Where the River Runs Black

Raised in the jungle after his mother is killed and his father dies, Lazaro grows up among river dolphins who rescue him at a crucial moment. He carries Mahoney's crucifix as a link to his past and a symbol of faith he cannot yet articulate. In the orphanage, he befriends Segundo and nourishes a fierce urge for revenge against Orlando Santos, who murdered his mother. His life becomes a fable of survival, loyalty, and legend as he traverses forest and river.

An older boy at the orphanage who befriends Lazaro and becomes his steadfast ally. He accompanies Lazaro on dangerous quests, offering loyalty and practical support as they navigate the threats posed by Santos and his men. When the chase intensifies, Segundo's courage and camaraderie anchor Lazaro's resolve to confront his past. His fate becomes tied to Lazaro's journey through both city and jungle.

A missionary priest who wants to aid indigenous communities through medicine and development, opposing his superior's insistence on saving souls alone. His entanglement with the river and its seductive myth, culminating in a fateful encounter, sets Lazaro on his path. He leaves behind a crucifix and a moral reckoning, unaware of the son he has fathered. His death under the Amazonian canopy underscores the conflict between aspiration and peril.

A conservative, authority-driven priest who prioritizes doctrinal salvation over immediate healing. He baptizes Lazaro and becomes a guiding, yet morally conflicted, influence on the boy. He ultimately witnesses Santos's drowning and chooses not to intervene, a decision that haunts him and defines his journey toward forgiveness.

A powerful businessman and gubernatorial candidate who ruthlessly uses wealth and influence to control people and events around the river. He killed Lazaro's mother, and his pursuit of Lazaro leads to a climactic confrontation. Santos is ultimately overwhelmed by the river's fury and his own past, drowning in the consequences of his actions.

A seductive river spirit who exists at the intersection of myth and reality, capable of transforming into a river dolphin. She tempts and haunts Father Mahoney, embodying the jungle's seductive danger. The presence of Eagle Woman blurs the line between magic and fate, influencing events from the shadows.