“Who is she, Rio? Where’d she come from?” Drake asked.

Rio shrugged. “I don’t know. She doesn’t talk about herself very much.” He rubbed his hands together and looked out into the darkened interior of the forest. “I remember her. I remember everything about her. Sometimes when I’m with her, I can’t tell the difference between the past and the present.”

“Does she remember you?”

“I think she does sometimes. I see it in her eyes. And she admits to being just as confused as I am.”

Rio shoved both hands through his hair. “What have you heard, Kim? Did anyone in the camp give you any information on her?”

“I’m sorry, Rio. They want that money and they’ll turn the forest inside out to get it. Whoever is offering the reward wants her badly.”

“She said they wanted her dead,” Rio admitted, “but nothing else. She didn’t say why and she obviously believes they’ll keep coming.”

“Anyone offering a million dollars is serious,” Drake concluded.

Kim shook his head. “Not dead, Rio. They are not to kill her. If she is har med in any way, the reward will not be paid. I heard Tomas talking to his men. He repeated it several times. They are not to harm her.”

The wind blew steadily through the leaves, turning them from dark to silver as the rays of diffused sunlight burst through the canopy. Rio straightened from where he was leaning against the railing, paced restlessly the length of the verandah before returning to stand in front of Kim. “You’re certain of this?”

Kim nodded. “Tomas said she was not to be harmed or they wouldn’t get the money. He was adamant.”

“Rachael said they were tr ying to kill her. Could she be wrong? She said a cobra was put into her room right before they went upriver. And she left the States under false papers in order to disappear because someone wanted her dead.”

“Do you think she’s lying to you?” Drake asked.

Rio paced a second time, turning the idea over in his mind. Finally he shook his head. “I think she believes someone is trying to kill her. And she doesn’t panic easily, so it isn’t hysteria. If Rachael says someone wants her dead, I have to believe her. It’s possible we’re dealing with two separate factions.

Someone is willing to pay a great deal of money to keep her alive. They’re making a big fuss openly, going to the government demanding they find her, and someone else. Someone much quieter who is working to keep her silent. That person is hiring assassins to make certain she doesn’t talk.”

“That’s a jump, Rio,” Drake said.

“I know it is, but it’s possible. I believe her when she says someone is tr ying to kill her. Why would a woman like Rachael try to disappear into the rain forest?”

“She’s close to the Han Vol Dan, Rio. You felt it just as strongly as I did. She’s very close. Maybe it draws our people back to the forest.”

“Maybe. I asked her if she heard those words before and she couldn’t remember. She said they weren’t unfamiliar, yet she had no real knowledge of them.”

“It complicates things,” Drake said. “It’s a dangerous time for ever yone. I’m leaving here tonight. I don’t dare stay around when she’s so close.”

“Did you feel it, Kim? Tama?” Rio asked curiously. “You’ve been around our people many years. I practically grew up with you.”

“I’ve never been close to anyone during the time of the Han Vol Dan,” Kim admitted. “I’ve heard of it, of course. Our elders speak of such things, but to my knowledge, no one other than your people have witnessed such an event.” He looked to his brother for confirmation.

“I know of no one,” Tama said. “But I did feel the pull of the woman. I thought it was the close proximity. She is very sensual.”

Rio winced, but he was used to the open, direct nature of his friends. He felt the churning in his stomach, a sure sign of danger. “Yes she is, at least I find her so. It is best if you all leave until this time passes. Drake is right. It’s dangerous to all of us.”

“I’ll leave the radio, Rio. We can scout around, pick up the trail, and when we have something, we’ll let you know. You won’t be able to leave her unless this time passes.”

“We run the mission the way we always run it,” Rio objected. “If we start changing things, someone is going to get killed. Let me know as soon as you have something and I’ll be there.”

Kim and Tama rose together as if in silent communication. Drake stepped off the verandah to the wide branch.

“Give my regards to your father, Kim,” Rio said. “May all the magic of the forest be with you and may fortune be your companion as you travel.”

“Good hunting to you always,” Tama replied.

“Stay aler t, Rio,” Drake added as the two tribesmen descended carefully to the forest floor. “I’ll put out the word about the leopard, but you know he’ll be back if he took a contract. It is ingrained in us to never stop. You’ll have to kill him.”

“Damn it, Drake, don’t you think I know that?”

“I know how you are. I just want you to watch your back.”

Rio nodded. “You don’t have to worry about me. Say hello to the others.”

“You going to bring Rachael to meet everyone soon?”

“I want to give her time to adjust. Time for us to adjust.” Rio hesitated. “I haven’t been around anyone for more than a couple of hours at a time. Even within the unit, I work alone. I don’t know if I can fit someone into my life and make it work.”