Owen stepped out into the warm morning mist. It was just dawn and the camp was silent among the towering kapok and capirona giants. In the distance he heard the sound of water splashing along the banks of the tributary that flowed south of their camp. Stretching, he inhaled the perfumed scents of orchids and flowering Brazil nuts then headed toward the mess tent to start a pot of morning tea.
Pulling the mess-tent flap aside, he went in to find Manny already up. They talked a moment about the day ahead, and about Juan and how it was curious he had befriended Paulo so quickly. But Owen would concern himself about that later. He wanted time alone to think. Fifteen minutes later he was standing at the edge of camp, overlooking the fog-veiled banks of the channel. As he sipped his tea, he wat
