It was late spring, early summer of the year 1979, the temperature was a sweltering 84° with humidity at 100%, the full moon was high in the night sky over the small island nation of Bangalla off the continent of Africa near Tanzania.
In other words just another typical day in the jungle, Moving through the lush green foliage was like swimming in quicksand it was so thick.
the scent of blooming orchids danced through the air wafting past the noise Diana Palmer-Walker wife of Kit Walker who was in her ninth month and heavily laden with child. She was in fact carrying twins but only a handful of people knew that fact out side of Diana herself.
her free time in the Bengali jungle Diana spent exploring with Sala. The two had been wondering down the paths and the underbrush of the jungle. when suddenly her surroundings looked familiar. Diana's memory's drifted back time when she was on the run from Sala jumping from an airplane outrigger onto the back of a horse that raced through the jungle and under the waterfall through the lagoon to the skull cave itself.
It was on one of her nightly walks through the Bengali Jungle, with Sala her companion/bodyguard that she found the small lagoon once again.
Diana and Sala had being going to the small lagoon hidden by a waterfall ever since.
It was only the beginning of summer and Diana could barely stand the temperatures now that she was pregnant. The hidden lagoon was her only salvation, a break from temperatures in the middle 80s to low 90s and the humidity level of 100%.
Diana with the help of Sala was stepping out of the water and into a wrap when the first signs of labor washed over her nearly knocking her and Sala off her feet, backwards into the water.
This journey to the skull cave difficult under the best of contritions but Diana was heavy with child and she was now in labor.
The safety and emotional security of the Scull Cave and the tree house was still two miles down the path.
Diana took a few more steps down the path when her eyes begin to narrow to a close her eyelids pressing tightly together as tears flow from the corners of her eyelids she grabbed her belly and cried out in a gruff tone of voice. "S-S-Sala" through a strained voice as a second wave of pain hit her
Sala ran forward picking up her pace to catch Diana mid fall holding her arms Sala asked, "Contraction?"
The nodding of her head was the only conformation Sala was given to her question
Diana feels another intense wave of pain come over her; she bit down on her lower lip trying not to cry out in pain. Taking a moment to make Diana comfortable Sala hits her throat microphone calling out "Guran prepare the cave and call a doctor... It's Time!"
"Diana" Sala asked, "When did they start"
Through gritted teeth and in pain, Diana told Sala "This morning at lagoon"
Guran replied, "Ghost who walks is on his way!"
Grinning Sala replies sarcastically "Guran don't you mean Kit?"
Sala softly as she stroked her hair, the undertone of concern radiating in her voice as she said "Why didn't you say something Diana"
Gritting her teeth Diana said in a breathy strained tone of voice, "The lagoon made it bearable
Remembering her own past Sala positioned herself behind Diana bracing herself against a tree and Diana against her own body when The Phantom appears out of nowhere thinking When did you know Sala?
Reading his eyes Sala smiles at The Phantom telling him "Shortly after we returned from the devils triangle Phantom."
"You look as though you've done this before" The Phantom said in a deep rich baritone voice.
Helping his wife to her feet The Phantom slipped one of his arms under Diana's shoulder and Sala slips hers under on the other interlocking them, they slipped the other beneath Diana's legs fore arm to fore arm making a chair and the other behind Diana's back gripping each other's shoulders and fore arms.
Sala looked at The Phantom telling him quietly but respectfully, "That is a story for another time" as they make their way back to the scull cave and safety within.
They were about to reach the point of no return when The Phantom told Sala calmly, "Up until now I have not shown you the location of the cave." Sala cuts him off saying "The fewer people that know where it is the better."
"Exactly" said The Phantom as they quickly navigate down one path then another until they reach the skull cave entrance.
seeing the scull cave for the first time in all its breath taking glory took Sala's breath away.
At the entrance is a very large white scull carved on a rock face itself.
Waiting in the cave for Diana is her mother Lily and Uncle Dave Palmer. Kit had carefully set up an area within the cave with bedding so his wife of two years may be comfortable in advance!
Shortly after their arrival Diana's screams and moans due to the contractions echoed within the cave itself magnifying their volume. Eight hours later as the first of Kit and Diana's twin's were-delivered right into The Phantom's arms "A Boy" The Phantom pronounces we will call him "Kit!" Diana's mother Lily asks why not another name? Grinning Sala tells her "No one argues with The Phantom and wins." As Guran comes in with "old Jungle saying."
Lily thinks to herself A bit of an egotist if you ask me!
The Doctor tells them we have another baby coming. A second tiny head starts to poke its way through. Dr. Abraham's announces it's a girl. Though exhausted and through a strained voice Diana tells them her name is Heloise.
Kit Walker took Sala aside in an anti chamber of the cave for a moment his eyes narrow as he looks at Sala saying, "I have a request to make!"
Sala looks at him responding in a slightly husky tone "Ask!"
Through his cowl, Kit looks at Sala with a sense of pleading in his eyes as he clinched is jaw tightly telling her, "Watch over my children when Diana I can't."
Sala knew what The Phantom was asking of her and how much it took for him to ask it with no hesitation in her voice at all she replied replied, "I will treat them as if they were my own"
Making their way back to Diana, the torchlight danced off the rock walls illuminating the reddish white hue of the rock.
The Phantom took his now exhausted wife in his arms as she half whispers in his ear "Take me to out rooftop hideaway"
The Phantom puts both babies in something resembling saddle bags and slings them over his shoulder.
her words, echo's off the cave walls Lily, Diana's mother mumbles "Rooftop hideaway?"
Sala Helps Diana out of the cave, followed closely by her mother Lily.
Dawn finally brakes in the jungle as the first rays of new day's the sun pierce the tree top canopy illuminating the house build in the trees.
Sala points high into the canopy of a very large tree telling Lily in a silvery tone, "Welcome to the rooftop hideaway!"
Lily thinks to herself, I am almost afraid to ask but how does one?
Chucking lightly Sala tells Lilly watch, with both babies sling over his shoulder and hanging off his hip The Phantom he holds fast to the rope telling Guran who was helping Sala tend to Diana to pull on the rope as hard as you can as he slips his foot into the loop.
Guran pulled with all his might as this medium to large size boulder drops down. The Phantom along with Kit and Heloise his new born babies rise into the treetops and into the home with a Whoosh both Kit and Heloise start giggling on the the way to the top and the tree-house itself!
Stepping out of the rope The Phantom calls down to Sala "Help Diana up, I will act as counter weight."
Sala helped Diana put her foot in the loop as Sala wedged her foot in the loop beside Diana's she used her own body to brace Diana in place. Both women could feet the rush of air whip by their face as they rose into the treetops.
The tree house itself was a bit of an adjustment for Diana at first because it was very rustic to say the least. The tree house itself was hewn from the surrounding living tree's and is only a short distance from The Scull Cave.
The tree house was quite comfortable with the exception of two things "No Plumbing, No Electricity"
Both Sala and Diana reach the top Sala helped Diana into bed and she puts both Kit and Heloise into their waiting cribs that were right beside the bed itself.
Diana mumbles the name "Kit" as Sala turns back to her telling her He will be here in a moment.
15 minutes later as Kit shows both lily and Dave Palmer the ramp leading up to the house.
Reaching the top Kit walks up to Sala, just as Sala she told him softly, "Diana is asking for you Phantom!
The trio was followed by Devil the semi tame pet wolf of The Phantom. Walking into the bedroom that both he and Diana share he takes a seat beside his wife and strokes her cheek saying let me get out guests settled and I will be right back. The Phantom says a few words to Sala then in a loud booming voice told Devil "Protect" as he points to Sala, Diana and his children.
Devil walked over to where Sala is seated beside Diana and lays down as Sala reaches down to scratch his ears saying "good boy Devil."