The Amazon’s Lily

The Amazon’s Lily
Rebecca Stark
The troops were moving further away from the coast, feet dragging through the mosaic of tall grass. They were under the cover of the stars, their cameo uniform blending into the surrounding as they were becoming just another shadow in the trees.
“Hurry up. Hike! Come on, men!” Dr. Tony Jenkins was in the lead as they hit the first barrier of trees. He slashed out with his machete, beads of sweat coursing down his stern face. There expedition would last a week in total, they were to get in, get out. All they needed was a picture and a small sample of the, rare flower of the Amazon, which sat hidden within the thicket of the forest.
They had been traveling approximately twelve hours up river, and the heat extinguished during this summer was unremorseful and would sure to bring heavy showers soon. Camp would be set up inland, twenty yards from the river. During the night many animals like to hunt close by so they forted their tents among tees closely clustered together and a fire would be burn throughout the night to ward off any straggling critters from getting to close. Watches would be assigned in pairs, first up was Daniel Newton bio specialist form Cambridge University and Kimiko Yang Grant Director for environmental protection.
Kimiko, “So we meet again Mr. Newton.”
“Oh, have we met before? I don’t think I recall,” his smiled was illuminated by the fire licking at the bugs that swooped to near.
“Maybe you recall the coat closet…I still have that wine stain on my pocket, you know.”
“Yeah…I’m sorry about that.” He ran a hand through the thickness of his black hair.
“Don’t worry about it, my ex gave it to me, never like the thing anyways.”
“That’s a shame it looked good on you.”
She just laughed, taking a drink of water from her canteen.
There voices grew silent in the blackness continuous echoing admitted by the Amazon.
“It’s scary…” Kimiko turned her attention back on Daniel, “ to be out here like this.”
“Yeah…but I always dreamed of an adventure like this, to have a chance to put myself into situations only epic characters can really conquer.”
“Why aren’t you a Hypochondriac.”
Their laughter mingled with the white noise then went silent once more. Their shift ended two hours later, and they retreated back to their individual tents.
Sure enough morning showers were brutal, and the crew had to pack things up in a hurry, before their camp site got flooded. They were maybe uncomfortable in their sodden clothes but once the humidity catches them, it was seem like hell had unburied it’s self.
Kimiko, tied the useless mess of hair into a pony tail slinging her gear onto her back. They were ready to move on to higher ground, they were still really close to the river so the area would soon be flooded with water, if they didn’t move forward now.
Jenkin took the lead again, today they were aiming to make it thirty miles in land towards the heart, this way it would take just another day to get to the flower and then an additional two days to get back to town, and then home.
The Amazon Rain forest is green, and this green takes up 1.2 billion acres, hosting 2.5 million insect and over 2000 different bird and animal species, and a 4,000 long river snaking through this vast territory.

the troop

The troops were moving further away from the coast, feet dragging through the mosaic of tall grass. They were under the cover of the stars, their camo uniform blending into the surrounding, becoming just another shadow in the trees.
“Hurry up. Hike! Come on, men!” The Captain was in the lead, slashing out with his machete, beads of sweat coursing down his stern face.
Their boots hit the edges of a creek, and everything came to a halt as men filled canteens, and wiped there dirty faces. They were exhausted, after landing a few miles from the port of san Marco, but that was not there destination, they would settle with in the forest in North Florida, until given the signal to head forth.
“How are you holding up,” Daniel came to sit beside his comrade, who was tightening his shoe lace.
“Fine…” was the only reply he got from his bald twin companion.
“Well, Joey,” Dan ran a hand across the top of his buzz cut, feeling the hair prickle against his palm, “Did you fill you canteen, it looks like we’re moving again.”
“Yeah, I filled it, so get off my case.” The man stood, stalking off to the front of the pack. Dan followed. Everyone seemed to be very touchy since they last left home, and the idea of not being able to write their families back, has caused anger to flare through some of the troops members, Joey in particular, because he wife seemed to have came down with anemia, and it has been difficult for her to take care of their three small children.
A firm hand fell upon the young man’s shoulder, making him, jump back, holding out fists in front of him. A chuckle broke his defense, as muddy brown eyes twinkled lively, a young smile beaming at Dan.
“But your fist down bud, I didn’t mean to scare ya.”
“That’s what you always say Kyle, but I know, oh I know.”
The handsome Kyle smirked, “What do ya know?”
“I’m not really sure, but I do know who put that snake in your bag the other night.”
“You didn’t.”
“Sure did, caught it myself .” Dan stood proud his chest puffed out.