The story opens 10 years after Bruce Olson first made contact with the Barí in 1961. As Olson, Bobarishora (nicknamed Bobby), and Ayaboquina, a Barí chieftain, are conversing on a bluff overlooking a river, they hear a motorboat pull in. Out of the boat comes a man named Humberto Abril, a criminal who had settled in the area. Abril demands to speak with Olson and claims the right to force the Barí out of their land. They refuse to surrender any more land, so Abril threatens to kill the Barí in the name of religion. He storms off afterward, leaving the debate unresolved.

Several hours earlier, Olson had flown into the town of Rio de Oro where he and Bobby had joyfully reunited. They talked over a meal about the agricultural programs the Barí had launched since Olson had first stayed with them, their plans to translate more of the Bible, and the threats posed by settlers. Olson explains to the reader that to Bobby and the Barí, he was called “Bruchko” instead of Bruce Olson. After their meal, the pair boated upriver while reminiscing about their shared experiences. Once they’ve arrived at the

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