carl boyd

Jackfruit: A Bicycle Adventure Through Latin America

“I figure, if I can get two more coordinate points, than it’s possible I can track
down the source of the phenomenon. It might intersect here.”

I pointed at a point on the map that said “unknown area.” Peru’s most current
topographical maps had lots of “unknown areas.”

“David, you know, the area you are planning to go to is unexplored jungle. You
will encounter several tribes of Indians there, known as the Machenga. You will
need their help to get through it.”

“OK, I’m sure I can muddle my way through to do that.”

“There’s a catch though. There is a custom. You must have sex with one of the
chief’s wives. It is their way of saying hello. If not, they will kick you out, or they
will kill you.”

Marco stood straight up and grinned at the prospect.

Ernesto smiled and said, “Be careful. If there are no women, then you must
fuck one of the men. That is the custom.” Marco sat down really quick.

Ernesto continued, “Hm, yes. And the jungle has it’s own set of difficulties too,
much like the high mountains. There is the heat, humidity, and it is difficult to find
food and water without a guide. There are insects that lay eggs in your skin, which
gestate in your circulation to reappear out of your pores as flies. There are all the
jungle diseases. Mosquitoes are horrible too. Supply lines and help are nonexistent.
You must plan for at least a month in the jungle.”

“I’m not that interested in entering the jungle. I just want to find out what this
phenomenon is.” I replied. Marco left the room. Ernesto subtlety changed. It was
like he was orating for someone.

“David. You do know that what you are looking for, is the lost city of Paititi.”

“Paititi? You mean the city that those rich Belgian gringos couldn’t find, despite
all the satellite evidence, GPS, and massive amounts of equipment and money? I’m
not interested in that. I just want to find out what the 2nd moon is. To me, that’s
alive. Macchu Picchu, Nazca, Tiwanaku are all dead monuments. Paititi is probably
one as well.”

Many expeditions set out each year from Cuzco to search for the lost city of
Paititi. It’s often mistaken for “El Dorado”, The City of Gold. No one succeeded.
The search for Paititi claimed lives, money, equipment, and time. Satellite reconnaissance
had photos of man-made structures in the jungle, and yet when the expeditions
went to those exact points, they found nothing. It was a strange mystery,
and because there were so many failures, many people decided that Paititi was just
a myth. That didn’t stop the expeditions from trying each year though. Another one

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