Tashi Danba and his team first flew to Quito. Since none of them spoke Spanish, they struggled to find a local willing to accompany them as a translator. Eventually, they found a man named Kesa, a mixed-race Indo-European who taught English at a local high school. His modest income made Tashi Danba's offer hard to resist. They chose Kesa because, in addition to Spanish, he was fluent in five regional dialects and had experience translating for foreign adventurers on three previous occasions. However, it was his first time working with Chinese clients.
Unfortunately, Kesa's English proficiency was mediocre—worse than Zhang Li's—so his translations were occasionally clumsy. He had a round, apple-like face that turned shiny and red when he smiled, giving him a doll-like appearance that belied his 46 years. He often bobbed his perfectly oval head when speaking, and his wide mouth paired with a short, narrow chin made him look comical. Standing next to Tashi Danba, Kesa appeared even shorter and plumper. Though dressed in lightweight short-sleeved attire, his resemblance to the heavily bundled comrade Lao Xiao in Kekexili amused Tashi Danba.
Ecuador's customs and airport security were unusually strict, forcing the team to leave most of their equipment back home. Once in Quito, they planned to purchase necessary tools. Tashi Danba handed Kesa a list of items to procure, and Kesa was shocked. The meticulously detailed list contained over 100 items, categorized with astonishing precision.
Kesa helped them buy basic supplies and explained that more specialized tools would be easier to find in Putumayo. The border town's residents frequently stocked jungle survival essentials, such as machetes, crossbows, safety ropes, and foldable shovels. With the right connections, one could even acquire double-barreled shotguns.
After an eight-hour bus ride, they finally reached Putumayo. Contrary to their expectations, the town wasn't enveloped in jungle. Instead, it resembled an ordinary small town with gray brick houses, dusty roads, and modest infrastructure akin to a Chinese county town in the 1980s. Sensing their disappointment, Kesa explained, "The city is developing. Large sections of the rainforest have been cut down, with the timber transported far away for processing and export. In the past, there were no roads; people relied entirely on canoes and jungle trails. But since the discovery of vast oil fields in Colombia's Putumayo province, the government has begun exploring nearby oil reserves. Roads have been built, vehicles flood in, and local residents' lifestyles and cultural values are changing. Only these port towns have seen development. Just ten kilometers outside, you'll find yourself back in the old jungle era. But in a few decades, even those jungles might disappear."
Tashi Danba and his team nodded in understanding. Everyone hopes for a better life, and discussing environmental conservation only comes after basic needs are met.
The team decided to stay in Putumayo for a day, securing lodging and finishing their preparations. If they could get everything done, they would set off the next morning. Their plan was to travel by river to Santa Maria, a route that required occasional stops to set up camp. Kesa made it clear that he would not accompany them beyond Putumayo. His role was strictly as a translator and assistant for purchasing supplies, not as a jungle guide—a job he had no interest in. He explained that his teaching job provided enough to live on, and there was no need to risk his life. When Tashi Danba asked about the dangers of the jungle, Kesa replied, "Exploring that jungle is a deadly venture. Many adventurers have gone down the river from Putumayo, only to vanish forever."
The team was unfazed. As long as they could procure the right tools, they were confident they could navigate the jungle on foot. They hadn't planned to hire a guide, as doing so would eliminate the challenge.
Kesa arranged for them to stay with his friend Holman, a single Indian man in his thirties. It was unclear how Kesa and Holman knew each other, but the two greeted each other warmly, speaking animatedly in Quechua. Kesa told the team that each of them could enjoy a night's stay for $30, with the promise of comfort akin to home. Tashi Danba suspected Kesa saw them as cash cows, ensuring the benefits stayed within his circle.
Once settled, Tashi Danba asked Kesa to help finish their tool shopping. Kesa recommended Holman, who spoke some English, to assist as well. Although Tashi Danba doubted Holman's English was any better than Kesa's, time was pressing. He and Basang formed one team with Kesa, while Zhang Li and Yue Yang teamed up with Holman. They split their shopping list, agreed on a meeting time and location, and set off.
Tashi Danba and Basang's list focused on climbing and forest navigation equipment—safety ropes, harnesses, carabiners, pitons, utility belts, entrenching tools, and zip lines. Zhang Li and Yue Yang were tasked with obtaining weapons, camping gear, emergency supplies, and medicine. While Zhang Li and Yue Yang had to head to the outskirts for weaponry, Tashi Danba and Basang shopped within the town.
Though taciturn, Basang's reserved demeanor and disdain for unnecessary interaction helped keep things calm. Their shopping went smoothly, as Putumayo's frequent adventurers had prompted the establishment of shops specializing in jungle equipment. After packing their tools into mountaineering backpacks, they began the return trip. Along the way, Kesa entertained them with anecdotes about indigenous customs and local sights. His broken English, riddled with grammatical errors, was still comprehensible enough for the team to grasp the gist.
On the way back, Basang suggested they rest at an ice bar. Despite Tashi Danba's reluctance, the two of them carrying gear for four was exhausting in the stifling heat. Ice bars were popular in Ecuador, offering a reprieve from the equatorial heat. They entered a bar, where Kesa ordered cold drinks and shared how even remote jungle tribes now enjoyed Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Tashi Danba favored the Robusta iced coffee, while Basang appreciated a fruit blend featuring dragon fruit, tamarillo, golden berries, and bananas.
Just as they were about to leave, the bar erupted into chaos. Seven or eight burly men shoved an indigenous woman inside. The woman, wearing a light blue sheer dress and matching skirt, exuded an elegant, aristocratic beauty. She shouted angrily at the men, who were shirtless and covered in intricate tribal tattoos. Their copper-toned skin and Central Asian features made them stand out.
Kesa whispered nervously, "They're jungle tribesmen or locals. Best not to provoke them." Before he finished speaking, he saw Tashi Danba already walking toward them.
One of the tribesmen, the largest of the group, stood in front of the woman, arguing with her. Mid-sentence, he raised his hand to strike her, but it was caught mid-air by Tashi Danba's iron grip.
The man turned, his face a canvas of totemic designs. Beneath his eyes were two crescent-shaped red patterns resembling fangs, extending to his mouth, and an abstract jaguar head adorned his forehead. The other tribesmen turned their attention to Tashi Danba, their unique facial tattoos hinting at varying ranks.
The large man grunted something incomprehensible. Kesa hurried over to translate haltingly, "He… he asks… what do you want?"
Tashi Danba replied, "Tell him men should not bully women!" Kesa stammered the message across.
The man grinned, yanked his wrist free, and gestured as he spoke. It was clear to everyone: he was challenging Tashi Danba to a fight. Basang, standing aside, watched coldly, his eyes scanning the group to preempt any ambush.
Kesa opened his mouth several times but failed to translate, clearly at a loss for words. At that moment, the indigenous woman said in fluent American English, "Thank you. Would you dare to compete with him?" Her tone, however, seemed more partial to the indigenous man.
Tashi Danba shook his head slightly and adopted a "bring it on" stance. The indigenous men let out a strange sound, somewhere between laughter and a roar. Seeing the tension rise, the other patrons in the ice bar quickly scattered. Tashi Danba braced himself for a brawl but was surprised when the indigenous man swept aside the bar glasses, placed his elbow on the bar, and motioned for an arm-wrestling match.
Without hesitation, Tashi Danba stepped forward and clasped hands with the man. From their earlier interaction, Tashi Danba had gauged the man's strength, but as the contest began, he realized he had underestimated him. Underprepared and not using his full strength, Tashi Danba quickly found himself at a disadvantage, his arm pressed down at a 45-degree angle. Struggling for a while, he lost the match.
The indigenous men let out another series of strange howls as their companion shook his head slowly. Tashi Danba, unfazed, placed his left elbow on the bar and gestured for another round. The indigenous men exchanged animated whispers before their leader hesitated and extended his left hand. This time, Tashi Danba had the upper hand. Few people had trained both arms for equal strength, and despite the man's efforts, Tashi Danba's left arm held firm, like a steel pillar. Realizing the mismatch, the man released his grip and conceded defeat.
The indigenous man then extended his hand for a handshake, slapped his chest and Tashi Danba's shoulder, and spoke animatedly. Tashi Danba was puzzled by the sudden shift in attitude. The woman explained, "My brother says that in our Kukur tribe, we deeply respect men of strength. He is the strongest warrior in our tribe, but he admires your strength, which surpasses his."
Kesa let out a sigh of relief.
"Your brother?" Tashi Danba was surprised. The woman smiled gracefully. "Yes. We had a disagreement over some family matters. But thank you. Without your intervention, I would have certainly taken that slap."
Only then did Tashi Danba realize it had all been a misunderstanding. He glanced at Basang, whose expression clearly said, Serves you right for meddling. The woman then asked, "My brother says you're here to explore the jungle?"
Tashi Danba replied, "Yes, we plan to travel through the forest."
The woman smiled. "Why not go to Brazil? The jungle there is much larger and safer, with professional guides and well-established tourism." Seeing Tashi Danba's hesitation, she laughed and added, "Just asking. My brother wants you to know that while it's safer to head west along the upstream route, going north, south, or east is far more dangerous."
Introducing herself as Baba-Rabbit and her brother as Honey-Bear Claw, she continued chatting with Tashi Danba, who rarely met such a friendly and English-speaking indigenous person. Through Baba-Rabbit's translation, they talked for a while longer until Basang reminded him of the time. Tashi Danba bid the group farewell, and Baba-Rabbit playfully said, "If you get the chance, you're welcome to visit our tribe." She blushed slightly, as if recalling something, and quickly left.
As they exited the ice bar, they entered a bustling market district where a large crowd had gathered around a nearby clearing. A sharp whistle came from the center of the crowd, drawing Basang's attention. Breaking his usual indifference, he moved toward the commotion, with Tashi Danba following.
In the center was a snake charmer, his face veiled like an Arab but dressed in a simple plaid shirt. A bamboo basket lay in front of him, and the sharp, piercing sound of his flute made a snake rise and sway from the basket. A jungle tree monkey perched on his shoulder, its wide eyes curiously observing the crowd.
The snake was a highly venomous red-ringed coral snake, its rounded head and blunt tail deceptively suggesting it was harmless. Yet Tashi Danba knew it was one of the deadly snakes they had to watch for in the jungle. As the snake mimicked attack postures to the flute's rhythm, Tashi Danba grew uneasy for the spectators. Coral snakes were quick and aggressive, and a single bite could be fatal before reaching a hospital.
The snake charmer paused to pull out a plump white rat, holding it by the tail as bait. The rat, far larger than the snake, trembled in fear, curling into a ball. The coral snake struck like red lightning, biting the rat's back. The charmer then carefully seized the snake's neck, removing it from the rat and tossing the dying rodent aside. Within five seconds, the rat convulsed and went limp, dead.
The crowd gasped, realizing the snake's deadly potential. Unfazed, the charmer extended his hand toward the snake, which slithered up his arm and around his shoulders, seemingly affectionate. The snake coiled near his face, flicking its tongue, while the monkey gleefully clapped. The crowd erupted in applause, but Tashi Danba was deeply unsettled.
The snake charmer soon wrapped up his performance. The monkey descended, held out a bronze plate, and began collecting money. With the snake perched on its head like a hat, the monkey approached spectators, who reluctantly handed over money out of fear or respect.
When the monkey reached Tashi Danba, he reached into his pocket while watching both the snake and the charmer. To his shock, the charmer slowly unveiled his face. His disfigured features were a grotesque tapestry of scars and flesh, with bulging green eyes and a twisted mouth revealing jagged teeth. As the charmer let out a shrill whistle, the coral snake leapt toward Tashi Danba's throat.
In a split second, Tashi Danba leaned back, using his heavy backpack to anchor himself to the ground. Beside him, Basang reacted swiftly, grabbing the snake by the tail and hurling it back at the charmer. The monkey dropped its plate, screeched, and scrambled back onto the charmer's shoulder.
The charmer let out a sinister laugh and sneered, "You're not going anywhere."
Basang translated, "He said we can't escape."
Moments later, a group of thugs advanced from the crowd, armed with chains and metal rods. Realizing they were outnumbered, Tashi Danba and Basang fought back with precision, their training evident. After disabling several attackers, they noticed reinforcements arriving. Deciding not to risk further confrontation, they carried Kesa and retreated.
As they fled, they encountered Baba-Rabbit and her group of indigenous companions, who quickly joined the fight to help. Honey-Bear Claw confronted the snake charmer, shouting about the sacred nature of the coral snake to their tribe. Amid the chaos, Honey-Bear Claw was bitten. The enraged tribe members subdued several attackers but dared not approach the charmer, who exuded an eerie dominance.
After a chaotic skirmish, the tribe retreated, carrying the injured Honey-Bear Claw. Baba-Rabbit anxiously explained, "My brother was bitten by the Red Dragon. We need to treat him immediately."
Tashi Danba handed her a small box of snakebite cream. "This is for snake venom. Apply the cream and give him one pill per dose. It won't cure him completely but will slow the venom's effects."
Grateful, Baba-Rabbit accepted the remedy and left in haste. Kesa reassured them, "They have their own treatments. He'll be fine."