Carlo applied his knowledge of alchemy to create a secret way of making a fine wine
that had some unusual effects on those that consumed it. One of the effects was
to temporarily increase certain brainpowers by many fold. The effects were not consistent
and it was difficult for Carlos to predict to what extent and for how long this
would work, but work it did.
In fact Carlo used his wine to allow himself to make
even greater advances in the powers of his wines. These special wines were a secret
that Carlo shared only with his wife and brothers. Carlo made and kept these wines
in an abandoned mine tunnel in a secret location not far from his winery. He would
only travel to the tunnel in the dead of night under the light of the moon and was
very clever in hiding his path.
Now many in old California were suspicious of alchemists, particularly those that
had emigrated from Italy. They considered alchemy to be but one step from witchcraft.
Many gold miners believed that alchemists could somehow magically guide them to
riches of gold. The more unscrupulous of these were known to have forced alchemists
to help them, by whatever means it took.
Continued ...
