Chapter 27
“How much longer?” Sam demanded as we prepared for the start of our work day. It was day eight, and patience was wearing thin and tempers were growing short.
“Not long,” Dr. Avila assured him, but I could see the Brazilian was becoming stressed over the situation.
I rose and dusted my hands. “I’m off to tributary seven,” I informed them. Some of the tributaries were so small they were only noted by number. I’d come across some interesting specimens on seven the day before but hadn’t had time to study them. Cristovao, also a Paraguayan, had volunteered to row me to the various sites, not that I couldn’t have done it myself, and Captain da Rosa had nodded absently when his man requested the duty. “Ready, Cristovao?”
“Heë.” He never made much conversation, and after the first d
