The Jungle Warrior

by Andy Briggs

  On one such hunting trip at the river’s edge, D’Arnot revealed something that had been growing in his mind. “I must leave.”

  Tarzan longed to explore the vast savannahs of Africa and visit the cities with trees made from stone.

  “Go where?” asked Tarzan.

  “Home.”

  “D’Arnot is home.” It was a simple, innocent declaration that made the man’s heart break.

  “My home is in France—Lyon, a beautiful city with wonderful Roman ruins. You should come.”

  “How many days’ travel?”

  “Many . . . But listen, Tarzan, understand that if you come with me then there is a chance you may not ever return here. You may not want to.”

  Tarzan was confused. “Why?”

  D’Arnot gestured to the aircraft. “You must have been on board this when it crashed. Even if your real parents died on it, there will still be people who are concerned about you. They probably think you’re dead.” D’Arnot had found references relating to the Greystokes around the plane and had told Tarzan about their charitable work. “The Greystokes are a powerful family, known around the world. If you are one of them—”

  “I am Tarzan. This is my home.”

  D’Arnot could think of nothing to persuade Tarzan to come with him, but had no intention of lying to the boy. As much as D’Arnot enjoyed the jungle, he didn’t belong here, and Tarzan knew that. It was time to return to civilization and reclaim his old life, as well as recount the amazing story of the boy who lived with apes. It was with a heavy heart that D’Arnot parted from Tarzan.

  They walked to the edge of the mangani territory at Thunder Mountain. D’Arnot assured Tarzan that he could find his way through the jungle safely from there, now that he was armed with the knowledge and skills the boy had taught him. Tarzan did not wish to leave his jungle family, nor did he want to see D’Arnot leave. The officer solemnly promised to return once he had made contact with the outside world and they said their goodbyes. Tarzan watched his friend climb down the cliff-top track. D’Arnot turned and waved before disappearing into the jungle below.

  Tarzan waited until the sky turned dark, watching for any sign of D’Arnot’s return. He sat alone, his heart burning with feelings of abandonment he didn’t understand. That was the last time he saw his friend alive.

  •••

  Tarzan’s head hung with sadness as he finished recounting the story of his past to Jane. It had been some effort to recall words he learned once but had not used in a long time, while reliving the emotions of D’Arnot’s departure.

  Jane laid a hand on Tarzan’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort. She knew he feared that she would disappear like D’Arnot. She wanted to reassure him, but the truth was she did not know what would happen in the future and she did not want to lie to him.

  For a long while they sat in silence. Parrots circled overhead, and Jane found herself lost in the relaxing jungle sounds. The wind changed direction and Jane started to smell sulphurous fumes from the volcano, though it was faint enough not to be unpleasant. However, it seemed to set Tarzan on edge and he climbed onto a spire of rock projecting from the cliff, his eyes scanning the jungle below.

  The sky was bleeding red as the sun slowly sank behind the mountain ridges and Jane fought to stop yawning. She had almost forgotten that her day had started by stealing the jeep from the camp.

  “Maybe we should be heading back? It’s getting dark.”

  “Jane stay.”

  “Will she?” she said, half smiling.

  “Yes.”

  Jane opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. She thought it unlikely that they would have been able to make it to the camp tonight and had anticipated, hoped even, that they would sleep on the plateau and head back to the camp the following morning.

  Tarzan said nothing more as darkness cloaked the land and the sky was filled with stars—clusters of diamond dust across the infinite blackness. It was so dark Tarzan was just a shadow next to her. Under any other circumstances, Jane would be terrified, sitting out in the middle of the jungle at night, but with Tarzan she felt safe.

  Tarzan suddenly spoke. “See!”

  Jane thought he was referring to the stars and was about to reply—then realized he was pointing at the volcano. A dull red glow shone from the crater and she saw cracks appear across the top of the cone, and the occasional fountain of lava. Every so often red cinders flicked in the air like a swarm of fireflies, then a chunk of rock would be ejected over the rim in a ball of cherry-red flame and roll down the side of the cone, breaking apart in a colorful display.

  “It’s beautiful!” Jane exclaimed. She had never seen anything like it before, but she was thankful they were viewing it from afar.

  They watched for some time as the waxing moon rose, illuminating the landscape and allowing Jane to see Tarzan properly. She was alarmed to notice he was staring into the jungle.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  For a moment, Tarzan didn’t speak, then he whispered back, “We are hunted.”

  A chill ran down Jane’s spine. “By what?”

  “Targarni.”

  Tarzan’s head cocked left then right as he tracked a noise beyond Jane’s hearing. She became conscious of just how loud her breathing sounded. She took a deep breath and held it.

  The night chorus of jungle insects was deafening. Frogs chirped with melodic calls and the faint bass rumble of the volcano underlined nature’s score. Then she heard it—a definite movement in the trees. But it wasn’t just one hunter.

  The trees suddenly exploded with a hideous high-pitched screech she had heard earlier as she walked along the trail to the camp. Dozens of pale faces loomed in the moonlight. Tarzan issued a roar so primal and raw that Jane was astounded any human could make such a noise.

  Before they had a chance to move, the ambush was sprung.

  8

  The speed of their attack was incredible. Jane saw fleeting glimpses of the dark shadows and terrible pale faces but she instantly recognized them as chimpanzees. These were not the clown-like animals she had seen on television back at home. They were wild, savage killers. Even on all fours they came up to her chest. Black fur rippled over powerful muscles and their lips pulled back to reveal lethal teeth that could easily tear her apart. Worse, they were clearly hunting as a pack. The ambush was an intelligently planned operation.

  Tarzan blocked the first attacker as it barreled toward Jane. She heard the meaty thud of two bodies impacting at high speed and saw the chimp rebound into the darkness.

  Another pair wheeled around Tarzan, shrieking wildly. He caught one by the throat as it leaped for him, its teeth chomping fiercely. Tarzan used the chimp as a shield against the second. Other members of the band kept back, hooting in the darkness to add to the chaos.

  The chimp Tarzan was using as a shield sank its teeth into his arm. With a grunt of pain, Tarzan hurled the chimp at the second attacker and was rewarded with yelps from them both. He lunged after them, roaring fiercely.

  Three more chimps suddenly bolted out from the trees, heads bowed low. They charged at Tarzan with such force that his legs were swept from under him and the mighty jungle warrior was flipped through the air. The moment Tarzan crashed to the ground, the three chimps set upon him with a ferocious volley of blows.

  “Get off him!” Jane screamed.

  She was no match for the powerful apes, but she couldn’t watch Tarzan suffer like this. She took a step forward, her mind searching for possibilities, and her foot struck a boulder, hidden in the dead foliage. Jane lifted it with difficulty, as it was almost the size of her head.

  Sharp teeth bit into Tarzan’s arm and he roared with pain and fury. Jane could see blood on his face and only hoped it wasn’t his own. With shaking arms she raised the rock under her chin, ready to throw.

  Then something made her turn—and the sight chilled her blood. Moonlight reflected from the ghostly image of a huge chimpanzee. It was a head taller than the ot
hers and clad in pure white fur. One eye was swollen almost shut, but the other burned red with murderous intent. The albino chimpanzee was obviously the troop leader and stalked along the edge of the cliff in a calculating manner. It now occurred to Jane that she was the intended target and the other apes had attacked Tarzan as a diversion.

  Jane’s instinct was to scream—but to her amazement her voice exploded as a terrible bellow as she threw the rock.

  The albino hadn’t been expecting resistance, but he leaped aside just in time and the rock bounced before pitching over the cliff.

  Jane’s cry sent Tarzan into a frenzy. He stood up, bearing the weight of the three adult chimpanzees that still held him. He punched one in the side of the head, forcing it to release the vice-like bite it had on his other arm. Then he headbutted the ape clinging to his chest and struck it unconscious. The last creature was holding on to his back with a long arm around his neck, its teeth reaching for his scalp. Blood was dripping into Tarzan’s eyes but that didn’t stop him from bounding forward and shoving Jane to the ground as the albino sprang.

  Tarzan and the albino clashed in mid-air. Tarzan twisted his body so that the chimp clasping his back met the full force of the impact. It was enough for the animal to shriek and let go. It made a hasty retreat, limping into the trees.

  But the albino was not so easily deterred—it recovered faster than Tarzan and, with a loud screech, swung straight at him.

  Jane could only watch as the two figures rolled on the ground at the cliff edge. The gang of chimps around her screamed and whooped to encourage their leader, but made no effort to join in.

  Tarzan and the albino traded a flurry of blows. Tarzan was pitched on his back and the albino seized the opportunity to pin him down.

  But that was exactly Tarzan’s plan. As the albino made his move, Tarzan planted his feet firmly in the chimp’s stomach and kicked. Jane could hear ribs breaking as the squealing albino was hurled against a huge tree with such force that the trunk shook. Tarzan had intended to hurl him off the cliff top, but nevertheless, victory was his.

  The albino staggered into the darkness. Moonlight reflected from its ghostly face as it snarled in defiance before disappearing into the jungle. The other chimpanzees followed with low murmurs, defeated, tearing through the undergrowth like a band of hoodlums.

  Tarzan thumped his chest and roared victoriously. Jane ran to his side, alarmed to see the network of cuts that now decorated his body. His face was painted in his own blood, but despite this he was grinning at his success and showed no signs of pain. Jane knew words of comfort were meaningless. Instead, she indicated after the chimps.

  “Targarni?”

  Tarzan nodded and looked out toward the volcano. “This targarni land.”

  Jane felt terrible. To feed his family, Tarzan was being forced to lead them into dangerous territory. Forced because her father refused to leave the jungle he was systematically destroying, pushing the apes away from familiar grounds.

  Jane couldn’t stop the anger welling up inside her, nor could she shake off the guilt that she had persuaded her father to stay just so she could see Tarzan again.

  •••

  “I’m not happy about this,” said Archie. “She’s been gone for over a day! She could be hurt. She could be . . .”

  “She’s with Tarzan,” stated Clark. “You know what that means. She’s in the safest place on the continent.” He rubbed his bandaged leg as he spoke and gazed out of Archie’s cabin window at the morning sun rising above the treetops. He was on powerful painkillers, but even those did little to dull the throb that surged up his leg. The doctor in Sango had praised the improvised medical attention Tarzan had given the wound after the leopard attack. Clark had been careful not to mention the wild man, referring to him only as a local. The doctor was smart enough not to ask any questions. In the middle of the Congo the less you pried the safer you were.

  Archie was deeply worried.

  “Clark’s right,” chipped in Robbie. “And she said she’ll be back soon.” He had no intention of looking for her, because he knew she would fare better with Tarzan than he would alone. Besides, he could hardly concentrate on the conversation about Jane because his own thoughts and imagination were reeling from what he had discovered in Sango. Now, he was desperate to head back to New York and confront his stepfather again, but thinking rationally he realized it would be a terrible mistake. Not that he could even afford to make the journey. Not yet. But the reward money they expected to get for revealing Tarzan’s existence . . . that would solve everything. Money would give him the options to make the right decision.

  He also needed to speak to Jane, now more than ever. She was the one person who knew his whole secret. The only person he truly trusted. When he drifted back into the conversation, Clark was speaking. After delivering the news that Jane was with Tarzan, he’d had to calm Archie down by letting him in on the plan to claim the reward money.

  “Told ya before, mate. There’s nothin’ much ya can do to stop her so don’t bother. Focus all your energies on this venture. We need it to work, so don’t go thinkin’ about jackin’ it all in again.” Archie looked guiltily away. That’s exactly what he had been thinking. Clark tapped the desk for emphasis. “We spent too much on this last round of equipment. There’s no bailin’ now.”

  “Do you realize what you’re saying?” said Archie quietly. “This is my daughter we’re talking about.”

  Clark glanced at Robbie. Robbie looked away. He could tell, from the way Clark leaned forward and dropped his voice conspiratorially, that he was outlining his plan again.

  “As I see it you have three choices for your bakvissie,” Robbie knew bits of South African slang, with which Clark often peppered his conversations, but not this. Evidently he was referring to Jane. “One, you leave her be and hope she’s safe out there. Two, try and stop her but you’ll have better luck tryin’ to stop an olifant. Third, we do the right thing and help Tarzan—which is exactly what we’re doin’. He’s got a family waitin’ for him.”

  “I know, I know,” said Archie with a sigh. Robbie felt a twinge of guilt. Clark had been really playing the family card to bring Archie on side and it was working. Clark’s intentions seemed honorable, but they were driven by greed.

  “We have the same problem though,” said Archie wearily. “We don’t know where Tarzan is and, as you’ve said, without evidence who’d believe us? If you recall, we didn’t believe Jane when she told us.”

  “Things have changed. We can find the aircraft ourselves,” said Clark with a smile.

  Archie frowned. “How? None of us have that skill. We could spend a lifetime out there in the jungle and never come across it.”

  “Fortune is smilin’ on us, mate. We found some folks who need our help. And they’ve come ’ere.” Clark grinned at Robbie. Robbie couldn’t meet Archie’s suspicious gaze. Their logging operation was illegal and secret. The idea of bringing somebody into Karibu Mji went against all their own rules, so Clark had no choice but to mention the plan to Archie.

  “You’ve brought people here?” said Archie in surprise.

  Clark gave a dismissive wave of the hand. “Relax. They’re conservationists, heard ’em in Sango askin’ about gorillas and we got to talkin’ about a trek. They’re with Esmée. Come on, let’s chat with ’em.”

  Archie scowled at his old friend. Bringing anybody new to the camp risked exposing them, so Archie was furious his friend had made the decision without him.

  They left Archie’s office and headed across the camp to the bar. Clark struggled with a wooden crutch that Mister David had improvised for him when he returned, but it was still difficult to cross the mud and elevated walkways with just one good leg.

  Robbie walked slowly behind. Movement on the edge of the tree line caught his attention and he was surprised to see Jane walk out from the trees as calmly as if she had been out for a morning stroll.

  “Jane!” Robbie couldn’t help shouting her nam
e.

  Archie looked round and saw his daughter. He immediately ran to gather her up in a huge hug. Then he held her at arm’s length and looked her up and down. There were flecks of blood on her clothes.

  “Are you OK?” His voice was heavy with concern.

  “I’m fine!” Jane smiled and indicated the blood. “Don’t worry, it’s not mine.”

  “What happened?”

  “Tarzan found me at the jeep.”

  “The one you stole?” Clark pointed out. He didn’t want Archie to forget that Jane had brought this all on herself.

  Jane looked suitably guilty. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I just needed to go to town. This place was starting to feel like a prison.”

  Archie hesitated. He knew from experience that if he complained it would only make her more defiant.

  She looked sheepishly away. “I left a message. I knew Robbie would find it.”

  She flashed him a smile, but Robbie didn’t feel in the mood to return it. He felt bitter; he’d always been on hand to help Jane, but the moment he needed someone to confide in she wasn’t around.

  “I was with Tarzan. You knew I’d be safe.”

  Archie swallowed his sharp reply. Jane noticed Clark’s bandaged leg.

  “What happened?”

  “Bit of a story behind it. I had to go lookin’ for some selfish girl who stole my jeep. This is the thanks I get,” he patted the leg, “when a leopard tried to take a chunk outta me.”

  Jane looked down at the ground and mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

  “Bit late now,” said Clark harshly. It was the only way he knew of making Jane open her eyes to see the trouble she’d caused. “Luckily, our friend Tarzan was around to help out. I would very much like to find him and give him my thanks.”