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She bends down and places the case beside Samuel. He asks her to unclip the lid. He points to the dressings and tape, and he swaps places with her so she’s cradling her father’s head in her lap and hands. Her sad eyes hold his gaze as he peers up to her apologetically. They whisper to each other while Samuel washes the wound and presses clean dressings to the area. The shaman doesn’t flinch—not once. Instantly, bright blood soaks the white bandages, and Samuel catches the fear in Kaikare’s eyes before turning her focus back to her father. He tells her it’s her time. She lets out a quiet sob. He asks her to be strong, no tears, as his journey is complete.
Samuel works as fast as he can. His hands freeze hearing Ivy and Dawn’s words, and Samuel realizes the shaman is talking about Kaikare’s mother and their time together. The shaman’s eyes shutter closed and slowly open again. He’s losing consciousness and soon will not be alert enough to know what’s happening around him.
Samuel tells the shaman coming to Ulara was the highlight of his life. Through him he found a father figure, a mentor, and a friend. Samuel sniffs and wipes his nose with his forearm. The shaman has taught him many things about life and himself, and he’s proud to call Ulara home.
The shaman mutters, “Areku,” he asks them not to beangry. He closes his eyes and asks for Samuel to help him. Samuel assumes he means with his treatment, only he mumbles. “Mosìpe nono oma.”Long earth path.He opens his eyes long enough for Samuel to nod. Then his hand softens in Kaikare’s palm, his eyes closing in peace.
Samuel removes the dressing. The blood loss has slowed. Taking Kaikare’s hand, he closes his eyes. He doesn’t need to touch his neck to know the shaman’s heart has stopped beating.
Kaikare curls over her father’s limp body and whimpers. Gently, Samuel rests a hand on her back. Her whimpers turn to wails as she mourns her father. His heart aches feeling her loss. She is now alone without family and he has sent Eden, her blood relative away.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs and rubs her back. “So, so sorry.” He understands the need to grieve before Kaikare steps up to be their leader. She squeezes Samuel’s hand, her bloodshot eyes begging for support.
“I’ll stay with you as long as you need me,” he tells her in their native tongue. He then quietly stands and leaves her to have the final time with her father, alone.
As soon as he exits the hut, he’s hit with chaos. The men run and shout, shock etched into their expression. Asoo rushes to him.
“The men throw bodies into boat,” he says in a shaky voice.
“We need to dispose of it now. Remove all the evidence they were here.”
“How?” Asoo covers his eyes with his hands. “This will end bad.”
“Can you retrieve my bags from the curiara?”
“Si.” Asoo scampers toward the river.
“Tïmenneng,” Samuel shouts. When Samuel catches up, he asks him to dispose of the boat. Tïmenneng nods and then gathers the warriors.
Samuel finds Chirké, one of the elder ladies, crouched by the fire. He asks for her help to calm the women. The younger women sob, not yet controlling their emotions like the elders, and it’s scaring the children. Samuel doesn’t want to deny the Ularans a sense of mourning. His heart has splintered into a million pieces, but now isn’t the time. They need to support one another and keep noise to a minimum in case other intruders are sailing nearby, searching for their friends. He places a hand on the back of a young lady and tells her it will be fine. He then heads to the chief, ready to inform him of the shaman’s wishes and his insight.
It’s time to move on. Take the great earth path and find another home.
Kaikare will become the shaman, and Samuel will be by her side until they settle deep in the jungle where no man ventures.
He has made promises to the people he loves.
Eden.
The shaman.
But a promise to a dying man’s wish to save his Ularan family when Samuel’s family is safe in Australia is important to him. Samuel has the paper maps that only he can read and Western medication and knowledge to assist the Ularans in their voyage. He’ll help with replanting vines and other medicinal herbs until more can be discovered. In the coming weeks and months, they’ll need him more than Eden. In fact, the entire civilization depends on him for their safety.
His gut twists in pain. How will he survive without her? Will she forgive him? Without her by his side, the journey ahead will be torturous, but hewillreturn to her again, only much later than he promised.
Asoo returns carrying Samuel’s packs. “Two more I not manage.”
“It’s fine, my friend. It’s time for you to go. The Ularans will move on from this site as it has become too dangerous for everyone. I need you to leave now before anyone recognizes you and associates you to what went down here today.”
Asoo tilts his head. “Samuel come with Asoo?”
“No, my friend.” He lays a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll travel with the Ularans until they find peace and safety deeper in the jungle. Their migration was inevitable… the timing, unfortunate. I made a promise to the shaman to remain with Kaikare and assist her on a safe journey. I need your phone to send a message to Eden. Please let her know I’m safe, and I’ll be with her soon. I’ll type out a message for you to send in Canaima. She’ll call you, so please just reinforce I’m safe so she doesn’t worry.”
“Where you go?” he asks, his voice thick.
Samuel exhales loudly. His words will not be reassuring. “Southwest toward Colombia and Brazil. Preferably closer to Peru.”
Asoo groans. “No, friend. Brazilian Garimpeiros and Colombian Guerrilla control much of the land.”
