Johan Padan was born in a poor valley in the Alps. He is egoist, a liar and a thief, but he is also tender, caring, sly, intelligent and ready to do anything to survive. The first part of the tale is set in Venice, with its harbour open to the East, and in Seville, the embark for the New World. Johan will sail there and he will be in agreements with the Indians: he will encourage them towards a rebellion against the abuse of power of the Spanish soldiers. At the end, Johan will stay with the natives who are his new family, his New World.
