Plants

'Okay,' he said, 'I think we've found it.' He leafed through his pocketbook, 'The handy book of tropical plants' - he had many of similar wording - to verify his findings.1

'Have a look at this.' He called it over his shoulder. She came and crouched in the leafy undergrowth next to him, and studied it in wonder.2

'It's stunning!' She said, looking at his shining, triumphant face, then back to the plant. It was small, but beautifully formed, and shockingly purple. 'Wait, I'll take a photo. You get on and sketch it. I'm hungry, and the rain'll be coming soon. Wow! I can't believe it's just here, here, in like, the middle of the jungle!'3

He chuckled low in his throat, rocking on his heels as he depicted the plant in long, swift strokes. 'We'll pick a sample tomorrow. There's sure to be a few around.'4

They stood up, and made their way through the trees back to the truck. She moved with the agility of a born dancer, her feet hardly skimming the ground. He lumbered on more slowly, with his eyes on the plants around him. They were both tall, dark, slim. They had both lived in Egypt for most of their lives, and had been working together for a couple of years now. She danced as a job, he was a biologist.5

As they moved through the forest, it became quiet. The sun no longer shone and danced through the leaves, and birds settled. There was a distant grumble of thunder, and she looked at him, worried.6

'Rain! We haven't time to get to the truck!' She had to yell over the rising wind.7

'We've a chance! Just move as fast as you can. Go!' He dragged her along, and they leapt over branches, streams, ditches. And the rain began.8

It was literally like standing under a shower that is going at full pelt, and is about two inches from your head.9

She slipped. 'I can't go any further! Please! Stop.' She shrieked, and he stopped, panting. Her face was desperate, her hair streaming into her eyes.10

'Okay,' He said, 'Come here.'11

She moved towards him, and they sat down on the carpet of leaves. He put his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. In the failing light they seemed to be Siamese twins, alone in a wild, hostile landscape.12