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〃One does not need to dream of St。 Peter to know when the end has e。〃
Sally glanced at Tom。 〃Do you have any idea what he's got？〃
〃Without diagnostic tests； Woodwork； a microscope 。。。〃 He swore and stood up； fighting a wave of faintness。 We've had it； he thought。 It made him angry in some vague way。 It wasn't fair。
He brushed those useless thoughts out of his head and checked on Philip。 He was sleeping。 Like Don Alfonso he had a high fever； and Tom wasn't even sure he would ever awaken。 Vernon got a fire going despite Don Alfonso's muttered entreaties not to light one； and Sally brewed a medicinal tea。 His whole face had sagged； collapsing inward； the skin losing its color and taking on a waxy hue。 His breathing was labored； but he was still conscious。 〃I will drink your tea； Curandera；〃 he said； 〃but not even your medicine will save me。〃
She knelt。 〃Don Alfonso； you've talked yourself into dying。 You can talk yourself out of it。〃
He took her hand。 〃No； Curandera； my time has e。〃
〃You can't know that。〃
〃My death was foretold。〃
〃I don't want to hear any more absurdities。 You can't see into the future。〃
〃When I was a little boy； I had a bad fever； and my mother took me to a bruja； a witch。 The bruja told me that my time of dying was not then； but that I would die far from home； among strangers； within sight of blue mountains。〃 His eyes glanced up at the Sierra Azul； framed in the gap in the treetops。
〃She could have been talking about any blue mountains。〃
〃Curandera； she was talking about those mountains； which are as blue as the great ocean itself。〃
Sally blinked away a tear。 〃Don Alfonso； quit talking nonsense。〃
At this； Don Alfonso smiled。 〃It is a wonderful thing when an old man has a beautiful girl weeping at his deathbed。〃
〃This isn't your deathbed； and I'm not crying。〃
〃Do not worry； Curandera。 This is no surprise to me。 I came on this journey knowing it would be my last。 I was a useless old man back in Pito Solo。 I did not want to die in my hut a weak； foolish old person。 I； Don Alfonso Boswas； I wanted to die as a man。〃 He paused； drew a breath； shuddered。 〃Only I did not think I would die under a rotten log in the stinking mud； leaving you alone。〃
〃Then don't die。 We love you； Don Alfonso。 The hell with that bruja。〃
Don Alfonso took her hand and smiled。 〃Curandera； there is one thing the bruja got wrong。 She said I was going to die among strangers。 This is not true。 I die among friends。〃
He closed his eyes and murmured something； and then he died。
45
Sally wept。 Tom stood up and looked away； feeling his unreasonable anger grow。 He walked a little way into the forest。 There； in a quiet glade； he sat on a log； clenching and unclenching his fists。 The old man had no right to leave them。 He had abandoned himself to his superstitions。 He had talked himself into dying…just because he had glimpsed some blue mountains。
Tom thought back to the first time he saw Don Alfonso； sitting on the little stool in his hut； waving his machete and joking。 It seemed a lifetime ago。
They dug a grave in the mucky ground。 It was a slow； exhausting process； and they were so weak they could barely lift the shovel。 Tom couldn't help thinking； When will I be doing this for Philip？ Tomorrow？ They finished the grave around noon； wrapped Don Alfonso's body in his hammock； rolled him into the waterlogged hole； and threw some damp flowers on top。 Then they filled in the hole with mud。 Tom fashioned a rough cross lashed with vines and planted it at the head of the grave。 They stood around awkwardly afterward。
〃I'd like to say a few words；〃 said Vernon。
He stood； swaying a little。 His clothes hung on his body； and his beard and hair were wild。 He looked like a mendicant。
〃Don Alfonso 。。。〃 his voice trailed off。 He coughed。 〃If you're still around somewhere； before heading up to the Pearly Gates； stick around a bit and help us out； will you； old man？ We're in a bad way。〃
〃Amen；〃 Sally said。
Dark clouds began to roll in； ending their short； sunny respite。 There was a roll of thunder and a scattered sound of drops in the canopy above。
Sally came to Tom。 〃I'm going hunting again。〃
Tom nodded。 He took the fishing line and decided to try his luck in the river they had crossed about a mile back。 Vernon stayed to take care of Philip。
They returned in the early afternoon。 Sally had caught nothing； Tom returned with a single fish that weighed no more than six ounces。 While they were gone Philip had developed a high fever and delirium。 His eyes were open and glittered with heat； and he moved his head back and forth in a ceaseless pattern； mumbling disconnected phrases。 Tom felt sure his brother was now dying。 When they tried to get him to drink the tea Sally made； he began shouting incoherently and knocked the cup away。 They boiled the fish in a pot with some manioc root and spoon…fed the stew to Philip； who finally accepted it after more shouting and thrashing。 They divided the rest among themselves。 After eating； they remained under the log as the rain poured down； waiting for darkness to e。
Tom was the first to wake； just before dawn。 Philip's fever had worsened over the night。 He tossed and mumbled； his fingers plucking uselessly at his collar； his face looking collapsed and emaciated。 Tom felt desperate。 They had no medicine and no diagnostic tools； not even a medical kit。 Sally's herbal medicines were ineffectual in the face of this raging fever。
Vernon built a fire； and they sat around it in a devastated silence。 The dark ferns loomed about them like a menacing crowd； nodding their heads under the impact of the rain； casting a green dimness over their refuge。
Tom finally spoke。 〃We're going to have to stay here until Philip recovers。〃
Sally and Vernon nodded； although they all knew Philip was not going to recover。
〃We'll make an all…out effort to hunt； fish； and gather edible plants。 We'll use this time to build up our strength and get ready for the long trip home。
Again everyone agreed。
〃All right；〃 said Tom； rising。 〃Let's get to work。 Sally will go hunting。 I'm going to take the fishing line and hooks。 Vernon； you stay here and take care of Philip。〃 He looked around。 〃No giving up。〃
They all stood up shakily； and Tom was glad to see a rousing of energy among them。 He collected the line and hooks and pushed off into the jungle。 He went in a straight line away from the Sierra Azul； tearing notches in the sides of ferns as he passed to mark his trail and keeping an eye out for any edible plants。 The rain was still falling steadily。 Two hours later he arrived； exhausted； at a muddy cascade of water； having caught a small lizard to use as bait。 He hooked the struggling reptile on the hook and tossed it into the boiling torrent。
Five hours later； with just enough light to get back to camp； he quit。 He had lost three of six hooks and a good portion of fishing line and had caught nothing。 He returned to camp before dark to find Vernon tending the fire。 Sally was still out。
〃How is Philip？〃
〃Not good。〃
Tom looked in on Philip and found him tossing in a restless sleep； drifting in and out of a dreamlike state； muttering snatches of con