PERU: Rainmaker

Peru's coast is a brown billowing desert,* broken here & there by tiny green valleys which poorly support half the country's population. The towering Andes effectively bar the transportation of foodstuffs from the fertile eastern region. Because of the chronic food shortage, the Ministry of Agriculture is the hottest seat in the Peruvian cabinet. In January, the Apristas gladly turned the post over to a chubby, genial landowner named Pedro Venture, later denounced him for failing to provide food for the people. Replied Venture: "I cannot offer you miracles."

More recently, Venture decided that maybe he might, after all, offer...

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