The Sound of Them: Book One

Lianne

I have to admit, the waterfall was beautiful. I enjoyed watching everyone take pictures and happily enjoying the beauty of nature. I had my sweet moment of looking around and soaking in the scenery. I even went back to the large rock and looked down at the waterfall.

I looked down at everyone that waved up at me. I waved back and looked out at the scenery of the rivers taking over the image in my memories. I look behind me and see a child swimming in the small stream that goes down the rock and turns into a waterfall. I have no idea where he came from, but he swims with such strength as if he comes for a swim every day.

Everyone begins to get out when Brenda announces we will be going to our next stop. Thanks to the beauty around me, I do not get too disappointed when I hear that there is more to our day. I really wish to be in bed. My bones beg me to stop moving and just drop to the nearest rest area. But I push through as I help Crsitina put on the button short sleeve I bought. I knew I wouldn't use it any time soon, so I was happy to let Cristina use it.

She gave me an apologetic smile. "I feel bad for using it first before you do."

I wave her words away and gesture at her to start walking down the path back to the truck. "Don't worry about it. Let's get back."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," I say. I take out my phone and start taking pictures of the forest around me. This convinces her and starts down the path.

I love nature, but not the creatures. I frown at the loud sounds of insects coming from both sides of the path. I wish for Cristina to walk faster, but I keep quiet. I keep my eyes down to watch my feet which already have so many bruises and let out a soft breath of relief when I see the truck from afar.

"That was so much fun, Lianne!" Cristina says as we get back into the truck. "You should have jumped in!"

I give her a small smile and nod. "Next time."

"Next time?" Cristina scoffs. "When are we coming back? We may never be back!"

I give her a scoff and raise my brows. "You're saying you're not coming back with me when we become doctors and have enough money to travel together?"

She lets a smile come back to her face and nods. "That's right. We're coming back and going to Switzerland, too."

"Of course, baby," I say. "It's on our to-do list, is it not?"

We share a sweet smile and Helen hears us from my other side. Her eyes turn thin when she smiles at our conversation. "You two are so cute. You both should visit me in China."

"Oh yeah?" I say. "I would love to go to China! I wish to go to South Korea, too!"

"Japan!" Cristina says. "I hear it's beautiful there in the spring."

"All you two have to do is pay for the tickets. Everything else will be covered by me."

Cristina and I exchange surprised looks. I look back at Helen and say, "Wow. Thanks, unnie!"

She does her sweet laugh and gives me a warm side hug. "Anything for you, Marshmallow."

"Marshmallow?" Cristina says.

Helen nods. "She's so soft. Don't you think?"

"Soft?" I say. "What do you mean?"

"Have you felt your hands?"

I look at my small hands. "I think they're rather dry."

"They are soft," Cristina says to me. "I think it's because you always wear lotion."

Helen nods. "And you have warm hugs. And you're so cute and small. So you are now Marshmallow!"

I let my heart fly with warmth despite my exhaustion. "Marshmallow...I love it!" I give Helen a sweet hug again and she laughs. She is very reserved but she has become quite open with us on this trip.

We start the road to our next stop. I almost think we are going back to the hostel but we get off in front of it. Brenda tells us to start walking down the road across the hostel. Brenda tells us we will be going onto a canoe for an hour across the Napo River. I am quite curious about this new part of the adventure. I'm afraid that it is not a safe boat until we arrive at the small beach. People are on it with dogs and children. Two guys pass by and give our group smirks. I hear one of them say, "The American girls look good today."

I roll my eyes at this comment and Cristina sees my expression. She chuckles and tells me to forget it. We divide into two large groups for each long canoe. Luckily, there is a small roof on the canoe so nothing falls on us. But the wood of the canoe looks old and dirty. I look at the ground as I carefully get on and make sure an insect does not surprise me when I take a seat next to Cristina.

We are instructed to wear the lifevests on each seat and we obey. Dr. C gets on our canoe and says, "No funny business, girls! If you make too much movement we will flip over!" I'm too tired to be nervous. I just look out to the side and watch as we slowly begin down the river.

I think this part has to be my favorite part of my day. I close my eyes at the fresh air making my hair fly back. The canoe is fast, but it is still a long ride across this brown river. The trees look tall and ominous surrounding both sides of the river. Other canoes are out in the river, too, but from locals. There's even a community washing things and fishing on a small piece of land in the middle of the river. They watch us pass by with blank looks even if some girls wave at them.

I join in with the girls on this canoe and take small videos and pictures of the ride. Then I put my phone away in my small bag for fear that I might get clumsy and drop my phone into the river. Suddenly, I hear a small gasp behind me.

I lay my head back and close my eyes for a second. But I jump when I hear the girl behind me say, "Tori! Tori! Your hat! There's something!"

I suddenly see Tori do a small scream and take off her hat. She throws it at my legs and I furrow my brows. Then I hear the girl behind me frantically say, "Your legs! Careful! Careful! There it is!"

I'm so confused. My eyes are wide but I have no idea why I must panic, too. Tori points at my feet and I look for something that will clarify everyone's panic. I look at Cristina.

Her eyes are wide and frantically tells me, "Move your legs, Lianne!"

"What?!"

But before I can think any more, she takes my legs and moves them towards her. My eyes are wide when I see a large spider fall from my feet and I gasp. My blood falls to my feet but I watch Mia sitting in front of me kill the fast spider with a single swift hit of her phone. The spider stops climbing and falls to the ground of the canoe.

I keep my legs up and I look at Cristina with a racing heart. Her eyes look at the ground and study the area before gently telling me, "It's okay. It's dead now."

I hesitate and she gives me a reassuring nod that helps me slowly put my legs back in my area. Dr. C yells at us to keep still or else we will actually flip the boat. The driver also yells at us in Spanish but everyone bursts out laughing. Their laughter and jokes about how Tori knew no one as she threw the hat at me made my heart calm down.

For some reason, I looked at Cristina one last time. She finds my eyes and gives me a warm blink. That's enough for me to look back out at the beautiful scene and feel like one small speck of dust in this foreign land. I close my eyes and find sleep for a moment only.