’s substantiated. Earlier this year I was chatting with a guy called Gene McDoe. He agreed with my findings.’

‘The significance?’

‘He worked for MRT. He admitted he had seen my submitted reports but they’d been substituted with other reports. My core sample has been stolen.’

‘Who stole it?’

‘People in Conquer’s pocket at MRT. You should look into that.’

‘I’ll do the appropriate research. But first, can we look at how you started in the mining business?’

They were interrupted when Mac sat up, growled and pushed his way out of the tent. Haut grabbed his rifle. Cavalier followed him. The dog went a few paces into the bush, growled again, lifted his leg on a tree and led the way back into the tent.