The Goddess

I felt like I was caught in a spider web, but they were just branches that lined the forest floor and wrapped around my legs. I tried to focus on the comfort of the weather, and the sweet odor of the foliage. And the fact that I was not alone. We had paid a guide to bring us. And we also had faith, when it got tense I reminded myself that faith would guide us. There was a casa (house) a few miles ahead of us. A small house. most likely a hut or shack, I made my way over to the guide, if I didn't wander off the path I would not get caught in webs. There were no manmade trails, just the young man's instinct, He was clearing the way as we went. He carried water and food along with his supplies. I carried my camera and other necessities. I had wandered off to take a photo of some flowering plants, but now I was back with the guide. He had not asked anything about us. His English was so so. But with our limited Spanish we were getting by. We paid him before he took us, he did not rob us and we had the right amount of money. I thought if all those movies were the naive tourists were robbed and left stranded, but the hotel had suggested him.

Hours later we approached a small clearing, In the center was a small log hut. Not traditional for the area, but inside it was maps and leaflets in English. It must have been constructed by an American. The guide led us to it. It was not dark yet. We must have been ahead of schedule. Or good planning. We gathered wood in an assortment of sizes. We had a stick that once lit kept away the bugs. It had a strange odor but it worked. We had brought American matches- one of our necessities. My traveling partner asked about water (aqua). He had been carrying a net. We had heard that there was a spot that had fish. The guide had talked about hitting them with a sharp stick but Jeff had bought a net before we set out> I could not hear the stream but our guide returned with a jar of fresh water. He showed Jeff and me to the stream, We could see the fish, big enough to feed the three of us, but impossible to swoop up. I tried, I was not worried, it was still light out, this seemed possible. i could see our guide chuckling. After a while, he asked us if he could try. Seconds later a good size fish was wiggling in the net. In minutes he had two more. We each had a fish for ourselves. And then I panicked, I was the woman in the group and had absolutely no idea how to scale the fish, but the guide seemed to want to finish what he had started. An hour later we were all sitting around a fire eating our fish. I was aware that we might have starved without him. I checked on his name Jorge. I thanked him in Spanish and English. he seemed to be a real team player. He would not abandon us. I was sure.

The next morning when I awoke he had already started the fire, and he was heating water, and he had Peruvian instant coffee which tasted better than American instant. We definitely had not paid him enough. We would have to give him a tip. We were going to leave our hut behind. We were going to a waterfall and to a different hikers hut.

The waterfall came suddenly before us. I had been listening for it, but its call blended in with the noises of the forest. Once upon it. we could hear the slight hush of the water. I stood in the spray which was springing through the warm air. We would not catch fish in this water, but out of his magic pack, Jorge pulled a bag of raisins. I sat on a rock in the middle of the stream and ate my snack. Jeff ate a chocolate bar - a Snickers, how American. Jorge had a bathing suit under his clothes, After unpeeling his extra layers of clothing he sunk into the water. He then stretched out on my rock and slept until he was reasonably dry. I took photos of the waterfall as he slept. Jeff was silently sketching pictures of our surroundings. There was no room on my rock but he appeared content in his sunny spot on the edge of the water. I went back to my rock and joined Jorge in sleep. Jorge woke me from my sleep something about the sun. Time to go. I wanted to sleep longer but knew we did not want to be without shelter when the sun fell

This hut was slightly larger than the previous one. the routine was pretty much the same, wood, fire, and dinner. The fire was outside the hut so it did not provide warmth as we slept. We looked at Jeff's drawings. They were good. His sketches were always good. very realistic and warming. I could feel the sun just looking at them. Tomorrow we would be returning to civilization. I smiled, not really missing the constant barrage of news and messages over the internet..

Again Jorge woke up before us and made the coffee. he was humming. He was eager to get back and see his wife and son. I wished I felt the same excitement. He said that last night he had seen a macaw. I expressed my surprise. I thought they were very rare. He had seen her here once before. He had named her the goddess. She was a brilliant yellow. I felt a little jealous. I wanted this experience. I listened as we prepare to leave, As we headed out of the clearing, I thought I saw above me a glow of yellow. I caught my breath. It appeared that the Goddess was escorting us out of the haven. We pretended to ignore her. Hoping to make her feel safe. She seemed to be alone. I wondered if she was guarding young ones. As the forest thinned we saw glimpses of her more often. And then suddenly there was a flutter. She was flying out of the woods ahead of us. I was too in awe to grab my camera and yet it is one picture I will never forget. Walking back into civilization I felt lost. Was I lost in a maze of noise and confusion? I was less lost in the forest than the life that I was about to step right into. We gave Jorge a tip and returned to our hotel. Our charged laptops were awaiting us. I downloaded my photos, Jeff uploaded his drawings. I felt the routine returning. I was slowly finding my belongings.

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