by Al Cooper
- Thanks, Souza, we have no doubt about it, we are convinced that you are, at least, as good cop as host - Kelly made it clear -
- Well, once complied with the protocol - the four smiled upon the occurrence of Souza - I will tell you that, although it might give the impression that we are at the heart of Manhattan, what you see out there is a mirage as you could confirm yesterday. We're really at the heart of the Amazon, or as close to it. All that sounds anywhere, anywhere of the Amazon, ends up here as an echo. It's not just the beginning of a river, is the end of everything. - Stared at the face of continued skepticism of Hanson - Yeah, I realize that my words may sound like philosophical jargon, but have an undercurrent of pragmatism. I mean, this is more than just a cultural mixing point lost in the jungle. It’s a supply center, most of the expeditions arrive and depart from here, and here ends coming all people that maintain some contact, of any type whatsoever, with this area.
Marvin stepped in to try to clarify whether the conclusion he had drawn from the words of Souza was the right one.
- Do you mean to say that Manaus is not only our main source of information but the only one?
- Right. Before taking any action or decide any motion, it's good to listen the echoes although they come in a distorted form. Then you'll understand better when we deepen into the topic at hand - said Souza, who paused to take a pointer, then sat on a table below the map and carried on - the most inhospitable part , Amazon's heart, is huge, in fact its size can be estimated at thirty percent of the entire Amazon. Therefore, searching here - pointed with a pointer to a random spot on the map located upstream of the Black River - or here - pointed to another distant point of the previous upstream Solimoes River - to someone, to something that we even didn't know is ridiculous, absolutely impossible. Now, if you notice, we have lots of white pins scattered all over the map, representing the colonies of non-indigenous people we have identified, defined as all those that are not settled or stable populations.
Marvin interrupted him.
- Excuse me, Captain Souza.
- Do not worry about the gallons, I'd like between you and me there weren't any kind of hierarchies. Please see me as your friend, simply.
- Thank you, it’s an attitude that honors you. Well I wanted to ask, maybe my question may seem ridiculous or out of ignorance but ...
- Come on, Marvin, remember that you are among friends.
- These white pins, those colonies, what kind of activity have?
- Your question is not only ridiculous, but very successful. Their activities are various, the most abundant are the logging companies, mining, scientific expeditions.
- Legal? ... - Asked Kelly-
Souza took a while to answer her, he seemed to be searching the most adequate answer.
- Look, Miss Kelly - grinned as he set the pointer on the table - in theory, yes - paused again - Before proceeding, I would ask you that, the next comment I'm going to do you, doesn't go out of here, because from an official view, the answer should be different.
- I don't know what you are talking about but you can rest easy. For all purposes, this conversation never existed - Kelly reassured him -
- Well, it's all I needed to hear. I continue. While it's true that most of the white pins that we have here - pointed his index finger - pinned on the map correspond to legal settlements, we checked several that are not.
- But ... - Hanson tried to seek a clarification to an answer that meant the same as saying that Souza and his people did not comply well with their work –
- Yes, I know exactly what you're thinking. But we have our reasons, do not hesitate. Try to explain. First, our staff is limited. In addition, entering certain areas of the forest is not only risky, but doing so in a very unfavorable, on foot and with few resources, means that the offender plays with advantage for to flee at least. Unless the settlement is causing significant damage to its environment, or they are drug traffickers and dangerous criminals, say ...
- You make the "blind eye" - said Hanson helping Souza to finish his argument -
- Exactly. There is another compelling reason. It’s better to have them controlled that invading their territories, displacing them to other sites and get that they and others are tipped off, or they don't trust our informers.
- Although it is unconventional, I recognize that it may be the most effective policy in this case - nuanced Marvin -
- Do not be the slightest doubt, experience is our guarantee. The fact is that, ultimately, the white pins you can see include both a type as those of another.
- I dare not ask why not turn to distinguish two colors - Hanson joked provoking the laughter of the four. Then Souza continued -
- The truth is that all of them white or not, I can assure you that these pins covering nearly 100% of settlements, ie that we've got almost all of them located. If there is someone or something living in that area back to us, is because they have done it very well. Too much well, almost impossible, I think.
- And the red tacks? – asked Kelly -
- They represent the known settlements of tribes, both belonging to indigenous areas recognized as such or not - replied Souza –
Hanson raised his arm to make an observation which had long been was mulling over.
- As I see, say red thumbtacks ... tend to stay away from white.
- Right. When there's a new settlement by colonists, occurs due to whatever reason, indigenous tribes tend to move away. They know white man and how destructive he is, they have suffered on their flesh.
- And they are still suffering ... I guess - pointed out Kelly looking an affirmative answer from Souza -
- Indeed. Therefore tend to go deep into the forest, when they don't do it, in the fighting comes true massacres, authentic exterminations.
- And ... once they get such distance? - Asked this time Hanson -
- No doubt the initial shock is the worst. Thereafter, if the white settler continues to advance, the tribes are retreating. That is, once confirmed the settlements, the clashes are disappearing. Now - picked up the pointer and marked an area where there were no color pushpins -.
- It seems that there aren't identified settlements either settlers or tribes. But perhaps could be due to living conditions unsuitable for human beings - Hanson intervened thinking aloud. Souza grinned and nodded his head approving his argument, then returned to speak -
- Very insightful, my friend. No doubt your reasoning certainly seems right to all of us. However, there's no geophysical or environmental feature in this area - pointed to a nearby area on the map with lots of pins - that distinguishes it from the previous one. They are extremely similar in everything.
- Unless ... - Kelly was thinking out loud, so he paused - there's a pin that you have not identified.
- Or some pin has fallen from the map - Joked Hanson finding unanimous laughter and especially Kelly's. –
Then Souza gave them the explanation that all were waiting.
- We're let approaching the hypothesis that I have thought about. As Miss Adams put me in history, I decided to do some research. Notice again this area. If you observed it in detail, the red pushpins are too "clustered" around, as if something or someone had been moving them.
- That is, an unidentified white pin - Marvin concluded -
- I think so - said Souza - We could say that we sense that there's a settlement in that area by the effects produced by it, although we have no knowledge of its existence.
Marvin felt more than a glimmer of hope in the words of Souza, so he asked him more with heart than head.
- What do you suggest we could do? I guess that doing a sweep of the suspect area would be very complicated.
- Phew ... well, you don't know how much! Starting with its size, covering about fifty square miles. And ending with its hard and difficult accessibility. It would take
months, many months to have any chance of success.
- Do we have any other choice but to resign ourselves? ... - Hanson said ironically in shape of question -
Souza left the pointer on the table and folded his arms.
- We can still gather a bit more of information - Souza responded decisively -
The three stood looking at him expectantly, waiting to clarify the background of such sentence. Souza, aware of unusual interest that his words had created, didn't delay his answer.
- As I said earlier, Manaus is just like the echo of the heart of the Amazon, an echo that can arrive distorted and, therefore, can be difficult to interpret.
Hanson, true to his character, jumped as if moved by a spring.
- What are you trying to tell us? Is there anything else? ...
- No, at least at this time. But it could. Let me explain. A few days ago a scientific expedition that had been in a neighboring area to the conflict came back, and commented that, in a stop they did in a settlement of an indigenous tribe of Deni ethnic was rumored that during the last years, had been disappearing several hunters of another settlement relatively close to the pin that we lack - took back the pointer and pointed on the map – The settlement in question is located here, Solimoes River upstream and about seven hundred miles.
- That is, we should go there as soon as possible. - Marvin said sententiously, Souza smiled -
- If you agree, we could go out tomorrow. I have it all ready. You should only try your equipment, clothing, I did not think that were appropriate to ask by e-mail your sizes. We'll depart by helicopter.
Kelly and Hanson exchanged eloquent glances making an expressive gesture of approval. There was no doubt that Souza was the efficiency in shape of person and he knew exactly what he did.
XXIII
Next day they went out to the point marked by Souza very early, when the first red light of alb gave the Colonial Manaus an aspect of fairy tale and the river, surrounded by a mist that delimited from the air its winding path, offered its ghostly image. They could appreciate the grandeur of that place while followed the course of the river, the only reference in a green carpet that stretched as the sea beyond where the eye could reach.
Souza piloted and Marvin was by his side. Souza explained curiosities of the river and its wildlife. Marvin soon realized that the knowledge that Souza has of the area was not limited to riddle a map with thumbtacks, when, from time to time he paused in his speech to point with the index some point lost in the jungle, the real situation of some of his white or red thumbtacks. Behind, lost in the landscape but sharing eloquent glances, Kelly and Hanson joked continuously. The realization that shared a common way of approaching life, reflected in covering up the most tense moments with humor, made them feel still closer.
They could not avoid to feel a shock when appreciated that the helicopter left the way the river to enter the green mantle. Lost the river reference it would have been difficult for any to orientate, but not for Souza who didn't seem to need to use the helicopter GPS, reassuring them to confirm that they were nearing. As helicopter was descending the green mantle was taking shape. From above it seemed to be uniform, monotonous, but they could see that literally trees could not see the forest. They seemed to fight over the top, looking for the sun, in an area so vast there was a fierce competition for space. When they were already a few feet off the ground, Hanson began to get nervous. Kelly had managed that he was abstracted, once again, from his phobia by air transport, but that risky landing was being too for him. Where the hell was going Souza if there wasn't the slightest vestige of land cleared for landing? Don’t they would be in the hands of a reckless fool that was looking for a place in the vegetation that did not exist? His nervousness started to become desperation. Kelly realized the state of Hanson because, while he wasn't saying anything, he didn't cease slapping his hair and gesturing at the same time. She had to admit that she also was concerned. Souza had shown common sense and knowledge of the medium, but under them vegetation was so lush that even a wire could hardly seep.
Suddenly, as a savior oasis, as emerged in the middle of nowhere, appeared a small clearing in the jungle that as they were descending, took shape. They could perceive the huts of a small village and how several members of the tribe were going out to greet them. But as soon as they were landed, and because the noise of the engine and the blades, the Indians decided to move away to a safe distance.
When the engine finally went out and the blades stopped turning, the natives decided to approach to receive and lionize their improvised guests. When out of the helicopter they were virtually surrounded by children, then they were joined by some adults. Kelly was astonished. One thing was to see them in the National Geographic reportages and quite another to have them there by their side, happy, boisterous, jumping and celebrating what will surely be for the whole village the news of the month. Naked, slightly built and abundant hair, highlighting two ocher stripes painted on each side of the face, which starting off from the top and bottom of the head came together at the height of the nose. Some had painted also another horizontal line at the height of the forehead.
Their surprise was increasing when one of them approached Kelly with a bowl in his hand. Kelly just smiled, refusing with gestures such kind offer. Souza, who was watching the scene from a discrete background, was forced to intervene and told Kelly, smiling:
- If I were you I would not.
- What? - Kelly said -
- Reject. They are as susceptible as naive. They are feasting you, there is no greater honor for them that offering you to share their daily meal. It is their best dish, be sure of that.
- And what is it? - Hanson spoke in a tone of curiosity -
- Better not tell her - said Souza. Then he turned to Kelly, who seemed resigned to her fate, with the intent to encourage her - Come on, sure it doesn't taste too bad!
- Why her? . - Hanson asked again -
- For the same reason that we do it. It is the only woman in the group, think that has to have some advantages ... -
Hey, I am in favor of gender equality at all levels! - Kelly said -
- Sorry to say that feminist movements have not got here - Souza said ironically with his keen sense of humor –
Kelly could not avoid to take a look at the contents of the bowl. A sort of soup with "stumbling block" floating whose origin would not investigate. With face of resignation she closed her eyes and drank in one gulp. She motioned to vomit, but conscious that she must prove her strength, she controlled herself with great difficulty.
- It's a pity you have not had luck with the menu. They're excellent hunters - said Souza - Perhaps in another time ...
Marvin, who had remained silent watching the scene, grabbed Kelly by her shoulder as began walking towards the village.
- Well, we have put something from us, see now if they can help us! - Exclaimed -
The four addresses to the center of town, surrounded by children and young people whom jumped and danced around. There was no need to ask Souza if he spoke their dialect because he soon greeted and began to talk with one who seemed, by his age and attitude, the head of the tribe. This one in turn signaled a younger to come over and invited them to enter a hut.
The huts were not uniformly distributed, although they did forming a large circle. They were large and had no walls. They were of rectangular plant and built to a height greater than five feet above the ground, probably to avoid the presence of animals. Poles or pillars should be of very hard wood. Souza confirmed it to Kelly. They used Jatobá, acapú and acariquara, among others, some names of trees that she had never heard of. Entry was through a small wooden staircase and the floor of the hut was made of cane disposed on elongated trunks. Kelly decided not to ask him about the name of that white bark wood because she was not sure to be able to hold it in her mind. The roofs were made of palm leaves.
The six sat squatted around cups that one of the women left on the ground. Hanson thought that he would taste soon that delicacy dish. Kelly looked at him and smiled, after making a gesture with her head pointing to the bowls.
Kelly and Hanson didn't draw anything of the conversation that was keeping Souza with two of their hosts. Only a gesture difficult to interpret, so while Marvin wasn't lost detail, Hanson decided to haul off and test the contents of the bowl while Kelly was carefully watching him. The smell had already pushed back the bravest, but it was too late, if she had been able to do, he couldn't stay behind. He took nearly half a bowl of one sip and then instinctively brought his hand to his mouth, then opened his eyes looking up, to finally turn his head to Kelly, who had to cover her mouth trying to abort the laughter . After a while, Hanson nodded in approval and whispered Kelly's ear:
- I'm going to bring the cook to New York. Sure that the business would be a success!
- First would have to educate people in this new cuisine, and I fear it will not be easy task - Kelly also tinted in his ear -
Hanson was about to answer but felt that being where you are, forms always are forms and those people deserved respect, so decided to wait until Souza finished to talk to the natives. The youngest got up and left the hut, took a small stick and made some drawings on the ground. It seemed that he was telling Souza the situation of somewhere relevant.
Then the head of the tribe came out and called several elders, improvising in the middle of the village a council of elders, as Souza confirmed them. The head must submit to discussion any decision, however simple it was.
