Amazonia

“The solar cells,” Manny said from the doorway. “Still giving it juice.”

Nate wiped spiderwebs from his hands. “My father was here,” he mumbled, numb. “This is his equipment.”

Kouwe spoke a few steps back. “The Indian is returning…with company.”

Nate stared at the computer for a second more. Dust motes floated in the air, sparkling bright in the morning sunlight streaming through the open flap. The room was aromatic with wood oils and dried palm thatch. But underlying it was an odor of ashes and age. No one had been here for at least half a year.

What had happened to them?

Wiping his eyes, Nate turned to the doorway. Across the glade, he watched the black-painted tribesman march toward the cabin. At his side strode a smaller man, a tiny Indian. He could be no more than four feet tall. His burnished skin was unpainted, except for a prominent design in red on his belly and the familiar blue palm print centered just above the navel.

Stepping back into the sunlight, Nate joined the others.

The newcomer had pierced ears from which hung feathers, not unlike the typical decorations of the Yanomamo. But he also bore a headband with a prominent beetle decoration in the center. Its black carapace glistened brightly. It was one of the carnivorous locusts that had killed Corporal Jorgensen.

Professor Kouwe glanced over at Nate. His friend had noticed the odd bit of decoration, too. Here was further evidence that the attack truly had originated from this place.

Like a knife through his gut, Nate felt a surge of anger. Not only had this tribe been instrumental in the deaths of half their party, they had held the survivors of his father’s expedition prisoner for four years. Fury and pain swelled through him.

Kouwe must have sensed Nate’s emotion. “Remain quiet, Nate. Let us see how this plays out.”

Their guide led the newcomer to them, then stepped aside, in clear deference to the smaller man.

The tiny Indian glanced at the group, studying each of them, eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of Tor-tor. Finally he pointed to the stretcher, then jabbed at Olin and Zane. “Bring the hurt man,” the Indian said in stilted English, then waved an arm at everyone else. “Others stay here.”

With these simple commands, the diminutive man turned and headed back to the huge white-barked tree again.

Stunned, no one moved. The shock of hearing spoken English cut through Nate’s anger.

Olin and Zane remained standing, not budging.

The taller Indian guide waved an arm angrily, indicating they should follow his fellow tribesman.

“No one’s going anywhere,” Sergeant Kostos said. Private Carrera moved forward, too. Both had their weapons ready. “We’re not splitting up the group.”

The tribesman scowled. He pointed at the retreating tiny figure. “Healer,” the man said, struggling with the words. “Good healer.”

Again the spoken English gave them pause.

“They must have learned the language from your father’s expedition,” Anna Fong mumbled.

Or from my father himself, Nate thought.

Kouwe turned to Kelly. “I think we should obey. I don’t think they mean Frank any harm. But just in case, I can go with the stretcher.”

“I’m not leaving my brother’s side,” Kelly said, stepping closer to the stretcher.

Zane argued, too. “And I’m not going at all. I’m staying where the guns are.”

“Don’t worry,” the professor said. “I’ll take your place. It’s my turn anyway.”

Zane was only too happy to be unburdened of the stretcher. Once free, he quickly scooted into the shadow of Sergeant Kostos, who wore a perpetual scowl.

Kelly moved to Olin at the head of the stretcher. “I’ll take the other end.” The Russian started to object but was cut off. “You get the GPS working,” she ordered. “You’re the only one who can get the damned thing fixed.”

He reluctantly nodded and let her take the bamboo poles of the stretcher. She struggled with the weight for a moment, then with a heave, got her legs under her.

Nate shifted forward, going to her aid. “I can take Frank,” he offered. “You can follow.”

“No,” she said harshly, teeth clenched. She tossed her head back toward the cabin. “See if you can find out what happened here.”

Before any other objections could be raised, Kelly lurched forward. Kouwe followed at his end of the stretcher.

The tribesman looked relieved at their cooperation and hurried ahead, leading them toward the giant tree.

From the dirt porch of the cabin, Nate glanced again at the clusters of dwellings nestled high up the white-barked tree, realizing it was a view his father must have seen. As Nate stood, he sought some connection to his dead father. He remained standing until Kelly and Kouwe disappeared into the tree tunnel.

As the other team members began unhooking packs, Nate returned his attention to the empty cabin. Through the doorway, the laptop’s screen shone with a ghostly glow in the dark room. A lonely, empty light.

Nate sighed, wondering again what had happened to the others.

Struggling under the weight of her twin brother, Kelly entered the dark opening in the massive trunk of the tree. Her focus remained divided between Frank’s weakening state and the strangeness before her.

By now, Frank’s bandages were fully soaked with blood. Flies swarmed and crawled through the gore, an easy meal. He needed a transfusion as soon as possible. In her head, she ran through the additional care needed: a new IV line, fresh pressure bandages, more morphine and antibiotics. Frank had to survive until the rescue helicopter could get here.

Still, as much as horror and fear filled her heart, Kelly could not help but be amazed by what she found beyond the entrance to the tree. She had expected to find a cramped steep staircase. Instead, the path beyond the doorway was wide—a gentle, sweeping course winding and worming its way up toward the treetop dwellings. The walls were smooth and polished to a deep honey color. A smattering of blue handprints decorated the walls. Beyond the entrance, every ten yards down the passage, a thin window, not unlike a castle tower’s arrow slit, broke through to the outside, bright with morning sunlight, illuminating the way.

Following their guide, Kelly and Kouwe worked up the winding path. The floor was smooth, but woody enough for good traction. And though the grade was mild, Kelly was soon wheezing with exertion. But adrenaline and fear kept her moving: fear for her brother, fear for them all.

“This tunnel seems almost natural,” Kouwe mumbled behind her. “The smoothness of the walls, the perfection of the spiral. It’s like this tunnel is some tubule or channel in the tree, not a hewn passage.”