Transition Plan Chapter 50: Baby Shower Part 2
Author's Notes: Wow! Here I am at 50 chapters and so many of you are still avidly reading my hybrid adaptation of Disney's and Burroughs' legendary stories about Tarzan and Jane! Today we conclude Archimedes' return to the Mangani and his family and his gift to Tarzan and Jane. I hope the 50th chapter is memorable for you all. I made it a double length. :) Thanks again for reading my story!
…
Jack Clayton was a very challenging newborn. He was hungry and fussy a lot, and didn't sleep much. He would be considered colicky in the English vernacular.
As a result, Tarzan and Jane were very tired all the time, and were often cross with each other. Tarzan did what he could to keep Jack clean, who was constantly soiling himself because the intentionally limited swaddling they used on him. They wanted him to be a child of the jungle. His short sleep cycle and always having to nurse was hardest on Jane. They learned to create a smaller softer nest for him next to them at all times like the gorilla parents did with their young. Jack wailed a lot and it attracted a lot of infant-eating predators that Tarzan had to chase off or sometimes destroy.
Tantor and Habika had come by the Mangani nesting areas several times over the past few weeks, ostensibly to see the new baby, given that Habika was still months away from the end of her two year gestation period. Habika said she wanted to get hints and tips about parenting from not only Tarzan and Jane but from also Kirok and Terk. However, the elephant pair was hiding the real reason for them to visit: relaying messages from Archimedes. The frazzled new human parents were occupied constantly with their newborn, and they had not noticed the secret whispers between Tantor, Habika, Terk, Kirok, and Kala.
When Jack was about a month old, Jane and Tarzan were arguing about trivial matters, so Kala interrupted them, "Let me take care of Korak for awhile let you get some time together alone. He's old enough now for you to be apart awhile. You two quarrel too often. This is not like you."
It took that shock of being chastised by Tarzan's mother for the pair to realize the shortness of their tempers with each other. They both gave each other embarrassed looks.
The young parents embraced and Jane spoke first, "I'm sorry, Tarzan. Being a mother is so hard. Harder than I thought. Especially in the jungle. I'm not the resourceful she-ape you always praise me for being."
Tarzan apologized, "I'm sorry too, Jane. This is all new to me also. Being Lord of the Apes hardly prepares me to be a new father. There is not a single book in our library in Greystoke from which I could learn how to be a 'Daddy'.
They laughed, squeezed each other, and kissed, with Jack napping next to them.
Jane's beautiful pre-natal body shape had nearly returned, and she had healed from her labor, but they were so exhausted from caring for the baby, so they had not returned to active intimacy with each other. That was part of their frustration. They knew they wanted and needed each other, but were always far too tired. Becoming pregnant again right away was not really an issue for Jane, though they would deal it should it happen. She knew that by constantly nursing Jack, her fertility was suppressed. Her family history was that way on both sides, according to her father. Not every woman was that way. Jack would hopefully not be an 'only child', if they were so blessed, but at a time of their choosing.
They desired each other and Kala's offer was tempting.
Jane said the words they were both feeling, "Well… maybe a few hours gone won't be a problem, Mother Kala. I just fed him before his nap, and he drained both sides like there was no tomorrow. I am surprised there is anything left of me."
Tarzan smirked, "Oh, I noticed. There is plenty of you…"
"You took the words right out of my mouth, cousin," grinned Terk.
"Shush both of you!" chided Jane with a pretend annoyed look at her husband and her best female friend. Tarzan could always make her feel good about her looks. And blush.
Tarzan changed the subject, "But to the point, I agree. Let's take Mother up on her offer, Jane."
Kala encouraged Jane to take a break from her motherhood for a few hours with a smile, "I took care of Tarzan, Jane dear, not knowing a thing about human infants, and he didn't break."
"Oh?" joked Jane just waiting to get her husband back for his earlier comment, "Based on Tarzan's behaviors, I could have sworn you'd dropped him on his head a few times, Mother."
"Amen, sister!" added Terk.
They all laughed at that.
Tarzan nuzzled Jane like a Silverback would his female partner, gave her a hoot which she returned tenderly, stroked her hand, and they romped off into the jungle on all fours like typical Mangani mates would. Kala smiled as they departed. A casual observer could scarcely tell they had any humanity in them at all. Her bottom-length hair streamed behind her in their gait. Their beautiful overall tans complemented each other.
Terk glanced at Jack, still contentedly napping, and whispered to Kala, "Wait until Korak wakes and then Kirok and I will help you follow Tarzan and Jane to the coast without being seen."
Kala was pleased to be part of the secret, "I think I'm as anxious to see this surprise for them you keep talking about."
Terk thought to herself with a knowing grin, "You will be, Kala. You will be."
Tarzan and Jane each grabbled vines and swung in tandem through the trees. Jane grinned, "I can't wait to go play on the beach. It seems like forever. Won't the dolphins be happy I finally had my 'calf'?"
Tarzan joked, "You were getting so big I thought you were going to have a real calf!"
She nudged him and stuck her tongue at him, "You! Insults won't get you anywhere with your lady, ape man!"
"You're my beautiful wife, no matter how big you got being pregnant."
She believed him but there were times she didn't feel beautiful at all.
They enjoyed using the animal terms for their baby. Jack had been called just about everything by all their friends – cub, pup, kit, calf, hatchling, chick, whelp, fledgling, farrow, fawn, stot, eaglet, cheeper, poult, cygnet, piglet – which was particularly appropriate given his ravenous appetite for his mother's milk - and many other terms, depending on the species. They were most amused at 'puggle' and 'squealer', and admired the hawk's term for their offspring of 'eyas', but they drew the line at 'larva' and 'spiderling' though, despite the terms being well-meant by the givers.
Between swings on the vine, resting side by side in the fork of a large tree, she rubbed against him and smiled, as any gorilla female would her mate. He knew she wanted to be very close to him, and he wished for the same thing, so he carried her in his arms the rest of the way as they swung together on a single vine toward the ocean. Their closeness built their desire. The trees grew thinner as they approached the coast. The emerald blue ocean beckoned. Their hungry eyes said everything to each other without a word being exchanged.
But she added, "Let's go back to the treehouse to rest after we swim, Tarzan. I could use a nap."
"Just a nap?" he asked suggestively.
"Well, Jonathan, afterwards… and if I have my way, you'll be so worn out that you'll need a nap too," she teased.
"Oh? We'll see about that!" he chuckled, but he was very affectionate with her as they swung.
"Keep your eyes on the vine swinging, ape man," she teased after a particularly long kiss and a near miss with a huge overhead branch.
They alighted on the grass bordering the beach, squeezed each other in a very tender hug, raced each laughing all the way into the surf, touching, tackling, embracing and tickling while tossing sand, seaweed, shells, and a couple of really surprised sand crabs at each other until they reached the water's edge, where they clutched and fell together into the soothing waves, their lips locked in a deep longing kiss. It was clear they were not going to make it to the tree house to consummate their pent-up desires for each other. And they didn't care.
Startled by their love play laughter upon arriving at the beach, Archimedes awoke from his nap and could see them chasing each other on the sand and the water from high above on the balcony of the new treehouse. Their overall deep tans contrasted with the white sand beach. Tarzan always tanned darker than Jane. He was sorely tempted to call out to them, but knew this was the first time they'd been alone together since the baby's birth. Archimedes was amazed at the length of Jane's long auburn hair that framed her wide bottom and extended nearly to the base of her thighs. Her tresses tossed and flowed with the sea breezes and all the twists and turns she took giggling while dodging and weaving Tarzan's playful lunges for her. He noticed the physical changes in Jane as a new young mother, and was so happy for them when they kissed and yielded to each other as they entwined intimately for the first time in over a month on the surf/sand line.
This tender reunion was exactly what he wanted for them as a part of his surprise. It was a sight he'd seen many times in the feral environment of the gorilla family. Nonetheless, he looked away to give them some measure of privacy, but could not help but hear all their happy noises over the rolling surf, which were welcome sounds to his ears, having been parted from his children for so long. They were so matched for each other. He was very pleased with the way they still deeply cared for each other, and savored the memories of similar tender times alone with his dear sweet wife while he caught up on entries into his latest journal.
After Tarzan and Jane breathlessly climaxed, and they lingered quietly together with a lot of gentle kisses, Archimedes could see them walk slowly with their arms around each other's waists along the surf line upright as humans, and then make their way up the cliff trail to the treehouse. The moment of truth was about to happen. He closed his journal and hid in one of several secret 'safe' areas should their home ever be intruded upon.
Their happy chatter became silent and very serious as they noted their surroundings had changed. The lilt in their steps became defensive crouches, ready for a fight. Tarzan unsheathed his knife and Jane drew and loaded her bow. Each protected the other's flanks, crouching and scanning methodically for threats from jungle floor to canopy within inches of each other or touching to assure their defensive positions. It was an automatic reflex now as they acted as one single fighting unit.
Nothing that dwelled in the jungle could ever hope to successfully attack this jungle-hardened human pair in when fully prepared for a fight. Each was equally dangerous in their own way.
As Jane provided cover, Tarzan knelt and noticed the trampled grass, signs of trees cut, wood shavings, and sawdust. He saw the signs of encampment and cooking fires, and picked at the natural debris with his knife tip. The intruders had taken their waste and left very little litter. He sniffed the air all around for any civilized human signs in the area. While Jane scanned everywhere, she was still concerned with Tarzan's discoveries of civilized human presence in their jungle home. Her sense of smell was nothing like her husband's, but she was better at sensing movement, so she kept her bow drawn while she watched for trouble as Tarzan concentrated on the evidence of the humans. She'd trained her listening skills to be almost as good as his, and concentrated on anything out of the ordinary, and with a drawn bow, could respond instantly. Archimedes kept well hidden. He knew that Jane rarely missed with an arrow even as a teen girl years ago, something he knew he taught her, and he was more than a little worried to be potentially on the receiving end of her arrows.
Tarzan ended his investigation of the camping area, still crouched in an investigative gorilla stance, and sniffed the ground closely one final time. He observed to Jane, "Over a dozen European men have been here for weeks. Most likely English. They've only been gone a day or two."
"How did we not know? Who were they?" Jane fretted intensely, without breaking her search for hidden assailants in the bush and the trees.
Tarzan managed only a wry smile, "They took every precaution to keep us from hearing or seeing signs of them. And… well… we have been a little… occupied."
"I would say so," she mused, thinking about their all-encompassing care for Jack, but then a horrible thought crossed her mind, "Oh my gosh, Tarzan. The treehouse!"
They grabbed each other's free hands and ran as fast as they could, abandoning all caution. Rounding a bend in the trail where they could see his parents' old treehouse, they stopped suddenly in their tracks at the sight.
They saw the old treehouse. It was not destroyed as they feared. It was completely updated and painted, and had new features that reinforced the aging structure his father and mother had built.
The retractable long rope bridge from the old treehouse to the new one was intentionally left deployed. The bridge drew their eyes across the trail from the old treehouse and over the butterfly and flower garden that held his parents' graves, as it disappeared deep into the woods behind the newly refurbished structure.
Jane strained her eyes into the heavily wooded jungle beyond the end of the rope bridge, "Oh, my goodness, Jonathan. Look!"
Completely hidden into the treeline, in the largest of the jungle's trees, were the carefully crafted pieces of a three-story Tudor home, carefully sheltered room by room into the branches, and cleverly connected together by stairs and corridors. In the shadows, they could see the family Clayton coat of arms affixed at the highest joist in the roof that reached into the upper tree canopy.
"It's beautiful!" Jane exclaimed.
"How? Who did this? Why?" puzzled Tarzan more cautiously.
But they were drawn to the structure and decided to investigate. The area truly seemed deserted. Both started to climb the trunk of the tree, using subtle handholds noticeable only to those with tree climbing skills like them, and made their way noiselessly to the entrance to the new structure. It smelled of fresh paint and preservative amidst the humid environment, and it felt like they were in England. It was a smaller replica of one of their summer houses, but was sturdier and built for the steamy, primitive environment of the jungle nestled into the branches. It was still an English mansion blended into the trees section by section like puzzle pieces.
They stopped at what was clearly the front entrance, carefully turned the ornate brass doorknob, and carefully opened the hardwood door into a miniature foyer. All around them were rooms and passageways, and a small staircase built into a huge branch to the upper levels. It was even furnished. They heard a creak and saw a fleeting movement in the shadows. They whirled and aimed their weapons.
A familiar voice chuckled in English, and then appeared slowly with his hands wide in submission to ease their fear, "A little piece of Castle Greystoke right here in the land of the Mangani. Clever, don't you think?"
They beheld the source of the movement. Jane's eyes got as big as saucers and her jaw dropped.
Professor Archimedes Porter stood smiling with his outstretched arms to his children.
"Daddy? Oh, my goodness… Daddy!" she shouted.
She dropped her bow and arrow, rushed across the room, and nearly tackled him in an embrace, smothering him in a barrage of little girl kisses for her father's return. Then she gave him one really big kiss, and hugged him closely. Archimedes gulped for air with her enthusiastic greeting. She was much stronger than he remembered.
She was in tears and smiling at the same time, "Oh, Daddy. I love you so much. Goodness, we missed you so. But you're back. And all this? It's… it's amazing! Whatever for?"
The Professor tried to sit down to explain, but she wouldn't let him, and she wouldn't let go of her embrace. Frankly, he was very happy to be holding his daughter again after so long apart. Tarzan smiled and came up and gently put his arms around them both.
He shrugged and grinned, "Well, tut, tut, children. I love you too. This is your 'baby shower' gift from me. A little late, so it seems," looking down and touching her mostly flat bare tummy a little sadly.
Jane soothed her father's disappointment as she looked all around her, still with her arms around her father loosely, "This is all so wonderful. Thank you so much! But Daddy. This must have been frightfully expensive."
He chuckled, "Nothing is too good for my grandchild and you two. And besides. Every English nobleman's estate should have a mansion, no matter where they live, don't you think, my dear Count and Countess?"
Even though Archimedes knew that Terk and Kirok were following his instructions to the letter to not only get them away from the family nest and come here, but to have Kala follow soon with the baby, he asked slyly, "So… where, exactly, is my first grandson or granddaughter?"
Jane absolutely beamed with maternal pride, "Our son, Daddy. Jack Clayton – short for Jonathan. I… we… had him a month ago. Mother Kala is watching him for a few hours - the others thought we should go on a 'date' and so they are babysitting him for us while we are together, for a little... um… fun together."
She blushed, even though their intimacy was very public as the Mangani Silverback mates, something her father was quite familiar with, but quickly a look of realization came over both their faces, and Tarzan said with great amusement, "Just a minute here. You conspired with all of our friends for this, didn't you, Professor? Everyone knew about this except for us!"
Archimedes' eyes twinkled as he said, "Guilty as charged, dear boy. But we aren't done yet. This is a surprise for Kala too."
"Daddy! You haven't played a trick on me like this since I was a little girl," Jane said, with a smile of pleasure at her father's playful secret for them.
"Which makes it even more special for both of you!" Archimedes chuckled, melting his daughter's heart.
"It is indeed, Professor. Thank you," grinned Tarzan.
The three broke their embrace, and sat in the brand new chairs. They were made of rattan and wicker and other durable tropical materials, so the normal English fabric cushions would not rot or be picked clean by wild animals seeking nesting materials in the tropical environment. They were very comfortable, and felt cool against their bodies. It had been months since they actually sat in chairs.
Jane was very excited and leaned forward in her chair toward her father, and looked at the mansion features all around her, "This is so amazing Daddy. I want to see everything!"
Archimedes obliged their curiosity and took them on a tour. The dwelling was a miniature of their favorite summer home, and it felt just like being back in England. It was built to last in the harsh jungle climate. Tarzan and Jane stopped and squeezed each other when they saw the bathroom with a custom-built enameled iron tub - sized and shaped exactly to fit two joined lovers.
"Daddy…" she said softly, turning red in the cheeks again.
Archimedes, knowledgeable of Tarzan's and Jane's story of how Jack had been conceived, was pleased that his children noticed the subtlety of that very special gift for them, only noted, "Well, I do want more than one grandchild…"
They all laughed, she kissed her father on the cheek, and the trio continued on the tour.
The new treehouse mansion even featured a small kitchen and library, with books in a metal humidor with a lock to preserve them and keep any paper-chewing animals out. Among the collection of Tarzan's favorite books and a travel-sized family Bible they'd bought for each other was a large collection of children's books.
Tarzan held some of the books gently as a precious treasure, leafing through a few of his favorites with a smile, "Father, you shouldn't have."
Porter always loved it when Tarzan called him 'Father', because he certainly felt as though Tarzan was his son, and replied, "My grandchildren will need to be properly educated even in the jungle, dear boy. You can read to them here."
They both noticed the combination of adult and child sized chairs with a child's desk. His use of the plural term 'grandchildren' was not lost on the pair, and they smiled at each other with a slight hug. They stopped tearfully when they got to a couple of rooms in the new treehouse built obviously for more than one child. One room was furnished for a nursery, right next to their master bedroom.
"Oh, Daddy…" Jane sighed and hugged her father again.
The Professor explained, "I know we are all living here as the Mangani do, but as you have said many times, the treehouse is a refuge and retreat for the days when you want to be human… and when you need to teach those you love how to be human."
"It's perfect, Daddy."
Tarzan added, "Thank you Father. We had no idea how to keep both worlds together simultaneously, but now we can. Thanks to you."
It was very tender moment.
They heard sounds in the foyer below, and a baby's happy gurglings. A familiar female gorilla was standing just inside the open entrance door, looking in amazement at the huge structure in the trees. She was in shock, but had been drawn to the sounds of conversation from voices she knew in the new treehouse. Terk and Kirok had guided her to what she thought was the old treehouse according to Tantor's instructions, thinking her children were there, but told her nothing else, and the gorilla couple had disappeared back into the woods so the human family and Kala could have their reunion in privacy. They were very proud to be part of the Professor's successful subterfuge with his family. Humans could be very fun.
Kala, Tarzan, Jane, and Archimedes stood frozen in place and speechless. Kala and Archimedes locked eyes.
"Porter…" Kala could barely whisper, clutching her grandson. She had a look of total shock and tears in her eyes.
Jack, oblivious to the significance of the reunion, had just discovered his hand, and tried to devour it, at least until his own fingers poked himself in his eye, which made him momentarily very unhappy.
The Professor was not sure who he wanted to hug more – Kala or his grandson. Kala made the decision for them both. She hurried to Archimedes, still clutching Jack.
Jane quickly took their child from her mother in law's arms as Kala rushed to embrace Archimedes in a very human hug.
Kala and Archimedes groomed each other desperately as they were eye to eye close. Kala choked out her words with a smile and happy tears, "I thought you were lost or dead, or never coming again, Porter. I have missed you terribly. But now you're here with me again."
She buried her head in his chest, and Archimedes simply closed his eyes in that embrace, savoring her warmth and soft fur against him. They were just silent together in their embrace. Tarzan put his arm around Jane, watching the tender reunion. Jane leaned her head against Tarzan's broad shoulders, cuddling their child, who was trying to eat his kneecap now.
Archimedes soothed his special friend's fur and her tears, "There, there, Kala. I promised I'd be back. I am sorry it took so long. This was a big project to arrange for Jane and Tarzan, and I had to settle my affairs in England."
"It's all right, Porter," she whispered as she continued her attempts to compose herself.
With some alarm, Tarzan and Jane exchanged glances as she cuddled Jack, who was still very content just being held. They knew exactly what her father meant by that.
Still in a hug with Kala, Archimedes turned and asked Jane, looking directly at Jack, "And who is this handsome young man, Jane dear?"
With the glow that only a brand new first time mother can display, Jane proudly presented Jack to her father, and Archimedes carefully gathered Jack in his arms, following Jane's instructions exactly how to hold him. With Kala close beside him, the Professor spent a long time touching, talking softly to, and holding his first grandson. Tarzan and Jane held each happily other arm in arm while Archimedes got acquainted with Jack, who took to his grandfather right away, with cute little spitting noises. Kala watched happily as the elderly man completely bonded with his grandson.
But Kala could not hold in her inquisitiveness about the new treehouse, and after a time, she asked, "What is all this, Porter? It's so big."
"It's much like I described in our stories about England. It's a house – a special kind of nest for humans," explained Porter, still cuddling Jack.
It was very different and much vaster than the makeshift old treehouse, so it was understandable Kala wouldn't really comprehend it.
"And Mangani who love humans?" She looked through her joyful tears at him.
"Yes. Especially for them, Kala, and the humans that love Mangani just as much," he said softly and he couldn't wait to show her the room he built for the two of them. Before he'd left for England they'd been sharing one nest for some time with the family. He had no intention of stopping that.
She stepped back from their hug and admired the Professor, who'd gotten a bit trimmer to survive in the jungle better, "Look at you, Porter. You've become totally Mangani - for me?"
"Yes, Kala. This is my life now with you and my children and grandson."
Being natural in the jungle was so normal for Jane and Tarzan that they had not even noticed that her father was also. Jane smiled for him, and hugged him without reservation, "Thank you, Daddy. Adopting our ways completely means a lot to us."
He shrugged and chuckled, "There's an old saying, Jane dear, 'When in Rome, always do as the Romans do!'"
They all laughed.
They all spent the next few days together, exploring the house, and enjoying sleeping in real beds in their own rooms. Tarzan and Jane thought their new bed – both sleeping and making love in it – was the most comfortable bed they'd ever been in. Sleeping in a human bed was a very pleasant new experience for Kala. Tarzan and Jane did not disturb her father and Kala's 'alone time' getting reacquainted in their special friendship after months of separation. Inspired by being back with Kala, Archimedes rediscovered something about himself he thought was gone forever. They were just like one of those fairy tale stories of a sweet, elderly English widow and widower who found each other late in life long after their original spouses were gone.
"We're so happy for you, Daddy and Mother Kala," Jane noted the next morning upon awakening, seeing them rise from their bedroom and hug on the balcony overlooking the ocean waiting for the sunrise, while she nursed Jack quietly in her arms for his early morning feeding. Tarzan gave his parents an approving smile as he groggily awakened shortly after Jane to give her and their son a morning kiss and hug. Jack managed to sleep nearly four hours that night.
Later that day, Kala and Porter watched contentedly as Tarzan and Jane played with Jack on the beach, all protected by the plant oils, and they showed him off to their very pleased dolphin friends. The young pair's chatter with the dolphins and rides on their backs fascinated the old scientist, and he privately wondered if there was any animal Tarzan and Jane couldn't talk to. Even Kala had no idea that Tarzan and Jane had befriended the dolphins. They were beautiful creatures. Baby Jack seemed to like the ride with his mother on the female dolphin, followed by her own newborn calf, but not the stinging salt water spray in his face. Porter and Kala joined them on the beach and Archimedes helped Kala get over her fear of the ocean, and enjoyed their own play on the beach, though it took hours of Archimedes' careful grooming and a rinse in a strong rain forest stream to get all the sand out of her fur. But they enjoyed playing like newlyweds. Tarzan and Jane thought they were so cute together, and they acted years younger than they actually were.
All of them especially enjoyed placing Jack in the nursery crib and playing with him there each night, with its bug proof canopy netting, and was right next to his parents' bedroom. Jack fancied the mobile over his crib composed of brightly colored jungle animals and toys brought for him, but was still pretty helpless at only one month of age.
While they gathered food from the jungle daily, they all tasted a few of the six months of canned and jarred preserved foods and provisions stocked in the new treehouse's larder for emergencies.
Jack was settling into a routine now, was much less challenging, and the new parents were figuring things out about their baby too. Jack enjoyed nursing with his mother, and Jane was especially proud to demonstrate her maternal skills to her father. Archimedes couldn't imagine a more endearing sight than watching the new mother and child breastfeeding while bonding in one of the wicker love seats snuggled in the crook of Tarzan's arm. Jane was so excited to be a new mother and her loving smile beamed toward her father took his breath away. Archimedes was amused at Jack's happy, milk-covered face when she switched sides at each feeding. He remembered similar scenes of a month-old Jane nursing with her mother that seemed like only yesterday, and had pleased sigh of remembrance.
"That boy does seem to have a voracious appetite," he observed candidly.
Jane just glanced at her father with a new mother's contented smile, and snuggled deeper into Tarzan's arm surrounding mother and son on the wicker couch.
"This is what life is all about," Archimedes thought with deep satisfaction, with Kala seated close beside him, adding to his contentedness.
There was a lot of catching up to do, and four talked constantly about everything that had happened here and in England while Archimedes was gone.
The fourth night together, Archimedes took them to an unseen part of the new treehouse at its highest point, and unlocked a heavily armored and reinforced room with a metal door. There were wires exiting the top of the room into the roof, and a huge metal tower extended far into the trees, but not above them that would give their position away from above. Jane and Tarzan, with Jack bound to her bosom in a spongeberry lined fabric sling around Jane's neck, were very curious.
Archimedes explained, "This, children, is called 'the radiotelegraph room'."
"A what?" asked Tarzan.
"I need to show you something important that will keep us connected with England in ways we never dreamed about before with just ships."
Tarzan saw the maze of equipment with lights and dials, wires, antennas and tubes, a stack of batteries nearby, and the black and brass key on a table with several chairs. There was also a pad of paper and pencils.
"This, my dear boy, is a Wireless Marconi, combined with a telegraph that normally needs wires. It allows us to communicate with England instantly. It runs on electricity."
Tarzan and Jane had seen some electric lights in London, and knew what a regular wired telegraph was, so this was not a complete unknown. Castle Greystoke was still completely powered by fire and candles, but their plans were to electrify at least some of the Castle the next time they came home to England.
Porter added, "The batteries will only last awhile, but they can be recharged with what we call a 'generator'. All it needs is a little 'Tarzan power'."
The Count saw the stationary bicycle hooked to the generator, and instantly understood.
It was late in the evening, and the Professor tapped out a simple message. Tarzan watched Archimedes click the key, sending the message letter by letter. He took the embossed metalized sheet beside the key pad and memorized the Morse Code. The Professor was proud to tell everyone back home about the birth of Jack.
Congratulatory messages came back, with everyone wanting to see the new arrival as soon as possible, and noted that all was well at the Greystoke and the Porter estates, both now equipped with their own Wireless Marconi's. Tarzan translated faster in this head than Archimedes could write it all down. One of the messages was a very special note from Elisabeth to Jane and new baby. The sweetness of it made Jane cry, while cuddling her child.
Everyone was excited about the connection and instant communications. They didn't feel so isolated any more.
It was well they had the Wireless because it would be indispensable and save their lives when the world went ablaze in war in 1914.
…
After a week of enjoyment in the treehouse and on the beach, with Kala and Archimedes often watching Jack while they let Tarzan and Jane have more 'couple' time together, everyone felt it was time to rejoin the family, so they closed up the treehouses securely, and the five of them made their way together to the gorilla troop's latest nest. The 'welcome back' from the family for Professor Porter was joyous and festive, and they quickly made him feel right at home again. The troop was especially happy about the reunion between Kala and Porter, whom everyone had already considered the 'informally mated' elderly pair of the tribe for some time. The gorilla family knew that Archimedes and Kala, deep in their hearts, were emotionally joined as surely as if they had they been physical mates.
