Through the Arc of the Rain Forest

J.B. flies to the Matacão, accompanied by an interpreter and French bird professor, Michelle. Together, they ask Mané questions about feathers. Mané is forthcoming and reveals everything he knows about birds and feathers. At first, J.B.’s third arm feels weak in the Brazilian climate. As he listens to Mané, he doubts he can stay in Brazil long. When his arm acclimates and regains its strength, however, J.B. prepares for a long stay at the Matacão. He flies in a pre-constructed GGG building because “J.B. had no time for the handmade mortar-and-block, which would have provided jobs for and fed hundreds of people for several years. He wanted GGG’s presence to be felt immediately” (67). Red-haired admins and other staff are flown in. Mané gets hired on as a consultant.

The perpetually barefoot Mané takes little interest in corporate life and spends no time in his office. He ignores his pager and mobile phone when J.B. tries to reach him. Nevertheless, Mané assists J.B. and the GGG company in finding the best feathers to purchase. J.B. uses this information to negotiate with feather distributors. Back in New York, investors and lobbyists prepare for the soon-to-be feather craze: “People were beginning to talk about ‘The Feather,’ and GGG was touting it like a sensation akin to Coca-Cola” (69).