The flames in the title are by no means merely symbolic: they are the real flames of an Andean volcano in wild eruption. And it is in this hot, insane world of ashes, lava and earthquake that the business mission of Harold Dunnett, the young audit clerk, comes to sudden disaster. Sent out by his firm to investigate the suspicious trading affairs of Senior Muras, Mr. Dunnett, always very careful of his professional reputation, finds himself being...