Chapter 7

After her arboreal vicissitudes with the monkeys, Meiling was discreetly absent every day and returned after a couple of hours carrying in her arms a quantity of forest fruits like the one that the apes had offered her, no doubt of the same origin. None of the lost expeditionary knew what fruit it was but the fact that the monkeys -with a digestive system in some aspects similar to that of humans- ate it and that the girl had already tried it, decided them to add it to their diet.

On her excursions, the kid observed the elusive and varied fauna of the forest. In addition to the cai monkeys with which she was already familiar, she was able to fleetingly see squirrels, other unknown small mammals, and a wide variety of generally unknown birds, including songbirds, hummingbirds, mice, and thrushes. In one of the holes in the canopy of vegetation through which she could see the sky and the distant high mountains that served as a backdrop to the landscape, the girl could see large birds planning which she immediately associated with the condors of the Andean regions.

The visualization of that natural landscape unknown to a city girl deeply overwhelmed her emotions and she often sighed while inhaling the fragrances of a thousand also unknown flowers.

When she returned, her brother breathed calmly again after not having her in sight for a short time, but he had decided not to limit the life experience that Meiling was obviously experiencing.

One day the four campers-turned explorers made the decision to walk back to the deep river gullies they had already found and loaded their backpacks for a full day trip. They resumed their well-known course and found again the canyon river that on that particular day carried a lot of water from the thawing in the summits beyond the mountains. They walked long along the steep ravines in a very careful way not to slip and rush into the turbulent waters. Suddenly Jean Luc, who was in the vanguard, stopped his walk.

"What is that?" He exclaimed, pointing forward in a direction in which the river canyon was getting narrower.

“It looks like a suspension bridge.” Replied Aylen.

They anxiously approached the place excited by the possibility of crossing to the other bank of the river, a thought that nevertheless inspired them with fear when they saw and heard the roaring waters flowing much below. Indeed, it was an old and precarious bridge made with ropes and narrow tree trunks cut to approximately the same measure that formed its floor, each one of a width that hardly allowed to place one foot. In general, the logs looked partially rotten and the construction did not offer many safety guarantees. At a certain height above the hanging structure of the bridge, some frayed vegetable rope handrails kept balance.

Xiang and Jean Luc decided to try the dangerous crossing and intended to leave the women on the side where they were, which caused the revolt of them, so they all finally prepared to cross it but walking one by one so as not to overload of weight to the bridge compromising its resistance. As an additional precautionary measure, they tied a rope to the waist of the one who was crossing, in order to prevent him from falling to the bottom and being dragged by the waters; the end of the rope was attached to a sturdy tree near the shore.

Jean Luc crossed first almost running so as not to allow the adrenaline to block his actions. When to everyone’s relief he reached the other side, the safety rope was untied from his waist and towed to the other shore. Then it was Xiang's turn, who crossed with remarkable calm and then Meiling followed. The girl advanced with an uncertain step, holding the handrails tightly; the wind blowing through the river canyon gave her the sensation of wanting to drag her down but finally she was able to reach the opposite shore where her brother took her by the waist and placed her on safe ground. Finally it was Aylen's turn and she crossed with agility.

The wooden floor structure continued on the side where they were now, no doubt to be able to avoid a low waterlogged area, and then among the trees to a place that they could not see from the edge of the ravine, so they decided to use it as a way as long as it existed before them.

The walkers decided to stop, to rest and above all to allow the adrenaline rush of the river crossing to drop to its normal intensity.

Although the four travelers were not yet aware of it, the crossing of that flow of water opened before them a new stage full of growing challenges.

Meiling and Xiang's parents and Aylen's mother had just arrived at the camp in a Gendarmerie helicopter. Conrad and Chief Kovacs approached the vehicle to receive them. Once inside the main tent of the expedition both men in charge exposed the news to the newcomers.

“In summary, we have very few concrete data, a huge area to search and a handful of troops to do it.” Kovacs concluded.

The mother of the Chinese boys looked emaciated, and trembling and her face was broken by the tears that did not end up coming out; the father watched her nervously wondering how much longer she could stand. Finally the chief brought her a chair and the lady sat on it. At one point her poise collapsed, a moan erupted from her mouth and she held her head in both hands as her body trembled; the husband squatted next to her and Conrad brought her a glass of water that the woman ignored. Her body shook as she closed her eyes tight. All present were pending her status.

Suddenly the woman opened her eyes and in a voice hoarse with tears exclaimed.

“Water! Water that drag everything in its path.”

Everyone around her listened to her words with different attitudes. The husband was forced to give certain explanations in a hesitant voice.

“My wife has a… special bond with Meiling, even at a distance.”

Conrad couldn't prevent a skeptical gesture from appearing on his face; Aylen's mother put her hands on the other woman's shoulders in a tender attempt to comfort her. Only Kovacs really paid attention to the words and their literal meaning. Addressing the girl's father, he said directly.

“If I have your approval, I will carry out an experiment that has given us results on certain occasions.”

“Anything that helps bring my children back.”

Kovacs left the tent and went to the place where several people belonging to his group were gathered outside the tent. He returned accompanied by a woman with indigenous features, dressed in a home loom cloth robe and a scarf with geometric motifs; her age was indefinable although white strands mingled with black hair.

“Let me introduce you to Mrs. Waylla Quispe. She has ... certain powers.” Kovacs said reluctantly.

“Is she a healer?” Conrad asked suspiciously.

“I prefer to call her shaman. This lady belongs to the original peoples of the area. She has helped us in previous cases of lost people. She's an ... unofficial help.”

Without saying a word, the called Waylla approached the still trembling mother and took one of her hands in her own; the newcomer looked her in the eye and they remained so for a period of time in silence. Finally the shaman uttered her first sentence.

“Do you speak Spanish?”

"A little." The woman's Chinese accent was strong.

“Tell me what you see.”

“Troubled Waters! Meiling and Xiang are near a rough water course.”

Waylla closed her eyes and an indefinable sound came from her throat; it remained that way for a couple of minutes. At last he asked.

“You see the water from above, don't you?

The kids' mother's body shook as she answered.

“Yes! Yes! From the top of a cliff.” For the first time the mother's voice was firm and hopeful. Waylla released her hand and approached Kovacs.

“Do you have a map?”

The Park Ranger approached a campaign table where a large map was displayed; Waylla followed him. They both stared at the geographic chart in silence. Finally Kovacs inquired.

“What you think?”

"The children are very close to a fast flowing river." She leaned over the map and made a circle in the center of it with her hand.

“They are here.” The shaman looked the Park Ranger in the eyes. “Do you know what it means?”

“You tell me.

“It's the Los Antiguos area, the Ancient Ones. Those who were before us.” The woman's voice evidenced a deep respect not without fear.

“Strange events occur there. If the boys have crossed the river, they have entered an area where things happen ... that nobody can understand.”

Conrad had approached and overheard the chat with a skeptical attitude.

“What things are you talking about?”

“Things that are produced by unknown powers. The few who have gone there and have returned turned mad and never speak of what they experienced.”

Conrad went to the Park Ranger and asked.

“How is that area?”

“It is an impenetrable jungle. I have heard fantastic things and it is difficult to separate reality from fantasy.”

“Can you patrol it from the air?”

“We will certainly try, but it is a gallery jungle, formed around the rivers that cross it. The tree canopy does not allow us to see what is under the tops of tall trees. The few aborigines who live in the surrounding areas believe that there are old cities in that area, although nobody can give details as they do not dare to enter. As it is almost completely surrounded by rivers, they usually call it La Isla, The Island. It is known of some that have entered but not of any that have left it. It is in that area where the boys apparently are now.”