Chapter 10
"Fight to the Death"
As the hours passed, the onslaught of German soldiers continued to bombard the treehouse, determined to defeat the British and French armies that kept them from expanding their empire. Both Tarzan and Jane could see the horror before their eyes and placed their hands together in a way that was just like when they first met. They both knew that they could not come out of this alive and that Jane could sense that she would be joining her father soon and see all the people who died before her.
"I'm staying with you, my love," she whispered, staring at Tarzan.
Tarzan smiled for a moment and then he turned his war face on as he let out his famous yell and jumped out of the window and into the chaos below, confronting each German soldier that crossed his path, stabbing them to death. Jane watched helplessly as the carnage continued to unfold before her eyes.
"He won't last down there," Jane thought. "I have to help him."
Doing a sign of the cross, she jumped into the trees and grabbed a vine, swinging through the air and knocking down several German soldiers. The young Englishwoman joined her husband in swinging the spears at the soldiers. The soldiers responded by attempting to stab Jane with the bayonets of their rifles, but she was quick to avoid them, taking in the lessons about being quick from Tarzan to heart.
Meanwhile, the Wazaris had managed to bring down the small horde of German soldiers that had been blocking their path. The adrenaline raced through the blood of Basuli and his fellow warriors as they charged towards the treehouse.
"Look!" cried a British soldier, pointing out to the unexpected help. "We've got help!"
But, his joy didn't last for long as a German soldier shot him dead. Within hours, more and more casualties on both sides continued to grow. By now, the strength inside Tarzan, Jane and their allies was starting to quickly drain and it was starting to show.
"Tarzan, I don't know how long we can keep this up!" cried Jane as they were pushed back to their defenses. "What are we going to do?!"
"I don't know, Jane," replied Tarzan as the sight of blood was beginning to show on his body. "But, we cannot give up."
Several more shots from German soldiers were fired and the onslaught of the German army continued as more and more casualties were being inflicted. Even the Wazaris were soon outmatched and Basuli and his warriors were dropping like flies, despite their resilience.
"Fall back!" shouted a French soldier as he was shot dead. By now, the battle was starting to turn in favor of the Germans and Tarzan knew that he and Jane had to think of something and fast.
"Jane, back to the treehouse!" cried Tarzan as they jumped back up into the treehouse with Basuli and several British soldiers as the Germans were now starting to get inside.
"Block the doors!" shouted Basuli as several soldiers grabbed furniture, anything that was strong enough to block the doors. "We can't let them get inside!"
After a few moments, all the doors were barricaded, although everyone in the room knew that it wouldn't last for very long. The Germans were going to stop at nothing until they were all dead. In fact, Jane and several soldiers had gathered in the center of the treehouse and began to pray.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," they cried, bending down and holding their hands together. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Suddenly, Tarzan and Basuli heard the sounds of the barricade being broken down and that they knew this was going to be the end.
"They're coming in!" cried Basuli. "We have to do something!"
Tarzan began to think for a moment and knew that he and Jane were not going to survive this onslaught any further. Tarzan looked back to the bedroom that Jane had bolted shut and decided at that moment that his son needed to leave.
"There is one thing you can do," said Tarzan. "I want you to take Korak back to the Wazari Village!"
"What, why Tarzan?" cried Basuli as Jane got up and ran over to them upon hearing what Tarzan had said. "He's your child!"
"I want him to live in case if we don't make it," replied Tarzan.
"But, Tarzan…" protested Jane, but the lord of the jungle gave her a hard stare, which caused her to fall silent.
"Jane, we know what's going to happen," sighed Tarzan, sadly. "Korak will one day grow up and realize his destiny. The Wazaris will raise him well."
Jane wanted to cry at that moment, but knew that she had to be strong for the sake of her child. Feeling defeated, she walked into the bedroom and opened the closet, picking her child up and looking at him with tear filled eyes.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," cried Jane, as she hugged her son while continuing the 23rd psalm. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
She then walked forward and handed Korak over to Basuli, while silently crying. Even Tarzan had to get slightly emotional as well, knowing that he also wasn't going to be there to watch his child grow up.
"Take care of him…my friend," said Tarzan as he hugged his friend tightly. "Raise him well if we don't make it."
"God be with you," cried Jane as Basuli jumped onto the ledge of a window.
"I leave God Jesus with you," replied Basuli as he grabbed a vine and swung off into the night as Tarzan and Jane looked on in sadness.
Suddenly, at that moment, the Germans broke through the barricade and went into the treehouse as they slaughtered the remaining British and French soldiers, despite their valiant efforts to fight back. At that moment, Tarzan and Jane got down on their knees and held their hands tightly as the German commander and several soldiers entered the bedroom, their weapons pointed right at them.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever," cried Jane as she looked back up at the Germans one last time before she and her husband saw their lives flash before their eyes.
After a few moments, the Germans took their bayonets and stabbed Tarzan and Jane repeatedly until they could no longer breathe, killing them instantly.
The jungle reign of Tarzan and Jane Elizabeth Victoria Porter were over, but a new era would soon begin, but not before the mourning would take place throughout the jungle…