Transition Plan Chapter 44: First Homecoming Part 31 - Epilogue

It took several weeks but gradually the dismantling of the oil exploration field was performed by the labors of the oil men and the merchant marine sailors, with the tractors and cranes they had brought into the jungle. Tarzan and Jane offered to help, but d'Arnot insisted that as Lord and Lady, they only come to check on the progress. Each time they came back and appeared before the men they dressed in their loincloths.

At the latter stages of the teardown, Jane just let Tarzan go by himself to check on them. She was feeling more uncomfortable as her days went on, and Tarzan let her ape sisters and his mother Kala tend to her while he was gone. There was nothing wrong with her pregnancy, she just was getting so big at over seven and a half months she just tired more easily carrying now over 25 pounds extra weight, and she knew the baby would grow rapidly now, and she'd be heavier still. Her swollen belly stuck out much further now. Terk and her sisters took care of her well. Jane had always been so helpful with the others' pregnancies and their infants that they naturally wanted to help her. She let her Mangani sisters see and feel the baby move and push her stomach all around. With their bigger bodies and fur covering they didn't see this as much in their own pregnancies. They were all fascinated, especially little Jana and some of the other young females who would be mothers someday, some adolescents just starting their cycles, and others with eyes for mates and offspring themselves. The baby's cute but sudden movements would make them laugh and startle. They could see the toll on her body though, and felt a bit sorry for her. They all knew that other animal mothers didn't have this much challenge in carrying their single or multiple-birth litters.

Terk asked, "Jane just how big will you get? We don't get as big as humans. Is there room for the baby to come out down there?"

She smiled demurely, "Yes my body knows how to make the changes to deliver the baby. It stretches and moves and it all really hurts. But all the hurt is worth it when the baby comes."

"You humans are fascinating. I love you, sister," Terk smiled with her genuine rare affection.

"'Love you too, Terk."

One day, Femi came to visit. She was staying with Abassi at the site watch the oil men in case there were any more insurrections and to guard the ones who would not support the Count. When Femi appeared, escorted by Tarzan, the family was still nervous with the strange Nigerian woman entering their nesting area. They all approached her cautiously, but saw her being female and sniffed her pregnancy, and perceived she was no threat. Femi was also accepted because she was nude like Jane and Tarzan but for a few beads and jewelry, and Terk and Kirok already knew Jane was friends with the Nigerian. They helped comfort their friends with accepting Femi. The bride of the Nigerian chieftain had learned a number of the Mangani words to greet and praise the family, which calmed them even more, so they accepted Femi and went about their business, other than be fascinated with this human's much darker skin than either Jane or Tarzan or the Professor.

"People come in different colors, too? Just like animals," Kala asked curiously.

"They do, Mother Kala. It's another miracle of life," Jane said.

The two women hugged. It had been awhile since they'd seen each other because Jane stopped coming to the exploration site to visit with Tarzan. They'd always gotten together then. Femi was concerned that Jane stopped visiting.

"Look at you Jane, so beautiful," Femi beamed at her friend.

"No less beautiful than you, Femi. Look at your pretty round belly!" Jane responded.

At over six weeks, Femi was showing now too.

To Tarzan's great pleasure, Femi spent several days with Jane, and fit right in with the Mangani females, especially the other pregnant ones. Tarzan and Jane made her a nest right next to them for her to sleep in the few days of her visit, and it was surprisingly comfortable.

One day when all the females gathered to chat and groom, one of the young female mothers said, "We like you human Femi. You are a good friend to Jane. We will make you Mangani too. Will you be as big as Jane?"

She blushed happily, "Yes, sisters, just as big. My mate is a large, strong male like Tarzan. He is the leader of his tribe, too. I am grateful for your kindness, my friends. Thank you for this honor."

Tarzan loved seeing the bonding and laughter among all the females, and watched, but kept his distance from the circle of the females. He could see that Jane felt much better having the others' company, and she turned and winked a very happy glance toward him. He knew well that females were very social in any species and needed others of their kind for support. Being pregnant together seemed to create a special bond between human females, seeing them hug and touch a lot, and he was grateful for Femi's friendship for Jane. They were both beautiful, and were very smart and brave women.

Abassi came to the nest a few days later. He'd been guided to the nest by Noni, who had his trust.

The chief announced, "Tarzan. It's all done. The men want to give you honor and their goodbyes. We need to leave too. There is no one left to guard. Those still belligerent are locked in the ship's brig, but most can be trusted to support you now. Including Wallace."

He glanced and saw the glow of Femi chatting among the Mangani females and Jane.

Femi saw her husband. She gave him a huge smile and ran to him for a big hug and a kiss, and chattered with him in Mangani. All the females snickered at how smitten she was with her mate, just like Jane was for Tarzan.

At Abassi's puzzled look, she finally remembered to switch to Nigerian. All the gorillas noted them kissing like Tarzan and Jane always did.

"Another one of those endearing 'human things' they do, I guess," kidded Terk to a lot of laughter from her sisters.

Femi ignored her new gorilla friends and exclaimed, "Abassi! It's good to see you husband. I guess I forgot to switch from Mangani to Nigerian. They have such a rich language. How wrong we were to just think of them as 'dumb animals'."

Abassi held her in his arms, but noted it was getting harder with her growing belly, "That is a good thing. Did you have a good time, Femi?"

"Oh yes, Abassi. The Mangani are so wonderful. And funny too. Especially Tarzan's cousin Terk. I am so happy to be one of them now."

"They accepted you as Mangani?"

"They made me an honorary Mangani female. We can visit them any time," she said with giddy excitement.

"Is this all right, Tarzan?" Abassi asked with concern.

Tarzan was very happy with this development and explained, "They will only do that with outsiders they trust. Jane, her father, and I are the only others that have ever gained that trust."

"We are honored, Lord of the Apes."

"No my friend, we are family, Abassi."

With a very contented look at Tarzan, he reflected, "That we are, brother. That we are."

Abassi saw all the females' necks craning, looking at his crotch. They were pointing and giggling excitedly, and then started hooting loudly toward Femi. She blushed.

"What's that all about?" Abassi was afraid to ask.

Tarzan rolled his eyes, knowing all too well, chuckling, "They want to see how large you are. It's kind of important here for any female's mate. And yes, my friend, they do approve."

"The females of the Mangani are not so different in that respect than the human females we've married."

The two men laughed.

Tarzan turned to women and asked, "Jane? Femi? Time to go for awhile. Chief Abassi says the site is done and everyone is leaving. We need to say goodbye."

"Do you really want me to go, Tarzan, dear? I am so tired all the time now, and feel like I would need to 'go' on every plant along the way. I would be a burden on you."

"Not at all. You should go. I will carry you every step if I need to," he encouraged.

She knew she should go, despite her discomfort, "Help me with my maternity loincloth, and we can go. You are too good to me."

The foursome traveled toward the bay. Along the way they walked past the oil exploration site to give it one final inspection. It was in fact empty of any machinery or buildings, but the devastation of the grassland was more stark now. It was completely devoid of vegetation, and the soil had been worked hard to remove all the signs of civilization. There were still a lot of bad smells, and some trash.

They reached the bay, and saw Captains McNally and d'Arnot chatting on the beach beside their rowboats.

D'Arnot looked up and said cheerily, "Ah, Lord Clayton, my good fellow. And Lady Clayton. So good to see you too. I hope you are well. You are glowing with health, M'Lady."

"Thank you, Captains. I feel like I'm as big as a house."

"Ah but you will have a strong child, Lady Jane. As you can see, our work here is done!

Tarzan praised them, "It's an amazing cleanup, gentlemen. Impressive."

"Wallace and a goodly portion of his former turncoats worked the hardest. Some are not convinced but they will be dealt with by the law upon our return. I think everything will work out well."

McNally was ready to shove off. The old Captain saluted, "It's been a pleasure serving you, Lord Clayton. I await your next assignment for me and my crew."

"Thank you Captain McNally, for everything you have done. Captain d'Arnot runs the shipping line for me now, look to him for guidance."

"Aye sir. By your leave," McNally saluted the Count and Countess and returned to the freighter in his rowboat.

D'Arnot watched as his fellow Captain departed, and the great freighter weighted anchor and moved out to sea. He turned to his Lord and Lady that he had counseled for so long and befriended.

Abassi and Femi knew their work was done, "Count Jonathan, we must go too. The tribe will be anxious for me to resume my leadership, that is, if some upstart sub-chief hasn't gotten hold of my throne in impatience."

"I have a few friends that would be eager to help you get it back if that happens, my friend," Tarzan noted.

"Well, you and the animals would have to stand in line behind the wrath of me, first," Femi announced, wielding her spear.

The four laughed and embraced, and the Nigerian warriors departed.

It was just Jane, Tarzan, and d'Arnot.

D'Arnot said, "Lord Jonathan. You may say the word and I will be gone too."

But he had an odd twinkle in his eye.

Tarzan smiled, "It is not yet time to part company, dear Captain. Is our special arrangement on for tonight?"

"Aye sir, it is."

"Jonathan?" Puzzled Jane.

Tarzan grinned, "We're going aboard the Destiny for one more night. You might say that the good Captain has something cooked up for us."

They went aboard and Jane could already smell some delicious food cooking in the Officers Mess.

Tarzan bowed formally to Jane in his loincloth to an amused Destiny crew, "For a proper formal English meal for one of noble blood, one must dress in proper attire, M'Lady."

Playing along, in her most formal tone, "Oh yes, my dear Count, one must."

She grabbed the edges of her maternity loincloth and curtsied for her husband.

They changed in to their most formal attire, and had a lot of fun dressing each other, with a lot of laughter, letting their hands slip into private places and tickled each other the way they loved to do. The breezes were cooling off the ocean and they didn't feel the normally terrible heat in their many layers of clothing. Tonight was so special, it would not have mattered. This last formal civilized dinner for months alone together made Jane very happy. She loved Tarzan for secretly arranging the nice farewell surprise dinner. He always knew how to take care of her. She dared to take a tiny sip of the champagne he offered her, which would not hurt the baby. It tickled her nose, and she smiled lovingly at her handsome Jonathan.

The meal was delightful, and served in seven courses, personally administered by d'Arnot himself as Maitre d'.

The Captain suggested as he served another course, "You could dine like this all over the world, my Lord and Lady. Just say the word and we will take you away from your jungle paradise."

They looked at each other, and despite the temptation, Tarzan nodded for Jane to answer, "That time may come someday, Captain. We just want to have our baby in our new land for now. We have been through so much. We just need the simple life we are used to for now. Six months from now it will be time for the baby to visit Castle Greystoke. We must live in two worlds now, Captain. But thank you."

"As you wish, Countess Jane. We will return then to England after tonight's festivities, and look forward to meeting you here for your return."

"Everything is so wonderful, Captain. I get the feeling that you and Lord Clayton schemed together for this."

"We did, M'Lady. It's a very special day you should be familiar with."

She completely blanked, staring at both Tarzan and d'Arnot's smiling faces, and then an awareness came across her face. Time had no meaning in the jungle. And no calendars.

She exclaimed, "Oh my. It's my birthday!"

With that the sailors came in singing and carrying her favorite decadent chocolate on chocolate cake with candles. She blushed deeply, made a wish, and blew out all the candles. They served the couple and departed, locking the door behind them as they left to give the pair their privacy.

Tarzan was enjoying all focus on his wife immensely, "I understand the tradition is to make a wish as you blow out the candles. That seems very fun. What did you wish for, Jane?"

"Two things actually, Jonathan. I know it's sort of improperly greedy to do so."

"What is the first?" he inquired.

"Oh you're not supposed to tell anyone. It's supposed to be a secret."

He gave her those eyes that always melted her heart.

"Oh, all right. The first is that our baby be a boy. The traditions of the English always want a boy as heir."

"I would love that too, Jane. But a pretty little girl like her mommy would be wonderful too."

"Jonathan, dearest… how sweet of you to say," she blushed.

"And the second?"

She made sure all the sailors were gone, leaned in close to him across the table and noted, "A nice warm bubbly bath with you after this lovely dinner, Jonathan. And more, dearest. If you please."

He reached his hands spread toward her across the dining table, and they completely interleaved their fingers.

"Anything for you, my love, on your 24th birthday."

Their rich laughter and a few giddy whoops and 'oops' in their tub could be heard all over the ship as they struggled, slipped, and grabbed each other in private places while fitting into the tub and then fitted carefully into each other, but it was all so much fun for them. And the crew knew they would miss the happy couple for some time. Their zest for life and for each other was very entertaining. Nothing like the dour Cedric and his cronies.

They finally settled on a very comfortable position facing each other and each reclined against opposite ends of the sloped old tub. Jane was coupled with Tarzan nicely in his lap, and her legs were elevated on the sides of the tub and her feet rested comfortably on his shoulders. His view of his wife was spectacular, and it intensified their feelings. They both loved experimenting with new positions. Each had its new set of excitement.

However, centered prominently between them was the huge mound of her pregnant belly sticking up out of the suds and water.

"Behold the Great White Whale, dear husband. Thar she blows!" Jane snickered.

As if to accentuate the analogy, their baby took a vigorous stretch at that very moment. Her stomach expanded literally in all directions at once. They were both wide eyed and laughed.

"Jane dear, I am not sure that Melville had this in mind with that story."

"Jonathan, perhaps so, but after that little outburst by our child, I think my belly would make Moby Dick run off in sheer terror!"

They laughed and both caressed their child in her womb and let their fingers entwine as the baby settled. She tickled Tarzan's ears with her toes, and he growled and nibbled them playfully, caused her to shriek and she relented her tickling. She giggled with a wink to her husband, and Tarzan began their earnest lovemaking. Kissing was impossible this way, but their loving looks matched the intense new feelings.

After their bath and lovemaking they toweled each other off very slowly, and they clutched closely together under the covers.

Jane cooed, "Thank you for wonderful birthday surprise, Jonathan."

"I like celebrating English traditions, Jane. Besides, I got to share in unwrapping the best present of all."

She blushed and snuggled deeper into the embrace of his arms around her from behind to sleep soundly in their bed.

…

They slept late, as the Destiny cruised to their private cove. The crew unloaded some more gear they needed, and took it to their treehouse.

D'Arnot, Tarzan, and Jane stood together at the base of the treehouse, knowing it was time to leave. They were back in their comfortable jungle clothing. The loose front of the maternity outfit underneath her cupped bosom accentuated her beautifully round pregnant belly, Tarzan had wrapped his arms above and below her stomach, and she leaned back into his chest in satisfied security. D'Arnot was happy for them.

The Captain broke the silence, "I guess this is goodbye. I'll ask one more time. Are you sure that you want to stay? The Castle is a lot grander and life is easier in England. You have people who want to attend to your every whim. Especially now that you are well along in your pregnancy Lady Jane."

He looked at Jane, and she emphatically said, "We are sure. This is home for now. We fought and won it back, and we want to just enjoy it for awhile. But we know we can come back whenever we want to."

"We will return. You know our agreement, Captain," emphasized Jane.

"Yes. Each time the Clayton Shipping lines pass this trade route near your home on our way back to England, our crews will signal and wait for you for a day. If you are here on the cove, my sailors will take you home to Castle Greystoke. If not, we pass on until the next time."

"Agreed."

D'Arnot was still concerned, "We will all worry about having your child in the jungle. What if you need a doctor for you or the baby?"

"Gorillas have had babies in the jungle for millennia. We want him or her to be a child of the jungle as well as English. Jonathan survived under Kala's tender care. So will our first born. And I am not a frail woman."

"That is very true, Lady Jane." D'Arnot said and noticed the scar on her shoulder from Quentin's gunshot.

There was an awkward pause.

"I can't say how amazing this experience has been knowing you, Lord Jonathon and Lady Jane. You would impress your father far beyond all his expectations, kind sir."

Tarzan dared to call him by his first name, "Just call me Jonathan. We are beyond titles, Monsieur. I am pleased to hear that. I cannot imagine any Count before me having a more loyal colleague and friend than you, Philippe."

They embraced and departed.

Tarzan and Jane stood on the cove's beach, watching d'Arnot's rowboat return to the Destiny, and the huge ship raised its majestic sails and headed westward. They waved. The crew lit off a volley of fireworks to celebrate and say goodbye.

"It's still not too late, Jane. All we have to do is wave and they'll stop."

"This is home, Jonathan. We are Mangani."

"And Clan Greystoke."

They embraced and kissed.

They helped each other remove their loincloths and rolled and wrapped the garments over their shoulders and were instantly more comfortable. Hand in hand they disappeared from the sandy cove into the jungle, leaving only barefoot tracks.

…

On their way back to the nest, Tarzan and Jane stood alone on the now empty site of the oil exploration expedition. With all the equipment and the men gone from the site, the damage to the land was ever so much more evident. The grassland had been totally destroyed, and some of the adjacent forest had been cut as well. Seeing the devastation, the remaining polluted soil and leftover debris of the construction, Jane cried. There were still small puddles of oil and waste and other chemicals. They were mostly removed, but impossible to completely clean up.

Wiping away the tears, Jane blurted in the Mangani language, "It will never be the same, Tarzan. We can never branch surf and swing here again without seeing it. Our land will be scarred permanently."

They began to depart, but from around them and above them, the sky came alive with the songs and cries of dozens of species of birds. The cape parrot flock, flamingos, hawks, eagles, many others intermingled and flew in every direction. The flocks moved in beautiful, multi-colored waves and movements like the elements of a ballet. Each bird had a sprig of a seedling, flowers, or seed pods in their mouths, dove from above, and layered the defiled lands with their gifts.

The couple was tearful, seeing the living gifts the birds had brought, knowing that the land would live again, and while it wouldn't be the grassland again, Tarzan and Jane it would be vast cornucopia of a rainbow of wild flowers. The former oil exploration site would be a lush jungle garden that marked their victory.

Noni flew right past the pair and winked at Jane and Tarzan with the final sprig, dropping it gently on the ground.

She alighted on Jane's shoulder and announced, "A gift, friend Jane and Tarzan, from all of us. For your baby. It will be a place to see all the jungle's floral beauty all in one place when he or she comes to play here with you."

Jane cried in true happiness, and thanked her little friend, "Nothing could be a more beautiful gift for our baby, my dear Noni. Thank you."

The little bird took off, soared overhead with a happy squawk, and disappeared into the high canopy with the rest of her flock. And suddenly they were alone. A gentle rain began to fall. The flowers and seeds and Tarzan and Jane were soaked, but it didn't matter. The rain glistened in her hair and made her long tresses even more beautiful to Tarzan. In the months back in the jungle, her hair had grown in length from the middle of her back to reach below her bottom. It made both more beautiful, with her deep overall tan that nearly matched his. She blushed at his admiration of her hair and body.

Her stomach stretched with a leg or an arm jutting out. They laughed and Tarzan soothed the tiny appendage. It just poked out somewhere else, to the expectant parents' joint grin.

"Anxious to see the garden already, I see," Tarzan joked.

"It will be in full bloom about the time we have him."

"Or her," he added.

"Yes, either way, it will be wonderful."

"Let's go home Tarzan, and play with our beautiful baby."

"Hop in my arms, my dear, your carriage awaits," he said formally as he bowed like a true Englishman.

She giggled and inquired, "Can I ask a favor, Jonathan?"

"Anything love. What's your heart's desire?"

"Can we please just concentrate on having this baby, Jonathan? No more adventures for awhile?"

"Having a baby and being a parent will be an adventure in itself," he noted.

"So true, Tarzan dear. Our greatest adventure."

"Nothing would please me more, Jane, dear, God willing."

They kissed tenderly, and she put her arms around the top and bottom of her huge bulge, framing their child naturally as all expectant mothers do.

He carefully scooped her up in his powerful arms, and inquired, "Comfortable, Jane?"

"I am always comfortable in your arms, you big strong ape man," she grinned.

He grinned, leaped upward, grabbed a vine with his legs, and together they started for their latest nest down the valley and across the river into the foothills of the mountains.

Their tanned natural forms blended quickly into the forest and disappeared like all the other great apes that walked in the jungle.

…

As the cove disappeared over the horizon, Bonheur said to d'Arnot, "Captaine, do you think they'll be all right out there in the wild?"

"Of course they will," chuckled the Captain, "You have to understand Monsieur - this is their world. More so than Castle Greystoke. He is Tarzan of the Apes. In England he's just one Count among many in the Royal Court. Here, Count Jonathan is Lord of the Jungle. We were permitted only but a glimpse of the true power he has."

...

Author's Notes: So ends "First Homecoming". From a historical perspective, the English did explore for oil in the early 20th century but it didn't amount to anything. This story gave us a potential fictional reason why drilling was unsuccessful – that Tarzan and the animals and their allies stopped the exploration. Successful exploration did occur in Nigeria in the mid 1950s in a different area of the country and continues today as a major world oil exporter. Tarzan and Jane and the baby will return in the next sequel I am calling "Special Delivery". I will need a several weeks to write it. Expect a new chapter in July. For those who asked, a detailed account of Jane's final trimester and birth will be a tasteful part of the story. As is everything in the jungle, it will be challenging but Jane and Tarzan will do it together. Thanks for reading "First Homecoming" and for all the many, nice, encouraging comments and feelings you expressed along the way. This couple is so much fun to write about. Their characters are so rich to build upon in adult themed ways, their love story is so deep in dedication and true commitment and sacrifice, and the great fantasy of talking animal friends makes it equally fun to incorporate into the story. Terk can make all the snide comments or brash embarrassing statements with a modern 'hip' point of view that no one else in the story can say and get away with.