Transition Plan Chapter 40: First Homecoming Part 27

The four of them awoke the next morning, refreshed and ready to prepare for the arrival of the Jungle Council members. They could hear motions in the jungle and soon the representatives of each species started to arrive.

The origin of the Jungle Council was lost in time but not in memory of every animal, and was convened on the rare occasions when calamities or dangers occurred that threatened the entire jungle. The oilmen were one of those times. The leader of any kind of animal could call the Jungle Council together. During the time of the call - until the actions of the Council were completed and the jungle was safe once again - species lay down their animosities and predatory behaviors toward one another.

As the filed in, Jane was in awe, "It's amazing to see them all here peacefully."

Terk whispered wryly in reply, "The rule is: when a Jungle Council convenes, no one eats anyone else."

To betray that sacred trust was to be expelled and excluded from the benefits of the final solution, and to be ostracized from the others.

Because the threat this time was manmade from a country outside the realm of the jungle with superior power and influence over the indigenous human tribes, and the impact of the oil exploration would harm them and their lands too, despite the monetary rewards offered, the Council would expanded to include the Nigerian humans. There was some dissention on both sides – human and animal - but Tarzan was prepared to handle it.

If Jane had not witnessed the orderly procession of animals into the Jungle Council ring of White Rock with her own eyes, she would have never believed it. Two by two, sometimes more, animals large and small, meek and fearsome, entered from the trails, paid their respects to Tarzan who stood regally to greet each animal species. Jane was humbled by the respect paid her as the mate of Tarzan. The animals highly regarded her too for her actions on behalf of and kindness toward the animal kingdom. Most animals knew and those who didn't could clearly see that she was carrying the child of Tarzan, guaranteeing another generation of kind cooperation between animals and man. Each animal blessed the human couple and their unborn child in their own way. She held Tarzan's hand proudly and tightly, and they exchanged many loving looks throughout the course of the gathering.

Jane mentioned to Tarzan, "It's like we read in the Bible, Tarzan. First from Noah's story as 'the animals gathered two by two'. And now to see the carnivores sit peacefully alongside the weak and helpless creatures of the jungle, it's like the verse 'the lion will lay down with the lamb'.

Tarzan was dead serious when he told Jane, "Perhaps the leader of another Jungle Council in a much younger world ordered the animal pairs to gather at the ark."

The profoundness of that speculation gave Jane deep thoughts of the One who could have convened that Council.

It was time to start. Every animal species was represented. One attendee was missing, but Tarzan had to introduce them.

Tarzan strode from his place as moderator of the Council to the center of the gathering, and took the talking stick, which meant the others had to listen until they took their turn in the center with holding or touching the stick. He had called the meeting, so he has first right of speaking. He spoke in his gorilla tongue, which most animals understood, but repeated his opening remarks in a dozen different languages. Jane sat behind his place in the circle on her haunches like the Mangani did, who had their own place in the circle. She sat in true appreciation of her husband, his leadership, and his intellect at all the languages he knew. If only the other Counts and Countesses, including his parents, could proudly see Jonathan in action. She loved him so. No woman could ever witness the wonders of the miracles of the life she now lived.

Tarzan spoke firmly and loudly, in total command of the moment, "My jungle friends, thank you for heeding my call. Great danger faces us, the likes of which has never before been seen, wrought by the very people of my origin who threaten the jungle with their greed and careless disregard for the jungle itself in a vain search for a special kind of raw material – a treasure the civilized world must have to expand. It is called 'oil' - a black liquid that carries of the power of fire and the sun within it. They possess the power to lay waste to the jungle and take it over in search for the treasure they seek. They will not find it here. I will not allow it."

A great murmur of assent rolled through the assembled creatures at the end of his multiple translations.

Tarzan continued, While these oil men are great in number, help is coming from other - far different - men of the civilized world who are my friends and family. They saved our lives while we were away in England. They are of the Tribe of Greystoke. But they are not enough in number and strength in their weapons against the oil men. Jane and I have studied the intruders in our jungle as they slowly tear it apart. The armed guards of the oil men outmatch the men I call friends. And they have more guns, which you know can kill us all from great distances, not permitting a fair fight.

"Then why have you brought us to be involved that danger, Tarzan? Many of us will be killed if we fight," complained Naima, "I know of guns and the intruders. I warned you of the outworlders before. Only your former outland mate Jane is one of us, now, as she has proved herself and all can plainly see she has adopted our ways. Civilized men will never understand or respect our traditions."

There were mutterings.

"I am aware and am grateful. I ask you to trust me, my friend Naima, that the Tribe of Greystoke is headed to the jungle soon, and they do honor our ways, and will help us, but are few in number."

Tantor stepped forward and added his concern, but helped to build trust and hope. With his trunk he grasped the talking stick, "The oil men are defiling the land, Tarzan. The elephants have seen it with our own eyes. What are we to do of it? We must drive them away, but their weapons can easily kill us, the guns are far sharper than any claw or tusk or hoof. I know of your friends. I can assure all of you animals that these men are faithful to Tarzan and our cause, though they do not live among us. But Tarzan, my friend. They will not be enough, even combined with us."

"I know that, Tantor, good friend. Neither of our groups can do it alone. We have another edge. Other men want to help us too. Men I also call friends. Men who are 'of the jungle' as the rest of us are."

The animals realized that could mean only one thing, and held their breaths nervously.

Tarzan made a beckoning gesture behind the Council. With that, the four Nigerians approached the circle of the animals and were very cautious at the sight of all the wild animals that hopelessly outnumbered them. Despite their strength in numbers, the animals were nearly in alarm with the sight of the armed Nigerians, and turned to Tarzan for reassurance and great concern. Some were ready to bolt. Tarzan and the Chief exchanged glances. Both Jane's bow and arrow and Tarzan's knife were already in a safe zone behind the circle in a sign of peace. The animals understood the symbolism, as Jane and Tarzan were truly unarmed among them. Every animal came to circle with all their natural weapons intact – claws, teeth, horns, fangs, barbs, and tusks.

To demonstrate their peaceful intent, the Nigerians placed their spears and knives and clubs into the weapons circle, and slowly walked forward to the circle with open palms, and trusted the ape man that his animal friends would not gut them. They squatted in the circle next to Jane, natural as Tarzan and his mate were, and all the animals noted their similarity to the Mangani, adding to their comfort with the humans joining them. In this form, man, gorilla, baboon, and other monkey species were all primates together. It was brilliant symbolism that calmed the others.

What happened next helped more. Femi and Jane exchanged very pleased looks at one another and hugged discreetly and silently. The animals saw the bond and friendship, and they already trusted Jane. Abassi and Femi noticed Jane was considerably more pregnant than when they saw her last, and she carried a stronger radiant glow of any human mother to be. Abassi noted that Jane was even more beautiful without the ash covering – almost as beautiful as his own wife. At this point Abassi had no idea that Femi was pregnant, but she had been oddly nauseous ever since they left the village, which was very unusual for her, and both of them were beginning to suspect something had changed. Likewise, in seeing Femi, for the first time since discovering humanity, Tarzan encountered another woman almost as pretty as Jane, and he reflected on how lucky he and Abassi were in their choice of mates.

The women whispered their happy greetings to one another.

"What brings you so far?" asked Jane happily.

"You. I was concerned. You are alone, but for your husband."

"I am always in very good hands with him, Femi. And I am among many friends in the jungle every day."

"He has very handsome hands, Jane. I am sure you are," complimenting Jane's Tarzan, "But I bring you another woman's friendship and support. No animal can do that."

"I am grateful, Femi. We will chat more after the proceedings."

Kirok, Tantor, Noni, the baboons, and several other species acknowledged the Nigerians joining the Council, and said, each in their own languages, "Welcome, Men of Nigeria."

Abassi and his entourage all bowed, not understanding the words, but hearing the gentle, friendly tone of what seemed to be welcoming greetings in various growls, groans, squawks, and wails.

"This is going to work," Tarzan and Jane independently thought.

Naima remained skeptical of the addition of the Nigerians.

"We will see if you earn your place in the living circle, humans," she growled, but bowed to the humans. Only the animals could understand the warning tone.

Tarzan said to the Nigerians in their tongue, "Chief Abassi, you know our plight. My men bring guns to match the outsiders but they are fewer. The tide may turn in the oil men's favor. We need an edge, an edge that only you can provide."

Confidently, Abassi stated, "We know and respect men with guns, but have our own ways to defend against them. How do we serve Tarzan of the Jungle?"

When Abassi's pledge was translated, the animals were very encouraged by allegiance to Tarzan and their cause, and their lack of fear of the guns.

"I have devised a plan that will rid us forever of the oil men from the land you have granted to me and my kind, Chief Abassi."

"We wish to hear of your plan," Tarzan said two dozen animals of different species, further encouraged that Tarzan owned these lands now, especially the territorial animals and birds, who understood ownership and defense of their lands.

Tarzan noted, "The English oil men do not suspect that animals can and will march together in their defense in an organized fashion."

"Then men are dumber than we thought," chuckled Tantor, along with many others. The crocodiles were especially encouraged, hoping a tender morsel of oil man meat would fall into the river during the coming battle.

"But still dangerous," snarled Naima.

Tarzan began to describe the plan and was in mid-sentence, but noticed a movement in the grass behind the circle. He jumped up from his place in the Council, leaped and grabbed his knife from the safe zone, and charged the representatives of the chameleons with his weapon held high. The jungle animals froze in terror, and Jane was shocked, not able to stop Tarzan's lunge. The chameleons turned bright yellow in fear, and braced for his death blow. Tarzan was acting completely out of character at this unprovoked attack on one of the jungle's most helpless and preyed-upon species.

...

Author's note: Gosh I love teasing you all with cliff hangers... Yes, the chameleons are a tip of the hat to Disney's "Tangled." :)