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‘Kevin?’

‘OK. We’ll go back,’ he answered softly.

Karl got the map out.

‘We’re here, at the juncture of the Ipurama and Tuichi rivers. It’s almost impossible to return to Asriamas; it’s at least a week’s walk. The most logical alternative is to follow the Ipurama upstream. There is a village called Ipurama at the head of the river. It only makes sense that if we follow the river, don’t lose it, we’ll come straight to the village. We can put up a good, sturdy camp and spend three or four days right here. We’ll use up the heavy food: the bananas and the yucca. I’m sure we’ll find game here. When Marcus is able to walk, we’ll start hiking. Within two days at the most we’ll be in Ipurama. There’s a trail from Ipurama to Apolo. We’ll rest up in the village and rent a few donkeys. We’ll ride to Apolo, and from there, no sweat, we’ll catch a plane to La Paz. We’ll be back in less than a week after we leave here.’

‘Are you sure we’ll make it to Ipurama so easily? Has anyone ever taken this route before?’ Kevin asked.

‘Perhaps the villagers have come down here to fish. I don’t know, but even if no one has ever done it before, it couldn’t be simpler. The river will lead us straight to the village –’

‘Take a good look at the map,’ Kevin interrupted him. ‘The river branches out in three different directions. How can you know which one of them the village is on?’