by Michael Cole
Both Eric and Chris moved toward the animal. "Stay put until we make sure it's dead," Eric ordered.
Chris was the first to reach it. "Great shot, Eric. You hit it in the head. Good thing your aim was true because mine wasn't."
A sheepish-look appeared on Eric's face. "I have to be honest. I was aiming for his chest. It was a damn lucky shot considering the fog." With Chris's help, Eric turned the animal over. "Just as I thought. This cat was wounded. See the arrow here in his shoulder?" Eric grasped the arrow, extracted it, and showed it to Chris.
"Indians," Phillip exclaimed. "There must be Indians here."
"Did you really think the Amazon was unpopulated?" Eric said. It wasn't as much a question as a statement. "White men aren't the only ones who hunt big game. There is a difference, though. Most white men hunt large cats for the sport of it. Indians hunt them for their fur. The Indian who shot this cat was most likely tracking him, so my guess is he is close by. Once we leave, he'll probably drag the carcass away."
Eric glanced at Catalina. "Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Catalina tried to mask her fear with feigned bravado. "I'm fine, thanks to you, but why do you think the cougar attacked us? I thought you said animals go to great lengths to avoid people."
Eric twisted the bolt of his rifle, discharging the spent shell to the ground. "You are right. These cats normally shy away from humans, but this one was hurt, and we were in its way-or at least it must have thought so. In the Amazon even animals must learn to act quickly as a few seconds can make the difference between life and death."
Catalina glanced at the cougar. "A minute ago it was charging toward us and now it's dead, and it all happened so fast." Life is so tenuous, she thought, so unpredictable, and it can also be short. I have so little time on this earth, and sadly, I've been squandering it. I swear if I ever get out of the jungle alive, I won't waste it being with Phillip.
* * *
Just as Eric had predicted, the fog lifted. He never ceased to be amazed at the way the weather conditions changed. A short while ago visibility was almost zero, and now it was so clear that even the crest of the mountain was visible. "If you climbed to the summit, you would see the crater, commonly referred to by the Indians as the Devil's Dimple," he told the group.
"Have you ever climbed clear to the top?" Catalina asked.
"No, and neither has Chris. Once you've seen one crater, you've seen them all."
"It really is intimidating to look at, isn't it?"
"It's the heart and soul of Mato Grosso," Eric replied. Pointing his finger toward the mountain, he asked, "Do you see the dense, green vegetation? It's about three or four kilometers from here. That's where we are heading. We'll be at a higher elevation once we reach Suchu Urcu. From there, you'll see Rio Xingu, the river we just came from. The view is spectacular."
"What about this lake you mentioned?" Phillip asked.
"The Rio Topo? If all goes well, we should reach it before nightfall. It's in a valley approximately halfway up the mountain. It's a lake you can swim in if you wish. The water is a little cold, but actually it's quite pleasant."
"If the water comes from the snowcaps of Muela Del Diablo, how can it be warm enough to swim in?" Catalina asked.
"It's because at the river's bank there are mineral water springs. These effervescent waters, which are quite warm, literally come out of the ground and mix with those of the Rio Topo."
Anxious to get rid of the dirt and grime, Catalina said, "I'm really looking forward to a bath."
Eric took the lead once more, and they continued to plod their way toward the lake. Catalina walked comfortably behind him while Phillip, who was behind Chris, brought up the rear. An hour and a half later, Eric stopped in front of a ledge that would lead them to Rio Topo. "Tomorrow morning we'll start our ascent to Suchu Urcu. It's about a thousand meters above the lake on the other side of a gorge. Remember I told you the lake is in a valley? The descent is quite steep so I want to make sure we do this by the book." After tying a rope around his waist, he told Chris to do the same. Addressing Phillip, he said, "I want you to hold on to Chris's rope. Watch his feet and step where he steps. If he loses his balance and starts to fall, you need to hunker down and hold on to the rope. Whatever you do, don't let go. Catalina, you do the same with me. Do you both understand?"
Phillip grunted. "You don't have to talk to me as if I was an imbecile. I know what to do."
Catalina tuned Phillip out. Instead, she turned her attention toward the proliferation of trees below her. The visible contrast between the rocky terrain where she was standing and the lush vegetation of the valley was stunning. It was as if God had declared that life would not exist on this portion of the volcanic slope.
Cautiously, Catalina and Eric trudged down the steep embankment while Phillip and Chris followed some twenty or so meters behind them. Catalina concentrated on Eric's feet. He'd take a step, and she would follow. The going was excruciatingly slow. Suddenly the ground shifted. Chris began to slide in a downward direction across the jagged terrain. Trying to regain his footing, he yelled at Phillip, "Don't let go of the rope!"
"I'm losing my grip," Phillip shouted. "The rope is blistering my hands." Unable to hold on to it any longer, Phillip had no choice other than to let go. Chris slid thirty meters toward the bottom of the ravine. Somehow, he managed to latch on to a dead tree branch, which slowed his descent.
"He's going to die!" Catalina shouted. "He'll end up falling clear to the bottom of the gorge!"
"Not on my watch." Eric cut the rope that bound him to Catalina. "I want you to stay put."
Catalina did as she was told. She watched the drama unfold as Eric cautiously planted each foot on solid ground before lifting the other. It was like a film being played in slow motion. She could hear him shouting to his partner, "Don't move. I'm coming to get you."
* * *
Eric had cut the rope because he didn't want to expose Catalina to any more danger; however, without it, he wasn't sure if he could reach Chris. Laboriously, he worked his way to his partner. He was not more than a few meters away from him when his foot slipped.
Catalina held her breath as Eric landed in the brittle shale. Somehow, he managed to regain his footing. Once he reached Chris, he grabbed ahold of Chris's rope, which was still tied to his waist.
"I've got you!" Eric said. He looked in Catalina's direction, who was a good twenty meters above him. "Tell Phillip to stay put. Once I get you and Chris down safely, I'll work my way back up to help him."
Eric dug his feet into the ground. "Okay, Chris, use the rope as leverage to lower yourself." Once the rope was taut, Eric took a few cautious steps toward the ravine in order to give Chris more slack so he could lower himself further toward the gorge. Once Chris reached level ground, Eric asked, "Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm okay."
"Stay put," Eric said. "I'm going back up to help Phillip and Catalina." Eric scrambled back up the ridge. He gave Phillip one end of his rope. "Tie it around your waist. You are going down first."
Phillip stared at the bottom of the gorge. "That incline is very steep. If I start to fall and you can't hold the rope, I-"
Eric cut him off. "Quit thinking negatively. I know I'll be able to break your fall. I sure as hell am not going to trust you to hold the rope for me-not after what just happened to Chris."
"Come on. You can do it, Phillip," Catalina shouted.
"Don't you move, Catalina," Eric commanded. "I'll come get you in a minute."
Phillip took a couple of steps closer toward the gorge. When he looked down, he said, "What's to prevent you from pushing me over?"
"Not a damn thing," Eric said. "Except you hired me to protect you. Believe it or not, Phillip, even though I don't like you, I'll stand by my word."
The second Phillip was on level ground, Eric untied the rope from his waist and went back up the slope after Catalina.
While Eric was helping Catalina down the slope,
Chris said to Phillip, "What the hell is your problem? Can't you do a simple thing like hold on to a rope?"
"Shut up, Chris," Phillip countered.
Eric, who overheard Chris's remark, said, "It wasn't Phillip's fault. I should've shown him how to hold a rope. But then again, he told me he was an expert mountain climber, so I figured he knew how to attain leverage. All he would have had to do was what Catalina did, and that is to wrap the rope around his waist. Because he had no leverage, Phillip had little choice, but to let go."
Once Catalina had worked her way down the slope, she just shook her head.
Phillip immediately went on the defensive. "It wasn't my fault. I had to let go. The rope was burning my hands."
She decided enough had been said. To be a coward was one thing, but to let a man fall, quite possibly to his death, because of a little rope burn was another matter. Not only was Phillip yellow, but he was also a liar. She figured he had lied to her about being an expert mountain climber. He was weak, and she despised him.
Eric decided it would be best to cross over to the other side of the gorge and set up camp by the lake. They re-entered the rain forest. The ground on that side of the gorge was more stable. There were a few ferns and some low-growing bushes scattered about, but no heavy underbrush, so the climb to Rio Topo didn't take long.
"We'll make camp close to the lake," Eric said. "Rio Topo is only a few meters from here. As I told Catalina, it's one of the safest lakes in the Amazon."
With a bar of soap in her hand, Catalina ran to the water's edge, surprising a covey of cranes that took flight. She removed her boots and tested the water. It was cold, but felt refreshing. She found some bushes large enough to obscure her while she slipped out of her clothes. Although her wallet was waterproof, she felt since it contained the derrotero, it would be safer hidden under her clothes by a clump of shrubs. Returning to the water, soap in hand, she waded out a ways, staying in line with the shrubs. Using them for cover, Catalina washed her hair, luxuriating in the smell of the soap. She did miss her creature comforts.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shrubs move where she had left her clothes. Could it be an animal? Was it the wind? Did someone duck behind the scrubs where I left my clothes, or is it my imagination? She remembered Eric telling her of some chilling encounters he'd had with renegade Indians. Prickling fingers of fear coursed through her. Should I scream? Or would that make it worse? What to do? I can't let them see my fear, particularly Phillip. I can handle this. I know I can.
Cautiously, she waded back to the bank where she had left her clothes. When she didn't see anyone else in sight, she quickly put them back on, took the wallet, and calmly strode back to camp. She was proud she had been able to control her fear. Maybe she was in a position to control her destiny as well.
CHAPTER 25
Ever since Phillip had decided to steal the derrotero, he'd been watching and waiting for the right opportunity. When he saw Catalina head for the lake, he hoped this would be the break he'd been looking for. He followed her from a distance and watched as she entered the clump of shrubs. He forced himself to wait patiently and remained out of sight. Just as he was beginning to think she would never come out, he saw her wade into the lake. When she started washing her hair, Phillip quickly sneaked to the place where she had left her clothes. As he'd hoped, her wallet was lying beneath her garments. At first he was going to grab it and get out of there, but then he thought better of it. Instead, he removed the wallet from its waterproof pouch and extracted Valverde's instructions. Once he was satisfied he had what he was looking for, he replaced the wallet where he had found it. Just at that moment, Phillip saw Catalina craning her neck in his direction. Indecision set in. Should he make a run for it? Or should he remain still and wait to see if she was coming his way? With the derrotero still in his hand, Phillip crawled on his belly away from Catalina's clothes. Once he was certain she would be unable to spot him, he placed the ancient parchment in his pocket for safekeeping. Satisfied, he headed for his tent.
As soon as he entered the campsite, Chris cornered him. "What have you been doing? Rolling in mud?"
"I tripped and fell."
"Where have you been? Eric has been looking for you."
"Do I now have to ask his permission to take a leak?"
Chris shot Phillip a dirty look. "You've caused enough trouble, don't you think?"
"Where is Eric?"
Chris pointed to the far side of the clearing. "Over there, doing your job."
Phillip walked toward Eric who was digging a trench. "I would have done that, but I have blisters on my hands."
"You always seem to have an excuse."
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. What did you say?"
"I said I'm just about finished. The next time you have to leave the camp, would you kindly let Chris or me know?"
"Sure thing," Phillip replied politely. "Did you happen to see Catalina?"
"She's swimming in the lake. I'm going to see if I can find something for us to eat. Why don't you go help Chris with the fire?"
"I would be happy to, but?.?.?."
"Oh, that's right. You can't because your hands are blistered."
Eric had expected an argument from Phillip and was surprised when one didn't materialize. Could he be up to something? Or could he just be biding his time, waiting for a chance to get even?
In any event, Eric didn't trust him. Making a mental note to check on him later, he grabbed his gun and headed into the jungle. It didn't take him long to down a couple of guinea pigs. By the time he came back into the clearing, Chris had the fire going. Handing the game to his partner, Eric asked, "Would you mind cleaning and spitting these?"
Chris nodded, took the animals from Eric and went to sharpen his knife.
* * *
The aroma of the pigs roasting over the fire brought Catalina out of her tent. "Smells good. What's for dinner?"
"Cuy de monte," Eric replied.
"Ah, guinea pigs?"
"Wood guinea pigs," Eric corrected her. "There is a difference. Have a seat and keep me company."
Soon the three of them were feasting on the pigs, no one mentioning Phillip's absence. "Delicious." Catalina grinned as she took her last bite. "Thank you."
Eric turned to her. "Would you like to take a walk to the lake?"
Strolling side by side to the water's edge, Eric listened to the familiar jungle noises. "There are a lot of animals nearby. If we stay still long enough, we might get lucky and spot some. Sooner or later they'll come down to the water to drink."
"What about the big cats?"
"You're still thinking about that cougar, aren't you?"
"I was never so scared in my life."
Smiling, Eric reached tentatively for Catalina's hand, pleased that she didn't pull away. "You don't have to worry. The cats will stay clear of us. Most animals will maintain their distance from humans. They don't like the way we smell."
"Are you serious?" Catalina turned to face Eric to see if he was kidding.
"Yes. It's a proven fact. Besides, even the more dangerous animals won't attack us unless they think we're going to harm their young. Or, as was the case with that wounded cougar. There's plenty of food for them to eat. You see, in a way, the jungle is quite similar to a corporation."
"I'm sorry, but I don't see the connection."
"It's the pecking order, Catalina. A carnivorous animal like a puma will kill for food only when it's hungry. Once the predator that does the actual killing gets its fill, the carcass is left for the jackals and the raptors. The last to eat in this food chain would be the vultures. The big difference between society and nature is that nature is more charitable. It takes only what it needs. You won't see any greed, backstabbing, or deceit here like you'd find in the corporate world. Society places too many expectations on us. In the Amazon, things are much simpler. You eat or you get eaten. The only instinct is self-preservation."
"Is that what made you come to this pl
ace?"
"I was a teacher. I enjoyed teaching, and that's really all I ever wanted to do, but to receive tenure at an accredited university, pressure is constantly applied on you to publish. No sooner do you write one book, another is expected of you." Eric paused. "But to tell you the truth, I would most likely still be teaching had my father not gone missing."
Catalina looked surprised. "Your father is missing?"
"Yes. Ironically, he could very well be somewhere on this mountain."
"What was he looking for?" Catalina asked.
"The same thing Colonel Percy Fawcett was looking for over seventy-five years ago. You've heard of him, haven't you?"
Catalina nodded her head. "The famous English explorer? Who hasn't?"
"Fawcett found an old document in Rio de Janeiro about a hidden ancient city that apparently had been discovered in the Amazon somewhere in the vicinity of Muela Del Diablo. He set out with his son and a newspaper cameraman from Sao Paulo in 1925 to find it. The three disappeared in the Brazilian jungle, never to return. Fawcett didn't use any Indian guides. Not that he didn't trust them. In fact, he had an excellent rapport with most Indians. It was because the Indians were too frightened of going where he wanted to go, which is where we are now. The natives are convinced this area of Mato Grosso is cursed. I guess like Percy Fawcett, too many people who have come to this place have never been seen or heard from again."
"Like your father," Catalina said.
"Like my father."
"Apparently, you weren't daunted by the rumors."
Eric gave Catalina a sheepish look. "I have a confession to make. If it wasn't for wanting to find my father, I don't think I would have agreed to take you and Phillip to this place."
"Why? Because of what the Indians think?"
"It has nothing to do with that. I don't believe in curses, devils, or evil spirits. The Amazon jungle isn't any more or less dangerous here than it is anywhere else in Brazil."
