Transition Plan Chapter 74: In His Majesty's Service Part 24

Josephine sat in startled silence as Jeanne told her mother about Jana's invitation to live with the Mangani for a few days.

Josephine anticipated that the request would eventually happen, but was no more prepared to answer when she first considered it, "With them? To the gorilla nest? To visit? So soon? Tomorrow is your birthday."

Jeanne was earnest in her request, "That's what I want for my birthday, Mama. Just for a few days. To meet all Jack's relatives. To see the adults. To be Mangani."

Josephine was reluctant, "I know, Jeanne, that this is what you have dreamed of since you got here, but you two would be alone with the gorillas. This is just so hard for me. I worry about your safety. I know they are supposed to be gentle. But what if something happens? Or some vicious animal attacks all of you out there? I'd rather you wait until Tarzan gets home to be there with you. He can control them and protect you."

Noting that wait would seem like an eternity to Jeanne, Jane tried to help, "There is already one Mangani there who would make sure they are safe."

"A gorilla?"

Jane was persuasive, "Well yes. Kala. Tarzan's adopted mother. She raised him. And she loves her grandchildren, and is fiercely protective of them. So is Tarzan's cousin Terk and her mate Kirok, the family's Silverback when Tarzan is gone."

Josephine had her doubts, "I'm sorry Jane, but another gorilla protecting Jeanne and Jack doesn't make sense to me. No offense."

"Well there's another, if you insist," Jane noted, letting it show that she was a bit offended that Josephine didn't consider her mother-in-law Kala good enough to protect them. Try as she might, Josephine had a lot of lingering prejudice about the judgment and wisdom of animals.

Josephine was struggling with giving permission and yet assuring herself her daughter remained safe in the deep woods, "Who, then? You and I can't go with them right now. We have to defend the treehouse. Aren't you their only human family?"

"No. There is another. My father. He's human," said Jane simply.

Josephine nearly fell over. Jane had never mentioned her father being in Africa. They'd never discussed extended family.

Jane admitted, "Yes, my father lives with us too. He just happens to with the family now. Long ago when I decided to remain in Africa with Tarzan, he stayed with us too. Daddy is such a sweetheart. He's as Mangani as Tarzan and me here, and rarely ever goes back to England any more with us even though his barony estate still functions. Being here is far more important to him."

"Your family is amazing, Jane," Josephine truthfully admitted. It was too easy to forget that as simple as they lived here, they were very affluent nobility.

The French woman's attitude instantly changed. She knew she was still wrongly applying only human standards to behaviors in the jungle, but wasn't really ready to accept that animals could be as principled and responsible as humans. It upset her that she couldn't make that leap of faith yet. It would take her more time to adjust, and fortunately Jane was patient. Jane knew that Josephine had to be comfortable with all this before Jeanne and Jack were allowed to do anything together.

Jane proposed, "They will be safe all day under Kala's and Daddy's watchful eyes, and will sleep in their family nest with them. It will be just like sleeping on mats with our families next to each other in the longhouse. Daddy and Kala have become very close friends. They are the eldest of the Mangani and everyone in the family respects their authority, and obeys. Especially Jack. He loves them both very much. He'd never want them to be disappointed in him. Sometimes he minds them better than me!"

Josephine accepted Jane's recommendation, and made a big decision.

She reached for the children and asked, "Jack and Jeanne. Come here, please."

The young pair stood before Josephine, anxiously holding hands for her decision.

Josephine took their free hands and spoke to them seriously, but with a pleasant expression, "I don't see how Jane and I can say no to this invitation by your friends. It's both your ninth birthdays tomorrow. Your 'presents' are to go live with the Mangani together for a few days. We can't go. But understand - you will be supervised by Baron Porter and Count Clayton's Mangani mother, and will do everything they request."

Jeanne was a little disappointed in one aspect of the permission, "Please Mama. Come with us. It would be wonderful. The gorillas are so beautiful. They really are just like people. You'd really understand them if you were with them."

"Not this time honey. You go and learn all about them with Jack the way you want to. This is your birthday present. You are my 'Mangani girl'," she said as she tenderly looped one of Jeanne's long hair tendrils behind her ear and shoulder, "I need to help Jane. I'm getting so pregnant now that I'd just slow you down. You accept all this so much easier than me, sweetheart."

It was all set and done. Jack and Jeanne laughed and hugged, bounced up and down, and both embraced their mothers. Jane enjoyed the first time feeling of the young woman in her arms, hopefully the first of many hugs with Jack's sweetheart. She was such a lovely girl.

The kids decided to go play with Lily awhile before dinner, but halfway down the hall Jeanne turned, seized Jack in a surprise hug, and planted the biggest kiss on him he had ever experienced from her. He returned it with equal enthusiasm, drawing her closer, and she responded with a very satisfied little squeak with a big sparkle in her eyes for him, "Mmm!"

Coming out of the embrace, but holding each other, Jack asked in Mangani with a big goofy grin, still enjoying the effects of that kiss, "So… Jeanne. I guess you're excited?"

Jeanne teased back with her best giggle, also in Mangani, "About kissing you or seeing the Mangani?"

Jack raised an eyebrow, "Well what do you think?"

She faked pondering a hard decision, and replied, "Well… jungle boy… hmm… both… But I can't wait to go."

He smirked back, "I thought so… 'Mangani girl'. I will show you how to do everything when we get to the nest."

Her mother's simple term of endearment sounded especially wonderful repeated by Jack, "I know you will. You always do."

They kissed again, but when they broke that second embrace, they were startled to learn they were not alone. They looked down into the admiring eyes of Lily, "Don't worry. I won't tell. I know you love each other."

Lily grasped both their hands in hers and pulled them impatiently toward the doll house, jabbering about the dolls' next adventure.

Jeanne and Jack exchanged that lingering special glance. They knew they did too.

…

The next morning they were pleasantly surprised by a hastily-prepared birthday cake with a couple of candles made for both of them, said goodbye to their mothers, and swung by vine a considerable distance into the foothills. Jack and Jeanne arrived in the vicinity of the latest Mangani nest. They could hear the gorillas ahead on the trail. Jack instructed, "Walk like a gorilla on all fours. Speak only in Mangani. It will be less shock to the grownups."

They went along the path to the nest, and the entire family came into view amongst the trees. Jeanne gasped in Mangani, "Ohmigosh Jack. There are so many! They're all ages. It's so wonderful. Goodness… Look! Daddies and mommies and babies and toddlers. And all the kids our age!"

Jana announced excitedly, "Everyone! Korak and Jeanne are here."

Despite being prepared by Jana that Jack was coming to the nest with his human girlfriend, most of the Mangani were shy of strangers - except for the children - who howled and jumped in excitement for her arrival. The gorilla youth completely surrounded Jeanne and welcomed her enthusiastically, while the adults watched the reception cautiously and curiously. Soon, the big crowd of juveniles soon parted for an honored Mangani male, and the youth gathered behind him.

It was Archimedes Porter. He was the first adult to greet them, with a hug to Jack, and spoke in French. He knew that Jeanne was just learning Mangani and didn't know a word of English, "Well, dear grandson, it's so good to see you. And I am very pleased to finally meet Mademoiselle Jacot. I have heard much about you from Jack's cousin Jana and from your mother. Mademoiselle Jacot, you are a very pretty young woman. My grandson is very blessed."

Jeanne blushed about as deep as Jack had ever seen. Porter had been informed all about Jack and Jeanne during the daily visits by Jana and his friends and from months of messages from Jane transmitted by one animal or another to him and a couple of informative jungle yells between them. From a four point stance, the Professor bowed his head, and took Jeanne's hand gallantly and kissed it like a gentleman should. It was another interesting mix of the customs of the human and gorilla worlds.

Without hesitation, Jeanne responded graciously to the Professor, also bowing her head from her four point stance, and speaking in French, "Monsieur Baron Porter, it a truly un plaisir to meet you. Jack has such respect for you and I have heard many stories about you. Now I know who taught Jack to be a gentleman among the ladies."

Archimedes was immediately impressed, "Most kind of you to say, Mademoiselle Jacot. Let's get you acquainted with Tarzan and Jane's family. They may be a little shy, but they want to meet you. First, I want you to meet Kala, Jack's grandmother."

Approaching a little shyly, Kala groomed the girl's face in a simple greeting and said in Mangani, "I'm happy to meet you young Jeanne," and then a little bashfully, not wanting to be wrong about human customs, "It's so nice that Korak has such a pretty, sweet… um… 'girlfriend'."

Jeanne smiled and answered, "Thank you Madame Kala. You have a very polite grandson. He's kind and gentle to me and always takes care of me. Even the first day we met. Other boys I know are not like him. It's easy to be Korak's girlfriend."

Jack blushed behind her.

Kala smiled, "How very nice dear. I'm glad to hear that. He is a good boy. Just like Tarzan was. Tarzan's late father Kerchak would have been proud of Korak too. His parents and Porter and I have tried to raise him well. Honestly? 'Girlfriends' and 'boyfriends' are something we Mangani don't really know much about. But maybe we should. Young love deserves commitment too, until it is fulfilled. You and Korak can show us how, Jeanne."

Jana had tried to explain this new human concept of 'steadies' to Kala and the other Mangani adults over the past few days. Kala remembered that Jane and Tarzan had been something like a girlfriend and boyfriend in the few months before they became mates as adults. Human courting customs were still a hard concept to comprehend. The Mangani way was that if you loved another you should be their mate just as soon as you wanted when you came of age. Simple as that.

Jeanne looked away shyly, but said, "We'll try, Madame Kala."

Kala thought it was really cute for Jeanne to address her so formally and respectfully like a human and thought how nice she looked paired with Jack. Jeanne liked Kala, too. The ape's thoughts were as meaningful as any human she knew. With no prompting, Jeanne hugged Kala. The elderly gorilla savored the hug from the little girl who belonged to her grandson. Kala's warm fur was soft and comfortable to Jeanne. She would never tire of embracing the gorillas.

On a much less serious note, Terk came up to greet them next with a very different kind of swagger than the others, and said proudly, "Hello, Jeanne. I'm Terk. I'm Tarzan's best friend and first cousin all the way back to when Kala found him in the treehouse."

Jeanne started to do all the proper greetings, but Terk stopped her in mid stride.

"Skip all that nonsense. My daughter Jana says you all did that yesterday. It's awesome you are one of the few humans that knows all that stuff. Let's just get acquainted, shall we?"

Jeanne was very surprised by Terk's very casual, irreverent attitude, pleasant but not at all like the others, "I… I'm pleased to meet you too, Madame Terk."

Jeanne instantly understood exactly why Jana was the way she was.

Terk grinned, "Me too, kid. So… Tarzan's boy has a girlfriend, eh?"

Before Jack could answer, Jeanne answered very cheerily, "Yes. He does. That's me!"

Terk was very amused, and encouraged her further,"Oh! Goodness… Jeanne, you're certainly not timid. And Jana says you know our language pretty well. And our ways?"

"Yes ma'am. Korak is the best teacher, Madame Terk."

"Knock all that 'ma'am' and 'Madame' stuff off, Jeanne. That's for humans. I'm Terk. And I expect to be called that – by human or ape. Except when Jana and her sister call me 'Mom'? Got that, Jeanne?"

Jack stifled a laugh. Terk was in rare form with Jeanne drawing out her personality, and his girlfriend was matching her line for line yet being respectful of the older gorilla. He hoped Terk's behavior didn't scare Jeanne completely out of wanting to be a Mangani. Yet again, Terk proved she was the Mangani's Mangani. In fact, Terk's human-like casual familiarity with Jeanne from the start was making her feel very comfortable among the adult apes.

"Yes ma'… oops.. um… Terk," Jeanne corrected herself with a grin, making the mistake partly on purpose to be funny.

Terk was proud of the human girl's forthrightness with her and joked, "That's much better Jeanne. I always thought humans were teachable. You're living proof."

Turn about was fair play, noted Jeanne to herself. Her teacher said that about animals. She wished the obstinate man could meet Terk. She was more than a match for him.

Jeanne thought of an appropriate retort for Terk, "Well most of the time humans can learn, Terk. Except sometimes my boyfriend."

Jack was completely caught off guard, "What? What?"

The females snickered together. Now Jack knew he was in trouble. Every female he loved so dearly was very capable of teasing him now. Jana. Jeanne. Aunt Terk. Ndidi. And his very own mother. He was 'doomed'. So was his father, and most of his and his father's male friends. In multiple languages. He just rolled his eyes, knowing it was all well meant, but he wondered why they called females the 'fairer sex'.

Terk grinned, "Now I know why my daughter Jana said she likes you, Jeanne. I do too."

Jeanne and Terk were truly impressed with each other.

Terk continued, "So, Jeanne. You want to be Mangani I see," noting her natural appearance except her bracelet, "'Civilized' humans don't normally do that."

Jeanne answered proudly, "I do want to be Mangani. A lot. I like living like you and like Jack."

Terk confirmed, "It's a fine way to live, Jeanne. Better than humans. You're a good mate for him."

Both kids tried to object.

Terk rolled her eyes and waved their attempted objections off like any human would. It was startling.

Terk gave her explanation to the children, not the other way around this time, "Yes, yes. I know you are 'just girlfriend and boyfriend'. I get it. I understand all those dumb explanations that your parents make you say or think you should say that you 'aren't-yet-mates-and-you-are-too-young-but-you-are-just-as-committed-to-each-other-as-adults'. Believe me I had to put up with all that junk with Tarzan and Jane for darn near four months when they were all in 'lurrrv'. They were trying to do all that 'civilized' human courting stuff while Jane became Mangani and kept her human principles too. Those four months were anything but civilized. It was just stupid. All that hand wringing between them and agonizing over 'am-I-his-or-her-mate-or-not-and-should-I-or-shouldn't-I-commit-to-living-like-the-Mangani' crap darn near drove all of us crazy around here. Thank goodness they finally figured out how to live both as Mangani and humans. Their self-imposed angst almost killed me. Don't you do it to us too."

Jeanne just blinked at the candor of Terk's explanation, and Jack got a view of his parents' early courtship that he had never heard before, or at least expressed so bluntly.

Terk's tone changed to be much softer and more encouraging, "Let's face it kids. Love has no age limit. You two love each other even though you are children just as strongly as any adult does. Mangani or human. Even if you won't admit it. I can smell it. We all can. You reek of it. Every other animal in the jungle can sense it too. But humans can't and it's a shame you can't. Life would be so much easier for you both. You wouldn't have to explain it or justify it or make excuses for it. What you have is every bit as strong as your mother and father's love, Jack. And probably your parents too, Jeanne. It's the smell of a bond so deep that nothing in this entire world will break it but death itself. Sooner or later when you're adults, Jeanne and Jack, you're gonna be mates and it's just that simple. You're lucky. You get to enjoy a longer life of loving each other than the rest of us. Few creatures in this entire jungle can ever claim when they're young that they know who they're going to spend the rest of their lives with. The gift you share is extremely rare."

Kirok was as proud of his often grumpy, moody, and irritating mate Terk as he had ever been because of her tenderness and honesty with Korak and his Jeanne. He could see she visibly made them feel better.

The young pair was touched deeply by Terk's words, and they could scarcely talk at all, but clung to each other tightly and exchanged a deeply emotional look. In her extraordinarily candid, simple words, Terk had explained exactly how they felt about each other. Terk's jungle advice was wiser than any human adult's counsel.

Archimedes and Kala heard everything but said nothing and couldn't disagree with a single word.

"Uh well…" Jack fumbled with a response.

Terk smiled, and put her finger on Jack's lips to quiet him and her paw under his chin, like a human aunt would praise a young kinsman. Jeanne simply clung to him and just watched intently, nearly overcome by emotion and relief with everything she had just heard from Terk, "Nephew. Don't be stupid like your father was. You and Jeanne are 'Tarzan and Jane' all over again. Just 15 rainy seasons earlier in life than they discovered how they really felt. Accept it and just love each other every day the best you can. You don't even have to say anything. You just know, don't you?"

"Uh. OK… and umm… yeah, we do," Jack stuttered and smiled, and turned to look at Jeanne, who just smiled at him tenderly with a shy smile, shook her head firmly 'yes' to Terk, and squeezed his hand.

"Now just kiss and keep holding hands and meet everyone else. Play with Jana and your friends. Enjoy your special time here together."

And that's exactly what they did. Every Mangani was impressed by Jeanne, as she graciously met every family member. Even the tiniest gorilla infants responded positively to her.

They had a moment alone and Jeanne asked, "Wow. Is Terk always that way?"

Jack scoffed, "Nah. She was nice to you because you're new."

They laughed.

"Seriously, Jeanne. You really impressed my family," observed Jack, giving her a squeeze.

"Jack this is your family. I had to get this right for you. Nothing is more important than your family.

"Believe me. You did."

They kissed. The rest of the day was spent being part of that family. To everyone's pleasant surprise, she helped gather dinner and other simple chores, ate with them and helped clean up, and when it came time to groom as a complete family, Jeanne was completely unafraid. The feelings of being among the much larger adult gorillas as they groomed her, with their smells, the feel of their fur, and Jack and Jeanne grooming each other was even more amazing than their time with the juvenile gorillas.

When they had finished and everyone started to break to their individual family nests to sleep, Kirok, the family's temporary leader said to the French girl, "You are now Mangani, Jeanne, 'girlfriend' of Korak. You are welcome to spend the night with us. And every night from now on."

"I'm honored," Jane stated, and gave her best subservient gorilla all fours stance given for a Silverback, "Chief Kirok."

Kirok liked the sound of that human leader's title and gave Jeanne a kind look, but Terk jabbed him in the ribs and scolded, "It's nice but don't let that 'Chief' stuff go to your head, mate."

Jeanne and Jack and Jana all were amused. Kirok had a flustered look.

To prepare for sleep, Jack said to Jeanne, "We'll expand the nest with Grandpa like Mom asked. We are not mates yet. We aren't permitted to make our own nest."

"I'll do whatever I have to do to be part of the family, Korak."

Jack and Jeanne approached Archimedes, and asked, "Grandpa, can I make a place in your nest for Jeanne and me?

He smiled at the children, "My dear boy, of course. You make nests ever so much better than I. Go ahead."

Jeanne watched as Jack expanded his grandfather's nest with Grandmother Kala under the bright moonlight, combing and fluffing the grass strands into a kind of mat, weaving moss and other soft materials into the nest. He constantly tested the bounce of the grass pad he created. He built up an expanded perimeter that ringed the family's nest and set it apart from the other families. It was a fascinating process to Jeanne. She noted that Jack put some kind of fragrant herbs into the nest that would prevent bugs or small animals from infiltrating the nest to bother them while they slept. She understood that the elderly human and ape were considered 'mates' by the others and it was really sweet to her that the old widow and widower felt that way about each other. Her great aunt in Marseilles had a new late-life husband.

"OK Jeanne, you can check out our part of the nest out now," invited Jack.

Jeanne was a bit tentative in testing the sponginess a little before completely stretching out in it, savoring the true comfort, and spreading her arms and legs like drawing a snow angel, giggling with the happiness of being in the grass nest with Jack's family. Jack was so fond of that cute giggle, and he just grinned at her. Then she sat up in the nest with a big smile for her boyfriend. Jack could barely contain the joyful sight of his Jeanne in a Mangani nest with him, and for a moment dreamed of a day still long in coming that it might be just their nest. Jeanne had exactly the same thought.

"Jack this is even softer than Lily's bed. This is fantastic!"

"'Told you you'd like it."

Rather than return his snappy comeback, she just reached out for him. They curled up together, settled right next to Porter and Kala, and they shared a gentle goodnight kiss. And a gentle thought, returning to her native French.

"Jack. What Terk said today. Umm…"

"About us?"

"Yes, Jack. Are we…? Do we…?"

"Jeanne you know the answer to that right here," he whispered and put his hand over her heart. She immediately pressed both her hands over his and gave him a tender smile, and savored the moment with her eyes closed.

'Oh, Jack..." she said with deep emotion coursing through her. He could feel her heart beating hard and fast under his hand, which contrasted with the softness of her skin.

"What is it Jeanne?" he asked softly to encourage her to speak what she felt.

Even though she knew that the Professor and Kala could overhear them, Jeanne was compelled to say what was in that heart. The words leaped out.

"Jack. I love you. Really, really love you."

Instantly he responded to the words he was anxious to hear, "I love you too, Jeanne. Just as much."

The touch turned into a gentle embrace and they whispered to each other.

"Just like Mama and Papa did when they were our age," she confessed.

"Just the way Terk told us," he added.

"I like hearing you say those words," she said with with a tender stroke to his cheek, "Say them again in Mangani, Korak."

They held both hands together as he did and she repeated the words slowly with him. They repeated again together several times to make sure she had the pronunciation. Jeanne was very proud of herself and confessed her love to Jack in Mangani without assistance. Immediately Jack nuzzled her and grunted the way gorilla males would in response, which made her giggle. They were so focused on each other that they didn't see Terk and Kirok as well as Kala and Archimedes silently mouth the words while reclining in their nests with loving looks for their mates. Jana heard Jack and Jeanne and their tender words, saw the adults cuddling, and was very pleased.

Not ready to be done with the joy of the moment, Jeanne asked, "Teach me en anglais, mon cher copaine."

Jack grinned from ear to ear at her request, translating the words 'je t'aime' in French quickly into 'I love you' in English. Her accent was musical to his ears.

"Your first English words, Jeanne," he noted in French.

"Can you think of any better first English words?" she noted with a demure look.

She beamed and blushed at him, sharing another tender little kiss. But not letting the moment get too syrupy, Jeanne quipped, "But what if we turn into jerks as we get older and hate each other?"

Jack raised an eyebrow and snapped right back, "Even jerks need another jerk to love."

She just gave him a look and they both laughed.

They were very happy with their pent-up admission. Love itself finally let them put into the words both wanted and needed to hear, even though glances and looks and touches had said everything they needed until now.

She just exchanged that special look that needed no further words, and was bold enough to say, as she coiled deeper into his sleeping embrace, once again using Mangani, "I'm going to like living like this Jack. I like it already."

"I'm glad you do. Me too, Jeanne. Goodnight."

They fell asleep almost immediately from their very busy day.

But before dreams overcame them, Porter was close to them, and he put his hand on both of them, "Sleep well, children, you have our blessings," and he snuggled with Kala next to the children. He heard the commitment in their voices that this was a first step in preparing them for a lifetime. Archimedes and Jane's mother were drawn to each other in their early teens and he recalled their tender moments. And he prayed he could live long enough to know his own great grandchildren.

Porter thought, "Terk is right, it is 'Jane and Tarzan' all over again."

…

Deep at sea rounding the western curve of Africa, an elite German Army experimental weapons and tactics team sweated and chafed at the claustrophobic conditions inside the U-boat carrying them on their secret mission. Sleeping was getting harder in the too-stale air. It was so tight on a ship designed to carry half the men it carried now. They had to sleep with their equipment, composed of a nightmare of pressurized tanks and hoses, in addition to their packs, rifles, and combat helmets. They'd been confined with sub's sailors nearly a month already. Avoiding French and English shipping caused many submergences.

The Executive Officer of the platoon asked anxiously, "Hauptmann Schneider, when do we get there?"

Schneider replied, "At this rate Unter-Lieutenant Von Goss, another week or so."

"This is awful. It's so cramped here. It's starting to get on my nerves."

"Easy, there Unter-Lieutenant. It's the only way to surprise the Brits in Nigeria and the French in Dahomey. We have to get by the British Ivory Coast unseen. And when we do what we need to do in Nigeria, it will be unbroken German territory from Togoland to Kamerun. We will win the coming Battle of Africa in one swift preemptive move before they even know what hit them."

Von Goss nodded and replied, "I know that sir. It's brilliant sir. It's just the waiting, and getting there."

Schneider just pondered, "Whatever the French are planning, at least they aren't the only ones with a surprise."

…

It was the beginning of Jack and Jeanne's tenth day with the Mangani. Their stay had been extended by their mothers twice already, and Jack was about to ask for another week of playing, living, and learning with his kin.

But as he stood up and drew his breath for the call, with Jeanne standing next to him, Jack turned and heard a different jungle call. His mother's call. It had a sense of urgency like never before to come home.

Jack said with great concern, "Jeanne… we need to go. And go now. We have to get Grandpa to come. And Kala if she wants to be with him."

Jeanne saw the very anxious look on Jack's face and nervously asked, "Why? What's wrong? Did Mama or your mom change their minds? Did we do something wrong?"

Jack gave a crestfallen gaze at Jeanne, taking her hand in his and giving it an urgent squeeze, and stated, "No, Jeanne. The war. It's started."

…

Author's Note #2: The fun is over, capped by a big admission between our young couple, confirming what they knew they felt. For those who've expressed some concern about the speed of progression of their relationship over 3-4 months and the need to 'put the brakes on', rest assured we will as action-adventure takes the forefront from here on out. Even though they're based on two very real human childhood sweetheart couples I've known (who are still together after decades by the way) we've reached the pinnacle here, and later you will see why. I know you care about Jack and Jeanne as I have crafted them, so thank you for those comments. But something ominous arises. ERB Tarzan canon fans know who the German officers Schneider and Von Goss are from the original ERB book "Tarzan the Untamed". But I have reinterpreted them for my version of the story. And on another matter, pachysam, assuming you are still a reader, you got your wish for the line you wanted in the story! Read on…

And yeah, I did let Terk just satirically summarize my own fan fic of Tarzan and Jane's jungle courtship way back at the beginning! :)