While Joe Bates and Sabino, Vietnam heroes, built a manufacturing empire, Ivon Bates, a young Ph.D., risks losing it. Facing enemies (Helen McCain and Donato Sabellius) bent of wrenching Bates Pharmaceuticals away from him, Ivon finds his true mettle. But as unalterable tragedy engulfs him, in the end, he finds peace and true love through Sabino's gift: the Aleph jewel. Although the theme of the novel focuses on business practices (good and evil), the story is rich with a family saga that tells about human frailties and strengths, kindness and cruelty, and in some cases, violence. While Joe Bates and Sabino, Vietnam heroes, built a manufacturing empire, Ivon Bates, a young Ph.D., risks losing it. Facing enemies (Helen McCain and Donato Sabellius) bent of wrenching Bates Pharmaceuticals away from him, Ivon finds his true mettle. But as unalterable tragedy engulfs him, in the end, he finds peace and true love through Sabino's gift: the Aleph jewel. Although the theme of the novel focuses on business practices (good and evil), the story is rich with a family saga that tells about human frailties and strengths, kindness and cruelty, and in some cases, violence. le tragedy engulfs him, in the end, he finds peace and true love through Sabino's gift: the Aleph jewel. Although the theme of the novel focuses on business practices (good and evil), the story is rich with a family saga that tells about human frailties and strengths, kindness and cruelty, and in some cases, violence.