We have reached a glade. It’s almost a miracle to see the sunlight in this hell of leaves. For the first time in 25 days, we hope to be able to navigate by the stars. The sun feels good, it dries our clothes and for the first time we don’t have the feeling that we are being watched all the time, even if we are probably wrong about this. Tukutetcha has not turned up again. A pity, because he was always a source of information about these lizard people. Now we’ve had to fight our own way for several days. The plan to march back to the ships was rejected. Captain Jäger is of the opinion that we are close to our goal and will find the treasure. The crew was not thrilled, nor was I, but orders are orders.
We’ve lost two men since then. Karla, bitten by a bizarre spider that must have crawled into her sleeping bag. And Kurt, who firmly claimed that he had discovered a tuber that would cheer you up. After cooking and eating it, he turned purple and drooled with a grin. Afterwards, he was shaken by cramps and fell asleep forever. No one knows if that’s what he meant by cheering up because he escaped this hell?
I could see dots in the sky in the distance. At first I thought they were birds, probably parrots or something similar. I had read about jungle birds in the library of Altdorf. But the dots got bigger and bigger until they swelled up into huge flying lizards.By God, I didn’t know anything that big could fly. Adorned with blue decorations on their wings and yellow beaks, the lizards glided over us. In their claws they held round balls that glowed blue, as if some kind of fire had been lit inside. I can’t imagine the destructive power behind them. The sight was breathtaking, the sky was littered with these lizards. They seem to be heading east, maybe that’s the direction we need to go? They paid no attention to us, which was probably for the best.
With a sickening feeling, we packed our things and moved on to the northeast. The journey may never end. I pray to Sigmar that we get out of here safely.
Day 46
Carlo Ibanez, scribe of the Marco Colombo expedition, 1492 Lustria
