Chapter 4

"Telling the News to the Family"

As soon as Jane returned from the trading post, she told Tarzan about what was happening and almost immediately, Tarzan went out and gathered his gorilla family to hear what he had to say. Tarzan was always told to take care of his family and that was exactly what he was going to do.

"Everyone, there is danger that is coming," he told the gorillas, who now had worried looks on their faces. "These humans that Jane has spoken to me have every intention of killing anyone who gets in their way. The only option that we have is that we leave the jungle while we still have time."

The gorillas all began to hoot and cry out wildly as Tarzan let out a loud roar and silenced them once again.

"The important thing is that we must not panic," continued Tarzan, as soon as all the gorillas were silenced. "I will contact Simba and he will take you to the pride lands where you will be safe."

This did not bode well with the gorillas who knew that by going into the pride lands meant certain death by vicious predators even worse than leopards. However, Tarzan had faith in Simba and knew that he needed to get his family to safety at least one way or another.

"Are you crazy, Tarzan?" cried Terk, who was not a fan of going into the Pride Lands. "You mean to tell us that you are sending us to some lion's den just because of some encroaching humans?"

"You must understand me, Terk!" said Tarzan. "Simba and the lionesses know you and they will protect you at all costs. I will not allow you to be killed because of a human conflict!"

"I agree with Tarzan," added Jane, stepping next to her husband. "This conflict is far too dangerous for you to remain here!"

"Then, when do we leave?" asked Kala, worriedly. "Tell us, Tarzan!"

Tarzan closed his eyes for a moment and considered what needed to be done. The safety of his family was at stake and that was something that needed to be taken care of.

"You will leave at sunrise," said Tarzan. "Jane and I will join you as soon as our son is baptized in the Wazari Village."

"But why, Tarzan?" gasped Jane, shocked at her husband's decision. "We should join the gorillas as well."

Tarzan said nothing and only left the nest and returned to the treehouse with Jane following behind. As far as she was concerned, the safety of the gorillas was one thing, but their own safety was another far more pressing matter.

"Tarzan, this is ludicrous!" cried Jane as they got into the treehouse. "Our child can be baptized somewhere else! The Wazaris probably know of the situation already."

"They don't Jane," replied Tarzan, going into their bedroom and gathering his spears. "That's why I think we need to have Korak baptized and there we can warn them of what is going to happen."

"And then, do we leave with the gorillas?" asked Jane as she walked into her closet and pulled out her blue dress. "If we can't stay here, then we can't stay here."

"You and Korak will go to the Pride Lands," said Tarzan, firmly. "I am going to stay here and defend my home from these invaders."

Jane's skin turned pale white upon hearing this and was now hearing that her husband, the man that she married and helped give birth to their only child, was going to fight and possibly die at the hands of an entire army.

"That's out of the question, Tarzan!" said Jane, firmly walking over towards him. "If you are staying, then I am staying too!"

"No, Jane, I want you and our child to be safe," retorted Tarzan, sternly. "I could never with myself if anything were to happen to you and Korak."

"And my child and I will not live with ourselves if anything were to happen to you," Jane shot back.

But, Tarzan was not going to listen to his wife's plea to stay with him with a possible war looming over the jungle.

"My decision is final, Jane," said Tarzan, strongly. "After the baptism, you will come back here, change your clothes, gather essentials for yourself and the baby and then leave for the Pride Lands."

Realizing that she could no longer argue with her husband, Jane gave out a loud huff and went to feed Korak. Tarzan sighed heavily at his own behavior that he had displayed. He knew and that Jane knew that he was only acting this way because he didn't want any of his family to be caught in the crossfire of a human conflict. This jungle was his home and that he was going to defend it to the death, just as he promised Kerchak when he lay dying after being shot by Clayton.

The next morning, Jane and Tarzan got up and dressed in their clothes for the baptism with Tarzan wearing his father's suit and Jane wearing her blue dress that Dumont had given her. Korak was dressed in a white baptism gown and a white bonnet was placed on his head. As they started to make their way towards the village, Kala came running over to them and approached Tarzan with tears in her eyes.

"Tarzan," she cried. "Please, I beg you to reconsider. Come with us to the pride lands."

"I'm sorry, mother," replied Tarzan, kindly, bending down to Kala's level. "But, I'm trying to honor Kerchak's dying wish of defending this family and this jungle."

"You can't do this, Tarzan," said Kala, sobbing into her son's arms. "I don't want you to die for something so unjust. Is that what Kerchak wanted?"

"Listen to her Tarzan," added Jane, trying to not cry and ruin her makeup. "It's not worth it."

But, Tarzan stuck to his guns and only responded by saying to Kala that he had to defend not just his family, but also his home. The jungle was his home and he was not going to let anything happen to it.

However, little did anyone of them know that at that moment, the German soldiers were preparing to start their siege on the jungle…