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Chapter 15 – Trip to the Port

Tarzan and Archimedes began to plan the trip to the port the next morning with great gusto. Archimedes pondered over maps of the area whilst Tarzan advised him on which way would not only be the quickest but most importantly the safest route. After taking a detailed stock take, Archimedes wrote a purchase list to which he asked Jane to double check. Jane's eyes scanned the list:

Tea

Coffee

Sugar

Salt

Flour

Spices

Toiletries

Cleaning supplies

Laundry supplies

Medical supplies

Stationery and drawing supplies

New lab equipment

New clothes, fabric and sewing equipment

Beer and wine

Tinned foods

Smoked and cured meats

Seeds for growing vegetables

Gardening equipment for growing vegetables

Chickens x 10 and 1 rooster

Goats x 3 (female) and 1 x male

Equipment to make butter and cheese

Materials to build coops, pens and vegetable beds etc

Miscellaneous: books, music etc

"Looks fine to me Daddy," Jane said when she finished reading whilst adding makeup and perfume to the list.

"I think we have covered everything but if we see anything extra we can always get it," Archimedes added.

Tarzan nodded, amused at how many things that Jane and the Professor needed in order to survive. He survived for 23 years with nothing but his spear, loincloth and his fierce jungle instincts. However as he saw Jane getting excited and laughing gaily, he couldn't help his heart melting at her being truly happy after their long time deep in sadness and grief.

"I'll speak to Tantor," Tarzan said as he put his arm around his wife's waist, "We should be able to leave tomorrow at dawn."

"Now are you absolutely sure you're happy doing this?" Tarzan asked Tantor as he finished tying travelling supplies to his friend's back. Tarzan took it upon himself to ensure that they travelled light. After all they were going to buy a lot of supplies and anything to save Tantor carrying unnecessary weight was essential.

"Oh I am more than happy to help!" Tantor grinned jubilantly, "This is going to be the best road trip ever!"

"Thank you for this Tantor. You are such a good friend to us. I am eternally grateful," Jane said as she affectionately stroked and pecked his trunk.

"Oh anything for you Mrs Tarzan!" Tantor could not stop himself from blushing at Jane's accolade and had to hide his face with one of his giant ears. Once they were ready and raring to go, everyone gathered round to exchange farewells.

"Now when to you get to this 'port' place, don't be getting any crazy ideas!" Terk cautioned Tarzan as she and little Keke hugged him. "There's a lotta boats there T. You might just end up on one to England again!" Tarzan chuckled but he could sense that behind Terk's bravado there was a genuine concern that he would leave again.

"Don't worry Terk, we are only to getting to get supplies, nothing more," he reassured her and hugged his gorilla cousin tightly.

"It's alright Terk, I'll make sure Tarzan's feet stay on dry land," Jane smiled as Tantor lifted her up onto his back with his trunk.

"Or up in the air on vines!" Gobu joked and everyone laughed, relaxing the anxious atmosphere. Tarzan turned around to see Kala smiling nervously at him, bringing back to him memories of their last goodbye.

"Don't worry Mum, I will be back," he whispered into her ear as they embraced, "I promise."

"I know, be careful my son," she replied softly.

"Don't fret Kala my dear," Archimedes said as Tantor put him on his back, "we'll back in about 10 days. After all an average elephant can travel 40 miles a day you know!"

"I would double that with Tantor if I were you!" He is a complete slowpoke!" Terk said as she rolled her eyes in mock despair.

"Slowpoke!" Tantor exclaimed angrily at his friend's rather sarcastic jibe.

"Let's go Tantor!" Tarzan called out as he leapt onto his back, hoping to leave before another fight erupted between the pair! Tantor, determined to prove Terk wrong charged off into the jungle at a fantastic speed, trampling everything in sight and almost causing Archimedes to fly off!

The four friends spent the next four days travelling at a good pace through the jungle. Jane and Archimedes on Tantor's back most of the time whilst Tarzan swung ahead on the vines to warn them of possible obstructions and dangers. They made sure that they took a long rest at midday when the sun was at its highest and it was too hot to walk. They kept Tantor well fed and watered and it was relatively easy for them to find food and water for themselves even in a part of the jungle that Tarzan was unfamiliar with.

Every morning Jane checked herself for any signs of her impending course, which was due to come after their return from the port. There was no sign of it, her breasts continued to be tender and she felt nauseous around some fruits but no actual sickness. With every day she grew more and more sure that she was with child again but was determined to only tell Tarzan once they arrived back home and she had definitely missed her third course.

By the time the fifth day of travelling came around, all the confidence and excitement that they had at the beginning was disappearing fast. "Are we nearly there YET?" Tantor moaned for the hundredth time as they made their way the thick, heavy and humid jungle.

"NOOOOOO!" Everyone's patience was wearing thin and the muggy heat certainly did not help their fraying tempers.

"Daddy are you sure we are going the right way?" Jane asked as she ran a hand through her damp and sticky hair, which seemed to impossible to style in the close air.

"Well according to the map and compass, we should be only 10, no 5 miles northeast from the port," Archimedes bumbled as he looked at the map, turning it this way and that.

Jane spotted a large white rock shaped like an egg and groaned in exhaustion. "Daddy, we have passed this rock before. Let's face it, we are lost!" Everyone moaned in frustration as they all realised that they had been going round in circles for the past couple of hours!

"Don't worry Jane I'll find out which way we need to go," Tarzan said and before Jane could reply he leapt off Tantor's back and into the nearest tree. Then he leapt from branch to branch, higher and higher into the canopy as graceful as a dancer.

Tarzan stood up at his full height when he reached the top of the jungle canopy. He took in a deep breath, inhaling the delicious taste of the salty breeze. He saw seabirds fly in the distance and some boats with their sails flapping in the wind as they headed towards land. Tarzan couldn't help but whoop with joy as he could make out the coastline and the endless blue sea. It was so tantalising close! "We're near," he exclaimed as he landed like a cat on the jungle floor in front of Tantor, "just a couple of miles that way." He pointed in a completely different direction to the way they had been going all day.

"Well then let's go!" Tantor cried, flinging Tarzan onto his back and stormed through the jungle, making trumpeting sounds with his trunk.

"TANTOR STOP!" Tarzan shouted as they emerged out of the jungle which suddenly ended at the top of a steep scree slope! But it was too late, Tantor slid down the slope on his belly at an amazing speed, everyone clinging on for dear life! Tarzan could feel his eardrums almost burst as Jane screamed at the top of her lungs as they sped down the slope!

"Tarzan!" Archimedes yelled, his eyes widening as he saw a stack of heavy iron boxes at the bottom of the slope. They were hurtling straight towards them and they would be killed instantly if they collided with them!

Quick as a flash, Tarzan pulled Tantor's ears hard to the left and by some miracle Tantor's body swerved, missing the iron boxes by a fraction of an inch. Tarzan directed Tantor to collide with a pile of nearby flour bags, sending a humongous cloud of white flour into the air! "You think when you go shopping you could get me some ointment please?" Tantor asked rather sheepishly, rubbing his sore and scratched belly after everyone stopped having a coughing fit from the flour dust.

Tarzan shot Tantor a look as if to say 'Just stay here and DON'T move!'

"Here, you better put this on," Jane handed Tarzan his father's suit which she had stashed away amongst the travelling supplies.

"Why?" Tarzan was surprised; he had no idea that she had packed it.

"Because we don't want to attract any unwanted attention to ourselves Tarzan. We don't want anyone; good or bad following us back into the jungle hence why I am wearing my blue dress. A man in a loincloth, walking on all fours is going to draw crowds and raise suspicions. We need to blend in, be as inconspicuous as possible."

Tarzan nodded and went behind a large rock to change. A few moments later he emerged, standing tall and proud. Even though Jane loved and strongly desired her husband with his sleek and sculpted muscles and only a loincloth covering his modesty, she did enjoy seeing him in that suit. He looked like how she imagined the dashing heroes from her favourite novels, Mr Darcy or Mr Rochester.

"Here let me," she said as Tarzan struggled to tie the maroon cravat.

"Thank you," he said gratefully as she gently puffed it out and tucked the ends down into his waistcoat. Jane smiled and kissed him sweetly on the lips. He took her hand in his and squeezed it tightly.

"Here we go," Archimedes gulped nervously as they started to walk towards the port, "into the lion's den!"

The port was not huge, but bigger than they expected. There was a good-sized dock filled boats of various sizes including local fishing boats with bigger vessels further out to sea. Seagulls screamed and wheeled in the sky before diving down to snatch up any scraps as the fishermen hauled in their catches to be weighed. As well as the port authority buildings, there were a few stores including a general store, an ironmonger, a haberdasher and a couple of taverns where sailors poured in to spend their wages on gin and rum.

There was also a market selling a plethora of goods including fish, meat, livestock, vegetables, fruit, spices and so much more. Tarzan was absolutely fascinated; he had never seen anything like it before! The market was bustling with people, costermongers trying to shout out their prices whilst customers tried to haggle for a bargain. Men gutted fish with knives quicker than lightning before adding them to already full barrels whilst women in loosely laced bodices tempted sailors to buy their own special 'wares'.

The smells of raw meat and fish, spices and the sweat of people in the burning sun melded together to create an intoxicating scent. Tarzan was utterly overwhelmed by it all. He stood stock still in the entrance of the market not even noticing that he was being pushed about as people shoved past him impatiently carrying their purchases. He saw a man carrying a sack over his shoulder and his eyes widened. The man's skin was dark like tar, making the whites of his eyes appear bright and dazzling. "Come on dear," Jane interrupted his daze by gently taking his hand and escorted him through the stalls.

As they made their way through the market, they past a fruit stall where Tarzan spotted a basket of mangoes. His stomach rumbled and the smell of the perfectly ripe fruit was so inviting. He deftly picked one up and bit into it as he went to catch up with his wife, who was now much further down the market. As he swallowed his first bite, a heavy hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him round. Tarzan found himself facing an incredibly tall, burly and rather furious looking market trader!

"That will be a tanner for the mango sir," the man said gruffly, his face red from a mixture of anger and sunburn.

"Sorry what?" Tarzan stuttered. He had no idea what a 'tanner' was.

"Tan-ner!" the man yelled slowly at Tarzan as if he was deaf. "You know sixpence! Pay the price you dirty palmer before I'll hand you in to the port authority or before you cop a mouse!"

"Cop a what?" The man was speaking what appeared to be English to Tarzan but at the same time it seemed like a completely different language! The man grabbed Tarzan by the lapels of his jacket, his face now purple with rage! Tarzan realised that the man wanted to fight and went for his rock knife, concealed in his trouser pocket.

"Stop! Please good sir! I beg you, put him down!" Jane cried as she pushed her way through the gathering onlookers. "Here take this and let us forget this silly indiscretion." Jane delved into her drawstring purse and held out a shilling for the trader to take.

"Pah!" the man spat in contempt as he let go of Tarzan, "Don't sell me a dog woman! This man is a mobsman! Dash my wig, he might be a bearer up and you are his accomplice!"

"Sir, how dare you!" Jane made an exaggerated hurt expression, "We are missionaries from England intending to spread the good word of our Lord and his son Jesus Christ to the natives of this wild and godless land! We are hardly pickpockets!"

"He stole one of my mangoes!" the man snapped, pointing a fat sausage of a finger at Tarzan.

"Forgive my cousin Jeremiah," Jane quickly lied, "he is a half-wit, a simpleton. My father, a kind Christian pastor took him in as his ward rather than see him condemned to an asylum! Please sir he is an innocent of this world, he did not know what he was doing." Jane turned round and with a guilty conscience sharply hit Tarzan a few times on his shoulder with the flat of her palm!

"Bad, bad, bad Jeremiah!" she scolded him, wagging her finger, "You have committed a sin again you naughty boy!"

"But, but, but Jane!" Tarzan stammered in amazement. He was completely clueless as to why his wife was striking him, which luckily for Jane made it look all the more convincing!

"No buts Jeremiah! What is the eighth commandant of the Holy Bible?"

Tarzan shook his head, dumbfounded.

"Thou shall not steal," Jane made a disapproving tut, "now apologise to the good man that you stole from and hope he is able to look deep into his heart and forgive you for your abhorrent wickedness!"

"Sorry sir," Tarzan mumbled sheepishly.

"I forgive your cousin madam," the trader grunted somewhat reluctantly.

"Here," Jane pressed the coin into the trader's palm, "please take this in reparation. Come along Jeremiah." As she turned to leave, the trader suddenly grabbed her forearm with a vice like grip.

"How do I know that is not a trick?" he snarled, "How do I know that this is not a dimpnick?"

"My good sir," Jane looked at the trader as innocently as a nun, "I am the daughter of a pastor, why would I ever try to deceive you?" The trader took the coin and bit it. Jane held in a sigh of relief when he let her go after deeming the coin to be true.

"I am sorry Madam," the trader looked truly apologetic, "forgive me."

"You are forgiven," Jane nodded sagely and made the sign of the cross, "God bless you and your family." Jane took Tarzan's hand and escorted him out of the market as quickly as she could before her husband caused further mayhem!

"What, what happened there Jane?" Tarzan demanded as they stopped outside the general store, rubbing his aching shoulder.

"You took one of the market trader's mangoes. They are not free like the ones on the trees in the jungle. You have to pay for them with money. People are selling goods including fruit to earn a wage. You stole some of the man's stock. I had to say some lies about who we are and pay him off so you wouldn't face a beating or be put in the stocks!"

"Oh," Tarzan's cheeks flushed as he realised his foolishness, "I am so sorry Jane. I didn't mean to steal."

"It's alright, I should have told you beforehand. I should remember that you are still getting used to our customs."

"Thank you for saving me," Tarzan replied gratefully, taking her hands in his.

"Well you saved me from the baboons and I saved you from the market trader!" Jane giggled, "Let's say we are now even. I am sorry too, I didn't mean to hit you quite that hard!"

"Yes," Tarzan's eyes mischievously twinkled, "maybe you can kiss it better?"

"No," Jane shook her head and held out her hand to stop Tarzan from leaning in, "people think we are cousins so none of that until we are safely out of the port!" Tarzan stood back and nodded. He certainly did not want to cause any more trouble for them!

"Why don't you help my father in the general store? I'll go around the market and purchase the seeds and livestock."

Tarzan nodded again and went to enter the shop. As he watched Jane walk back into the hubbub of the market, he secretly shook his head in both frustration and amusement. There were so many things that he had yet to learn about humans and civilised society. It seemed that he had barely scratched the surface!