The story is set in 1990s, the African Congo. The plot surrounds the adventures and horrors of Raoul Stern,
a European oil representative on business who learns more than he bargains for about the murky side of area politics.
Events start when Raoul has left a broken marriage to help an African oil-company branch run a new venture. Upon entering his African hotel room, Raoul ; thinks reflective thoughts – “I need to ... vow to connect with the people of this land” . A formerly communist area, money and sex now reign but Kessler’s character is an idealist, envisioning scenarios with the oil project being a potential source for Congolese betterment.
What Raoul discovers is the system is corrupt to the core. An intrepid environment laced with prostitutes, Raoul meets Rosa, a woman he greets in his hotel then makes a date with when she waits on him later that day. She tells Raoul of the source of Congolese social disintegration and authorized crime: the ruler, President Libolo. Libolo spends the budget on women, villas and castles for himself.
There are scenes describing government hypocrisy: a prostitute being taken to a room to be raped by an entire police squadron unless she agrees to give up her wages. And,momentous minutes in which President Libolo is offered evidence by an oil rep that his rule is nearing an ugly end. Nevertheless, Kessler’s prevalent message is subtle and irresistible: The little guy counts most.