The barons -- A visitor from Sweden -- Revolution -- Soviet days -- The middleman -- Détente -- The perfect oil field -- Crossfire -- The first deal -- Return to Baku -- The contract of the century -- The near abroad -- Early oil -- A battle of wills -- A tale of two negotiators -- An accidental pipeline -- An army for oil -- Boom and bust -- Kashagan -- A way to the sea -- The king of Kazakhstan -- Epilogue.