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Ga The woman looked at her in surprise, and, after a moment’s hesitation, she took the proffered hand

“Nice to meet you, Tessa My name is Gamay, and this is my husband, Paul”

The fleeting ghost of a s that Dieter would make Tessa pay for it later if she pushed too far, Gamay nodded and sat down Tessa stepped back to where she had been standing

Dieter covered his annoyance with a meaty smile “Now that I have answered your questionsthe purpose of your arduous trip?”

Paul leaned forward onto the table and looked up over the top of his nonexistent glasses “The body of an Indian caout canoe”

Dieter spread his hands “The rain forest can be dangerous, and its inhabi

tants are only one generation reery A dead Indian is not unusual, I am sorry to say”

“This one was,” Paul replied “He was shot”

“Shot?”

“There’s more He was a Chulo”

“That is serious,” Dieter said with a shake of his jowls “Anything to do with the ghost-spirits means trouble”

“Dr Ramirez mentioned that the tribe is led by a woman,” Gamay said

“Ah, you’ve heard the legends Very colorful, yes? Of course I have heard of this oddess-chief, but I have never had the pleasure ofher”

Gamay asked, “Have you ever run into members of the tribe?”

“I have no firsthand knowledge of them, but there are the stories”