Part 3: The Journey to England

Chapter 33

"Return to Cherry Tree Lane"

Jane and Archimedes were so delighted to be on their way back to England after such a long time. For most of the voyage, they all were pretty much keeping to themselves and dined mostly on fish and meat, much Tarzan and Jane did for their honeymoon finale. At the same time during the voyage, Jane was teaching Tarzan more ways about human culture. For the most part, it was mostly about how gentlemen acted, ate and behaved in the civilized world and Tarzan was told that he could not wear his loincloth once they got onshore. Tarzan was upset about it, but he had to do it for Jane. She lived in his jungle world every day and now he had to live in her civilized world for just one period of time.

Three days after leaving Africa, the ship arrived back in Southampton and Jane and Tarzan dressed themselves in the clothes they wore on the last night of their honeymoon as members of the press stood outside waiting for them to disembark.

"My goodness, daddy," gasped Jane, looking out among the reporters. "They must have somewhat known about us."

"Well, you never know Jane," replied Archimedes. "Someone must have told the queen that we were alive or something."

Tarzan, of course, trying to act civilized and not crawl around like an ape, was perhaps too eager to see the crowd of people below and wanted to jump off the side of the ship and see them. Jane stopped him when he tried to do so.

"Tarzan!" she cried. "That is not how people are supposed to get off ships."

"Sorry, Jane," he said somberly. "I'm not used to this."

Jane sighed exasperatedly as she and Archimedes got off the ship and down to the docks below. The reporters swarmed the three jungle residents and bombarded them with questions, but they just ignored them and quickly got into the car that would take them to Buckingham Palace. Among those in the crowds however, was Jane's ex-fiancé, Bobby Canler, who had a look of disgust and anger on his face when he saw Tarzan with the woman that he was due to marry. Little did anyone know that he was planning to assassinate the queen for being a dictator and perhaps he would be able to kill two birds with one stone and finish off Tarzan as well.

Meanwhile, the car continued to drive into London as Tarzan, Jane and Archimedes continued to admire the scenery that they had longed to take in since returning on British soil. A little while later, however, they came across a street that seemed all too familiar to Jane and Archimedes.

"Stop the car, sir," Archimedes said to the driver. "We want to get out here for a minute."

"Very well then, professor," said the driver and he stopped the car and the three of them got out and walked along the street that was all too familiar to Jane and Archimedes.

"Where are we?" asked Tarzan. "Everything looks so, strange to me."

"We used to live here Tarzan," explained Jane, as she walked along her old sidewalk. "This is Cherry Tree Lane."

"Ahoy there!" called a booming voice. "Ahoy!"

They all looked up and saw an old man in a Royal Navy uniform looking down at them from the top of his house which looked like a boat with steering wheel and bow.

"Admiral Boom!" called Jane. "It's good to see you again."

"Well, well," replied Admiral Boom. "If it isn't Jane Porter, back from the jungles I suppose. Have you decided to come back for good or are you here for a visit?"

"I guess you have been stuck at sea for so long, admiral," called Archimedes. "Your old friend here is getting knighted by her majesty."

Admiral Boom was speechless for a moment and it took a moment for him to realize who was getting knighted.

"I must say," he cried. "I must send my heartfelt congratulations to you, Archimedes. We all thought you were dead and then we heard rumors that you and Jane were alive. I guess that now you are here to stay for good, I suppose."

Jane and Tarzan were confused for a moment as to what Admiral Boom had said to them, but Archimedes reassured Jane and Tarzan that everything was going to be fine, much to their dislike of what was really going on.

"I'm sure you and Mr. Binnacle would be joining us for the knighting ceremony," said Jane. "We would love to have you."

"Of course, Miss Porter," said Admiral Boom. "We will plan on attending."

So, they said their goodbyes as Admiral Boom still had to fire his cannon at 6:00pm like he always did since retiring from the royal navy. As Jane and Tarzan continued to walk along the street, they came across a house that made Jane and Archimedes gasp with delight and shock. Now, Tarzan was becoming even more confused as to why Jane and Archimedes were acting this way.

"What is this place?" asked Tarzan. "Every time we come across something on this part of London, you get excited."

"Tarzan," said Jane, tears forming in her eyes. "This was our old house."

Tarzan stepped up and climbed the stairs and rang the doorbell, thinking that no one was living here and the door opened to reveal a maid who was answering the door.

"Yes?" she asked. "May I help you?"

Tarzan was confused once again as more and more confusing things began popping up around him. Jane and Archimedes became slightly embarrassed as Jane walked up to Tarzan.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," said Jane. "This man has never been here before. We used to live in this house a long time ago and I wanted to show my husband it. Please excuse us."

"Oh, well, good day then," said the maid and she shut the door as Jane led Tarzan away from the door.

"You wanted to see this house," said Tarzan. "Why didn't we go in?"

"Because someone else lives in it now," replied Archimedes. "I guess we had been living in the jungle for so long that everyone thought we were dead and now our house has been sold."

This had made Jane feel a little sad to see her childhood home occupied by someone else. Archimedes felt bad for Jane, but he had an idea on how to make her feel better.

"Tarzan," whispered Archimedes when he had a moment where Jane was alone. "If I take you and Jane to Hyde Park, will you walk together until Sunset?"

"What's Hyde Park?" asked Tarzan.

"Its place filled with trees and rivers," answered Archimedes. "It's like the jungle, only smaller and there is no swinging from the trees, my dear boy."

Tarzan was happy with this idea and when he asked Jane if he would go to Hyde Park with him, she was happy to accept the offering to go. So, they all got back in the car and the driver was now told to drive them to Hyde Park for a quiet stroll among civilized people.

Little did they know that there was much more than a walk that was in the air today…