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the tree was too young, its trunk too narrow. We wouldn't get many panchos from its bark.

‘Take it to the raft and then come back,’ he instructed us. ‘I'll look for another tree in the meantime.’

Kevin and I each picked up an end of the log but quickly threw it down as if it were a viper. It was covered with fire ants. We tried to shake them off the tree, but there were too many of them.

‘Make for the water!’ Kevin shouted. ‘Fast! Run! The sons of bitches!’

We ran, carrying the log, screaming and cursing, straight into the river. Marcus watched in bewilderment as we ran past him.

‘Fire ants!’ I called out to him by way of explanation.

The ants were still biting, even in the water, as we picked them off each other's bodies. The swift current washed the rest of them from the log. Once we were rid of the ants, we laid the log down next to the raft.

‘You might as well go back alone,’ I said to Kevin. ‘I'll stay here with Marcus and make panchos from this log until you come back with another.’

Kevin headed back, and Marcus and I set to work. With two sharp knives we peeled the bark away in strips, carefully removing the fibres that lay beneath.

‘I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you alone, Yossi,’ Marcus suddenly said. ‘Yesterday