Book 2, Chapter 6 Summary

After Father Huisman's death, the town becomes a thriving marketplace, just as the priest knew it would. Squatters stay in their settlements and just throw their garbage out the door, creating big hills of garbage. The town begins to stink.

Mahesh keeps trying new get-rich ventures. He buys a machine to engrave signs and finds there are no signs to engrave. He researches making little wooden spoons for ice cream cups and finds out ice cream is made with dairy products not found there. He trades items with the army, which is dangerous and makes Salim nervous. Then he buys a Bigburger franchise, and it's an instant hit. Guests, from the hotel across the street, come for meals. Everybody else comes to get away from the garbage smells.

The President builds a huge complex at the site of a ruined suburb...