Amazon Crash
The five planeteers in their geo-cruiser tumble helplessly through the sky, the thick green jungle below rushing towards them at a frightening speed. Inside there is screaming as everything in the cabin is flung about wildly. Ma-Ti clings tightly to Suchi, as they are tossed about in their seats
"What now?" Wheeler asks, pressing his face against the window.
Suddenly, Kwame looks up. "Linka, use your wind power to catch us."
"Of course." Linka hops from her seat and points to the window. "Wheeler, take out that door!"
"You got it, babe!" Wheeler replies, pointing his ring at the window. "Fire!"
Wheeler's ring glows red and a jet of flame cuts away the door, which flies off of the geo-cruiser. Linka runs over to the window, and holds her fist out, pointing her ring to the ground.
"Wind!" She says, and a tornado forms under the aircraft lifting it and carrying it to a clearing.
"We got this!" Gi says rising her fist in celebration.
"No, the wind is dying. We will still crash into the jungle." Linka says, shaking her head.
"I have an idea. Let's see if I can make us a clearing." Kwame says, leaning out the window and pointing his ring. "Earth!"
From below, new ground appear, slowly creating a large flat area of bare dirt below them. Linka focuses as they fly on for a few more minutes and the wind weakens. The tornado beneath them slowly disappears. Suddenly, THUMP! Everything rattles an shakes as they plunge the last few feet, hitting the ground. Rrr! The sound of bending metal fills the air as the left wing skids in the dirt, folding and twisting. Thump! Thump! Two more thumps shake the geo-cruiser, as they plow into the ground, shaking and turning. Suchi lets out a screech and clings to Ma-Ti, who cries out in panic.
"Hang on guys, it's almost over!" Gi calls out clutching the controls with all her might, as they begin to turn.
Everything rattles and shakes as they hit the trees and finally come to a stop. After a moment, Wheeler, and Kwame unbuckle and climb out onto the wing.
"We're safe, but I don't know how soon we'll be able to fly again." Kwame says, shaking his head. "Grab the backpacks, we'll have to go on foot. I hope we can find the way."
Slowly, the two guys help everyone climb out of the wrecked Geo-cruiser. Ma-Ti hops from the wrecked wing, then catches himself, nervously giggling. For a moment he playfully rubs his bare feet in the soft, rich dirt.
"You okay, Ma-Ti?" Wheeler asks.
The young boy nods, as he stands and looks down. "Just glad to have my feet back on solid ground. I know the feel of this trail; grandfather and I walk it often. I don't think I want to do that again so soon."
Looking around for a moment, they start off on foot. Ma-Ti looks around, but says nothing for the first few minutes. Then, as they reach a small stream, he stops. The young boy gazes around briefly, running his hand along the trees, and sniffing the air.
"How do we stop Greedly now that we're lost?" Wheeler asks.
Ma-Ti walks on a few feet, pausing, and looking. Now he wanders to a nearby tree, rubs one of the leaves, and slowly sniffs at his hand.
"I do not think we are lost!" Ma-Ti finally says. "My village should be this way. Come on!"
"Village? You mean people live all the way out here?"
"Wheeler, more people live in small villages than you think." Kwame says, looking back at him. "I too come from a small village. Stay together my friends, we can't afford to get separated out here."
The five of them hike on for the next hour, following the young boy as he looks around and tries different trails. Soon, they get to a slight hill, leading down towards a large bush covered with berries.
"Are you sure it's this way?" Wheeler asks.
Ma-Ti pauses and looks around for a moment. Gi walks up and stops beside him, looking at the bushes. With a nod, they turn onto a narrow side trail and hike on. Wheeler stops and digs in his backpack for a moment, pulling out a GPS and turning it on.
"Maybe this will tell us where we are going."
"And just what will you put into that? Gi asks. "You need map coordinates or an address to use GPS, Wheeler. We don't know where this village is."
"Ma-Ti does! Say, little buddy, what is the address of this house of yours."
Ma-Ti look back and scratches his head. "What's an address, Wheeler? I use landmarks like rivers, rocks and old trees to find my way home."
"Wheeler, these are indigenous people of the Amazon. They don't even use electricity." Kwame replies, shaking his head. "What makes you think they have street signs in a forest?"
Everyone laughs as his cheeks turn red. They turn onto an open trail, and follow it up a hill to a large Ceiba Tree covered in moss and old vines. For a moment, everyone stops. The youngest member of the group kneels for a moment and studies some tracks in the soft earth. Ma-Ti puckers his lips and makes a whistle that sounds like a bird. Moments later an old man in a brightly colored headdress appears at the top of the long trail and comes running. With a smile and a giggle, he scoops the young boy up in his arms.
"Grandfather!" Ma-Ti calls out.
"Ma-Ti, you are home safe." He says, giving him a hug. "The spirits have called you to do something important, my child. Come and tell me what has happened."
"Grandfather, these are my new friends: Kwame, Gi, Wheeler, and Linka." Ma-Ti says, looking back. "They are here to help. Mother Earth has sent us to save the forest. This is my grandfather, our village Shaman."
"Come, all of you!" the old Shaman says. "I have shelter and food. My grandson, Ma-Ti, says you will help us save our home. Let me tell you about us and about the mining that is destroying our homes."
Quickly, everyone follows the old man to the village. All around are people of all ages going about their business. Opening the door, he welcomes the planeteers into his hut and each takes a spot around the fire. He offers them each some water, as he adds some sticks to the bright flames.
"We are a very simple people. Hunting and fishing with spears, bows, and arrows and homemade knives sustains us. Our food, our clothes, medicine, and homes, all we have comes from this great forest, and its river. We teach our children take no more than you need. For the Kayapo people, this is our home. We have nowhere to go. Once it is gone, we will die too!" The old man explains. "The trouble started some years back. There was great conflict between our people and strangers looking for wealth. Some of my children died, trying to save our homes. It was an honorable sacrifice, but one with a painful price. From it, I got a grandson. He belongs with the spirits, more than with others his age. Ma-Ti is a very simple child of the forest, and keeps few friends. Not long ago, a great metal giant appeared. It crushes our trees and turns the water brown. People here are becoming sick. The great monster tears open Mother Earth, looking for shiny metal. I do not know how to stop this; our spiritual magic has no effect. Soon, our homes and our food will be gone."
"Not if I have my say!" Wheeler says, jumping to his feet. "It's time to find Plunder!"
"You call the monster, Plunder?" The old man asks in amazement. "You have seen him before?"
"Shaman!" Kwame says softly. "This great monster is a machine, made by an evil man. Plunder is not magic; he is a man like you or me. We came to stop him. Ma-Ti was nice enough to bring us to your home. We thank you for allowing us in."
Ma-Ti looks up with tears in his eyes. "I will not lose the only family I have left to someone's greed."
The old man puts his arms around the young boy. "Do not fear, for the spirits have a plan. Mother Earth spirit would not have called my little Ma-Ti unless she was ready to act. Wipe your tears, I will help you."
The young planeteer nods, wrapping his arms around his grandfather.
"Come on Planeteers, grab your backpacks." Kwame says with a wave. "We need to find Plunder and Greedly. Shaman, could you please show us where you first saw this great metal giant? I have a feeling Greedly left us some clues."
"Let's go!" the old man says, getting to his feet and leading the way into the forest.
