Transition Plan Chapter 69: In His Majesty's Service Part 19

With all the remaining French Special Forces, sailors, and the British regiment regaining and continuing to hone their physical fitness, the training could become mission specific, but they didn't have all the military intelligence they needed to train properly for correct tactics against the target. For weeks they'd just been marking time. Some called it lost time.

On the way to Nigeria from the shipwreck months ago, two members of the French Special Forces, spies split off from the group far north of Kamina to infiltrate the community. These soldiers' parents were former citizens of Alsace Lorraine, a former province of France illegally annexed by Germany to become part of their Empire in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. These French soldiers had a score to settle, and were fluent in German and had a mixed French/German heritage. These spies would fit into the Togoland German society perfectly. The men had finally arrived in Nigeria with vital information. It had been a rough journey. One had died on the way.

Standing in a huddle under the command tent set up on the edge of the practice field, Col. Jacot unwrapped a very wrinkled and weathered envelope that the very exhausted spies had collected, and said, "Soldiers. Count Clayton. This is what we are up against."

In the envelope, there were a number of tattered black and white photographs the spies had taken. They'd destroyed the purloined camera to travel lighter.

"These are perfect," the Colonel praised the men.

The series of photos showed different views of a massive radio mast, perhaps two hundred feet tall, with an adjacent broadcast block house, diesel generators, fuels tanks, and other equipment. The mast was many times taller than the British garrison's radio mast and the camouflaged one at Tarzan's jungle treehouse.

Always in the pictures were guards. The radio transmission block house was solid cement block with a metal door and many locks.

Tarzan was impressed with the close up detail, "Most impressive, Colonel. How did your men get this close?"

The Colonel prompted his spies to explain, "Count Clayton. The people guarding the radio station need to be fed and the petrol for the diesel generators needs replenishment. They have to rely on the 'locals' to do that. We joined the local labor force, and got the choice jobs with the labor bosses there. We pay better than the Germans do, fortunately."

Tarzan shook his head, "Good work, gentlemen. But this… this is formidable. It's much more fortified than I assumed. But I'm not a professional military man like you guys."

The Colonel smiled at the compliment and explained and pointed to various features of the station, "But it's vulnerable, Count Clayton. Look at the exhaust stack here. The generators are not well protected, nor is the diesel tank. There's only a short fence and no barbed wire at all. And those guards? They are local militia or local constables pressed into service. Not soldiers. Those poor devils will be no match against my men. Or you."

"A gun is a gun no matter who wields it, Colonel. We must not drop our guard," noted Tarzan.

"Very wise advice, Count Clayton," said Armand respectfully.

Tarzan examined the grainy images of two civilians in several pictures. It was Karl-Heinz and Gunter.

Tarzan strained to see their faces clearly and to memorize them as he inquired, "Who are these men? Are they local suppliers too?"

One of the spies said, "No, Count Clayton. These are the contractor operators of the radiotelegraph station. The military has no staff there, so they put in the hands of these nasty people. A big mistake on their part. Normally, these two are black market tradesmen all across western Africa. Scoundrels. Unscrupulous thieves. Liars. Swindlers. Connivers. But not soldiers. But both seem to have a knack for technical things, so the Germans had no other choices but to hire them to run the station. Their front line soldiers are needed in the other colonies - the colonies that they have a greater threat from the allies… and um… less secure grip on power over the natives."

Abassi squirmed at that.

Tarzan immediately thought of Kamerun on the other side of Nigeria, Southwest Africa adjacent to South Africa and Tanganyika over by the British Kenyan colony, both with formidable armed forces on the borders of those German colonies, matched by British, South African, and French allies. It would be truly a bloodbath there.

Armand explained further, "The men - Gunter and Karl-Heinz - often cheat and use the radio to help make themselves richer in off-hours deals. This is where you come in, sir."

Tarzan was confused, "How, Colonel? I don't normally run in the company of thieves and liars, dear sir. Although Clayton Industries' competitors often say that about me and the Admiral."

They all laughed, and Armand described further, "That's not what I had in mind, Count Clayton. They are not fighters. We can incapacitate them easily. We can take out all the guards who protect them. You have to get in and destroy the diesels, the transmitters, and the mast. Permanently."

Armand drew the plan on a piece of ripped canvas, "You have to climb to the top of the mast like a tall tree, put dynamite every fifty feet, drop a stick down the radio shack vent, the fuel tank, and get the heck out of the way before it all comes down."

Even to Tarzan that seemed like a huge task, "Can't we just cut the radio mast anchor wires, and let the whole structure fall?"

The Colonel shook his head, "Anything less than total destruction of the structure and equipment, the Germans can simply repair and hoist the antenna back up. The Germans' ability to communicate with their ships in the Atlantic and their troops in Kamerun and Southwest Africa has to end in Kamina, so the French and British garrisons can move with impunity on both the other German colonies."

Tarzan was used to climbing a lot, but scaling 200 feet of narrow metal tubing up and down, carrying a heavy sack of explosives, perhaps under sniper fire, and setting off the explosives was another matter. He wasn't twenty any more.

Tarzan asked seriously, "How fast must I go?"

Colonel Jacot answered gravely, "Once you put the first stick of dynamite in at the top and light it, five minutes."

Tarzan winced, and asked for clarification, "You mean I can't rig it and then we destroy it with detonators?"

Armand apologized, "We don't have detonators. They were lost in the ship's destruction. The longest fuse is five minutes."

Tarzan was very concerned, "Five minutes? And while I'm being shot at on the antenna?"

"We'll take care of the militia and any sharpshooters when we get there, then set the explosives. And yes, five minutes maximum. Less to be safe. Fuses will burn differently in this heat and humidity."

The ape man let out a slow whistle and cocked a doubtful eyebrow, "I can't guarantee that."

Armand advised, "That is why we'll practice first with a replica of the antenna tower and transmitter so you will succeed. Anything more than five minutes and it's a suicide mission, Count. You didn't sign up for that. I don't think Lady Jane would approve."

Tarzan scoffed, "And if I weren't already dead, she'd kill me herself."

The men allowed themselves a nervous chuckle.

Tarzan imagined a 200 foot structure rising into the air over the practice field, more than twice the size of most trees he climbed, and sighed, "So let's get this thing built."

Colonel Jacot called all the men together and explained what they were being called to do. He gave a parts list to several of the sergeants and chief petty officers so the men would know what to cut, how many of each, and what size to cut. It was going to be an enormous task in the terrible heat. A number of people were assigned just to gather water for the men as they toiled. The other soldiers grabbed axes and knives and shovels, and went to start cutting saplings, bamboo poles, and vines.

The Colonel turned to the Nigerian leader and asked seriously, "Chief Abassi, we need everyone in the village to help."

"Granted. Tell me what you need."

He explained and everyone headed to the village. There would be a town meeting.

…

Jack and Jeanne were aglow every day in the happiness of their growing relationship, the consent of their parents to allow that relationship to flourish, their natural life, and all their good friends. It was hard to remember there was terrible trouble that would affect all of Nigeria, England and France.

They awakened to a new day, looked across the mats they slept on and took each other's hands and squeezed. They longed for a good morning kiss, but the Colonel was adamant that there would be no public display of affection beyond simple handholding and brief hugs inside the longhouse. They knew outside the longhouse and out of sight of the parents they could express their emotion for each other more. They were grateful they could sleep next to each other, and not have Lily or a parent inserted between them.

When Jack went to ask the Jacot's for his daily request to go play, the answer from Josephine was, "Jack I'm very sorry, but not today."

He was both shocked and worried, and Jeanne had a horrible look, "Madame Jacot, have I done something wrong?

She smiled at the young man, "No Jack, not at all. You've been nothing but a sweet gentleman to our daughter. We're all proud of both of you. You are really good kids. But there's something happening today that will involve all of us. Armand told me before he left for the camp today."

Both children exchanged looks of relief.

Abassi called the entire village together, and his news was very distressing. He translated the Colonel's request to mobilize the village to build the tower.

Expecting to watch the usual training drills, Jack and Jeanne were shocked but then very excited about this new activity, and asked their fathers how they could help like the other Nigerians. Tarzan and Armand were pleased that they offered.

Before they left for the camp, Jane stopped the Jeanne and Josephine, "Wait ladies… Here's a special present for both of you. Since we will out of the village and among the soldiers."

The presents were hastily tailored loincloths for Josephine and Jeanne, that they could wear with the ones Lily, Jack, and Jane already. Josephine appreciated Jane's kind gift for a little modesty among the French soldiers, though she was fully prepared to remain natural while helping. Femi understood the importance of this while being among the Colonel's men, and Jack and Lily reluctantly got dressed. The new loincloths were made from some spares that Jane brought with her on the journey from the treehouse. They fit perfectly. Especially the cute two piece for Jeanne. She modeled it for Jack.

He smiled, but whispered, "Well that's really pretty, but you know I like you better the other way."

She blushed but teased him, "Me, too, jungle boy. The sooner you get your tasks done, the sooner we get back to village. And you know what that means…"

She winked and it nearly bowled him over.

Josephine was impressed an asked, "Jane, you are a seamstress?"

Jane shrugged, "It's a hobby. I'm not really reliant on servants. It drives them crazy. My mom taught me when I was young."

...

Jack and Jeanne did a lot to carry and assemble the pieces of the simulated tower as they were cut down by the soldiers and sailors, and assisted with assembly too, Jane and Josephine also helped, mostly with tying and securing sections together. In many cases, they used rope, sinew, or leather.

It took several days to cut enough materials, haul them to the activity field, and to start assemble and lash everything together. As they proceeded, several of the soldiers who were Combat Construction Engineers tested the main structural elements. The wood and bamboo tower was deemed almost as structurally sound as the actual metal antenna.

Jeanne and Jack were very proud to help the war effort with their fathers. This was as close as they would come to being permitted to participate in the war. Their mothers helped also, but were careful not overstrain themselves since they were pregnant. Femi was unhappy not to be able to help Abassi and his warriors in this task in her late term condition, but she insisted on bringing them food and water with a number of other Nigerian women helping her. Especially the ones who had interest in some of the men.

On one trip, Tarzan carried a huge load of freshly harvested bamboo directly over to Jane to lash into the upper structure. She finally could speak her mind to her husband in private. She was very upset, "Jonathon, when they asked you to help defeat the Germans with your jungle skills, I didn't realize they meant climbing a twenty story radio tower with live dynamite to destroy it. I am so worried about you."

Tarzan rationalized, alluding to the destruction of the oil men's defenses "Jane, dear, it's not like I haven't used dynamite before."

"That was different. You had hours to prepare in secret. Not… seconds. And in front of the entire German Army in Kamina. It will be like shooting pigeons out of the watch tower at the castle."

Tarzan tried to clarify the situation for Jane to ease her mind, "Five minutes. And it's their volunteer militia. Which we take out first."

She scowled at him and crossed her arms angrily, "You know exactly what I mean, Ape Man."

Tarzan countered, "Do we want to defeat them in Kamina, or have the German hordes invade our family treehouse?"

She sighed and her tone softened almost to tears as she grasped her husband's shoulders, and looked with true anxiety into his eyes, "I know, I'm just worried about you. I may never see you again…"

He enveloped her in his arms, "You wouldn't be my wife if you didn't worry about me."

She just buried her head in his shoulders weeping.

…

In a week it was done. It took nearly a full day of brute manpower, ropes and pulleys, and vines to get the huge tall structure upright and anchored.

Tarzan eyed the slightly swaying structure, "No time like the present to get started."

"Are you sure, Count Clayton?" we can start fresh in the morning."

"The war could start overnight. Then where would we be? Let's at least try once."

Colonel Jacot took his stopwatch out and got it ready. Tarzan picked up the canvas shoulder bag that held simulated sticks of dynamite.

He climbed and thought he was never going to stop going up. He had to rest. He was completely out of breath. The tower was double the height of the jungle canopy and he could see lush green forest for miles and the mountains, river, and ocean.

"OK, Count Clayton. The clock starts now," yelled a Staff Sergeant to Tarzan high above, and punched the button on the stopwatch.

Tarzan rushed down the structure but nearly slipped a few times, Jane gasped. As he descended, he placed the simulated dynamite sticks in key locations, and pretended to light the fake fuses as he went.

He was only two thirds of the way down when the timekeeper yelled, "Time!"

There was a grim silence. Had it been for real, Tarzan would be dead.

That was not lost on the children, and on Jane and Josephine who had come out to watch.

Jack swallowed hard, and remained calm, "What does that mean, Mom?"

Even though he knew good and well what it meant.

Fighting the tears welling up in her, Jane said in a shaky voice, "It means your father needs more practice."

The women led the children back to the village. Jane couldn't watch her husband practice anymore today for a one way trip to Togoland. They let the children go for a swim alone. They needed that closeness.

…

The children, between games, constant play, swimming, learning Mangani ways, and helping with chores, came back nearly every day to watch Tarzan practice and shout encouragement to him. Tarzan was getting better each day. He was shaving seconds off in big chunks for awhile. The operation went from seven minutes to six minutes and then under that. But Tarzan couldn't break the five and half minutes mark. Jack could see his father's frustration.

The boy offered, "Dad. Let me try."

Jeanne and Tarzan had simultaneous looks of shock.

Tarzan was clear, "No! Absolutely not. You will not put yourself in danger. You are a child."

Jack insisted, "But Dad. I'm smaller and lighter than you. I am strong enough to carry a bag of dynamite."

Tarzan and Jack just glared at each other. Neither was yielding. Jeanne sat quietly but wrung her hands.

The Admiral interjected, "I'm sorry, young Jack, no father should have to suffer his children dying before he does."

Jack backed off and sat in a huff next to Jeanne with his arms crossed and a huge frown, and no amount of soothing from Jeanne helped calm him.

Fueled by the anger of his confrontation with his son's audacious offer, Jack's dad was exhausted after about six tries. He couldn't get past five minutes and twenty seconds. In fact he got worse with each practice run.

The adults discussed different climbing techniques. While they did, unnoticed, Jack stood up and worked his way to the tower.

Jeanne couldn't stop him, and whispered, "Jack, what are you doing? Your father is going to be really mad."

He looked intensely at Jeanne. It startled her. She'd seen that feral look once before, "I have to try. I cannot let my dad die."

"OK," she agreed. She joined him, also unnoticed, at the base of the bamboo replica mast. Jack grabbed the bag of simulated dynamite. It was very heavy. She took the stopwatch left there.

"Sirs! Look!" said one of the soldiers, who finally noticed Jack scaling the structure and pointed anxiously.

"Jack! Stop. Come down," Tarzan shouted at his son, only noticing his boy when he was at three quarters of the way up the tower. He moved very fast.

The adults could only watch, frozen in place. Armand was just as angry, knowing his daughter supported everything Jack was doing, as she was standing at the base with the stopwatch. Armand understood completely the implications for Jeanne's involvement.

Armand scolded, "Jeanne Marie Jacot. Stop this. Get away from there. This is adult business. Tell Jack to come done now. You are both eight years old."

Armand started toward her to forcibly remove her from the tower.

Jeanne's adamant temper asserted itself too, and she stamped and balled her fists, yelling so vehemently that it stopped Armand, "Non, Papa. I'm almost nine and old enough to know better. War affects everyone. Even children. Especially children. I will not stop. Jack needs to do this. And I will stand with him."

Armand could not deny the truth of what she said. That she and her mother were here at all in Nigeria was because both were nearly killed in the attack on the base. He stifled a reply and simply watched Jack with Tarzan. They let Jeanne stand, coach, and time Jack. nothing could be done.

Jack finally reached the top of the tower, which swayed precariously with his motion and the flexibility of the structure. It was an amazing view from so far up, but this was not a time for sightseeing.

He yelled, "Jeanne? I'm rested now. I'm ready."

She shouted, "Go Jack. Now!"

Tarzan felt helpless and prayed Jack would have no more luck than him, because if he did, then Tarzan knew what was coming next from his headstrong first born. And his girlfriend, who was no less determined. Both fathers were convinced Jack and Jeanne would fail and that would be the end of their arguing.

The clock ticks were like heavy thudding heartbeats within Jack. He placed and simulated lighting every stick of dynamite on the way down. Finally he aimed and dropped the killing dynamite stick into the radio shack vent and the diesel fuel tanks. Jack clearly understood the implication of what would happen to the people that would be barricaded inside against the French Forces. Those people were no less a threat to his family and friends than the huge cobra had been to his sister.

He dropped to the ground with the couple of spare dynamite sticks and ran to the 'safety line' near the edge of the tree canopy.

Jeanne clicked the stopwatch, turned to the adults and announced proudly in a very serious tone, "Three minutes, fifty five seconds.

To the stunned consternation of his father, her father, the Admiral, and the soldiers, he'd beaten his father by more than a minute.

The reaction was instantaneous and adamant from Tarzan, "No, Jack! You will not do this. I simply will not permit it."

Armand added, "Now get off the practice field, both of you. This is for soldiers. You wasted our practice time with your stunt. Go home."

It was a long walk home for both children and a longer wait for their fathers to return. They didn't have the heart to play with the other children, so just played some Nigerian board games together and helped their mothers with chores and babysitting Lily.

Their mothers sensed a real problem but the children didn't say when they were quizzed, and neither woman pressed the issue.

Armand came home with his jaw set, and stated, "Jeanne, come with me, young lady. You and I need to talk with your mother."

Tarzan used almost the same words with Jack.

The men and children entered the longhouse and each family went to their separate places. Josephine and could instantly see Jeanne and Armand's anger at each other, "What's with you two?"

"Ask Papa," she complained and plopped down angrily with her arms folded defiantly, grimaced, and waited for the lecture.

…

A similar story transpired at the Clayton part of the longhouse.

Tarzan explained what Jack had done. Jane's tan face turned white as a sheet. Jack was stoic and refused to make eye contact with either parent.

Jane tried to be supportive of both Clayton men's positions, "I'm sorry Jack. I know you did this to help your father. I know you want to defeat the Germans just as much as all of us. But I know what it means if you get involved. Jack, dear. You're my first baby. I could not bear to lose you."

Jack bridled and was terse, "I'm not a baby, Mother. I am a jungle boy. I can do this. I was much faster than Dad. I proved I can destroy the tower. I am Korak."

Tarzan was very quick to correct his son, "You're not that kind of killer. Nor do I want you to be."

Jack snapped back instantly, "Is killing an enemy who is human any different than killing an animal enemy who would destroy your family and friends? Since when is it less a sin to kill animals than people? Since when is it only your job to protect our family, Dad? I don't remember you teaching me that."

He sat with this head turned away with arms crossed. He was furious at his father and mother.

Jack's maturity dumbfounded his parents. He continued, "And we'd let the Germans walk right into our home and our friends' homes without everyone in our family trying to stop them? I thought that as Mangani, everyone fights for the family until a foe is defeated."

He was completely correct. Even children and adolescents in the family fought intruders when it was necessary. Not all survived. Jack clearly understood that not stopping the Germans in Togoland would lead to an invasion of Nigeria. And Mangani. But Jane and Tarzan could not see past the fact that Jack was their child, no matter how remarkable that child was.

Tarzan was intransigent, "I don't care Jack. You will not go on the mission with me. You are my only son."

Jack fumed the rest of the night and sat silently with his family. When it was time for bed, he looked across the sleeping mat to Jeanne right next to him, and he knew from her expression without saying a word she'd had exactly the same conversation with her parents. And the same outcome.

They held hands, and Jeanne kissed him, despite the ban her father put on kissing in the longhouse, and whispered, "Whatever you decide Jack, I am with you."

…

The next few days were tense. Tarzan, in his dogged determination to prevent his boy from doing something rash, made the run in almost five minutes, multiple times. But never less than five. Jack's under four minute descent haunted him daily.

Jane was there every day to show her commitment and encouragement of her husband's efforts. Jeanne and Jack refused to come back to support Tarzan, playing with the children and forget about the 'suicide mission' as Jack angrily put it whenever he could, to be scolded every time by his mother and encounter Tarzan's angry glare back. One day, Jane and Josephine demanded the children watch, to show their support to their fathers, but they were forbidden to enter the practice area. Both fumed at being forced to watch, and saw no progress in Tarzan's time.

Jack observed with Jeanne but was very despondent, and Jeanne had a difficult time making him feel better. Jack had a mental picture of the structure exploding and falling on his father each time the stopwatches clicked five minutes. To the boy, a few seconds past five minutes made no difference to him. To him, his father was still dead at that point.

Colonel Jacot smiled and stated overly loudly so Jack and Jeanne would hear, "Count, that was your best yet. Five minutes nine seconds."

Despite her best efforts to be supportive of Tarzan and keep the children in check, it was Jane's turn to complain, "But that's still not safe."

Tarzan tried to make a joke of it, "I guess I will just dodge the flaming debris as I run to the woods."

"Not funny," Jane said.

Jack had enough, and through angry tears, he stood, pointed an angry finger at Tarzan, and screamed at his father, "No! It's not funny Dad. You're still dead."

Jack stood up, took Jeanne by the hand and left, disgusted.

Tarzan stood in embarrassed silence. Jane could not contain her tears. This was tearing the family apart.

Jeanne glared angrily at her father over her shoulder as she left with Jack. Armand was sorry he ever asked the Jungle Lord to help. This was not going to work. Other men had tried the climb but were far worse.

…

The rift between children and parents widened, and the children kept deeper secrets. After the day's practice by Tarzan, and after dinner when their parents were busy, Jack and Jeanne stole away unseen and alone to the tower practice area, a good distance away from the soldiers' encampment site. All Jack and Jeanne's friends were primed to lie about their whereabouts if quizzed by the adults, and to reinforce the deception, they left the village sans loincloths. If caught wearing them, their parents would know exactly where they had been. All Jack needed was one practice run each night to perfect his technique. His sub-four minute time got better each time. They were never gone long.

Torn between loyalty to Jack and to their fathers and Jeanne's growing fear that Jack might get killed too, she pleaded with him on their way back. She tried to reason with him as she took his hand and arm deeper into hers, "This is wrong, Jack. We're disobeying our parents."

He grinned, "A few weeks ago you disobeyed your parents by starting to swim with me. It's more wrong that my Dad could be killed doing this. I have to take his place."

She smiled for a moment at the joy that first moment swimming with him gave her and every moment with him since, but got instantly serious in her reply, "Soldiers understand dangers Jack. That's what they do. And they do it for the love of our country. "

Neither child could believe they were having their first real argument, but Jack replied, "But Dad's a Count. Not a soldier like yours."

Jeanne explained, "In your society your dad serves as Count at the pleasure of the King. In ancient times, Counts led men into battle in defense of the kings then. We all learn that in school, French or English. Our countries are about to be in a war. Your dad is a soldier now. Your grand pere was a soldier and fought even though he was a Baron."

"I know. I know," Jack sighed. It was hard to argue the facts with his girlfriend.

They still practiced. He had the time under three and a half minutes. But no one knew.

"Jack… it will be time soon for our fathers to leave. I can see the worry in our mothers' eyes more than ever."

"I know. You don't have to do this with me. Jeanne… um…"

She stood tall and took his hand in hers. Her hair flowed all over her body in the light winds and glistened in moonlight. Jack gasped at the sight of her body as she said, "Despite my worry, jungle boy, wherever you go, I will go with you."

It was Jack's time to be worried, "But you mustn't. You'll be in danger. Even on the ground. I don't need a timer. I didn't ask you to come with me."

"Yes you do. You have to know how close to five minutes you are. You're the one in danger Jack, climbing up that tower. Anyone left that our fathers don't stop can shoot at you. I will be there for you Jack. I'll protect you this time. I have my slingshot. Just in case."

Jack gave her a loving smile seeing her total determination, "I'm sure glad we're ma… umm… friends."

She agreed but smiled tenderly and stroked his cheek and neck in a Mangani grooming motion. She heard what he almost said, "Me too, Jack."

Close together in the four point stances of gorilla mates, Jack groomed her too, adding a few tender human kisses and hugs, savoring being alone under the stars and moonlight. The two childhood sweethearts couldn't be any happier with each other.

In the midst of their soaring emotions, Jeanne whispered, "Jack, this is so wonderful. But you know we have to go or they will discover our secrets."

When they got home noticeably later than usual, they got suspicious looks from their parents, but they weren't pressed or disciplined. It took awhile that night for either to sleep, looking quietly at the others eyes on their sleeping mats, wishing they were still hugging and grooming.