“We understand that, but—”
“No!” He found himself on his feet, his chair skittering across the cement behind him. “They’re dead. All dead!”
Professor Kouwe reached to place a restraining hand on his elbow. “Nathan…”
He shook his arm free. He remembered that call as if it were yesterday. He had been finishing up his doctoral thesis at Harvard. He had taken the next plane down to Brazil and joined the search for the vanished team. Memories flowed through him as he stood in the warehouse—the blinding fear, the anger, the frustration. After the searches were called off, he had refused to give up. He couldn’t! He had pleaded with Tellux Pharmaceuticals to help continue the search privately. Tellux had been a co-sponsor, along with Eco-tek, in this venture. The ten-year goal: to conduct a census of the current populations of indigenous tribes and begin a systematic cataloging of their medicinal knowledge before such information was lost forever. But Tellux had refused Nate’s request for assistance. The corporation had supported the conclusion that the team either had been killed by a tribe of hostile Indians or had stumbled upon a camp of drug traffickers.
Nate had not. Over the next year, he spent millions continuing the search, beating the bush for any sign, clue, inkling of what had become of his father. It was a financial black hole into which he poured Eco-tek’s assets, further destabilizing his father’s company. Eco-tek had already taken a devastating hit on Wall Street, its stock value plummeting after the loss of its CEO in the jungle. Eventually, the well ran dry. Tellux made a run for his father’s company in a hostile takeover bid. Nate was too wounded, tired, and heartsore to fight. Eco-tek and its assets, including Nathan himself, became beholden to the multinational corporation.
What followed was an even blacker period of his life, a hazy blur of alcohol, drugs, and disillusionment. It was only with the help of friends like Professor Kouwe and Manny Azevedo that he had ever found himself again. In the jungles, he found the pain was less severe. He discovered he could survive a day, then another. He plodded his way as best he could, continuing his father’s work with the Indians, financed on a pittance from Tellux.
Until now. “They’re dead!” he repeated, sagging toward the table. “After so long, there’s no hope of ever discovering what happened to my father.”
Nathan felt Kelly’s penetrating emerald eyes on him as she waited for him to compose himself. Finally, she spoke. “Do you know Gerald Wallace Clark?”
Opening his mouth to say no, Nathan suddenly recognized the name. He had been a member of his father’s team. Nathan licked his lips. “Yes. He was a former soldier. He headed the expedition’s five-man weapons team.”
Kelly took a deep breath. “Twelve days ago, Gerald Wallace Clark walked out of the jungle.”
Nate’s eyes grew wide.
“Damn,” Manny said beside him.
Professor Kouwe had retrieved Nate’s toppled chair and now helped guide him down to his seat.
Kelly continued, “Unfortunately, Gerald Clark died at a missionary settlement before he could indicate where he had come from. The goal of our operation is to backtrack this latest trail to find out what happened. We were hoping that as the son of Carl Rand, you’d be interested in cooperating with our search.”
A silence descended over the table.
Frank cleared his throat, adding, “Dr. Rand, not only are you an expert on the jungle and its indigenous tribes, but you also knew your father and his team better than anyone. Such knowledge could prove an asset during this deep-jungle search.”
Nathan was still too stunned to speak or answer. Professor Kouwe was not. He spoke calmly. “I can see why Tellux Pharmaceuticals is invested in this matter.” Kouwe nodded to Richard Zane, who smiled back at the professor. “They were never one to pass up a chance to profit from another’s tragedy.”
Zane’s smile soured.
Kouwe continued, now turning his attention to Frank and Kelly. “But why is this matter of interest to the CIA’s Environmental Center? And what’s the rationale for assigning an Army Ranger unit to the mission?” He turned to the military man, raising a single eyebrow. “Would either of you two or the captain here wish to elaborate?”
Frank’s brow wrinkled at the quick and piercing assessment from the professor. Kelly’s eyes sparked.
She answered. “Besides being an ex-soldier and a weapons expert, Gerald Clark was also a CIA operative. He was sent along with the expedition to gather intelligence on the cocaine shipment routes through the rain forest basin.”
Frank glanced quickly at Kelly, as if this bit of information were given a bit too freely.
She ignored her brother and continued. “But any further elaboration will only be given if Dr. Rand agrees to join our operation. Otherwise, additional details will be restricted.”
Kouwe, his eyes bright with warning, glanced to Nathan.
Nate took a deep breath. “If there’s any hope of finding out what happened to my father, then I can’t pass up this chance.” He turned to his two friends. “You both know I can’t.”
Nathan stood and faced the table. “I’ll go.”
Manny shoved out of his chair. “Then I’m going with him.” He faced the others and continued before anyone could object. “I’ve already talked to my superiors in Brasilia. As chief representative of FUNAI here, I have the power at my discretion to place any restrictions or qualifications on this mission.”
Frank nodded. “So we were informed an hour ago. It’s your choice. Either way, you’ll have no objection from me. I read your file. Your background as a biologist could prove useful.”
Next, Professor Kouwe stood up and placed a hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Then perhaps you could use an expert in linguistics also.”
“I appreciate your offer.” Frank waved to the small Asian woman. “But we do have that covered. Dr. Anna Fong is an anthropologist with a specialty in indigenous tribes. She speaks a dozen different dialects.”
Nathan scoffed, “No offense to Dr. Fong, but Professor Kouwe speaks over a hundred and fifty. There is no better expert in the field.”
Anna spoke up, her voice soft and sweet. “Dr. Rand is most correct. Professor Kouwe is world renowned for his knowledge of the Amazon’s indigenous tribes. It would be a privilege to have his cooperation.”
“And it seems,” Kelly added with a respectful nod toward the older man, “the good professor is also a distinguished expert on botanical medicines and jungle diseases.”