 Need a building permit? Feeling lonely tonight? Call the national benefactress, Madame Aldjeria - she has the answer. When it comes to surviving in today s Algeria, no scam is too daunting for the woman who has adopted her country s name. If they re pretty and lacking in principles, her recruits can make a career for themselves. The latest of these, Paloma, is quite a hit, especially with Riyad, Madame Aldjeria s son. But the purchase of Caracalla Springs, the dream that should allow Aldjeria s clan to start a new life, proves to be one scam too many.