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In the late afternoon they came out on a flat ridge； which ended in an outcropping of leaf…shaped rocks。 For the first time they had a view back across the jungle they had just traversed。
Tom wiped his brow。 The mountain fell away from them in one fantastic emerald declivity； plunging three thousand feet down to the green ocean of life below。 Massive cumulus clouds moved above their heads。
〃I had no idea we were so high；〃 said Sally。
〃Thanks to the Holy Mother we have journeyed far；〃 said Don Alfonso； his voice subdued； setting down his palm…leaf backpack。 〃This is a good place to camp。〃 He seated himself on a log； lit his pipe； and began to give orders。
〃Sally； you and Tom go hunting。 Vernon； first you will build the fire； and then you will build the hut。 I will rest。〃
He leaned back； puffing lazily； his eyes half closed。
Sally slung the gun over her shoulder； and they set off； following what appeared to be an animal trail。 〃I haven't had a chance to thank you for shooting at those soldiers；〃 he said。 〃You probably saved our lives。 You've really got guts。〃
〃You're like Don Alfonso…you seem surprised a woman might be handy with a rifle。〃
〃I was talking about your presence of mind； not your shooting…but yes； I have to admit； I am surprised。〃
〃Allow me to inform you that it's now the twenty…first century； and women are doing surprising things。〃
Tom shook his head。 〃Is everyone in New Haven so prickly？〃
She turned a cool pair of green eyes on him。 〃Shall we get on with the hunting？ Your chatter is scaring the game。〃
Tom suppressed a further ment and instead watched her slim body moving through the jungle。 No； she was nothing like Sarah。 Blunt； prickly； outspoken。 Sarah was smooth； she never said what she really thought； never told the truth； was pleasant even to people she couldn't stand。 For her； it was always so much more fun to deceive。
They went on； their footsteps silent in the wet； springy leaves。 The forest was cool and deep。 Through gaps in the trees； Tom could see the Macaturi River glinting in scimitarlike curves through the rainforest far below。
A cough sounded from the forested slopes above them。 It sounded like a human cough； only deeper； throatier。
〃That；〃 said Sally； 〃sounds feline。〃
〃Feline； as in jaguar？〃
〃Yes。〃
They moved side by side through the foliage； palming the leaves and ferns out of the way。 The mountain slopes were curiously silent。 Even the birds had stopped chittering。 A lizard skittered up a trunk。
〃It feels strange up here；〃 said Tom。 〃Unreal。〃
〃It's a cloudforest；〃 said Sally。 〃A high…altitude rainforest。〃 She moved ahead； the rifle at the ready。 Tom fell behind her。
There was another cough： deep and booming。 It was now the only sound in a forest that had bee unnaturally silent。
〃That sounded closer；〃 said Tom。
〃Jaguars are a lot more frightened of us than we are of them；〃 said Sally。
They clambered across a slope covered with giant fallen boulders； squeezing through moss…covered faces of rock； and came out facing a thick stand of bamboo。 Sally moved around it。 Clouds were already pressing down on them； and tendrils of mist drifted through the trees。 The air smelled like wet moss。 The view below them had vanished into whiteness。
Sally paused； raised the gun； waited。
〃What is it？〃 Tom whispered。
〃Up ahead。〃
They crept forward。 In front of them was a second cluster of giant mossy boulders； rolled and piled together； forming a honeyb of dark holes and crawlspaces。
Tom stood behind Sally； waiting。 The mists were rolling in fast； reducing the trees to silhouettes。 The fog sucked the fantastical green from the landscape； turning it a dull bluish gray。
〃There's something moving in those rocks。〃 she whispered。
They waited； crouching。 Tom could feel the mists collecting around him； soaking into his clothes。
After ten long minutes； a head appeared at a rock opening with two bright black eyes； and an animal that looked like a giant guinea pig came sniffing out。
The shot rang out instantly； and the animal squiffed loudly and rolled belly up。
Sally rose； unable to suppress a grin。
〃Nice shooting；〃 Tom said。
〃Thanks。〃
Tom unsheathed his machete and went to examine the animal。
〃I'll go on ahead。〃
Tom nodded and turned over the animal with his shoe。 It was some kind of large rodent； with yellow incisors； round and fat and heavily furred。 He slid out his machete； not at all looking forward to his job。 He sliced it open； scraped and pulled out the guts and internal organs； cut off the paws and head； and skinned it。 There was a strong smell of blood。 As hungry as he was he began to lose his appetite。 He wasn't squeamish…as a vet he'd seen plenty of blood…but he didn't like being part of the killing as opposed to the healing。
He heard another sound； this time a very low growl。 He paused； listening。 It was followed by a dainty series of coughs。 It was hard to tell where they were ing from…somewhere upslope； in the rocks above them。 He sought out Sally with his eyes and located her about twenty yards away； below the rockslide； a slender silhouette moving silently in the mist。 She faded from view。
He quartered the animal and wrapped it up in palm leaves。 It was depressing how little meat there actually was。 It seemed hardly worth it。 Maybe； he thought； Sally would bring down something bigger； like a deer。
As he finished wrapping the meat he heard another sound； a soft and gentle purr； so close that he flinched。 He waited； listening； his whole body tense。 Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream split the forest； trailing off into a hungry growl。 He jumped up； machete in his hand； trying to identify where it came from； but the tree branches and rocks were all bare。 The jaguar was well hidden。
Tom looked downslope to where Sally had vanished into the mists。 He didn't like the fact that the jaguar hadn't gone away after the rifle shot。 Picking up his machete； he left the chopped…up rodent and headed toward where Sally had disappeared。
〃Sally？〃
The jaguar screamed again； and this time it seemed to be right above him。 He instinctively dropped to his knees； machete drawn； but all he could see were moss…draped rocks and disembodied tree trunks。
〃Sally！〃 he called out more loudly。 〃Are you all right？〃
Silence。
He began to run down the slope； his heart in a panic。 〃Sally！〃
A faint voice answered； 〃I'm down here。〃
He continued downhill； slipping and sliding on the wet leaves； sending pebbles rolling down the steep slope。 The mists were getting thicker by the minute。 He heard another set of grunting coughs； behind him； very humanlike in sound。 The animal was pursuing him。
〃Sally！〃
Sally emerged from the mists； carrying the gun； with a scowl on her face。 〃Your shouting caused me to miss a shot。〃
He pulled up short； then slid the machete back into his belt； embarrassed。 〃I was worried； that's all。 I don't like the sound of that jaguar。 It's hunting us。〃
〃Jaguars don't hunt people。〃
〃You heard what my brother said about what happened to his guide。〃
〃Frankly； I don't believe it。〃 She frowned。 〃We might as well go back。 I'm not going to get anything more in this fog anyway。〃
They c