On a street close to the hybrids' house there were only slaves circulating at that time. Most wore ragged, dingy white clothes. Some were shopping for their masters, others were selling their masters' products in the streets.
Some slaves passed by with large sixths on their heads filled with red, yellow, orange or green fruits. Some carried pineapple, others papayas and still others avocado. There was a slave carrying a large barrel of wine on his head. The barrel was resting on the slave's head on a small bundle of reddish cloth and smelling of wine, next to him a slave with a sixth made of black strips filled with cocoa was offering it at the door of one of the houses where a servant servant of the house chose the which seemed to be her mistress's preference.
Normally the events in the nearby streets could be reasonably perceived by the hybrids through their keen sense of smell, such as the smell of wine mixed with the sweat of the same slave who moved his master's wine barrels there almost daily, or the smell of the slave Januária with his sixth made of coconut straws always loaded with pineapple. Or the cunning slave Tião who always managed to sell his cocoa amidst the embarrassed smiles of the servant slaves in the houses.
But this time the daily life of Vila de São Paulo was far from the hybrids' focus of attention. After hearing Alípio's news, they remained silent for a few moments. Mahara bit her lips.
– How much time do we have? – I wanted to know Mahara.
– Four or five months until the military, farmers and miners organize themselves.
– I must return to Gehucht and bring Teunie and Henrique back. However, I must not go empty-handed.
- What you mean? – Alípio asked.
– The Dutch are unarmed and without ammunition. The weapons they had in stock aged and became scrap. There are only one or two weapons in the hands of hunters, even with limited ammunition. It will be carnage. After what happened in the Portuguese's last attempt many years ago, they will not spare children and women. They will be slaughtered.
– Do you intend to carry weapons? - Isa wanted to know.
– Yes. I need your help, Alípio. Put me in touch with a trustworthy mercenary.
– I can do it, but I won't get more involved than that.
Three weeks passed. Mahara closed the deal and the weapons were already on their way. Mahara guided the porters. On the shoulders of the bearers were wooden rods. There were three wooden boxes loaded with weapons and ammunition. At each end of the box there was a rod that rested on a man's shoulder; four men were needed to carry each box.
As soon as they left Vila de São Paulo, the scenery changed to a dense greenish one of foliage and branches that seemed insurmountable. Men went ahead with machetes, making way following Mahara's lead. From the green that surrounded them, all kinds of insects came out and seemed to want to bury them by getting into their hair and clothes.
The porters were slaves and were not used to the harsh life in a jungle. Mahara took a deep breath. It was going to be a long trip...
Far away, near Vilar Holanda, Teunie and Henrique were following a trail when a silver panther appears. It was Marinus.
– Didn't I tell you that I smelled a panther nearby? – Said Henry.
– What are you doing here so far from Vilar and who is this panther boy? Never seen him before? Marinus asked.
– We are arriving from the village of São Paulo. Henrique is Mahara's nephew and heir to the poncho.
Teunie gave a brief summary of the latest events.
– I'm going to Gehucht to visit my father Derrick. I just left the underground city. My blood father and I alternate visiting twice a month. I was on my way when I smelled you coming from far away.
Marinus gave news of Andries and Amber.
– Why are you and your father in the underground city? No one knows you are werepanthers, so why don't you go back to Gehucht? – Teunie questioned.
– We went to the underground city because of Andries, we thought that Amber would need support to help Andries adapt to the underground city, and we were right, you can't imagine how difficult it has been for Andries. He needs all the support we can give.
– I believe he will go to Gehucht ahead of us, Teunie is human and would not be able to accompany us.
– Yes. Now I must go. By the time they reach Gehucht, I should be gone. I will talk to my father about Henrique's stay. It will be an honor to welcome the heir to the poncho.
Marinus left.
The boys advanced through the woods. After three days of travel they arrived in the Dutch village. They saw the first windmill far away behind the treetops. But suddenly their attention turned to the thicket ahead.
A group of capybaras came out at great speed from the dense forest right in front of them, they had to dodge quickly to avoid being run over. Teunie laughed. Too bad it's not lunch time, she said. They had to wait for the horde of capybaras to pass. They were trampling and knocking down everything they came across. They protected themselves by remaining against the tree trunk. A capybara passed by, brushing its fur against Teunie's skin, who could feel its hairy, sweaty body and the wave of heat emanating from it. In the mirrored blackness of the animal's eyes he saw the Windmill reflected.
When the horde passed Teunie looked at the mill and took a deep breath.
– I was already missing. - Said Teunie with his eyes fixed on the mill near the horizon.
When they got closer, Henrique couldn't help but exclaim:
– They are magnificent! I had never seen windmills before.
– They are the heart of Gehucht.
They crossed several bridges and arrived at Derrick.
– Be welcome. Come in. Marinus told me about his friend Henrique. I have room for you, young man. Can you help me with the windmill? Come in, come in. – Derrick said without much polish. The absence of her husband and son in her daily life for so long has rusted her good manners when dealing with others.
– I just came to drop off Henrique, Derrick. I'm going to my father's house.
– Sorry for my bad manners, but loneliness made me forget good manners. Would you like a cup of tea?
– Only if you bring your cookies together. – Teunie loved the cookies Derrick made, they were the best in Gehucht in his opinion.
– Um... I'll bring them, – Derrick said with satisfaction, leaving the room.
– Derrick's cookies are second to none.
After an hour of prose Teunie left them. It was time to go visit her father.
The meeting was fraternal. Teunie let his father know about his plans to permanently reside in Via de São Paulo. There were many protests, but the young boy was unyielding. More than a month has passed since then.
It was nighttime when Mahara appeared at Derrick's residence. She hugged her nephew.
– Go Henrique, bring Teunie and the patriarch. He tells Arnout to call the top authorities he trusts.
– Did something happen, uncle?
- Many things. Go! There is no time to lose.
Arnout arrived at Derrick's mill with some men. Mahara summarized the events.
– Ten kilometers to the south there is a shipment of weapons and ammunition. You must pay them in gold coins.
– Our Village owes you a debt, Mahara. What will you do now?
– We will still discuss this as a family.
Arnout and the men said goodbye. They were alone.
– I was hoping to leave you safe in the underground city, but we don't have time for that. You must return with me, Henrique. This war is not
Our. My priority is to protect you and Teunie. Gehucht is no longer my home.
– I do not want to go. I want to help defend this place. – Said Henry.
– I can't allow that, your parents wouldn't forgive me if something happened to you and neither would I forgive myself. Furthermore, you are the heir to the poncho and need to be protected, I fear for Tuatu's wrath if you are molested.
– Wasn't it you who said that Tuatu comes into this world when panthers roar together? If this only happens every six hundred years then it's to be expected that Tuatu isn't around now.
– I'm not sure of anything. So, we shouldn't take any risks. There is nothing to discuss, you return with me and Teunie.
– Very well, if you don't want me to stay to defend this place, then take me to the underground city. You won't waste much time going with me to the underground, just leave me there in the care of Marinus and his friends and then leave.
Mahara knew she wouldn't be able to persuade the boy to return to Vila de São Paulo, he breathed tiredly.
Teunie, who had not spoken up until then, got up from the bench.
– I fear for my father, Mahara. I don't think I can convince him to come with us to Vila de São Paulo. But I can't leave knowing the danger he's in here.
– Then. It's two against one... – Mahara took a deep breath. He considered the possibilities and made the decision that seemed right to him at the time.
– Henrique and I will go underground and ask for the panthers' help in this war, but if we don't succeed, Teunie must promise me that she will leave with me, with or without her father.
Teunie took a while to respond, but finally:
– He is well. I agree.
– Let's all rest now. I will leave with Henrique at dawn. There's something about the poncho you need to know, Henrique. When in panther form, the poncho can adhere to your skin and become transparent. But it's more than just adhesion, it blends into his skin, becoming part of it. This is how you will carry the poncho wherever you go when you are in panther form.