Serializing a new novel.
Chapter 21: Belem, November 2001 — Part 1
A road has been built to the isolated patch of jungle in
the Amazon where Eli and Fay spent more than a year, and they
have managed to get out and onto a boat bound for the port
city of Belem in Brazil.
*
The boat journey was slow and lacking in comfort. Eli managed
to obtain a small private cabin by paying an additional sum
from their dwindling small bundle of dollars. Food had to be
bought at riverside stops, of which there were many. It was
three weeks before they saw the jungle gradually give way to
houses, at first spaced far apart, and then closer
together.
High-rise buildings appeared quite suddenly, massed together
on the horizon. Soon they were docking in the city of
Belem.
The captain of the ship came from this place and at each port
of call he had sighed and wished aloud that he was back in
Belem. "Soon we will be in a proper city, not a collection of
tin huts like this place. Do you know how many people live in
Belem? Two million I tell you. You think I am exaggeration?
No, just wait and see."
This monologue was heard each time new passengers came
aboard.
Now, as the boat came into the dock, Fay and Eli realized
that there had been no exaggeration. Here, where the Amazon
split into tributaries as it entered the Atlantic Ocean, on
the very edge of the Amazon Forest, was indeed a great
city.
They were carrying only two worn bags with the remains of the
clothing they had taken for their anticipated short trip into
the jungle. The bags had been used for carrying produce from
the gardens, fish from the stream and the firewood that they
had gathered daily. Their clothing was faded and creased.
They had very little money left, but enough for the bus that
took them from the docks up the Avenida Presidente Vargas
where, after some minutes of travel, they saw they were in a
commercial district, with shops and offices and banks.
Eli and Fay got off the bus and walked joyously into a travel
agent. Some time later they stumbled out dismayed. Their
appearance had worked against them.
"Come back and make the booking when you have cash money in
your hands," they had been told. The proffered travelers
checks had been rejected with a sneer. "Where did you steal
that?" was the reaction.
Next they went to a bank. The reaction there had been a bit
more courteous. "Please take a seat and wait while we call
your bank in New York."
However, when the clerk returned he was less than polite.
"Those travelers checks you gave me — they are no
longer valid. You had better leave now before I call the
police," he said.
Eli responded, "We have been away a long time. If you call
this number in New York you can speak to my lawyer. He will
speak to my bank to renew the checks or else arrange for my
bank to send the money here."
The bank clerk laughed. "What? And who will pay us for yet
another wasted call?"
The suggestion that the call should be collect was
rejected.
Eli said, "Perhaps there is an American consul in this city?
Perhaps you could call him?"
However the ragged couple did not impress the clerk, though
they were clearly foreigners, clearly Americans. Their
appearance was against them. "Go waste someone else's time.
Look, there is a line behind you. Go now, or I will call the
police."
Once outside the building Fay pulled out a chain from beneath
her dress. "I placed this here for safekeeping when we
arrived in the jungle," she said. "I was afraid that if Pedro
saw it he would demand it, just as he demanded our dollars.
We could sell it to a jeweler. Remember, when you bought it
you insured it for ten thousand dollars."
They walked to a jeweler but they were offered a derisory
four hundred dollars — not even enough for a trip for
both to Sao Paulo, the nearest airport.
They began to walk as they talked, aimlessly, not following
any particular direction. Suddenly they saw before them a
blue and white building with a large dome and three Magen
Davids on the imposing facade. They walked up to the door and
found it open. They entered the cool building and found
themselves in a shul of great beauty. A few moments later a
man came up to them.
"Welcome to the Shaar Hashamayim shul," he said.
He listened to their story and then took them to a small
office.
"Sit here while I call the Rabbi," he said. "He will know
what to do."
Two weeks later, after calls to their lawyer and money being
transferred, Fay and Eli, wearing new clothing and carrying
heavy coats to face the inclement New York weather, traveled
first to Sao Paolo and from there to New York.
