text: You couldn't possibly refuse such an offer. You'll be making money by the thousands, doing Uncle Robert a favour, and if you're allowed on the frontlines, where the jungle is being torn down, maybe you can save some rare specimens. Who knows, you might even chance upon the ape skeleton!
  
  "Wow, that's... a very generous proposal, Uncle Robert, thank you. Of course I'll accept!" Your uncle lets out a breath.
  
  "You've made me one very happy man, William! Well, your work begins immediately after we've had something to eat."
  
  A brief lunch, with cottage pie. Agnes explains smugly that everything is imported from England, even the salt. You pretend to look impressed, but inwardly you sigh... Despite travelling halfway across the world, you just can't seem to escape your homeland.
  
  Then you're off to the plantation, which is the first time you've been outside since you arrived here- you can't wait. However instead of going through the front gates, a servant, who returns your 'Good afternoon!' with small grin this time, leads you down a side-path, through a small gate, then along a fast-flowing river. You walk in silence for five minutes, soaking it all in. The leafy canopy protects you from the glare of the sun, creating a cool, peaceful atmosphere. And the birds, with their lilting melodies, provide pleasant background music. Interestingly, it's not as humid or wet as you expected- in fact, you would describe this jungle more like an exotic forest than anything else. Gazing around, you spot a turmeric plant, which Milton mentioned, and itch to copy it down in your notebook, but your uncle hurries you on. You walk for a few more minutes, surrounded by trees, and then- wow.
  
  The proper jungle cuts off suddenly, leaving something quite different in its place; perfect rows of palm trees, all arranged so that every inch of space is used. Here and there, a worker makes their way through the trees, collecting small, thick-skinned red fruits.
  
  "So, here it is," Your uncle announces, with a definite note of pride in his voice. "The Collins' palm plantation is all you can see for miles around." He walks up to the nearest tree, and plucks off one of the red fruits. "And this little fruit is why I became so wealthy. My workers harvest them all, and then we send them off to factories, so that all the juice, and by that I mean the oil, can be squeezed out. The reason my plantation is so successful? It produces large quantities of top quality oil in a short space of time. And I need it to stay that way." You have a creeping suspicion that he's been planning this little speech for some time. "Your job is to sort all my paperwork in the morning, or arrangements with potential clients, and then in the afternoon you'll be supervising the workers, and giving them their pay at the end of the week. Oh, and every so often we expand by a few acres, so I'll need you to monitor that as well. There's no work on Saturday afternoon and the whole of Sunday. It's not a bad life, William, and you'll soon get into a regular routine." Uncle Robert claps you on the shoulder and moves on. Hm, this new job doesn't sound too boring, and as you'd hoped, you'll be able to keep an eye out for any sign of the ape skeleton.
  
  The rest of the afternoon is spent at the plantation, while your uncle shows you the ropes. Every so often you pass a worker, who greets Robert, however with the same sullenness that you saw earlier. Seeing how weary they look, you smile and give them a friendly nod the first few times, but then your uncle gives you such a frosty glare that you stop after that. The sun sets, and presently you both begin to make your way back to the bungalow.
  
  At breakfast the following morning, a letter arrives in the post. You recognise the familiar handwriting, and freeze. Aunt Agnes, ever watchful, notices.
  
  "What is it, William? Oh, look, I think this letter's from your parents- don't worry, I'm sure there's something for you inside as well. Why the long face?" You remain silent. "Well, do excuse us while we have quick look." As your aunt and your uncle both lean over the paper, you see their expressions slowly change from interest, to surprise, to confusion, and then finally to disgust. They look up at you, similar to the way Agnes was looking at that poor dung beetle yesterday morning. Quivering with anger, your aunt opens and closes her mouth to speak, but Uncle Robert lays a placating hand on her, and turns to you. He orders you, in a harsh voice, to:
  
  "Vacate the room, boy, Aunt Agnes and I need to discuss your shameful deceit. We'll call you in due course."
  
  Jittery with uncertainty, you pace around the house for a while. Furious whispers are coming from the dining room, but you can't quite make them out. And then your uncle calls you back in; as you enter, they both look up, faces hostile.
  
  "Well William, we both had a fine shock reading your poor parents' letter this morning. They said they've disinherited you, would you believe it? And just imagine if you'd been preying on our hospitality all the while!" Your aunt laughs coldly. "No doubt you've thought up some pitiful excuse. Well?"
  
  It's not over yet. If your aunt and uncle are hearing you out, they must at least be considering keeping you. Should you tell them the truth- that you only came for the prestigious Gigantopithecus - or at least part of it? After all, Agnes is very perceptive, and might be able to tell if you're lying.
  
  On the other hand, flattery could be the way forward. You remember Uncle Robert's reaction when you said you'd be "thrilled" to listen to his presentation- he'd probably lap up any compliment you cared to throw his way.
  
  > use flattery
  Planning every movement, every word out in your head, you shift your feet, and look down awkwardly.
  
  "Well, the thing is- the reason I came- I mean, I wanted..." Trying your best to look self-conscious, you take a deep breath. "I know I came to India on the pretext of exploring the jungle, and looking for the skeletal remains of the giant ape, and I did want to, but the main reason I came was- well, to see you two." You watch for any reaction from your aunt and uncle, but their faces remain guarded.
  
  "I know we receive letters from you every month, however it's simply not the same. I wanted to see my illustrious uncle and aunt in person." You're building up momentum now, and even enjoying it slightly. "And now I'm here and I know it was wrong of me, but I've met you and you're just like I imagined! So British, and proper, and respectable, and just perfect!" A long silence draws out, and you become slightly anxious. Okay, that last bit was perhaps a little excessive. Unfortunately, your uncle seems to think so too.
  
  "Pack your bags. You're to leave at once." You sigh, defeated. As you quit the room, a triumphant whisper from behind you is just audible: "I told you he'd try and butter you up!"
  
  In less than five minutes, you're back where you started on the little red boat, chugging along the river, except this time you're going downstream. Leafing through your notebook, you stop at the page you'd reserved for the glorious discovery of the Gigantopithecus. The blank page glares up at you, mocking your failure.
  
  Where did you go wrong?