A Golden Legend

Chapter 19

There was a before and an after the incident; everyone realized that what had seemed until then a river walk was indeed a dangerous venture in a beautiful but hostile environment for those who dared to invade it. As the spirits were reviving began circulating in the canoe anecdotes about adventurers who had penetrated into the jungle, often exploiting the natives, taking their women and their huts, ending with darts and arrows stuck in their bodies, which were abandoned to rot in the thicket or being devoured by scavengers beasts.

Finally they arrived at another beach, this time quite spacious and covered of beautiful white sand, scalloped by a belt of Palm trees. There they landed all the canoes and the crew and passengers got down remaining on guard on the shore, while six men equipped with long range weapons and led by Rangel beat the surroundings.

When they returned, Rangel gave the go-ahead to build the camp and unload provisions and equipment.

Teresa approached McPherson and consulted him on the next steps.

“This is the end of the river route” said the professor, who now spoke to her as one member of the team, with frankness but without familiarity of yesteryear “now comes the harder part, to advance through the jungle carrying all the equipment. I wonder if we have not underestimated the task and if we have enough manpower for it. I also have now doubts about whether we have assessed the threats to security in a realistic form.”  this last statement made in a low voice, was in reality directed rather to himself that to his interlocutor.

The sincerity left the girl thoughtful. Marcelo approached her and with a correct intuition asked.

“What happens? The ride through the field is ended?”

Teresa nodded her head, confirming what already was a widespread feeling among the members of the expedition.

During two days of stay in the camp, which they called base, it was resolved the formation of two groups to act hereinafter: one called "search", whose task would be to explore promising areas for the discovery of ruins, according to certain satellite photos that were in McPherson´s possession, and another group named "logistic", which would be responsible for maintaining provisioned to all members of the expedition, direct search, register the eventual findings, take charge of general safety and communications with the outside. This second group would be commanded by McPherson, and Rangel would have to care for provisions and safety. Lupita was integrated in it. Tasks of this group would be among other hunting and fishing activities, as well as the search for drinking water.

Teresa and Marcelo were included in the first group, which was commanded by Professor Jimenez, the prestigious Mexican archaeologist, McPherson´s Deputy Chair  with long experience in the field; Francisco, the reliable Peruvian would be the guide and responsible for safety. Also were part of the same group a veteran Mexican archaeologist named Miguel, a Guatemalan student of McPherson, and three local pawns, altogether nine people.

 Lacking pack animals, each member of this group should carry a heavy backpack that included provisions, parts of tents and items for the archaeological survey. The total load should give the group autonomy of two days, since at the end of that period they should return to the base. The members of the search group rotate among the members of the expedition, to give rest and opportunities to participate to their members, since one of the explicit aims of the expedition was the field training of students and graduates.

They had departed at six in the morning and had been already walking through the jungle for four hours, following in the footsteps of Francisco and two indigenous laborers, who were opening laboriously a narrow trail among the tangle of low branches, shrubs, lianas and vines, with accurate strikes of their sharp machetes. At a time Teresa noted that thick drops of rain had begun to filter through the foliage and fell on her clothes and hat. Only a moment later a real deluge broke without giving them an opportunity to seek refuge. The torrent fell through tree branches and ran through the broad leaves soaking them and flooding their jungle boots; in less than a minute the soil became muddy, adding further difficulty to the advance.

In view of this, Francisco gave order to stop and try to cover themselves with blankets of waterproof canvas carried especially for these occasions. As the temperature had already fallen drastically they were crocheted up to the bones, but also the sheltering textile provided a certain degree of physical and especially psychological comfort. Teresa and Marcelo were huddled under the same cover and squeezed their bodies together to keep a bit of warmth.

“Have you ever been before in a true tropical rain like this?” asked the girl.

“No, the closest thing that I remember was a "palo de agua" in Caracas, but nothing like this. What about you?”

“A couple of times, one in Guatemala and one in Belize.”

“How much do they usually last?”

“With this intensity, only a few minutes; the problem comes later.”

Marcelo had no desire to find out what was coming next thinking that anyway he was going to experience firsthand.

In this case the rain lasted twenty minutes, after which they stood up trying to keep blood running again. It took them a long time overhauling the gear to be able to carry on their backs again. There was need to drain the water that had leaked into the backpacks and other bags, and removing the mud that had entered them