While they had their coffee (except for Airu, who preferred guarana) a soldier came in a hurry to bring news: “Professor, Captain Barthel has ordered to warn you that the trip will suffer from a small delay. You will leave tomorrow, at seven o'clock. You and the kids will be staying right here, in the officers’ dormitory.” 

The Professor found such a delay strange as a few minutes ago, during the meeting, everyone was in a hurry to leave. “Thank you, soldier. But can you inform me of the motive?” 

“Unfortunately, Professor, the cargo carrier that would be taking you has been assigned to another mission. And it was the only Hercules available here in Cuiabá. But you will not be disappointed with the aircraft reserved for transportation, rest assured.” He said that with an enigmatic smile and walked out as quickly as he had arrived, leaving the three with a suspicious expression on their faces. 

Airu seemed strangely happy: “Well, since we're staying around here, how about you come with me on a walk tonight, Túlio?” 

Túlio couldn't believe what he had just heard. A walk? A nocturnal walk? A nocturnal walk with Airu? He felt his face begin to burn. 

“Uai… sure! Of course! Where are we going?” 

“Oh… around. I'll show you the city. Is that alright, Professor?” 

The Professor, still thinking about the trip's delay, only nodded. 

“We leave at nineteen, so we have time to walk a lot, alright?” 

“All great!” replied Túlio, unable to contain his smile. 

They stood up and walked to the officials’ dormitory. A nap wouldn't be bad, even though Túlio was too excited to take the smile off his face, let alone nap. 

A soldier guarding the entrance to the dormitory showed each one's rooms. On a long corridor with doors on both sides, the Professor and Túlio would stay on the first two on the left, while Airu would stay on the last one, usually reserved to the few female officers. 

She agreed with Túlio to knock on his door at nineteen o'clock and threw him a goodbye kiss. Túlio looked like he wanted to store that moment and stood still for a while with his hand on the doorknob, but without moving, looking at the door of Airu's room. The Professor, laughing one of his loud laughs, said to the boy, “I imagine you'll be dining out. Be careful with the seasoning…” and went inside. Túlio didn't understand, but also didn't try hard to. 

He closed the bedroom door and could see a very simple room — a single bed, already made, resting against the wall. A built-in wardrobe, where he found clean towels and a Bible with the Jesuits’ logo. There was also a small wooden desk with a simple chair, but no pen or paper. On the ceiling, a fan with a hanging lightbulb. 

Over the desk was a tipper window, too high to be looked through. Túlio pulled the lever on the right to let some air in. The bedroom was stuffy and he, who was already suffering with the heat, felt suffocated in there. He stretched out his arm and pulled the string that turned the ceiling fan on. 

He threw his backpack at the bed foot and sat down, thinking about the madness that day was being. Or those days… but soon he remembered the date with Airu later at night, and the smile returned to his lips. “Date…” he stammered. 

He took one of the towels and left the room, decided to take a good shower. He asked the soldier where the bathroom was, and the officer pointed at a sign in the middle of the corridor. “The lady's room is a suite, but the men divide the two bathrooms, one on each side. I think they are available now.” 

The boy thanked him and went to shower. He didn't need to turn the hot water on — for someone who was used to the pleasant climate of the capital, the “COLD” marking on the faucet looked like a joke. 

He stood under the showerhead until his fingers wrinkled. He wanted to avoid every thought, wanted only to feel the water on his body… but it was impossible. Nineteen o'clock, his brain insisted on repeating. 

He dried himself and put on clean clothes. The others were soggy with sweat. He went to his room, determined to try and get some sleep, but those were the longest hours of his life.