Team Seven of Heroes II Chapter 26 & 27

26.

With twenty over people in the Nautilus, it was no better even without the extra loads of food and equipment. Mycroft distanced himself from the Germans and had his view of the wondrous sea creatures while Sherlock was fiddling with the rifle. Van Helsing eyed the Germans with suspicion but not the Captain who was back on his seat which was the only one there. 

“Herr Gunter, tell me why does the Kaiser not give up?” Captain Nemo stared at the window opening while the crew steered the Nautilus out to sea. “He had lost three expeditions here.”

“I wouldn’t know, Captain. I am after all an officer of the Empire. Just like them, we are all here to obey the command.”

“Plain honest answer. I liked that.” Captain Nemo replied. “The others are here on order but not me. I am without any but my own. I want to see if it’s true there is such a treasure. Do you know what constitute a true treasure? I had seen many during my time. The sea held most treasures of various wealth in gold and jewels but to me the real treasure is the discovery of the site. My father and myself have discovered many of these sites and for each one we discovered, it meant one less to be categorised as unknown or missing.” 

“Mein Gott! You are a lying bastard.” Herr Gunter replied. 

“No, Herr Gunter, I am not lying. I may grab the wealth to finance my next expedition or the village here and there. I am a charitable person but the discovery of a wreck meant I can bring closure to their families that I found the final resting spot. I have sent to them memorabilia of the ship to the descendants for them to have a memory of it. I do have a soft spot and your calling me of names will be ignored for this time.” Captain Nemo glared at the German. “And only this time.”

“Bravo, the man is a God sent Angel.” Van Helsing muttered out. He then looked at the Captain. “Tell, my God sent Angel. Why are we here? On another sea excursion? Or…”

“Patience, my dear comrade. We are not diverting from our task. We are just taking the direct route to the treasure. While the beasts charged through the breach, we will travel from their rear to the vault.”

“The vault? What vault? I thought you knew little on the treasure.” Watson cut in. 

“Every treasure is kept in some vault be it a ship wreck or a hole in the ground.” Captain Nemo replied. “I was not being specific here. Why are you so excited on it? Is there a ‘vault’ there?”

Watson will not be dragged into the discussion and focused his mind on the outside. The sea looked so colourful like his short stay with Mary at New Hampstead. The green landscape contrast with the varied of colours there but both emits the same calm feeling. 

“Mary, I miss you.” Watson muttered to himself of his ex-lover. 

Mary wasn’t the only one missed. 

Tarzan was missing among the trees. Lady Greystoke had stood on the huge boulder looking at the jungle ahead. It was a different jungle from their adopted home. The jungle there held trees and growths but not as dense as seen by her there. She recalled once travelling north east with her lover to look at the huge waterfall there. It was a hard journey but the sight of the waterfall was worth the journey. Lady Greystoke sighed for sight of the jungle was equally appealing but then her concern was Tarzan. She had followed him through the tunnel and past the smouldering gully to past the breach in the wall. They came upon what was a dense jungle ahead and without hesitation they plunged on. She may had been lady in the ballrooms of London, but out there, she was another warrior that rivalled the Waziri warriors. She caught with him and called out to him.

“John, you are scaring me.” Tarzan stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at his lover. Sean Mercer had gone on ahead. 

“I need to track that sabor.” 

“Just like you track that panther for it was a threat to you.” Lady Greystoke replied. “Why must you be the King? Was that lion a threat to you too? Is this your kingdom too?”

Tarzan looked to the path he was to follow and then back to the one he cherished as his mate. It was a hard choice but the hardest was what she said later then.

“Jack needs his father and so will our new baby.” It was coincidence then the lion roared in the path ahead. Tarzan looked to the source of the roar and saw the sabor there. It was a huge one at twice the size of the sabor he had wrestled before. Its fiendish look was the lengthy canine teeth at the front which reached downwards like a trailing set of nose. 

“Sabor!” Tarzan discarded the baton and reached for the dagger. He then called out the kill cry of his breed.

“Kreegah!”

So was then when Princess Fa Lo Suee shrieked out in anger while she struck out with the halberd held firm in her hands. It was never a moment to hesitate when one was to sever the head from the body. The shriek in her voice was brought from her lungs to the throat was a cry that she had learned during her martial fighting training. It was told by the Masters that the release of the air from there enhance the flow of blood to the limbs that was to deliver the killing blow. It also frightened the opponent with the fierce sound. It would but the lion roar was louder even more so when it’s near dying. The halberd blade delivered by the mistress was hard enough to cut a deep wound and it was fatal. 

“Mistress!” The princess looked to the right and saw her trusted aide was still alive with both hands bloodied from the killing. The lions came soon after the first one was killed, and it was not one but a pack of six. They attacked the guards who had formed a perimeter to defend the Princess. The guards were no match for the lions and soon they were outnumbered. 

“Stay by me, Princess. We may still fight it out.” The aide stood back with the Princess. They stood there facing the surviving three lions. It was not a bad odd but the lions were thrice their size, and that makes the odd more towards the lion. Just when they thought that death will come painfully, a sharp sound was heard. The lions backed away and then retreated to the jungle. 

“What happened?” The princess asked. The aide was still on guard for the lions to return but she also heard the sound. It had driven the lions away. 

“I don’t…” The aide did not anticipate the blow that knocked her unconscious and then the Princess followed suit. 

Maybe death was that painless.

Sean Mercer having outpaced the savage was ahead. The later was constantly studying the trail for marks and prints but not the Irish hunter. He was a bold hunter and to him the best trail was to go ahead. He had diverted off the trail when he saw the savage ahead to take his own trail.. He had reacted fast back in the cavern for he valued the kill of the saber toothed lion and more to it, it was his chance to escape. He did it with style by grabbing the rifle and ammo belt. He heard the commotion ahead and rushed to it. He reached there in time to see the two ladies confronted by the lions. He levelled his rifle and was to shoot when he heard the sound. The lions scattered from the scene. Sean lowered the rifle and decided to meet the ladies but they were shot by some flashing light beam before they collapsed. He rushed out and saw the shooter but before he could react he was also shot.

27.

“Captain, are you sure of this?” The Bosun looked the leader of the ship and with their age difference, he held in awe the man that was younger by ten years of day’s difference. The Captain seated on the command seat had not replied but his eyes were glued to the periscope. 

“Aye, Captain.. Twelve degree to starboard.” The Nautilus was underway to the open sea and on course for trip to the other side of the island. Everyone was huddled to their spot or cranking up the pipes to stem the drips. It was then Sherlock stepped over to Watson’s side. 

“My dear Watson…” 

“Shut up, Holmes.” It was unheard of the doctor to tell the sleuth off in such harsh manner. “I am not here to listen to your deductions and logic.” 

“Actually I was not into it but since you have decided to ignore me, I shall not disturb you.” Sherlock shifted his body from Watson but the later stopped him. 

“I am sorry, Holmes. It’s just that the last few days have been harrowing for me. I …”

“Elementary, my dear ….Pardon me there. Old habits.” Sherlock nudged the doctor in the shoulder. “I was actually here to tell you that I found the rifles were all re-designed. They looked like Enfield’s but they have been modified to fire a bigger calibre and more to that, the trigger have been lightened the pull weight. And each bullet carried an explosive point which was quite similar to the newly tested calibre.”

“You don’t say but maybe they were and the reason was for the beasts.” 

“I concluded that too but does it need hard-nosed impact? The lions ain’t exactly that thick skinned like some of us.” Sherlock smiled with rare twitch on the corner of his mouth. “Pardon the pun there but they could be looking at shooting something extraordinary hard.” 

‘Like metal surfaces.” Sherlock added on. 

“Flattering thought there. Maybe since have seen the saber tooth lions, there could be mammoths and God knows what, T-Rex? They may be hard leather bound by now.” Watson smiled. “Pardon the pun here.”

“The King would like a copy of them but jokes aside I would suggest we trod carefully.” Sherlock concluded the discussion or was it.

“Do they put silver in the bullets too?” Van Helsing cut in. “Or maybe the gold coins smelted to smaller grains. It would have driven the price of the metal. Could you hush it up? I am trying to sleep. Only demons don’t need to rest.”

That stopped all the mumblings and hushed conversations except for the Nautilus. The submerged vessel went on this journey with all the creaks and groans for all to hear. The Captain seated on the command seat ignored it although his heart was partly for the vessel. The other part of his heart was for the other tribes that had lived there. It was told to him by the Raj. 

“There were the Tall Man tribe that was brought there by King Solomon. They were true warriors and given the challenge to be the one tribe that will guard the treasure. The tribe was smaller in numbers and they co-exist with King Solomon blessing with the native tribe which were then living off the land and the sea. The Raj then the ancestors of the current Raj heard of the island by words of drunken seafarers. He then commissioned a ship to find the island and it took the Raj grandson to find it. The reigning Raj then met the tribes but the not the Tall Man tribe. The natives were taken in by his words and fought among themselves and with the Tall Man tribe. It was a war that almost destroyed the island before the Raj intervened. The Raj sided with the strongest and annihilated the others saved the Tall Man tribe.”

“The Raj then negotiated with the Tall Man tribe drawing the treaty with them. The Tall Men tribe agreed and created the gully that divided the island. It was an uneasy treaty but it preserved peace on the island. There was one unique condition that existed in the treaty. The Raj moved a major of his wealth to be guarded by the Tall Man tribe. He feared that the kingdom may be at threat and it was best he moved his wealth there.”

“It worked for the three Raj’ that took to rule the kingdom which was rich in wealth from its mining and trades but the wealth soon stopped coming in. The successive Raj had then stopped sending over their wealth but they monitored the guardians. Somehow the guardians lived to their oath and were trustworthy until the third Raj before the last here.”.

“The grandfather of the dead Raj had decided to wage a total takeover of the role of guardians. The war resumed and Tall Man tribe won again. The Raj then withdrew and died a broken man. The successor Raj which was the father of the dead Raj then resumed negotiations. He managed to work out a new treaty then; they will be allowed to withdraw their portion of the wealth and the Tall Man tribe remained as guards on what was Solomon’s.”

“That was how the original Captain Nemo came into the scene. He was in need of funds to develop the Nautilus. The Raj then agreed to the funding but the Captain was to assist in transporting the wealth of the island for him. The Nautilus was built and with its submerged capability, the Captain had not issue transporting the wealth back to the Raj. That was all fine until the Raj decided to take hat was not his. The steal was discovered and the Tall Man tribe defended their wealth. A new war raged and then the Raj died leaving the issue to the reign of the next Raj. The Raj then negotiated a new treaty and chose to appease all sides with the wall, and the marriage f the tribe’s chief daughter.”

Captain Nemo slumped into the seat reflecting on the past. The treasure of Solomon was never to be found and yet many have tried. He had met the Tall Man tribe warrior on some occasions when they decided to stake their claim there. The warriors were huge in the frame and wore armour plates. He had not killed any but they have taken toll on his crew. He had acquired the weapons that could cause damage but the war was never won on only one advantage. He looked to the assembled men there. 

If they win the war they will be heroes. 

If they lose the war, they will just be forgotten.

That was how Tarzan then thought of himself. He faced the sabor with the drawn dagger. He took a side glance to his lover. She had retreated to the rear to give him space. He had fought the sabor before. They are dangerous creatures with claws that could rip the flesh off with one swipe. Those canine teeth are not for decoration and may pierce his flesh with ease. The creature charged at him and like the savage he was, he charged back. Tarzan crouched down when he saw the sabor leapt and used that moment to thrust the dagger into the soft belly of the sabor. The dagger thrust into the left lower ribs and tore a gash there. Tarzan rolled to the side and crouched up on his knees. He felt for the dagger and saw the blood that was coated on it. The sabor roared on the wound it was inflicted and then it paced to the right and left of the prey. It was in pain but the fight was just starting. 

The sabor lashed out with its front paws with the claws drawn out but the prey was keeping its distance. It was then Tarzan decided to switch weapon. He tucked the dagger into the waist belt and then drew out the baton with the grapple. It levelled the baton at the sabor and released the grapple at it. The grapple launched out and spread its three mini hooks. It caught on the sabor’s back and then the savage retract the grapple with force. The hooks on the grapple cut into the flesh then opened up a long two gash on the back to the ribs. The savage did not stop there and charged out while the grapple was retracting. It aimed the baton other end into the open gash there and stabbed in deep. The blunt head pierced the flesh and cracked the ribs but the sabor struck back with the right paw clawed at Tarzan’s left thigh. The later fell back from the clawing and retreated further. The sabor with the baton half embedded in its side roar and then turned to the prey that was on the ground. It leapt at the seated prey but the bullet that impacted into its left eye exploded at the brain. The sabor twisted in the leap and then fell to the ground writhing in pain. It was soon dead 

Tarzan then sat on his haunches with the deep breaths while his right hand clutched at the wounds on the left forearm. He then roared out his kill call with his left hand thumping his chest before he was knocked unconscious from the back of the head by the rifle stock. 

“Stupid choice for a King.” Lady Greystoke lowered the rifle to the ground. She looked to the dead lion and sighed. She was to reach down for her lover when she was struck down by the flashing light beam.

Team Seven of Heroes II Chapter 24 & 25

24.

The Raj stood on the gully that separated the village from the rest of the island. The gully was however contained by the two high hills that formed a barricade to the sea. The natural break in the terrain was a natural barrier to the villagers from the rest of the island. The gully was deep to a depth of twenty feet to thirty at its deepest for the entire length of a quarter mile. 

“How goes the construction?”

“We are placing the last boulders.” The Raj looked toward the wall that he had commissioned. The wall was before the gully to protect the village. It was at the height of twenty feet with a reinforced width of one foot of rocks and clay with metal beams inserted inside to strengthen it. The gully was added with metal sharpened rods.

“My Raj, we have done the last stretch.” The local mason reported to the Raj. “I have also implanted the explosives as you told me.” 

“Recall the workers then, and then the guards. Let no one step there ever again without my approval.” The Raj gave his orders. 

“My Raj, what manner of …beasts are they….” The masonry master was stopped in his question. 

“You and your men are paid well to do the task. Be thankful for the year rest that you have earned.” With that the builders were taken off the island and never seen again for no one recalled them returning home. The Raj meanwhile commissioned another wall on the village side to face the gully with watch towers but it was made of timber form the fallen trees. He manned the towers with armed guards. He then told the villagers on their new home.

“Never again will you be plagued by the beasts. Live well and prosper within the bay here. Never leave for the other side of the island but prepare to defend your village should the wall collapsed.” With that the Raj later showed the deadly power of the weapons that he had brought to the village. An elderly man approached him then.

“You gave us hope and yet you gave us the means to kill our hope. Why must we use these when we have survived for so long with what we hold now in our hand.” The elderly man was a wise man of the village and his question raised the curiosity of the villagers. 

“You were once the major tribe here and now reduced to a smaller number. Once you were talking to thousands and now hundreds. Once…” 

“You hold thousands at your kingdom but I held more per the tree shadow than the shadow of your palace. So tell me what can this do that our faithful vaal (sword) and kunthum (spear) could not.” The wise man asked. 

The Raj picked up the Enfield rifle and aimed at the tree on the far side. His aim took the coconut off the tree. The wise man smiled and then nodded. The rifles were then distributed and peace reign. 

Till the dirigible that crashed there. 

The dirigible was the first one. It crashed into the gully proper creating a huge blaze there. The fire was seen as a cauldron of flame baking the clay and heating up the stones on the wall. The hydrogen gas exploded and the flames soared high. That was not all when the second dirigible slammed onto the wall and exploded. It blew not a hole there but also created a collapse of the gully wall. The crack in the wall was further into the interior of the island. The rift in the ground was wide and it levelled out. 

It was to form a path for that anyone could walk into the gully. 

But the heat and the explosion took its toll on the side of the gully protecting the village. The wall there began cracking and then pieces of it fell off. The second wall began to burn and then the towers fell. 

It was then the alarm went off. 

“So what was on the other side of the island?”

“The kinds of creatures that only Hell could have for its pets.” Captain Nemo took to explain it in the simplest terms. “God protect the innocent.”

The innocence was the ones who did not know what were the evil abound. Mistress Fa Lo Suee stepped away from the mini carriage unit and felt secured with the presence of the ten guards there. 

“Mistress, the other unit landed there.” The one named the Back Cat motioned to the right of her. “They are dismantling the guns and will join us soon.” 

“Find us a place to establish a base. I want it running soon. I don’t like this place.” The work was to begin when a guard called out the warning. The guard levelled his halberd at the threat.

It was a huge creature with the looks that resembled the striped predators from the hills but that one held a set of fangs that reached downwards from it jaws. It was creamy brown in the furs and was twice the size of Man. 

“Lao Fu!” The guard called out. It was unbelievable to see one there. 

“So what is there?” Van Helsing getting impatient with the Captain who seems to go into a relapse of the past. “Tell us what’s there? Demons? Ghosts or maybe Vampires?”

Captain Nemo smiled and then motioned to his adopted son to fetch the specimen. The young man brought over a small box. 

“This is a tooth from the creature.” Captain Nemo displayed the foot long fang. “I did some studies and they are called sabre tooth tigers or in more technical name, the Felidae Smilodon. These are not fangs as claimed by many but elongated canine teeth. The other technical link was the breed may be associated with the vampires. They do have nasty resemblance.”

“Do not mock my enemy.” Van Helsinhg took offense to the association to the nemesis of his. 

“I don’t have to. Your enemy is with us now.” Captain Nemo voiced out. It was then they heard the roar in the cavern. “They are here.” 

“They are in my jungle.” Sean openly declared. “Give me a rifle.” 

“No, no guns. I will hunt them. The sabors are mine.” With that Lord Greystoke reached for the two batons. He had fashioned a shoulder harness for the batons. He took out the one with the electric whip. 

“I am coming with you.” Lady Greystoke reached for the Mauser Sporter Magnum Action with the .404 cartridges and the ammo belt. “We promised to be together at all times. More to it our son need us together.” 

The mentioned of the son stopped the once savage Lord of the Jungle. He turned to the Captain. 

“I want the blade that you showed me.” The Captain handed over the bone dagger. 

“It’s called Brutus after the senator that killed Caesar.” 

“Do you want my knuckle duster? You could take out those nasty teeth.” Mycroft offered his gift but was declined. The couple had then off on their search for the sabor followed by the Irish. 

“Herr Mercer, where are you going?” Doctor Gunter called out.

“The hunt for the tiger is more interesting.” Sean proceeded and then turned back. He grabbed the Enfield rifle and ammo belt. 

25.

Watson stared at the group of people there. There were the three who were his friends, the mad Captain with his love, and their son, the remaining five Germans and three more local warriors. 

Fifteen of them with three more in the tunnels or eaten by the tigers. 

Eighteen of them. 

One original task. 

A damned treasure.

One hidden for ages and now sought by seventeen of them. 

Watson picked the paper he had written some notes. He opened it to read. 

Enter the vault of Purgatory

Slip in by the wall that stays hidden

Trail the glitter flow to end

Beware the hands that reached out

Seek the Tower that reached low

Behold its sentries that looms 

Trapeze and evade the traps

Watch the one who seats on the throne

Solomon isn’t the King

But the Guardian for the Kings 

“Pardon me, Watson. I need to talk.” Watson looked at the other. “Well, it’s not often that I get you instead of Sherlock to brood on his view regarding matters but please proceed.” 

“It’s Sherlock I was intending to ask on him. How is h….his medication?”

“Well, he looked normal although I have not been with him for some months now.” Watson took a glance at Sherlock who was seated at the far end examining the rifle. He was not a man that favours the guns but he was known to handle it albeit with bad aiming on the target. The walls of the unit they shared reflected the results. His so named medications counted among it was cocaine addiction. 

“Looking normal for my brother means that he will picking up the dirt and whatever on the trail to examine but he had done so. I wondered why and his current …if I may say interest in guns. That intrigued me vastly.”

“The guns….Oh, you meant his interest in the guns. Well, Sherlock have been known to study the different weapons for they are used in some of his cases, and he has a. ,,,:

“A revolver which I knew of but he hardly carries it. He relied on you to do so when needed.” Mycroft remarked. “After all, you are a marksman at it …and also the daggers.”

Mycroft made a motion of throwing the dagger like an expert which drew the frown on Watson’s face. The statement brought on by Mycroft did however raised a pointer in Watson. He did then recall that the sleuth did not seems himself. 

“I will talk to him when I have …”

“Gentlemen, let us proceed to the next cavern where we will once again sail on the Nautilus.” Captain Nemo led the group to the tunnel and after a long walk they were back at the cavern where they sailed in from the sea. The vessel was still there but the crews were unloading it. 

“We are drier than the sun dried berries.” The Bosun approached the Captain. “We even removed the bidet. Please do tell the lady of concern.” 

“We won’t be sailing with her. However we have the dozen more to go abroad here.” Captain Nemo then in turn saw his seat on the Nautilus being dragged out. “Who say you can remove my seat?” 

“Well, Captain. You said anything not of use, and we reckon…” The crew smiled at the Captain. 

“Aye, so I heard the Orca are looking for a new diet.” Captain Nemo remarked back. “Perhaps your Spanish descent will be more enticing.” 

At that moment, Princess Fa Lo Suee sat on the makeshift table to take her meal. She had changed into a greenish tunic and pants tucked into the dark leather boots. She looked at the huge beast that was killed earlier and hung over then lower branch while the guard turned butcher was skinning it. The beast had killed one of the guards then and wounded two others. She recalled it was a ferocious battle then. 

The saber toothed lion had charged at the guard then. The creature holding the halberd swung the heavy weapon from right to left. The blade cut into the lion’s left shoulder but the creature did not stopped then. It turned its attention towards the guard’s left shoulder and took a bite there. The guard screamed out in pain and dropped the halberd while another guard went to assist. The guard did not reach the wounded one before it was attacked by the lion. The lion reached out with its front right paw and maul the guard in the arm. The wound was deep and the guard retreated but the lion had moved towards it as the second prey. The second guard retreated but not far before the lion bit his neck. Another guard had then joined in and slashed the halberd on the lion on its back but the blade did not cut in deep before the lion turned to attack the latest prey. The lion then wounded had leapt on the third guard who was running for safety. The lion bit into the back of the head and killed the guard. Just when no one thought there was no stopping the lion when a dark figure jumped towards the lion back. It was the lady named Black Cat.

The lady had on her hands was the modified twin meat hook fashioned with a hand grip with the fingers slots as holder. She thrust the hook deep into the lion’s shoulders with both hands and then dragged the lion backwards with force. The lion roared in pain and the lady pulled the hooks out to slam it deep into the exposed raised neck area. There the soft flesh gave way for the hooks to cut in deeper. The lion tried to throw the lady off its back but the wounds were weakening it. It went into a forward down charge to attempt another throw but the lady had pulled the hooks out and did a reverse somersault to the front of the lion. She then slammed both her hands with the hook with a reverse thrust of the hands. The hooks cut into the lion’s eyes and the sharpened end was forced into the soft brain tissue. The lion roared once last time before it fell in its two canine teeth. The silence was felt then when even the rustle of the leaves on the tree could be heard. 

“Black Cat, would we be having lion meat for dinner?”

“As you wished, Mistress.”

Team Seven of Heroes II Chapter 22 & 23

23. 

“I want the guns shooting.” Mistress Fa Lo Suee held herself steady by the console.. The two dirigibles had lined up into formation and then the bombs were dropped from the under carriage while the dirigibles flew over the village. The bombs were crude in design but each of the rounded a foot in radius metal balls filled with gunpowder and metals bits were rolled off like balls to the target below. The wicks to ignite the bombs were adjusted for the fall duration to reach the ground. The bombs exploded then with the metal pieces dispersing like the bullets into the surrounding. Due to the explosive materials inside, the explosion could tear down walls and trees in the range. One bomb landed inside a hut and within seconds, the hit was reduced to charred remains. 

The machine guns posts were then manned by the local warriors who started their defensive actions. The first gun started firing with the elevation adjusted on the swivel stand. Then the other three guns roared into action. It was not able to do much damage then but it bought time for the Model M1914 which was unveiled then and the crews were loading the gun. 

It was then the loudest explosions were heard. A bomb had landed on the howitzers ammo storage which damaged the nearby huts and created a huge crater in the ground. The three howitzers were all destroyed. 

The M1914 then went into action firing into the sky. The projectile could reach for the cloud but it hit one of the two dirigibles. The projectile hit the undercarriage and impacted on the bombs stored there. The bombs exploded and with its shards of metal ripped the upper carriage to reach the engines there. The engines were damaged there but parts of caught fire and the flames spread to the helium gas canisters which were feeding the balloon above. Those flames ignited the gas and the balloon went up in flames. That caused the dirigible to go off course and it crashed toward the adjacent dirigible. 

That second dirigible was the one where Mistress Fa Lo Suee was riding on.

“Get us out!” The mistress called out while she dragged herself along the console structure to the other side. She went for there for she knew the escape hatch was there with the experimental parachutes. The fleet had acquired it as part of the Emperor’s instruction.

“Hail the Emperor!” The men in the fleet had hailed the Emperor as the Celestial One. That did not prevent the surviving dirigible to suffer the next impact by the M1918 on the undercarriage. 

“Take the mini carriage. Follow me.” The Black Cat called out before she dragged the younger mistress. She was followed by ten warriors in the amour plated clothing holding the Chinese halberd with the wide blade. 

“Tell the others to do the same.” The Black Cat called out just before she lowered herself into the escape carriage. The carriage was able to hold a dozen warriors and it was shaped like the main carriage except it housed a set of retractable wings and a rudder. Two of the mini carriages were released then from the dirigible headed for the island surface. It was then the dirigible went up in flames and then dragged itself down to the ground. 

On the ground, the German’s were given a respite when the bombing occurred. 

“Held them in that hut.” Captain Nemo organized the defence of the island. His other guests were led to an adjacent hut by John, Jr. They went into the place and was surprised to see that there was dug out there with a ladder down the tunnel into the ground. 

“Go below.” The doctor’s son told them and he lead them first. Sherlock and Mycroft followed by the Greystoke but Van Helsing were reluctant to go down.

“I never liked to climb down holes. It’s like being buried.” Van Helsing stood there but Watson prodded him in the rear.

“We will all be buried whether it’s our remains or our soul. So get in or I will push you in myself.”

The climb down was about twenty feet before they reached the cavern below. It was a natural cavern which covered over a wide area and from the side of the walls, there were more tunnels. The place was lighted by the burning torches o the wall. They then saw the Germans were on the other side with three armed local warriors guarding them. 

“Welcome to our city, the City beneath the Island. We named it Eden.” John Jr explained the city. “It was a lava tube that made this and three others. We are interconnected…”

“Lava tubes? You mean we are standing inside a volcano.” Mycroft reacted in anguish. “I mean a real volcano.” 

“You are correct there. I can see the soil here….” Sherlock had crouched to examine the soil sample. “It’s…” 

“I am not keen on your deductions. I have one question.” Mycroft raised the pertinent question but he was replied before he asked.

“The volcano is dormant. Have been for some years.” John Jr replied. “According to the elders, it last erupted several centuries ago.” 

The group including the Germans were then led to the nearby tunnel and after a long walk and past more tunnels they arrived at a bigger cavern. There they saw the change in the scene. Instead of a lava coated cavern, there were rows of structures in circular layout to the centre where a high tower was seen. The tower reached the cavern ceiling and on the top it reached out like the roots into the ceiling. The cavern was filled with supplies and including weapons. The Enfield rifles were stacked there on the shelves with the bundles of ammo belts. They were then greeted by the group of five armed local warriors holding rifles.

“John, Jr. What was the noise above? The exits were all sealed.” The leader of the warrior group approached John, Jr. 

“We were attacked. From above. I have no other details except to bring them here The Captain is above.”

“Bombs? We have not been bombed before. Who are they?” The leader asked.

“Those are our ……guests.” John Jr motioned to his father and friends. “The others I am not sure. We found them on the beach.”

The leader of the group approached the Germans. Sean stood in and spoke to the leader.

“I am Sean Mercer, I …” Sean was given the stock of the rifle into his midriff. He keeled over and then he was kicked in the face. He went down holding his face. John Jr intervened on the kick.

“Krish, he is our guests too until the Captain decides on their fate.” 

Then they heard the huge explosions. Everyone looked at the ceiling and saw the dust dislodged before the cracks appeared. They then saw the Captain running towards them with the others.

“The ship above hit the village. It had wiped out most of the people there. We got to move.” Captain Nemo called out. “The wall had been breached.”

“The wall? What wall?” Mycroft asked. It was then Captain Nemo told the tale of Deep Under.

The real side of the island. 

“There are thing that you do not wish to know of the Raj but I will tell you now”. “

24.

The Raj stood on the gully that separated the village from the rest of the island. The gully was however contained by the two high hills that formed a barricade to the sea. The natural break in the terrain was a natural barrier to the villagers from the rest of the island. The gully was deep to a depth of twenty feet to thirty at its deepest for the entire length of a quarter mile. 

“How goes the construction?”

“We are placing the last boulders.” The Raj looked toward the wall that he had commissioned. The wall was before the gully to protect the village. It was at the height of twenty feet with a reinforced width of one foot of rocks and clay with metal beams inserted inside to strengthen it. The gully was added with metal sharpened rods.

“My Raj, we have done the last stretch.” The local mason reported to the Raj. “I have also implanted the explosives as you told me.” 

“Recall the workers then, and then the guards. Let no one step there ever again without my approval.” The Raj gave his orders. 

“My Raj, what manner of …beasts are they….” The masonry master was stopped in his question. 

“You and your men are paid well to do the task. Be thankful for the year rest that you have earned.” 

With that the builders were taken off the island and never seen again for no one recalled them returning home. The Raj meanwhile commissioned another wall on the village side to face the gully with watch towers but it was made of timber form the fallen trees. He manned the towers with armed guards. He then told the villagers on their new home.

“Never again will you be plagued by the beasts. Live well and prosper within the bay here. Never leave for the other side of the island but prepare to defend your village should the wall collapsed.” 

With that the Raj later showed the deadly power of the weapons that he had brought to the village. An elderly man approached him then.

“You gave us hope and yet you gave us the means to kill our hope. Why must we use these when we have survived for so long with what we hold now in our hand.” The elderly man was a wise man of the village and his question raised the curiosity of the villagers. 

“You were once the major tribe here and now reduced to a smaller number. Once you were talking to thousands and now hundreds. Once…” 

“You hold thousands at your kingdom but I held more per the tree shadow than the shadow of your palace. So tell me what can this do that our faithful vaal (sword) and kunthum (spear) could not.” The wise man asked. 

The Raj picked up the Enfield rifle and aimed at the tree on the far side. His aim took the coconut off the tree. The wise man smiled and then nodded. The rifles were then distributed and peace reign

. 

Till the dirigible that crashed there. 

The dirigible was the first one. It crashed into the gully proper creating a huge blaze there. The fire was seen as a cauldron of flame baking the clay and heating up the stones on the wall. The hydrogen gas exploded and the flames soared high. That was not all when the second dirigible slammed onto the wall and exploded. It blew not a hole there but also created a collapse of the gully wall. The crack in the wall was further into the interior of the island. The rift in the ground was wide and it levelled out. 

It was to form a path for that anyone could walk into the gully. 

But the heat and the explosion took its toll on the side of the gully protecting the village. The wall there began cracking and then pieces of it fell off. The second wall began to burn and then the towers fell. 

It was then the alarm went off. 

“So what was on the other side of the island?”

“The kinds of creatures that only Hell could have for its pets.” Captain Nemo took to explain it in the simplest terms. “God protect the innocent.”

The innocence was the ones who did not know what were the evil abound. Mistress Fa Lo Suee stepped away from the mini carriage unit and felt secured with the presence of the ten guards there. 

“Mistress, the other unit landed there.” The one named the Back Cat motioned to the right of her. “They are dismantling the guns and will join us soon.” 

“Find us a place to establish a base. I want it running soon. I don’t like this place.” The work was to begin when a guard called out the warning. The guard levelled his halberd at the threat.

It was a huge creature with the looks that resembled the striped predators from the hills but that one held a set of fangs that reached downwards from it jaws. It was creamy brown in the furs and was twice the size of Man. 

“Lao Fu!” The guard called out. It was unbelievable to see one there. 

“So what is there?” Van Helsing getting impatient with the Captain who seems to go into a relapse of the past. “Tell us what’s there? Demons? Ghosts or maybe Vampires?”

Captain Nemo smiled and then motioned to his adopted son to fetch the specimen. The young man brought over a small box. 

“This is a tooth from the creature.” Captain Nemo displayed the foot long fang. “I did some studies and they are called sabre tooth tigers or in more technical name, the Felidae Smilodon. These are not fangs as claimed by many but elongated canine teeth. The other technical link was the breed may be associated with the vampires. They do have nasty resemblance.”

“Do not mock my enemy.” Van Helsinhg took offense to the association to the nemesis of his. 

“I don’t have to. Your enemy is with us now.” Captain Nemo voiced out. It was then they heard the roar in the cavern. “They are here.” 

“They are in my jungle.” Sean openly declared. “Give me a rifle.” 

Greystoke reached for the two batons. He had fashioned a shoulder harness for the batons. He took out the one with the electric whip. 

“I am coming with you.” Lady Greystoke reached for the Mauser Sporter Magnum Action with the .404 cartridges and the ammo belt. “We promised to be together at all times. More to it our son need us together.” 

The mentioned of the son stopped the once savage Lord of the Jungle. He turned to the Captain. 

“I want the blade that you showed me.” The Captain handed over the bone dagger. 

“It’s called Brutus after the senator that killed Caesar.” 

“Do you want my knuckle duster? You could take out those nasty teeth.” Mycroft offered his gift but was declined. The couple had then off on their search for the sabor followed by the Irish. 

“Herr Mercer, where are you going?” Doctor Gunter called out.

“The hunt for the tiger is more interesting.” Sean proceeded and then turned back. He grabbed the Enfield rifle and ammo belt. 

Team Seven of Heroes II Chapter 21 & 22

Book 2

21.

A tropical paradise it was with the rows of thatched leaves roofing over wooden structures with the swaying palm trees and loin clothed locals heaving the daily sea catch. There the rows of coconut trees that was the boundary separating the sandy beach to the grass covered ground where the huts stood. The sea breeze was blowing in then and the fishing boats were all grounded on the beach. They were looking at a small bay area and it was protected by the reefs out there. 

“We have the protection of the natural reefs which allowed us to fish here. The sea creatures are out there but no one dared to venture beyond the reefs.” Captain Nemo explained to the guests of the island.

“What of those?” Mycroft motioned to the row of two howitzers there. 

“The Krupp 7.5 Model 1903? Yes we acquired them shortly after the German Imperial incursions. I had them traded from the Ottoman Empire.” The Krupp field gun fires a 2.95 inch shell to a range of over six thousand yards was manned by a seven crew which was trained by the Captain himself. 

“We took down the last ship with a direct hit on the starboard hull. The ship sank and the crews died in the sea. The sea can be a vicious place to swim when there are killer whales out there.” Captain Nemo saluted towards the sea and then smiled. “These sea creatures are like my crews although they do not sail with me.” 

The Captain then directed the guests to the thatched huts and then walking past the trodden paths they saw the structure with the massive triple level with whitewashed walls like a pristine palace but the roofing was covered four machine gun posts. The posts were unmanned then. 

“Yes, we are protected from the skies by those machine guns. The Maxim 1910 by …” The Captain was interrupted by doctor. 

“Sir Hiram Maxim. It’s recoil operated fed by the canvas belt and kill at over a thousand yards. I knew them well. Those guns wounded a lot of my friends.” Doctor Watson remarked on his surgeon role in the Frontier War. “I doubt you could hit the Hindenburg with it.” 

“No, it may not be effective but we hold the Russian Model M1914 there under the canopy. It will bring down the dirigible.” Captain Nemo smiled when he pointed at the gun hidden below the camouflage tent. 

“We are ever prepared for any….” 

“Enough talks of the guns like kids.” Nina cut in. “We got more works to do as men.” 

The group then took to the new set of walkway which was the stone walks similar to the ones designed by the Romans. They came to the interior of the village with the mud erected huts and thatched roofs. There were about twenty such structure. 

“This is the inner section of the village which we named Eden. It was named by the Raj. According to the Raj, Eden was a peaceful place and he lived here. He even moved his treasures here so that he could be at peace with it but he did not foresee the island was soon to be plagued by intruders.” 

“You called the intruders, Captain as if they….” Mycroft cut in. 

“Intruders were a more polite term by myself. I would have said robbers for they came here to take the treasure.” Captain Nemo smiled and Watson then snapped in. 

“To what are then we ourselves? Robbers too or treasure hunters?”

“A very polite reference which I may agree. Just as a pirate may be to others may be seen as sea farer adventurer by others.” Captain Nemo replied. “We are all who we may choose to be but in the end, the one that survives held the last word.” 

“And how did you get to be ….accepted here?” Sherlock asked out of curiosity. 

“The Raj met me some time back when …I was here by mistake.” Captain Nemo thought out his reply. “He offered me sanctuary and then we became friends. I ….”

“You meant shipwrecked?” Sherlock ever curious but frank was more of his manner. 

“Yes, the Raj did mention of a sea captain that he befriended but trust was far from his mind.” Watson spoke up. “I wondered if you…”

“In time, Doctor, There is someone to see you now.” Captain Nemo indicated to the approaching young lad. “Your son.” 

Doctor Watson looked at his son who was then a lad of twenty years, slim looking in the loose tunic and pants with his feet bare footed. He was tanned dark skinned but the mop of hair of his resembled that of his father. He had his father’s eyes but his other features were more of the mother’s. He had one a machete slung on his waist belt. 

“John, this is your father, John Watson. You were named after him.” Captain Nemo introduced the two figures. The doctor was to approach his son when the later stepped back.

“I have my father. He is here.” The young lad motioned to Captain Nemo. “You are not mine. You …. are just my mother’s lover.” 

With that the young lad ran off from the reunion. John Watson was devastated but he kept his composure. He turned to look at the Captain.

“Let us get it done. Once you have the treasure I am leaving.” 

“Splendid! I will arrange the entourage then.” Captain Nemo marched off to get his men. “We have some equipment to carry and supplies….”

Lady Jane stepped up to the doctor and offered a consoling hand on the shoulder. The doctor looked at her and then smiled.

“He is better off here than with me. Louise will not tolerate him with me.” Louise was the current beau in his life. “He looks like a fine lad.” 

It was not all fine on the gunship when it approached the island. The currents were fine but the occupants of the sea were following ever close to the vessel. Captain Heinrich had got all his men assigned to their posts and manned the guns. He was eyeing then the Orcas’ which was swimming parallel to the gunship.

“Let no man fire the weapon until I say so.” His command was heeded and there were no issues for a while. Then he saw the killer whales were gone. The sea surface was all calm and there was nothing that appeared to be swimming by then. 

It came with a sudden splash and it was not a killer whale but a huge white shark. The shark measured over thirty five feet took a bite at the railings on the portside before it swam back to the sea. It was frightening then for it was a short distance to the gun emplacement. 

“Mein Gott! I have never seen such a monster.” Sailor Dietrich called out. He then stepped out of the emplacement to examine the damage. It was his last seen action of the sailor for the shark appeared once more and dragged the sailor off the deck. 

“Man over board!” The alarm went out but no one dared to step out. They stood at their posts and watched. It was not over then. They felt the hammering on the keel and then at the stern hull. 

“Give me speed, Bosun.” Captain Heinrich called out. He felt the hammering even to the bridge and it was not one shark but it could be two or more. The sharks were trying to breach the lower hull. The Captain rushed to the portside window and looked. He knew that he could not chance it so he called for a new course.

“Turn twenty portside and full speed.” 

“Captain, those looked like reefs.” The sailor on lookout screamed out. “We could be beached.”

“Do as I say.” Captain Heinrich then returned to his seat and watched with keen eyes. He felt the sharks were relentless and had to do more. 

“”Jettison the baggage. I need us lighter to sail on.” Doctor Gunter who was there on bridge then challenged the Captain. 

“You cannot jettison any of our equipment. If you do, I will shoot you myself.” Doctor Gunter cautioned the other. “I can however assist you with the sharks.” 

The Hauptmann gave command for the grenades to be brought up. He had it attached to the cannon projectiles in the wooden boxes, and then pulled the string before he rolled it over. The wooden box floated on the surface for a second before it exploded along with the cannon projectile. The explosion may not hurt the shark but the resonance of the noise may deter it. The third successive explosion then stopped the sharks. 

“Sail us away, Bosun. We can’t proceed this way. We need to go around. And hopefully no sharks there.” Captain Heinrich gave the order but it was too late. The ship hit the reefs and the sound of the hull scrapping the jagged rocks there. 

“We have leakages, Captain.” The calls came in while crews ran to mend the holes but the water was gushing in. 

“Abandon ship!’ The call went out. Captain Heinrich cursed himself for rushing in It was the work of an amateur sailor then. He looked out at the skies and saw the dirigibles were skirting the island. It was over their position. 

On the dirigible, Mistress Fa Lo Suee was watching the gunship fight with the sharks. From her vantage view she could make out the swimming shapes below the gunship hull. It was an amazing sight as if you were looking inside the glass container from above with the little fishes swimming there. She was dressed in the Manchurian Princess garb complete with the elaborate headgear and the decked boots. She stood there looking at the window with her right hand holding the lever on the console. 

“Are we in position?” Mistress Fa Lo Suee asked. She did not await the reply and pulled the lever. The flap below at the undercarriage opened up to release the rounded canister containing the gunpowder with the burning wicks. The twenty odd bombs went down like rocks and exploded over the gunship damaging the guns and killing the crews. 

“Damn you!” Captain Heinrich cursed at the dirigible but his ship was sinking and the deck was burning. 

“Abandon ship!” Sean Mercer grabbed his guns and then rushed to the long boat that was lowered down. He climbed in and saw the doctor there with mercenaries. There were no words exchanged but the men worked on lowering the boat. It was then the sharks returned when it caught the scent of blood from the dead or wounded sailors. 

22

Captain Heinrich pulled himself from the flooring where he fell when the bombs exploded. The bombs exploded on the deck of the gunship causing irreparable damages. One of his S L/50 gun was out of commission when a bomb landed on it. The other S L/30 guns were in silent for the gunners were cowering in fear there. 

“Hard to portside, rudder open!” Captain Heinrich called out for a possible reversal of his ship fate. He then added in the new command. “Look out for the reefs.”

The command went out and remaining crews chanced their life on the sinking vessel than to die as fish food. 

“Leakages on the stern!’ The alert was relayed and relayed to the crews who rushed to the scene. Then the real damage appeared when the ammo storage exploded. 

“Reversed the Engine, and renewed new course bearing 15 degrees to Starboard.” Captain Heinrich then gave new orders to save his ship but the outcome was certain. He then moved to his seat and watched the deck got covered with the sea water. He knew the end was near and reached for the dagger in his right boot. He will fight to the end but the fight was over even before he could react. The Orca sprang into the bridge area through the broken window and snapped the Captain at the head. He was dead before he could pull the dagger out. 

In the long boat, Sean Mercer sat at the bow watching the German doctor at the stern. They were glaring at each other with the other five mercenaries rowing the boat. Both men held the MG80 across their lap. 

“Irish, watch our back. I am not keen to being fish feed.” The mercenary in the front of Sean voiced out. The later nodded and then shifted his eyes to the sinking vessel. It was tilting on portside, and there were survivors in the water but not for long for the sea predators had taken to them like open bait. 

Sean saw a sailor waving at him from among the debris. He saw the sailor was partially covered in the spilled oil and was too far away to be rescued. He did the only merciful thing then; he shot the sailor with a short burst from the MG08 killing the former there. 

“You have a kind soul, Sean.” Doctor Gunter commented on the kill. “I wondered was that how you remove the pain in wounded creatures.”

“Only the ones that I was to mount on my wall as trophy.” Sean replied. He saw then the frenzied feasting on the remains of the dead sailor. The log boat sailed on until it was past the reefs and into the bay. He saw the break in the waves and reached out with his machine gun. He fired a long burst at the wake and soon it trailed blood when the Orca surfaced dead. 

“It must have followed us across the reefs.” Sean told the others. There was nothing more motivating then to roll the boat faster towards the beach. 

Soon they reached the beach and were confronted by the local warriors holding rifles. There were about twenty local warriors then and Sean raised his machine gun above his head. 

“Don’t …” Sean’s words were ignored by one of the mercenaries who reached for the rifle in the long boat. He was cut down before he could even grab the rifle. The others followed suit to raise their hands. 

“Fool!” Doctor Gunter snapped out at the desperate move. “Don’t over react.”

The group of survivors were then led to the nearby village. 

Above the sky, Mistress Fa Lo Suee looked through the looking glass at the island with her focus on the village. She saw the huts and the whitewashed structure. She could not make out the machine guns posts but that unimportant to her then. Her strategy was annihilation. 

At that moment, Captain Nemo led his guests to the village but they did not stop by any of the white washed structure but the guests saw along the walk, the life which the locals were living daily. There were the vegetable patches and the domestic animal pens next to the stone walkways. 

“Life here is very simple. They work and lived with their own produce from the lands and the sea. They are protected by the wall which was built years ago and those fire throwers are designed to protect them.” Captain Nemo gave the local guide version. “These are the people of the island. Nina’s father was the descendants of the leaders which guided these people. When the Raj ancestors came here, he negotiated a pact with them as the guardian here for his treasure. He knew that the treasure will be safe here and they have performed it well. The Raj have also some other avenues that he left here to ensure the treasure was safe. After all, the major part of it was Solomon’s.”

“How did you know so much of it?” Doctor Watson asked. 

“From the Raj and also from the elders.” Captain Nemo replied. “The Raj was not all talkative but he trusted me to a level. The others took time to get them to talk but they did. I also learned to live with them. When I brought Nina back here, they open up more.”

“Enough to know about the island but not on the treasure.” Doctor Watson remarked on. “That is lame.” 

“Yes, I knew about the island. I found it interesting and more so when the tale of the treasure intrigued me but the other reason I am here is because of Nina. You left her devastated and I was there for her.” 

Watson felt his fingers twitched but he stopped himself from reaching it across to the blades. He looked to the huge mountain that loomed over the island. He recalled then that the mountain was named Deep End, and not the island. It was Van Helsing who took the issue head on. 

“What is on the other side? Monsters?” Van Helsing intruded with his comments. “I have been watching and listening for so long. Now I will speak. Are there monsters there? Vampires or perhaps Werewolves?” 

“Sort of but on the monstrous part, they surely are.” Captain Nemo replied. “You will meet them soon. In fact, it’s ironical that you are here with your expertise. As if God wanted to protect Eden for us who are sinners.” 

“Enough of your ramblings! I am getting tired of these. Show us the treasure or the vault?” Lord Greystoke displayed his impatience. 

“I hear you, Lord Greystoke. Obviously, your living with the …civilised have not refined your harsh manners. Yes, we will get to the treasure now. I am just as impatient but I will not go alone with you alone. I have my own crews.”

A figure approached them dressed in the uniform of the Nautilus and was armed with the slung over bandolier of bullets and belt waist with the side arm. He still had the machete and then it was tucked behind on the back. 

“He can’t come. He is still….” The doctor protested. 

“He will go. He is a man now.” The voice was from Nina who joined back the group. “John will be there to claim his grandfather’s treasure. And so will I do for him.” 

“Nina, you …” Nina ignored the protest of the Captain. She turned to the doctor. 

“I am his mother. I will go where he goes.” 

It was then the German captives were led to the Captain. The captives were all removed of their weapons. 

“We have more guests.” Captain Nemo looked at the newly arrivals. He counted seven of them and that was one too many for the village. 

“Kill them all.”

The killing occurred but it came from above their heads. 

It was a series of bombs that landed on the village.

Team Seven of Heroes II Chapter 19 & 20

19.

The cavern was only part of the huge structure inside the island was the two level of chambers which included a huge dining hall, and two libraries that housed some exquisite paintings of the great masters and rare editions. The guests were led to the main library which the more delicate frames were kept with the temperature and humidity maintained. They were all led to the long dining table and served more catches of the sea.

“My father….my real father was an avid collector of the masters. He spent a great sum of purchasing or restoring some for his personal collection.” Captain Nemo motioned to the frames that were placed on the walls. Sherlock gave out a sigh of wonderment for some of those were priceless. He did had some previous encounters with the field of painting more so in the case of the Retired Colourman. 

“Nina, why are…” Watson had held his patience since he saw her but the scene of her hugging the Captain appalled him then. He looked at the lady he loved then and even borne his son. 

“There is not much to talk about, James. You were too long gone and I needed a man and father for …your son, John.” Nina stood there in her loose tunic and skirts that was covered with the flower motifs. “Dakkar was there when I needed him. He brought me back to my people.” 

“You failed there, John Hamish Watson.” Nina looked away from the doctor. 

“I came back to see your father when he was dying… and I did not kill him. I was not there when he died.” Watson explained. “I wanted to take you with me…” 

“To London? That was what you promised me years ago.” Nina replied. “You never came back.”

“I tried but your father had forbidden me to come back. He had me expressly told to leave. You were to marry your cousin.”

“And you did like a dutiful servant? John Hamish Watson, you are a liar. You were married in London. I knew from the friends of mine.” It was true that Watson was married then to a Mary Morstan. 

“Yes, I did. I ….She died.” Watson muttered out. “I never stop,,,,: 

“Doctor, if I may interrupt but we are up against time.” Captain Nemo looked at the doctor. “We have a treasure to find.” 

The others were caught off guard by the words of the Captain except Watson and Nina.

“Only you knew besides the dead Raj. Even Nina does not know the full details.” Captain Nemo looked at the doctor. “From what I learned from my friends we will soon be with the company of the German Imperial Navy. This is their fourth attempt and I hoped there will no more after this. We have foiled them before and will do now.”

Watson looked to Nina and then smiled. 

“Does it mean a lot to you? Those gold and rubies. I will tell you where but can I have my son with me ….. please?”

“John, I need…” Nina looked to the Captain and then back at Watson. “We will speak on this another time. The treasure belonged to my people. I want it back.” 

“There is never enough gold for any one.” Van Helsing snapped in. “Even the Templer Knights of old held vaults of gold. In 1307, leaders of the Order were captured and tortured for the whereabouts of their treasure. Te vast amount of it was missing. There were reports that a fleet of ships sailed off La Rochelle, France before the persecutors caught them. It was believed the vast amount of gold was taken off to some island.”

“Whatever and whoever they are, they are doomed if they were to step onto the island.” Captain Nemo cautioned the guests. “Let me show you the island.

Above the skies, Mistress Fa Lo Suee directed the dirigibles fleet to approach the island overtaking the gunship. She directed them to fly over it while her observers to scan the terrain.

“Find me a place to land the fleet.” Mistress Fa told her observers. “Prepare the landing crews. I want them deploy when we are there. Bring out the cannons and those explosives.” 

The crew brought out the artillery piece known as the Ten Pounder with the six feet length barrel that fires the ten pound shell to a distance over three thousand five yards. It was dismantled from its wheel but the barrel could be handed by two me with its weight of just over two hundred lbs.

“Mistress, the four units will be assembled upon landing.” The gunner leader reported to her. “Our special explosives will be more effective than the normal load.” 

Mistress Fa Lo Suee nodded and was given a signal by her observer.

The dirigible fleet was seen then by the observers on the gunship and an alert sent out. The guns were loaded but they did not fire. 

“Why don’t you fire?” Sean had joined the Captain on the bridge.

“The range is too far and more I do not want to alert them that we saw them. Its best this way we sailed on.” Captain Heinrich replied. “More to it, we have calm seas now but I see more perils ahead.”

The Irish hunter looked out at the view ahead. He saw nothing that would alarm him except the blue sea and then it caught his attention. There were the sights of the huge fishes there on horizon. He had not learned much of the sea fishes during his stay in Africa but he knew those species from his childhood.

“Orca….killer whales.”

20.

“Behold the land lubber village.” Captain Nemo had then the guests on a track of elevated steps to emerge on the surface. The first thing that everyone felt was the sunlight on their faces. None of them complained despite the stale smell on their clothes after being in the submersible ship for days. 

It was then Van Helsing saw his bag returned to him. He opened it and removed the sawn off shot gun with the bandolier of silver cartridges. He was also returned the baton given by Lord Greytstoke. The later was given his extended metallic lance. A guard then carried in a case which the captain then opened up. Captain Nemo reached into the case and withdrew a long barrel rifle with a scope. 

“Behold the Mauser Sporter Magnum Action with the .404 cartridges. Bolt action and held a five rounds heavy duty bullets. I have here a bandolier with thirty rounds.” Captain Nemo handed the rifle to Lady Jane. He also handed her a S&W 38 special with the short barrel and twenty rounds. “For those recalcitrant which you are permitted to blow their brains off.” 

“For you, Lord John Greystoke, I have the best blade for you. The blade was sharpened by the master from the rib bone of the killer whale and given its serrated edge. It’s a rare design with the eight inches length blade with the double edged at the point. The hilt is then covered by the sinews till it formed a hand grip.” Capatain Nemo looked at the man. . 

“We are both outcasts of society. We fit in well with the other side; yours is the jungle and mine the open sea. We cannot live with or without them but let us pave our own path in when we have to. I won’t insult you by handling a rifle to you.” Captain Nemo whispered to John then. “We are survivors of the fittest.”

“Holmes…” Captain Nemo turned to the two brothers but they declined. 

“We have our own, thank you.” Mycroft proudly displayed his home designed rifle, the Enfield and the Webley. “Never leave the home land without them. They are worked with precision and love by our own folks.” 

“Very well, Snooties. I shall not be watching your back and undoubtedly you on mine but nevertheless, grabbed a few grenades. They are German made and they do make a nasty hole in you if they ever exploded. Just pulled the string and then holler tally yours before you tossed it.”

“No Billy jacks and baton?” Mycroft cut in with his English jab. 

“None of that but I do have a knuckle duster here from some Irish man I did a favour in New York.” Captain Nemo tossed the metal contraption over but it was caught by Sherlock. 

“I will take that. It might come in jiffy some time.” Captain Nemo then looked at the doctor. 

“Your gift ….” Captain Nemo handed over the doctor the belts of blades. He was to compliment the doctor but was cut off by Nina who stepped up to the doctor. 

“My father would like you to have this.” Nina handed over the leather case. Watson received it with both his hands on the worn leather case. He unzipped it and removed the long barrel rifle which he was shown before by the Raj.

“The gun fired a heavy calibre that it was named the Elephant Gun. It was designed to bring that raging beast to its knees. The thirty inches barrel fired up to fifty yards with muzzle energy of up to 10K pounds per ft.” The Princess smiled at Watson. “He wants you to use that. It worked for him.”

“I am not a killer, Nina.” Doctor Watson rejected the rifle. “I only kill because I was forced to.”

With that Doctor Watson stepped away from his ex-lover but she stopped him. 

“You don’t understand. Out…Over there are predators.” Nina held out her right hand to stop him. “You will not…” 

“Nina. I know what is out there. I was told by the Raj. I was entrusted with his secret. I will not kill those creatures. They are there because ….. of us. We are the predators. We did not come here to save them but to kill them. It’s the way of life here. And I disliked it.”

“You cannot change the ….fate of others but you must protect your own. Take it for …not for my sake but for our son. He needs a father.” Nina looked at him. “John, he asked for you.” 

“Don’t take my son into our troubles. I will get you there and find that treasure for you but I will not….. take my son back. He is yours and there he shall remain.” The doctor stepped away from his ex-lover. He passed by Mycroft who had grabbed the Enfield with the bandolier of bullets. 

“Well, I guess I need a new rifle. Can I have that please? I believed it’s made by the English too.” Mycroft reached for the rifle held by Nina.

“No, it was made by the Belgium. And they are better craftsman.” Nina handed over the rifle with a box of bullets. “These are English. Bloody noisy and ….”

Nina stifled her anger and walked away before Captain Nemo interrupted them all.

“I will join you with my trusted scimitar given to me by my father, and I will have that rifle.” Captain Nemo took the rifle rejected by the doctor. “If all else fails, I hold these.” 

Captain Nemo displayed the set of double holster with the revolver “They are gifts of a gunfighter I rescued from the noose.” 

“You are a very colourful person, Captain Nemo but tell me why are keen to give us weapons?” The lady in the group asked.

“I have a reply for you. I sought the treasure like all of you. Even Nina here wants it but we can’t do it alone. We need a team of hunters to do it. All of you are famed in your works, and among it was the skill to survive. You are all perfect for it.” Captain Nemo replied. 

“What makes you think that we will share?” Sherlock asked. 

“I don’t and won’t know until we get the treasure. And then will I decide.” Captain Nemo smiled. “If I am still alive then.”

“You have never been to look for the treasure since you …” Lady Jane asked again.

“No, I have not looked for it. Even after I brought Nina back here. Knowing the location was not alone to find it. You have to open the vault. Only the doctor knows that. He who was entrusted by the Raj.” Captain Nemo glared at Doctor Watson. 

“I am so sorry on my hospitality. Let us take a tour of the village.” Captain Nemo moved the subject.