DIARY OF LUCAS ESCUDERO - ARCHEOLOGY STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF MADRID
June 15th, 1957
I still can't believe it! The university finally decided to finance my grandfather's trip to the Amazon rainforest! The truth is I have no idea how he managed to convince the council, but they finally accepted. So many years of waiting were worth it. My dream will finally come true! I can't wait to unearth the mysteries and wonders that such enigmatic place hides. I know it's risky and dangerous, but I really want to do it. Dad, wherever you are, I hope you're proud of me. And from this moment I can assure you: Grandpa and I will make the greatest discovery of all! I promise!
July 6th
I'm ready. I've been waiting for this moment all my life... today I will travel with Grandpa to Peru! I'm happy to know that I'm now part of a professional research team. I can't contain the excitement! Oh, and best of all, Dr. Isabel will be with us too. She has always been there for me and Grandpa. I cannot thank her enough for all she has done for us. The only thing I don't agree with is that Grandpa has decided to bring that asshole Marco too. I don't know what he sees in that guy... anyway, our plane is leaving in a few hours. This is gonna be an unforgettable journey!
July 8th
And here we are! We arrived in Puerto Maldonado yesterday. Trip was quite long tho, I could hardly sleep. Never thought it would exhaust me so much. But I know well that it's a necessary sacrifice. I can't turn back now... no seriously, I literally can't. I must say that I'm amazed by the beauty of this place and the hospitality of its people! The truth is, I wouldn't mind staying here forever! And then this happened: while I was accompanying my grandfather to find a professional guide for the expedition, we met this dark-skinned girl named Zé Correa. She is an interpreter of indigenous languages. And to think she's only a couple of years older than me. And she is quite beautiful to say the least! She will lead us with a jungle tribe that will show us the way to our destination... Mura Nunka. I can't wait for tomorrow!
July 9th
The expedition has officially started! At this moment we are sailing through the Madre de Dios river in direction of the place that miss Zé mentioned. I think Grandpa hired the right people. Mr. Mondelez and his crew seem to be very experienced people! Although there is still something I don't understand... before leaving, another team of scientists led by some guy called Dr. Foucault joined us. I heard Grandpa talking with them. I think they study rocks or something. I had no idea that we would have more colleagues on this trip. Anyway, this place is wonderful! All the books I read in school fall short with the real thing. This is truly the paradise on earth...
July 10th
Today we finally disembarked in the jungle. And after a while, we were greeted by the Huaorani tribe. They gave us a very friendly welcome with a great feast of exotic food and a drink called Ayahuasca. I am amazed by the simple life that people have here. Ms. Zé was very kind to translate us everything that the natives told us: they talked about their society, their beliefs and even their relationship with other tribes. But what most caught my attention were the legends... I was fascinated like a child while writing down the names of so many deities and mythological creatures that even my wrist hurts from so much writing!
July 13th
A couple of days ago we left for Mura Nunka. The camp has now been completely established and the research team has already traced a route based on the directions given to us by the Huaorani. Grandpa and Dr. Isabel are very excited! However, for some reason, I'm starting to get second thoughts about this trip... I've been having a hard time trying to sleep, knowing that we're in the middle of nowhere. The insects in this place scare me so much, and we are in constant danger of running into some wild creature. Marco took me by surprise and told me that I'm a crybaby. For God's sake, I don't know why that idiot is with us. I'm starting to doubt if this is really what I wanted... what if something bad happens? Easy Lucas, easy... think positive...
July 14th
An incident occurred today. A scout of Mr. Mondelez's crew was bitten by a snake in the hand. I thought they would give him an antivenom to cure him, but my surprise was huge when Mr. Mondelez ordered his hand to be amputated. And so they did... his hand turned black in a matter of seconds... sweet Jesus.
I froze at the grotesque scene. My fear just got bigger. My opinion of this place has changed completely. I feel like we are in danger at all times. I won't be able to see this place with the same eyes again...
July 17th
We've been wandering in all directions for two days and haven't found a single trace of Mura Nunka anywhere. I'm starting to doubt the existence of that place... I mean, a fucking temple of a long lost civilization should be obvious to the eye, right? But wherever you look, it's always the same... green. Miles and miles of green. What if the Huaorani lied to us? I don't wanna say anything to my grandfather because I don't want him to be sad or disappointed of me, but I think we're just wasting our time. Rations are running out quickly and at night I can't help but feel this horrible feeling that someone or something is watching us...
July 19th
I'm still in shock... Grandpa and a group of scouts got lost today while helping him find the way to Mura Nunka. Mr. Mondelez has already sent a search team and reported the incident to the Puerto Maldonado authorities by radio. Fortunately, a few hours later they found my grandfather safe and sound. It scared me to death. For a moment I thought that I would never see him again... miss Zé said this isn't normal. She lived in the jungle during her childhood with her tribe and said that the "will" of the allmother is more relentless than ever... what the hell does that even mean!? Dr. Isabel and our team are feeling very nervous and have suggested withdrawing if the scouts don't show up within the next 24 hours. On the other hand, I'm relieved to know that we will be leaving this place tomorrow, but something inside my heart tells me that... no no, I don't want to think about that. Grandpa and I will be returning home soon.
July 20th
This is a nightmare... we were attacked by a group of huge cats during the night... I had never seen felines of such size... the screams of our colleagues and the gunshots... my God. I tried to hold my grandfather's hand... but I couldn't. One of them chased me... I had to run... I had never run so fast in my life... managed to escape... but now I'm alone. There's sunlight right now... but I don't know where I am... where are you Grandpa...?
July 21st
Tried to follow my own tracks and made it to the camp... it was horrible... bodies everywhere... bloodshed... I looked for my grandfather and Dr. Isabel... but they weren't there. That means they're still alive... right? They escaped... yeah, surely they managed to escape! I couldn't find my backpack, but at least I have my knife and some rations, but now I don't know where to go... I don't know what to do... I'll try to find them...
July 24th
I've been walking aimlessly for days... sleeping wherever I can. The day is so hot... the nights are cold... I'm exhausted... I don't have any more tears left to cry... and just ran out of supplies... shit.
July 26th
I got to the river... I'm starving. Almost drowned trying to catch a fish... I had to eat some disgusting fruits to keep me from fainting... I'm fed up... I don't know why I'm still doing this... I try to scream as loud as I can, but nobody hears me... this place is hell... a green hell...
July 30th
I felt something was watching me during night again. I just want this to end... I can't take it anymore... if I'm going to die here, someone please kill me once and for all... if someone finds this, I want you to know that...
No no no no, never! God, I don't even know what I'm writing anymore...
Grandpa... dad... please forgive me...
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