I slapped at a mosquito on my arm, but I narrowly missed him. I was still wearing the same pants, but I’d changed into a T-shirt to sleep in—though after getting bitten by several different bugs, I was considering putting my long-sleeve shirt back on.

I slapped at another mosquito on my arm, this time leaving a trail of blood.

“You see that!” I yelled at the other thirty-four mosquitoes in my tent, who were clearly immune to the effects of insect repellent. “You see what happens when you mess with Tommy P!”

I laid back down on top of my sleeping bag and wondered if I was destined to sleep for a single minute before the sun rose. The bugs; the heat; the whistles, croaks, and shrieks of the nocturnal creatures; and my bloated and cramping stomach were making for a miserable first night in the jungle.

Unable to sleep, I pulled the blue Game Boy from my pack and turned it on. I hadn’t played on it for over two years, not since downloading the app on my phone, but I’d brought it just in case I couldn’t sleep. I started a new game of Tetris and had just hit Level 6 when it happened.

Movement.

In my bowels.

I waited a few seconds to make certain it wasn’t a false alarm, but sure enough, things were happening. I grabbed my headlamp and turned it on. Then I put on my boots and slipped out of the tent.

My headlamp lit up a ten-foot circle in front of me, and I picked my way through the brush for thirty feet, which I figured was an acceptable distance from camp to relieve myself.

I found a few feet of open earth, and I popped a squat.

And—nothing.

“Come on!” I huffed.

After another minute of no action, I pulled the Game Boy out of my pocket and resumed my game. This was my normal routine, so I figured that after a few minutes my body would catch on.

Level 6.

Level 7.

Level 8.

My legs were starting to cramp, but I figured I would give it a few more minutes.

Level 9.

Lev—I lifted my eyebrows.

“We have lift off!” I told the jungle.

Oddly enough, the jungle replied with a soft snort.

I leaned forward and squinted at the bush across from me. Illuminated by my headlamp and staring at me with deadly intent was what I’m pretty sure was a wild boar.

Diego had warned us to keep a look out for boars—especially at night, as they were mostly nocturnal. They could do a good bit of damage to you with their tusks. The large scar on Carlos’s neck—which I had assumed had come from someone’s knife, like most of those I’d seen as a member of law enforcement—was actually from a boar attack when he was a child. He’d been lucky to survive.