Amazon Burning (A James Acton Thriller, #10) Read Online Free

that lived closer to the
great river.
    The
Spirit People.
    And
there was one thing they all agreed upon.
    Never
approach these strange creatures, and never be seen by them.
    Lest
death befall you.
    It was
believed they were from the next life, the one after this, when the great
Mother reclaimed her children and rewarded them with everlasting life. Some
believed that was a life of joy on the Mother River, others believed it was in
the sky at the firesides that twinkled in the night. Tuk wasn’t sure what to
believe, but he did believe in prudence.
    He rose
slightly and stepped back into the forest, abandoning his perch at the side a
small inlet of calm water and pleasant shade. The cool breeze that had at one
moment helped keep the bugs away now carried curious smells, and sounds that
continued to get louder.
    Laughter.
    Several
people were talking and laughing, their voices carrying across the water, and
as his curiosity overcame his fear, he edged forward, peering around a large
tree as the oddest looking boat he had ever seen came around a bend in the
river. It was massive, at least the length of five men if not ten. And tall,
rising out of the water higher than the tallest building in their village.
    It was
completely white, as white as the eyes in his head, and seemed to be moving
without any sign of oars, the only way he knew to propel a boat, though he was
no expert, his own tribe rarely venturing this far.
    He heard
a woman’s laugh, it so casual and genuine, it lifted his soured spirits. He
peered across the water and finally caught sight of the source of such a
beautiful sound.
    A woman
whiter than any he had ever seen.
    And more
uniquely beautiful than he could have ever dreamed.
    And in
that very instance, he knew he had to possess her.
    Somebody
on the boat yelled and pointed to his position. Tuk’s heart leapt into his
throat and he plunged back in the woods as the boat turned toward him.
     
     

 
     

    Rio Negro, Northern Amazon, Brazil
Present Day
     
    “What is it?” asked Laura as they jumped to their feet, all eyes on
the shore.
    “I saw
someone, or at least I think I did.” Acton had to admit he wasn’t sure. It was
more of a shape, small, slight, sort of reddish brown. As soon as he had
pointed it had disappeared. “It must have been an animal.”
    “Are you
sure?” Reading sounded concerned. “Perhaps we should find another place to
weigh anchor.”
    Acton
shook his head, motioning toward the western horizon. “The sun’s low already.
The chances of us finding another location like this are slim to none before
nightfall, then we’re stuck in the middle of the river. I’d rather get off the
boat and set up camp where we can stretch our legs.”
    Reading
frowned but acquiesced. Acton suppressed his smile, knowing damned well that
Reading would enjoy any excuse to stay onboard, the eight legged and no legged
creatures he hated in far too great abundance on land for his liking. Even
Acton had to admit to a little bit of trepidation, the insects large, numerous
and exotic in appearance.
    Especially
when they were sitting on your chest staring at you when you woke up, and you
could physically feel them walking away.
    That was
the first night and from then on he made certain the tent was sealed up tight
every instant it was ashore. There had been no more bedtime surprises, but many
campfire ones. He was loving the trip, of that there was no doubt, but he had
to confess he was looking forward to getting home and back into his comfortable
bed.
    Or
Laura’s.
    They
still hadn’t settled on living arrangements, though there hadn’t been much time
since the wedding. After their two week honeymoon, they had split some time
between his house and her flat, then came to Brazil for most of June, and then
straight to this cruise.
    Thank
God it’s summer break!
    The
subject had been avoided the entire time, and Acton wasn’t sure if it was
intentional or not. All he knew was that it would need to be