Stained River (23 page)

Now
, seven months later, De Santana found himself facing insurmountable challenges that threatened his position within the Castelo Branco regime. His men became increasingly discontent with extremely long hours, shortage of supplies, injuries and incidence of malaria. What kept them entertained during the little free time they had, was warm beer, cards, and three Indian girls. One of whom was Lateri, taken against her will.

Six months of forced prostitution left her older than her years. When De Santana found out she suffered from a sexually transmitted disease, he beat her, threw medicine at her
, then told her to clean herself up. As if she was to blame. The beatings and degradation continued. Every day that passed, she hated him more; thought of taking her own life, but backed away, deciding to endure whatever was necessary to get even and find her way back. She would be quick to seize any opportunity that presented itself.

She remembered her father’s kindness and
gentle ways before he became a drunken fool. Now they had taken him away for a murder he didn't commit. She knew who did it, had seen the tattoo that night on his wrist as he extended the blowgun through the window, then blew the dart into the senator's neck. De Santana alone was responsible for the ruin of her and her family. Every time she saw him, bile rose in her mouth. Her time was coming. Nothing could stop it. In the end, revenge would feel so good.

CHAPTER
THIRTY TWO

He passed all the tests, endured all the rituals, learned the language and ways of the most primitive tribe on earth. To some extent, he became one of them. Since Chora’s death, he witnessed no violence other than the macho games the men played from time to time. They seemed to respect the fact that he didn't wish to join in, for which he was grateful. He spent much of his time showing Jamu and Kep'e tricks he learned from his father as a child and tried to get their pet parrot to say funny words. When he succeeded, they burst into laughter. Nauoma became like a step son. Together, they made bows and arrows, or carved toy boats or went on frequent hunting trips. These sometimes saddened the young boy. His eyes would fill with tears as he remembered how it felt to return home to his mother with something for the stew pot. She always made him feel special. It would take a while, but Connery would eventually get him to smile; becoming exuberant whenever Nauoma made a kill. He regretted not having spent more time with his own children and wondered if they ever thought of him.

Compared with the ordeal he faced months before, life had become quiet, laid-back and without stress.
Teman-e continued to rise in prominence, but still second to Guardara, who he deferred to but didn't trust. The villagers respected his quick dispatch of Chora, his enemy. It turned out that many disliked the young warrior because he was deceitful. Guardara was taken in by his guile. Something that Teman-e would never forget.

But there was another reason for the high esteem in which
Teman-e was held. The story of the giant bird became epic after he told the tale many times at ceremonial gatherings. Each time he would remember something different, something that would enhance the story. Those who listened became enraptured, even frightened by his account. Strangely, Guardara never asked him to return to the site nor did he ever want to. Teman-e never linked Connery to the giant bird, only that he appeared from out of nowhere and saved him.

Connery
, on the other hand, never tried explaining his connection to what Teman-e viewed as mystical. He would never understand and he preferred to remain his friend on a human rather than godlike level. His attraction for Wamura had Teman-e’s sympathy, but he constantly weighed the instructions to stay away. While he might be allowed many things, Wamura wasn’t one of them. Teman-e understood Connery’s need and graciously offered his friend one of his two remaining wives.

“Kesana, she is second to Naru. You keep her
. She will make you happy and feed you.”

He accepted her,
but felt badly. She had no choice in the matter. She prepared his meals and answered his physical needs but their lovemaking was passionless. Wamura preyed on his mind. It was all he could do to avoid taking a risk that could easily become fatal, his desire amplified by the fact that she was forbidden. Never to be touched. It was evident by her stolen, sultry glances that she felt the same. The electricity between them became palpable. Both were close to an attempted meeting that could have disastrous results. Both tried to put the thought from their minds but without success. The temptation became more and more consuming.

T
he days passed slowly. Life became lazy. Connery realized that, aside from the necessary tasks of providing and preparing food, there really wasn't much to do. He would have liked to tend and cultivate the vegetable gardens, but that was considered women's work. To keep his mind occupied and away from Wamura, he threw himself into constructing a rudimentary irrigation system that, when completed, actually improved the meager yield of vegetables. This consumed ten, sometimes twelve hours a day, so that by nighttime, he sank with exhaustion into his hammock. It was then he thought of his desire for Wamura and what he could do about it without losing his life.

The success of the irrigation system made Guardara particularly pleased since there was more to eat, at least for a while. The
villagers continued lavishing gifts on Connery, and several times a day, he would find them heaped beside his hammock. As Teman-e’s status rose, within the tribe, so too did his. Guardara, however, had suspicions that something was about to happen between his niece and Connery.

The
summons to Guardara’s hut surprised Connery. Perplexed, he thought the chief sensed his relationship with Wamura and would take action. If that was the case, even Teman-e, who accompanied him to the hut, couldn’t save him. He entered not knowing what to expect.

Guardara spoke and
Teman-e explained.

“The gift you gave him. It has lost its magic. He wants you to fix what is wrong.”

Connery fumbled for the right words before devising an explanation that would be acceptable.

“Tell him the gods chose
him to receive the image maker as a sign they favored him above others.”

As Teman-e
spoke, a different look came over the chief’s face.

“It was only a temporary gift, however
. Its spirit had to be returned, to be resumed one day when he least expects it.”

“Tell the chief to keep the camera in an exalted place until the time when the gods see fit to restore its powers. In the meantime, he should consider himself fortunate to have possessed those powers, even for a short time.”

When he finished speaking, he wasn’t sure his explanation would appease the old man, who stared directly at him for several seconds, then spoke.

Teman
-e interpreted.

“The chief says he is not happy with his gift but will do as you say for now.”

Connery was dismissed. He knew that an important link to his safety, the camera and its perceived powers, now had a diminished effect.

There was no mention of Wamura but, as he left the
chief's hut she stood before him, carrying a large gourd of water. In her simple nakedness, the perfect specimen of a woman. Their silent desire for each other increased by the day and in the past month they had met secretly late in the evening when the others were asleep. Both knew the consequences. Nevertheless, their relationship burned intensely. Returning to the
shabono,
Kesana had food prepared but he wasn't hungry. She tried to entice him to the hammock but he had no interest.

The following afternoon, he gazed skyward at billowing clouds. It could mean rain that the forest and gardens awaited eagerly. Like so many times before, Wamura caught his attention as she walked with a slow gait toward the river. He would gamble everything once again.
Perhaps now was the time,
he thought.

He had first seen her at the river, watched her at the celebrations but always wary of Teman-e’s admonition.
Stay away, or else I cannot protect you.
But Wamura made his skin tingle. He found ways to look at her without it being obvious to anyone. But the more he succeeded in not looking obvious, the more Guardara suspected that he had intentions toward his niece, for it would be unusual that any male would
not
be attracted to her.

Connery could read her. She sent signals every time she was near. A gesture, a movement, a profile when she knew he was looking while appearing not to be looking. It became very much a psychological game between the two; both trying to outwit Guardara. Connery picked up on every one of the signals. She, in turn, acknowledged his awareness. She wanted him as much as he wanted her and  thought:
what would he do about it? Was he willing to risk his life?

Now
, her slight glance in his direction said;
follow me but be careful
. Connery looked around.  He knew Guadara was in a meeting with the elders. Many lazed in the afternoon heat and the village appeared almost empty. He walked in the opposite direction, away from where Wamura headed. Then, when he was sure no one was watching, he sprinted into the jungle, backtracking until he reached the river. There, he stood in the shadows, admiring her loveliness. Though he was hidden, she knew he had arrived. Connery stared as she climbed to the top of the rock, shed the brief covering she wore, then dove into the cool water. He waited for her to surface. Fifteen, then twenty seconds, but there was no sign of her. He became anxious.
Where was she?
Anticipation turned to fear.
What if she had drowned?
He was about to dive in when he felt her touch, the coolness of her wet skin on his back, her bare breasts. He turned and looked down at her upturned face, her dark eyes, her full lips. No words were spoken. None were required.

They fell among the flowers, locked tightly in a lover’s embrace, and made love,
their lust heightened only by the sense of danger that accompanied it. It was brief, spasmodic, uninhibited; still no words, only expressions. Minutes passed, neither moved, both basking in the moment, both resigned to the consequences if they had been seen. Connery rose first, realizing he had been away from the village for too long. With a last touch he told her to wait a while before returning, then he left.

More than an hour passed. He waited
anxiously- no sign she had come back. Maybe she had taken another way. He looked in the direction of her hammock hoping to see her.

Then i
t happened with alarming quickness. Something passed over his head, striking the hut behind him. Another followed, closer than the first. He quickly realized that arrows were being fired into the village, not one or two, but a barrage. He heard several screams. Panic followed. Frightened women gathered their children, herding them toward shelter while men scurried for their weapons
.
There had been no attacks in some time. They had relaxed their guard.

Connery reached for the only weapon in sight, a spear
, and ran toward to where he left Wamura. He knew of woman stealers from countless stories told by Teman-e and was well familiar with the savagery of outlaw tribes. A second volley followed. In the excitement, it occurred to Connery that the shower of arrows might have been a diversion, allowing the Wakawakatieri to seize the young women. Wamura would certainly be one of them. Teman-e appeared from nowhere, shouting and motioning Connery to follow.

Machi-te
tribesmen raced toward the Wakawakatieri. Within seconds, the two tribes clashed. Teman-e thrust his spear into one man, killing him instantly. Now fully engaged, it took every one of his skills to stay alive. A veteran of these types of skirmishes, most didn’t match the ferocity of this attack. It seemed impossible to beat them back. He glanced toward the river long enough to recognize one of the abductors who towered above the others. He knew immediately who it was. The mad man was among them and he saw an opportunity to avenge himself by killing Uxhomeb.

The mêlée continued at fever pitch, long enough to allow the kidnappers to flee into the jungle
, carrying Wamura and two other women. The Wakawakatieri were masters at fading out of sight, as if they had never been there. Teman-e divided his men; half would confront the remaining attackers, he would lead the others in pursuit. Connery stayed close. Though Uxhomeb had a head start of only a few minutes that was all he needed.

Two
days later, Teman-e and his men were still looking. Faint traces existed, but if another day was lost they would be gone forever. He kept driving his men, convinced he knew the most likely place where he would intercept them. They kept going all that night, when just before dawn, he instructed them to stay where they were. He would go on alone.

They waited
, afraid of being over- run. No words were spoken. The forest, pitch black, eerily quiet except for insect noises, an occasional owl hooting. Time passed with no sign of Teman-e. Then he appeared from nowhere, as if he was a ghost. He had found the raiding party camped near the river with no guards posted. He expected they would be on their way before the sun rose. Now was the time to surprise them. His instructions were clear. Split the enemy camp, kill as many as possible and save the women. Each man knew if he made the slightest sound he would have to face the considerable wrath of Teman-e.