7 A Surprise for Antonio

Chapter 7 A Surprise for Antonio

"There he is!" Max cried. It was afternoon now, and he and Sofia had been waiting by the pier near Juliana's. Now Max had spotted Paulo coming around the corner toward them, followed by a group of tourists. Sofia studied their faces. They looked every bit as

disappointed as the group she had seen yesterday. But not for long, she thought. Our plan has to work! Sofia and Max waved to get the tourists' attention. "The tour isn't over yet!" called Max. "Come with us to our final stop on the tour!" cried Paulo. "Satisfaction guaranteed!" The tourists didn't seem convinced. But they followed Paulo to Antonio's fishing boat, which was

tied to the other side of the dock. Antonio was already sitting on board, looking confused. "Want to tell me where we're going?" he called to Paulo. Paulo gave him a nervous smile. "Not yet. We'll direct you." If we can remember the way, thought Max. Paulo spread out a few cushions on the deck of the boat. "Sit here, sit here!" he said, helping an elderly man onto the boat. As soon as the tourists were seated, he reached for the rope to cast off. Then Sofia and Max joined Antonio at the stern. "Head downriver," said Max, pointing ahead. "Follow the curve." It was a beautiful day in the rain forest. The sun filtered through green leaves and glimmered on the water. Sofia would have found it relaxing if she hadn't been so nervous about their plan. Behind her, tourists were beginning to grumble. "Where are we going?" she heard a woman ask. "This is the same as the last tour. No animals at all."

Sofia peeked out from behind the wheel and saw tourists shifting in their seats and starting to stand. Paulo met her gaze. He nibbled his fingernail anxiously and leaned forward, as if willing the boat to go faster. As the boat rounded the bend, Sofia searched for the inlet that would lead them where they wanted to go. Her heart leaped. "There it is!" she said, pointing. Antonio frowned. But he steered the boat into the long, narrow stretch of river all the same. Sofia crossed her fingers that they were leading Antonio and his boat full of tourists in the right direction. She sucked in her breath as the clay lick slowly came into view. Yes!

It was covered with scarlet macaws! They blanketed the muddy banks like patches of wildflowers in a barren desert. When one took off, two more would land. Others circled and squawked overhead, waiting for their turn. Max gasped. "They're everywhere!" he cried. The tourists had begun to chatter excitedly, whipping out their phones to take pictures. As the brilliant red birds wheeled around the boat, there was a chorus of oohs and aahs. "This is more like it," said one of the ladies who