Page 62 of The Voice of Wild Places
Cornelius shook his head.“I was wrong to say that, and I want you to know I do trust you.And I’m glad you came with us.We both are.”Cornelius glanced at Watt, who nodded.Antônio studied them both for a long moment, then swallowed and looked away.He pushed himself up to standing, and excused himself in favor of hiding away in his hammock.
Cornelius looked at Severino, who simply waved a dismissive hand.He whispered, “Give him time to think.He will come back for food.”
Cornelius’ gut clenched.Sometimes, there wasn’t enough time.Sometimes, certain things couldn’t wait.And the thing was, he’d said what he needed to Antônio, something he should’ve said long before this.But at this point, it felt futile.He wasn't sure why he craved Antônio's respect so much, but he did.
Watt sighed, long and explosive.He was smoking from his pipe, staring up at the sky with a rough pebble rolling between the fingers of his free hand.Unbidden, Cornelius' hand drifted to rest over the stone in his own pocket.
“We don’t have much time left,” Watt said, and Cornelius wondered at how the man could read his mind.
June
Pretty Snake
June6th,1930
The days were long, and tempers shortened as each one passed.One moment everything would be fine, and the next someone was at someone else’s throat.Even Watt had that urge beneath his skin now, begging him to do something brash.Scream at the sky, or claw at the dirt with his hands.Throw Cornelius down for a good fight, or something like that.
After they'd traded cerrado for jungle, the vegetation thickened and trails thinned.Trails that after a couple of days only Severino recognized, for even Antônio was in unfamiliar land now.Severino kept getting too far ahead, and he apologized each time for leaving them behind, but he was clearly getting frustrated.It was subtle, hiding in the pinched lines around his mouth every time he looked back.The closer they got, the more anxious he became.What was he so hard pressed to reach?The site wasn't going anywhere, and they were making good time, all things considered.
Cornelius’ own frustration was not as subtle.He cursed Severino out, never to his face but none too quietly either as they attempted to keep pace with their guide.He picked fights with Antônio every time the young man offered his help, which was often as Cornelius struggled with the terrain.Every once in a while, however, Cornelius relented with a mighty grumble.He never accepted Watt's offers for help or to take a break, which resulted in Watt snapping back at him a few times.Cornelius never argued otherwise when Watt called him a stubborn jackass, though.Watt wanted to know Antônio’s secrets, but was ultimately glad that Cornelius accepted help from someone.Even if that person wasn’t him.
Two weeks after they left Dead Horse Camp, Watt got his chance to satisfy that urge of his calling for trouble.
“It is not safe,” Severino said, slicing a hand through the air.“We are in—”
“I am well aware where we are, Severino, and if I wanted to go trekking a few leagues into Morcegos country I’d agree with you.But I’m only going right over there.I’ll be fine,” Cornelius said, using that placid tone of his which sharpened even the nicest of words into daggers.He had a sack of clothes under his arm, his cane at hand, and a very noticeable .38 tucked into his trousers.That poor cane had been to hell and back, but still held strong.
“I will keep watch,” Antônio offered.
Cornelius shot him a look.“Absolutely not.”
Watt choked on the smoke curling in his lungs, and he wasn’t even the recipient of that glare.His lungs had been protesting for weeks now, all the cigarettes and pipe tobacco was taking its toll on his damaged lungs.His frayed nerves needed something, though.Cornelius hadn't smoked any cannabis for weeks, maybe it was gone for all Watt knew, and he and his companions were dry.A feature that most adventuring parties didn't share and Watt hadn't cared much about it 'till now.He could go for a drink, or two.
Antônio didn’t choke, but he did wither, shoulders curving inwards ever so slightly.He readjusted his hat and walked away, grumbling as he did so.
Severino swelled, a finger raised in Cornelius' direction.“You are—”
Cornelius did not give Severino the satisfaction of finishing his sentence.He stalked off, disappearing between the nearby trees.Watt blinked when he saw Maggie close at the man’s heels.Cornelius frowned down at her, then glanced back at Watt.He hesitated, then continued onwards.They'd settled into a sort of clearing surrounded by hills, vegetation had to be cleared away to make room for their hammocks and gear.It all felt claustrophobic, and Watt fretted for several moments before turning away and joining Antônio near their hammocks.There was no fire tonight, and the evening was especially cold.To reach the site they had to pass between multiple hostile tribes, the same ones theorized to have taken Fawcett captive.Needless to say Severino and Antônio were on edge, likely Cornelius too.
Severino came up behind them, running a hand through his dark hair that had grown lengthy with time.He shook his head.“He doesn’t make things easy, does he?”
Watt turned on his heel, hands balled into fists and feet settling into the proper stance.
Severino put up his hands.
Neither of them spoke, but an entire conversation took place across the small distance between them.It was spoken with shifting weight, tightening fingers, creasing wrinkles.
‘Leave it alone, Severino.’
‘You know I’m right, Watt.He’s got a death wish, and you know it.He's going to get us all hurt because of it.'
Watt took a step closer.He didn’t want to hear it.
“Who’s taking the first watch?”Cornelius asked.He stood a little ways behind Severino with Maggie by his side, his chin thrust defiantly into the air.As if somehow he’d heard the entire thing, and dared them to question his sanity aloud.
Severino turned, and the genuine relief that overcame his shoulders soothed the anger flaring in Watt’s chest.Cornelius noticed the way Severino sagged, and the fight seemed to go out of him too.Cornelius rubbed a hand over his face, dislodging his glasses.He said, “Look, I’m sorry.I just needed to …” Cornelius’ face reddened, and Watt wondered if it was from the way he rubbed at his face, or something else.What had Cornelius been doing in the few minutes he had alone if not changing or relieving himself?
The knuckles of Cornelius’ right hand whitened, his nails digging into the sack of clothes tucked against his side.Watt’s heart leapt to his throat, and when he spoke his voice was thick.“Let’s all just start over, okay?”
