📸 Photo

‘Once we’re that close,’ Karl answered, ‘we’ll
surely find a trail. Look. All three branches of the
river intersect the trail to Apolo. It’s a very wide
path. You can’t miss it. It’s only a two-day walk
from there to Apolo.’

Kevin studied the map carefully and raised no
further objections. We started setting up camp.
Karl was extremely thorough this time. He assidu-
ously sought a dry, level area, slightly higher than
the river, and diligently cleared away every rock,
weed, and root. Then he took me with him to look
for strong, straight stalks of bamboo and branches.
He wanted to remove the panchos from the raft
and use them to tie the tent poles together, but
Kevin wouldn’t let him.

‘You aren’t thinking of going on by yourself, are
you, Kevin?’ he asked warily.

‘No, of course not,’ Kevin answered, ‘It’s just a
shame to wreck the raft. For sentimental reasons.’

Karl laughed. ‘All right. I’ll find some vines in
the jungle.’

Once the tent was up, we set the pack with
the food in a dry corner, got a fire going, and
rigged a pot over it. Everything was splendidly
arranged, and we got down to some serious rest
and relaxation.

I decided to have another go at fishing. I found
a tree growing right out of the Ipurama, near the
place where it met the Tuichi. I sat there under
the tree trying to catch a minnow. They nibbled
but didn’t bite.