Tarza and Jane Chronicles - Chapter 16: First Homecoming Part 3
Parting from the family caused a huge argument.
"You can't board the ship alone, Tarzan," yelled Terk, "You need us, just like when humans came before."
Tarzan was adamant in resisting Terk's help, "I cannot risk the lives of the family, especially you Terk, when you are carrying a new life within you. This is not like before. We will be surprising them this time. And think, Terk, what would you do on the streets of England?"
Terk laughed nervously, "Hmmm. You're right. A gorilla wandering around in a human society would cause a stir. But I looked so good in Jane's dress!"
Terk smirked and struck a human model's pose, recalling her and Tantor's absurd distraction of Kerchak long ago. Everyone had a good, much-needed laugh.
But Terk offered a more serious thought, "Please, Tarzan. Take care of yourselves. You'll have a new cousin to play with when you get back."
"Daddy, I love you. We'll be back soon," Jane said tearfully as she hugged her father good-bye.
Archimedes set his jaw, "Jane, I'm not staying here. Do you think the two of you alone can work through the legal labyrinth with the Magistrate? I do know something about British society, even as an absent-minded professor."
Kala was shocked, "Porter? You're leaving?"
"Kala… I must. I have to help our children. English life is so complex."
"And dangerous Daddy, given what Tarzan's relatives are capable of," Jane warned.
Kala teared up, and they hugged, "Please come back to me."
"I will Kala, I promise," and he embraced her.
Tarzan gave his friend a very serious look, "Kirok, I place everything in your hands. It could be six moon cycles before we return."
"I… I understand, Tarzan. I accept responsibility for the family."
The three sad humans hugged their family and hurried off to their dangerous and uncertain task ahead.
…
The three stood on their secluded shore where Jane and Tarzan first kissed and played on their honeymoon, far from the other beach where the equipment was unloading. Tarzan squeaked, whistled, and chittered loudly out from the shore, and Jane joined him. Soon two familiar male and female bottlenose dolphins poked their snouts out of the water not far from shore and answered their call. Archimedes was amazed once again at his children – they were talking to the dolphins.
From near the shore, his dolphin friends barked to him, "You called us, Tarzan?"
Tarzan spoke gravely, "We are in great need of your help, my friends. Humans have returned to the jungle, and we must stop them again."
"What help do you need of us, Tarzan?" asked the male dolphin.
"Get us to that ship in the inlet unseen," he answered.
"We would be glad to help Tarzan, but we cannot take you all the way. The ship befouls the water with man's waste and stench and sickening chemicals. Other ships have nets that would snare and kill us. We fear the humans would bring many more ships."
"This is not that kind of ship. We will go as far as you would take us and swim the remainder. And you are wise to have the fear of more ships and humans, dear friends, unless we are successful. A vast fleet of ships will foul the waters for hundreds of miles. Their presence will affect you, too, I fear."
Both dolphins pledged, "We and our family are allies in your fight against the bad humans, Tarzan and Jane."
They waded out into the surf, and mounted the dolphins' backs. Jane smiled at the female with whom she had so much fun before. This time she understood every word.
"It is good to see you again, Jane, mate of Tarzan," the female said.
"Not half as much as I have missed you, Blue Fin, and our swim together," Jane replied, to the dolphin's great pleasure for them to converse for the first time.
"This time we must swim with purpose instead of fun, Jane."
"There will be another time, my friend. Perhaps the child I hope to have will swim with us and your calves then."
"That will be a very happy day, Jane."
Jane called back over her shoulder, "When it is safe, Daddy, we will call for you. We'll make the ship stop here for our things. We can't be seen in England like this. You know what we need. Let no one see you."
Tantor appeared from the woods, grinned, and stood by Archimedes, waiting for orders, "Did someone call for some heavy lifting, Professor?"
Tantor and Archimedes had developed a particularly good friendship, as Tantor fancied himself as a bit of a scholar among animals, which the Professor agreed with. Tarzan and Jane were not the only ones multilingual in animal languages any more.
"Tantor! It's so good to have you here to help us. We need to bring a couple of chests from the treehouse, my dear boy. We're going to England to right a huge wrong by humans," Archimedes greeted the elephant in his language, affectionately rubbing his trunk.
"So I have heard, Professor. I am glad to help. I only wish I could go with you into the human world. I'd show them all a thing or two!"
Tarzan and Jane prodded the dolphins forward, and headed at great speed toward the huge freighter. It was dusk, and the approaching darkness would hide their approach, under the dark of the crescent moon. They could only swim for a short time underwater, and this trip to the freighter was much further away that the first time. They were unseen on their approach on the blind side of the freighter.
They made it all the way to the ship, swam the short distance the dolphins could not go, and climbed the ship's mooring lines without slipping. Jane's ability to climb and swing on the tallest vines side by side with Tarzan now made the climb easy. It wasn't that long ago she was totally dependent on Tarzan's climbing ability, though sometimes even now, just to hold him close, she let him do all the work anyway.
Once aboard the huge freighter, Jane guided Tarzan, "I know the way to the Captain's cabin. This ship is almost identical to the one that brought Daddy and I here. It was one of Clayton's ships too."
They dodged and avoided the crew all along the way. Just outside the Captain's cabin, they took deep silent breaths, kissed lightly, and listened at the wooden doorway. The Captain was definitely inside. They silently opened the door, and stood unnoticed behind the Captain, with his knife and her bow drawn. He was relatively heavy-set, and he had a head full of white hair. Tarzan locked the door behind them, and the click startled the Captain. He whirled in his chair, and tried to reach for the pistol in his desk drawer. Jane shot her arrow and with three quick shots, jammed the drawer shut and pinned the Captain to his own chair. The Captain was helpless. Tarzan always was amazed at Jane's abilities with the bow.
The Captain shouted, with a French accent, "What is the meaning of this, crew?
He stared at the scantily clad young man and woman, a sight he had never seen, "Wait, you are not my crew."
His eyes grew wider, as he recognized Tarzan's face, and he exclaimed, "Sacre bleu! After all these years you are alive, Count Clayton."
Tarzan tried to explain but the Captain interrupted him, stood, and bowed to the nobleman before him, and said in supplication, "Thank God you are still alive. Something terrible is happening. I - Captain Philippe d'Arnot – your humble servant, am at your service once again, my Lord."
Tarzan and Jane looked at each other in disbelief, and warily lowered their weapons, considering his expression of sincere loyalty might still be a trick.
"Rise, Captain. I am not who you think I am. I regret my father no longer lives," Tarzan stated sadly.
The Captain scrutinized Tarzan and Jane, noting their matching wedding rings, "You're right. You are too young. And your wife is not Countess Alice."
Jane blushed, as reality dawned on d'Arnot, "Wait! You are the Count and Countess' lost son Jonathan. You are the heir! Pardon my saying, Count Clayton, but you are the twin of your father, you sound just like him, and you definitely have your mother's eyes."
Grinning broadly, Captain d'Arnot turned a kind eye and bowed to Jane calling them immediately by their titles, "May I ask who is your beautiful new Countess, young Count Clayton?"
Tarzan began to relax, "She is the former Jane Porter, daughter of Baron Doctor Archimedes Porter, a professor at Oxford. She is the new Countess."
Jane blushed at Tarzan, knowing his emphasis on her title was directed at her as much as d'Arnot.
"It is my pleasure to meet you, Countess Jane," bowed the Captain, "All this is such extraordinary news. Mon Dieu, this is a miracle! The Porter's are still alive too? My colleague reported they were lost in the expedition before this.
A sailor came by, knocked on the door, and the Captain opened it a crack. Tarzan and Jane hid at d'Arnot's order.
The sailor had his pistol drawn, and asked, "Is everything all right here, sir? I hear voices."
"I'm just fine, Boatswain Jones. Just talking in my sleep again. As you were, sailor."
"If you need anything sir, let me know. It's not like you to talk to yourself in your sleep, sir."
"A stressful day, Jones. That's all."
"Very good sir. Good night, sir. Sorry to disturb you."
When the sailor had moved on, the Captain invited Tarzan and Jane to emerge from hiding, and whispered, "We need to go to my chart room study to talk more in private. It's right next door."
They sat in very comfortable leather chairs, and d'Arnot offered them some Merlot. Jane savored the taste. Tarzan had never had anything like it, and sipped it like they did. The alcohol burned his throat, but he liked the smooth semisweet fruit taste. Jane winked at him.
Holding his wine glass in contemplation, the Captain explained in summary, "All has not been well with family Greystoke, and the family businesses have suffered since your father and mother disappeared. There is much shame come upon the Clayton family name through your elder cousin, and John Clayton's efforts are draining the family wealth in his thirst for power and influence with the Royals."
"So it would seem, Captain, that there is much damage to the family. We nearly died at John Clayton's hands less than a year ago, before I knew my real name and heritage."
"You didn't know who you were for over two decades?"
"It's a long story, Captain," admitted Tarzan. Jane was proud of Tarzan's grasp of what he was doing, saying, and must do. She was especially pleased with how he leveraged his titles and hers. She was thrilled to be his Countess. She got her jungle man and he got a noblewoman's title. She truly had the best of both worlds now, all through one wonderful man.
"It's a long voyage home, Count Clayton. And I have many bottles of wine to share with you."
The two men smiled at each other, and the Captain clinked glasses with the long-lost son of his old friend. Philippe was encouraged for the future for the first time in a very long time, "Today is a long-awaited blessing, Lord Clayton. Those still loyal to your father have kept hidden and have prayed for over two decades that he or you would reappear will be heartened. We are all ready to join by your side to restore everything that is good about Clan Greystoke. You must take back your birthright from your father's brother and his family's poisonous grip on Clan Greystoke."
"I look forward to that, and your help, Captain. I feel like I can trust you. I hope that trust is warranted. Unlike John Clayton. I learned the hard way not to trust him."
"If I am not worthy of your trust, then I vow to die by your knife," stated the Captain with certainty.
Tarzan was astonished at the Captain's blood oath pledge of loyalty.
"All of us fell for his deception, Tar…," Jane emphasized, but caught herself almost calling her love by his jungle name, "…Jonathan."
D'Arnot poured another glass for both his young visitors. He could not help but appreciate how handsome this young couple was.
"So you and the Porters have survived. Is your cousin John still alive, Lord Clayton?"
"No. He died accidentally by his own hand in his blind hatred toward me."
"I am reluctant to wish ill on any man, but must admit this is good fortune. He was such a truly deceitful, hate-filled man. Now he is gone as is his father. That evens the odds for us a bit. Did he know who you were?"
"No."
"That is fortunate. He would have gotten word back to his cronies and his wife who have run the family business through those mutineers. Others have served as the Executors of Clan Greystoke since he didn't come back from the last expedition here. They are more scoundrels that he was. I was wondering if anyone of integrity existed anymore. Until now, as you two delightful young people sit in my presence."
"Thank you, Captain. So then. There is no Count?" asked Tarzan, mostly to confirm.
"There is only one Count. You. Your grandfather was wise enough to make that legally binding, seeing the storm ahead. That has also given us hope."
"I have much to learn, Captain. How does the damage continue through his companies?"
"The estate is in disarray with no Count. John Clayton's widow, as Principal Executor, tries to maintain control and there are unscrupulous men manipulating her. It is bleeding the family fortune dry. It is so wasteful trying to search for oil here in Nigeria. The shipping company that your grandfather founded and your father and I managed is the only family business that remains profitable."
"Is that what you call this land - Nigeria?"
"That is what the Council of Chiefs of the Oyo and Igbo indigenous tribes who rule the lands between them call it. We must work with them to secure your land here. John Clayton gave them a huge sum of treasure to explore it, and promised them more when oil was found. This is a very expensive proposition, and a wild shot. It will yield nothing I fear, and destroy the land. And your estate."
"What else could be acquired here of value for the Oyo and Igbo Chiefs, Captain?" asked Tarzan, looking for something to use as leverage to get back his land.
"There is little else of value in this part of Africa but palm oil and rare animals like the mountain gorillas for zoo specimens. The gold mines are in East Africa and diamonds are in South Africa."
Tarzan and Jane both stiffened with the mention of capturing gorillas, as d'Arnot had no idea of Tarzan's heritage. That terrible experience was still far too fresh in their minds. Tarzan stated with conviction on the jungle kingdom's behalf, "This land needs to remain at peace, unspoiled. The oil exploration has already destroyed a vast grassland, home to the antelope who once lived there."
"I can't agree more. I will help you as I always helped your father and grandfather."
They looked at each other. Both felt they could trust Philippe, and so Tarzan outstretched his hand to the crusty old Captain, "I am grateful for your service, Captain."
"Hope springs eternal, Jonathan. Your father always told me that. I know already that you are your father's son."
"I am grateful Captain. Can you get us to England quickly?"
"Oui… um… yes. You are fortunate. The exploration equipment is all unloaded. I am scheduled to return to England in a day to bring back the next load to expand oil extraction. You can meet me tomorrow at noon. You have to gather any belongings you may have. I will prepare a cabin for you. Do you have any… um… normal clothing?"
While they both sort of felt naked, Tarzan quickly answered, "We do. There are not many chances or need to wear them in this hot jungle. Countess Jane has her clothes from the expedition. I only have my father's clothes. I am sure they will look out of date."
"They will suffice until you get home."
Jane, having been very patient while the men established their trust, asked, "Captain, we trust you but we feel we can trust no else. Will we have to hide on the ship for two months?"
"I assure you - do not worry about your safety. The crew is loyal to me, and most disagreed with this expensive wild goose chase in the first place. My crew knows just how small and fragile this world is, and all its natural wonders as they sail it. We can say we rescued the Porters, which is true, and confirm that Clayton is dead by your testimony. No one knows how many went with you or who was lost, so Jonathan's presence will not be questioned. You may have to just be her commoner husband, Count Clayton, just to be sure. No one will tell. No one will suspect you. No one has seen the Count in years or will recognize you."
"My father in law Professor Porter will also return with us."
"That is even better. The cover story of rescuing the Porters will stick because it is the truth. But just to be sure, you cannot meet me here. Is there a more secluded beach down the coast?"
"Professor Porter and our belongings will be down the coast ready for us tomorrow," Tarzan noted.
"Where shall we anchor the ship to pick you up?" d'Arnot asked.
"You must sail further east toward the river delta. We will be there."
The Captain urged them to go, "Now, my friends, we must get you off the ship, before first watch changes. We don't want suspicion to form, no matter how loyal my crew is to me. We have to make it look like we are rescuing you tomorrow."
...
Author's Note: In this chapter we get to meet Captain Philippe d'Arnot, a ERB Tarzan canon character. While they meet under different circumstances (canon has them meeting in a jungle expedition with native Africans in an encounter withTarzan), he still plays a friendly supportive role of helping Tarzan learn English was and his own famly traditions and helps him return to England. I also bring into play some of Nigerian history at the turn of the 20th century as it begins to be a British colony. This time I cast d'Arnot as a close friend and business associate of Tarzan's father, someone on the 'inner circle' of the family before his cousin John Clayton took power, and remains loyal with others, so it seems. More to come!