The three were headed towards the exit of the airport. The idea was to take a taxi to the train station and wait for the train to Ouro Preto do Oeste. Halfway there, however, they were approached by Captain Barthel. He was accompanied by two other officials, even larger than himself, but dark-skinned, with short black hair.

“Hello, Professor! I hope you've had a good trip.”

Something in his voice revealed urgency. Without greeting the kids and taking the Professor by the arm in a kind but firm manner, he added, “There has been a small change of plans. You won't need to take this afternoon's train. We're going in an aeronautic plane. Come with me, please.”

Professor José Antônio looked very deep in the officer's blue eyes and realized he had no alternative. He grasped the suitcase's handle tighter as he accompanied the Captain's stride. The kids followed right behind, watched closely by the other two officials.

“What is going on, Captain?” the Professor muttered.

“Not here. Let's go,” and he quickened his pace.

Airu then remembered she was still wearing the hoop the Professor was so jealous of, but she thought she'd better not say anything in front of those strangers. Her instincts were yelling so loud that her head began to ache.

Upon leaving the airport, they were struck hard by the Cuiabá sun. Túlio was who felt the heat the most and his eyesight became cloudy. Airu, on the other hand, grinned, closing her eyes and feeling on her skin the strong sunlight she liked so much.

Two cars were waiting for them. The officials who were with Captain Barthel quickly got in the one at the back, while the kids, the Professor, and the Captain himself got in the front one. Both were olive green, denoting belonging to the Imperial Army. They were high luxury Gurgel models with more than enough space for three people on the rear seat, but it was noticeable they had been modified — the glasses were doubled, bulletproof, and there probably were thick steel plates between the body and the interior. The cool breeze of the air conditioner was a huge relief for Túlio.

Barely had the car started up, Captain Barthel turned to the three with a very serious look and said slowly, “We are at war.”

The three looked at each other, not grasping the gravity of the situation right away. Túlio thought of the Colonel. He should be happy (…it's in war that men are forged…).

Before everyone's silence, the Captain continued, “As you know, for a while already we've been having a dispute with Germania. Since the end of the Great War, we have imposed an annual fee on the commerce of sugar, a purchase obligation that is part of the war booty. But they have been insisting in not fulfilling the agreement. Besides, there's the old rubber case… unfortunately, there was no way to recover the market, after they took our seeds…”

The Professor, adjusting his hat, said calmly, “Captain… you don't want to make us believe that Germania would start a war against the largest Empire in the world because of bags of sugar and a tantrum over sixty years old.”

“Well, Professor, wars have already been started for far less. But you are right, there are other… factors… involved. What I'm about to say here is highly confidential.”

Túlio felt his stomach twist. In a way, it was lucky there was already nothing to come out of it. He was focused on the conversation and didn't see it when the cars passed by the Empire's Geodesic Center marker, which had been renamed “Geodesic Center of the Americas” after someone remembered there were African colonies to be accounted for.

“Germania has been refusing to accept our sugar cargo ships for months. They also haven't paid their debt installments nor the War's booty fees. Obviously, that is an affront with the sole goal of making us initiate hostilities.

“An hour ago, our ambassador left Berlin after phoning the Emperor and communicating that all of the embassy's employees had been arrested. He managed to run away with the help of an Italian friend who… deals with those theater things, it seems… and arranged him a wig and a dress, besides some proper makeup, perfect to the point of fooling the Germanic guards. He is on his way to the Vatican now.

“The Vice-United Kingdom of Portugal and Spain is dislocating all troops to the frontier with France, and the Strait of Gibraltar will be closed at midnight. All troops in the African colonies, from Marrakesh to Tunis, are at the ready.”

“But what were the terms, Captain? What does Germania want?” Airu asked.

The question met no answer, as if Airu simply didn't exist. The Captain was looking only at the Professor and at Túlio.

As you know, Germania can't have a war marine, but our informants are certain they have turned almost all merchant ships into war units. Besides, there are alerts of new types of weapons… weapons against which we have no defense.”

The Professor, anxious, asked, “Captain, please… after all, what were the terms? How was the declaration of war?”

The Captain couldn't hold back a nervous laugh and a blink of eyes.

“They want part of the Empire's territory.”

“But what the Hell, man, spill the beans! What part? The African colonies?”

“They want… the Amazon Forest Area!”