The march through the jungle was bumpy due to the compact thicket through which they had to advance, full of crisscrossed lianas and thorny bushes that scratched their clothes and skin. Jean Luc was at the forefront clearing the way with his spear and Xiang covered the rear. The heat of the day quickly disappeared and the shadows settled on the vegetation. At last they reached a fairly large clearing where the Frenchman hoped to rest his arm from the strenuous work of breaking through and was not the first to see it. When Meiling came behind him, she gasped. Jean Luc and the others who were arriving at the glade followed the sight of the girl and remained with their eyes fixed on the figure that stood before them, as if hypnotized without being able to articulate a word.