A Sister’s Gift Read Online Free PDF Page B

‘Cut back?’ I swallow. ‘Are you saying you’re letting me go?’ I can’t keep the crushing disappointment out of my voice no matter how hard I try.
    ‘No, that’s not what I want to do.’ She shakes her head. ‘In fact, it’s the
last
thing I want to do, which is why I’m sending you back first. I’ll explain,’ she says, seeing my confusion. ‘You see this tract of the jungle that we’ve been exploring?’ She turns and indicates the tattered map she’s got pinned up on the tent wall behind her. ‘Here’s us. This part outlined in yellow is the acreage currently managed by Chiquitin-Almeira. We have governmental permission to study and work in all these areas: here, here and
here.’
    I look at her blankly. What’s all this got to do with me?
    ‘Chiquitin-Almeira are still interested in our projects. They want us to stay on in this area for as long as we can because they know that, given the rate of deforestation in other areas, in five years this whole ancient tract will be wiped out, clean. The whole of the Yellow Zone will be torn down by either loggers or other developers.’
    The very thought makes my eyes water. I’ve already seen the huge tracts of forest that are being opened up like scars all around us but I thought our bit was safe. I suspect that this is a large part of why the shaman Tunga, José’s father, has been so keen to open up with me – because I was working with the company who’ve vowed to protect his part of the jungle. What the hell am I going to tell him now?
    ‘Look. There is an outside chance that Chiquitin-Almeira will be back on side with us in about a year to eighteen months from now, when the recession eases, but if our Yellow Zone which we’ve become familiar with and the special relationship which we’ve forged with the Yanomami is allowed to slip away in the meantime…’She doesn’t need to finish.
    ‘So you’re saying, if we can hold on till then, it might still be OK? We have to find a way to fend off the developers till we can get some powerful business or governmental backing?’
    ‘Exactly.’ Eve pushes her short springy hair flat back on her head. ‘We need to stall all logging or pipeline building or any other development in this area. One way to do it might be to buy out the area ourselves.’
    ‘
Us?
You mean PlanetLove?’ I look at her askance. ‘We’ve got no money, have we?’ Eve runs this operation on a shoestring as it is.
    ‘I mean us – me, you, Barry, and the guys. Whoever we can get to donate funds. The figure we need to reach to buy out the Yellow Zone is one million sterling.’
    I hold in my gasp – she might as well ask for the moon – but Eve’s already continuing. ‘Chiquitin-Almeira have promised usa goodwill stake of £250,000. Barry and I and the guys have come up with ideas that’ll net us maybe £350,000. All we need is the remaining £400,000…’
    ‘£400,000!’ I breathe.
    ‘That’s right, and we’ve got to find it within the next three months because that’s when Chiquitin-Almeira pull out.’
    ‘O-K.’ I let out a breath. I still haven’t been told what any of this has got to do with me leaving but I’m getting the picture it’s all much bigger than me.
    ‘Until such time as they do pull out, we’re still all officially appended as part of the company and in their employ. We’re still entitled to apply for all work permits and visas and such, so I’m asking for everyone’s papers to be renewed while we’re still under their banner. You’re the one with the least amount of time left on yours – so you’re going home first. Renewal shouldn’t take you much more than a month or so, I imagine. We’ll ask Professor Klausmann to confirm all the details are still correct and applicable – he sponsored your place here, didn’t he? It looks better coming from him than from us. Then we’ll send it all off while we still have an employer to name on the form. Chiquitin-Almeira are keeping their