Chapter 29 – Solitary Confinement:
Unfortunately, despite Archimedes' reassurances Jane's morning sickness did not dissipate. It carried on into her second and even her third trimester. Archimedes soon diagnosed her having 'hyperemesis gravidarum' or extreme morning sickness and decided that she must put on bed-rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. He spent most of his time in the old camp trying to find a cure for his daughter's sickness but sadly every attempt proved unsuccessful. The magolo root which had been the Porters' cure-all for many years was unsuccessful, in fact it made her feel even worse!
Jane stirred in bed and opened her eyes to the dingy gloom of the tree house. Thick curtains had been hung up at all the windows and doors in an vain attempt to block out any smells wafting in. Archimedes and Tarzan were now forced to cook all the family meals on the fire-pit outside instead of using the range, as virtually every odour seemed to set off Jane's nausea.
Jane sighed a deep, heavy sigh as she saw that she would have to spend yet another day cooped up in the tree house. The place that was once her beloved home had now become a virtual prison. She had not been to the jungle in months as every smell, every scent in it made her feel violently ill.
When everything got too overwhelming, in the dark recesses of Jane's mind she questioned as to whether if she was even pregnant at all. She couldn't help but wonder if she actually had some sort of worm or parasite growing inside her gut instead of a baby in her womb. It seemed to suck the very life out of her unlike when she had Annabelle she was a picture of health.
Even when the baby started kicking, it did not quell her fears as she questioned if whether being this constantly sick was harming it or a sign that she would eventually loose it. Although her morning sickness was not bad when she had the first failed pregnancy, it was all too similar and every day Jane was racked with conflicting emotions, despairing at her condition but truly happy at finally having another child, desperate to make sure it survived to full term yet desperate to get it out of her.
Suddenly Jane's stomach ominously churned, vomit rushing up in her throat. She grabbed the bucket, constantly by her bedside and heaved into it.
"Mama?" Annabelle came over to her as she finished being sick, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Jane made a weak smile as she lifted her face from the bucket, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, "just a bit under the weather today that's all."
"Shall I make you some tea, something to eat?"
"No thanks love, I don't think I can stomach anything at the moment."
"You have to eat and drink something," Annabelle insisted gently, "remember what Grandpa said, drink lots of fluids and eat little and often."
Jane smiled as her daughter repeated her father's sage advice. Annabelle had grown up so much in the last 8 months. She now acted a lot older than her 10 years. She had become the main care provider for her mother and Jane couldn't help feeling guilty about her daughter giving up so much of her childhood for her.
But this did not seem to bother Annabelle one bit who took it all in her stride. She was so excited about the baby arriving that she was more than happy to look after her ailing mother. Jane closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them again she saw Annabelle placing a cup and plate on the bedside table.
"Some ginger tea," she said to Jane, "and some water biscuits. Something bland and dry."
"Oh sweetie, that's very kind but I said I didn't feel like eating."
"Oh, I thought you would want something after your nap."
"Nap?"
"Yes. You've been asleep for over an hour," Annabelle held out the cup and Jane politely took a sip or two of the tea. She could've sworn that she had just blinked!
"Were you this sick when you had me?" Anna asked as her mother took another sip of the ginger infused tea.
"No," Jane shook her head, "not at all when I had you."
"I hope I don't get sick when I have babies," Annabelle remarked. She knew where babies came from, growing up around animals she knew almost straight away what mating was but she still didn't like the thought of constantly throwing up in order to create a baby.
"Don't worry," Jane smiled as she stroked her daughter's arm, "most women only have a little sickness or none. I am a rare case, an anomaly if you like."
Annabelle nodded and Jane smiled at the thought of her daughter one day having children and at herself becoming a grandmother. "My my! How children grow up so fast!" she thought to herself. Here her daughter was, her baby, with long brown hair, light emerald eyes and had grown at least another inch in height. A perfect mixture of her and Tarzan. Only she was not a baby any more, she was blossoming into a young confident woman. Jane couldn't believe that in only a couple of years time she would be approaching adolescence. It didn't seem right, fair even for time to fly by so fast. She really hoped that it would not happen with her next child but of course that was a silly notion. Mother birds want their chicks out of the nest and flying as soon as possible. They didn't seemed bothered by the empty nest. "Maybe it is only a human feeling? To cling onto your children until they cut the apron strings instead of you?" Jane pondered as her daughter offered her a water biscuit.
"Where are your father and grandfather?" Jane asked as she nibbled the dry bland biscuit, hoping that she could keep it down unlike everything else.
"Grandpa is at the old camp with Uncle Tantor and Papa is with the gorillas, south of the river." Jane had insisted that husband spend as much time leading the gorillas as possible. She didn't want to worry him and or force him being bored to death, cooped up with her in the tree house day and night. But also the smell of him, the wonderful scent of his that she so adored was also making her feel sick too. It seemed that this baby wanted her isolated from everything she loved including her beloved husband. It wanted her constant attention and Jane really hoped that it wouldn't be so demanding after its birth.
"How long 'til the baby is born Mama?"
"Not long, a week or so I guess." When Jane and Tarzan broke the news to their daughter, they did somewhat worry about Annabelle's reaction. She had been an only child for so long that they were concerned enough that she might see a baby brother or sister as a potential threat, someone to compete with for their love and attention. But Annabelle was over the moon and thrilled at the notion of being a protective big sister.
"I can't wait for my baby brother to be born," Annabelle beamed as she placed the cup back on the bedside table.
"Brother? What makes you so sure you're having a brother?"
"Oh it was just something Auntie Terk said… but it's nothing."
"No what did Auntie Terk say?" Jane was curious. Any piece of potential gossip was an absolute treat to her given her current seclusion.
"Well..." Annabelle was hesitant. "She said that when gorillas have infants if your hair is glossy, shiny and you look beautiful you will have a girl. If you are tired, ugly and your hair is dull you will have a boy."
"And what did she say I would have?"
"Boy!"
"Cheeky little -" Jane bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from cursing and laughing, "how charming of Auntie Terk! So you definitely think you're going to have a brother?" Annabelle nodded and deep down inside Jane felt that she was having a boy too but she decided to have a little fun.
"Well I think I am having a girl, want to make a bet on that?"
"What's the stakes Mama?"
"If I'm right you have to help me wash nappies for a month, if you win…. you can pick the baby's name."
"Really!" Annabelle's green eyes lit up in sheer delight, "You serious? I can pick the name!"
"Yes," Jane smiled as her daughter tried hard to control her excitement, "but no silly names though!"
"Oh yes!" Annabelle squealed, "I'll pick the best name! I promise Mama, I promise - what's wrong?" she said quickly as she saw her mother make a sharp wince.
"The baby is kicking something chronic," Jane groaned, "can you tell it one of your stories? That always calms it down."
"Which one? Lord Mangani versus Masut the Evil Baboon King? Lord Mangani and the Lost City of Opar or Lord Mangani and the Shadow Leopard?"
"Surprise us!" Jane smiled as her daughter sat cross-legged on the bed next to her, placing her hands carefully on her mother's heavily swollen stomach. Annabelle began to tell the story of Lord Mangani, her father who in this tale helped pirates find a buried treasure deep in the jungle only to be double-crossed, kidnapped, taken aboard their ship and forced to walk the plank! Annabelle was an avid storyteller and loved to tell almost Herculean like tales of her father, calling him Lord Mangani after the name of their gorilla family tribe.
"Splash!" Annabelle cried dramatically, "Lord Mangani toppled down into the shark infested waters! As he sunk to the bottom of the ocean blue he was unable to free himself from the ropes that fiercely bound him! Doomed he was! Doomed! But then the mermaids arrived, beautiful mermaids with long hair and shimmering tails who untied the ropes and brought him safely to the surface! Then Lord Mangani doggedly climbed back onto the pirates' galleon and with his fierce fists and swift kicks defeated the pirates and Long John Silver! Then he threw the treasure of Callabas overboard into the ocean, never to be found again!"
"Now why would he throw the treasure into the ocean?"
"Because gold and jewels do not interest Lord Mangani," Annabelle explained, "the jungle, his home and his family are his treasure!"
"Very good sweetheart!" Jane clapped and then pulled herself up a little. But then she noticed that the mattress was sodden. Her waters had broken and she had not even realised! Not wanting to frighten her daughter, Jane kept her face calm and collected and took Annabelle's hand. "Sweetie, I want you to be a big girl now. I want you to go into the jungle and get your father, grandfather and Grandma Kala and bring them back to me as quickly as you can."
"Are you having the baby now?" Jane felt Annabelle instinctively squeeze her hand.
"Yes," Jane nodded, "so I need you to get them so they can help me deliver."
"I can't leave," Annabelle's voice was fearful, "I can't leave you alone! What if something bad happens?"
"It won't," Jane reassured her as she felt her first contraction starting to build up inside her, "I promise you I will be alright Anna but I need you to go and get Kala, your grandpa and father. Please."
Annabelle looked like she was going to refuse at first but got up and hurried towards the front door. As she opened the door, Jane let out a little cry and Annabelle whipped her head round to see her mother wince in pain.
"Go!" Jane looked at her daughter, her eyes almost begging, "Please!"
Annabelle silently nodded and rushed out of the tree house, leaving her mother behind, determined to bring her back the help she so desperately needed.