"The Festival of Fertility finally begins."
As the Festival of Fertility grew closer, the atmosphere in the village was electric. The air was thick with anticipation and the scent of cooking meats filled every corner of Tlacloban. Bonnie lay in the communal hut with the other...
"The names of the girls are announced. Preparations for the Festival begin."
The following morning, Naka-Mur arose at dawn with an unusually somber expression. It was time, at last, to make known the will of the gods to his people and to tell all the Aiwaha which beautiful young women had been...
"Lin makes a life-changing decision. Bonnie's fate is decided."
Harwood and the girls stayed out in the fields for most of the morning. The work kept them all busy, so she had to wait until Tacotl called for a break to go find Naka-Mur and tell him of Bonnie's...
"Bonnie explains her motivations. Metztli finally gets what she wants."
Everyone, even Dr. Harwood, stared at Bonnie in stunned disbelief."You're what?" Richard finally asked, breaking the shocked silence.Bonnie's grin grew wider, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "I'm going to volunteer. Why not? It's not like I've got anything...
"Zolin finally claims Lin Ming. Bonnie announces an unexpected decision."
It took many more attempts before Lin Ming was able to craft a blowgun that even approached the level of quality she was aiming for, and by that time it was late in the afternoon. Filled with helpless frustration and...
"Zolin finally prepares to make his move. Isaiah and Metztli's relationship continues to grow."
While Isaiah was busy getting to know Metztli's children, Dr. Harwood was busy scribbling in her field journal. She'd already filled several of them with notes and observations on the Aiwaha and their language, customs, and culture, and there was...
"Lin contemplates her mysterious suitor. Metztli comes to a decision about Isaiah."
On the other side of the village, Lin Ming sat alone in the hut she shared with the rest of her group and ran her hand across the jaguar pelt over and over. Harwood and the others were off doing...
"Zolin goes hunting. Metztli begins teaching the boys how to hunt."
One of the reasons jaguars were so hard to hunt, Zolin reflected as he padded through the jungle, was that they left nothing in the way of a visible trail. They were like phantoms, appearing to human eyes as if...
"Lin Ming and the others meet the Aiwaha."
PrologueFrom the field journal of Dr. Layla Harwood:I took this photograph (see above) during my first stay with Naka-Mur and his tribe, the Aiwaha. The young woman in it--whose name I never learned--was one of those who willingly volunteered to...
"Lin Ming and her classmates reach the territory of the Aiwaha."
Lin Ming stirred and opened her eyes, uncurling from her sleeping bag like a drowsy kitten. It was still dark outside her little tent, and from what she could hear, no one else in the camp was awake yet. She...