The day of our departure arrived. I met Carlos and Sam in the lobby of our hotel. Carlos’s face was flushed with annoyance, and Sam looked pretty irritated, too. Neither of them noticed the large duffel bag I carried.
“What’s wrong? Where are Dinah and Leo?”
“Eh. The doctor says Leo can’t fly for another week or so, so he must remain in Manaus.”
“Yeah, and Dinah’s staying with him.”
“I’m sorry about that, Sam.” Not that Dinah had been smart enough to walk away from him, but that he would be alone. I knew how loneliness could eat at one’s soul.
Sam shrugged. “You win some, you lose some.”
I shook my head and turned to Carlos. “Is that what has you so upset?” Losing two of his scientists for a week or more…
“Of course they will be missed, but—”
“That goddamned Arius Perez…I’m telling
