Archive of Our Own

Just You and Me


Middle of the jungle, afternoon.

Lily still couldn't believe Frank was alive. Relieved at having him back, she was still having trouble processing the incredible secret he had just unveiled to her and MacGregor. However, she had to set her shock aside while she liberated Frank from this damn sword stuck in his chest – which didn't seem to disturb him anyway since he was walking around and chatting normally as if it had only been some vulgar and harmless stage prop attached underneath his clothes.

Yet, this sword was quite real, of that Lily could testify. She had indeed felt the grip of the blade while pulling it from Frank’s chest; falling to the ground from the weight and her momentum.

Once the shock from both Frank's revelation and this impressive doctorish operation had vanished, Lily had one more dilemma to face… Abandoning her brother.
Well, not really abandon, but in her heart it all felt the same. Her protective instinct shouted to keep MacGregor by her side, whatever the consequences may be; but she had to face facts: in his present state, it would have been twice as dangerous to bring him along for the rest of their adventure.

Having fainted during the sword episode, MacGregor had been transported back to the Puka Michuna's village. Lying flat on his back in a quiet hut, he was softly snoring when Lily approached quietly to wake him up before their departure. As she shook her brother lightly, she was anxiously anticipating his disappointment.

"Mmh, I dreamt I was lunching at Boodle's," he sighed, opening his eyes under her shake.

Lily chuckled, happy to see her little brother safe and awake. Frank suddenly popped in, calling in for Lily: "Hey Doctor, we should go."

MacGregor tried to stand up, grimacing but Lily restrained him, "No no no, you've done enough."

Her look didn't accept any contradiction. "I can't leave you alone out here," he replied, taken aback.

"Look at the state of you. And you can't even walk," she reasoned with him, looking sadly at his left foot held still by two splints.

A rush of fear fell over him suddenly. As long as he was with Lily, he could keep an eye on her. He was no fool though: she was better than him at defending themselves from any threat. But standing by her side still gave him a tiny sense of control over the situation. Now that he was unable to walk and forced to watch her leave without him, he couldn't help but fear the worst.

With a worried look on his face, he whispered, "Will you at least consider turning back?"

He met Lily's eyes while she stared at him with reassurance and conviction. "I will be fine. I promise," she said before pulling him into a tight hug.

MacGregor returned the hug, holding his beloved sister close.

"Do I smell?" he asked to break the ice – and clear his worried mind.

"Horrendously," Lily replied, smiling warmly into his shoulder.

Later, they were all gathered on the riverbank down below the village. As MacGregor was holding onto his wooden stick to support himself and his sprained ankle, he hobbled towards Frank.

"Goodbye, Frank," he said holding out his hand to the skipper who shook it firmly. "Four hundred years old and your skin is exceptional", MacGregor added with a touch of humor, squinting his eyes at Frank.

"Please leave," the latter replied, a smile beginning to form at the corner of his lips.

"Gonna miss you big guy." MacGregor gave the skipper a friendly pat on the neck.

Frank looked at him wobbling away, feeling somewhat touched by the sudden confidence that had developed within Lily's brother. He wouldn't have bet on his resistance in the wildness of the Amazon, but he had proven himself to be quite a tough and truthful guy.

Face to face, the siblings were tenderly smiling to each other. Lily brought MacGregor into a hug.

"Love you," she whispered, holding him tightly.

"You too." He couldn't help his voice from shaking a bit.

"And I'll see you soon, alright?" Her voice was determined while she held him at arms' length, smiling.

But MacGregor didn't look as sure of this as Lily was. He smiled back shyly, holding back his tears and left his sister's embrace to hide his sadness.

Trader Sam had prepared a canoe to take MacGregor back to Porto Velho, where he would find proper medication and wait at the hotel for Lily and Frank's return. As MacGregor was busy trying to get in the boat without falling, Lily approached Sam who was waiting nearby and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Please, Sam, take care of him."

"I'll do my best to protect him," the Chieftess assured. "And you, be sure to take care of yourself."

She glanced quickly aside towards Frank, who was waiting behind them. Then she looked back at Lily, a strange expression on her face.

"Now, you and Frank... Remember to listen to each other. Goodwill shortens the way."

"The way to what?" Lily asked, puzzled.

But Sam had already turned away and hopped into the canoe with MacGregor. Lily and Frank watched the canoe begin to float away on the calm waters. Sadness and hope intertwined in their hearts. 

One minute of silence, then they went back to the tiny deck near the village where La Quila had been left. Once the boat was in sight, Frank exclaimed, "Ah, buena niña! I've missed you!"
Lily chuckled. The unique and funny bond between the man and his boat never ceased to surprise her.

Once on board the boat, Frank returned to his place on the bridge with joy. He prepared and started the engine to resume their route. As Lily joined him, he glanced at her and smiled, "I guess it's just you and me now, Pants."

"Looks like it, Skippy. Will you manage without throwing me off of your boat?"

"Only if you don't drive me crazy."

She shot him a furious glare.

"Just kidding."

Rolling her eyes, Lily took out her map to check their direction. Frank leaned in to look over her shoulder.

"Sam told us to reach the point where the serpent's fang bites its own tail, which is La Luna Rota, there. So we should be heading this way!" She said, pointing to the horizon right before them. "Set the course, Skippy!"

"Got it!" He replied as he maneuvered the boat to get out of the bay where the village was hidden.

In the light of the afternoon, as the sun lowered little by little in the perfect blue sky, La Quila came back to life, heading towards the next step of their journey. Lily walked away from the bridge to enjoy the scenery from the bow. She felt they were close to finding the Tears of the Moon, and her stomach was tied up in knots from both excitement and concern. ‘What will we find in La Luna Rota?’

At the wheel, Frank was watching her from the corner of his eye.

"What are you thinking about, Pants?" He asked.

"Nothing serious." She tried to hide her nervousness and returned next to him quickly. "No rapids on our way, this time?" She asked mischievously to change the subject.

"Nope, I swear I won't give you another occasion to wet your pants." He turned towards her and smiled widely.

Lily shot him another look of warning, but chose not to retort anything. She looked down at his chest.

"We need to take care of this, Frank," she said gesturing to the hole in his torn shirt, where the sword had left a painless wound.

"This?" he replied, lowering his head. "Pff, forget it. This is not the first time I've been stabbed!"

"And you never stitched it up?"

"Of course I did. I mean, Sam did. But we don't have the time now."

"And I am telling you to set the boat so we can cruise. It will only take a few minutes."

As a look of exasperation came over Frank’s face, she added, "Being immortal is not an excuse to neglect yourself. You never know how things can turn."

He squinted his eyes at her. "But I thought you were into botany?"

"Well, yes, but I still know the basics of anatomy."

Frank sighed in resignation, clearly not feeling like arguing further. "Ok ok, I'll set the boat."

This wasn't the first time Frank surrendered to Lily's stubbornness. Since the beginning of their adventure, she had been doing as she pleased. And Frank, used to as he was at being in control of his environment, had found himself deeply perturbed by the intrusion of this woman in his territory, disturbing his way of doing things. Not only that, but her unique way of seeing the world had upended his own longstanding perspective on things.

But now, oddly enough, he felt fine with this whole situation. So, he finally gave in to Lily's request, with a new sense of ease. Somehow, since that day in the Puka Michuna's village when he'd first experienced Lily's implacable anger, he was now inhabited by a growing unusual fear to deceive her again. ‘When was the last time I felt that way towards someone?’

Since that night of fire of thunder when the greedy look in Aguirre's eyes had put an end to everything, Frank hadn't really grown close to anyone. Even the friends he had made he kept at arm’s length. Well, except for Proxima and Zacheu. He'd stayed safe in his own world, close enough to society to do business and feed himself, while keeping his distance in order to survive, to not draw attention. While that hadn't worked every single time, this was still his motto.

Then, Lily had popped into his life and he never could have expected anything like her. From that very moment when they'd first met in Nilo's office, she had been questioning his whole universe, turning it upside down. Dizzy. That's how Frank had been feeling for a few days. ‘A word that rhymes with her name.’ Frank chuckled for himself.

Once La Quila was stabilized, Frank left the bridge and walked on the deck, searching for Lily.

"Pants?"

"Coming, coming!"

Lily emerged from the cabin area under the deck, holding a tiny toolkit. She looked around, hesitating.

"Let’s sit there," she said pointing towards the bench on the bow of the boat, just below the open windows of the bridge.

Frank did as she asked, settling himself down onto the worn wood. Lily took her place beside him on the bench. Carefully, she opened the toolkit and took out a flask of alcohol, a handkerchief, a needle and thread. Frank grimaced at the sight of these torture instruments. From the corner of her eye, Lily caught his unpleased face.

"Come on, Frank, you won't feel anything, will you?"

Frank frowned a bit, feigning indignation. "Of course I will! I may not bleed but I feel!"

"Ah, you do have feelings then. I'd started to wonder," Lily replied, shooting him an amused glance.

She started by cleaning the needle with the alcohol. Then, once the thread was in the eye of the needle, she reached out to Frank then stopped midway. Fixated by the care she wanted to provide, she hadn't realized what it implied exactly. To actually touch him. Touch his skin. His bare skin. Which was definitely not like holding hands or hugging someone. This kind of touch was far more... intimate.

Lily blinked, shaking her head to wake herself up from these suddenly intrusive thoughts.

"Lily, are you alright?" said the one who had yet to become aware of the intimate contact to come.

'Calm down, Lily. This is only nursing, nothing more. Just a professional intervention.'

"Yes, Frank, everything's fine. Can you... Can you take off your shirt?" she asked, trying to sound as detached as possible.

Frank stared at her blankly, then raised an eyebrow and threw her a half smile.

"You mean you want me to take of my clothes?"

"NO!" Lily shouted immediately. "Obviously I didn't mean... I just need a clear space to work this out."

"Come on, Pants, I'm just teasing. I'm wearing something underneath anyway, I have some modesty," he said laughing.

Frank lowered his head and started unbuttoning the dirty green shirt, then took it off, revealing a formerly white top underneath; a small hole visible, just over his heart.

"I'm going to have to... open the hole a little."

"Please, it's all yours."

Lily shot him an annoyed glare, which made Frank curse at himself. 'Why can't you stop yourself in such moments?'

Lily fidgeted with the shredded fabric and pulled at the edges to enlarge the hole around Frank's wound. She began to concentrate, and her face was now a serious mask.

"Ok, it looks good. Not too much damage. Please don't move, I'm going to start now."

She put one of her hands on his chest as a support, and with the other pricked the needle in the tanned skin of her Skipper.
She began to focus on what she was doing, quickly putting aside the unusual sensation of this inappropriate yet inevitable contact as well as the tingling that had appeared at her fingertips. Though she couldn't help but acknowledging the warmth of his skin. Maybe she'd expected something different...

‘But Frank is not a ghost.’

He was indeed a real and living body, a body with a heart whose pulse she could feel under her hand. She found herself shaken as she took in the unbelievable truth. She didn't know how that was possible…how this man, coming from another century was standing here in front of her. What kind of old magic was keeping him alive, unchanging and steadfast as a rock?

As her mind worked its way through a stream of thoughts that helped her concentrate on her work, she made sure to touch him as little as possible to avoid this contact which inexplicably made her dizzy.
Apart from her brother, Lily had not had much contact with men – suitors to be specific. Generally speaking, physical contact was not that common in the Edwardian society which didn't consider intimate touches appropriate in public situations. Thankfully, MacGregor wasn't here now and their only audience at this moment was the jungle.

While Lily was silently sewing, Frank looked at her, enduring the needle stinging into his skin. He was hardly breathing, fearing to move and make something go wrong. Not to mention this strange new warmth invading his body from the place where Lily's hand was resting. There seemed to be electric shivers dancing on his skin where her other hand holding the needle was touching him.

At this moment, he was fully aware of his body, the boundaries of his own skin and the vibrating presence of Lily next to him, crossing the safe space between them. He watched her working and thought spontaneously: 'She's beautiful.'
Was it the first time he allowed himself to think it so clearly? He didn't know. But he chose to let himself give in to the full sensation of them sitting here, surrounded by silence and this insane intimacy. This was the closest they'd ever been to each other.

As she worked her way through the damaged corner of skin, Lily wondered how the body she was now so close to had crossed years and time. She recalled what Frank had told her earlier. Counting in her mind, she whispered, "Three hundred and ninety five years..."

Frank, drawn out of his own reverie, completed her thought, "...five months and 13 days."

Lily let out a sigh. Somehow suddenly careless, she let her mind speak.

"I really thought you died."

Frank didn't know how to respond. Her words surprised, pleased and questioned him all at once. Locking his eyes to her face, he tried to pierce her indecipherable thoughts. Suddenly, Lily looked up to meet his gaze. Her eyes, a hot summer rain flowing on his skin, drowning him under a spell. Inevitably, to take back control on his mind, he felt the need to tease her, hiding behind his banter to avoid the emotion showing on his face.

"Were you sad when I died?" he asked in a playful way.

"I was very concerned," Lily replied, amused.

"For my soul," he offered, not really knowing what he was trying to attempt.

"For my expedition," she corrected, giving him a look that accepted no contradiction.

To that, Frank had nothing to say. 'How can I be so stupid? To think she might care for me. And yet...'  He kept silent, a bit frustrated, until Lily spoke again giving a different end to their exchange.

"And for you." Her voice was soft.

She didn't look up this time but Frank was certain of her honesty. And these three words like an open door in his heart and his mind, he embraced them with happiness, something he had not felt in a long time. He gave her a shy smile, refraining from the stupid happy grin awaiting at the corner of his lips.

Lily kept her eyes fixed on what she was doing. Her heart was pounding so loud she feared Frank might hear it. Eventually, she was done with stitching him up. She cut the thread then looked at her work with satisfaction.

Frank looked down at it. 'Well, it's not the best skin stitching but it'll do.'

Lily dared to meet his eyes again. They were now filled with a sort of undefined sadness.

"So, what are you?" she blurted out. "You don't bleed, I think you breathe. And obviously, you feel," she added to ease the heaviness of her words. "You're not possible." 

Frank inhaled and answered right away, "I don't know what I am anymore."

Obviously, Lily was waiting for more.

"But I can tell you what I was."

His voice held a promise, something for her to grasp and comprehend the whole nonsense of his situation. She smiled softly and nodded, looking at him with an infinite kindness, waiting for him to start his story.

Then, Frank dove into his memories... And told her everything.

How his father had died, protecting Aguirre's father. How he'd grown up beside his friend as a brother, raised by Aguirre's father, a man as strict as he could be fair and loving. He had saved Frank from the sadness, giving him stability and nice opportunities. Growing up, Frank had developed a feverish interest for drawing. Attentive to Frank's wishes, Aguirre's father had decided to send him as an apprentice to a painter's workshop. There, he'd learnt how to master the pictures of the world around him: animals, portraits, landscapes...

For years, life had been generous and peaceful. But you'd never know what life could bring: a miracle, a curse...

Lily listened to him quietly, nodding here and there, smiling with genuine interest.

"Aguirre had been married for ten years already, blessed with a wonderful daughter, Anna. She was all he had, his wife had died giving birth. When Anna fell ill, he vowed he wouldn't lose her." 

"Oh my god, poor girl."

"I was deeply touched by his despair, and vowed myself I would do anything to help him save her. Even if it meant crossing the ocean. Aguirre had learned about the tale of the Tears of the Moon, the legend had reached Europe from the settlers that had visited Brazil a year before. Everyone had heard of the magic petals though none had ever seen them. Yet the story sounded so vivid and true, Aguirre was convinced of their existence."

Frank also told Lily about their dangerous journey and how many times they'd thought they would die before reaching the Amazon, facing ferocious storms and lacking food.
How they'd fought the ocean, only to be beaten by the river, the ship wrecked and abandoned like a ghost far from home.
How many times they'd lost themselves in the jungle, going around in circles, as if the trees were alive, plotting to get them to lose their head.
The hunger. The diseases. And the constant humidity! It infiltrated your clothes, your shoes, until it reached your bones and left you with no dry space.

"The jungle fought our every step. I would've done anything to find the Tears of the Moon and save Aguirre's daughter. Even chart the Amazon."

"Wait, Frank..." Lily held out her hands to suspend his story and process what she had just heard. "You were Aguirre's cartographer? You drew my map?"

Frank nodded, feeling rather proud. He stood up, went downstairs to reach for the maps Lily had uncovered from his cabin on the second day of their journey and brought them to her.

Days ago, he'd already started to unveil hints of his past, revealing how he'd been seeking the Tears of the Moon just like her, though not mentioning he was the cartographer that had lost his life searching for something that couldn't be found. The regrets in his voice had left Lily in such a sorry state.
Then she gave him hope: 'But you never had this'. The arrowhead. The very start of their adventure. A possibility. Something tangible to hold on to.

Frank took a look at the horizon then walked away to get back to the bridge to correct the direction of the boat. Lily was carefully browsing through the series of large hand drawn maps, looking at them amazed.

"Frank... it's amazing! Did you specialize in maps when you were in Spain?"

He gave her a big smile from behind the steering wheel.

"Thank you, Pants. I had proved myself to be very good at cartography. I was good at other things of course, but I guess I was meant to help Aguirre this way. When it wasn’t raining, I kept myself busy by drawing maps. That was the only thing that gave me hope. Charting the trails we blazed."

Lily reconsidered her own map still laying on her lap. A little piece of his past passed through generations and inherited from her father. She marveled at it while something started to unravel in her mind. All this time, she'd carried this precious map as an unknown and invisible link to this very man in front of her. A bond defying time.

Delighted that her attention was turned to his work, Frank glanced at Lily, catching her eyes, grateful for her praise.

"You really think my work is extraordinary?" 'Here I go again. Can't help it, huh?'

"I think you were a minor master of your time," she said with a wide grin on her face.

"Minor?" he replied, frowning.

Lily laughed at his irony. Suddenly she became aware that Frank had seen her map since the beginning of their adventure, a detail that he well enough managed to hide until then. Thoughtful, she asked, "How did you feel when I showed you my map, back in Nilo's office?"

Frank paused, recalling the moment. "It brought back good... and bad memories."

Lily looked up at him, a question in her eyes.

"I was proud of being part of Aguirre’s expedition," he explained. "I mean, he was like my brother. Even prouder to serve him and putting my skills up to work for him. For Anna."

Frank's face darkened.

"But one by one, the jungle took us. We were all but dead. Still, Aguirre wouldn't turn back… and then, they came."

Frank looked up to Lily's eyes. She was holding her breath.

"The Puka Michuna. They weren't called that back then. The Chief and his daughter saved us with the Tears of the Moon."

Frank secured the wheel and left his post at the bridge to go back and sit in front of Lily.

"The petal's magic was real, Lily. All that was broken, the petals mended. And all at once, we were revived," he said, smiling at the heartwarming memories. "And Aguirre was happy, because he was closer than ever to finding a cure for his daughter."

Then, as he was reminded of what had gone wrong, a shadow passed in his eyes again.

"But he grew impatient. He demanded they give him the arrowhead and take him to the Tree. The Chief said he wasn't worthy of it."

Frank stopped. And Lily could almost feel the lump tightening in his throat as he recalled what must have been a terrible moment. Right now, she was feeling an urge to reach for him and pull him into a tight embrace. But she refrained, knowing it wasn't the right moment. Frank waited a few seconds then spoke again, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Despite all the kindness they'd shown us, he would've killed every last one of them... I loved him but I didn't recognize the man who was once my friend. Greed and desperation had turned something dark inside of him. I couldn't be part of the madness, Lily, I... I couldn't just stand by."

A brother's blade cuts deepest. Traitor.

The unforgettable words resonated in Frank's mind, again and again.

He could sometimes hear them at night, a haunting echo from the past like a reminder that Aguirre's soul still lived in the jungle out there, waiting for an occasion to confront him.
He shook the dreadful feeling away. Frank sighed deeply, exhaling the anger and regret.

"I betrayed Aguirre. I betrayed my brother. And that didn't even change anything, because the Chief cursed us all as he was dying, so that we could never leave sight of the river again. Tying us to the jungle for all eternity. So, all this hard work for what? Destruction, death, and years of going around in circles through this jungle... My work was meant to be displayed back home, I wished of fame, recognition, I wanted to make my father proud – no matter where he was..."

"Frank... I'm sorry... I'm sorry you've lived all this time like a mouse trapped in a cage. If only I could do something, anything..."

Frank smiled faintly and looked away, her words lighting up an old idea from the back of his mind. One that had been revived at the sight of Lily's map a few days before in Porto Velho, and more so at the sight of the arrowhead around her neck. But he didn't feel like talking about it now.

Facing his silence, Lily asked shyly, "What happened to Aguirre and the others?"

Frank drew his attention back to her.

"Aguirre hated me for betraying him. He found me over the years and we fought. Again and again. Eventually, I got tired of being stabbed. So I made sure he would never hurt me or anyone else again."

"How?"

"I trapped them in a cave, where the jungle couldn't take them back to the river. For three hundred years, the jungle ravaged their bodies, turning them into the monsters they are today. I don't know how they got free but I was safe for a long time."

Lily was feeling overwhelmed by Frank’s story. A tale so inextricably tied with magic, revenge, resilience. Still, there was a last thing she desperately wanted to know.

"What did you do then?"

Frank seemed to have regained his composure. Finally sharing his story from beginning to end with someone was a great relief for him after such a long time keeping silent.

"Well, I made the best of it. I built a town and that was fun. I made some friends and eventually lost them. This whole life was a repeating cycle and I got fed up with outliving everyone. That's when I decided to search for the Tears of the Moon. I built a boat and I named her after the goddess of the moon, Quila. I charted every inch of this river, searching. Till I finally gave up…and since I could never leave sight of the river, I started giving jungle cruises to tourists. Back to the old town which had now flourished. Back to the routine."

What Frank didn't mention was how carefully he avoided befriending people then. The previous years had left too many scars to heal. Loving people could be a real hazard. Frank had learned this at great cost.

Lily smiled, a glimpse of wonder in her eyes.

"All that time, all alone... Well, not entirely alone, of course," she added, gesturing to Proxima who had come to lay next to Frank.

"That's right. Over the years, I would find strays that needed someone. The next, after the next, after the next. And la proxima, la proxima... "

"La proxima?"

"Proxima, yes, I name them all Proxima."

"Oh, I get it now," Lily smiled.

Frank turned towards Proxima, grinning from ear to ear.

"But don't worry, you're my favorite girl."

That's when Lily realized the importance of the jaguar in Frank's life. A friend to cure the loneliness. Someone to care for.

'I don't have to care about anybody period.'

Frank's words from the previous night suddenly came back to her memory. These words couldn't be true, she thought. Not after witnessing such dedication between Frank and the unexpected animal he chose to look after. 'A façade? Then for what?' She had first thought him so selfish and arrogant when they met, but there was obviously more to him then she first presumed.

Scratching Proxima's ears, Frank reflected on what just happened. He had willingly unveiled his whole story to someone. Not anyone. A woman who entered his life, bringing a revolution to his daily routine. He had spent most of his time lying about everything he was. He had become a lie himself, a personification of dodging, elusion. A master of the false.

'What's left of the real me, then? How can I define myself? Well, somehow, she made the real me feel alive again. Through confrontation, ambition, wonder. And I lied to her so many times... For once in my damned life, I want to show my true self. And she's the one I want to be truthful to. Because she earned it, after all we've been through. I can't look at her and lie again. I couldn't bear the disillusioned and angry eyes she set on me back in the village.'

*****

On the river, the golden light of the afternoon sun was slowly turning into the red-orange glow of twilight. The noises of the jungle were shifting too. Birds' chirping were being replaced by the cries of the monkeys as they went back to their shelter in the trees, along with the hooting of the owls one by one coming out of their nests, and the distant growling of crocodiles.

After their conversation, something had changed between Lily and Frank: as if a door had finally opened that gave them a chance at a new beginning. However, they had remained silent, not daring to disturb the air around them. Frank had returned to the steering wheel and was now lost in his thoughts. Lily had a hundred questions to ask the Skipper but she'd chose to respect this introspective time he needed after telling his whole story. Instead, she'd immersed herself in her notebook to draw a bit and gather the scattered notes she'd wrote on the Tears of the Moon, adding new details from Frank's story.

Frank was the first to break their silence. "Hey Pants, are you hungry?"

Lily lifted her head, surprised. "Well, I wouldn't say no if you have something to offer me."

Frank smiled. He obviously had something in mind. "Do you know how to fish?"

"Surprisingly enough, I do! I used to accompany my father on Sundays with his group of angler friends."

"Ah, let's see that then," he said with a half-smile.

With that, Frank went down to the cabin. Lily heard him rummaging through his things downstairs, only to see him coming up a few moments later with a fishing rod. It was basic and rather old but it looked solid. Frank handed it to Lily, along with a small box containing baits.

"Would you mind having a go at it and try catching us something for dinner?"

"I most certainly will. Besides, I'm in for a less violent hunt," she said recalling how they captured piranhas the day before.

And as Frank stopped the boat along the riverside, Lily took her place at the bow and started unwinding the line of the rod. She planted a bait onto the hook and with a mastered movement threw the line that hit the surface of the river with a little "plop".

Frank came back to sit on the deck, not far from Lily. Watching her sweet profile, her face flooded by the sunset light, he thought: 'I'd like to freeze this moment.'  Just for a few seconds at least, so he could anchor it to his mind and take it out to remember for the hopeless days and bring back a bit of light when everything faded out.

Instead, he broke the silence one more time. "Could you tell me more about your father?"

Lily turned back, surprised.

"Are you trying to distract me from my task?" she asked, half-smiling.

"No I'm just curious. Sincerely. I told you about my past and I would like to know a bit about yours now. If you’re willing to."

She didn't expect Frank to speak in such a serious way and to be genuinely interested in her own story. Turning her head back to the river, she started to recall some memories of her father, smiling to herself.

"Well... My father was the kind of man you would follow to the end of the Earth. He had this way to bring people together around a common interest, to share his love of adventure and wilderness. I got it myself very early, his eagerness for the outside world. He would always push me to discover new things on my own. You know, Frank, I didn't grew up as any Edwardian little girl would have."

"Oh I bet you didn't."

"Does it show that much?" she inquired, amused.

"Oh…a little," he replied mischievously.

Lily laughed out loud. Her voice echoed in the quiet twilight air around them, filling the silence like a warm embrace. For Frank, it was one of the most soothing and comforting sounds he'd heard in a long time. He couldn't help smiling as Lily continued.

"And my mother didn't disapprove, unlike what you would think. Actually, she was– Oh, gosh! Frank, it's biting!"

Startled, Frank leapt up. Lily leaned on the edge of the boat to stabilize herself and started winding the line but it offered some resistance. Whatever was on the other side was pulling quite strongly! After a few seconds of effort, the line ended up winding more smoothly. At the end of it, a nearly twenty-inch fish was wiggling for his dear life.

"What is that, Frank? Oh my gosh, it's enormous!"

"Ah, you caught a pirarucu! One of the finest freshwater fish living in the Amazon!"

"Glad to know, but could you help me detaching it? It's moving like hell!"

Frank caught the fish firmly into his hands, untied it from the line and placed it in a nearby empty case.

"Wow, what a catch! Impressive, Pants, thank you!"

Lily blushed a little. "Well, my pleasure."

"I'm gonna make us a feast out of it. I'll be right back."

"You didn't say you were into cooking, Frank! That is, apart from roasting fish."

"Ha! Looks like I still have some secrets you don’t know of…”

Lily gave him one of her best smiles, both mischievous and sincere.

Frank was fussing around the stove while the fish was roasting above the hearth. He had brought up his usual grocery: onions, a few tomatoes, peppers and some herbs that Lily recognized immediately.

"Coriander! Perfect choice."

"Do you use it in England too?"

"Of course! It's been around for quite some time now. Do you know it's very good for digestion? It can help with insomnia too, but careful with it or you might find yourself fast asleep at your wheel!”

Frank listened attentively while Lily spoke with passion of some other herbs he had been using in his daily cuisine. He was charmed by the way Lily shared her knowledge and even found it entertaining.

He had never met someone as possessed by her quest like her– except for Aguirre. But his quest had turned wrong. Frank was somehow convinced Lily was going to succeed, given her heartfelt, selfless and positive nature. One he really started to like.
The stubborn side of her personality had him going mad at first but he had found himself growing to enjoy the delights of her company and he was totally willing to – 'Wait, to what, exactly? Spend more time with her?'

Frank shook his head slightly and blinked hard to chase away his daydreaming.

"If you need some help, Skippy, just let me know." Lily said, watching him cook.

"Don't you worry, Pants, you're my guest."

This made Lily snort mischievously.

"Am I still a guest when I pay you to bring me somewhere?" 

"This is only to thank you for pulling a sword out of me."

"Oh, that I couldn't have... guessed."

Frank stared at her blankly then broke out a laugh, and Lily laughed with him.

"I would've never expected you to– I mean, I thought you didn't like my jokes!"

Lily tried hard to keep a bit of seriousness, not wanting to lose total face.

"Well, they're not exactly the funniest things on earth but they're not entirely... insufferable."

They stared at each other for a little while, a new found companionship weaving its sweet threads between them, building understanding, trust, and something new they couldn't quite name yet, an unfamiliar need, gently pulling each to the other.

Frank broke the warm and awkward silence.

"I, huh– It's almost ready."

When he turned his back to finish the cooking, Lily literally felt the string that connected them for a moment hanging lose from where Frank was standing.

She was no fool. She obviously knew something was happening between the two of them. What she didn't know yet how to grasp was the nature of it and the meaning of Frank's behavior. As much as she welcomed these new feelings, she hadn't a clue what to do with them. For now, she let them wash over her, allowing the moment unfold before her.

Then Frank brought their meal, a delicious-looking fish stew, set in two plates. They went to sit on the bench. Lily smiled a 'thank you', as she picked up her spoon.

"Buen provecho!" Frank replied.

"Frank, this smells so good!" 

Lily liked a good meal but she was not that much into cooking. This side of Frank she was discovering today was quite surprising and pleasing all the same.

"I hope you'll teach me some of your tricks someday," she blurted out.

She instantly realized her mistake. An apparently innocent phrase that could mean much more. She cursed herself for voicing her thoughts with no filter. What was she thinking, speaking of a future that couldn't fit into Frank's doomed life? Unless she stayed here with him forever... 'Would I do that?'

"I-I'm sorry, Frank," she stuttered. "I didn't mean to... foresee anything. Given what you just told me... of course, I don't expect you to..."

"It's okay, Pants."

His gaze held a sense of finality while he glanced at her solemnly. He continued, "With the time we still have, I'm sure I can find a moment to teach you a thing or two, before we... part ways."

Lily could see he was fighting to hold her gaze. It hadn't been said yet but both of them knew the impending conclusion of their new relationship was around the corner. Lily returning to London, whether she'd found the Tears of the Moon or not, and Frank... forever stuck to the jungle. Unless...

A thought made its way through Lily's mind, a flicker of hope, a little light in the darkness of her disappointed heart. Though she didn't dare to formulate it out loud for now, she mentally noted to bring up the topic with Frank as soon as it would feel appropriate.
For now, she kept her hope secret and safe for herself. She only managed to reply, while a lump dried her throat. "I'll make the most of it."

Frank smiled sweetly. And maybe there was a bit of sadness in his smile too but he managed to hide much of it.

They started eating in silence. The subtle taste of the different flavors mixed together cleared Lily's mind for a moment.

"I must say, Frank, this is absolutely delicious. I wish MacGregor was here, he would by far prefer this to the piranhas."

She was met with a hearty laugh.

"I'm glad you like it. I don't often get to cook for anyone but myself."

"Do you spend all your time alone on La Quila? You don't mix with the city's people?"

"Most of my time I spend on La Quila, yes. But I wander from time to time into Porto Velho to refill my stock of food and meet a couple friends."

"I thought you– what were your words?– Ah, "didn't have to care about anybody, period," she said mischievously.

"Ha, Pants, I swear, you really know how to trick me." 

Lily couldn't help laughing.

"I may have been a bit presumptuous back when we had that conversation," Frank admitted. "Truth of the matter is, I try not to bond too much with people, for obvious reasons I'm sure you understand. Being a loner suits me well. But yeah, there are… exceptions."

"And you seem to be one of them," he suddenly thought, eyeing thoughtfully the woman in front of him.

Lily smiled softly. "I knew deep down you couldn't be that insensitive."

Frank chuckled and brought his eyes down to his plate. Lily had this way of catching him off guard.

"So, you being after the Tears of the Moon... It's not only about your father's bedtime stories, is it?" he asked.

Lily looked up from her plate, somewhat startled. Then she started fiddling with the content of her plate with her fork.

She shrugged. "To be honest... It’s also about my mother..."

She seemed to have trouble choosing her words. Frank was eyeing her with some concern. She finally looked up again and Frank was met with watery blue eyes.

"She died. When I was ten years old. MacGregor was only six. She was ill and nothing could have saved her. Even if my father wanted to, he couldn't have had the time to go find the Tears of the Moon he used to tell me about. Her illness took her away so quickly. It was a tragedy for the family and my father was never the same after that. You never really heal from losing a loved one, especially a mother. Even now as a woman and having forgotten most of her, I keep dreaming she comes back, talking to me..."

Frank felt compassion running through his whole body. He knew how it felt to lose a parent. He wanted to reach for her and pull her close, just to stop her voice from shaking and her eyes from shining with tears. But he sensed it may not be appropriate.

"Anyway, I would have done anything to save her. I prayed and prayed... but nothing worked. Later, I vowed to myself I would find the Tears of the Moon, to help other people, heal them. Because nobody deserves to lose the ones they love in such an awful way."

To that, Frank could only agree. After all, he'd followed the same goal at first for similar reasons.

"Don't you fear people would use the Tears to their advantage?"

"It's a risk worth taken."

Frank nodded gravely.

Lily sensed a tense silence settling between them but she felt the need to break it.

"You made a nice home here," she gestured to the boat around them. "She's quite a nice boat when you get to know her a bit."

"Yeah, she may seem a bit rough on the outside but after some time you'd find her very pleasant," Frank said with a glint in his eyes.

"I agree."

Lily smiled, wondering if Frank's words implied the same meaning as hers.

"Ya know, it hits me now that I didn't even give you a proper tour of the place. But you didn't need me to go and take a look at my things, right?" he laughed.

"Sorry for that, really. I was just so curious."

"Is it a habit of yours to pick one's locks?" he added with a smirk.

"Only when one's keeping secrets, and when these secrets have to do with my business," she replied in the same playful way.

"You never stop at anything, do you?

"Never. By the way, I can't believe you were still hiding the biggest of your secrets back then! You being the cartographer of Aguirre, I mean. You played your skipper role wonderfully, I have to say."

"Thank you, Pants," he replied with a wide smile, the very one that had begun to send butterflies to Lily's stomach.

"Speaking of business," he continued, "As you're so willing and curious, I think you should learn how to navigate La Quila."

"I thought you didn't want me to steer your boat."

"Haha, are you going to hold all my past comments against me? Sorry if I was rude at the beginning. I think we’ve both overcome our stubbornness since then."

"I think we did, yes," she replied with a genuine smile.

"Besides, it might come in handy, should anything happen to me and you be left alone to return to Porto Velho."

Concern showed on Lily's face.

"Why would something happen to you, Frank? You're immortal."

He shrugged. "You never know. And it's not only about death."

She suddenly sensed there was something Frank had yet to tell her.

"I don't like it when you speak like that."

"Okay, fair enough. Just come and try, it'll be fun anyway."

"Well, yes, I'd love to."

They both stood and left their plate to make their way to the bridge, Lily still a bit shaken and overthinking Frank's words.

Frank took the time to show her everything.

"There you go. It's pretty simple: this is the steering wheel. You have to pull this lever to start the engine. Careful with it, you need to feel the engine's reaction. And this other lever I use to block the course and let her cruise."

Lily grabbed the first lever, not daring to pull too much. Frank encouraged her. "Go on, it's not gonna break."

Without thinking, he put his hand gently on hers, accompanying the movement. Lily shuddered slightly under his touch.

Time stood still suddenly, as he leaned softly into her back, almost embracing her body within his arms, providing a safe space that gave Lily the impression that nothing could happen to her right now.
They had been closer before, even hugged each other, but this sudden proximity of their bodies unveiled an intimacy that held much more meaning. As new feelings emanated from their skin and mind, they allowed themselves to take in the strangeness and comforting power of the moment.

Lily didn't dare to move an inch, nor to breathe, as electricity suspended in the air and filled the atmosphere with sparkling thickness.
Frank quietly breathed in Lily's scent and the feeling of her skin so close to his made his brain dizzy and his eyes flutter, while the sensation ignited a fire on every portion of his body. He could even feel the tiny strands of her hair brushing his cheek.
It was like standing upon a cliff, and losing his mind to jump into the tempting unknown. He managed to stop himself before doing anything out of place, regaining the clarity of his mind.

He was the first to break their somewhat unconventional embrace, shaking his head as if appreciating Lily's good work. He too was flustered by this innocent yet bold moment.

"Do you feel it?" Frank asked, his voice a bit hoarse.

"W-what?" Lily stuttered in reply.

"The engine."

Lily nodded and pulled the lever towards her. Instantly a recognizable noise was heard and the machine came alive, roaring and vibrating from their toes to their fingers holding the lever.

"Now take the wheel and turn, simple as that."

He placed himself right behind her, leaving her enough room to manoeuver the wheel with his help. Lily carefully turned it to bring La Quila back on her course. Overcorrecting, she went too far and made the boat go too much to the right.

"Oops!"

Frank reached out his arm.

"Let me help you."

"No, it's my turn," she replied firmly but with a glint of amusement in her voice. "I need to learn by myself."

"Okay. Remember, you gotta listen to her."

She corrected the course immediately.

"It's perfect." Frank commented.

"Pretty good," she said, satisfied.

"Yeah. Now we can just cruise."

And Lily pushed a lever to block the course. As Frank backed away to give her more room, Lily turned to face him. It was as if her body was stalling, holding back from giving in to him, despite desperately wanting to.

She slowly looked up to meet his gaze, eyeing him intensely. Despite the piercing blue of her eyes, Frank felt like he was being consumed by a fire. He couldn't hold her gaze any longer and so he nodded, an undecipherable look lingering on his face.
Once again, he switched to another topic in order to get the slightest control to the situation. Looking down at the arrowhead Lily had been wearing all this time as a necklace, he asked, "Do you know how many years people have been looking for that?"

Lily was surprised. And a bit annoyed, she didn't know exactly why. But maybe it had to do with Frank breaking this special moment they just had together. Maybe intimacy disturbed him. Lily begun untying the string around her neck.

"This old thing?"

"Yeah. That old thing. How is it that you turn up with it?"

"Stole it."

"You stole it?"

Amused by her sudden carelessness, Frank's curiosity was tickled and he waited for her to elaborate. Lily held out the arrowhead-necklace to him and shrugged, moving away.

"Liberated it. How about that?"

"Okay," Frank chuckled.

Apparently, Lily didn't feel like telling the whole story of how she'd came in possession of the arrowhead. He would have to wait. But now he was almost certain she didn't play by the rules, however she managed to snatch it away.

Holding the arrowhead in his fist, he followed her. She was sitting on the bench alongside the deck. He joined her, sitting in front of her on a wooden case.

"I’ve searched for this thing for so long, but I’m pretty sure it belongs to you."

He leaned forward and reached out to give it back to her. Unexpectedly, his hand lingered on hers, squeezing her fingers just a bit as if to give her some warm support and acknowledgement. Lily felt a wave of heat emanating from the tips of her fingers right to her neck. Straightening himself back, Frank offered her a friendly smile. Lily stared at him, eyes sparkling, a light smile lingering on her lips. Right now, her feelings were a bit too overwhelming for her to express them.

She looked down at the arrowhead in her hand. 'I went after it. And he went after it too, for much longer than I did. This is the key to something bigger than us both. I know exactly why I need it, but... what about him?'

With a slightly cracking voice, she decided to ask the very question she'd been desperate to ask since Frank had revealed her his secret, "What are you going to do when you find the Tree?"

Taken aback by her question, he opened his mouth, hesitating on how to formulate his thought, fearing it might sound abrupt to her ears.
Choosing honesty over ambiguity, he eventually replied, "Lift the curse."

Uncertain of what this meant, Lily inquired further even if the answer scared her.

"And what will happen to you?"

Her eyes were fixed on him, desperate for an answer but not any answer. Something that was precisely not what Frank had in mind. He felt that somehow his reply was going to deceive her.

"Well…" he sighed, locking eyes with her. "I get to make a choice."

Lily took a short breath, as if preparing herself for what Frank was going to say next.

"And I choose... to rest."

His last words echoed in the silence around them, as deafening as a blast, waving away the tiny little hope that had nestled into her heart. Frank saw Lily moving forward, shaking her head slightly as if she didn't understand what he'd just said. He suddenly sensed her disbelief and that she was about to interject.

Trying to make a point and ease her mind, he added, "Hey, Lily, look. Everything that you see that’s new in this world, I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of times."

She was looking at him intensely now, her head slightly tilted to the side as if pleading with him for a reason. Her heart beat so fast she felt it was going to explode. It was like Frank was fading away before her very eyes and she knew he'd obviously made up his mind and nothing she could say or do could convince him to do otherwise– but she needed to try, no matter what. So she whispered the first words that she could hold onto, "Yes, but none of it has been meaningful." 'Now it's different. It has to be different.'

Frank frowned a bit, considering what she just said. After a few seconds of silence, he explained, "Sometimes it has. Sometimes it hasn't. Listen, nothing awaits me anymore. I'm done with it all and it's time for me to take a bow."

"Frank, if we indeed find the Tears of the Moon, I couldn't possibly go away and leave you behind."

"But now you know how to drive La Quila."

"You know perfectly well it's not about the boat..."

Weighing in on the following silence were those things none of them had yet to say. Words and feelings beyond themselves that were slowly but surely filling their mind and body like a fever. Simple things really: trust, tenderness, attraction, desire, a kind of love even. Yet none of them felt ready to completely acknowledge what it was, let alone made the big decision to give in to their feelings– fearing it might be an obstacle to their choices, their freedom. Not knowing how to handle the unexpected part of life. The one that made you reconsider everything.

Despite her short breath and her anxiety rising, Lily managed to ask, breaking the uneasy silence, "And... and what about the money I owe you?"

Frank chuckled slightly, smiling in a soft way.

"Money would be no use if I'm heading beyond." 

Seeing Lily's grave face, he attempted to break the seriousness of their conversation.

"Come on, Pants, don't be sad for me, huh? What's the point of an old guy like me taking roots?"

"Please, just think about it." Lily pleaded with him.

Unable to look her in the eyes any longer, he gazed down and said in a sad voice,

"I will." 

Lily mouthed an unseen "Thank you".

*****

Night had embraced the whole jungle bringing out its mysterious noises, blurring the scenery and draping it into a deep darkness.

Frank lifted his head then stretched out his back and arms. He spoke softly, "I'm off to bed. Big day tomorrow."

"Yes, you're right," she replied, her voice trembling a bit.

They both stood up, feeling a bit uneasy after such a serious conversation.

"Will you be okay?" Frank asked.

"Oh yes, don't worry. I'll settle myself in a corner."

"You don't want to take MacGregor's place down there?"

"No, I'll be fine. I like stargazing."

She smiled despite her sadness and Frank smiled back, reassured.

"Okay, good. Goodnight, Lily." he said looking her in the eyes.

"Goodnight, Frank." Somehow, saying his name right now felt special.

Frank nodded with a soft smile then went downstairs to this cabin while Lily stood there, unsure how to move, stunned by their conversation.

She tried to breathe deeply to ease her anxiety. Having to process and deal with Frank's own decision was hard for her at the moment, as she was so used to control everything and to decide for herself and her brother. She was facing one unbreakable truth: that some things or people remained out of reach, and that what they wanted could be different from what she wanted.

This time, it was not about convincing. She couldn't do anything apart from listening to Frank and understanding his point of view. Given how involved in the man's life she had become, this whole situation was starting to get on her nerves.

Waves of contradiction, fear, hope, desire, frustration were flooding her body and mind. Exhausted, she settled down on the bench, lying on her back and staring at the night sky. It soothed her heart for a while.

Minutes passing by, she recalled methodically their last conversation and what she'd said, regrets starting to gnaw on her. 'Maybe I should've said things differently... But how could I explain what I think is a waste? And that the truth is I want to be the one to show him the beauty of this world?'

Lost in her thoughts, playing her words over and over again, she dove into guilt and cursed herself for being so straightforward. Engaged in a tunnel of remorse, she was forgetting to be fair with herself. This unexpected situation had awaken a bundle of emotions she was not used to. Overwhelmed by so many new feelings, she had let her heart speak for better or for worse. But now her fear of having hurt Frank was taking over her senses and she couldn't hold the tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

'You'll make it right. You'll explain what it means for you, and you'll try to tell him your true feelings.'

And as she promised herself to unveil her heart to Frank, she finally fell asleep, soothed by the stars and the steady motion of the water underneath the boat.

Meanwhile, Frank had returned to his cabin and reflected on the events of the day.

'I've been stabbed once more– when I thought it would never happen again–, I revealed the secret of my past for the first time in forever, cooked for Lily, let her drive my boat, and told her what I'm planning to do when we find the Tears of the Moon.'

A number of new things, to be honest. Since Lily had entered his life, a bunch of new and unexpected things were constantly happening. New challenges, new experiences, and new emotions too... And past the first feeling of frustration and annoyance towards the woman and the situations she’d managed to put him in, he'd gotten used to all this newness and was finding it quite nice actually.

But for the first time as well, he had never been so close to get what he'd always wanted: freeing himself from this damned curse. The result of someone else's mistake he had no other choice but to undergo.

He was fed up living like a ghost haunting the river, unable to leave or to die either way. Tired of trying to avoid people. Tired of keeping silent. Tired of fighting. Weary to carve out a path for himself through this difficult life.
He thought he'd earned his right to rest by now. No matter his boat, Proxima, Zacheu... No matter Lily's pleading eyes... No matter how he felt inside when he was close to her.

He'd recognized the singular attraction he felt for her, but where would that take them? Even if he chose to stay after having lifted the curse, what would he do? Would she be enough for him? Would he be enough for her? Would they find solace in one another?
He had not loved or felt this way in so many years. Frank was not certain he would be a good companion. Love was hardly something you knew before experiencing it from the inside.

And he wasn't even sure Lily felt the same. Her looks and the way she spoke were like the signals of a lighthouse and Frank was the boat caught into the storm, weathering the waves, blinded by the salty water, not knowing how to decipher the meaning of it all. Maybe it was just her generous and strong nature speaking, dreaming of a new life for him, one where he would belong...

Yet he couldn't deny something was coming to life between them, something of a completely different nature. And he couldn't help but feel sad at the idea of turning his back to her invitation, to what could possibly come out of their attraction. The unknown seemed attractive to him, for once.

So, lying on his thin mattress, he drifted to sleep comforted by a fantasy, allowing his thoughts to wander towards the woman who was sleeping upstairs. Imagining how her body would feel next to him, on his narrow bed, how her hair would slide between his fingers as he touched them, how her skin would feel under his touch, and her lips under his own...

*****

Birds announced the break of dawn, singing from every corner of the jungle. The river was enlightened by the crimson glow of the morning. A new day. The day they would finally get to the Tears of the Moon. With a bit of luck.

Frank had woken up from a restless sleep and decided to busy himself instead of turning over and over in his bed. He had started to clean the bridge, moved by the need to tidy his steering space as a way to prepare La Quila– or himself– for this last voyage.

Once he was done, he opened a tiny wooden cupboard fixed on the wall opposite to the steering wheel to freshen up his face. It was made of small shelves filled with bottles, topped with a round mirror. He boiled the jug then filled a basin with hot, steaming water. While he was wiping his face with a wet rag, Proxima joined in, eyeing him curiously.

"Good morning girl. I hope you slept better than me. Anyway, today's the day. We'll break the curse and... it's finally over."

Proxima purred softly as asking a question. Frank went into a one sided conversation, like he used to with his jaguar friend. He liked interpreting Proxima's growls. Most of the time, he felt like she understood him. And right now, it was like the jaguar was wondering about Lily and what she would become. It would be sad to part ways...

"Yes, I completely agree. She's very charming," he said peeking through the mirror to eye the sleeping woman lying on the deck's wooden bench. "But you know what? It's my time."

He was met with a concerned growl. Proxima obviously didn't seem to agree. Frank stopped his move and looked the jaguar in the eyes.

"Come on, girl. It was my time long ago. And after today I'm done and... take whatever comes next."

Though his words sounded heavy, Frank did his best to sound cheerful so he could persuade his friend– as well as himself– that everything would be alright.

But he didn't succeed as Proxima was now bowing her head low towards the ground, looking like she was suffering.

"It's okay, you'll be fine. You'll make new friends. It'll be good." 

As hard as he tried, he couldn't help but feel heart-broken seeing Proxima like this. He swallowed with difficulty then looked through the mirror again.

"She'll be fine too," he added looking at Lily who was still sleeping.

He decided to chase away any sad feelings that were climbing through his head and threatened to take him away from his goal. He had made his mind years ago. He couldn't possibly change his course now.
Yet, as he was forcing himself to clear his head, he was replaying every single moment since the day Lily had appeared in front of him in Nilo's office. As well as the clear impression he got, the very instant he laid eyes on her. Astonishment, first, and then that feeling of pure curiosity-fascination-attraction that drove him immediately and warmed his whole body.
He had to be honest with himself: since that moment, everything had changed.

Proxima broke the silence, meowing in a high-pitched tone, making Frank jump.

"No, nothing's changed," he replied quickly, resuming his face-washing. "Plus she doesn't even like my sense of humor. Believe that?"

He chuckled but Proxima continued to stare him with the same curious look in her eyes. A bit disturbed by the jaguar's presence, Frank turned his attention back to the cupboard. His eyes stopped on an old bottle of eau de toilette.

"Ah, I'd forgotten you."

He took the bottle in his hands, turning it over. Thinking to use it for the first time in years. 'Let's do something for myself.'

He opened the bottle and smelled the liquid inside. Smiled at the brought back memories of the past. Then he stamped his palm with a few drops of perfume and vigorously rubbed his hands together before patting his jaws and chin.

And maybe these musing were indeed for himself, or maybe deep down it had a bit to do with the woman sleeping a few feet away. A woman he had grown to like very much, whether it pleased him or not.

One hour later, the sun had fully risen and the day was clear and bright. Lily woke up from a deep sleep and sat up on the bench, looking at the horizon and enjoying the light breeze brushing her cheeks.

"Good morning!" Frank said joyfully, going out of the bridge to join her on the deck.

She turned towards him and smiled in return.

"Good morning, Frank." 

He handed her a cup filled with a dark hot liquid.

"It's for you, sort of repurposed tea. Thought I'd warm it up nice."

He now knew she didn't drink coffee and wanted to prepare a little thing to greet her when she would wake up.

"So sweet, thank you," she replied looking pleased.

Frank sat in front of her on the wooden bench. Holding their cup, they looked at each other, the memory of last night's conversation stirring between them.

Lily felt she was going to be sick if she ever gave thought again to what Frank had said. Instead she focused on the present moment, enjoying this precious time they had together.
While they were travelling, time was unfolding like a parenthesis, allowing some room for them to connect to each other. However, it was not yet the moment to talk about her feelings. She would do so when they'd reach their destination and the problem at hand would rise up again: finding the Tears without parting ways.

Right now, she was happily taking in these quiet minutes with the skipper. Looking him in the eyes, she didn't feel embarrassed or awkward. She even allowed herself a moment to admire his face, going through every part…

…his brown eyes, made a soft velvet and delicately almond-shaped

…the thin brows he often furrowed, when he was thinking

…the dimples on his cheeks, opening deep lines around his soft-pink lips.

Without even thinking, she reached out to softly place one of her hands on his cheek, brushing Frank's skin tenderly.

"You look nice, Skippy," she half-whispered.

Under such a sudden and sweet touch, a wide smile escaped Frank's lips. It was so new and comforting, having Lily touching him like that. He had missed tenderness, he realized that now. And this one caress was inevitably making a mess of himself. Lily could be so unpredictable...

Dizziness filled the air like a wave, the one you couldn't stop even if you wanted to. He had made his mind, right, but he just couldn't help the desire to throw himself wholeheartedly in the ocean that called him and dive into this strange feeling.
Why every little thing happening kept pulling him away from his decision, like a bug buzzing around, a faint distant sound but present enough to make itself heard?

Right now, he was far from caring about that, lost to Lily's touch.
One second he thought returning the gesture, touching her hand, anything… but decided against it at the last second, afraid of what it may mean to him.
One more second and it was too late. Lily removed her hand and brought the cup to her lips.

"Cheers," she said without taking her eyes off him.

"Cheers," he replied, his heart beating fast.

They took a sip. But Lily stopped, frowning, looking at her cup curiously.

"What is that smell?" she whispered, puzzled.

'Oh, she smelled it then.’ Frank brushed his neck with one hand, discreetly gesturing around to disperse the scent of the perfume in the air for Lily to get a better sense of it.

"You like it?" he asked, seductive.

Unfortunately, the answer wasn't the one he was looking for. Wrinkling her nose, Lily replied directly:

"Oh no, it's awful."

'Well. Apparently we don't have the same tastes regarding perfume. Or maybe my nose is blocked and I didn't notice the fragrance smelled that bad.' Baffled, trying to hide his discomfort, Frank said the first thing that came up his mind.

"It's this area of the jungle. It's just it always, huh... smells funny."

To that Lily replied with a "mhmm…", knowingly nodding her head and looking at Frank from the corner of her eye. She had obviously understood the nature of the odd smell but didn’t say anything. All in all, she was touched by Frank and his attempts to please her, even though his taste could sometimes be... disputable.

She waved off the subject of the smell, for which Frank was grateful.

"What do you think we'll find at La Luna Rota?"

He frowned, thinking.

"I don't have the slightest idea. But what I'm sure of is that what we're looking for won't show up easily. We'll have to be clever."

"I have no doubt," she said, giving him a sincere smile. "After all, you and me are quite the good team."

Frank chuckled then looked at her with his most sincere gaze.

"Yes, we are."

A few hours later, when the sun was high in the sky, they arrived at La Luna Rota, reaching the head of the serpent, a high cliff covered with a powerful waterfall. They both stood at the bow of La Quila, looking ahead and around them, wondering what new mystery awaited to be solved.

*****

The reader may know that our beloved characters will have to face two mysteries in place of one: how to unlock the Tears of the Moon and how to decipher their feelings for each other.

But this is another story.