by Al Cooper
- I'm fascinated with you, Souza. How many native languages do you speak? - asked him Kelly -
- Less than I should - answered smiling the Brazilian - Take on account that there are around two hundred languages and dialects. Luckily the Arawa is not the worst that I domain.
The deliberation of the council was quick. When finished, the chief turned to Souza, who in turn passed on to his colleagues the results of their discussions and the decision they had taken.
- Young person knows that in another settlement of the tribe located to the northwest, virtually cut off from civilization, two hunters have disappeared in recent months and that a third managed to escape to an ambush.
- Is there a way to reach this settlement? - Marvin asked -
- Yeah, they have offered to help us. It is less than two days away.
- Two days? Can’t go by helicopter? - Marvin asked again -
- Impossible. Although we would get to convince to any of our guides to board the helicopter - Souza pointed to the Indians - which I see highly unlikely, then he should orient himself from the sky - could not avoid to let out a smile - and I can assure you it would be very complicated. Even in the hypothetical case that we knew the place and decided to go in our own risk, we would have a chance in a thousand of finding somewhere affordable to land.
- I can assure you that your explanation has convinced us fully! - Kelly said - but ... can we leave the helicopter here without further ado?
- Rest assured that it couldn't be in better hands! They respect it so much that they aren't going to touch it. It'll be better here than in any NASA hangar. We have to collect goods and radio equipment of the helicopter. I'll keep informed to headquarters about our movements.
All of them got up ready to undertake such hard way. The Indian youth said something to Souza as he pointed at Kelly, who, surprised, watched as Souza responded him in turn. Once he had finished, she couldn't hide her curiosity.
- By references! I get the impression ... that he was referring to me, what was he saying?
- Something quite logical ... for their way of seeing things of course ...
- You puzzle me, Souza.
- He has said that you can stay here with the other women, who can teach you many things.
- And you ... what have you responded?
- I have taken the liberty to tell, and I hope to have done the right thing, that we also need women in our tribes, except that they come with us wherever we go.
Kelly let out a laugh so loud that soon spread to Hanson.
XXIV
They departed inmediately, carrying their backpacks. Forward went the two young guides that village chief had decided to accompany them. One of them was who had sat down to talk with Souza and provoked the hilarity of Kelly. Behind them, Souza, Marvin, Kelly and Hanson, closing the group. At first they took it as a weekend trip, but soon realize the hardness of what awaited them. The jungle was so thick that they couldn't see the sunlight and the Indians had to continually dip into their machetes to cut through. Trees over hundred and fifty feet tall and giant ferns, the lush vegetation seemed to them excessive, disproportionate to humans. It was an irony that they were wandering through such vast open space but they felt at the same time such sensation of claustrophobia. Kelly understood immediately why, despite the heat, Souza had recommended them to wear long pants. It was not only avoiding nasty bites in that way, but all sorts of scrapes with ferns, branches and shrubs.
The walk was slow and hard, but with everything that struck them most was the confidence with which young natives progressed. They could not understand how without the reference of the sun and inside a jungle so thick that it made them feel a sense of anguish, of oppression, choking and shortness of breath, were able to navigate, especially considering that environment seemed to be always the same for them, monotonous although its undoubted environmental wealth. Souza made it clear to Marvin when he decided to ask "I guess our guides could think the same if we left them in the middle of one of the cities where we were born. Surely they would be unable to distinguish a few blocks of each other, let alone navigate. However, we probably wouldn't have major problems, right? Same thing happens to them. This forest is their home, they known it as the palm of their hand, is full of nuances and details that go completely unnoticed for us", Souza argued before their attentive listeners.
When they had walked for about four hours, Kelly noticed the presence of a snake of considerable proportions coiled to a branch above her head, which stood motionless, apparently limited to its role as a mere witness of her pass. But could not prevent to feel a seizure and motioned it to Hanson. Souza also noticed and looked askance at it. At very low voice advised them.
- The best thing you can do is go slowly, making as little noise as possible. Don’t worry, it will not attack if you don't give it any reason to do it.
Hanson grabbed Kelly by her hand and began to move very slowly, but when they were just below the snake, Hanson was tempted to keep his glance on the reptile, which began to move slowly toward him. Hanson was frightened, sped the pace and left behind the snake.
- I could not say anything because probably it had been the excuse, the final trigger needed by the animal. But will not happen again that you stare fixedly at a snake, and less at that distance. It could take it as a symptom of attack and can turn against you in a split second - Souza reproached him visibly angry -
- Excuse my ignorance, I promise that will not happen again - apologized to Souza - Then he turned to Kelly dropping a joke in an attempt to help her relax from the tension generated by the bad times and recover from the shock.
- I never thought that I had so challenging look.
- You've got a very dangerous look, I can attest it as woman - Kelly said sententiously smiling and in the same tone -
- Perhaps it was then a male snake - replied Hanson smiling -
They decided, by mutual agreement at the request of Marvin, prolong their progress for a period of time larger than originally planned, until almost begin to dusk. That way they could achieve their goal in half a day earlier than planned by Souza. They followed up the demanding pace for almost other two hours, Kelly could barely hide his exhaustion. Hanson had long been noticed it, but also was aware that Kelly didn't want anyone to help her. He tried to make conversation to keep her entertained, so at least the effort would not be so uphill.
- Kelly, we've talked about many topics, many, during these days, but curiously you never have told me some details about your profession. I’m not able to imagine you in a laboratory surrounded by test tubes and geek genius.
- Not all scientists respond to that stereotype, Hans.
Hanson looked her from up to down.
- I don't know ... maybe with a gown and goggles ...
- There were many people with that same thought at the University of Berkeley, but then had to get used to the idea. Look to you, I'm sure you ever thought that you would take part of an expedition to the Amazon.
- Right ... And what do you like most about your job, the facet of researching or the scientific one?
- Do not forget that science is closely related to the investigation. So I feel so passionate about my current job.
- I imagine that biotechnology offers in this sense an immense field.
- Of course, unimaginable, full of possibilities, of universes to discover...
- For your speech, I get the impression that yours with biotechnology was a love at first sight.
Hanson had unconsciously put again the finger on the sore. At one point came to her mind many memories, behind which there was a name. She looked down instinctively and sought the best possible way out of that compromised situation.
- There was someone who had much to do ... someone who ... encouraged me to follow this path.
Hanson noticed Kelly'
s reluctance to give a more specific answer and tried to change the subject. Kelly, inside, was grateful.
- Do you know what we are facing?
- No. A lot of thoughts have passed through my head but none of my guesses fits in the puzzle.
Kelly interrupted her reply to notice that one of the guides was saying something to Souza, after which he addressed to the group.
- We are relatively close - started telling. Everybody sighed when they heard those words, and especially, Kelly
- In fact we are so close that they could detect us. And I remember you that, after their recent experiences, white men bring them more bad memories than good.
- What do you suggest then? - Marvin asked –
Souza, before answering, left his backpack on the ground, a gesture that all imitated soon, and breathed deeply.
- I will go with one of our guides to the village, although we have to do part of the route by night. We will try to convince them to provide us the information we are looking for. Anyway, without trying to be alarmist, I would like to put you on notice.
These words created a climate of general uncertainty until Kelly broke the silence.
- How? What are you trying to say?
- I hope and trust that everything is ok. However, it is my duty to warn that there is always a small chance they get nervous and undertake against us - Souza wielded as an argument -
- So ... the more reason for we don't let you go alone! - Kelly exclaimed -
- Rather, it is our only chance. I'm not going to go alone, our guide Kakuva will be my best ambassador. Listen, it's starting to get dark and you must be tired. Prepare the camp for the night. Untai, our other guide will help you. In the case that we haven't returned morning at noon, you must go back. Untai will bring you back to the village.
- Do not pretend to ask us that we leave you exposing you to your fate! Never! - Marvin ratified in decided tone -
- Dear friends ... I beg you please respect my little authority in this jungle, at least to where it will go. My decisions are not free, are based on experience, I assure you I have no intention to sacrifice myself - he paused and looked at them one by one, in their eyes - So promise me, for the safety of the whole expedition, that you will do exactly what I'm proposing you.
Marvin and Hanson stood looking at each other with a face of resignation, then Marvin said the words that Souza was demanding.
- Okay. We promise. Souza made a sign to one of the guides and were lost in the forest in seconds, disappearing into the undergrowth as if literally the jungle had swallowed them. Kelly retained in her retinal the final image of the Brazilian police in order to keep it forever as the possibility of not ever seeing him again passed by her head.
XXV
They succeeded, not without some difficulty, to set up the camp just before the night had seized of the jungle. The three had some experience mounting camping, but lost somewhere in memory, especially in the case of Hanson who had the opportunity to remember his years as a Boy Scout, but this new environment presented some additional problems, the most important one was to accommodate the site. The guide and Marvin took a while to clear the thick vegetation with machetes, until getting a small clearing in which mounted a frame as a shelter tent upon which tended a mosquito net, which was essential to not be physically attacked by the bites of insects. Then they set the fire. Kelly and Hanson prepared a frugal but grateful dinner to which Untai did not join as he ventured into the bush to find his own one. When he returned, half an hour later, he offered to share his dish without much success, a sort of giant spiders which seemed to be a delicacy for him.
They agreed that Hanson made the first watch, Untai the second and Marvin the third. It took time to convince Kelly she didn't make any watch, she would not want to have any prerogative by virtue of being a woman, but all agreed that she was tired and needed rest more than anyone. At the end she was forced to reluctantly agree, when Hanson, who was beginning to know her, acted as seasoned psychologist to put her between a rock and a hard place, citing the argument that she could pay such effort the next day slowing the progress of the group as consequence.
Marvin retired to his sleeping bag just after he finished his dinner, Untai also got immediately a site next to a tree, but Kelly and Hanson decided to stay a while chatting around the campfire.
- It's not fair, you should consider me one more for all purposes. Get some sleep, I'll be watching - told Kelly -
- Do not be stubborn. You heard it, we all agree, I thought it was clear. It is you who should rest, though - Hanson paused in his response to be dazzled by those wonderful green eyes that looked at him sweetly - you know perfectly well that I love to chat with you, I could spend hours with you without perceive how time goes by.
Kelly smiled and grabbed his arm, shaking him.
- For the more reason for me to stay by your side. So it will be shorter for you.
The silence only was disturbed by a recital of sounds that they had never before experienced elsewhere. Both were startled to hear a strange noise that stood out powerfully over others to the point that for a few seconds, the forest was submerged in the deepest silence. Its origin, like the rest, was all a mystery to them. Too bad Souza wasn't there, he had been the ideal companion who would have taken out of doubt, as he had done for much time of the trip with Marvin, explaining fascinating details about the fauna and flora of that special place that showed not only his acerbic and restlessness cultural but an excellent knowledge of his environment. Hanson made a thinking aloud.
- I think everything is lived more intensely here. All the springs are shot - then smiled at seeing the concern reflected in Kelly's face - you know? It has its own advantages.
- Are you referring to our state of tension that allows us to get out the best of ourselves? ... I remember you that modern man lives immersed in the daily stress - Kelly replied -
- Yes, but different. This habitat that would be so familiar to our ancestors (you only have to look how Untai is sleeping peacefully), is new for us, unknown.
- Yeah, I agree. In our present life, having gained the supremacy of the species, we just fight to progress in a social and labor way, our opponents are ourselves, whether at the level of countries, communities or even coworkers.
- Yes, this return to paradise makes us see things differently. Here we are part of nature, we must adapt to the environment to survive. We are more or less prepared to compete between us in order to succeed in today's society, but not to integrate in nature, to live in harmony with it, it's a stage that we take for overcome. It would be nice that everyone pass through this experience!
- I always thought that the "homo sapiens" has been and is a born survivor, one of the greatest exponents of the theory of evolution. And its desire for possession and conquest, of not ever settle with what it has, are what led it to be a winner, following the purest Darwinian theory.
- Very interesting your view, do you see how this environment allows us to think from another perspective? ... Anyway, if I have interpreted correctly, are you trying to say we can’t avoid to have a certain degree of belligerence? ...
- In my opinion we took it in the genes, I mean, it's intrinsic to us. Once defeated the rest of the species, now it's time to elucidate the supremacy among us, to find a superiority over others.
- But ... that would mean that we are called to destruction, that our own genes we are playing us a dirty trick ... What a hard task, right?
- If we are unable to overcome it, I'm afraid so. Note that, thanks precisely to the same genetic determinants, the man has also been able to advance the science, art, culture.
- Perhaps it is to redirect, to put it in some way, our instincts.
- Yeah, Hans, I think you've used the most appropriate expression.
- Do you know? ... maybe you should have devoted to anthropology. Well
, actually you know that I admire you, in fact I think you would have been good in all that you had proposed.
Kelly's smile became a laugh.
- And I you know that I think you're a flatterer. A very dangerous flatterer, because you not only extol the physical part of a woman, but her soul ... - Kelly responded with a sultry voice, surround -
- Do not flatter yourself, I also have appreciated some defect in you.
Kelly was struck by Hanson's remark. She had to admit that she expected to find another type of replication, following the lines she had drawn, but had met with a harsh response, seemingly out of place and certainly uncomfortable. Soon went out of doubt when Hanson, after observing the face of Kelly's surprise, continued.
- I don’t know if anyone told you before, but considering that we both like to be direct, talk things clear, without hesitation, despite the consequences that may lead me, I think it's my duty to tell it. Perhaps this time I will be able to achieve once and for all breaking the seductive image that you've assigned me.
Kelly's astonishment and perplexity continued to grow. Just came out weakly to respond.
- It must be. Come on, please, even if it hurts.
- It's simple. In my opinion you are a bit stubborn. Rather, I rectify, not a bit but pretty, almost reaching the range of mulish.
Kelly laughed openly. No doubt that Hanson was as playful as surprising. He had taken the opportunity to drastically change talk and putting her on the ropes. And, when she expected to find a nasty surprise, with a theoric default that he hated, he merely was telling her humorously a fact that showed that Hanson began to know her better than anyone.
