A young Spaniard, born in Galicia, migrates to South America's western coast. Hard work, savings, and investments allow him to develop a prosperous enterprise. His son, and later Marco his grandson, expand the company. Domingo, a full blooded native American-Araucanean, is the head engineer and intimate friend of Marco. The friends and their wives become owners of a food processing industry. The two young women in charge of the Department of Personnel and Welfare extend the company's philanthropic endeavors to segments of the population living in poverty. Some of the best qualities of the Spanish and Araucanean cultures adorn many characters in the novel. The same qualities are found in many other cultures. We could one day be a brotherhood if we concentrate in the common humanity. Little cells of civilized, humane, and kind behavior can sprout anywhere around the world and coalesce to form a large fraternity.