The Amulet

Chapter 6

The sun breaks through the tree tops, as I hear the jungle slowing waking up, fish plopping out the water, splashing down the river only knowing it's a predator with its prey. My Uncle comes up with the smell of fresh porridge enticing me out of the hammock. I slowly peel myself out of the hammock trying to keep it steady knowing full well I could fall out, slowly taking each leg out and finding my boots placing my feet in them. I head behind a couple of trees to relieve myself and come back to the camp. 

The porridge is like heaven although it is plain, I brought a little bit of sugar just to sweeten it to my taste. I lick my lips finishing it up.

"Morning uncle, what way are we heading today?"

"Morning, we're heading west" as he points west to a clearing that he had made this morning obviously before I awoke.

"How much longer till we get there uncle?" We've been in the jungle for what seems like a few days now,

"Not much longer, we travelled quite far when we first set off! We'd be at the area after this hike, we well make camp at the base of the mountain if that's okay?"

I nod my head, as we head off, my uncle has trusted me enough to have a machete to help clearing away the overgrown jungle, and told me to clear away other paths to make sure our path is covered. I still know he is paranoid, but who wouldn't be. I think he's lonely living out here in the jungle, maybe after my trip I'll ask him if he wants to come back to see his brother, that might cheer him up.

A few hours later..

With the last swipe of my wrist I cut the final vines growing stopping us getting to the base of the large and tall mountain above me. I glance up and see the sun just setting above the peak, the colours of the sky have me mesmerised, the pinks, reds and oranges going against the brown shade of the mountain and the white peak with small white clouds nearing the peak. 

"It's beautiful Uncle, how do you not come here?"

"I know sweetheart, but it holds too many memories for me, I'll grab some fire wood and start a fire"

I look around, seeing the difference of jungle and mountain terrain. Some of the jungles trees were along the bottom of the hill, but then it steepens so nothing can grow. I find some trees close together to set up my hammock, as I do I suddenly hear a rustle from the trees but I don't feel no breeze, panic mode sets in, I glide my hand down to my machete and grasping at the handle, the rustle happens again,

"Who's there?" I shout, "I have a weapon, if you do not come out"

I hear another rustle, and someone peeks through the leaves, I see these bright grey eyes, and luscious dark black hair,

"Cas?" I call out

"Zara?" He sounded confused

"What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting?"

"I do, but we turned up to the guys place he wasn't there, and some of the locals said he'd gone into the jungle"

"Err.. hang on is the guy your meeting with by any chance called Felix?"

"Yeah how did you know?"

I look down at my hands that are now off my machete,

"Well he's my Uncle, he's actually helping me out here in the jungle, he's gone to get some firewood for our camp"

My Uncle Felix comes flying around the corner cursing, I hold my hands up 

"Uncle its okay! I'm fine!" He's eyes soften, then go harder when he looks at Cas.

"What are you doing here? Our meeting wasn't for another couple of days?"

"Sir, our meeting was supposed to be yesterday, but when we got to your home you weren't there, the locals said you went in the jungle so I just made my way through to here."

"Oh, I must've lost track of time" he says with a slight laugh.

"Come, you will stay with us the night"

My uncle turns round to start setting up the fire and dinner for us, my mind wonders to why was Cas meeting my uncle for? Was Cas wanting some of the land he owns? Was it close to this mountain?

I push my thoughts aside, as I help Cas set up a hammock for him, 

"So Cas, can I ask what your meeting with my uncle is about?"

"Ermm.. it's to do with some of his land, did he not tell you?"

"No, he's one of my uncles that I didn't know existed until the other day" I smile softly.

"Oh well at least you guys know eachother now, can I ask why your camping in the jungle?"

Suddenly my thoughts come through, I can't tell him about finding the amulet that's been in my family, and I certainly can't tell him about my family either!

"Oh I just like camping and being under the stars"

"Oh that's really nice, are you going up the mountain tomorrow?"

Why does he want to know if I'm going up the mountain? What does he know?

"Maybe, but can I just ask why you would ask that?"

"I don't know maybe cause I've found you guys here?" I look at him suspiciously.

"Hey guys, dinners ready!" My uncle calls us both around the fire, sitting down on the logs they are really uncomfortable with the broken bark digging into my clothes. I feel like eyes are boring down on me as I shift around on this log, I look up and find both my Uncle Felix and Cas just looking at me,

"Do you guys have a problem? It's just this log the broken bark is digging in" I say with a slight laugh.

Both of them chuckle and shake their heads.

"So Felix, I was wondering when we could have a chat?" He looks at me like I should not be hearing this.

"It's okay Uncle, I'll just go to my hammock."

I head towards my hammock, I rummage through my backpack I change into something abit more comfy with a pair of running shorts and a sports bra, I quickly fling myself in the hammock before it can throw me off, I took out the book I was reading about the amulet, it has other things in there too. Lots of different treasures, and different histories about Guyana also about the recent gold rush that's swooping across the country, maybe that's why my uncle is selling some land to Cas? But I still don't know what type of work he does, do I want to know? I try and keep myself quiet, trying to overhear my uncle and Cas' conversation.

"So Felix what do you propose? How much land are you willing to give up? I've done a few pans along the base of here and it certainly will pay well"

"I will not sell any land near this mountain, I don't care if it pays well, this is mine."

"But Felix, what if I told you I can triple your money for this land?"

"My answer is No Cas" he said very sternly, it made my head pop up from the side of my hammock. They both look over towards me and I quickly jolt down so they can't see I was listening. 

Why was Cas pressuring my Uncle for this land? My only thought as I close my eyes ready to go into a deep sleep.