In this nonfictional narrative, the author, Rudolf K. Braun, used the actual names of the participants, as most of them are deceased. The author gives small glimpses of his early childhood during and after WWII in Germany.
In 1951, his entire family, parents, and two siblings immigrated to Bolivia, South America. During the five years, 1951-1956, life became a struggle for sheer survival. During that time, he became acquainted with a well-known German expeditioner, Hannes Ertl.
The expeditioner hired the author to explore the depths of the Bolivian jungle in search of a lost Inca settlement called Paititi. They were to film and document this search for the German Broadcasting Company. During the 1960s, there were no drones or chain saws available to aid them in their search, only machetes.
The expedition took two years to complete, and the film was made and shown in Germany. During that time frame, they did discover steps and ruins by clearing a sheer wall of jungle growth with machetes.
In the evenings, to pass the time, the group of four would gather by the campfire, taking turns sharing their past experiences. Some of these flashbacks told stories about life during WWII.
The author, of course, fell in love with the young daughter of the leader, who was part of their team. Unfortunately, this love was not returned, as she had a completely different agenda on her mind.
After the expedition was finalized, the author's family received the papers to immigrate to the USA. All they can say is, God bless America!
