I went a few miles away from the house, then found a place to bury my getaway pouch. If the house was blown, the money, clothes and identification in this pack could keep me alive. No one would know about it but me.

The equipment was heavy, but it was only intended for the trip in. The trip back would be much more difficult, and for that I'd probably be in panther form. We didn't know how long I'd have to wait for a shot, so the pack contained enough for a week in the jungle.

I made it eleven miles the first night, not bad considering the nature of...