ONCE THE CANTEEN WAS EMPTIED, WALKING INTO THE DESERT BECAME A VERY DIFFICULT TASK. HOWEVER, WE WENT THERE WITHOUT FEAR, LEAVING BEHIND US THE BARRIER THAT MARKS THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF CHUQUICAMATA. AS LONG AS WE STAYED IN THE VISUAL FIELD OF THE LOCAL INHABITANTS, WE WALKED WITH AN ATHLETIC STEP. BUT THEN, THE IMMENSE LONELINESS OF THE PEELED ANDES, THE BLAZING SUN THAT FELL ON OUR HEADS AND THE POORLY DISTRIBUTED WEIGHT OF EVEN MORE POORLY SECURED BACKPACKS BROUGHT US BACK TO REALITY. HOW “HEROIC” OUR SITUATION WAS, AS ONE OF THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS DESCRIBED IT, WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE BEGAN TO SUSPECT, AND I THINK RIGHTLY SO, THAT THE WORD THAT BEST DEFINED SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND THE ADJECTIVE “STUPID”.