The Lost Steps

The narrator fantasizes that he and the others are conquistadors in search of the mythical Kingdom of Manoa. As they venture deeper into the jungle, he imagines Fray Pedro as a colonial chaplain and the Adelantado as a general.

They discover a hidden entrance marked by unique symbols carved into a tree. The path is challenging, as they must navigate through a narrow, vine-entangled tunnel. The endless green stirs a deep, primal fear in the narrator despite his companions remaining calm.

As they continue, the humidity and swarms of insects add to his discomfort. The buzzing of flies around a dead alligator horrifies the narrator, and he seeks Rosario for comfort.

As night falls quickly, the group sets up camp. The jungle’s nocturnal sounds surround them, making the narrator more afraid.

After a scary night in the jungle, the narrator feels victorious as he watches the sunrise. He thinks he has conquered his fear of the dark and the jungle and thus passed what he calls his “First Trial.” However, the sunrise is not as bright and beautiful as he expected, and it seems to mock his sense of triumph. He realizes that the ancient connection between humans and nature, where light meant safety from danger, has been lost.