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“I’m guessing his boss isn’t Pemón?”
“No.”
Asoo remains quiet for a while. Both men are aware the dry season is when more mines will pop up, and operation will be at night under the lights of gasoline burners.
This fight is bigger than one or two men. Samuel hopes Asoo can warn the communities not to fall prey to these mines. He needs him to directly influence other employment using their farming skills or even their craft work including basket weaving for the tourists—if tourists return. Only with no tourists…
Samuel focuses on the impact to the Ularan people. In time, their migration to find another home is inevitable.
West.
That’s the way he’d have to send them. It’s the only safe direction. It’s the same direction he sent the Watache, only deeper into the jungle.
A journey the shaman would expect him to do with them.
But would he find his way out alone?
19
EDEN
I’m almost asleep when there’s a bang on the door.
I jump up, expecting Samuel.
“Oh, Victor.” I lean a hand into my lower back and stretch out.
“Sorry, Miss Eden. I hope I didn’t disturb you?”
I shake my head, not wanting to admit he got me out of bed. I saw him before dinner, and he wasn’t this pale. “No, I’m just resting.”
“Is Samuel here?” He moves his weight side to side while waiting for an answer.
“Sorry, no. Wait, you haven’t seen them either? I expected them to be here by now.”
Victor scratches his ear without looking at me. “Please ask Samuel to speak to me when they get back.”
“Should I be concerned about something?”
“No, Miss Eden.” He waves both hands at me as though to erase any stress. “Everything fine. Samuel will be back soon.”
He takes off along the garden path and disappears into the night. Beyond the lodge, Canaima Lake is still peaceful. There’s no sound of a motor, only the constant croak of frogs and chirping insects. A buzzing at my ear has me swatting the air, then pushing the door closed. I adjust the mosquito net and climb into bed even though I’m no longer tired.
This is what it will be like when we’re apart—Samuel out trying to save everyone, me worrying about the danger and whether he’ll even return. It’s why I begged him not to go until he explained the reason, and I understood his concern. Only I know this isn’t something he and Asoo can fix in one day.
Pressing fingertips to my temples, I massage tiny circles. I can’t allow my mind to jump into a negative cycle and think the worst. There’s strength in optimism. Samuel is an intelligent man, and Asoo knows the river like the back of his hand.
Positive thoughts. I rub my hand over my baby bump.Everything will be fine.
Eventually, I fall asleep, but I’m woken with the discomfort of gas. I am learning the many discomforts associated with being pregnant. When I rise to head to the bathroom, I notice the space beside me is still empty. I check the time on my phone—two o’clock in the morning.
Damn you, Samuel.
How am I to sleep knowing he’s out there somewhere and possibly in the hands of criminals.
I switch on the light and pad to the bathroom. Then I climb back into bed, and before I switch off the bedside lamp, a sound chimes from my phone, and it’s not the usual ringtone.
I dive on it, thinking it could be Samuel when, in reality, where he’s traveling doesn’t have connection service.
