[ WP ] You just found out that you are the folk hero of the town you visited last vacation while revisiting .

`` Come on.'' 
 
 Armin tugged lightly at Cobus's hand, urging him along the dirt road. Cobus laughed, and jumped over the gorges worn into the road by passing tires. He lost his balance momentarily and swayed back and forth before firmly planting his feet. 
 
 `` Whoa there. Slow down. We still have a few miles walk before we reach the village right?'' 
 
 `` Yeah. Are you sure you're okay with walking? We could have hired a car. It's still probably closer to walk back to the main road.'' 
 
 Cobus shook his head. `` Stop it. I want the full'Santo Mario Hoo-haw' experience. Besides, this is beautiful. We're in the rainforest, hours and hours away from the nearest city -- a little hiking and communing with nature is required, I think.'' 
 
 Slowing down next to Cobus, Armin takes his hand. He shakes his head, `` Tsk. Santa Maria Tzeja -- and it's actually the highlands, not the rainforest. I know it's remote, but we need a break and the change of pace will be good for us. I think you'll love it.'' 
 
 `` I'm sure I will love it,'cause I love you and being around you.'' 
 
 Armin rolled his eyes, but the grin was genuine. 
 
 They continued on the road for another hour before stopping to rest. The noon sun was unimpeded by clouds and shone down relentlessly. Sweat dripped down the men in lazy rivulets, attracting the attention of mosquitos despite the generous applications of DEET. 
 
 `` So you came here what, 5, 6 years ago?'' Cobus asked while spraying the exposed parts of his skin with another layer of the mosquito repellant. 
 
 `` More like 10. I had just sold my share of MotiSight and decided to hitch a ride with a bus full of cultists. They were on their way to Peru -- probably to jump off Machu Picchu or something -- but they were nice people and had some amazing drugs. The United States and Mexico were pretty much a wavy gravy blur of acid and shrooms. 
 
 But yeah, when we got to Belize, I said good-bye to the cultists and spent a few weeks on the beach sobering up and diving the great blue hole.'' 
 
 Cobus smirked, `` Oh, is that where you got all the practice?'' 
 
 `` You know it, you pig. Anyway. Tanning and SCUBA got boring --'' 
 
 `` Your life is so full of first world problems. If your life were any tougher, you'd have to stop for a pumpkin spice latte right now.'' 
 
 `` Oh shut it. I worked hard for that. Military brats are only privileged when their parents are officers. Besides, you benefit quite nicely from my first world problems. 
 
 Like I was saying -- I was ready to move on from Belize and so I came down here to Guatemala. I spent a few days exploring Tikal -- you know: Yavin IV -- and on the last day, there was a large group of indigenous Mayans performing a ritual. 
 
 I stayed and watched, and when they were done, I approached some of them to find out more. They were so warm, and eager to share their culture. They invited me back to their village, and you know I'm loathe to disappoint people. 
 
 It was amazing. Simple, concrete and hatch buildings. Dirt paths and long grass over rolling hills. Chickens, cows, and pigs. Children running around. Far out of cell phone coverage, not computer in sight. One TV for the whole village to watch movies once a week or so. Only two or three of the buildings even had a lightbulb. 
 
 I ca n't say I found myself there, or some deeper contentment. It was amazing, and I enjoyed it, but it scared me. I enjoyed it as a retreat from the modern world -- but there was always the knowledge of returning to creature comforts we know. 
 
 I helped some where I could: I tore apart one of my flashlights and wired the LEDs up so my host family could have light in their home without a generator. But, the whole time I was there, I kept trying to fix things that did n't need fixing. I played them samples of new music and translated a few episodes of Seinfeld for them -- neither was a big hit. I mean, the things I did were nice enough, but they were the ones who showed true understanding that we were from different worlds. 
 
 Like the Catholics and the Evangelicals before, I could n't understand that they did n't need my modern thinking. Their concerns were getting potable water, and teaching their children enough to go to University in the City, and hoping the government did n't come again to kill them all. These people lived like this always, for generations past, and likely for many in the future. 
 
 I was young, self-centered, and restless then. Now, I hear Thoreau calling me from some cabin by a swimming hole with a waterfall. So let us continue on our march. I believe we are n't too much further.'' 
 
 The sun spilled its golden light across the countryside from its position nearly touching the hills. Armin and Cobus continued to hike imperceptibly upwards. The trees thinned and gave way to fields that rippled and shimmered in the wind. Sitting on the hilltops, clusters of buildings looked like diminutive hats strapped with little brown roads to heads of luscious green hair. 
 
 `` We are almost there. One or two more hills and we should come to the village proper.'' 
 
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