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Part Two: Dark Creatures in the Jungle

Tarzan and Usula walked quickly through the jungle. Usula used his spear to beat at any trees or vines that were in the way. Occasionally, Tarzan leapt up to the trees and swung on the vines to get an aerial view of the jungle. "Do you see anything yet, Tarzan?" Usula asked.

"Not yet," Tarzan answered gravely. "It seems almost quiet."

Usula nodded curtly. "Yes, that is La’s way to strike when it is least expected."

Tarzan leaped down from the branch, so he could be at eye level with the elder. "How do you know so much about La and her mother?"

Usula looked shocked. "I have already told you about how I know La," he began.

Tarzan examined him closely. He was the first to admit that he couldn’t read people as closely as others, but there was something that Usula was hiding. "You are keeping something from me," he said.

"I have told you everything about her," the old man said.

"Not everything," Tarzan answered.

Before the elder could reply, a loud shrieking ran through the night. "What is that?" Tarzan asked as a large feathery bird approached them.

"My people have a name for them, Sky Demons!," Usula answered. The demon was gold colored and had a bird’s head with a lion’s body and long claws. It shrieked and dove for them. The two men dived and rolled out of the beast’s way. It approached Tarzan as the Jungle Lord began to fight it, first with legs and then with its fist. The bird dived for him as Tarzan leapt away. Usula tossed his spear into the Jungle Lord’s hand. "Use this," he yelled.

Tarzan aimed the spear in the bird’s direction, but it didn’t react. "Shoot him in the eye," Usula called. Tarzan then fired the spear in the bird’s eye. With a scream the Sky Demon fell to the ground and then crumbled into dust.

"We have them!," Tarzan said then jumped down to join his friend. Suddenly more loud shrieking filled the air. "Not for long," Usula said.

"Do you have anymore spears?," Tarzan asked. Usula shook his head. "Didn’t think so, we’ll have to face them the hard way."

More Sky Demons flew into the night and attacked the duo. Tarzan and Usula fought at them with their bodies and dove to avoid their attacks, but there were so many of them. A bird dove down for Usula. Tarzan pushed the elderly man to the side, but received a scratch from the bird in return. The jungle Lord screamed in pain. Finally, one of the birds let out a loud shriek that deafened the entire jungle. The force of the blow from the shriek sent Tarzan and Usula falling over and knocked them unconscious.

Dumont woke the next morning to find Hugo and Hooft already awake and eating breakfast. Dumont poured himself some coffee and picked up a croissant and sat between the two men. "Morning, Gentlemen," he said.

"Morning, Mr. D." "Hey, Boss," They said. "Did you find out who the intruder was?" Hooft asked.

Dumont nodded. "Yes, I did."

Hugo said. "Was he a big guy with lots of muscles and a threatening evil eye stare and glared down at you from the barrel of his gun?"

Hooft nodded getting into the act. "Or was he a spy dispatched in an attempt to destroy the Free World?"

The two employees continued to amiably guess weirder scenarios when they heard someone come down from one of the guest rooms. The two American men looked up in surprise at the young woman who came down the stairs. "She wasn’t any of them," Dumont answered dryly.

"Or was she a gorgeous looking native girl?" Hugo asked dreamily. He walked up to her and kissed her hand. "Anchanty, madam oiselle." He said.

La glared at him, "And what species of animal are you, Little Man?" she asked. Hugo blushed and remained silent.

"What is she doing here, Mr. D?" Hooft asked giving La a once over as though she were a pinup model brought to life.

"She actually fell into the post on the way to a more nobler cause," Dumont said. "She is going to face an evil tyrant."

Despite his rapturous gaze at the beautiful woman, Hooft sniffed scornfully. "Yeah, right and we’re secret agents."

"We were once remember?, Hugo reminded his friend.

La rolled her eyes. "As interesting as this is, I must leave." She walked out the door.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Dumont said as he followed the woman.

Hugo and Hooft watched their employer leave, "Whoah looks like the Boss is getting some," Hugo said.

"Yeah," Hooft said seductively, but then returned to normal. "Hey, whoah, she’s bad news! Remember the last time, Mr. D walked off with a woman. We thought it was Jane, but they said it was some sorceress lady and she turned him into a monkey?"

"So what, you think this doll will turn him into an ostrich?" Hugo asked.

Hooft shook his head. "No, Junior, I mean I don’t trust that dish. We oughta follow them to make sure that everything is on the up and up. Know what I’m saying?"

"Yeah, I know what you’re saying," Hugo agreed.

Dumont followed the woman until he got close enough to grab her arm. He turned her around. "I do not usually allow thieves to walk off," he said. "Besides you could use a companion."

"And why would I want that?" La began.

Dumont stared at the woman. He didn’t want to just let the woman go just in case she was lying, but he wasn’t about to get himself involved just for her. Mentally, he chose the lesser of the two evils. And if she’s telling the truth, I can always drop her off at the nearest village and then leave, he thought. "It is just you may need protection. The jungle is full of dangerous predators."

"You have no idea," La agreed and considered. If I take this man with me, I’m none the better, but if he is offered to my mother as a sacrifice, I can make the attempt at getting back to her good graces and if that doesn’t work, Mother could always get to him first. Either way, I’m none the worse. "Very well," she said leaning up to him, "I’m sure a man as strong as yourself could lead me through the jungle." Dumont was surprised and pleased at how quickly she agreed with him.

La perked her ears up. "I heard something!"

"Like what?" Renard asked.

"Like we’re being followed," La said and then leaped into the bushes and pulled out the small man who was following them. She grabbed his neck in an attempt to snap it.

"Hey, leave him alone!," another voice called and Hooft ran out to defend his friend.

"Let them both go!" Renard demanded. La put Hugo down. "What are you two doing here?" Renard asked.

"Well, uh, nice day we thought we’d go out in the jungle," Hooft said.

"Yeah," Hugo agreed.

"And why are you two wearing back packs?" Renard asked.

"Uh, provisions?" Hugo offered. "Look, boss we thought that you might be in danger of the Looker kind if you know what I mean."

"What do you mean by that?!" La yelled.

"Exactly, what I’m saying Doll," Hugo said. The two smaller men ganged up on her. "You’re the kind of babe that Mom warned about, nothing but trouble!"

La looked up in fear. "Yeah, we’re hitting you where it hurts aren’t we? Just laying out your sins for the world to see!" La started to sneak away as Hugo continued his tirade. "Yeah, you better run honey run and hide!"

"Will you shut up and look behind you?!," La yelled. The two men looked up at the shape forming in the shadows and bearing down on them. "Uh hi?" Hugo said weakly.

"Kalilah, what is that?" Renard asked.

"It’s a Shadow Man," La said. Hooft was closer to the demon and it cut at his head Hooft narrowly avoided being beheaded by rolling away.

"What is a Shadow Man?" Renard asked.

"I’ll explain later," La said. "Run!"

Not waiting to be told twice the other men ran after her out of the darker part of the jungle into the lit part. "They only come out at night, unless they are in a dark place then they can come in through the shadow. We have to stay in the light!" La yelled.

"Can these creatures swim?" Renard asked. La shook her head. "We’ll take the boat!" The three men and one woman ran to the boat that was tied in the docks. Hugo and Hooft tossed the provisions onto the boat and then jumped on, helping Renard and then La come in. Renard and the men worked frantically to untie the boat as the Shadow Man came out of the jungle. It dove for them as the boat pulled away from the harbor. The Shadow Man stood by the bay as if to glare at his runaway captives. La, Dumont, Hugo, and Hooft cheered at their escape.

Jane wandered into the throne room as if lost in a daze. She tossed and turned in her bed, thinking of what The Queen had said the night before. The conversation filled her head so much so that she couldn’t sleep. The words penetrated into her brain like a song that was stuck into her head and played over and over again. "I have seen your intentions… you can use it for good." When she finally did drift off the staff’s light shone in her mind once more begging her to hold it. If I did use it, I would never use it for myself, but to help others, Jane reasoned in her head. I can control it much better than La could.

"Of course you can, Dear," a voice made Jane jump with fear. She turned around to see the queen standing over her. "You look like you had a rough night, understandable since you have a lot to consider. If you wish to reconsider then by all means…"

Jane raised her hand. "No, it’s all right. I gave my word and I intend to do it, but I can’t lie. It does frighten me a little, but on the other hand it’s rather…"

"Exciting?," The Queen asked. Jane nodded surprised. It made her uncomfortable how this woman could read into her mind and pull out the exact phrases that Jane herself would use. She looked right into The Queen’s blue eyes as they contrasted to the white and red gem. Without another word or thought, Jane took the staff from the older woman’s hand. She felt the swirl around her that she felt once before. Her body seemed to come alive with the power of the magic. She felt a breeze fill her like a gusty wind, except it was a warm pleasant feeling. Suddenly, she felt devoid of all inhibitions.

"What do I do first?," Jane asked surprised out how loud and harsh her voice echoed throughout the palace.

"We shall begin with an easy lesson, controlling minions. Take the staff and aim it at that shadow. Now turn the staff twice, remember once, twice." Jane obeyed and a Shadow Man appeared in the throne room. Despite her desire to control the staff, Jane reared back slightly. "It is all right, Jane, he is at your command," The Queen said. "Tell him to protect Opar from any approaching harm."

Jane stepped forward. "You there, protect Opar from any approaching harm!" Jane was surprised at the harshness of her voice when she said that, an almost duplicate of La’s. The Shadow Man nodded and disappeared. "Now what?" Jane asked.

"Now, watch and learn," The Queen said.

The boat sailed comfortably along the river. Dumont stood out in the front with Hugo at the helm. "Anything out there?" He asked. The portly man looked up from the steering wheel.
"No sign of tall, dark, and, ugly if that’s what you’re asking," he said.

"Be on the look out then, " Dumont said. "I wonder what that thing really was."

"I wonder what it had to do with us," Hooft said.

"I wonder if we’ll get a raise," Hugo said. The two other men stared at him quizzically. "Well, I do!"

"You know I have a feeling that we’re carrying some hot merchandise if you know what I mean," Hooft said pointing to the rear of the ship.

"You mean the wing dingers?" Hugo asked.

"No, not the wing dingers," Hooft answered annoyed. "Though, they are good!"

"I know precisely what you mean Hooft," Renard said. "And I agree with you. She is definitely hiding something, but not to worry. I will get the information out of her."

"How Boss?" Hugo asked.

Renard then opened up a small compartment and pulled out a bottle of champagne and two glasses. "I will just have to persuade her," he said as he sauntered to the rear of the ferry.

"You seem troubled," Renard said. La jumped in surprise at the man’s appearance behind her.

"Well, wouldn’t you be if you had an eleven foot tall nightmarish beast after you?" La asked.

"True," Renard said. "Drink?"

La nodded as Renard poured the drinks and handed her a glass. "To the voyage," he said holding the drink. La looked confused, until he clinked his glass to her to explain a toast. She nodded and nearly smashed her glass into Renard’s. Renard chuckled and stopped the approaching glass with his hand. "I get the message, mademoiselle," he said then he decided to change the subject. "Are you here all by yourself?"

"Do you see anyone else on this side of the ship," La asked harshly.

"I meant in your village," the Frenchman corrected. "Are you with anyone?"

The former Queen of Opar smiled contemptuously. " I am always on the lookout for a potential mate."

"And have you found him yet?" Dumont whispered using his romantic voice.

La shook her head. "Not yet. For some reason, no man I ever met was really interested."

"And why is that?" Renard asked his curiosity piqued.

The young woman sighed. She hated giving so much personal information out. Why couldn’t this man leave her alone? "Let’s just say that when men know the real me, they have a tendency to run and hide."

"I can understand that," Renard muttered, but upon her wide eyed stare, the Lothario coughed. "Uh, I mean I cannot understand that. You seem to be a beautiful charming woman, the sort that would have men knocking down the door of your house or hut or wherever it is that you live."

"You also don’t know me at all," La answered. "What about you, are you here by yourself?"

"I have gotten close to the altar a few times," Renard answered, "But never made it that far."

"What happened?" La asked.

Renard winced with the unwelcome memories. Now it was she who was asking too many questions. " Probably the same as you, they get to know the real me and suddenly they are no longer interested." They stood in dead silence avoiding each other’s gaze and not wanting to continue, but feeling compelled to do it. Renard broke the silence first. "So, what would you do if a man was interested?"

La smiled slyly then cuddled up close to the Frenchman. "Well, I would get really close to him."

"Really?" Dumont asked leaning so close to her that he could practically hear the young woman breathe.

"Then I would wrap my arms around him like so," La said as she put one arm gently around his neck. She then whispered. "Then, just when he least expects it I would strike!"

La then raised her glass of champagne and tossed the drink in Renard’s face. The young woman laughed harshly as she left the embarrassed Frenchman.

Renard walked up to the head of the ship glass and bottle in hand. He reached into the compartment to pull out a towel. La glared and snarled at him and then turned away. "So, how did it go between you and the girl?" Hooft asked.

"La Reine de La Glace," Renard cursed as he dried his face on the towel. Finding no answer to the Frenchman’s comment, La turned her attention to the scenery. She pointed at a dark looking jungle. "Stop right there," she pointed. "My village is nearby."

"Are you sure?" Hooft asked.

"Are you questioning me?" La asked furiously.

"No, no, " Hooft answered. "It’s just we’ll need a place to dock."

La sighed. "There’s a patch of land just a few feet from here. You can dock the boat there."

Hugo and Hooft turned to Renard. "Do what she says," Renard answered reluctantly. "After all it is she who knows everything about the jungle."

La sneered catching the sarcasm in his voice. "Unless you have a better idea."

"I agreed with you didn’t I?" Renard said. "Even if the idea is ridiculous."

"Ridiculous is it?" La asked crossing her arms.

"With those things still after us, we are going into the deeper parts of the jungle, pardon moi. I think it is a splendid idea!," Dumont answered sarcastically.

"Hey, Mom, Dad, before you two fight over who gets custody of the family dog over the weekend are we docking or what?" Hugo asked.

"DOCK!" Renard and La yelled in unison. Hugo and Hooft exchanged amused glances as Hugo swerved the boat to the bay and docked it near the land.