Page 41 of The Voice of Wild Places
He ranted about the crocodiles, giving a lecture about the difference between them and alligators.On the third day, a few of the passengers had taken shots at the reptiles, but they all missed.Watt was pleased by this, and Cornelius wore a smug little grin too.Watt would shoot one if he was in danger, but the idea of shooting such an ancient creature from the relative safety of a boat seemed so absurd, and entirely human.
Cornelius delighted in the macaws, always quick to point out the blue and yellow streaks across the sky.The birds were always there, the river boasted everything from kingfishers to finches, cormorants and ducks, toucans, woodpeckers and cardinals.Watt had a hard time keeping track of them all, but he did keep an eye out for a harpy eagle.He’d read about them once and as a young man who was fascinated by Greek myths, he found them intriguing.So far, they eluded him.
Watt was thankful for the distractions, even if he couldn’t talk about things a little more important than the passing world.How was Cornelius doing?How was his mother, his family?Was he homesick?Did he want another hug?
Did he want to go home?
The days were long and boring, cramped and loud.They passed endless marshes and grazing land, which was occasionally interrupted by scrubby forests and banks which descended into sandy playas.Some of them were covered in tiny rocks, but most were sandy and often occupied by Indigenous people.In this region they were the Bororo people, according to Severino.There was wildlife too, but overall the view was by and large mostly the same the entire way throughout.
He’d taken to playing cards with Severino in the morning, and the time was used for Portuguese lessons as well.He’d been studying for over a month now, but it hadn’t been sticking very well.However, learning from a person rather than a book helped his situation immensely.Severino focused on conversational speaking, rather than all the formalities Watt had previously been trying to learn.
According to Severino, if you could carry on a good conversation, or give it your best shot at the very least, you’d get far with most Brazilians.If you could tell a joke, then you’d really be set.Watt had begun to like Severino, or at the very least he didn’t mind his company anymore.The man was humble and knowledgeable, and the only thing he’d done wrong so far was give Cornelius too much attention.Even Watt could begrudgingly admit he’d been ridiculous about it.
Cornelius frequently took shots from the edge of the boat, but of the photographic variety.He focused on people, always incorporating them into the surrounding landscape.On the last day of the trip, he’d taken a photograph of Watt and Severino standing together at the front of the boat, hats on and inches between them.
Watt felt wrong standing there without Cornelius in the picture, and after Cornelius took the shot he called a fellow passenger over to assist with the problem.Cornelius’ face reddened, but he offered the fellow his camera and quickly explained how to use it.He joined them and stood between Watt and Severino, adjusting his hat before tucking his hands into his pockets.He nodded to Severino, then shot Watt a withering look.
“How typical for the photographer not to like having his photo taken,” Watt murmured, fighting a grin.
“It’s just a very valuable piece of equipment,” Cornelius shot back, quiet and whip-quick.Despite his tone, his lip curled upwards.They stared at each other for a moment, then Cornelius winked and turned his attention forward.Watt looked at the camera too, unable to stop smiling.
Watt had never been so happy to see dry land.
They left the wretched ship behind, hauling their luggage to one of the nearby hotels by foot.The air was thick with wet heat and tiny black flies.Sweat dampened Watt’s forehead and he wiped at it with the back of his free hand.The ground was muddy, and although the wet season was technically over the mire had not given way to dust yet.Not all the roads were paved, and the well trodden ground was a mess to say the least.Watt chanced a look at Cornelius.He seemed to be managing well enough with his cane, walking beside Severino while Watt and Maggie took up the rear.
Cuiabá was far more modern than he expected, and he wondered how the Colonel could ever think of this place as a ghost town.They passed a cinema and other venues for entertainment, along with some decent looking stores.Watt made a mental note of them, wanting to stock up on a few things before leaving.The people they passed were mostly of the working class variety, hardened by the land and her troubles, but there were finely dressed gentlemen and ragged drifters present too.
True it wasn’t the peak of modernity, but it was from the backwards place that Fawcett had described.Perhaps a handful of years had done the place wonders.Perhaps Fawcett had been looking at it wrong.Walking through the town, he thought of something Severino had said on the ship, quoting Mato Grosso’s former Governor Peixoto in order to describe Cuiabá to them.
'At the end of the world there exists a river; at the end of this river there rises a hill; behind the hill stands Cuiabá.'
It did feel like they were lingering on the precipice at the end of the world, but it wasn’t an ominous feeling.More like they were at the end, and a new beginning was in sight, lingering in the distant and surrounding scrub country.
The hotel Severino brought them to was the one he usually stayed at while in town.It was clean and steadfast in its construction and furnishings, lots of deep reds and nicely lit spaces.The room and board was a bit steep, and non-negotiable.Watt and Cornelius allowed Severino to make the arrangements and when he returned, it was with a slight frown.His dark hair was mussed, and his eyes were ringed with exhaustion.
“They only have one room available, but it does have two beds,” he said, his tone grim yet hopeful.
Watt’s brain short circuited at the obvious math.Someone would have to sleep on the floor, or share a bed with someone else.He opened his mouth to volunteer for the floor, but Cornelius processed faster than he did.He said, “Looks like we’re not the only ones wanting to take advantage of the dry season.Watt and I can share.”He gently elbowed Watt in the stomach.“Like we’re schoolboys again, eh?”
It wasn’t the whole truth, and they both knew it.They hadn’t been schoolboys together when they shared a bed, and Watt didn’t even remember—but he did, didn’t he?
The words slapped Watt across the face, branding him with a memory.Cornelius in Watt’s bed, curled up beside him as he told a feverish Watt a story about the ancient Egyptians.
Watt swallowed.Things weren’t the same anymore, and they both knew that, too.And yet he embraced the terrible idea, because it was clear Cornelius would rather share a bed with Watt than Severino, or have the floor become a factor for anyone.“That’s fine,” he lied, trying very hard not to blush.
Severino was too relieved to notice Watt’s plight.His shoulders lowered and he said, “Good, good.”
They settled into their room and resolved to begin their errands manhã, a concept that Watt had hoped to avoid thus far.According to Fawcett, everything in Brazil was done manhã, which led to days, or even weeks long, delays.But today Watt was happy to embrace the prospect.It was mid-afternoon, and yet it felt like seven at night.
The room was larger than Watt expected, but there was no bathroom.That was in the hall, a large communal one shared with the other guests.The beds were large enough for two people, but two people of Watt and Cornelius’ size were a different story, though.
“Window,” Cornelius said, dropping his luggage onto the bed by the window.It faced the street rather than the bush, but Cornelius opened it and stuck his head outside anyway.
Watt flashed an apologetic smile at Severino, who just chuckled and set his bag on his own bed.“I shall see about a shower.It is early enough, there may not be such a wait.”
Watt set his luggage beside Cornelius’ on their bed.Thebed.Cornelius pulled his head out of the window and grinned at him, hair tousled and glasses askew.“What?”Watt asked.
Cornelius shook his head, but was unable to shake away his smile.“Look,” he said, but only moved away from the window a fraction.
