know quite how to respond to that, but when he arrives at the Washingtons' secret compound deep in the Montana Rockies, he sees that Percy has spoken the truth. Percy's ancestor had found a mountain that is literally one big diamond, and Percy's family lives on that mountain in luxury.

John enjoys himself immensely all summer long, even falling in love with Percy's sister, Kismine. The days pass in a golden glimmer as John gets used to living among precious gems. All the while, though, there is something sinister lurking just beneath the surface. Percy's family has gone to great lengths to keep their wealth and home secret, and John finally sees the prisoners, mostly aviators who were unlucky enough to fly over the Washington home.

John is able, for a while, to shut out the dark parts of his visit, but then Kismine lets slip a horrible secret. Her sister, Jasmine, has invited other guests before ... and none of them made it out alive. They were all poisoned at the end of the summer to keep the family's secret safe. John knows that the same thing will happen to him, and he and Kismine plan to escape.

Events begin to move quickly then, building steadily toward the story's climax. On the night the executioners come for John, a fleet of airplanes attacks the Washington estate. One of the prisoners had managed to escape and alert the authorities. Enemies descend upon the compound, firing madly. John, Kismine, and Jasmine escape into the woods as the whole area goes up in flames. But just when we think we've reached the story's climax, something else happens. John watches as Percy's father, Braddock Washington, offers God a huge diamond as a bribe, vowing to make a diamond cathedral for Him if only He will destroy the attackers and restore everything just as it was. God refuses the bribe.

The story then builds to its climax as the aviators land and fan out to finish the job of conquering Washington estate. John watches as Percy, his parents, and two servants disappear into a trap door in the mountain. Suddenly, the whole mountain explodes in a “dazzling burning yellow.” The climax point has been reached, and then the light fades to reveal “a black waste” and “blue smoke.” The chateau explodes; the smoke drifts off; and there is silence in the valley. John, Kismine, and Jasmine are the only people left alive.