Chapter 37: Overcast

The plane was a Cessna 208 series amphibious aircraft, with the landing gear replaced by floats, allowing it to take off and land on water. It served both passenger and cargo purposes, with the cabin retaining portholes but removing all passenger seats, making the entire cabin available for cargo. Temporary seats could be added if needed.

Only Frank knew the coordinates, but by now, Frank would certainly have to disclose the coordinates.

"We are already over the target area."

Frank, with his headset on, spoke loudly, then gestured, "Descend, and circle here for a few rounds."

Below was a sea of green, vast and monotonous. In the midst flowed a wide river, its water turbid, appearing like a muddy yellow ribbon.

Dotted amidst the rainforest on both sides of the river were lakes and some smaller tributaries, the water in these smaller lakes appearing much clearer.

Finding a plane that crashed over twenty years ago in the rainforest from the air was a daunting task. Apart from the unknown condition of the plane after the crash, even if the plane maintained its intact exterior, it would likely have been covered by vegetation after over twenty years.

In the rainforest, any cleared space would quickly be filled with plants, so even if the plane were right in front of them, it would probably be hard to spot. Thus, this aerial reconnaissance was just a preliminary observation.

First, observe the terrain and the situation in the target area, and then consider how to land and proceed with the search after landing.

The plane began to circle in the air. Although the altitude was already quite low, the view was obstructed by the dense canopy. After circling the target area for a few rounds, Frank shouted, "George, go check out that river."

No plane could land directly on treetops, which was why an amphibious aircraft was chosen. With numerous water bodies in the area, whether large lakes or sufficiently wide rivers, they provided suitable landing spots for the plane.

George piloted the plane to the nearest river to the target area and then lowered the altitude to observe the width of the river.

After flying along the river for a while, George shook his head and said, "The width of the river is not enough; the branches on both sides cover most of the river, making it impossible to land."

Small tributaries wouldn't do, so Frank looked around and said, "Increase altitude and see if there's a large enough lake nearby."

The plane ascended, and after a brief scan, George lowered the altitude again, flying over a lake.

"This lake is large enough, and it's not too far from our coordinates. I think this will do."

George decided on the water body to land on, and Frank immediately said, "Alright, I'll record the coordinates. Continue low-altitude observation."

Frank took out his SLR camera and started taking pictures below. As for Arthur and the others, they sat in the back, observing the situation below through the portholes.

The terrain was indeed complex. If the canopy below seemed slightly sparse, careful observation would reveal that below the canopy lay water, with the alternating features of swamps and seasonal lakes visible.

After circling and observing for a long time without finding any traces, they determined the landing site for when the equipment arrived fully loaded. Therefore, this flight was still necessary.

With nothing more to see, George turned the plane around and began the return flight to Medellín.

Before they arrived back, the group had already started discussing what to do next.

"Finding a crashed plane in this kind of terrain, especially a small aircraft, is not easy." John looked at the sea of green below with a worried expression, shrugged, and said, "I can already imagine the pain of being bitten by mosquitoes and leeches."

Rubber didn't mince words, saying, "You're really smart. So, please think, if this money could be easily obtained, would Mr. Smith tell the Captain?"

John replied irritably, "Of course, I understand that. I just... find it difficult."

Frank, excitedly, said, "Money is not easy to come by. The more desolate the area, the greater the chance of finding treasure. I'm prepared to stay here for a month. We must find the crash before the rainy season arrives."

Rubber, also eager, said, "Captain, do you know where the plane crashed? If it's a swamp, there's no need for underwater search and detection. We don't have to wait for the underwater robot to arrive; we can start searching directly tomorrow."

The budget of over two million dollars was not without reason, and the underwater detection robot was a significant expense.

There are no places in Colombia where underwater detection robots are needed, so to avoid wasting time and to finish before the rainy season arrives, Frank spent over two hundred thousand to order a professional underwater robot.

"I don't know if the plane crashed on land or in the water. Mr. Smith said he was very certain the plane crashed at the coordinates he gave me, but there is water everywhere here, so it's always a good idea to be prepared for underwater search work."

Seeing the site in person was different from imagining it, although they encountered many difficulties, hope was definitely in the rainforest beneath their feet. Arthur couldn't help but feel excited.

At that moment, John suddenly said, "Wait a minute, I think I saw someone down there!"

Everyone was stunned. Frank immediately looked down and asked, "Someone?"

John was sitting on the left side of the cabin, looking down through the left window. Frank and Arthur were sitting on the right side. After John's sudden shout, everyone immediately began to look down.

George pulled the control stick, and the plane began to turn, while Frank looked tense and said, "Where could there be anyone? The nearest town is dozens of kilometers away. There can't be anyone here!"

John loudly exclaimed, "By a small lake, I saw what looked like a person walking, but I didn't see clearly."

Rubber was skeptical, saying, "Why didn't I see it? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Seeing someone in this place was not a good sign, and everyone immediately became nervous. However, after George circled in place for a dozen rounds, and they scrutinized the small lake John mentioned, they saw no sign of anyone.

Finally, even John wasn't too sure anymore. He scratched his head and said, looking puzzled, "Could I have been mistaken? Maybe I was too excited... Yes, I was probably too excited."

Frank, looking grim, said, "But we all know you have good eyesight, and you've always been observant and vigilant."

No one spoke. John's discovery cast a shadow over the treasure hunt, even though he couldn't be certain if he had seen someone.

Finally, Frank spoke in a low voice, "Let's go back first. Whether John was mistaken or not, we need to be cautious."