'The reason the king is so powerful is because he's made a pact with the devil', a devout woman told the boy, and he was intrigued.
Some time later, when he was travelling to another town, the boy heard a man beside him remark: 'All this land belongs to the same man. I'd say the devil had a hand in that.'
Late one summer afternoon, a beautiful woman walked past the boy.'That woman is in the service of satan!' cried a preacher angrily.
From then on the boy decided to seek the devil out, and when he found him, he said:'They say you can make people powerful, rich and beautiful.
''Not really,' replied the devil. 'You've just been listening to the views of those who are trying to promote me.'
- Paulo Coelho in "Like the Flowing River"
