Jungle Crossing Read Online Free PDF

like my dad's friend Paul."
    "Don't let him bother you." I put my arm around Barb and gave Nando a piercing look. "He's just making that stuff up. He has no idea about his ancestors. Plus the Spanish conquered all the Mayans and Aztecs a million years ago." I shot Nando another look. "I learned about that in fourth grade." I patted Barb's shoulder. "You'll learn all about it next year."
    The girls in the back started singing pop songs, reminding me about the time Fiona sang on the escalator at the mall so we'd all chip in and buy her a pair of earrings. Why hadn't I just sucked up my fear and sat with them? I could've told them about how the security guard told Fiona to "settle down or suffer the consequences," so she made us buy her two pairs of earrings.
    "Your American teachers don't know anything." Nando glared at me. "You think just because the Maya stopped making big buildings, they're all gone."
    "Is the treasure all gone?" Barb asked with a bit of a sniffle.
    "There are many treasures left to discover," Nando said. "Archaeologists like Señor Paul find new ones every day."
    Barb lifted her chin and looked straight at Nando. "Are you mad at Paul?"
    "No. He's okay. But I still think my people's treasure should stay right here in Mexico. It belongs to us."
    "I promise to give you all the treasure I find," Barb said. "And I'll tell Paul, I mean Señor Paul, to do the same thing."
    Nando fought a smile.
    "Whatever," I muttered. Little suck-up. I looked out the window at the tangled jungle of low trees, wondering if that pile of rocks we'd passed had once been a temple or something.
    Barb glanced out the window. "How do you know where to look? Is there treasure right there?" She pointed.
    "No. They're building another stupid hotel." Nando rolled his eyes. "We know about our treasures from old stories, ruins, and—"
    Barb leaned forward. "Do you know any stories?"
    "I'm not going to waste my stories on American
turistas.
"
    "Please? I mean
por favor.
I promise not to tell anyone," Barb said in a low voice. "Promise." She pretended to lock her lips with a key. Should I remind her about the time she told Fiona that I didn't really need a bra?
    "Yeah, you're real good at keeping secrets," I said.
    "Kat has to promise too, right?" Barb scrunched her nose at me.
    "Don't worry. I'm not even listening." I leaned back and closed my eyes. If only I'd ignored reason number 8 (bandits) and brought my iPod anyway.
    "Sometimes I make up stories—like the ones
mi bisabuela—
"
    "Great-grandmother," I interpreted.
    Nando shot me a look. "Like I said before being interrupted, I make up stories like
mi bisabuela
used to tell. Except I add more adventure."
    "Oh, that's my favorite kind!" Barb jumped up and sat in Nando's seat. "Tell me!" she said about a hundred times. He fell for her cutesy routine—just like Dad always does.
    Nando began, "Long after the gods created the Mayan people out of maize, that means corn—" He shook his head at me.
    "Duh," I said under my breath.
    "Yet long before the Spaniards came to destroy their kingdoms..." Nando continued.
    "Wait," Barb said. "Why are the Mayan people made of corn?"
    Nando sighed. "Are you going to interrupt with questions the whole time?"
    "Just this one. Promise." Barb closed her lips tight.
    "The gods wanted to create creatures who would worship them. First they made the animals, but they couldn't talk. Then the gods created people out of mud, but when it rained, they fell apart. Then the gods created people out of wood, but they had no feelings, so the gods washed them away in a big flood. Finally, the gods created people out of corn, and they turned out just right." He turned around to look at me again, but I whipped my head back to see why everyone was laughing. Monique crossed her arms across her chest because her boobs had been bouncing all over the place. At least I didn't have to worry about that, but my stomach felt like it was jiggling its way up to my