Lost in Rio

By Claire Montgomery

In February 1985, three brothers and their wives travel to Rio de Janeiro to see the carnival. On the last day of their holiday, one of the women disappears in a busy marketplace. Despite a frantic search, the others have to return to Britain and leave the search to the Brazilian police. They are left to wonder and worry about what happened to Jean. There was no ransom note, and the money in her bank account was never touched. Seven years later, her husband, Norman, has to go through the distressing procedure to have his wife, Jean, declared to be missing presumed dead. How could an English woman simply disappear? Is she being held against her will and forced to live in one of the favelas? Is she still alive, or has she been killed and buried in a secret grave? Will they ever discover the truth about what happened to Jean? Will she ever be found, or will she remain forever lost in Rio?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496984401

Claire Montgomery

Claire is now fully retired so she and her husband are able to divide their time between their two homes; one in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the other in the Western Isles of Scotland. Two very different locations which she and her husband love passionately and retirement allows her to devote more time to her family and her many hobbies. Claire and her husband usually holiday in Hawaii, the largest but quietest island in the Hawaiian Island chain although this year they plan to return to Brazil, the first time for many years.This is Claire’s third novel. Previously published were “Tarnished Lives Tainted Dreams” followed by the sequel, “Silken Threads Tangled Webs.” Coming soon will be “Ever or Never” followed by “Consuming Obsession.”

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AuthorHouse™ UK Ltd.

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© 2014 Claire Montgomery. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/01/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8439-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-8440-1 (e)

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is dedicated to my eldest grandson

Ceri

When Ceri first heard me outline the story he was quick to say:

‘I really want to read that book’

So Ceri, I hope you enjoy reading it as

much as I’ve enjoyed writing it!

For Ceri

Contents

Acknowledgements

About the Author

About the Book

Prologue

The Brazilian Experience … and Norman

Marilyn

Sadie

Cheryl

Karen

Jean

Philip

Neil

The Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Firstly I’d like to thank my husband, Peter who has supported me tirelessly through this journey. Peter has listened to every storyline, printed out numerous hard copies and even done some proof reading.

Grateful thanks to Dyfed Powys Police and in particular, officer Carl Price, who assisted me by supplying information regarding missing persons.

Thanks to The Border Control Agency and the Passport Office for clarifying certain details.

A big thank you to my friends and family who have encouraged me to complete the work.

Last but not least the internet, from where I was able to access so much valuable information.

About the Author

IMG_1427.jpeg

Claire is now fully retired so she and her husband divide their time between their two homes; one in the Brecon Beacons National Park and the other in the Western Isles of Scotland.Two very different locations which she and her husband love passionately and retirement allows her to devote more time to her family and her many hobbies. Claire and her husband usually holiday in Hawaii, the largest but quietest island in the Hawaiian chain although this year they plan to return to Brazil, the first time for many years.

This is Claire’s third novel. Previously published was, Tarnished Lives Tainted Dreams followed recently by the sequel, Silken Threads Tangled Webs. Claire is currently working on two more novels.

About the Book

In February 1985 three brothers and their wives holiday in Rio de Janeiro to explore the country and see the carnival. On the last day of their holiday one of the women disappears in a busy market place. Despite a frantic search she is nowhere to be found and the rest of the party have to return to Britain and leave the search to the Brazilian police. They are left to wonder and worry about what happened to Jean. There was no ransom note and the money in her bank account was never touched. Seven years later her husband, Norman, goes through the distressing process of having his wife, Jean, declared to be missing presumed dead. How and why could an English woman simply disappear? Is she still alive or has she been killed and buried in a secret grave or is she being held against her will, forced to live in one of the favelas?

Will they ever discover the truth about what happened to Jean?

Will she ever be found or will she remain forever Lost in Rio.

Prologue

"If ONLY … those must be the two saddest words in the world."

Mercedes Lackey

"Who am I? I am who I say I am

and tomorrow, someone else entirely."

White Oleander

"At times I wish I could change the past …

but sometimes the past changes you."

unknown

If I could turn back time.

Cher lyrics

S ome people dream about living someone else’s life just for a day or two; I recall some of my friends saying that they would love to step into the shoes of their favourite singer or film star and live their lives, if only for a day, but I never ever felt like that!

I just loved being me and although there were things I would like to have, or things I would like to do, I never felt that I wanted to change places with anyone else in the whole world. It always puzzled me when I heard them talk about it, I mean, I know that everyone has to have a dream, there has to be something else to wish for but that’s not the same; that is normal and life would be so tedious if there was nothing left to desire but I would never want to actually live another person’s life.

Then I awoke one morning and realised that, if it were possible, I would change places with almost anyone else in the world … and not just for one day. If I could step into the shoes of almost any other person surely it had to be a better life than mine was. This realisation was so shocking; I had never ever imagined that I could feel that way. Had anyone asked me the question, years ago, I would have laughed at them but it was true, it was real and yet this wasn’t the same as those childish dreams that my friends had talked about years ago. I didn’t want to be rich and famous; I just wanted to be an ordinary person living an ordinary life in an ordinary world, someone else, anyone else but me!

This remarkable turn around came about as a result of one chance meeting. At the time I had no idea that this casual meeting would have such catastrophic consequences and yet it had channelled a roller coaster effect; my charmed life ceased and my life had become a miserable existence, like that in your very worst nightmare.

Of course at the time of the meeting I had no idea that the consequences would be so devastating and in truth I thought, at the time, that my life was promising to be even better than it was then! So what does that say? What does that say about the whole sorry business?

If I could relive my life and change just one thing it would be that meeting but things don’t happen that way and once something has happened there is no going back. It’s called kismet; fate steps in and destiny is sealed.

***

The Brazilian

Experience … and Norman

"Sometimes only one person is missing

And the whole world seems depopulated."

Alphonse de Lamartine

1790 - 1869

"I’m holding on to something that used to be there

Hoping it will come back, knowing that it won’t."

Unknown

"When one door closes another opens; but we often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us"

Alexander Graham Bell

Chapter one

Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, February 24th 1985

I t was a typical Brazilian Sunday morning and four British tourists were strolling through the popular market, just off Queen Elizabeth Avenue and close to the famous Ipanema beach, enjoying the last day of their holiday. One minute all four were walking together, laughing excitedly as they made their last minute purchases in the busy market, souvenirs for themselves and small gifts for their family and friends but the next minute one of them had vanished, it was as though she had evaporated into thin air.

Despite the frantic searches by her husband and family and the police investigations she was not to be found; indeed, Jean Rossiter would never be seen again although at the time no one could contemplate such a shocking outcome.

No one had noticed anything unusual but even if they had they probably wouldn’t have admitted it! People were afraid to see too much; Brazil was a fascinating country but it had a dark side, a side that tourists rarely witnessed, a side that local people were all too aware of and knew the wisdom of maintaining ignorance.

During the initial search one of her sandals was found just outside the market area, it’s strap had broken, but other than that there were no clues as to how or why she had disappeared.

The Brazilian police shook their heads in despair, they had seen such things happen before, Rio was a dangerous city. Many people had been known to disappear never to be seen again although, admittedly, never before had a British tourist disappeared and certainly not a woman. They shrugged their shoulders, murmured words of sympathy but said their hands were tied; there was little they could do, Mrs Rossiter would most likely have been spirited away and taken deep into the shanty town, the favela, where twenty percent of Rio de Janeiro’s inhabitants lived.

The favela was the Brazilian version of the American ghetto; that vast area on the outskirts of the city where no police officer dared to venture alone or to ask awkward questions for were he to do so he would never be permitted to leave alive. The only hope they could offer was that there might be a ransom demand but if not … well, they would just have to be patient, they would have to sit back, wait and hope.

Norman Rossiter was furious, how was it that something like this could happen in broad daylight and how could such an incident fail to attract attention? Having been in Brazil for a couple of weeks they were all pretty clued up about tourist behaviour, they knew never to display any wealth; they tried to dress like Brazilians … they all sported a pair of the traditional Brazilian slippers … and they had learned not to even look at a street trader but to say no obrigado, which meant no thanks, if a trader approached them. Why hadn’t Jean stuck closer to them and why hadn’t she screamed out for help when the man or men … because it had to be men … had accosted her?

Norman asked the same questions over and over again; why would any gangster organisation choose to kidnap an English woman and why Jean? They were just ordinary people, they weren’t well known figures and they certainly weren’t rich or famous. Norman was a psychologist and Jean was just an ordinary salaried general practitioner in a small medical practice; they were just a group of British citizens enjoying the last day of what had been, until that moment, a wonderful, idyllic holiday.

One officer had suggested that maybe Jean had been wearing too much jewellery and had given the impression that she was carrying a lot of money or other valuables but Norman had quickly put them right on that theory. Jean had removed all her jewellery including her wedding and engagement rings before coming on holiday and they were safely stored at home, in their small wall safe, together with his own wedding ring and his treasured Rado watch.

Rado watches had taken the world by storm back in the 1960s when they had produced the world’s first scratch proof watch. People were amazed because they had never seen anything so innovative as far as time pieces were concerned. Instead of using gold, brass and steel commonly used by other watch makers they chose to use more futuristic high-tech materials such as lanthanum, sapphire crystal, titanium and high-tech ceramics. These materials are very durable and can handle almost any activity thrown their way without the risk of surface scratching. When Norman had learned about them he had been determined to possess one and to date no one else, that he knew, owned one. Norman liked to impress, he liked to be different, to stand out in a crowd.

They had all been warned of the dangers of displaying too much wealth which was why the women had left most of their jewellery at home and why they had all bought cheap watches especially for the holiday. Norman had done his homework well and had advised each one of the dangers of pick pockets and of looking and behaving like a tourist and until now they had had no problems at all.

Jean had been carrying an inconspicuous looking dark blue duffle bag … not even a new one … and the others were all carrying similar bags which made the group look just like any other market shoppers.

Another officer suggested that there had been some sort of argument between the couples and that Jean had simply walked away in anger.

‘I’m sure that Mrs Rossiter will be waiting for you back at your hotel’ he had said, completely ignoring Norman’s swift denial of this ridiculous notion ‘and if she is not there, she will be waiting for you at the airport this evening.’

‘Jean would never behave in the way you are implying.’ Norman had replied hotly adding, ‘in any case, there was no argument, we were all together having the most marvellous time but moments later she had just disappeared, vanished into thin air! Something terrible has happened to my wife, someone somewhere is holding her against her will and doing God knows what to her and I want to know what you intend to do about it.’

It was to no avail, the officer continued to insist that the situation would resolve itself.

‘These things happen, sir, Mrs Rossiter will, no doubt, have gone away to cool off, I am sure that if she is not at your hotel then she will be at the airport waiting for you.’

Nigel and Lesley, Norman’s younger brother and his wife, attempted to take charge of the situation, to organise a more thorough search of the area as Norman seemed incapable of thinking clearly but even they had to admit that the situation was impossible; it was such an enormous undertaking that was made more exasperating as there were no clues to follow and the Brazilian police seemed to have given up almost before they had began.

They were due to fly home later that evening so time was of the essence and besides, the longer that Jean was missing the more difficult it would be to trace her. Poor Jean, she must be so frightened, she wouldn’t know what to do, how to react, she had never needed to think for herself, she had always been content to sit back and let Norman take charge. It was Norman who drew up timetables for their day to day needs; Norman planned their time off, their holidays, in fact, Norman organised their entire lifestyle, it was what he was good at and since meeting him, Jean had never had to worry about such mundane things. Norman would look at their work schedules and plan monthly timetables for their shopping trips, the household chores and their leisure activities and everything ran like clockwork, until today that is, until Jean had been careless and had wandered away from them and made herself vulnerable to the criminal fraternity.

***

Travelling back to Britain without her was unthinkable and yet Norman had an important interview on Tuesday; one that could, effectively, transform their lives and missing that appointment was not an option he was prepared to consider. He had to go home to keep that engagement even if it meant that he had to return to Rio at the end of the week to continue the search for Jean and to bring her home. He could delegate a junior to take his place, to run his clinics for another week or so but he had to attend the interview on Tuesday.

He and Jean had spent hours, days and weeks even, discussing how the outcome of the interview would affect their lives and Jean was just as excited at the prospect as he was. She would have to give up her current position but she could soon get another; general practitioners were always in demand and she could even buy into a partnership now as with the change in their financial circumstances they could easily afford it and a partnership would be a good investment.

Jean’s parents had died two years earlier and the grocery store which they had run together for so many years had been sold almost immediately. Initially Jean had been reluctant to sell the family home, the house that she had grown up in which held so many precious memories but after renting it out for a few months, she had finally agreed that it was more trouble than it was worth and had put it on the market. The house was in a prime location and had attracted a good deal of interest yet the sale had taken considerably longer than they had anticipated but now the money was sitting comfortably in their joint savings account. They had no ties, they didn’t plan to even think about starting a family for at least another five years and even then it would depend on their work and their lifestyle.

This opportunity for promotion had only presented itself four months ago but prearranged commitments were taken into consideration and so the interview date had been scheduled to coincide with their return home. Norman was confident that the outcome would be positive; he had already made quite a name for himself and although there were two other candidates being interviewed for the position neither of them had Norman’s experience. The job was in the bag, so to speak.

Norman sighed as he accepted that for now he would have to leave the search in the hands of the Brazilian police officers who would probably do very little once he had left Rio. Nigel and Lesley had offered to stay on for a few more days but it would have been pointless, apart from being around, what more could they do? Besides, Nelly and Shelly were staying on for another week and so they would be on hand to monitor the search and try to keep the Brazilian police focussed on the case. Hopefully Jean would be able to travel home with them and Norman would be saved the expense and time of having to make two more long flights.

Neil was the eldest of the three Rossiter brothers and Cheryl was his wife, the whole idea for the trip had been Neil’s. He and Cheryl had been planning the holiday for more than a year, eager to see and experience the famous Brazilian carnival and when he had mentioned their plans to his brothers they had quickly warmed to the idea and suggested making it a family event. Jean and Lesley had been equally enthusiastic, the carnival at Rio was world famous and this sounded an exciting opportunity to visit Brazil and participate in the fun.

They had flown out to Rio on the eleventh of February and the carnival had started on the sixteenth. It was a five day event which would end, traditionally, with the Ash Wednesday mass on the twenty-first of February. Revellers dressed as clowns, ballet dancers and eighteenth century kings ended the last carnival ball, at the lush Scala night club, with a walk to nearby Ipanema beach for a quick swim in the South Atlantic. As the last celebrants withdrew from night clubs and impromptu street corner events, Cardinal Eugenio Sales said an Ash Wednesday mass in Rio’s modern downtown cathedral.

This year’s parade had featured the boldest presence ever; topless women, including television actresses and models, dancing down the avenue in nothing but bikini bottoms and spray glitter.

Later, Norman would hear that the death rate that year had been one hundred and forty-one, thirty lower than the previous year. It was also reported that there had been six drownings and four murders but there was no mention of a missing person and despite all his persistent questioning, nothing, not one word, about Jean’s disappearance was ever made public. There had been no posters or television appeals; it was as though the Brazilian authorities either weren’t interested or had given up on the search before it had even begun. They refused to acknowledge that anything untoward had happened.

Norman had voiced his concern that the police were in someway involved in all this, that they knew who had taken Jean and knew their reasons but were afraid to admit them. The consul had thrown up his hands in horror when Norman expressed these thoughts and had advised him in the strongest possible terms never to repeat these insinuations outside his office; such aspersions would not be well received and there could be very serious repercussions, very serious indeed.

‘I don’t think you have any idea just how things work here in Brazil’ he had said, ‘the police are very poorly paid and it certainly wouldn’t do to upset them by making such serious allegations, need I say more?’

***

Neil and Cheryl had not been at the market with the others that morning, they had decided to revisit the symbol of Rio de Janeiro … the statue of Christ the Redeemer … and so they were not yet aware of this nightmare situation. On their previous visit Neil had run out of film and had not been able to take as many photographs as he would have liked so they had decided to revisit the monument instead of going to the market with the others.

The distinctive statue of Christ the Redeemer, arms spread to welcome the world, rests on top of Rio’s Corcovado Mountain, 2,330 feet above the beaches below and is accessed by way of a miniature train that runs from the Cosme Vehlo district through the Atlantic rainforest to the foot of the statue.

The idea for erecting a large statue on top of Corcovado was first suggested in the mid 1850s but Princess Isabel did not think much of the idea and refused to finance it and so in 1859, when Brazil became a republic with laws mandating the separation of church and state, the idea was dismissed.

The second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain was made in 1921 and once the design had been approved the construction, which would take nine years, began in 1922. The statue stands one hundred and thirty feet tall, is ninety-eight feet wide and weighs a massive six hundred and thirty-five tonnes and in later years this monument would be voted one of the seven new wonders of the modern world.

The train ride offers stunning vistas of Rio and the view from the summit is breathtaking. Spread out beneath the statue is the Tijuca Forest, resplendent with attractions to enchant visitors in the cool of the rainforest among natural pools and waterfalls. There is, for example, the Mayrink chapel which features murals painted by Candido Portinari, one of Brazil’s best known modern artists and the Museu do Acude, housing colonial furniture and a collection of china from the East India Company.

Neil and Cheryl had arranged to meet the other four later that afternoon for a farewell drink before they left for the airport. The other four had left their suitcases and holdalls in the luggage room at their hotel and had been promised the use of a room where they could shower and freshen up before leaving for the airport.

Nelly and Shelly, as the others called them affectionately, would be appalled when they heard about Jean’s disappearance. Neil had been nicknamed Nelly when the brothers were young, Nigel had been unable to pronounce his name and the closest he had got was Nelly and the name had stuck. Cheryl’s name had conveniently abbreviated to Shelly which rhymed with Nelly and so they were rarely called by their given names within the family.

Nigel, the younger of the three brothers, was known as Niggles; as a small boy he had constantly tried to keep up with his older brothers who had considered him to be a bit of a nuisance as he was always niggling to join in their games and generally interfering with their fun and so Niggles had seemed a very appropriate nick name for him.

Norman was the middle Rossiter brother and he had been teased mercilessly about his name when he was growing up; other boys at school were known to say things like, ‘Norman, you just ain’t normal’ or ‘you’ll never be normal Norman’ and had taunted him relentlessly. Some of the boys had even seized on his surname calling him rosser the tosser which was even worse! He had hated this sort of name calling at the time although he had taken care never to show it as the boys would have teased him even more but when he had chosen his profession he had seized the joke with enthusiasm and would introduce himself saying, ‘Pleased to meet you, I’m Nearly Normal Norman.’

***

Norman found it difficult to concentrate, he was so used to being in control and leading situations so this was a novel and exceedingly uncomfortable experience for him.

Neil had to remind him to leave Jean’s passport with him in Brazil; with any luck she would turn up and she would need her passport to get home. The British embassy in Brasilia had been contacted and were on the case, so to speak but the consul in Rio didn’t seem too hopeful and to be truthful, seemed just a bit too condescending, almost as though they too had given up hope even before they started investigations, as though they believed that Jean’s disappearance was final.

Nelly and Niggles were surprised when Norman continued with his plans to return home, both of them felt that his wife’s disappearance should hold more importance than any job interview but they didn’t voice these thoughts, Norman was an enigma he was definitely his own man and didn’t take kindly to criticism.

Neil had expressed his thoughts to Cheryl as the others left for the airport and Nigel had, in private, expressed his feelings on the subject to Lesley. Both wives felt strongly that Norman’s reaction to his wife’s disappearance was odd and both had questioned their husbands about what they would do if it was one of them who was missing.

‘I don’t think I could ever forgive you if you put your work before me’ Cheryl had said, ‘I know money and career development are important but surely Jean’s welfare should come first, second and last and there will always be other career opportunities.’

Lesley’s sentiments had been similar but the deed was done and Norman had made his decision without consulting anyone, he hadn’t asked his brothers for their opinion on the subject, he probably didn’t care anyway, with Norman it was always my way or no way.

***

Chapter two

N orman had returned to Britain for his interview and the outcome had been just as he’d expected; he was the right man for the job, he was going places but for the time being it seemed he was going forward without Jean!

Norman had always prided himself on the fact that Jean relied on him, that she needed him and was unable to function without him and so he was surprised to find how different life was without her. He soon came to realise that his life had been orderly and effortless because of Jean’s influence and not in spite of it! He had thought he was the leader, the planner and the organiser but now he faced the reality that it was Jean’s quiet, methodical influence

Reviews for Lost in Rio

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating read. This version is a translation of Cabeza de Vaca's account, but also lets us know where his account differs from the joint account by the few survivors of the journey. It also recounts some of the details unearthed by Carl Sauer and Cleve Hallenbeck in the 1930s which confirm many of the details in the journal.The details of how little they ate and still survived amaze me. Not to mention the fact that the tribes would eat mostly one food while it was in season, then move on to the next. I wish the book had included a map to follow his trail. The insights of a person who lived among the various tribes not as a conqueror, but as a slave give perspective. He managed to better his situation by learning the languages of several tribes so that he could act as a go-between and do trading back and forth. In that way he was able to gain a little, and he was on the path most of the time alone, so avoided the beatings which were common. He described many of the customs of the people, which seem bizarre to our materialistic culture, such as that when a tribe brought a healer among their neighbors, they would go and pilfer everything they wanted from the homes, then when the pilfered people took the healer to the next tribe, they would do the same. Since the tribes didn't live in one place long, but constantly moved to find the next food source, I don't imagine there was much to pilfer.In the end, the four survivors became healers. Not by choice, but because the tribes they were among at the time decided that they were. So, praying for the people, and blowing on them, then making the sign of the cross, they would pray for healing with all their hearts, because if the people were not healed, they would put the healers to death! The people were healed, many times and miraculously, so that these four became a legend. Rather than take advantage of that though, they seem to have grown compassion for the natives. I believe that their own faith was strengthened and refined, or at least Cabeza de Vaca's was. They did use their power to make the tribes take them to the "Christians" further on (down in Mexico), but they made sure that each tribe had food distributed evenly, and that they did not leave one person without a blessing. When they arrived to the place where the "Christians" were, they found that the land was deserted, the natives had fled in terror because they didn't want to be enslaved. Cabeza de Vaca and the others went to the Governor at that place and protested about the treatment and misunderstandings. In this one place, that changed the way the natives were treated. At least until these four men went home to Spain.In spite of our present feeling about the results of this period of history, I believe it is important to read this sort of first person material to gain perspective. In reading it, it becomes clear how the jumble of history can happen one person at a time through misunderstandings, differing personalities and distant uncomprehending governments with their own agendas.

[varielle_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the horrifying misadventure of Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca. He relates to the Spanish king what befell his fellow Spaniards in their exploration of the new world. The large host he began with, upon reaching Florida, was eventually destroyed by shipwreck, disease, malnourishment and the predations of the indigenous inhabitants. After spending many years making his way up Florida, across the Gulf Coast, through northern Mexico, down the Pacific coast before finally making it home again, only he and three others managed to survive. His detail of the never before seen flora, fauna and descriptions of the various tribes he encountered provided a wealth of detail regarding customs and general anthropology. The survivors went from being abused by the natives to being perceived as medical men with the power to heal and were followed by adoring tribes everywhere they went. When finally encountering fellow Spaniards again, he was horrified by their enslavement and mistreatment of the Indians. He provides new meaning to the word survival as his detail of the suffering they endured and what they had to do to survive makes one ache for them. This would make an excellent adventure film as it touches upon so many aspects of culture clash and wonder.

[tnilsson_24 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can't add much to tinkettleinn's review of this book. De Vaca and his crew are essentially murderous Keystone Kops who more or less aimlessly wander around Southeastern America 500 years ago in search of food, shelter, and (unwilling) native guides while trying to find a way home. Along the way they enslave, murder, kidnap, torture, and steal all of the food of the natives (when they have the upper hand), and are themselves enslaved by, or work at minor jobs for, the natives (when they don't have the upper hand). De Vaca and his crew lose and find one-another over and over again throughout the narrative, bumbling around under the author and a few of his compatriots almost accidentally find their way back to "civilization."De Vaca's account is not a pleasant read, but it gives insight into the biased world-view of a Spanish adventurer and the lives of the natives living in Southeastern America 500 years ago. It is an interesting read, and educational, but not light or enjoyable by any means. My star rating reflects a compromise between 5 stars for educational/historic merit and 1 star for enjoyable/happy reading.

[wesh_17 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating read. It was amazing how he kept finding and losing his shipmates.