Chapter 2
"Departing for England"
While Lady Waltham and her manservant journeyed in the rain from London to Southampton for the long voyage aboard Titanic, it was a another clear sunny day in the jungles of Africa where Jane, Tarzan and Archimedes were preparing for their own voyage to Southampton aboard a steamship that Dumont had arranged to take them there. In the days leading up to this, they had been down at the trading post picking out clothes for the ceremony and anything else that would sustain them for the journey that they were about to undertake.
"There, all done," said Jane, cheerfully as she finished packing her dress that she planned to wear to the ceremony. "Don't you think this will do, Tarzan? Monseiur Dumont says it's the best one he's gotten."
"If it makes you comfortable," he replied as Jane then walked over and collected Tarzan's father's suit. "But, it is nice that your father is being recognized for his work. Do you think that it will happen to me?"
Jane was silent at the thought, as she knew that Tarzan had been recognized somewhat based on the visitors who frequently came to the jungle. Nevertheless, she sensed that Tarzan longed to be recognized on the level that Archimedes was on.
"Like receiving an honorary doctorate," said Jane as she pulled her yellow and blue dresses from her closet. "You'd have to be in the field of education for as long as Daddy is. Besides, I like you just the way you are, Tarzan. I didn't need to marry someone who was rich and had an education."
Tarzan felt slightly better at that, knowing that Jane would like him just the way he was. Although, doing something heroic in the eyes of the civilized public would make him understand just how important he truly was. After all, he was fascinated with London looked when they were in the city for Archimedes' knighthood by the king of England.
"Oh, there you are," said Archimedes, who was walking into the room with a piece of paper in his hands. "I was just wondering what you think about my speech I am going to give."
"Is it done?" asked Jane, excitedly, closing up her suitcase. "Please tell us about it, daddy."
"All right, he began, looking down at the paper and clearing his throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen of New York university, I am honored to receive this prestigious honor that you present to me, today. I would like to thank my beautiful daughter, Jane and her handsome husband, Tarzan, as well as all of my colleagues in the field of science for their undying support in the pursuit I follow. In addition…uh…"
Archimedes' strong start to his speech, was only met with stutters that he was producing through his mouth.
"I guess that I will still need to do a little more work," chuckled Archimedes in embarrassment. "It's going to be the best, Jane and Tarzan, even if I die trying to finish it."
Jane chuckled at her father's fain attempt and snatched the paper from his hands and looked down at it. After a moment, she handed it back to him and chuckled slightly.
"It doesn't look too bad," she replied. "Still, you are right, it could use a little work if you ask me."
Archimedes agreed and then returned to working on his speech. A little while later, they all made their way down to the trading post where they were waiting for the steamship to take them to England. Tarzan was slightly sad to leave his jungle behind, but he did say goodbye to all his jungle friends and also to Simba, who had agreed to keep an eye on the jungle in addition to the Pride Lands.
However as they waited for the ship to arrive, Tarzan couldn't help but notice Jane was starting to look a little sick. Her face was starting to look like her green skirt and this was starting to get Tarzan a little worried.
"Jane, are you all right?" wondering Tarzan, upon seeing his wife not feeling well. "You look sick."
"Sick?" asked Jane, surprisingly, looking back at Tarzan. "Why do you think I look sick, Tarzan? It's probably nothing."
"If you say so," replied Archimedes, who looked a little worried like Tarzan. "I don't want you getting sick for my ceremony."
Just then, they all heard the sounds of a horn blowing in the distance and they all saw a steamship coming towards them, the steam slowly receding as it slowed towards the docks. After a moment, the steamship stopped and the gangplank was lowered.
"Guess there is no turning back now," said Archimedes as he took his suitcase up to the deck and handed it to the deckhand.
"Shall we, Tarzan?" asked Jane, bending her elbow to him. Tarzan then hooked his elbow with hers and they walked up the gangplank, arm in arm. Once they were aboard, the whistle blew and the ship departed the docks as Dumont and his son, Antoine, bade them farewell.
"Good luck to you all!" he called to them. "And don't worry, your jungle is in safe hands!"
They all waved at Dumont until the ship was out of the sight of the trading post. But, as their journey began, what no one believed was that in the cargo hold, a suitcase that belonged to Archimedes was moving and two voices belonging to a meerkat and a warthog were heard.
"Hey, Pumbaa," whispered Timon from inside the suitcase. "How long do we have to stay in here?"
"Until we get off the boat," replied Pumbaa from inside the suitcase. "Until then, we stay in here."
"But, I need to breathe!" protested Timon, trying to get out. "Who wants to be stuck in here with a pig that…"
Just then, a loud noise came from behind Pumbaa's rear end and Timon groaned in disgust at what just happened inside.
"I had to ask," he said bitterly, as the suitcase filled with the foul odor of Pumbaa's gas.
So, the voyage to Southampton and the Titanic had begun…
