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Macaturi River glinting in scimitarlike curves through the rainforest far below。
A cough sounded from the forested slopes above them。 It sounded like a human cough； only deeper； throatier。
〃That；〃 said Sally； 〃sounds feline。〃
〃Feline； as in jaguar？〃
〃Yes。〃
They moved side by side through the foliage； palming the leaves and ferns out of the way。 The mountain slopes were curiously silent。 Even the birds had stopped chittering。 A lizard skittered up a trunk。
〃It feels strange up here；〃 said Tom。 〃Unreal。〃
〃It's a cloudforest；〃 said Sally。 〃A high…altitude rainforest。〃 She moved ahead； the rifle at the ready。 Tom fell behind her。
There was another cough： deep and booming。 It was now the only sound in a forest that had bee unnaturally silent。
〃That sounded closer；〃 said Tom。
〃Jaguars are a lot more frightened of us than we are of them；〃 said Sally。
They clambered across a slope covered with giant fallen boulders； squeezing through moss…covered faces of rock； and came out facing a thick stand of bamboo。 Sally moved around it。 Clouds were already pressing down on them； and tendrils of mist drifted through the trees。 The air smelled like wet moss。 The view below them had vanished into whiteness。
Sally paused； raised the gun； waited。
〃What is it？〃 Tom whispered。
〃Up ahead。〃
They crept forward。 In front of them was a second cluster of giant mossy boulders； rolled and piled together； forming a honeyb of dark holes and crawlspaces。
Tom stood behind Sally； waiting。 The mists were rolling in fast； reducing the trees to silhouettes。 The fog sucked the fantastical green from the landscape； turning it a dull bluish gray。
〃There's something moving in those rocks。〃 she whispered。
They waited； crouching。 Tom could feel the mists collecting around him； soaking into his clothes。
After ten long minutes； a head appeared at a rock opening with two bright black eyes； and an animal that looked like a giant guinea pig came sniffing out。
The shot rang out instantly； and the animal squiffed loudly and rolled belly up。
Sally rose； unable to suppress a grin。
〃Nice shooting；〃 Tom said。
〃Thanks。〃
Tom unsheathed his machete and went to examine the animal。
〃I'll go on ahead。〃
Tom nodded and turned over the animal with his shoe。 It was some kind of large rodent； with yellow incisors； round and fat and heavily furred。 He slid out his machete； not at all looking forward to his job。 He sliced it open； scraped and pulled out the guts and internal organs； cut off the paws and head； and skinned it。 There was a strong smell of blood。 As hungry as he was he began to lose his appetite。 He wasn't squeamish…as a vet he'd seen plenty of blood…but he didn't like being part of the killing as opposed to the healing。
He heard another sound； this time a very low growl。 He paused； listening。 It was followed by a dainty series of coughs。 It was hard to tell where they were ing from…somewhere upslope； in the rocks above them。 He sought out Sally with his eyes and located her about twenty yards away； below the rockslide； a slender silhouette moving silently in the mist。 She faded from view。
He quartered the animal and wrapped it up in palm leaves。 It was depressing how little meat there actually was。 It seemed hardly worth it。 Maybe； he thought； Sally would bring down something bigger； like a deer。
As he finished wrapping the meat he heard another sound； a soft and gentle purr； so close that he flinched。 He waited； listening； his whole body tense。 Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream split the forest； trailing off into a hungry growl。 He jumped up； machete in his hand； trying to identify where it came from； but the tree branches and rocks were all bare。 The jaguar was well hidden。
Tom looked downslope to where Sally had vanished into the mists。 He didn't like the fact that the jaguar hadn't gone away after the rifle shot。 Picking up his machete； he left the chopped…up rodent and headed toward where Sally had disappeared。
〃Sally？〃
The jaguar screamed again； and this time it seemed to be right above him。 He instinctively dropped to his knees； machete drawn； but all he could see were moss…draped rocks and disembodied tree trunks。
〃Sally！〃 he called out more loudly。 〃Are you all right？〃
Silence。
He began to run down the slope； his heart in a panic。 〃Sally！〃
A faint voice answered； 〃I'm down here。〃
He continued downhill； slipping and sliding on the wet leaves； sending pebbles rolling down the steep slope。 The mists were getting thicker by the minute。 He heard another set of grunting coughs； behind him； very humanlike in sound。 The animal was pursuing him。
〃Sally！〃
Sally emerged from the mists； carrying the gun； with a scowl on her face。 〃Your shouting caused me to miss a shot。〃
He pulled up short； then slid the machete back into his belt； embarrassed。 〃I was worried； that's all。 I don't like the sound of that jaguar。 It's hunting us。〃
〃Jaguars don't hunt people。〃
〃You heard what my brother said about what happened to his guide。〃
〃Frankly； I don't believe it。〃 She frowned。 〃We might as well go back。 I'm not going to get anything more in this fog anyway。〃
They climbed back to the spot where the body of the rodent had been。 The pieces were gone； leaving a few torn and bloody palm leaves behind。
Sally laughed。 〃That's all he was doing…chasing you away so he could eat our dinner。〃
Tom colored with embarrassment。 〃I wasn't chased away…I came looking for you。〃
〃Don't worry about it；〃 said Sally； 〃I probably would have run； too。〃
Tom noted with irritation the word probably but said nothing。 But he suppressed a tart reply。 He wasn't going to let her bait him anymore。 They started back toward camp； following the trail they had e in on。 As they approached the first rockpile； the jaguar screamed again； the sound oddly clear and crisp in the foggy forest。 Sally stopped； her gun raised。 They waited。 Water drops were collecting and falling off the leaves； filling the forest with a soft pattering sound。
〃He wasn't ahead of us before； Sally。〃
〃You still think he's hunting us？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Nonsense。 He wouldn't be making such a racket if he were。 And besides； he just ate。〃 She smirked at him。
They walked cautiously toward the rocks。 Empty； but with a lot of dark holes and crevasses。
〃Let's play it safe and skirt that rockfall；〃 Tom said。
〃All right。〃
They began climbing uphill； to go around it from above。 The mists were getting thicker。 Tom felt the wetness creeping through his only set of clothes。 He stopped。 There was a soft rustling sound。
Sally paused。
〃Sally； get behind me；〃 Tom said。
〃I've got the gun。 I should be in front。〃
〃Get behind me。〃
〃For heaven's sake。〃 But she got behind him。
He drew his machete and moved forward。 There were trees all around them； crooked trees with low branches hung with moss。 The mists were so thick he could not see their upper reaches。 Tom realized that they were now upwind of the jaguar。 It had moved around them so that it could scent them； even if it could not see them。
〃Sally； I can feel it hunting us。〃
〃It's just curious。〃
Tom froze。 There； about ten yards ahead； was the jaguar； suddenly exposing itself fully to their view。 It was standing on a branch above their path； calmly looking at them； twitching its tail。 Its magnificence took Tom's breath away。
Sally did not raise her gun to shoot； and Tom understood why。 It was impossible to contemplate destroying such a beautiful animal。
After a moment's hesitation the jaguar leapt effortlessly to another tree branch and walked along it； eyeing them the whole time； its muscles rippling under its golden pelt； moving like flowing honey。
〃Look at how beautiful it is；〃 Sally breathed。
It was beautiful。 With a movement of incredible lightness； the animal leapt to another branch； this one closer to them。 There it stopped； slowly sinking down onto its haunches。 It looked at them boldly； utterly unafraid； making no effort to hide； motionless except for the faintest twitching of the tip of its tail。 There was blood on its muzzle。 The look in its eye； Tom thought； was contemptuous。
〃It's not afraid；〃 said Sally。
〃That's because it's never seen a human being before。〃
Tom backed up slowly； and Sally followed suit。 The jaguar remained in its perch watching them； forever watching them； until it disappeared in the shifting mists。
When they got back to camp； Don Alfonso listened to their story about the jaguar； his brown face crinkling with concern。 〃We must be very careful；〃 he said。 〃We must not talk about this animal anymore。 Otherwise； he will follow us to hear what we say。 He is proud and does not like to be spoken ill of。〃
〃I thought that jaguars don't attack humans；〃 Sally said。
Don Alfonso laughed and whacked Sally's knee。 〃That is a good joke。 When he looks at us； what do you think he sees？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃He sees a weak； stupid； slow； perpendicular piece of meat without horns； teeth； or claws。〃
〃Why didn't he attack？〃
〃Like all cats； he likes to play with his food。〃
Sally shuddered。
〃Curandera； it is not pleasant to be eaten by a jaguar。 They eat the tongue first； and not always before you are dead。 Next time