HOLIDAY BONUS!

Transition Plan Chapter 68: In His Majesty's Service Part 18

Author's Note: Well here's a little extra Christmas surprise gift chapter for you that I decided to publish early for all of you. Consider it a 'Santa gift' for my readers under the tree. So, this was supposed be included in the opening scene of the next chapter (due this coming weekend), but I decided to expand the scenes into a real chapter and close out the Nigerian acculturalization/deepening of Jeanne's and Jack's relationship arc cleanly to let us go directly to some combat training action and the onset of World War I. We'll get back to our sweet young couple when they go to the land of the Mangani with their mothers and Lily for safety when Tarzan and Armand take their men to Kamini to preposition for the battle. Jack and Jeanne's relationship will need to be very deep to survive.

…

Josephine was true to her word. Before the Jacot family began breakfast preparation at daybreak, Josephine was already dressed like a Nigerian mother. She wanted every part of this to go right for her daughter, burying any remaining personal misgivings. It surprised her that she enjoyed the freedom and comfort nudity brought her as a pregnant woman. She mentioned this to Jane and the Countess acknowledged her with a satisfied smile.

"We're not so crazy after all, are we?" Jane snickered. Josephine grinned back.

The levity helped both women, but now it was time for the families' morning wake up rituals, and the important parental involvement in the start of this day.

As Jeanne awakened and stretched, she saw her mother kneel next to her with her gleaming smile and loving eyes. Her gorgeous round baby bump extended forward on her legs halfway to her knees.

"Bonjour, chere Jeanne," she said softly soothing her daughter's arm.

"Goodness, Mama, you look so beautiful," Jeanne complimented.

"Thank you sweetheart. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Mama. Very much so," Jeanne nodded vigorously, was very excited, and gave Josephine her uniform. She hugged her mother with a broad smile and squeezed her hard with her eyes tightly shut.

The brand new feeling of Jeanne's first natural hug against Josephine's bosom felt soothing to both mother and daughter, and when they broke the hug, Josephine and Jeanne continued to hold each other by the shoulders. Jeanne exclaimed with bright eyes, "Oh Mama, didn't I tell you how wonderful this feels?"

Trying hard not to think about how many times Jack had no doubt already hugged Jeanne for her to think that way, Josephine had to admit,"Yes honey, you did. It is."

It really, truly, did feel wonderful to Josephine, and it unexpectedly caused her a trickle of happy tears. It reminded her of cuddling Jeanne when she was a newborn at her breast, and those emotional times only mothers know.

In the bright early morning light, Jeanne was truly was beautiful, kneeling like her mother in nothing but her new cord, bracelets, anklets, and necklaces, and long straight black hair. Josephine stood and took her daughter by the hand and requested, "Stand up with me. Let me take a good look at you, honey."

'OK, Mama," she said, and caught Jack's admiring smile from right next to them. He was already prepared for the day. She smiled and winked, and wondered if she would ever tire of the rush inside her each time she saw how handsome he was. Josephine noticed the longing in each child's eyes for the other.

"Be patient, Jeanne. You're not ready to go play with Jack yet," Jo asserted loud enough to make absolutely sure both children knew who exactly was in charge of giving the permissions for their relations. Jane supported Josephine in this following her lead.

Jack looked at his mother for guidance, and she leaned down and warned him in a loud whisper, "Don't be overeager."

Josephine was grateful to Jane for her help. Her respect for the Countess grew more every day. The French woman crossed her arms under her bosom and over her baby bump with a pensive finger to her lips, and examined Jeanne's new appearance thoughtfully. Josephine combed out some big sleep-induced tangles in her daughter's long hair, repositioned some of her bracelets a little more evenly, and readjusted her daughter's waist cord a little lower on her hips like the older women. The French woman finally looked at her only child with approval, soothing her cheeks and hair, "There you go, honey. You're ready. You are so pretty, Jeanne. You make a very proper young Nigerian girl."

She blushed and smiled with pride, "Thank you, Mama. And you look so sweet carrying my baby sister".

With the flat of her palm, Jeanne reached and soothed the skin of her mother's large stomach which was gently moving. It was much easier to feel her future sibling this way.

"Well, only God knows if we have a baby sister in there, dear."

"The two most beautiful women in my life just got more beautiful," announced Armand supportively as he gently hugged them both on rising. Armand decided this whole 'being Nigerian thing' would work out after all, getting to see Jo every day like this.

"Bonjour, cher Papa. How about you? I want you to be Nigerian too. This is important for our whole family," Jeanne asked innocently but insistently, reaching an expectant hand out to take his.

He got a flustered look while taking her hand and kissing it, and quickly looked at Josephine.

"Yes, dear husband. Where's that brave 'soldier boy' now?" Josephine kidded with a grin.

They'd talked a little about this in their afterglow last night. Josephine noted that it was totally unfair that only Armand got to enjoy the benefits of Josephine following the dress code customs of the Nigerians and not him. He dodged an answer then too.

"Well… umm…" he stuttered.

"Please, Papa?" Jeanne pleaded.

Josephine winked at her husband, "Armand, how could you turn your very own daughter down now?"

Armand acquiesced. Jeanne's cute smile was too much to resist. This wasn't about prurient interests, especially for an innocent girl. He knew it was irrelevant who and what Jeanne saw here in the village. That cultural bridge had already been crossed and she was dealing with it all extremely well. At the heart of it all, Armand knew this family had to be completely united around Jeanne to help her fit in with the children of this society – something that never happened in France for her - and for the benefit of the future France and Nigeria diplomacy. He imagined the future Ambassador never considered this possibility in the negotiations.

Armand smiled, ruffled Jeanne's hair and took his wife's hand, "All right, ladies. I can never win an argument when you two gang up on me. But only in the village. Understood?"

"Yes Papa," she giggled.

Jeanne watched her mother and father intently as Josephine collected the last vestige of his uniform and laid it on the mat for later. Josephine whispered in her husband's ear, "Yes dear. I understand. Around the men it would be hard to take a buck-naked Colonel very seriously."

Jeanne ran to her father and let him scoop her up into his arms for a big kiss and hug, "Yay! We're all Nigerian now! Papa is so handsome isn't he, Mama?"

"Yes honey, I've always thought so," noted Josephine. All three hugged, and Josephine gave Armand a loving look and squeeze around his waist with their daughter snuggling against his bare chest.

Jeanne looked over to the Clayton's from her high perch eye level with her father. Jack was next to his father and mother, chatting with them, getting ready for the day also. Tarzan and Jack and Jane looked different than the Nigerians as true Mangani, with no adornments whatsoever, like the gorillas themselves. Jack had a very powerful family resemblance to his father, and Jeanne understood now why Jack was so much bigger and stronger than the other boys.

Tarzan had some additional words for Jack about respecting Jeanne in this new situation. The image of Armand holding his daughter protectively in his arms, with a pleasant but serious look on his face, was not lost on either Jack or Tarzan. Whether or not he was doing it instinctively or on purpose, he was guarding his daughter.

Tarzan crouched as he would on any day as a Mangani beside Jack and looked him directly in the eye, putting his hand firmly on his son's shoulder and glanced at the Jacot's, now expectantly looking their way, and spoke in Mangani, "See that little girl over there, son? She completely adores you. Your mother and I know that from every look she gives you. Her parents know that too, and they are happy you two like each other, but are defensive on how far they will 'let go', especially because the two of you are so young."

Jack nodded, and bit his lip a bit nervously as he noted, also in Mangani, "But Father, Jeanne's mom and dad started to like each other when they were children."

Tarzan agreed and continued, "You're right son. You wouldn't be allowed to become 'steadies' so young without that. But her parents have been thrust into something they never expected to happen to them and especially between their daughter and you. Her father was only planning to come here to fight a war for his country. Now he is also fighting for his family's survival. That gives a man a whole different point of view. Believe me son, I know. Look how he stands with his daughter and how guarded he is standing in front of Josephine. With every step closer toward you that Jeanne makes, her parents trying their very best to understand and cope, but it won't take much for them to feel uncomfortable to revert to their old ways. Depending on how you do this son, things can start or end here for you and Jeanne and the way you both want things to go from now on. Do this like your life depends on defending yourself faced with a terrified foe. But today, only your words are your defense. Another opportunity for you to turn a 'foe' to a friend, which you are so very good at."

Speaking of adoration, Jane adored her husband and his deep advice to his son put in the language of the jungle.

"Father I understand. My life does depend on this. My future life with Jeanne. I want that. We want that."

Jane and Tarzan exchanged proud looks with Jack. On days like this he was nine going on 20 with his maturity. Tarzan stood up.

Josephine and Jane exchanged glances and the French woman nodded. Jane told Jack with encouragement, "Go ahead dear. They are ready for you. Remember what your father and I said. We love you."

Both Jacot women were resplendent in their Nigerian jewelry that the children and Femi had chosen to complement their olive skins. Armand had not yet let his daughter out of his grasp. Jack was astonished at the beauty of Jeanne and her mother. They looked like identical twins born 25 years apart.

Jack looked back at his parents a moment for some last second support and caught their loving eyes, he swallowed hard, walked up to the Jacot's, smiled politely, greeted the family with a gracious bow and said in flawless French, "Colonel and Madame Jacot. Good day to you both. May I play with Jeanne today, please?"

He asked permission to play with Jeanne every day, but never like this. Today, she was wearing his friendship bracelet, which she had a strong, nervous grip on, and very little else. He wore less.

Josephine and Armand exchanged glances at Jack's pleasant greeting. It was usually Josephine that gave permission to play, but not today. This was too important, too life-changing for all of them, and after their long talk last night, Armand insisted on doing this. This was all about his little girl. Armand spoke for the family very firmly and formally, and with conditions and a clear message to both Jack and Jeanne. He was pretty stiff and a little awkward around Jack. He was not used to interacting with young boys. Especially a young boy who liked his daughter. A lot.

The Colonel's speech sounded a lot like one of his military disciplinary lectures to his youngest soldiers, but Josephine was proud he was doing his best, "Viscount Clayton, good morning to you also. Madame Jacot and I have considered your invitation. If you wish to be close friends with Jeanne, there is more to being with her than just playing. First you must do, with her, the chores for our family and yours and the village, but after that, yes, young man, you have our permission to play with our daughter at all the places you and your friends normally go - including the pond. Any new place you want to go requires our permission. You have our trust and her safety in your hands, which you have proven worthy of many times before. Do not betray that trust and misuse your new freedoms with Jeanne, Viscount Clayton. I am not a forgiving man when it comes to any wrongs against our daughter."

Jeanne watched Jack's reaction intently, and literally held her breath for him.

Jack knew what was at stake here, and actually knelt and bowed in front of Armand like a knight serving a king, "I will never betray that trust, sir. I respect and honor Jeanne and will protect her like my own family. Always."

Josephine and Armand absolutely did not expect such a chivalrous response, and were truly impressed by his pledge, but the Colonel revealed nothing. Jack's act of submission even surprised Jane and Tarzan. Jane stifled a smile for her son by putting a hand over her mouth. Jack didn't budge an inch and Armand continued to be silent. It was very tense.

Jeanne could not be more pleased buy bit back any kind of reaction. This was a very serious matter for her father.

Finally, Armand said, "I accept that pledge, Viscount Clayton. And… um… please get up."

Jack rose and immediately looked at his teary-eyed Jeanne, who was overwhelmed by what he did for her to make sure they could still be allowed to be together. Josephine tried to lighten up her husband's stern lecture with a more soothing tone, "Thank you Jack. We always appreciate you asking. Especially today. It's been a little bit different for us today."

"You're welcome, Colonel and Madame Jacot. I hope your day goes well, and that you like living this new way. We like it," he replied politely.

Everything Jack did was very impressive to both Armand and Josephine, just like the day they met him. Jack clearly showed them he understood so much had changed and demonstrated the trust they gave both of them. The boy had such poise. He might as well have had a formal suit on, not just his birthday suit.

Armand gently lowered his daughter to the dirt floor of the longhouse. The formality ended, and Jack and Jeanne's first day as a Mangani boyfriend and Nigerian girlfriend were about to begin.

Jeanne was giddy with delight, and was bouncing with anticipation. Josephine said very casually, "It's all right, honey. You two run along now. Have fun and be safe."

"Oui, Mama," Jeanne said, then grabbed her dad, hugged him and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Papa."

Jeanne beamed at her parents, and then she grabbed Jack by the hand, and ran off for the morning chores before playing.

Just as soon as they rounded the blind corner of the longhouse, she pulled him anxiously into her arms and they embraced and kissed emphatically. The embrace was as electric to them as it was in the water yesterday. Maybe more because they knew everything was all right with her parents. They were officially blessed to be les amis tres intimes. It was time to celebrate.

Jack held her by the shoulders and finally got to look at her from top to bottom, She loved him admiring her, with a shiver and a giggle. His voice shook with joy, "Jeanne, just look at you. You're so beautiful all dressed up."

"Thank you Jack, And you… you were so… so amazing with Papa et Mama. Just for me."

"Anything… just for you."

The pair kissed again, a lot longer, before they did their chores.

This was a lot deeper than anyone realized.

…

But the parents didn't know that. Josephine sighed. They got through it, and she kissed Armand for handling everything so well with the new conditions between Jack and Jeanne, took him by the hand, and walked over to Jane and Tarzan. Josephine asked anxiously, "Lady Jane and Count Clayton. I know we all had long talks with our children . I just witnessed – again- how very mannerly and mature your son was, and so impressive, Jane. But still. Did we do the right thing, Jane?"

Jane observed, "I am certain of it. Look at how happy they are with each other. Josephine, this will all work out. The novelty and excitement of being natural lessens in a few weeks. I never think of my husband as being naked as we live day to day with our family. Just like the children and the rest of the villagers. This may be hard to understand now, but being in your own skin is a form of clothing in and of itself."

"I suppose so…"

"But despite what I just said, Josephine, Jeanne's right. You are beautiful," Jane responded. The French woman blushed with the Countess' compliment, and took her hand.

"You are too, Jane. You wear this look perfectly… you all do."

Tarzan noted as the four adults stood together, "She does. And she has that special glow she gets. My wife is never prettier than when she's pregnant."

Jane blushed and kissed her husband.

"True, Count Clayton. The same is true of my Jo," observed Armand, seeing a matching blush from her. Even he was feeling comfortable with this new arrangement.

Josephine noted, "The kids are what amaze me. Jack seems so comfortable in his own skin. And so is Jeanne. I… I never expected that from her."

"Kids are a lot more flexible about things than any of us."

As if on cue behind them, they could see Lily delighted to be rid of her own loincloth. She ran and hugged Ugo an excited good morning before they ran off to play with the group of about 25 younger three to five year old children, assisted by a half dozen or so young mothers to watch them stay safe. Jane was going to have to join them soon. They were a handful.

Abassi looked upon all this with great satisfaction, aided Femi to waddle over to them, and the royal couple greeted the four other adults, "Good morning Count and Countess. Thank you, Colonel and Madame Jacot for honoring us by following our ways, as well as your wonderful daughter. This is a great day for French and Nigerian relations, Colonel Jacot. Ndidi was very insistent about making your daughter a Nigerian. You have no finer 'ambassador' than her I couldn't say 'no' to my headstrong daughter. I am glad I listened to her."

"Headstrong children seem to run in all our families, Chief Abassi," noted Armand, "And it's clear to me that it may extend to the next set of siblings."

Everyone laughed because it was impossible to miss how assertive Ndidi, Jack, and Jeanne were and not one of the three women's baby bumps were still.

And just like that it was done, and there were no regrets and no looking back.

"Chief Abassi, you must excuse the Count and me, now. We must become soldiers now and head to the field for the day. A hundred men with nothing to do is not a pretty sight.

Abassi chuckled, "Understood, my friends. We appreciate everything you are doing to protect Nigeria. It will not be forgotten."

All bowed graciously and went about their business, but not before they witnessed a loud but happy sight. The parents all laughed and they turned and watched with amusement as the usual group of noisy older children were gathered around Jeanne to compliment and praise her, as she showed them all her bangles and jewelry they'd given them. She added several more items to her arms and ankles that some other friends had brought for her. She was delighted at all the attention and praise by her friends. She looked at her mother in total joy at the moment she was having with her friends and gave everyone a little pirouette to many cheers. Jack stood by with his arms crossed in pride for his girlfriend's happiness, and a very satisfied smile on his face for her. Jeanne did not miss this, and blew him a kiss. Neither did Josephine.

"Truly," Josephine thought, noting that the boy didn't stare at her inappropriately, "Jack is the proper young English gentleman."

There was universal joy from their friends about Jeanne, and they were even more amazed and impressed that Josephine let her be Nigerian and she herself was dressed as a Nigerian woman.

They all waved to catch the French woman's attention, "Thank you, Madame Jacot!"

Josephine had the deepest flush she could remember, and waved as the bunch ran off together. Jack hand in hand with her gleeful daughter. Josephine thought that today could not have gone better, and offered a prayer of thanks silently. And found herself praying that Jeanne and Jack would the perfect match for each other. She'd never seen two children happier together in everything they did.

…

Over the next few days, both families settled into the new routine. Each day Jack asked permission to play, but it returned to be the polite but casual request it had always been. The young pair did their chores every day and then got to play with their friends.

Soon, the children encountered the law of unexpected consequences.

Everyone already knew how active and competitive Jeanne was. After a couple of days of hard competition, the kids were actually not sure they should have invited Jeanne to be live like a Nigerian. Without her clunky uniform and modified combat boots, Jeanne was stronger and faster and more agile, wore out less, and subsequently could win more games, often decisively.

After a particularly thorough defeat in a stick fighting game, a game Ndidi excelled at, the Igbo girl lay sore and exhausted from the ground, with Jeanne grimacing breathing hard poised in an intense victory stance over her friend. The others stood in stunned silence at Jeanne's combat technique. Ndidi faked a complaint, "Good grief, Jeanne. After that, we should take your Nigerian citizenship away and get some heavy clothes and shoes back on you just to slow you down a little."

Jeanne got a look of horror on her face.

Ndidi noticed her upset and quickly quelled her worry, "Just kidding, Jeanne. Sorry…"

Jeanne relaxed but admitted sadly, "My French playmates were intentionally mean and meant it. I should have known you are never that way. I'm sorry too…"

The two friends laughed and hugged, but not without a playful punch by Jeanne as she ran off, goading Ndidi into a wrestling game for the two girls, during which Ndidi pinned her, pleasing both girls with the fair play.

"We should be twin sisters, Jeanne," Ndidi joked.

"And you think we aren't?" Jeanne teased. That would be hard to dispute.

Although everyone in their group played together frequently, Jack and Jeanne spent much more time together alone at the Mangani pond. It was easy and fast to get to the pond just by themselves because they could swing together in the vines. She got brave enough to regularly swing herself part of the way, but much preferred him to cradle her or go piggyback on him which was just as much fun. It was like he said the day they met - they were constantly hugging while they swung, and the feeling of her holding tightly to his muscular back, neck, and hips was exhilarating for both of them. Each day they were together she was prettier to Jack, especially when they swam together. As rough as they ran, leaped, and swung into the water, zoomed down the creek bed, and splashed, shrieking and laughing and yelling every time, the closeness never stopped being special to them. The tenderest times occurred when they just held each other and swam gently like one of her ballet numbers, savoring their closeness.

When they rested, in response to her wishes, Jack began to teach Jeanne the Mangani ways after each swim, when she had left all her Nigerian jewelry and cord on the beach. She refused to remove her friendship bracelet, which pleased him greatly. She took to the stances, and walked on all fours easily. Soon they were knuckle-running as the gorillas did side by side in the grasslands, the beach and the shallows of the pond, hooting and grunting as the Mangani did. They leaped on each other and rolled and tumbled into each other's arms constantly, each time ending in kissing. As their kissing became more frequent, it also became deeper, which they learned from watching their parents. And it was much more fun.

Not every moment was physical and active. Or affectionate. For the time when they would meet his gorilla cousins and friends, he started to teach her the Mangani speech and mannerisms needed to communicate. She picked up on every word and body language nuance.

Jack frequently praised and complimented Jeanne with her progress, especially after she mastered a particularly hard phrase, "You are really good at this, Jeanne. You could easily be a gorilla."

She said demurely and caressed his cheek, "Thank you, Jack. I want to be good at this. I want to be a Mangani girl with you."

He could barely get the words out, "I want you to be a Mangani girl with me too, Jeanne."

That led to a very intense hug and kiss that left them panting and embracing anxiously.

Jack pulled back first and stuttered, "Jeanne… I'm… uh… sorry..."

She cooed, "Its OK. That was nice."

"Yes. Yes it was," he admitted in a blush.

They kissed and hugged again, but with more restraint and tenderness, and it lasted a lot longer. Jeanne's mother was right. They really had no secrets from each other.

Another morning they were resting after a particularly vigorous swim, with Jack laying flat on his stomach, with his hands under his chin facing her. Jeanne was mostly lying on her side with her legs tucked up a bit, but had turned her head and shoulders so she also had her hands tucked under her chin facing him. While they exchanged little kisses, she pondered, absent-mindedly stroking his nose and cheek, she spoke in Mangani, "Jack, teach me how gorillas groom."

He hesitated, responding in Mangani, "It's very personal, Jeanne."

She encouraged him further, "Won't we be expected to groom with the gorillas when we meet them? I need to know how."

He remembered, "Yes, we will. It's how we welcome a stranger into the tribe that a family member approves of. All our scents will mingle and you will carry them."

"I hope you approve of me being a family member, Jack," she grinned whimsically, and sat up. Her legs were tucked beside her now. she twisted her wet hair in a sort of pony tail that trailed down her front.

She was so pretty in that pose that made him shiver, and promised, "Yes, Jeanne, of course I would."

She leaned down, pecked him, and blushed.

Having never seen anything in books or at the gorilla cage at the zoo, "Is grooming any more personal than us hugging?"

Jack was not sure how to answer, "Well.. um… yes. But in a nice way."

"Is grooming not honorable to me any way, Jack?" Jeanne was ever mindful in keeping with their promises to their parents to not betray the trust both parents held.

"No, Jeanne. Everything about grooming is honorable."

She shifted to a Mangani four point stance in front of him and challenged him, "Then teach me, Korak."

It startled him to hear her use his jungle name, especially in perfectly pronounced Mangani language. She was very serious. So he got up in a matching stance. They were very close. It made her shudder in delight, but he carefully and slowly taught her how to groom and the noises the gorillas made to indicate more or less, where to groom, and when to stop. They let a few human kisses and caresses slip into the grooming took only awhile for the grooming to change into a quiet, gentle, sweet embrace, caressing, and kissing that lasted a long time in the grassy areas of the pond. After ending their embrace with a long kiss, they crouched gorilla-style before each other, and ended with just foreheads together with very tender grooming motions through their hair. They spoke in tender Mangani phrases that mates normally spoke to each other.

Jack suddenly had an idea. Grooming was over and they sat across from each other cross legged and holding hands. He was anxious and she waited equally expectantly for what he had to say next.

"Jeanne, when you come to Scotland to Castle Greystoke, there's a lake in the mountains where we can swim and play too. My parents and I go there a lot. Dad calls it a 'little piece of the land of the Mangani'. Except it snows there in the winter. And you wouldn't want to swim in the winter. The lake freezes. We skate then. The foxes, wolves, deer and bears love watching her. They can't do that, though some try to get out on the lake. It's really funny when they do that. Especially one young buck deer and his little rabbit friend."

She laughed and ran her hands through a misplaced dreadlock, "I would like to go there with you. After this awful war gets over."

They did not know they were being silently observed by both Tarzan and Jane that day, to allay any fears from Josephine and Armand and them that they were playing alone too much. His parents saw all the activities, and teaching, and the affection.

Tarzan and Jane watched them groom with real concern at first, but were very pleased the two young people had learned to control their emotions after the surprise intensity of that first time.

Jane turned to Tarzan and asked, satisfied things were not going too far, but wanting her mate's opinion, "What do you think dear?"

"Well... it seems Jeanne is going to be in our lives a really long time, Jane."

"It sure seems that way. Despite a little too much hugging and kissing, they can handle their alone time. We'll be leaving the village soon and they'll only have each other to play with anyway."

"Yes, they are doing just fine together, Jane. We saw how they honored each other and kept their promises today. In spite of the temptations. We'll really have to guide them as they get older. Grooming can get out of hand in a hurry."

"Oh really? You, Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, think grooming can get out of hand?" Jane smirked.

"Well I do speak from experience. With a certain jungle woman…"

"I'll say," Jane teased and rubbed up against him in a very unrestrained sexually aggressive grooming motion, "You have to watch those wild jungle women, so I hear. I know just the spot to do a little grooming alone ourselves... ape man…"

"OK let's go. I know that place all too well, and it's near the bee's nest. I know you really need that honeycomb treat, dear, for that craving," he snickered, scooped her up, and they disappeared with not a sound into the deep woods.

As they headed to the bee's nest, Tarzan noted, "I'm glad they are having their fun today, because tomorrow we really have to go to work. Armand's spies have gotten back from Kamina. And it's not good."

Jane's expression changed from contentment to grave concern.