Zimbabwe

"The map says to make a left Dad."

"Well, my journal says to make a right Junior." I moaned and banged my head against the seat. Sallah had one hand holding his face up, and Donald was just sitting at the wheel waiting.

We had arrived in Africa with no problems and had managed to rent a car for dirt cheap. We drove out and everything seemed fine until we arrived at a crossroads. And then, the arguing started again.

Mom and Dad rarely argued, because Mom always won and it was just wasted breath. She always got her way, and he always just gritted his teeth and nodded. Now I'd heard enough arguing to last a lifetime.

"Mates, can we just pick a way. I'm sure our friends aren't too far behind us. They might already be there at this pace." Dad and Grandpa just stared at each other and scowled. Dad was pointing at the map, and Grandpa had his journal open.

"But he's leading us the wrong way," they shouted simultaneously. Donald groaned. It was then that I actually looked at the two directions.

"I think this round goes to Dr. Jones. You see the sign down the road that says Tomb of Unidentified Knight with an arrow pointing that way. I think it's a safe bet to follow that."

"We just wasted a half hour because you two didn't read the signs," Sallah said. Donald shot the two a look and started the car that way.

"It looks like your slipping up in your old age mate."

"Then what's his excuse?"

The car ground to a halt and we all climbed out. There was another set of stairs leading underground, but they were roped off. We all looked at each other.

"Come this way. We will be starting the tour in just a few minutes. Remember you are not to touch anything down there. It can be very dangerous."

"Tour?" we all said at the same time. A man wearing dirty robes and an eye patch stood a few feet away collecting money from tourists. This was obviously a public attraction, and we needed to get in. I couldn't help but smile.

"I'll distract him. You guys sneak down there. I'll meet up with you in a minute." I started to walk away, but my dad pulled me back over. "I can handle this. I have a plan that works every time." He let go, and I proceeded to stop by the group. 'Is it true about the scorpions down there?" I said rather loudly. Everyone turned and looked at me, and then at the tour guide.

"Scorpion, of course there are no scorpions. Now just hand over your fee and-"



"That's not what I heard. And then there are those giant bugs." A few women flinched. "And don't get me started on the snakes." I saw everyone jump the rope and head down out of the corner of my eye. "And then there's the curse that everyone who goes down there comes out missing an eye." The tour guide's hand went to the eye patch he was wearing. The guests promptly turned around and demanded their money back, and within a few minutes they were all gone. "Bingo."

The guide took off after them, and I managed to hop the rope down stairs cast purely in ruby. Te group was waiting for me at the bottom.

"What? That's how I always managed to get the last dessert in the lunch line. Now let's get moving before another group shows up." I lead the group down the stairs until we came to a similar hallway just like the one with the scorpions. This one, however, was filled with rats. I couldn't help but notice Grandpa flinch and start to backpedal. Dad grabbed him ad pushed him back.

"Junior, I really can't-"

"Just suck it up Dad. We need to find that tomb. And you just volunteered to go first." Grandpa was shoved forward, where he just froze up. I sighed and followed him, taking his hand and leading him along.

"Well at least somebody in this family has manners." Suddenly, something hit me.

"Dad." No answer. "Dad." Still nothing. "Indy!"

"What?"

"If the last temple was green and had trees and earth, then if this one is red does that mean it has..."

We heard a scream from up ahead. We peeked around the corner to see the red-head standing there with her henchmen. One was screaming in pain and blisters covered his face.

But what scared us was what was behind him.

"You all go first."

"Crikey."

"I say."

"Jiminy Crickets."

Dad just tipped his hat and pulled out his whip. "Why do I still do these things?" And I knew the answer. He was Indiana Jones.

R&R.