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“Okay, people! We got here later than I wanted,” Thiago says. “I need everyone to listen up. We’re going to hike into the jungle for two hours. Headlamps are a must. If you don’t have one, I hope you brought a flashlight because as soon as we get under the canopy, it’s going to be dark. The Amazon is a dangerous place, okay? It’s not just tripping on tree roots that you have to watch out for. There are deadly predators in here—jaguars, anacondas, black caiman. I don’t need any problems, so no straggling,” he says, glancing at me, because apparently he hasn’t forgotten that I had trouble at the airport back in Lima. “No veering off the path to explore. We all need to stick together so keep up.” He looks at me again, but this time he points as well. “If you suffer from a nervous bladder, you have to let the group know so you won’t be left alone. Being alone out here makes you vulnerable.”
I’m feeling vulnerable, Thiago. I really am out here alone.
“Okay, so get your headlamps on and let’s go!”
Oh, Marisol, why didn’t you talk my fake husband into buying me a headlamp?
Once Thiago has his on, he blinds me with it. “Let me guess. You don’t have a headlamp.”
“That would be correct,” I tell him. “I packed one but…”
“But then you lost your bag.”
“Technically the airline…” Nope. Do not say it, Gwen! “I’ll be fine. I’ll just … use the flashlight on my phone.”
“It’s not going to last two hours,” Thiago says. “But use it as long as you can and stay close to your buddy.”
I nod and give him a thumbs up even though my buddy has already started walking. The rest of the group starts to move and I find my place at the back, right behind Rohan. I use my phone, knowing that as soon as this dies, I’ll be screwed. Thiago wasn’t joking—it is freaking dark in here. Noisy too. The sound of insects is almost overwhelming at first. Add to it the frequent screeches of what I hope are monkeys (and not tourists who are up the path from us being murdered) and you’ve got yourself one scary place to hike. I keep glancing behind me to see if there’s anyone following me, like a jaguar, for example. That would be bad. But each time, it’s just darkness.
I hurry up a few steps and walk beside Rohan. “It’s super dark in here.”
“Yup,” he says.
“This must be so hard for you,” I tell him, realizing it for the first time. “I mean, you and Dr. Napper were probably so close, and instead of being able to grieve, you’re having to help make this trip happen.”
He shifts the carrier a little and wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. “Doing this for Dick is an honor. Yes, it’s exhausting, but it was always exhausting to work for a man with the type of energy and passion he had.”
“Listen, if you need any help, I’d be happy to pitch in,” I say.
Rohan glances down at me, blinding me temporarily. “Really?”
Sweet! I might be about to make a friend. “Yes, name it.”
He unclips the baby carrier and holds it out to me. “Carry this for a while. My back is cramping up.”
You know what’s not a good time? Hiking through the dark, muddy, terrifyingly noisy jungle while carrying a gold urn on your front and a backpack on your back. I actually think this urn is made of solid gold. It’s that heavy. And to be honest, I don’t think Rohan even wants to be my friend at all because as soon as I took Dr. Napper, he rushed ahead to walk with Thiago. My phone died after about fifteen minutes, so I’ve been hot on Niles’s heels the whole time, basically keeping my eyes on his feet and stepping where he does.
Just when I think I can’t take it anymore, I spot something up ahead that looks like a fire, which I am really hoping means we’re at the end of our journey.
We arrive at a clearing in the trees and see a large campfire with small stools around it. Off to the side, there’s a table with a man standing at it, preparing food. God, I hope he’s making picarones. When I glance to my right, I see the largest treehouse I’ve ever seen. I crane my neck to see the thatched roof at the top. Torches are lit on the corners of each of the three levels.
“Home sweet home,” Savannah says, tugging off her backpack.
“Okay, everyone,” Thiago yells. “Gather around. This is Ian. He’s our chef. He is making our supper and our breakfast before we set off tomorrow morning. We will sleep in the treehouse tonight. Women on the top floor, men on the second. There are sinks on each level to wash up. Please be careful to only use water as needed and don’t drink it. You will find water bottles next to your hammocks that you can drink and use to brush your teeth, etc. There is an outhouse back there,” he says, pointing to the darkness. “Dr. Napper has a video for us to watch. Go get washed up and put your things by your hammock for the night. When we’ve all assembled here, we’ll watch the video.”
I turn to Rohan and unclip the Baby Bjorn. “What would you like to do with … er … Dr. Napper for the night?”
“Put him on that big stool by the fire so he can join us.”
“Righto,” I say, as if this is totally normal.
I do as Rohan said, then follow the crowd up the stairs of tonight’s accommodations. By the time I reach the third floor, I see that Karen and Savannah have already picked out side-by-side hammocks. Offering them a tentative smile, I say, “So I guess we’re roommates tonight.”
“Don’t even,” Savannah tells me. “In fact, you’ll probably be more comfortable over there,” she says, pointing to the hammock on the opposite side of the space.
Nodding, I say, “Sure, yeah,” then I make my way over to the far side, mimicking her in my head. I put my pack down and pull out my hairbrush, then go to the sink to wash up and brush my hair.
Karen walks up and waits for me to finish, tapping her foot a little.
