Chapter 10

By morning, the bites on Rafael’s legs felt a little better.

“We might reach the village today. If we’re lucky,” he said.

At noon, Franco looked up the Amazon. He saw a wooden dock. It stuck out into the river.

“Dad!” he cried. “I can see a dock ahead. It looks like the village dock. I think we made it.”

They had been here just days earlier. The Melo family lived here. They got off the boat at this dock.

But something was wrong. Where were the people?

“Nobody’s here,” Antonio said.

“Everyone must have left. They had to escape the ants,” Rafael said. “But they’ll be back. The ants are gone now. Guys, there’s got to be a radio. Let’s spread out. Look around until we find one.”

Antonio found a radio. It took 10 minutes.

Rafael turned on the radio. He made a call. He called his job site.

He tried a few times. Then they heard a voice.

“Rafael, where are you? Are you all right? Your kids all right? We’ve been searching!”

“We’re fine. We’re in a little village. It’s downriver,” Rafael said. “The whole place is deserted. I think they ran from the ants. We’re okay. But we’re hungry!”

“We’ll send the chopper,” the man on the radio said.

Rafael put down the radio. He sighed. He was relieved.

“It looks like the worst is over,” he said. “A chopper will have us out of here. It will be here in a few hours.”

Rafael and his family sat down on a bench. They waited.

The chopper was overhead. The pilot found a place to land.

“Glad everyone’s all right, Rafael,” the pilot said.

“We’ve had an adventure hiking through the jungle,” Rafael said.

“I’ll bet you have,” the pilot replied. “I can’t wait to hear all about it. Parts of the Amazon Queen were found. The boat went over the waterfall. We feared the worst.”

Rafael said, “We all need a hot shower. And a good meal.”

“Hop on board. I’ll get you there,” the pilot said. “And there’s a surprise waiting for you! Mrs. Silva flew in yesterday. She’s been worried sick.”

The chopper flew fast. They arrived. When it was safe, Ana Silva ran to them. She hugged them. Tears streamed down her face.

Walking away from the chopper, Ana turned to Rafael. She said, “What’s your next trip with the kids? Rafael sighed. He knew Ana wanted everyone safe. She wanted everyone back home in the Heights.