South America - Several years ago

It is dark.

The jungle noises come from out of the darkness and there are so many it becomes almost impossible to distinguish them. My legs are weary from the journey through this nearly impenetrable rainforest and I can't even begin to count the number of bites and scrapes I have accumulated in the ten days I have traveled. My guide is skilled and can make out every sound, every call and discerns them without any effort at all. She is also a woman and is from the Yanomamo tribe. At first her appearance startled me, by its beauty and as I write in my journal by the small, crackling fire, I see her unpack her gear on the other side of the open tent.

Her hair is lustrous black and her eyes are an very unusual shade of brown. There is a serenity about her that totally belies her tribe's warlike history. She wears a pait of tight-fitting blue jeans, thigh high boots and a thick, long sleeved shirt in a deep violet. She explained that while much of her tribe resists westernized clothing, she embraced it since she was just a young girl, "It's more comfortable."

I put the journal into my knapsack and put on and adjust my customized milspec PVS-7D thermal infrared imaging headgear to take a quick peek outside the tent. I can see all sorts of things in the trees,

"There are tons of critters out there."

"Many more than your device will ever be able to see."

I pull off the gear, "What do you mean?"

"My people know of the spirits of the rainforest. Of the beings who walk among men but are not men...you are one of these."

Her words shock me as does her amazing perception.

"I am not a man?"

"Oh you look like a man. But you are not a man. You are a spirit in the shape of a man."

"How can you tell?"

"I could tell immediately. I am the daughter of our tribes Shaman, I can see the Spirits and many more things most cannot. I knew you were a spirit the moment you came to our tribe seeking a guide. That is why I agreed to guide you."

My curiosity is really piqued now. What exactly does she see? What powers lurk in this remote rainforest among those who have limited their contacts with the rest of the modern world.

"What exactly do you see? Can you describe it?"

"Around you is a big white cloud. It shimmers like water in sunlight. Others do not walk in the clouds. Only Spirits walk in clouds."

I suddenly realize her vision is far more enhanced than the thermal imaging equipment I brought with me - she is seeing the fields of consciousness. She climbs over and sits in front of me. She places her hands on my temples.

"Here. This is where the cloud originates."

"So what do your people know of these Spirits?"

"Their are bad Spirits and good Spirits. The good Spirits help people and do not hurt them. The bad Spirits walk in clouds that are dark, like the sky before a thunder storm. You are a good Spirit. Your cloud is very white with a bit of gold, like the sun. I knew that I must get to know you the moment I saw your cloud. I have not been disappointed. You are a very good Spirit and you already have helped me."

"I have?"

"Yes. As we have traveled, my vision has been clearer than it has ever been since I was child. Being in your cloud pushes away bad Spirits and my body can feel the difference."

"How did your people learn all these things. Most people would not believe in people who walk in clouds, much less see them."

The sounds of the night get louder. She peers deep into my eyes with her brownish, copper hued eyes as if searching for something.

"There are many tales. This one is a tale as old as our tribe. Once the moon came down and walked through the forest. She was looking for a companion because she was so lonely. She was a powerful good Spirit and the animals cried with her because of her loneliness. None of the creatures she encountered were a proper companion and she left, emptyhanded and lonelier than before. The Spirits in the trees and the water knew of a Spirit who might make the moon Spirit happy and one day the Spirit of the tangled tree took the form of a woman and approached this Spirit that was bright, yellow and warm. 'Dear Spirit of brightness, we know of a Spirit that is lonely and for whom you would make a perfect companion. Please come with me and I will take you to her.' The Spirit of brightness followed the Spirit of the tangled tree and all the animals came out of hiding to take a look at it. They felt warm and safe around this Spirit. The journey was long and the tree Spirit had forgotten which way the moon Spirit had gone. The brightness Spirit grew weary and afraid he might get lost forever, returned home the way he had came. The tangled tree Spirit was very sorry that it had failed the moon Spirit and all the animals of the forest came to visit the tangled tree Spirit, and when there, to cry out for the lonely moon. And to this day the moon Spirit and the brightness Spirit are still alone."

"That is a very beautiful story." I look at her and there is something indescribable about her. A wisdom that is completely incongruent with expectations. She knows things no one in the 'civilized' world knows and has senses that surpass the very best of western technology. Her cheeks glow in the light of the fire.

"I am the daughter of a Shaman and he was the son of a Shaman. My father did not need the Yapo ceremony to contact the Spirits and walk in the Spirit world. He could do so whenever he willed it. I can do this too. I can see many things. I can see your land, far away from here and I see the building where you work. I see also that you are a lonely Spirit too."

I realize she has something special within her, a timeless link with Earth's past and its future. I can see it more clearly now as the firelight flickers across her features.

She brushes the back of her hand across my forehead and I can feel a tingling all across my brow.

"You have helped me. It is now my turn to help you."

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Sorry, there's no more. That's where this edited recollection ends.

;-)