the pivotal peru expedition A short story about a thrilling jungle journey WRITTEN BY HOLLY SHEEDY (ILLUSTRATED BY ARLIE BRAGG AND POLLY TURNBULL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN MUNGALL)
The orchestra of birds lured me into their melody, as the sun gleamed down from the heavens, illuminating the vast lush greenery. The Amazon River glistened my reflection back to me, as the water greeted me like an old friend. Adjusting my pith helmet, hitching my khaki knickerbockers and pulling up my straps onto my blue striped shirt, I was fully prepared for the dangers that lay beyond. “Okay Lottie, pass over the map so we can examine it,’’ Father proclaimed, switching into his archaeologist mode. I carefully reached into my satchel and placed the ancient map onto the nearby tree stump. The frail paper was inscribed with the ancient Aztec pictographs from long ago. “Tell me everything, Father,” I asked him, as butterflies of excitement fluttered inside me. “The legend states that Anacaona, the daughter of a Tlatoani, 014
abandoned her role in society and fled to the Amazon rainforest. She started a sanctuary for refugees and outsiders. Recently, I have unlocked some new information, that Anacaona stole the Feathered Serpent Mosaic Mask when she ran away. It was only a month ago that I found the map that leads straight to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, where she is said to have built the temple protecting the artefact inside!” recalled my Father excitedly. I was enthralled by every word he had said, and the anticipation grew like a sunflower. I was pondering this when I felt someone or something’s presence. Two beady mustard eyes glared back at me. My heart skipped a beat as the majestic beast held my gaze, captivating my attention until she took a step forwards, razor teeth snarling. I heard my father take a sharp intake of breath, as I looked down towards the fifty-metre drop into a raging river. The jaguar was only a few metres behind. Every part of me argued about what I was going to say next. I bellowed, “JUMP!”
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