Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Coltan is a dark mineral composed of a solid solution of two substances, columbite and tantalite, which give rise to the name of the mineral. The proportions in which both substances are given in the mineral in nature is variable and depends on the origin of the ore. The columbite is a niobium, iron and manganese oxide, and the tantalite is also a tantalum, iron and manganese oxide.
The economic interest of coltan is due to its character of rich source of tantalum, so that the percentage of tantalite in the mineral, that oscillates strongly between 10% and 60%, is determinant of its value. Tantalum is used in the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors, present in a large number of electronic devices such as cell phones, computers and other more sophisticated artifacts. As the production of these devices has literally exploded in recent decades, coltan has gone from being a mineralogical rarity to an essential element in modern economics.
It is a relatively rare mineral in nature and the deposits are found in Australia, Canada, Brazil and China but mainly in Africa, especially in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighboring states Rwanda and Burundi. The demand for the mineral is increasing exponentially and the main powers dispute the control of the producing sites, in particular the United States, China, Russia and various countries of the European Union. Present interests involved include the producing countries, the aforementioned powers as consumers, multinational corporations and all kinds of non-institutional players such as guerrillas, smugglers, independent prospectors, intermediaries and traffickers. According to the United Nations this mineral has been along with other resources causing wars in Congo and its neighbors with a balance of millions of victims and displaced. Another consequence of the uncontrolled mining of coltan has been the pollution of lakes and rivers with serious damage to public health. Due to its consequences for the civilian population, this mineral has been compared to the "blood diamonds" of dire consequences in Angola, Sierra Leone and other West African countries.
Romain was as baffled by both Alisha's unexpected questions about the conversation with the Chinese and that of the coltan. A quick decision-maker who had saved his life on repeated occasions before, he wondered how to answer them.
“Alisha, you know that I love you and the truth is that I do not want to expose you to the dangers that surround me, and the questions you ask me are just the reason for those dangers.”
"Do not treat me like a child. You also know that I am in love with you and I have the right to know what risks my man is facing.”
Again Romain meditated and finally shook his head slightly at a signal that he had made up his mind.
“Well, listen ...”
He then gave a brief explanation about the nature of the mineral, its uses, its economic value and the conflicts it generates.
"So it's not diamonds that you were looking for in Africa?" The woman asked. "And what is the role of the Chinese?"
“In appearance are representatives of a company of forestry and timber interests but in reality behind them are agencies of the Chinese government who wish on the one hand to control the sources of this critical input and on the other to regulate production to govern the international price of raw material.”
“Are they dangerous? Can they hurt you?”
“Do not doubt it.”
“Why do not you come to an agreement with them, give them the maps or whatever it is that the scroll you found on the beach of the island contains and put an end to this problem?”
“Because they are not the only ones behind me for this information, and the others are as much or more dangerous than them because they do not represent any nation and therefore have no qualms.”
“Who are they?”
“That I am not going to tell you, in the first place because I do not know for sure and secondly because it would be dangerous for you.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
Romain was again subjected to great internal pressure. There were decisions he had not yet made.
"We'll see when we get to Mumbai. I do not want to rush. If I make a mistake I could put you in extreme risky situations.”
The trip took four days. When they arrived at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port- the main commercial port of India and one of the most active in Asia- Romain asked Jack Brody to allow him to descend first on a semi-rigid raft and go to the coast in such a way that no observer would associate him with the Etoile.
"It's for the safety of the other crew and passengers on the ship," The Canadian said enigmatically. Brody accepted without further questions, reflecting that there was very little that they knew about the castaway they had welcomed a few weeks earlier in an atoll on the Seychelles.
Before boarding the raft with his few belongings Mercier met alone with Alisha.
"Is this goodbye?" The woman asked. "Will I not see you again?"
"No way! "I will not give up on you!" Was the blunt answer. “But I do not know what I'm going to find in Mumbai or whether someone will be looking for me and I do not want to be associated with you. It's for your own safety.”
"Is this Zhang and his Chinese thugs?"
"Not only them. The Chinese are ultimately the most predictable party and I have some agreement with them, even if I do not fully enjoy their trust. I cannot tell you more.”
The woman wept silently. Romain took her in his arms and told her.
"I have your address in the city, I know where to look for you and I promise to do so as soon as I feel safe. I will send messages to your phone as soon as I buy one. I will not identify myself with my name but there will not need.”
"All these precautions drive me crazy. I curse the moment I met you on the deserted beach and fell in love with you.”
The man smiled and pressed Alisha to his chest.
"Perhaps leaving me at the beach would have been the best thing for you, but fate arranged it differently, and as an Indian woman you believe in fate." He brought his lips to hers and they joined in a long, desperate kiss.
"There's something I need to ask you. Your father and you have bank accounts in Mumbai?”
"Yes, my father has a corporate account on behalf of his company, and we have another in the name of both."
"Do you have a safe in the bank?"
-Yes. My father has one for his business but we also have another one for property documents and some family jewels.”
"Would you keep something for me?"
“Of course.”
Romain went down to the raft without looking back. Alisha was reclining on the railing of the yacht, staring into the void, not daring to look at the small boat that was slowly drifting away.