Hello everyone! Apologies for the long delay but work has been crazy over the Xmas/New Year period and also I have suffered two stomach flus and a horrific cold/sinusitis as well so I have just been too ill/exhausted to write. Anyway here is a super long chapter and I look forward to writing the next one and reading your reviews! Love Miffygirl18 xxx
Chapter 35 – The Challenger:
The next morning the Porters got up earlier than usual. They all got washed and dressed in somewhat of a hurry and then had a quick breakfast before setting off to see the gorillas, to tell them the life-changing news. Jane could feel her heart pounding and a sick feeling developing in her stomach as they walked through the jungle whilst William slept in the sling on her front.
"You nervous?" she eventually asked her husband, who choose to walk alongside her rather than swing on vines.
"Absolutely," he replied back and gave her hand a squeeze. Annabelle overheard her parents and took her mother's other hand and squeezed it.
"Don't worry Mama," she said sweetly, "Grandma and the others will understand if we explain."
"Let's hope so," Archimedes chimed in and they all joined hands as the family approached their gorilla family, all of them still feeling nervous as hell.
"It's Tarzan!" one of the gorillas called out as they entered the nesting area. The troop was all up and Tarzan could see not only Terk and Gobu but also Tantor and Jalika with her son Dembe.
"Hey T!" Tantor came over and patted Tarzan's back with his trunk in greeting, "I have found the most amazing branch racecourse yesterday! I've gotta show you it!"
"A little later Tantor," Tarzan replied, "I've just got to do something first. Where is my mother?"
"Over there," Tantor pointed with his trunk and Tarzan nodded in thanks. As he walked over, he tried to take deep calming breaths and figure out what he was going to say. He wanted to break the news to his mother first, in private before telling the rest of the family. As he approached her she was calmly rearranging her nest, fluffing up the leaves with such a harmonious contentment that he felt guilty that he was going to dispel it at any second.
"Hello son." Kala's voice was soft and soothing, absolutely maternal and comforting. Tarzan girded his loins and took a deep breath.
"Mum… there's something I need to tell you. I want to tell you before I call a family meeting."
Everyone!" someone called out in a loud, gruff voice, "Tarzan wants a family meeting!" It was Moyo who lurked out a bush nearby, out of the shadows.
"Moyo I wanted to speak with my mother first," Tarzan bit back, trying to hide his annoyance. Moyo shrugged his shoulders as if to apologise but he had a slight smirk on his face.
There was now no chance to tell only Kala the news. The gorillas came over at a comfortable pace and it took a little time for everyone to sit down and be ready for the meeting. Nobody thought anything of it; it was probably just Tarzan telling where they were going to nest next.
"Everyone," Tarzan said once all of the gorillas had settled down. "As you know mine and Jane's son is a little different from Belle." The gorillas nodded in agreement. Even though they didn't not have any contact with any other humans other than Jane, Tarzan, Archimedes and the children, from what they saw all their mouths were not like William's.
"William needs help for it," Tarzan continued, "there is a man in England, where Jane came from that can fix it. Jane is going to take William to England to see this man and get help."
There was shock and animation amongst the gorillas at this amazing piece of news!
"What's going to happen with us?" a young male piped up from the back and the rest of the troop looked avidly to Tarzan for the answer.
"Tarzan is going to stay here and keep leading you," Jane stepped into the meeting, "I will go with my father and the children. Once William is better, we will come back, for good."
"Will you be gone for long?" Mungo asked.
"Yes, it takes a long time to travel to England but I promise you all that my home, our home is here with you all. But if we don't go William will get more sick." Jane felt as if she had explained it as best she could for the gorillas as they spoke amongst themselves.
"When are you going?" Terk asked as she approached them.
"As soon as possible," Tarzan replied, "we will pack soon and go to the port in few days."
"We will help you carry anything to the port," Jalika added a helpful smile, "both of us, won't we Tantor?"
"Of course anything for you guys, especially William," Tantor replied, giving Jane a supportive smile.
"Thanks Tantor," Tarzan patted his side with his hand in thanks. "I guess that is it, everything's sorted. Family meeting over!"
Lots of the gorillas crowded around Jane, mainly females bombarding her with so many questions about England and the journey that she didn't see Tarzan walk off, shoulders drooped. But Kala did and she quietly followed him as he sat up in a tree a little away from the family.
"Tarzan," she said softly as she approached him, "what's wrong?"
"Oh nothing," Tarzan replied, failing to hide to despondence, "just wanting a moment alone that's all. I did try to tell you earlier before Moyo interrupted."
"I know," Kala nodded understandingly as she sat down beside him. "But why are you not going with Jane and the children?"
"I need to stay here. Jane told me it would be best for all of us if I stay here."
"Is that really what's best for you?" Kala asked quietly. "Tarzan… Jane and the children will be gone for a long time, do you really want to be away from them for so long?"
"Of course I don't!' Tarzan sighed exasperatedly, "But what choice do I have Mum? Kerchak chose me to be leader. I made a promise, a dying promise to him to lead the family. I cannot break it now… I didn't even think I would have to face this problem one day."
"Every leader has challenges to face."
"I know," Tarzan nodded, "but I cannot leave you and the family unprotected."
"You can't be everywhere son."
"But if I leave then… then I will no longer be part of the family. I will no longer be a Mangani."
"You always were and always will be one of us," Kala retorted, "from the day that I found you until your last breath. You are family my son but Jane, Anna and William are also your family, our family too. Kerchak said to take care of the family, he would have also meant Jane and the children."
"Oh Mum," Tarzan sighed deeply, "I'm so confused. I really want to be with Jane and the children but I also want be here with you all. I don't know what to do."
"Tarzan if you were sick or hurt when you were young then I would have done anything. I would have searched far and wide for other humans to help you. I would swim all the salt water in the world to find help. A mother, a father will do anything for their child; even sacrifice their own life to save theirs."
"But if I leave… then I will have to sacrifice my place as leader."
"Maybe that sacrifice is worth taking. Being leader is not the be all and end all of life Tarzan. One of the males will want to be leader someday, that's inevitable. Family and the health of your child is what matters. Kerchak would understand that. It's your choice to stay or to go but we will understand if you do go. Like I said to you in the treehouse all those years ago, I just want you to be happy whatever you decide." Kala stroked her son's cheek with her finger before leaving him alone to make his choice.
As Jane turned her head as she was talking to Terk, she saw her husband approach them and the rest of the gorillas. She smiled at first and then noted the determined way in which he carried himself and the steely look in his green eyes. He looked like a man on a mission.
"Everyone!" he called out in a booming voice! "I'm calling another family meeting!"
"Tarzan what's going on?" Jane asked as the gorillas settled back to their old sitting positions. But Tarzan did not answer her question and faced the family.
"Everyone I have thought long and hard over this," Tarzan continued, his voice grave. "I have decided… that I will go with Jane and the children to England after all."
"What!" Jane gasped as the gorillas gasped and gaped in just as much shock as she was. This was not going the way that she planned. She rushed over to her husband and grabbed his arm. "Tarzan," she breathed, "what you are doing? This is not what we agreed."
"I know," Tarzan nodded, "but I cannot be here without you. I cannot be here without Belle and William. I want to go to England with you, I want to be with my family."
"But Tarzan - " Jane started but stopped as Tarzan rested his forehead on hers.
"Ooh-eh-ee-ooh-ooh," he replied in gorilla, his emerald green eyes intensely looking into hers. 'Tarzan stays with Jane'. Jane could see that there was no point in trying to change his mind; he had decided that he was going and that was that.
"But what about us?" Mungo and Flint piped up and all the gorillas anxiously gabbled to each other as their lives were being turned upside down.
"I will step down," Tarzan replied, making sure to keep his voice calm. "And I choose Gobu to be your next leader. He has led you all over the years when I was unable to. He is a calm, fair and wise gorilla and a brother to me. He will lead you well."
"Tarzan," Gobu stepped out from the group and walked towards him, "this is a great honour. I will lead this family with as much love, respect and fairness as you have until you come back, brother." Jane smiled at this. Their answers were solved; Gobu would lead the family until they came back. Why didn't she think of that before? All the gorillas seem to nod their heads in agreement at this compromise.
"Wait a minute!" Moyo shook his head in disbelief, "Have you lot all lost your minds? Tarzan cannot just stop and start leading when he wants to! He has to be leader until his last breath or fully give up his place! Gobu cannot be a fill-in!"
"It is my choice as the new leader to only lead until Tarzan returns." Gobu retorted, "He is the true leader of us Manganis. Kerchak chose him remember Moyo!"
"I may be old fashioned," one of the old male gorillas chipped in, "but in my day gorillas were not lead by humans, they were led by gorillas!" There were nods and grunts of agreement from some of the troop.
"Hey! Everything about Tarzan just screams leader!" Terk interrupted, "I mean just look at these muscles! Work with me T!" she hissed under her breath.
"He is a human, with a human wife and human children. He has two families. His loyalty will always be divided!"
"Tarzan has proven a thousand times over how much he cares for the family! And so has Jane and the Professor!" Kala snapped back, furious at Moyo's insinuations.
"Yes, but he has chosen Jane and his family over us," Moyo's voice hissed like a snake, "and he will choose them over us every time! A gorilla leader will always put the family first, without hesitation!"
"And you think my Gobu wouldn't!" Terk demanded with her hands on her hips.
"He is merely Tarzan's shadow! The Manganis need a strong, independent leader not a puppet! I challenge Gobu for leadership!" There were gasps of shock and excitement as Moyo roared and beat his chest with his fists!
"Don't do this Moyo!" Kala pleaded.
"He can if he wants!" Mungo replied peevishly. "The leader can be challenged at any time!"
"May I be so bold as to suggest that we vote instead?" Jane jumped in, desperately trying to keep the peace. "We should do this democratically."
"Enough with the human customs!" Moyo seethed. "Gobu and I will fight as we gorillas have done since the dawn of time! We will follow our own customs, before the strangers came!" Jane wanted to say a few choice words to Moyo but bit her tongue. Moyo was a strong, powerful, domineering gorilla and she was a little afraid of him and his strength.
"I know you want the position Moyo," Tarzan stepped in, "but you are not ready to lead yet." Tarzan knew that Moyo had all the wrong reasons for wanting to lead. He wanted the power and glory of being alpha male, commanding others what to do. He was an authoritarian in nature; he wanted to rule a like a king not like a fair leader. He did not want the position for the love of his family nor wanted to do it for a sense of duty.
"I don't think you can tell me what to do anymore Tarzan. You are no longer leader." Moyo quipped, his tone dark and brooding. He walked off as he and Gobu prepared to fight.
"Papa!" Annabelle ran over with Keke and clutched her father's hand. "Do something! Please don't let Uncle Gobu fight!"
"I can't Belle, I'm sorry Keke," Tarzan stroked the girls' cheeks with his hand. There was nothing that he could do. Gobu and Moyo must seal their fates by the old traditions even though he didn't want his friend to get hurt.
"Darling, are you sure you really wanna do this?" Terk asked her mate as the two males prepared to fight.
"Yes Terk. I must win my place as leader by the old ways. Our ancestors have done it since they came into being. I cannot back out now, I owe it to you, to Tarzan and Jane and the family to win."
"Yeah sock it to him big guy!" Tantor encouraged his friend as he rubbed Gobu's shoulder with his trunk.
Terk didn't look convinced and looked over at Moyo. He was roaring loudly and lifted a large boulder above his head with his huge, hulking arms. He was much bigger than Gobu and as he threw the boulder down the ground shook with its impact! Terk gulped, Moyo was going to snap her mate like a twig!
"Goodbye darling… uh I mean good luck!"
"Everyone!" Flint entered the fighting ring, "You know the rules! Moyo and Gobu will fight in this ring. If anyone of them goes outside the ring loses. If they fall in the ring and cannot get up they lose!"
"Biting and drawing blood is also allowed!" Mungo added.
"Oh goodness!" Jane gasped. The thought of blood being drawn made her feel uneasy.
"And no weapons can be used," Flint finished explaining the rules. "Ready Gobu?"
Gobu nodded solemnly.
"Moyo?"
Moyo roared and pummelled his chest with his fists. Tantor sounded his trunk like a trumpet as a signal for them to start. The two males went at each other with full force, crashing into each other like two charging rhinos!
"Gobu is doomed!'" Terk wailed as she watched her mate struggle to wrestle the stronger Moyo. "Moyo is going to crush him!"
"Moyo may have brute strength but Gobu being lighter and more agile may give him an advantage," Archimedes commented as the two gorillas fought with all their might! Gobu roared in pain as he suffered a heavy blow to his head from Moyo's clenched fist. He collapsed to the ground and everyone gasped!
"Get up Dad!" Keke shouted desperately, "Please get up!"
"Pathetic!" Moyo seethed as he circled the fallen Gobu, "You couldn't even last a few minutes!"
Gobu coughed up some blood and struggled to get up. Terk buried her head into Tantor's flank. She couldn't bear to watch.
"Here, let me give you a hand," Moyo offered Gobu his hand and for a second Gobu hesitated but then took Moyo's hand.
"Here you go… my dear leader!" As Moyo pulled him up, secretly with his other hand he rubbed dirt into Gobu's eyes!
"AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" Gobu cried in sheer pain! The dirt had fire ants in it and their stings were like red-hot needles stabbing his face!
"Cheater!" Terk cried in anger. "Moyo used a weapon!" But her voice was drowned out by the cries and shrieks of fear and excitement from the other gorillas.
Gobu and Moyo roared so loudly that the trees around them seemed to shake! They ran at each other again and this time fought each other with full force, ripping hair and biting with their razor sharp teeth! Moyo threw Gobu across the ring and Gobu landed in a pile again.
"Uncle Gobu! Look out!" Annabelle cried as Moyo leapt through the air towards Gobu, ready to administer the final blow. Quick as a flash, Gobu tucked up his legs and like a spring launched Moyo off him. Moyo flew through the air and landed with a colossal thud, just outside the fighting ring.
"Gobu is the winner!" Flint gasped in disbelief. Most of the gorillas were astounded; they clearly thought that Moyo would beat Gobu easily. Terk rushed over to her mate along with their daughter and Archimedes who tended to his wounds. As Tarzan patted his friend on the back in congratulations, he looked up to see an equally bruised and bloodied Moyo scowling before he stormed off into the jungle. Tarzan wasn't surprised by this reaction; he thought Moyo would definitely act like a sore loser.
"Well done my leader," he said as he helped pull his friend up. Gobu smiled as the gorillas crowded around him chanting his name.
"I'm so relieved Gobu won," Jane said as she came and stood beside her husband, both of them watching the family celebrating.
"Yes it was a close match."
"And I suppose he will let you be leader again when we get back."
"Maybe, but even if that does not happen, he will be a good leader. I would be happy to be led by Gobu."
Jane took her husband's hand and squeezed it lovingly. Even though she was shocked at him suddenly changing his mind, she was deep down glad and excited that he was coming to England with her.
"So to London we go," Jane said quietly and looked up into her husband's eyes.
"To London we go," Tarzan replied and lowered his head to kiss her lovingly on the lips.
Later that night a hulking, dark figure approached the leopards' caves. Sheera noticed something skulking outside and went out to investigate.
"Well, well," she purred silkily as soon as she recognised the dark figure, "I haven't seen you in a long time stranger."
"Hello Sheera," Moyo grunted, still smarting from his wounds.
"So what brings you to these parts after such a long absence?"
"Tarzan and his man family are going back to where his wife came from."
"Ahh, so you needn't kill them after all."
"No they are only going for a short time, they will be back soon enough."
"Pity, I see you won your place as leader then," Sheera could see with her excellent night vision Moyo's cuts and scrapes.
"No, I battle that pathetic, spineless Gobu for leadership and he… won."
"Oh I see. That's a shame." Sheera couldn't help making a smirk and Moyo gritted his teeth in annoyance.
"So I need your help. Once Tarzan and his family have left I need you and the others to help me bring down Gobu. Get rid of him."
"That's doesn't solve the problem of Tarzan."
"I will deal with Tarzan myself when he returns and then I will be leader of the Manganis as I was always meant to be!"
Sheera circled Moyo as she pondered over his plans, her long tail brushing against his body.
"No," she eventually replied.
"What!" Moyo couldn't believe what he was hearing!
"I don't want to be part of your schemes anymore Moyo. We have lost too many of our kin to them and I am not as young as I once was. You will have to get rid of Gobu and Tarzan on your own."
In sheer anger Moyo suddenly grabbed Sheera's tail and yanked it hard! Sheera yowled in pain and went to scratch his face but Moyo grabbed her front paws and held them in a vice like grip!
"Don't think I will ever forget this betrayal Sheera!" he seethed so menacingly that even Sheera's blood ran cold! "You leopards will regret the day you didn't aid me!" He suddenly let her go so that she fell to the ground and stormed off into the bushes, his blood boiling with rage and all the more determined to ensure that his schemes came to fruition!