River Of Death

'I know nothing that you don't know and far be it from me to suggest that I look more closely and, perhaps, think a little more deeply. But, then, you are young.'

'Young?' Navarro was indignant. 'Neither of us, Senor Hamilton, will ever see thirty again.'

'That's what I meant.' He put his fingers to his lips. Beside him, Maria was stirring. She opened her eyes, still huge with fear and horror. Hamilton touched her gently on the shoulder.

'It's all right now,' he said gently. 'It's all over.'

'That horrible, ghastly head.' Her voice was no more than a husky whisper and she was shaking. Ramon rose and walked away. 'That awful snake —'

'The snake is dead,' Hamilton said. 'And you are unharmed. We promise you, no harm will come to you.'

She lay there breathing shallowly, her eyes closed. She opened them again when Ramon returned and knelt by her side. He had an aluminium cup in one hand, a bottle in the other.

Hamilton said: 'And what do we have here?'

'The finest cognac,' Ramon replied. 'As is only to be expected. Smith's private supplies.'

'I don't like brandy,' she said.

'Ramon is right. You'd better like it. You need it.'

Ramon poured a generous measure. She tasted it, coughed, screwed her eyes shut and emptied the cup in two gulps.

'Good girl,' Hamilton said.

'Awful,' she said. She looked at Ramon. 'But thank you. I feel better already.' She glanced across the clearing and fear touched her eyes again. 'That hammock —'

'You're not going back to that hammock,'

Hamilton said. 'It's safe enough now, of course, it was just sheer bad luck that the anaconda was up the tree when your hammock was slung, but we can understand your not wanting to go back there. You're in Ramon's sleeping-bag and on a ground-sheet. You'll stay just where you are. We'll keep a big fire going all night and one of the three of us will keep an eye on you till the morning. Come the dawn, I promise you not even a mosquito will have come near you.'

Slowly she looked at the three men in turn then said huskily: 'You are all very kind to me.' She tried to smile but it was only a try. 'Damsel in distress. Is that it?'

'Perhaps there's a little bit more to it than that,' Hamilton said. 'But now's not the time to talk about it. Just you try to sleep — I'm sure Ramon will give you a night-cap to help you on your way. Oh, hell.'

Smith, who obviously felt that he had maintained his distance long enough, was approaching, his whole attitude manifesting his resentment of Maria's close proximity to the three men. As he dropped to his knees beside her, Hamilton rose, looked at him, turned and walked away, the twins following.

Ramon said: 'Senor Hamilton.Quiexada, piranha, anaconda, a sick girl and a villain. To pick so divine a resting spot in such unique company is a gift not given to many.'

Hamilton just looked at him and moved off into the forest to retrieve his load of firewood.

Early in the morning Hamilton led the others in single file through the rain-forest and across firm ground, firm because the terrain was gently rising and the water table was now well below them. After about two hours' walking Hamilton stopped and waited until the others gathered round him.

'From here on,' Hamilton said, 'no talking. Not one word. And watch where you put your feet. I don't want to hear as much as the crackle of a broken twig. Understood?' He looked at Maria, who looked pale and exhausted, not so much from the rigours of the walk, for there had been none, but because she had not slept at all: the previous night's experience, as Ramon had said, had been something more than traumatic. 'It's not much further. Half an hour, at most, then we'll have a rest and carry on during the afternoon.'

'I’m all right,' she said. 'It's just that I'm beginning to hate this rain-forest. I suppose you'll be telling me again that no-one asked me to come.'

'A snake on every tree, is that it?' She nodded. 'No more worry,' Hamilton said. 'You'll never again spend a night in the forest. That's another promise.'

Tracy said slowly: 'I take it that that can mean only one thing. I take it that we'll be in the Lost City tonight.'

'If things go as I hope, yes.'

'You know where you are?' 'Yes.'

'You've known ever since we left the hovercraft.'

'True. How did you know?'

'Because you haven't used your compass since.'

Half an hour later, exactly as he had forecast, Hamilton, finger to his lips, stopped and waited for the others to come up to him. When he spoke, it was in a whisper.

'On your lives. Not a sound. Stay hidden until I tell you otherwise. On your hands and knees then lie prone until I give the word.'