Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

parts of Peru. The jungle had closed around them, at times
     nearly scraping the sides of the two boats chugging upriver. The forest was in constant
     motion, almost as if the very animals were following them. Monkeys stared with great
     round eyes. Colorful macaws fluttered above their heads, darting in and out of the
     tree canopy.
    They were definitely entering the world of the rain forest, the lush jungle of mystery
     that only deepened and became more dangerous with each passing second. The river narrowed,
     and the air grew still with the dark pungent scents of the deep rain forest. She recognized
     the signs. Soon, the river would be impossible to navigate. They would be forced to
     abandon the boats and tramp through the forest on foot. Unlike many places in the
     rain forest where it was easy to walk because very little could live on the forest
     floor without too much light, this area was dense. She’d traveled extensively, but
     the smells and the stillness of this place was a thing she’d found nowhere else on
     earth. Unlike any of her previous visits, this time Riley felt a little claustrophobic.
    “Hey, Mack,” Don called to the other engineer. “What the hell is going on now? I swear
     the jungle is alive.” He gave a nervous laugh as he pointed out the strange way the
     branches dipped down and reached toward them as the boat passed.
    Everyone turned to watch the bank closest to them as a great green wave built, following
     them. Every branch shivered, leaves unfolding and stretching out across the water
     as if seeking to stop their progress upriver. The first boat had passed unscathed,
     but the moment the second boat came close to the bank, the leaves reached for them.
     The stirring was eerie, as if the jungle had really come alive like Don said.
    Riley’s heart dropped. She’d seen the phenomenon many times before. Her mother attracted
     plants everywhere she went. There was no getting around it. The force of the magnet
     in her had never been quite this strong, but the thick foliage along both banks welcomed
     her with opened arms, even grew inches in an attempt to try to touch her. It never
     was good to draw too much attention to oneself in the rain forest around the superstitious
     guides and porters. Riley felt a deep need to protect her mother. She stepped between
     her mother and the bank, gripping the railing with both hands and staring out at the
     unfolding plants with wide, shocked eyes.
    “Wow,” she added to the sudden murmur of conversation. “This is amazing.”
    “It’s creepy,” Mack said, stepping back away from the rail.
    The porters and the guide stared at the reaching plants and trees and then turned
     to look directly at Annabel. They whispered to each other. Riley felt other eyes on
     them. Both Gary and Jubal were looking at her mother as well. Only the three engineers
     stared into the rain forest as it closed in around them.
    The two boats continued upstream, drawing closer to the mountain. Black caimans, giant
     dinosaurs of the past, sunned themselves on the banks, keeping a hungry eye on the
     small boats invading their space. Great clouds of black insects bit every inch of
     exposed skin and got caught in hair and even teeth, this time mosquitoes and other
     bloodsucking bugs. There was nothing to do but endure it. Below them, the dark waters
     grew shallow, slowing progress, and twice, the boat ground to a halt and had to be
     cut free of the tangled reeds reaching out greedily to wrap about the underside of
     the motor and propeller. Each time the unexpected lurch sent everyone aboard sprawling
     across the deck.
    Weston picked himself up with an oath and staggered to the side of the boat to spit
     into the water. “This is ridiculous. Couldn’t you have found another way?” he demanded
     of their guide, Pedro.
    The guide shot him a tense look. “There is no easy way to this place you want to go.”
    Weston rested his butt on the railing as he gave the guide the finger. “I think you’re
     just trying for more money and it’s not going to happen, pal.”
    Pedro muttered something in his language to the two porters.
    This one the jungle can eat, Riley interpreted. She didn’t blame them.
    The guide and porters snickered.
    Weston lit a cigarette and glared out over the dark water. The boat staggered again
     and then, as they were all desperately trying to gain their footing, it gave a huge
     lurch. Weston fell forward, hanging up for one