Abandoned in the Amazon

Chapter eight

I stopped, frozen in my tracks. Lexis spun around and just stared at him. Then, Lexis started crying. He sat down, put his head between his knees and rocked back and forth.

"Lexis, he may be lying. We have no proof that he is our father." Taking out his picture, Lexis placed it in my hand. I stared at it, looking from Chris to Dad in the picture. Exactly the same, add a few wrinkles in the present Chris. I started crying a little too.

"C'mon guys, lets go back to the village." Agreeing with Chris, we walked back, reaching the Cayme huts as the moon reached its highest point. I was happy, but the dead silence unnerved me.

Poking my head into Mako's hut, I saw three extra people helping.

"No time to talk. Help or get out," Mako said in a worried voice. I knew something was wrong. Mako was never worried!

"Mako, what's wrong?!" I asked.

"An unknown disease has gotten all over the village, and cures sometimes only make it worse. I cannot find a cure that works!" This was impossible! Mako had a cure for everything!

"How bad is-" I was interrupted by shouts of

"White man!"

"Intruder!"

"It will kill us all!"

I ran outside, hoping to calm everyone down.

"Marubos it's ok! He is Chris Cerrera, my father! And this is Lexis Cerrara, my brother." Everyone slowly ceased shouting, leaving only a little boy screaming, "Kill 'em! Rip his guts out!" Until his mother shushed him.

"White men are not always bad. Chris healed me when I was poisoned, and he never once tried to hurt me. He is kind and caring and carries no weapons. All white men may not be like Chris, but I bet most of them are. All I'm asking is for the Marubo to give outsiders a chance, give white men a chance, give us a chance."   

There I was, being bold and brave for once. Expecting cheers  and for everyone to agree, I was surprised when only Amache cheered my speech. Amache! I had totally forgotten about him with all of my family stuff.

Everyone who came up said that I was a traitor for thinking against tribe knowledge and how I should be in exile now. Even Mako agreed! Had he ever even actually liked me? Only the healthy people had been outside. I wonder what the sick people had to say!    

     "Hunter! I need to talk to you!" Chris! Poor guy probably didn't feel welcome. I walked over to him, not sure what to expect.