Page 16 of Green Ravens

He let Sawyer have a minute to take in all that was around him.

The Amazon transformed into a different place during the day. Even the temperature was the opposite. The air was thicker, more humid, and the coolness dissipated with each passing minute.

Along with its changes, a host of new species appeared.

Insects of all classes, from butterflies to ants, littered the floor and danced around exotic flowers blooming no matter the season. Long vines hung down like nature’s curtains and would be a nightmare to move through without a twenty-inch blade.

However, when he stood still, it was a breathtaking sight.

The many different orchids and bromeliads could fool an unsuspecting backpacker into thinking this was a garden of serenity and Zen for one to bask carefree in its wonder.

But Oakley knew what it really was.

Death in disguise. One of Earth’s most dangerous environments that could kill a person within six hours. This was no place for sightseeing.

He pulled out his compass and pointed them in the direction opposite the river.

“This way.”

“Hold up, I gotta piss first.”

Sawyer walked a few feet away and undid his pants.

“Hey, don’t leave your junk out too long. There’s tons of micro-shit in the air and on the ground that love to burrow into any orifice.”

“What the fuck?” Sawyer scrambled, yanking his pants up.

Oakley chuckled. He didn’t know if Sawyer had even finished.

“Just a little FYI, Chief. Come on. Let’s hump.”

Oakley removed his tactical blade from within his boot and flipped it open. He’d kill for a machete right now, but something was better than nothing.

Sawyer allowed him to take the lead and followed him closely, this time without having to be told. And when he swatted at wasps and nagging mosquitos, he didn’t holler out or curse.

Good. Oakley hated complainers.

After a couple of hours, Oakley paused when he came across several bushes of Ageratum. He cut a decent-sized palm tree leaf, used some of the thinner strands to wrap chunks of the bright-lavender powder puff flowers around it, and gave it to Sawyer.

“Here, use this to swat away the insects. It’s a natural repellent. It’s not as good as lemongrass or sage…but trust me, it works.

“I do trust you,” he whispered, taking the leaf with appreciation gleaming in his light eyes.

Oakley tried not to get lost in them.

Sawyer was turning out to be the kind of man he not only admired but was very attracted to. His liking for him surpassed the triviality of looks and body type and moved toward personality, strength, and capability.

They walked at a moderate pace—Oakley didn’t want to overwhelm Sawyer, knowing he wouldn’t ask him to slow down—for another half hour before he caught sight of a rainbow boa balanced on the wide root of a walking palm.

He’d been easy to spot with his multicolored scales shimmering like polished emeralds.

And here he thought they would have to eat snails or frog legs for breakfast.

“Chief, look south-southeast.”

Sawyer stopped waving his makeshift flyswatter and whipped around in the other direction.

After scanning the area, he muttered, “What am I looking for?”

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