He returned home with his head spinning. He had woken up ready to spend the month alone at home assembling his transcommunicator project and studying for the Imperial Military Academy tests. The most adventure he had expected was hearing the old ladies speak ill of the girls’ short pants in the Church. Now, somehow, he was about to embark to the end of the world with people he didn't know and, what was worse: with a violent indian who broke noses for breakfast!

He passed by Seu Joaquim's bakery and said he would be taking lunch home, he was unwell.

“Oh… that's very normal before a long and unexpected trip…”

“How do you know?”

“In Ouro Preto, we know everything, uai.”

It seemed like only he didn't know about things. And that made him even more restless.

“Don't worry, Túlio. You might as well go outside. Meet other cities, walk around the Empire… when the government says that ‘we are a great nation,’ it's not all wrong.” and he laughed as he hadn't in a long time. “Your father is also going on a mission, so I've set it up with Mariana to come clean everything only once a week. I'll look after the townhouse, as always.”

“He talks more with you than with me.”

“Yes… I know. And I wish it wasn't that way, believe me.”

Túlio felt certain regret in those words. It wasn't recently that he'd started trying to make Seu Joaquim reveal where his relationship with the Colonel came from, but the subject was always diverted. The old man was slicker than piaba, as they said in the old days.

“Here, I brought you a gift. You'll need it there in the Green Hell.”

Túlio took the small package and shook it close to his ear. It was something liquid. He hastened to open it, tearing the paper, and saw a glass bottle of “Mosquito Repellant.” He smiled and thanked Seu Joaquim.

He took the small packed lunch and went down the street to the townhouse. He had to pack his bags and, if he couldn't find something, run to the “new downtown” to shop. The Colonel always left a checkbook and some money for the most urgent necessities, but Túlio was economical — his greatest expenses were the weekly magazines and books, which helped him kill time.

He and Professor José Antônio had agreed to meet early next morning to take the first train. Their destiny was the central airport, where they would board an EMB-1120 four-engine, “Inconfidência,” the latest pearl of the Brazilian aeronautic industry.

Túlio liked airplanes and shared the common feeling, which the magazines insisted on emphasizing every year on Alberto Santos's birthday, that the inventor shouldn't have requested asylum in France and given them the project for his 14-Bis. Today the French, English and Germanics had huge squadrons and constant investment from Embraer was necessary to stay ahead of them in an arms race that was very important for the safety of the Empire.

Despite the rumors about the invention of a new, faster, more economic Germanic propellant, Embraer always emphasized the reliability and robustness of its 12-cylinder engines in “double V” and the superior aerodynamic of the “delta” wings with blades turned backwards. A pride of the Imperial engineering, no doubt.

The “Inconfidência” would take them to Cuiabá, from where they would proceed by train to the base of the army in Ouro Preto do Oeste, the last city before the Amazon Basin Forbidden Human Permanence Forest Area.

The Professor had been very vague when Túlio asked him what exactly he'd be doing in that expedition. And even more vague when the subject was the motive for the expedition: “We'll talk about this at the appropriate time. For now, just think about the adventure!” was the best response he got.

He spent the rest of the afternoon packing a huge bag. In doubt about what to take, he decided to put in everything he could. “There aren't Mesblas in the Amazon,” he thought between amused and desperate.

When he realized it, it was already ten in the afternoon, and he was covered in sweat. He lay down a little, hoping to build up courage to go take a bath. His last thought was: Another day…