Capo and I began to chat as we walked along beside our donkeys. As I expected, he was an interesting man. He had extensive knowledge of the history of the area and the tribes that have occupied it through the ages. He told me a story of an old man named Neflo who used to live deep in the jungle. A fair skinned girl named Rina lived with him. Capo said that the girl spoke a language that sounded like bird song. She could talk to the animals and they understood her. She also spoke Spanish, having learned it from Neflo. The native hunters hated and feared her because of that. They were afraid to hunt in the jungle near where she lived because they thought she was a witch. They eventually killed her. Nobody knew where she came from. But suppose she came from a tribe of light skinned people deeper in the jungle. What if we can find her tribe? That would be the discovery of the ages. Meanwhile, I am keeping an eye out for flora and fauna that may not be indigenous to this area.
Sounds like a legend or myth Victoria. Must not let it detract us from our primary task. Locating evidence of the Conejos. If not them then any other lost civilization. It took four hours by the time the expedition reached the outside perimeter of the southern Ecuadorian Oriente. The professor called for Capo and his porters to set up camp where he intended they be based for a day or so in order to test the drone, other hi tech equipment and generally get the lay of the land before they headed into the rain forest.....
After driving the Land Rover through rough ground I finally caught up with the others, ' sorry for the delay', I shouted, I knew I'd let my team down, I must try harder.
I remembered the latest dig I'd been on, we uncovered the bones of a witch who had met her fate by local witch hunters, that story gave me nightmares of how witches met their fate.....
I've brought a small pack of toothbrushes Victoria, they come in handy when brushing off dirt on delicate items. I'm hoping we find some jewellery, ancient jewellery always seems thick and solid, not like some of todays items.
I have received a message from home that I am needed there. I'll be leaving momentarily. I wish you all the greatest of success with your explorations.
I hope nothing bad Shirley. You have all my best wishes. We will muddle on with the story without you so please ignore my post on the chat thread..
Our camping spot has a small water hole nearby that does not contain any of the flesh eating piranha so it is ideal to replenish our water stocks for the energy sapping rain forest trek as well as cool down from the heat of the day. Wentworth and Eames tested the multi-spectral thermal laser device on the drone, the electromagnetic geo/phys ground penetrating radar plus the GNS system. All passed with flying colors.
Professor I have some info on Victoria, she says she has to go home but I saw her in a clinche with a strange man who isn't her husband. I have a very large bucket that we can use for the water hole, we could tie rope on the handle and throw it into the water then haul it in.
Team I have decided to keep the donkeys with us instead of sending them back to the village. While the Oriente is thick with foliage in many places there are also ample open places where the donkey can move freely. I know Miss Morgan is against using the donkey as a beast of burden but the simple truth is we need them as walking in the oppressive jungle heat and humidity will sap our energy reserves quickly and we need that for what lies ahead.
Capo leading puts his hand up for us all to stop. "Listen" he says and we hear the squeals of a creature in great pain. Capo says "Lets go around, it sounds like a Tapir being crushed by a giant Anaconda. Best we let nature take its course".
Terry took his turn at hacking out a path for those following, especially our laden Donkeys. Pedro and the other 2 Porters were kept busy in many ways and tended to the donkeys. The Jungle was getting thicker, taller and dimmer now with a tall and thick tree canopy. Capo åsked Professor Wentworth to carry his rifle whist he was leading the way and chopping. Once Capo sniffed about the base of a tree scored with vertical scratches and straightening up said "Jaguar, best go this way now." With the jungle canopy being so thick now our satellite phone with gps was hardly working. Victoria had a compass which still worked and she was making notes and rough maps of our journey showing all sorts of things: steams, tree types, vegetation, insects, ...and taking photos with her quality camera. Later we came to a large and waist deep stream whose slow water looked dark with vegetation thick about it.........
Capo threw some pieces of dried meat into the deep stream to get a reaction. Soon several stripped and multicoloured foot long fish took the meat. "River Bass" said Capo, "not Piranhas", as he waded into and across the Stream. On the other side Capo called out "Leeches, don't dally. And so we all took turns to wade across donkeys in tow. Only Pedro didn't get any Leeches on him.
Leeches may have been used in medieval medicine to draw sick blood from a body but in modern times they are unpleasant if you find one clinging and sucking your blood like a ravenous vampire. Capo was the lucky one despite wearing only flimsy shirt and trousers while the four archaeologist's attire was far more sensible for the jungle conditions including thick shirts and trousers, woolen socks and hiking boots. Those bitten by the blood suckers quickly stripped off their shirts allowing Capo to burn them off with a cigarette liter. One or two of the team did not fancy being burned, rather to pry the creatures free with the tip of a knife. Pedro, one of the porters was especially smitten with no less than a dozen of them attached to various parts of his anatomy, while a visibly shaken Victoria was the luckiest with only two on her neck. "Quick get them off me " she wailed. A braver and smarter Jessica removed the creatures using a smuggled tazer them offered to use it on Pedro and the others with multiple bites.