Page 44 of The Voice of Wild Places

May

Hen House

May12th,1930

They left Cuiabá after a month, and not a moment too soon.Not only were they behind schedule, but Cornelius thought if he had to sleep beside Watt and keep his hands to himself for one more night he might perish.He’d never gone so long without releasing his …frustration, and sharing a room with someone else for three months made self relief impossible, let alone a bed.

Cornelius had a passion for all things that made him feel alive.Alcohol, cigarettes, danger, and a good fuck.Since all he had to cope with life now were cigarettes and danger, he was eager to dive into the latter.

He hadn’t drank since that dreadful night in São Paulo, and while he had plenty of desire to drink more, his will for now was iron clad.His discussions with Watt helped immensely, in fact they helped so much that he was wanting things he could never have.

The time in Cuiabá had been well spent, albeit boring and tiresome.They secured seven mules and the feed and time needed to fatten them up for the journey ahead, playing a game of hurry up and wait while they did so.

Watt spent most of his time sketching and collecting little treasures, namely rocks.Cornelius spent most of his time writing, developing, and watching Watt as he worked.Severino was also an artist, his preferred tool a pen rather than a pencil like Watt.He wrote and sketched the most organized journal entries Cornelius had ever seen, and had quite literally taken notes on his style.

They all sent final letters, exercised daily, and sighted in their guns in the back country.Surprisingly, Cornelius was a better shot than Watt.Cornelius thought to tease him about it, but after seeing the way Watt’s hands shook around the handle of his .44 revolver, he decided against it.

They walked nearly every day, stretching muscles that had gone lax during weeks of travel.Severino joined them as well, and the tension between him and Watt had practically dissipated by now.As had most of the animosity between Cornelius and Watt, although what now existed was an awkward sort of air that neither of them knew what to do with.

They sent back items they would no longer need such as suits, and resupplied as efficiently as possible.Cornelius had taken inventory of both his and Watt’s packs more times than he cared to admit.They contained thus:

Cornelius

2 small diary notebooks

compass

pencils

protractor

ruler

Marble's hunting knife

wrist watch

waterproof belt

2 traveling outfits

extra pair of boots

map

Kodak Eastman

film

powdered developer

two cases of cigarettes

flask

mosquito net

oiled poncho