Chapter 1

Old Friend Equals Trouble

I sat as the train traveled on the tracks and looked at the beauty outside. I loved traveling it showed me the beauty of the world as well as the people. Who am I? My name is Vanessa Valley Thompson. Friends call me Van for short. I had light brown hair curly hair that only touched my shoulders. I had blue eyes that my father said 'looked like the night sky.' I wore a blue silk blouse, a long red skirt and black heels. I'm was a reporter for the New York Column. I was always curious even as a child and writing was my passion. Being a reporter helped combine the two, but interviewing a college professor was not part of that passion.

The train stopped as people started to collect there objects. I again hadn't paying attention and had no idea where I was. I turned to one of the standing man and tapped his shoulder. He turned to me. "Excuse me, sir," I asked. "Where are we?"

"Connecticut," answered the man as continued to get his bags. I could feel my eyes widen. I quickly got up, pushing the poor man out of the way. "Hey!"

I turned to him as bag from the top of my seat. "I'm so sorry," I said as struggled to pull it out. "But I need to go," I said finally got it out. I could've said more but when I am in rush I really didn't notice things. Like the step I near missed coming off the train. I felt the hand on my arms. I looked up to see the conductor grabbing my arm. "Are you alright?" he asked.

My face turned red with embarrassment. I quickly pushed him away. "I'm fine," said quickly, before he could ask anything else. I had run off.

I panted as I reached the exit of the train station. Like I said before I was always in a rush. I'm also not use to other people helping me. When I was little my mom was sick and my dad was always busy working at the college. So I was always on my own. I had to do everything myself, including defend myself. And living New York was the perfect place to do it. Now, I'm in Connecticut, 'people people town' as John, my… well let's just say really good friend would say. I'll explain later. This was not my area of comfortable.

I rushed over to the road and raised my hand yelling "Taxi!" A taxi stopped. Well, at least it didn't take 2 hours to get one like in New York. I quickly got in pulled my bags with me. "Thanks," I said.

"Where to?" he asked.

"Marshall College," I said. "I'm in rush so please," I said.

The driver scoffed. "Are a professor there?"

"No, I'm reporter from New York, now please," I urged him.

He scoffed. "Oh good reporters," he said sarcastically. I glared but waved it off. At least the taxis were the same.

Marshall College was a simple place. It was big, but it was beautiful. I walked to the wide doors. I looked at it with honor. It showed respect for learning but beauty for the world. I took out my notepad and started to write notes, as a reporter should.

"Marshall College: learning beauty has some into combination. Simple area. Simple living. Does it mean simple education?

"Ma'ma?" asked voice. I looked up to notice a college boy in front of me. "I need to get my next class. I can I help you?"

I quickly nodded. "Yes, I'm a reporter Vanessa Thompson for the New York Columns. I'm looking for a professor of archaeology."

The boy nodded. "Oh, you're looking for Dr. Jones. Down the hall take two lefts and up some stair and 5 doors to the left. May I go," he responded with attitude, I was not too fond of. I moved out of the way. "Thanks," he quickly left.

I rolled my eyes as I entered the college as I added another note.

"Students: A Connecticut mind, but a bit of a New York attitude."

I rushed through the halls. I was already late as it is and did not need to be stopped by another rushing college student. "5 doors, down," I repeated the boy's instruction. I looked up see to two men leaving the office, one was a better older with and the other was younger with brown hair about my age with paper's and books stuffed in his arms. My math is not all that great but I can count and that was the fifth door down, so that was Dr. Jones' classroom and he was the one walking away. "Dr. Jones?" I yelled.

He and the other man continued to walk. "Yes?"

I sighed as I rushed faster. "I'm the reporter from New York. I need to interview for my article."

"Yes, I need to talk to later," he said as he continued walking not bothering to turn.

Later? I do not take later for an answer. "Dr. Jones, I don't have time for a later. I have other things to do."

The older man stopped and turned to me with gently eyes. "I am sorry, but we really must be going," he said as we quickly turned around.

I sighed as I continued to follow. As nice as the old man seemed I was on important business. "I understand but I did not take train from New York and be told to wait."

"Listen can we do this another time," said the younger man as they continued to walk.

My face turned red. I was not going to wait all day in this town and they can't even have the nerve to turn around an d look at me. "You stop those feet and listen!" I yelled. He stopped, they both stopped it was like a miracle. "Now, you listen to me. I may have been late but I am sorry, but I was promised an interview. And you will quickly learn I am not very good at waiting."

The younger man turned to me. He squinted looked at me as if he was trying to remember something. "Do I know you?"

I frowned as I folded my arms. "Personally I don't know, but you should know. I am a reporter for the New York Columns. My name is Vanessa Thompson."

The man's eyes widened. "Vanessa Thompson?" I nodded as I continued to glare. Suddenly he dropped his stuff, before I could respond he picked me up and spun me around. "Vanessa!" he said an excitement.

The poor older man looked as lost as I felt. I didn't know who he was and he went from brushing me off to spinning like I was damsel in a movie. He put me down and I stared at him. "Sir?" I asked in confusion.

He smiled and gestured to himself. "It's me. Indy, Indiana."

My confusion quickly washed away to excitement. "Indy," I said as I hugged him, making the poor man even more confused.

Indiana Jones was my best friend since I was little girl. I would always follow him and whenever he wouldn't listen to me would always tell me 'to stop his feet.' We were like inseparable as thieves. Last time I was with him was last year in Shanghai and that didn't go well at all. I probably didn't recognize because the tweet suit he was wearing. I never thought him tweet suit guy, but was Indiana Jones for you.

Indy turned to the older man, looking so lost. "Oh, Marcus, this is Vanessa Thompson, old friend of mine," he introduced me as pushed me forward a bit. "Van, this is Marcus Brody, Dean of the college and a close friend."

Marcus smiled, finally getting some information as he held out his hand as I grabbed his. "Oh, pleasure to meet Vanessa."

I smiled. "Please call me Van if you'd like."

Marcus let go of my hand and turned to Indy. "I hate to cut this short but we have some people waiting."

"Oh," said Indy as he collected himself and bent over to pick his stuff off the floor. I bent down helped him. "I have a meeting with men."

I stood up holding some of his stuff. I raised my eyebrow as they started walking and I followed. "Who?" I asked.

Indy turned to me as we walked and he smirked at me "Army intelligence," he said.

I looked at him with confusion. "Army Intelligence? What did you do?"

"That's what I'd like to know," he said as he walked and me seeming to be part of it.

We entered into what seemed like a lecture hall. I saw two men. One was thin and the other was thicker. I could have scoffed at them for possibly being part of Army Intelligence, but I held my tongue. "Gentlemen?" Indy asked as we entered.

The two looked up and stood up and followed us to the podium "Yes, Dr. Jones, we've heard a great deal about you," said the thicker gentleman.

Indy didn't turn but I could tell that he was interested as I stood beside him and placed his objects down. "Have you?"

The thicker man continued as he nodded as Marcus, the thinner man continued follow. "Uh, professor of archaeology, expert on the occult," he said listing as he walked across to table front of us. "And, uh how does on say it? Obtainer of rare antiquities," he finished.

Indy nodded as placed the objects down. "That's one way of saying it," he said and gestured the two gentleman to a chair. "Why don't you sit down?"

The thicker gentlemen nodded. "Oh, thank you," he said as he sat down.

The thinner man followed nodded as well as he sat, "Thank you," he said as he joined his partner. "You are many of many talents," he added as he sat down.

The thicker gentlemen turned to me. I simply smiled. "I assume this is your assistant."

Indy turned to me and then turned back to the two. "Oh, no this is friend of mine."

I smiled and stepped up. "Vanessa Thompson, reporter of the New York Columns. I was here to interview Dr. Jones." The two men exchanged nervous looks with each other. I smiled nervously I didn't like those looks. "I don't bite."

The thinner man nodded. "Yes well—," he was cut off by the thicker gentlemen.

"This sensitive information and we wouldn't like this to be public," he said as gently as he could and I could understand. The news can cause calm, anger, and fear and what Army Intelligence had to say was probably dangerous to reveal.

I nodded. "I understand. Well, I am only at the time being interviewing Dr. Jones and maybe a few other teachers, but I have no business with you."

The thicker man hesitated but nodded. "Now, Dr. Jones," he said going back to Indy. "You studied under Professor Ravenwood at the University of Chicago."

Indy tensed a little but it quickly went away. "Yes, I did," he responded. "As well as Ms. Thompson," he said as he gestured his head to me.

I gave a quick glare, but I don't blame him talking about Ravenwood maybe him tense and including me with back up helped. I just nodded at the two in agreement.

The thicker man continued. "So, you two have no idea of his present whereabouts?"

Indy thought for a moment. "Uh… well, just rumors, really," he said as he turned to Marcus and I.

I nodded. "Yes, from what I heard somewhere in Asia, last I talked to him."

"And when was that Ms. Thompson?" the thicker man asked me.

I thought for a minute before I shrugged and answered "About 5 years ago sir, I went to interview him."

The thicker man turned to Indy. "And you Dr. Jones?"

Indy hesitated but I didn't blame him. He and Abner had rough relationship and never really spoke to him. "I haven't really spoken to him for ten years," he admitted. "We were friends, but, uh," he stopped for a minute but continued. "had a bit of a falling out, I'm afraid."

I saw him looking a bit uncomfortable and I would be lying if I did myself. I stood up. "Now, gentlemen. I am a reporter and I know beating around the bush when I see it. So can you just say it?"

Indy glared at me but I ignored it. The two men exchanged looks but turned back to us. "Now, Dr. Jones as we've said to Ms. Thompson, you must understand that this is all strictly confidential?" asked the thinner man.

Indy nodded. "I understand."

The thinner man cleared his throat. "Yesterday afternoon, our European sections intercepted a German communique that was sent from Cairo to Berlin," he explained.

The thicker man quickly jumped in. "See, over the last two years, the Nazis have had teams of archaeologists running around the world looking for all kind of religious artifacts." I raised my eyebrow and the thicker man seemed to notice. "Hitler's a nut on the subject. He's crazy," he explained. I could have told him that. "He's obsessed with the occult. And, right now, apparently, there's some kind of German archaeological dig going on in the desert outside of Cairo."

The thinner man pulled out some papers and looked them as he started to continue. "Now, we've got some information here, but we can't make anything out of it, and maybe you can," he said as looked down at the paper as he read: "Tanis development proceeding." I felt my eyes widen. Tanis, I remember it so well. I felt like days he would push it down my throat, Abner taught it to me so well. Indy looked at me with shock and interest as well as Marcus. The thinner man continued through our shock. "Acquire headpiece, Staff of Ra. Abner Ravenwood, U.S," he finished as he looked back at us.

Indy was looked to Marcus and I. "The Nazis have discovered Tanis," he said as he walked towards Marcus and me. I nodded in agreement as I ran my hand through my hair.

Thicker man looked to us. "Just what does that mean to you, uh, Tanis?"

Marcus was about to explain, but Indy quickly cut him off. "The city of Tanis is one of the possible resting placed of the Lost Ark."

The thinner man looked at Indy as if he was speaking a different language. "The Lost Ark?"

Indy nodded as he advanced towards them. "Yeah, the Ark of the Covenant. The chest the Hebrews used to carry around the Ten Commandments."

The thicker man stopped Indy. "What do you mean 'commandments' you talking about the Ten Commandments?" he asked in disbelief.

I finally stepped up feeling my studies from Abner kicked in. "Yes, the actual Ten Commandments. They are original stone tables of the Catholic laws to live by. Moses brought then down out of Mount Horeb and smashed," I explained as I shrugged. "Well, if you believe that story." They looked at me like I was an alien. I sighed, feeling I was wasting my breath. "Okay, I have two ever gone to Sunday school?" I asked a bit sarcastic.

"Well," the thinner man was about respond.

I waved it off as Indy took over again seeing I was about to be a little too sarcastic to them, which would not the best idea. "Oh, look. The Hebrews took the broken pieces and put them in the Ark. "When they settled in Canaan, they put the Ark in a place called the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem where it stayed for many years. Until, all of a sudden whoosh, it's gone."

"Where?" asked the thicker man.

I shrugged. "Well, no one knows where or even when."

Marcus soon joined as he touched my shoulder. "However, an Egyptian pharaoh, Shishak, invaded the city of Jerusalem right about 980 BC, and he may have taken the Ark back to the city of Tanis and hidden it in a secret chamber called the Well of Souls."

"Secret chamber?" the thicker man asked looking like he was starting to understand, but wasn't really buying it.

Marcus nodded as he continued. "However a year later, after the pharaoh would return to Egypt, the city of Tanis was consumed by the desert in sandstorm which lasted a whole year," Marcus leaned closely to them. "Wiped clean by the wrath of God."

The thicker man wasn't really buying it I can't be mad at it but he could have hidden it better like his partner. "Obviously, we've come to the right people. Now you seem to know, uh, all about this Tanis, then."

Indy quickly shook his had as he walked over to the black board. "No, no, no not really. Ravenwood is the real expert. Abner did the first serious work on Tanis. Collected some of its relics."

I smiled thinking about. "Compared to him we know little to none," I stopped in frowned. "It was turned into his obsession, but with all that study he never found the city." The words that come out of my mouth. I felt I was rubbing his name through the mud. He was good man and I hated talking a bit negativity of him.

The thicker man sighed. "Frankly, we're somewhat suspicious of Mr. Ravenwood," he said. "An American being mentioned so prominently in secret Nazi cable."

I quickly stood up not like what they were saying. "Now, wait a minute," I raised my voice, but Indy stopped me by holding my arms.

Marcus looked at them calmly but serious. "Oh, rubbish. Ravenswood's no Nazi."

I nodded. "Yes, and I'll bet my reporter's salary on it."

The thinner man shrugged. "Well, what do the Nazis want him for, then?"

Indy looked to them letting go of me. "Well, obviously, the Nazis are looking for the headpiece to the Staff of Ra and they think Abner's got it."

The thicker man looked at with interest once again. "What exactly is a headpiece to the Staff of Ra?"

Indy walked to board as he talked about the staff but my mind was lost. I remembered Abner, he told me one day he would never teach a woman like me. I was so stubborn, but finally wore him down, but after what happened to Indy and his daughter we lost contact till I interviewed him few later and then I never saw him again.

"Vanessa?" asked Indy causing me to snap out of my thoughts.

I nodded pretending to understand. "Only Abner could really understand and that what the Nazi's want," I sighed. "Light through red glass eye leads to what made the Hebrews cry," stood up. "A poem used to remember it."

The thicker man looked at me. "Then do you have poem of the Ark looks like?"

Indy stepped forward as opened the book. "I've got something better than a poem, I have picture," he said as he opened the book. "Here," he said as we all gathered around as he should us the picture.

I remembered the picture well. There were four men carrying the ark on top of the large rock Hebrew's surrounded. Light came from the light it living the enemies died or suffering. It made statement: you never wanted to be the enemy of the ark. I was squeamish when I first saw begged Abner never to show it to me again. Now it was only picture, with a strong meaning.

"Good God," said the thinner man in shock.

Marcus nodded. "Yes, that's just what the Hebrews thought," he responded.

The thinner man looked closely. "Now," he pointed to the light coming from the light. "Now, what's that supposed to be coming out of there?"

"Lightning," Indy answered. "Fire…," he shrugged and walked to the black board. "Power of God or something."

I looked to the two men. "Here's another poem," I said. "Speak against the ark the word to start your death." They didn't answer right away I was walked to Indy looking at the staff of Ra he drew.

"I beginning to understand Hitler's interest in this," said the thicker man.

I touched Indy's shoulder as looked at me snapping out of his own thoughts. "Indy?" I asked.

Indy nodded. "Fine," he whispered as he walked to the others but I still held his shoulder.

Marcus spoke to the two men. "The Bible speaks of the Ark leveling mountains, and laying waste to entire regions. An army which carries the Ark before it," Marcus stopped having a bit of honor on his face, but continued. "is invincible."

I felt my hearts interest,shock, and pain of the Ark came to me. I could hardly stand I nearly fell over, but Indy caught me. "Van?" he asked in a bit of worry.

I looked to Indy with fear that I could no longer hide. I shook my head. "After two nightmares, I vowed never to talk about the ark, picturing war," I sighed. "The Nazi's with the ark is the definition of war. Unwinnable war," I whispered. I slowly remembered a day with Indiana Jones was a day of mystery and trouble. New York was starting to sound like the most peaceful place on earth compared Connecticut.