A Jungle Mentality (Days 27-29)

Day 27
In the morning we discovered that something had been gnawing on some of our food during the night. The bites look small-ish so our concern lies strictly with our food disappearing in the night rather than us being eaten in our tents. Our daily routine has become exactly that: routine. And this monotony combined with the isolation is starting to wear us down. Joe seems startled when he catches me talking to myself although both Brian and I have been having great discussions about how we are going to get ourselves out of the jungle.

Day 28
Wake up early before sun-up to an low rumbling practically shaking the ground around our tents. Sounds something like a low-flying jet but the hows and the whys of that theory don't work out. Later at breakfast Joe comments on waking and hearing the same noise.

While working on the cabins with Otobo we discusse some of the conversations he had with the other Huaorani in Bameno. He stated that some of the other men were asking why there were two gringos living with him and his family. He explained that word has gotten around about our continued presence and indicated that some of the other Huaos are jealous about the help he is receiving with his eco-tourism project. Others are just curious about what is afflicting us that makes us want to live in such isolation.

Heavy afternoon rains halt work and Joe and I spend the next several hours playing cards in the house. Daylight seems to extend hours longer than usual and this seemingly bizarre fact coupled with the low rumbling earlier this morning makes my imagination run wild about something going on in The Outside. These weird occurences highlight how out of touch we are with everything that is going on in the world outside of our little sanctuary in the forest.

Right before heading to sleep we hear a rustling near our food table. We investigate with our headlamps and discover a little mouse in the oatmeal, who scurries off. Joe vows to dispatch this mouse on their next meeting.

Day 29
Hardest day of work in awhile--dig all the post-holes for cabin three and cut down and strip all wood for the flooring. The Repeator shows up to the worksite with no intention of helping out. His avoidance of work disgusts Joe and I and I feel sorry for Otobo, who is working so hard to establish something that will benefit his family and although he knows of the leeching his brother does, his hands are tied for familial reasons. Mine are not however, I my restraint hits its limit. I more or less let the Repeator know that WE are working today and that his presence is not welcome if he is not. He leaves not long later and we resume with our labor intensive day.

That night Joe makes good on is blood oath and catches the food thief (the mouse) in the act. He stabs it with his knife and amazingly pins it to table. Joe's teeth bearing and lick lipping during this process unsettles me and I go and hide in my tent to avoid catching the jungle rabies I am convinced he has.