A whoosh of air went over Jessica’s head; Dora’s tail cracked like a whip. Ikay shook her head and heaved herself up from Jessica’s lap.
Dora in the bow stood still, watching the river bank with the eyes of a bird of prey, every muscle tense, her tail quivering at waist-height.
Clearly, something was wrong.
The beach of the lagoon stretched before them, edging the rainforest with a silver margin. Boats lined up abandoned in neat rows, fishing nets folded over their bows. But another, larger boat lay at the water’s edge, reed baskets on its floor.
Dora and Alla jumped out of the canoe as soon as it bumped into the shore. In swift strides, they crossed the beach to the strange boat. Footsteps led from it into the forest. Large, deep and booted.
Alla shouted something; Maire replied.
Wo
