He stood, dripping, and walked from the water, thinking he shouldn’t leave his backpack—even if he wanted to be a free spirit like Natal. It was good to give; it wasn’t good to have what he had stolen.
He rose from the water, sweeping back his hair, water dripping from his physique. At that moment, his mind on his backpack.
But there she was. Natal.
She was wearing a full skirt, sandals, a white peasant blouse, and a huge sun hat. She took off the hat and waved it when she spotted him.
As she stood there, dazzling beneath golden rays, he thought that she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
And she had come to meet him; she had somehow known to come down to the sand and the water when she hadn’t seen him in front of the Copacabana Palace.
He forced himself not to run at breakneck speed toward her; he smiled and waved in return and trotted out of the water.
As he neared her, he saw the little scamps he’d seen earlier—heading for his backpack. He veered off his path.
Natal followed his gaze and saw what was about to happen. She turned quickly and raced toward River’s little canga station on the beach. He could hear her telling them that they were little robbers and would wind up in jail.
He shouted loudly—emphasizing that Natal was not alone, and that he was on his way back.
By the time he reached the canga, the kids were gone—but Natal was there, tall and indignant.
“The urchins know you are about. When will they learn not to steal?” she demanded.
“When they’re taught not to do so.”
She rested her hands on either side of her waist. “You mustn’t think we’re a bad people.”
“I don’t think that at all; I think you’re wonderful people,” he assured her.
She flushed. “I sneak on buses. I take a few coins—but only when I leave something behind, and the bus is going where it is going whether I sneak on or not. I like the challenge, you see—but never to hurt anyone else. I try to help people.”
“I know that you do—please, I don’t think badly at all of the Brazilian people. I’m here because I’m fascinated with your country.”
“There are just some people … sometimes children wind up without homes and the system can’t always manage or isn’t really in place. And they are taken under the wing of men who are less than scrupulous. And taught to steal. I hate that it happens in my country.”
He nodded. “Natal, it’s not just Brazil. Think about Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist. Poor Oliver! First, he’s in a workhouse, then he’s with an undertaker, then he finds the Artful Dodger—and the next thing you know, he meets the evil Fagin! Please, I know—it’s not just Brazil.”
“Dickens,” she said. “Yes, I have read Dickens. He knew people, eh?”
“The bad—and the good,” River said. “I gave those kids money earlier; my fault. They know that I have bills in my backpack. I’m usually more careful.”
“It’s good to give—it’s not good to steal. I’m sorry. They are young, but … the young get lost. Dickens, though. Yes, you’re right. And I love his work. You love his work?”
River nodded. “A Tale of Two Cities is my favorite.”
Natal smiled at him, tossing her sun hat on the canga. “And mine.” She slid her hands down his bare wet arms. “You’ve been swimming. Very good. We’ll have to bury the backpack—no! I will ask the older lady with the blanket on her knees to watch over our space. I want to feel the water and the sun.”
She pulled her white blouse over her head and shimmied out of her skirt, revealing a bikini beneath.
River struggled not to stare.
“Wait one minute,” she said, seemingly oblivious to the effect she was having on him. “I will ask her to watch.”
“For thieving children?”
“Don’t underestimate the goodness in people either, my friend,” she replied.
She took his hand and hurried over to the woman she had referred to—an older lady sitting under an umbrella who, despite the heat, did indeed have a blanket on her lap.
He waved to the woman with a smile and as Natal spoke, he indicated his backpack. She nodded at him and looked at Natal.
Natal came back and caught his hand. “Come, let’s get in the water.”
“She’s pretty old,” he said quietly, indicating the woman. “Think she can guard my stuff?”
Natal laughed. “She carries a mean cane, my friend. She will stop any little rascals. Trust me—they will know to fear her.”
Something about the day still seemed to tug at River’s mind. In the far reaches, he knew that he couldn’t forget Tio Amato.
But with Natal before him …
He had to let it go.
“Come!” She released his hand and ran for the water.
He ran after her, splashing back into the cool surf, laughing as the saltwater hit his eyes, as the sand oozed through his toes. She was swimming with long, easy strokes; he swam after her.
She paused suddenly, turning back to splash him.
He splashed her in return. There were some children, perhaps between the ages of eight and twelve, in the water. They laughed and got into the splashing game. Soon, everyone was splashing everyone and having an all-out water war and tremendous fun.
River dove beneath the water and came up directly in front of Natal. She couldn’t quite manage a splash that didn’t get her too. The saltwater stung River’s eyes but he didn’t really notice. Natal was so easy in the water. The children were children.
“Hey,” he said softly, treading water hard with his legs and slipping his arms around her.
“Hey,” she said in return. “Behave—there are children.”
“Of course. I always behave.”
“I doubt that,” she told him, but she remained in his hold for a minute before pointing to the boats farther out.
“They are partying—we should join them.”
“Do you know them?”
“No,” she said. “Do you?”
“No, so perhaps—”
“Perhaps we shouldn’t join them?” Natal supplied. “Don’t be silly.”
“They may not want us.”
“But they will. This is Rio—and it is Carnaval season.”
She escaped his hold and swam straight out toward deeper water. He followed her and saw that she was heading to one of the boats.
There were people partying on the boat, their music playing loudly. They had cups of wine and beer and food spread out on one of the back cushions.
They waved to him and Natal.
Natal spoke to them in Portuguese—she spoke quickly, and he didn’t think that he could follow what she was saying. River, not wanting to look like a fool, greeted them with his broken Portuguese.
But the people on the boat were young and welcoming—and in a party mood. It seemed the more the merrier; there were two young men and three young women aboard. Before River knew what was happening, the partiers were insisting that they join them. Natal swam for the ladder; he did the same.
A pretty young woman with light hair and eyes helped him onto the boat.
“Americano! Join us!” she said.
Someone had given Natal a glass of wine; he quickly found one in his hands as well. Those on board were all chatting and moving to the music and having fun.
“Samba!” Natal exclaimed.