Chapter 9

"The Battle Begins"

For the rest of the day, the British and French soldiers continued their strong willed fortification of Tarzan and Jane's treehouse. As night fell on the jungle, the soldiers continued their vigilant watch for any signs of trouble. Little did they realize that the German soldiers were already starting to make their way towards the treehouse and were spread out in every direction.

"Do we wait until they are all asleep, commander?" asked a young German soldier as they hid in the bushes.

"We will attack when I give the command…at midnight," replied the commander firmly, as he stroked his moustache. He then motioned to several other officers who had their troops at the ready. When the time had come, they would launch their assault on the treehouse.

Many of the British and French soldiers were standing at the ready, knowing that an attack from the Germans could happen at any time. While his wife slept, Tarzan stood at the window with a spear armed in his hand. He knew that this was going to be the biggest fight he would ever undertake and that he and his family may not come out of this alive.

"Nervous, Tarzan?" asked the British Commander, armed with a pistol.

"A little bit," replied Tarzan, whose only concern was his sleeping wife and his sleeping son. "I've been doing a lot of thinking and…"

"Yes, what is it, my friend?" asked the commander.

"It's just that, what will happen if we don't survive this battle? What will happen to my jungle? What will happen to my gorilla family?"

The commander looked a little baffled at this saying as he never really thought that Tarzan was raised by gorillas all his life. Still, he did his best to try and give Tarzan the best advice possible.

"Well, you see," he explained as a gust of wind blew through the treehouse. "When we die, we have to understand that there are others under us who will take up the journey that we start. I know that in my military career, I have seen many young men die for the glory of Britain and her colonies. I always say to myself and to all others under my rank, that when you die, your goals will continue to be accomplished as long as you inspire others to follow in your footsteps."

Tarzan knew that what the commander had said was indeed true. He knew that he had indeed made his own legacy and he hoped that one day, someone in his gorilla family would take charge. At the same time, Tarzan looked back at his sleeping wife and child and realized that Korak was indeed the successor to Tarzan's jungle throne.

Meanwhile, back at the Wazari village, several of the tribe's fiercest warriors, led by Basuli, were making their way towards the fortified treehouse to aid the British and French armies. It turned out that the kidnapping and assault of Jane and Naoh was a cry to arms that needed to be heard.

"Remember, warriors," cried Basuli, as they charged through the jungle. "We are to kill those who dare harmed my wife and her friend, do you hear me?"

The cries of war continued to be heard as the tribe got closer and closer to the treehouse. The Germans knew this to and that they had to act.

"Sergeant," barked the German commander. "Get a platoon and go after the source of that noise! If they are friends of the Englishwoman, I want them dead before they even set foot in here! Now go!"

Heeding his commanders' orders, the German sergeant led his platoon towards the source of the chants by the Wazari's. At that moment, the watch on the German commander's stroke midnight and at that moment, the commander drew his sword and rose up, signaling for his soldiers to advance towards the treehouse. Creeping quietly, the Germans slowly made their move towards the treehouse, advancing onto a sleeping British soldier, who was killed instantly when a German soldier stuck his bayonet into his chest.

"What was that?" cried Tarzan, who spoke loud enough for Jane to be woken up.

"Tarzan, what's going on?" asked Jane, worriedly, rising from her bed. Tarzan only kept her at bay as he grabbed his spear and looked out on the night and heard the sounds of footprints coming towards the treehouse. The footprints kept growing louder and louder and Tarzan could see that the attack was happening.

Acting quickly, Tarzan aimed his spear at the source and judging his aim, he threw his spear at an unsuspecting German soldier and that was the cry that would start the battle.

"Deutschland über alles!" screamed the Germans and they charged towards the treehouse as the British and French soldiers got into their battle positions and began to open fire on the charging Germans. Tarzan and the British commander each took a gun and Tarzan, even though he never learned to use a gun, fired several rounds at the advancing soldiers.

"Jane, take cover now!" shouted Tarzan as Jane ran back into the bedroom and locked the door, trying to protect herself and Korak.

It seemed at that moment, everything was starting to flash through Jane's mind. Her entire life, it seemed, was flashing before her very eyes from the moment of her birth into this world all the way through her journey to Africa and up to this moment, where it seemed her entire life was crashing down.

"I have to help him," she thought to herself and spotted one of Tarzan's reserve spears. Jane had been taught many tricks on how to survive in the jungle and using a spear was one of them. "There is only one way to do this."

Wrapping Korak into a blanket, she placed her infant son into the closet with her yellow dress and shut the door, locking it tightly. Before going out to help her husband, Jane placed a note on her bed which said:

"If anything are to happen to us, please give our son the love and care he needs. As for our bodies, I wish to be buried in my yellow dress that I wore when I first came to Africa and my husband wishes to be buried in his father's suit. Sincerely, Jane Elizabeth Victoria Porter and Tarzan, king of the apes."

And Jane ran out to join the fight that was growing more and more by the minute…