Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 2; Chapter 17 & 18

17.

Hans Pieter stood over the stripped flesh of his best friend. Kruger. All that remained there were this clothing in tatters and the bones. The later were scattered but the friends of Kruger had picked them up. The Boers have lived there to know the scent and the predators who have fed on the remains.

“Bury him.” Hans gave the order.

“Did the lions kill him?” It was Bernard who asked.  He was the youngest there. He was the nephew of Kruger. It was his first battle then

“Yes, the lions kill him and then the hyenas fed on the carcass.” Hans looked at the young Boer. “This is the jungle.”

“Kill me when I am unable to move. I prefer dead by you than by the lions and hyenas.”

“And you will.” Soon the Boers took to their ride once again. They have ridden hard and fast, but none of them felt the tiredness in their bodies but only anger to avenge Kruger.

“We head for the Germans first.” Hans gave the morale call.

“We will take them all.” The call was the rally of the Boer.

Doctor Schmidt then was trying to further rally his men. He had lost the one that could lead them to the treasure and in his carelessness, the one had escaped. He had called on his men to all descend into the cavern. He has three tunnels to take and was unsure which one. He was expecting some less complicated then.

“Major, you will take two men with you to the tunnel that the savage took. If you find a cavern, send one of the men back. I will await your reply.” Doctor Schmidt then assigned two more groups of two to the other tunnels. “I will wait here.”

Major Talbot took to his assigned tunnel. He took small steps and saw the sprung traps. He cautioned the others in his team. It was during the track he hears screams from the other tunnels. So, they were careless and so far, he was doing okay. He came upon another cavern and saw the more doorways. They were not when he saw the others emerged.

“Henri died back there.” The one who took the other tunnel owned up. “It was a spear into his chest from the left.”

“I lost Dieter. He got his head cut off by the swinging blade.”

Major Talbot sighed. They have lost two more men to reach a cavern with no more exits. Or treasures. He sent his own team back to call the others. He then tried to figure out the savage got away. There must be tracks on the ground.  He saw then the tracks and it led to the wall. He approached the wall and studied it. He was looking for cracks or hidden levers. He saw then what may appear to be crack big enough. He reached in and pry at it with his fingers. The wall gave way and an opening appeared. He pulled hard at it and soon the doorway was opened. He looked in and saw at a distance more lights.

“Did you find something?” Major Talbot heard the voice. It was the Doctor. The Major turned and saw the Doctor had arrived with the others and there were the Bedouins. He nodded to the Doctor who rushed forth and went into the tunnel leading to the second third cavern. He was jousted from following up by the Bedouin named Ahmad. He took his place then two more behind Ahmad. The sight that greeted him when he arrived was wonderment. He was no treasure seeker or gold miner, but what he saw was magnificent. It was a huge cavern lined with machineries that hummed in a low tone, and in the centre was the blue flooring that did not looked solid with the wavy blue tinge beneath it. There were drawings and etching on the walls that told the tale of the final day of Man; the sentencing to the next dimension if it may interpret then by academics, the displacement there by the virtues of each person, and the ones that made it to upper level will survive on as sentients without a shell. The infirmed will be treated at the flooring with the injuries and pain. The flooring rejuvenates the infirmed.

“It can’t be.” Doctor Schmidt approached the bluish flooring. He then looked at Ahmad. “Could it be? The Qiyamah? The resurrection of the dead?”

“No, Doctor. The one you mentioned is the Day of Judgment, and that does not came described with such oddities.” Ahmad replied while motioning to the line-up of machineries there. “These are the works of Man with evil intentions.”

“If its not, then it could only be Lazarus Pool. And not all that Man invents are evil.”

“Lazarus Pool? Are we mad here? It’s a child fable. Like the Elixir of Life. It’s the same paradox and it led many Men to madness.” Ahmad voiced his protest. “I will continue my search. You can enjoy your pool.”

“That won’t necessary.” The voice came from above. It was Tarzan and he was not alone. He was with the child named Mili. And they were not alone for in the caves, soon emerged the panthers, their dark skin glistened in the simmering light. There were six of the panthers.

“You have intruded into the realm of Zalman. You came by the tunnels which were prohibited unless you are a Guardian or priests. For that, you will die for the intrusion.”

“Who are you to tell us, Tarzan of the Waziri clan. You have no right to be here. You are not the Lord here. Sheena the….” Doctor Schmidt was cut off by the voice from the tunnel doorway.

“I am the Queen of the land, and behold what is on my land is under my protection.” Sheena appeared from the doorway. “You have intruded into the land and for that your punishment is dead.”

“Sheena the Queen, you cannot kill me. You cannot harm us all, Serene Mc Quire. I am your last living relative, Schmidt Otto Helmut. I married your aunt., You were there but you were a babe then. I gave you the amulet for your birthday that day. Your father told me he will have it on you forever. It held your mother’s photo.”

“A man who is to die will speak of anything. I hold not such pleasure of knowing you at all.” Sheena replied coldly.

“And you should. After all, I had your father killed in the expedition. He was threatening the German Empire then. As you are now.” Schmidt replied. He then signalled his men. “Have the machine gun ready.”

“We are ready, Herr Doctor.” The reply came from the rear. The doctor turned to look and saw his men had all died; slit on the throat or stabbed in the back by the Bedouins. All except Major Talbot.

“Unfortunately, your men had died.” Ahmad replied. “Only us, the untrustworthy Bedouins are here. With our other ally.”

“Major Talbot, what is the meaning of this?”

“I am aligned to them from the start. Don’t get into a fit there, Doctor. I am under the orders of the British Empire. My orders are from the highest. I am to betray you. My commander, Colonel Fleming will be extremely pleased.”

“Serena, I asked of you as your living relative. Help me.” Doctor Schmidt pleaded with the Queen. Unseen by her, he pulled out the Mauser from his holster. He aimed and shot at the Major. He was hit on the heart and fell to the ground. It was Tarzan who leapt into action on the treacherous German. He was recovered from the wounds on the bluish flooring and his strength was restored. He landed on the German and with his bare hands he grabbed the German on the head. He slammed the head onto the ground, and was then kicked by Ahmad who came to assist the German.

“Herr Doctor is my protectorate. You cannot harm him.” Ahmad faced the savage. He levelled the scimitar he held on his hands at the savage. “I am Ahmad of the Bedouin.”

“I am Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.” Tarzan hissed his name and drew his dagger. “Kreegah!”

The savage Lord charged at the Bedouin, and with the left hand, he gripped the scimitar blade and pushed it away despite the pain he felt there. He lashed out with his right hand holding the dagger at the Bedouin. He caught the surprised Bedouin at the chest with slash across there. He then released his left hand and turned his body to do a back slash on the Bedouin but the later had retreated. The retreating Bedouin bumped into his men in the cramped condition. The Bedouin regained his stance and then slashed at the savage with a series of swings with the scimitar.

The savage had retreated and jumped or rolled to avoid the slashes. He watched for openings that he could exploit and saw it. He slashed out with the dagger at the unguarded left leg but the Bedouin had that covered. The scimitar came down hard on the dagger blade and caused the savage to release the dagger.

“You are good but I am better. You have lost your dagger.” Ahmad smiled. He kicked the dagger back to the savage. “You can hold it one more time. I will not kill you unarmed.”

Tarzan picked up the dagger and then looked at Bedouin. That one named Ahmad held some warrior qualities in him. He then half crouched and planned his next move. He was in a disadvantage in the cavern and there were no trees to climb on. He looked around and saw the other advantage. He advanced in a charge and then dropped down to rolled at the Bedouin. It was an unanticipated move and with that Tarzan slashed the Bedouin at the left leg and that time he drew blood. He rolled away to avoid the slashing scimitar and crouched up. The Bedouin was hurt and like any prey, it will tend to its wound. He leapt high and came down with the dagger held downwards. The dagger missed when the Bedouin rolled away.

“You fight like a lion, savage. I am impressed.” The Bedouin smiled while he held his left hand to his wound. “You won’t give up.”

“And he won’t.” Sheena called out from the corner where she stood on the side. She saw the possible outcome of the fight and leapt onto the wounded Bedouin. Her spear went in deep into the left shoulder and then she twisted the end to pierce the heart. She pulled the spear out and then faced the other Bedouin.

“Leave here and you will be spared.” Sheena told them. “Its not me who will hunt you but these Guardians will.”

The eight panthers roared then and the Bedouins retreated. They have no more fight in them with their leader dead.

“Leave no one alive.” Mili told the panthers who then rushed after the Bedouins. The screams of the prey could be heard with their calls for mercy or to curse at their fate. It was all over soon enough. The eight panthers stepped back into the cavern with their jaws and paws bloodied.

“Guard the cave.: Mili instructed the panthers. The cavern was soon left with Tarzan, Sheena and Mili.

With the lonely Doctor Schmidt.

“Tell me of my father.” Sheena crouched next to the German.

18.

“I am telling the truth.” Doctor Schmidt leaned on the cavern wall. He was wounded in more places that he could reach. The Queen was relentless in her method of asking; the kicks and blows was causing the elderly doctor pain.

“Your father was a slave master. He traded with the Company.”

“The Empire’s company?” Sheena asked.

“No, it was a private group of investors. We have British, French, Boers and Germans. I was from the last group. Your father was the British partner. He held the interest of several.” The doctor explained it all. “The one that controlled them all is the Boer. His name is Hans Pieter. He owns a big estate and interest in your land.”

“The others are Andre Clements, and Roger Cargill.”

The names embedded into Tarzan and Sheena mind.

“Leave now, Doctor. You will live to tell the tale to your partners. Tell them that I will come to see them soon.” Sheena told the doctor. “And I have no living relatives. My caretake was last, and died many years ago. If my father was a slave master, then I am the slave to the land he exploited. I will protect this land from others like him.”

“You letting me go. I know of this place.” Doctor Schmidt had the puzzled look.

“I said I let you go but there were conditions that you bring the Boers here. They are nearby. Find them and bring them here. You need your sight for that. You could do with one eye though.”

The caverns and the tunnels were silent most times but the cries of the ones hurt could be heard echoing there. Jane heard the cries and tried to establish the source. She had armed herself with spear and the dagger she found on the dead warrior. She staggered on her movements for she had not fully recovered. She relied on her senses taught to her by John.

“In the jungle, the five senses of yours will make a difference to your survival.”

She listened hard and then went the way she thought was the right direction. She went behind the altar and into the tunnel. It was not one but a series of tunnels. She did not encounter any traps but she found some unique items; machineries or unexplained items. She looked at the unexplained items; they are the ones she had never seen before. She had seen something similar during her capture by the Tall Man. The same ones that took her unborn baby.

It had to be destroyed.

Jane took up the blunt end of the spear and hit against the machineries. The breakable parts came off and the siren went off. It was screaming for help.

She went at where the breaks exposed areas. The machinery emitted sparks and more sirens. 

It was at an alarming rate of run then when Doctor Schmidt ran out of the tunnels, fumbling his way in the darkness on one eye. He ran on without looking back with his left hand bloodied from holding the emptied cavity on the face. He did not know where and how he got out but he was at a different entrance. It was one with the undergrowth on the sides, but there was salvation.

“Hans! Help me! The Queen is mad.” Doctor Schmidt collapsed on the ground. Hans had dismounted with his Boer warriors. They were to enter the cave when the doctor bailed out in fear. Hans crouched down and offered his bandanna to hold the blood from the cavity and then offered the doctor a drink.

“I…. No, she is mad. She carved my eye out so that I will tell all of it. I told her. She is mad.” The doctor was screaming out his fear. “She is….”

“You told who? The Queen of us?” Hans asked.

“Yes, I did. Or she would had ripped my heart out.” The doctor called out. “Help me….”

Hans released the doctor from his hands and then stood up. He looked at the figure lying there like a broken doll. A figure who once had sat upright and voiced out like an Emperor. He was no more that personality. He was a broken man. In the jungle a broken figure was akin to an old or wounded one. It will have to be killed.

The shot came into the left eye cavity into the brain. It was a merciful kill.

“The Queen is inside. This is the place. I want all of you armed and shoot at anything that is not us.” Hans was specific. He had lost one man that day, and was not keen to lose anymore. He counted nineteen left and they will be nineteen leaving there.

“I want the Maxim setup here. If we need to leave fast, it will be our final stand. Dieter and Perry will be our flank guards. Two more of you will stay back too. Stay good and alert. May the God be with you.” Hans then picked out the lamp he had on his horse. It will light the path for him. He walked in and soon followed by the fifteen others. They had no fear for they were Boers.

Tarzan was one then, with his dagger bloodied. He left the spear inside the Bedouin. The Bedouin will be left there to rot till the flesh dried from the bones. It will be sign for the others that will dare to come in there. He then heard the sirens and did Sheena. It was Mili who reacted first.

“The machineries are under attack.” Mili scooted off back in the rear tunnels. Tarzan and Sheena followed suit. Those tunnels they took were Man high in the height and was wide for two persons. Mili ran with the speed and agility of the jungle bests, and soon reached the cavern where she saw in horror the damage done by the lady.

“Stop! Mamie Jane. You are …. hurting the machines.” Mili rushed forth and with her smaller frame, she slammed into Jane and they both collapsed on the ground.

“Mili, how did…”

“Hush, Mamie Jane. You are hurting the machineries.” Mili pleaded. “You can’t hurt them.”

It was then Sheena appeared with Tarzan at her side. Jane glared at the woman she was there to kill. The fact that she arrived with her lover made her angry. She pushed Mili off and then stood up.

“Sheena of the Jungle. I demand the right of battle with you, bitch.” Jane reached for dagger tucked into the waistband.

“Jane, I can explain.” Tarzan stepped forth but he was pushed aside by Sheena.

“Your lover called me to a battle. And she insulted me by calling me names.” Sheena glared at Jane. “More to that, she had done it on my land. This is one battle I must do.”

“Jane…” Tarzan tried to ease the tension but was snapped off.

“Say no more, John Clayton. The sight of you here with her spoke of your love for me.” Jane in her anger spew out more accusations. “We have lost our child and you amuse yourself with one other. Are we beasts or humans? I am not sure which are you of now.”

“Jane…” Tarzan looked for words but the words were taken from his mouth by the charging Sheena who had heard enough from Jane. She was already upset with the intrusion and then the insults just fuelled her anger. It had to happened then.

It was not a fight of two women but of two warriors with the intent to kill each other. They were both armed with the daggers.

Sheena held the dagger with the blade facing downwards unlike Jane who held it the other way. Both of them moved at a distance apart from each other but that was soon to merge when Jane charged into Sheena. He came in hard and used her dagger to attack at Sheena’ hand holding the dagger. The move surprised the later who retreated to avoid the kill move. If Jane had slashed at Sheena’ hand holding the dagger, she may have maimed or caused the other to drop the dagger but her attack failed. She backed up and waited her next turn. Sheena meanwhile switched the dagger to the other position and did a series of thrusting moves at Jane. Jane retreated on the moves and waited her opening. Jane saw it and moved in fast with the dagger cut into Sheena’s left arm. The other screamed out and then retreated.

“You fight well with the dagger, Jane. Tarzan had taught you well.”

“I rely not on him for my skills. I have Balando to coach me. One does not live like a Waziri unless one masters their fighting skills.” Jane rubbed the sweat off her arms across her lips. “You are with the Azhare. Don’t they learn to fight with daggers?”

“The Azhare have fought with daggers long before the Waziri.” Sheena replied. “Just as we have bedded your lover before you.”

Those last words taunted at Jane was hurtful. She lost her composure and charged at Sheena. It was a blunt move but the lady had her fight moves planned. She ducked on seeing Sheena’s thrust and then turned her body to drop on the side with her right arm swinging out for the cut at the left thigh. Jane fell down and then rolled over before she crouched up. She would had done it smoothly if not her earlier wounds. She did crouch up but then had to fall forward on the pain. She went down flat on the ground face down into unconsciousness. Sheena had pulled her left leg back but then when she saw Jane fell, she charged in with the dagger for the exposed back. It would had pierced the flesh there into the heart from the rear but the move did not happen as expected. Tarzan had extended his right arm and grabbed the dagger. He had held the blade that cut in deep into his palm.

“Stop, Sheena. She has lost to you.” Tarzan looked at the other. Sheena looked back at the man who had pleaded for his lover. She knew then she had lost too.

“Take her away.”

Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 2; Chapter 15 & 16

15.

Tarzan adjusted his sight from the dark tunnel that he had crawled half crouched from to the flickering light of the flame torches that lined the cavern walls. It was a small cavern with the ceiling height of twice that of Man and the radius was that of five man in height. It held nothing except the stone table in the middle and the three tunnel doorways on the opposite side.

“We seem to have stepped in from the Northern tunnel as shown in my compass. These must be the other three directions.” Ahmad consulted the compass in his left hand. “Its unusual the entrance to Zalman’s cave was to a cavern of four tunnels.”

“It would had been unexplained but the doorways each tell a tale.” Doctor Schmidt pointed at the top of the doorway there where they had stepped out from. There were characters carved into the stone. It was more like Sanskrit or ancient Persian.

“East held the words of the beholden, the North is the gifted, and the West is the Guardians.” Doctor Schmidt read the characters. He turned to the last doorway. “It says South to the Sun.”

“Each tunnel with the South and East held the heights for one to walk in but the other two were only half its height.” Doctor Schmidt gave more words to his findings. “It’s Zalman’ words of wisdom. He is speaking of the North as the people from the Queen who was reputed originate form the north of here, and the East is his own; the rightful people that he had named the Beholden. The place had its warriors who will take the West as its Guardians. There after the last is the East is where we are to head forth.”

“Wait!” Ahmad intervened in. “You said the scrolls spoke of a cave and here we are taking the entrance by the hole. He fell in and we found him to discover the cave.”

“The analogy of a cave in the ancient scroll could mean the hole for both held openings to another place. The four doorways tell us we are on the right track.” Doctor Schmidt replied. He then looked at Tarzan. “Am I not right, Herr Tarzan?”.

“I am not sure. I am just a savage who happened to be shot by you.” Tarzan offered a blank expression. “Zalman’ treasure may be just a myth ….”

“And yet you went to India to find yours?” Tarzan was startled that the German knew of his previous expedition with the others.

“Don’t be surprised, Herr Tarzan. We have ears and eyes on you. Sadly, our agents did not have you trailed to the end for we knew nothing of what transpired on the island. They did report that you were in the pursue of the treasure too.”

“Again, another foolish ambition of Man, and yet we returned with only the clothes on our back.” Tarzan replied.

“Gold and wealth will always surface their greed into Man, and the price they will pay is misery or death.”

“Man have lived on that foolishness with the ending that changed their life.” Doctor Schmidt replied. “I sought it for it will bring us fortune to expand our powers and influence. I believed in fate, Savage. I believed I am fated to find the treasure.”

“And death will avail you then.” Tarzan replied. “As those were foolish, they die for their foolishness.”

“Foolish or not, I say we advance or retreat.” Ahmad intervened on the discussion. “Tarzan, you will take the lead. Go East then.”

Tarzan stepped into the tunnel marked East. It was dark like the one where he had exit from but the new tunnel held some light a distance apart. He used his hands and feet to access for danger. Every step was carefully decided and then move on. It was with caution he stepped and his fingers on the surface reacted to his instincts. He felt every touch with his stretch out fingers looking for hidden switches or triggers. He was followed behind by two mercenaries and there was the leader in the form of Major Talbot backing them. His right-hand fingers felt something that gave way to his pull at his right-hand fingers. He called an action but the call was late.

“Trap!” Tarzan called out while he looked for it. He felt the lever pulled by his fingers but he was unsure of what the trap was. The wall behind collapsed in and the rows of spears swung down like a closing trap. The two mercenaries of the rear of the savage was struck by the spears, taking their soul and leaving them a mangled body with the spears plunged into the body.

“Don’t move, savage.” Major Talbot aimed the rifle at Tarzan from behind the wall of spears and dead bodies. Doctor Schmidt at the rear rushed forth and pulled at the rifle.

“He does not know. It’s the tunnel secret. There are traps everywhere.”

“The savage knows. He won’t tell us.” Major Talbot called out in anger. “He …”

“Where is he?” Major Talbot was surprised to see Tarzan up ahead had disappeared. He rushed forth and saw Tarzan had escaped them into the dark tunnel. He turned to the doctor. “You let him escape.”

“I did not, and don’t you ever accuse me again.” Doctor Schmidt hit back. “I run this expedition, and you may call me Doctor.”

Tarzan who saw the chance then to escape took off in a hurry. He was running blind into the dark tunnel but it was better to die then to wait his turn. He ran as fast his legs could take him, and ignore the hidden traps. His run was swift although he triggered off two traps; one was a swinging from the ceiling top was the mallet attached to the rope, and the other was similar to the earlier one. He barely missed the last one and had his left cheek scratch by it. He ran on and then felt the weakness in his legs. He fell forward and then by instinct he reached for the scratch.

Tarzan was poisoned by the wound. It made him weak. He looked down the tunnel which was still deep ahead. He then saws the approaching figure, and saw the dark warrior looking at him.

He recognised the markings; it was Azhare.

The warrior was a child.

16.

The Boer lowered the rifle after he had emptied the clip on the warriors. He had searched the land for the German expedition and then trailed them soon after. He was a tracker and having lived in the jungle for years, he knew the best routes. He soon found his prey was also stalked by one other; a group of dark warriors. He studied them from afar and noticed their markings.

Azhare.

The scout counted eight warriors and then he was surprised to see the white lady with them. She was their captive from the looks afar. That was unusual but he decided to watch the German first. Both groups were deep into the Queen’s land, and he was on the lookout for her too. He had never fought the Queen in his poaching hunts for a good hunter knew how to avoid the predators lest they become the prey too.

It was not long when he saw the German expedition burnt a part of the jungle. It was an unexplored part of the land where even himself will not tread in. He heard the Queen retribution was cruel and vicious. He was ever surprised to see the German expedition had stopped there. It was then he focussed on the Azhare group. They are keeping them distance and have taken up their camp a distance away. Three of them then took off with the lady to the deep jungle. He was not to make out their destination but he knew it was done his task. He will locate his own fellows Boer then. Their hunt had come to an end and the culling will take place.

Unknown to the Boer, he was watched by one other.

The Queen was no fool in her own land. She had tracked all of them but with the differing signs, she had hung back to observe. She saw the Boer retracing his tracks and decided to follow him. After all, the other two groups were already at Zalman’ location. They will be there for a while, from her assessment. After all, gold have a way of influencing their mind.

And Man do silly things for it.

Sheena knew her way around her land. She waited at the turn where the rider will be blinded by the trees when they turn around the corner. She waited there and at the notice of the rider, she swung from the tree with the vine. The swing gave her the impact she needed to topple the rider. She released the vine and then sat astride the rider on the chest with the dagger at the throat.

“Speak with truth, Boer. My hand tires from the wait. It will ask me to slit your throat soon.” The Boer was brave but it knew when death was imminent regardless. The rider shook his head and the Queen had to do the worst to get the information she needed. She started with the shoulder blades to the armpit; both sides and sliced to the chest before moving to the abdomen. She was doing what the predator does in the kill; immobilized the prey on the upper limbs before biting into the abdomen for the nutritious innards. The rider screamed and tried to shake the Queen off but the scream was stifled by the piece of flesh from the left shoulder and the torture continued. The rider soon talked and the final cut was the heart. The Queen stood up. The body covered in blood but the hyenas that stood on the side was uninterested in her. They knew where the best morsels are in the carcass.

‘There was another group.’ Sheena thought hard. That group held the white lady. It could only be Lady Jane; the one she had come to rescue. She thought harder and realised that the dark warriors were bringing Lady Jane to be sacrificed.

“Mother Jules….” Sheena hissed the name. She cursed the elderly who still follows the old ritual. She knew in her heart, Zalman was best alone untouched for there were curses on the area. That was why she agreed with the younger elders to leave it alone but the white man had never given up on the treasure, if there was any there. She had not seen any and neither were the elders with an exception of Mother Jules. She professes to not only see it, but touch it. The later was her testament accepted by them for she was blind.

“Could you feel gold?” Sheena had questioned the elderly lady. It was to lead to her banishment from Mother Jules hut and then to the banishment of Mother Jules when Sheena supported the others. It was war of hate between them.

Zalman.

It all ends there.

“I will stop the believe. I will destroy the cave, and Zalman will not be mentioned again.” Sheena spoke out in anger.

Anger was also in Jane when she was pushed to face what may be described as a thick undergrowth that covered the tree trunks. She was still tied on her hands but her legs were free and could walk. Mutale who brought her there have another warrior with him. He stood before the undergrowth.

“I, Mutale of Azhare tribe. I am the fifteenth generations to be given the task of protecting the cave. I stand before you to ask for permission to enter inside.” Mutale voiced out. He then drew the spear from his side. “I will shed my blood here to show my sincerity. My blood for your permission.”

Mutale sliced the spear head across his left palm. The blood seeped from the shallow wound and dripped to the ground.

“The blood is there. I am your Guardian.”

If there was really magic in this world, there was a show then that will amazed even the believers.

The undergrowth stirred from the leaves to the vines and then the branches to the trunk before it parts to reveal the cave entrance. It was a narrow one but two persons could march in. The inside of the cave was dark but to Mutale, it was his call to go in. He grabbed hold of Jane’s hands and dragged her in. The other warrior hesitated and Mutale told him to get the others.

“Guard here.” With those words, Mutale entered the cave with Jane. It was not dark inside but the intake of oxygen from the opened doorway, ignited the torches. They were in a cavern that was huge and with the ceiling high. The cavern was lined on the side with the eight feet statues that was seen by the German. Those statues were in the pristine condition with the armour shiny. Not a single dust settled on it and the weapons looked dangerous.

In the middle of the cavern was the long altar that items of worshipping were laid there, and before it was the stone table.

“Get on the table, lady. Your blood is now required. We are at the front entrance. With your blood, I can call on the Celestial Guardians to protect the land. And what was Zalman’. Hail the Queen Sheba, the true Queen of the land.”

“You are a bigot.” It was the voice of the small child who was in a woman’s body. It was Mili. She had no rifles but she held a spear. She leapt from the celestial giant frame where she had remained hidden. She thrust the spear into Mutale’s chest. The spear head went in deep and the blood spurted out. The blood form Mutale spurted onto the table.

It was a blood sacrifice then.

Meanwhile Tarzan leaned on the wall nursing his wounds. He was upset at himself, getting hurt on his carelessness and then to be cared for by a child. The child placed him on the flooring and then he felt sleepy. The flooring was unlike any for he felt his wounds healing then. It was healing fast which was what prompted him to rolled off there and leaned on the wall. He was led by the child into the new cavern where the place was not inlaid with gold but with machinery that hummed on a low tone. He had never seen such machinery and the ones that he had seen were noisy and emitted hazardous gas. These machineries were silent and yet he felt the vibrations of power.

A kind of power he had not felt before.

Tarzan is a savage and yet a gentleman. Even that he feared the new magic then.

It was savagery in the wildness unseen then.

Tweet tweet.. 23/08 The Shorts are lifting

Ain't exactly what you may envisaged when I said the 'shorts are lifting'. It was tempting if it was but it was more for my completion of Team Heroes Shorts 4 which finally got  concluded tonight. It's on the tale of young Van Helsing and .... I won't spoil the suspense here like Spidey did on the movie. Or was it the Hulk who smashed the Infinity ending.

Anyway Shorts 4 done. and Shorts 5 at 10K words now. Yes, I was stuck at the closing chapters of Shorts 4 with a different approach to the way it was told. So I took a break and did Shorts 5 while devouring Bourne tales ( hint....hint ) Anyway it done with an explosive ending, and a new character to another tale I was doing. ( hint ....hint )

If you were to continue on, you will noticed I took on different approach to the tales with the scenes to experiment with my writing. Its fun as I mentioned before; writing at 25 to 30K words per tale is like an exploding idea. You get into the plot and then work on the character sizzling it well until the ending. And with different styles depending on who I picked as the main character. Its like a quickee where everyone comes out saying 'ahhhh....'

I am thinking of doing a romance piece maybe of Sherlock. That will be an interesting piece.

Would there be sex? I dunno. I can't really picture Sherly in the act ( honestly ) let alone doing a peed on the passage of him. He is too darn.... straight. Or is he? I do wondered..... Okay hold ye rotten apples. I was just suggesting, or implying. Spare me some creative space please.

Perhaps time will tell.

Till then, I guess its hitched on the belts there. Don;t let the shorts fall.

Team of Seven Heroes Shorts Tales 2; Chapter 13 & 14

13.

 Major Talbot Sebastian had tuned his senses to pick out the sounds and movements that the untrained person will miss. He hung back on the march to the rear and then kept on dropping back. He knew from his training the predator will follow the designated prey. In this expedition, the Major knew the one that was worth pursuing was the Doctor. So, he will watch for him and from him, he will find the predator.

The Major felt and then saw the predator.

It was a Man.

A White Man.

The Major heard of such a person.

Tarzan was the name they mentioned. He had stopped the papers on the publication of the savage tales. And the name. He was better known as Lord Greystokes.

Lord Greystokes have returned to the jungle.

“Sebastian, I am one up on you.” Major Talbot smiled. He was always competing with his siblings and with Moran, he was always the second best.

The Major gripped his rifle. It was a hunting rifle; Winchester model and for the close combat, he got his Webley and the bayonet that he kept from his military stint. He stopped at the tree trunk and then surveyed the trees. He saw the Man. He was good; fleeting on his moves and agile with his jumps. One moment he was on the high branch and then the next he was onto the next tree. The man was swinging using the vines and on occasion, he will jump and land without a sound. It was the flutter of the leaf that revealed his movements,

It was the training of the sniper to remain vigilant and focus on the target.

The Major levelled the rifle onto his right shoulder, and then aimed. He was not aiming at any particular area but he was sighting with his rifle to mark the target. His target was moving and he needed to do the same. It was a glimpse that he needed.

That glimpse appeared on his sight.

The Major’s finger pulled while he pulled the rifle to the side. It was to compensate for the movement. He felt the recoil and then the sight of the released bullet. He followed the bullet trajectory, tracing it to the target.

The bullet impacted but he missed his target.

The Major was aiming for the head but the bullet impacted into the left arm.

The Man lost his momentum on the swing but he recovered to swing on to the jungle.

The Man was gone but he be back.

The wounded predator will return to finish the task

When it’s a Man.

“Why did you shoot?” It was Doctor Schmidt with the rest of the expedition. They heard the shot, and retraced their steps. “Was it….”

“Tarzan was here. He is trailing us.”

“Search the area.” Doctor Schmidt called out. “Tarzan cannot be allowed to escape.”

Tarzan was hurt. He was careless and the arm hurt. He was recovering from his previous wounds and getting new ones was unwelcomed. He felt dizzy and then he fell. He fell hard onto the lower branches and then onto the ground. It was a hard fall.

It was harder and his fall was not over. He fell through the surface and the fall then was longer. It was all dark there. His body hurt from the fall. He used to be tougher but the pace of life in London have placed some fats into his frame.

And they don’t cushion well in the fall. He fell into the darkness then in the hole. Unlike Tarzan, Jane was hog tied and then carried by two warriors on the long stick. She looked at Mili who was just pushed to the march by the other warriors. Her weapons were confiscated by the warrior leader named Mutale, and he had remained silent during their march. She had asked questions but no one replied to her.

“Mili, are you okay?” Jane asked of the other.

“I am well. They won’t harm me. They fear Mother Jules.” Mili replied.

“Silence from you or we may forget why we let you live.” Mutale snapped back. “We do fear Mother Jules but we can always leave you here to die in the jungle. There are many others who does not fear her.”

“You could, Azhare Warrior but Mother Jules will still find you. Your scent is in her now.” Mili replied with a hiss. “In all of you, she will find if I am ever harmed.”

“Silence!” Mutale warned again and was then stopped by the sight of the panther who had leapt into their trail. It was an unusual move for the warriors were many. The panther was huge and its dark skin glisten from the sweat there as if it had travel far to be there.

“Numa!” The warriors called out. They feared the panther who could climb trees and kill with speed like the lion. If the Lion was the King, the panther was the Prince. The warriors raised their spears and shields.

“We need to retreat and find another route.” Mutale called out. “Numa guards this one.”

“No, Numa guards me. Release me and I will take Numa away.” Mili voiced out. The young lady did not wait for any reply and approached the panther. The panther on picking the scent, growled but it did not attack the lady. Mili turned to look at the warriors.

“I will go with the Numa. You will carry on with her. We will meet at the hidden entrance.” Mili then mounted the panther and they took off into the jungle.

“What hidden entrance? Tell me, sons of Azhare. Where are you taking me?”

14.

“Doctor Schmidt, there is another here.” The doctor was then looking at the growth covered stone statue that resembled that of an ancient warrior with the club and spear. He had read of such fables and had ignored them as children tales until a few years ago when he was shown the scrolls that spoke of Zalman’ treasures. In the scrolls was the drawing of the statue.

It was named Inoki or the Guardian.

The statue was over eight feet in height and cladded in the thick armour resembled a suit with layers of plates over it. The warrior was reputed to hold a club and spear. The warrior wore a huge head piece which was made of a set of protruding horns with the thick mane behind it. The face cover was a narrow slit down the nose to the upper lips with the both ears covered.

“Doctor, there is another one here.” Doctor Schmidt then rushed over the distance of two hundred feet. He approached the second statue and smiled. He had discovered the warriors of Zalman’ hideout.

“Look further. There should be eight of them. They guard the doorway.” Doctor Schmidt called out. “Be careful of ….: “

The doctor’s warning was too late.

“Serpents!” The call went out and they begin retreating. Some took to firing their weapons but the majority chose to run. It was the one who knew how to fight stood there with one weapon that will make a difference. He was named Harman and held the bottles of flammable materials. He was an arsonist in Berlin before he fled to join the Foreign Legion and then to be the mercenary. He held his fascination for fire ever since. He tossed the bottles and then lit up the undergrowth. The flames flicked and then roared into a raging sea of fire. The serpents hidden there slithered off.

“They are gone.” One of them called out.

“About time. I am almost out of bottles.” Harman replied.

“Ignore the serpents. We found the trail to Zalman.” It was Ahmad who rushed forward. He confronted the doctor.

“You told me that we were in the area but the trail was still too far to be seen.”

“I did but I may be mistaken. That is the problem with the treasure maps. They are hardly accurate.” Doctor Schmidt looked at the other man. “Don’t be like an imp. Get your act together. And don’t leave me of you. I want you next to me.”

“Doctor, we found someone new.” The voice directed the doctor to a hole in the ground. He saw the prone figure there and from the weapons there, he assumed the worse.

“Tarzan? Is that him?” Doctor Schmidt looked at Ahmad. “You have seen him before? Is that him?”

Ahmad leaned over the hole and tried to make out the figure. He then shook his head.

“It could be him. I last saw him some years back. Way back then. It may be him. For not many carries those weapons and looked white.”

“We need to down there. The hole could lead to …” Doctor Schmidt gave the instructions to get the climbing gear out. “We are climbing down.”

Tarzan found himself bandaged on his new wound but his hands were bounded with ropes. He looked up and saw his captors. There was two white man and the other was an Arab.

“Lord Greystokes, I presume. Or shall I address you as Tarzan.” Tarzan looked at the elderly man asking him. The man was dressed for the safari but he was more at home drinking schnapps looking at the Bavarian Alps. He had a dislike for German and not because he was British by subject.

“You could have not dropped into a hole but one convenient for us too. I found the tunnel but we stayed back to entertain you.” The German continued on. “For introduction, I am Doctor Schmidt. Shoot him.”

Major Talbot   levelled the rifle but Ahmad the Bedouin stopped him.

“Don’t. The savage may be of use to us. He is familiar with the jungle and maybe here.” Ahmad leaned down to speak to Tarzan. “We are not savage. We are just in need of you.”

“Why should I speak to you? Or even help you?” Tarzan replied.

“Simple, savage. We are in Zalman’ cave. You have sworn an oath to protect it.” Ahmad looked at Tarzan. “I was there.”

Tarzan recalled the ceremony that he was dragged into then twenty years ago. It was not his call but he was escorting then the young lady known as Sheena. She had insisted that he go with her.

“We are meeting the Elders sworn to protect the jungle secrets.” There was one other person there; Mother Jules.

The ceremony was held by the Azhare tribe sworn to protect Zalman and his cave for eons. The ceremony was to initiate new guardians which included the Sheena. It was the Mother who voiced out.

“There is one other. He is not of Azhare but he will be loyal to the tribe. I ask for the Waziri adopted son, Tarzan.”

Tarzan being young and foolish to look better next to the lady he was fond of then, he joined in. It was that simple but the simplicity became complicated when Sheena asked him to stay on. He declined and that hurt their relationship. He left the lady and later in his life, he tried to avoid her although he met her on some rare occasions.

“How come you were there?” Tarzan asked. “It was a …”

“I was a slave then. I escaped from my captors, and they sheltered me. For then. I was with Mother Jules.”

“Mother Jules? Did you… I heard of …”

“Yes, I blinded her. I was told of visions and got upset. I ran after that but she told me I am of the land. I kept on coming back. I will die here. She told me.” Ahmad explained. “I don’t intend to die today. You will lead us. The Gods will not harm the Guardians.”

“Help him up. We are wasting time.” Doctor Schmidt haste up the works. Tarzan was dragged up and led to the tunnel. “We could be watched by now.”

The expedition was watched by another guardian, Mutale.

“They did not find the cave. They found the tunnel instead.” Mutale crouched behind the growth concealing himself from the others. He left his warriors behind a distance away, with Jane. He was to take her here, and do the needed to sacrifice the lady there. It was an ancient ritual that the Azhare Elders do away soon after the Queen prevented the last one ten years ago. It caused a rift and it also split the tribe.

Mother Jules left the tribe.

“The ritual must be resurrected. Only then will then Zalman could rest.”