Theo was soon led to a hut that looked like any other hut in the community which he guessed was where Jumanji and his father lived. Once inside, Theo walked through the tarp that hung as a door and was welcomed by a firepit in the center of a large room that made up the main hub of the hut where some charred logs remained. Several hammocks were hung along the walls and a rack of spears and arrows were against another wall. Jumanji's father went to another room in the back of the hut where he took off the medallion and set it into a box that looked modern before looking back at Jumanji firmly.
"Now, I'm going to be away for most of the day and I expect you to behave yourself while I'm gone."
Jumanji smiled innocently.
"Yes, Dad."
Theo felt a chill as Jumanji's father's expression hardened as he pointed to the box that held the medallion.
"If I come back and find that out of its box again, you're sleeping outside with the jungle wildlife. Understand?"
Jumanji nodded still keeping his smile on, but Theo didn't feel the same as Jumanji's father gathered a spear and some trapping gear that looked old fashioned and headed out after giving Jumanji another firm look.
"Keep an eye on him.", he told Theo a bit softer than earlier, but still firm, "He's got a knack for playing games and making mischief when he shouldn't."
Jumanji's father left and Theo looked a bit embarrassed as his stomach rumbled.
"I guess I haven't eaten well since breakfast.", he admitted.
Jumanji looked a bit surprised.
"Father got us fresh fruit and you're still hungry?", he asked.
Theo shrugged.
"I guess."
Jumanji smiled warmly.
"Well, let me show you around the market. You'll find lots of things to eat there."
Jumanji happily headed to the door with Theo following only now looking curious.
"So, how long has your tribe lived here?", he asked.
"Ever since life first formed in these lands.", Jumanji answered leading Theo among the other tribe members that looked like they were busy getting ready for something. Then the sound of steady drumming came to Theo's ears and he froze.
"What's that?", he asked, "Some kind of alarm?"
Jumanji shook his head still smiling.
"Nah, we drum for all kinds of things. To greet each other, to tell our gatherers which direction is home, to dance at the night feasts, and a bunch of other stuff too."
Theo felt so confused as he wanted to know more about the community and it looked like Jumanji read his mind.
"You might want to rub some of this on your skin.", Jumanji said handing over a coconut cup filled with some white salve, "It'll keep the sun from burning you."
/
After applying the stuff to his skin, Theo tried keeping up with Jumanji who seemed to have a reputation with the others who spoke out when they were passing.
"Jumanji, I'm still waiting on those twelve oranges you owe me from yesterday."
"Did you get those crocodile eggs like you told me you would? Cause I needed them yesterday!"
"You better not think I'm growing those pods you sold me last week."
"When are you going to get those giant pearls like you said you would?"
Theo felt a bit uneasy as he noticed Jumanji was talking like what people were saying wasn't even said.
"Yeah, good morning to you too. Crocs are hard to get to this time of month. I told you those pods were harmless if grown right. I'll get those pearls by the next dark moon like I told ya."
Theo rolled his eyes.
"I take it you are kind of a gatherer?", Theo guessed.
Jumanji chuckled.
"Oh yeah, Dad wants me to help out, but says I get distracted too often.", he admitted, "So, how about you Theo? What can you do?"
Theo looked a bit unsure.
"I'm kind of a traveler of sorts.", he said as Jumanji and him picked up some ostrich eggs from one of the natives, "I pick things up while I do so."
"What kind of things?", Jumanji asked before looking to the person who had given them the eggs, "So, same as usual?"
The woman frowned.
"Just make sure those mangos are fresh and not rotten or I'm telling the elders about you.", she warned.
Theo looked a bit lost.
"Mangos for eggs?", he asked.
"It's a trade-kind of thing.", Jumanji answered, "The hard part is getting the mangos."
The woman who sold the eggs smiled.
"Yeah, the ones guarded by the ravenous chameleons.", she said, "The ones who hide in the rock faces and eat tribesman alive."
Theo suddenly looked scared.
"Ravenous?", he asked, "As in carnivorous?"
Jumanji however looked determined.
"Oh, you're on woman.", he said to the seller, "I'll have those things brought to you before sunset."
Theo was completely dumbfounded.
"Jumanji, I really don't think that's a good idea."
Jumanji just looked Theo's way a bit sneaky.
"What's the matter?", he asked slyly, "Afraid of a little adventure?"
"Not really.", Theo told him still a bit nervous, "I just prefer the ones where you don't die."
Jumanji strode forward.
"Great, you can help me with my other errands."
/
By the time Theo and Jumanji had gotten to what looked like a grove of mango trees, Theo was really feeling pressured.
"I can't believe we're almost done.", Jumanji said cheerfully.
"I can't believe you made me dive into that ocean back there.", Theo answered clearly not happy, "I don't know what would be worse, drowning or being eaten alive by giant clams while underwater."
Jumanji looked a bit sympathetic.
"Hey, at least I helped with the crocodile eggs right?"
"You had the thing chase me while you raided the nest.", Theo told him as he rubbed his backside, "I can still feel those teeth barely scratching my behind."
Jumanji then paused at the grove that had a large set of rocks inside and around it.
"Okay, the chameleons here are very territorial.", he warned, "As long as you don't make any loud sounds or look at them wrong, they won't mind if we leave with some mangos."
Theo suddenly looked nervous.
"Um, why don't you take this one?", he suggested, "I'm kind of worn out."
Jumanji shrugged.
"Okay, just don't blame me when the meat-eating anteaters make their rounds.", he said as he walked toward the grove."
Theo suddenly was after him.
"Is there anything in this jungle that doesn't try to kill you?", he asked.
"Not that I know of.", Jumanji answered, "Now let's get those mangos and go home."
Carefully, Theo and Jumanji made their way through the trees and picked only the freshest mangos they could find. After picking a basketful, Theo thought he saw something glitter in the leafy floor.
"Well, that's the last one.", Jumanji said as he picked the last mango.
Then a gunshot rang out and the area near Theo's foot exploded making him jump.
"What's that?", Theo asked.
Jumanji looked alarmed.
"That means start running!", he yelled.
As they bolted, another gunshot rang out and a tree near Theo's head suddenly had a chunk of its trunk missing.
"You miserable coward!", a voice rang out, "I know you're there!"
Theo just tried keeping up with Jumanji as the shots kept coming and one almost grazed Theo's side. Still, Theo didn't dare look back as he and Jumanji had made it out of the grove, down a hill and were safely across a river where they paused to catch their breath.
"Well, that was a close one.", Jumanji said sighing contently.
Then a gun cocked which made them both freeze.
"Don't move!", the voice from before snarled, "Now turn around."
Slowly, Theo and Jumanji did and saw a man wearing similar gear Theo wore only with a cape and clearly a hunter's form of gear and pith helmet. He stood nearby and holding a gun right at them though he raised an eyebrow when he looked Theo's way.
"And who might you be?", he asked, "An explorer who lost his way?"
Theo was too frightened to move, but he tried speaking.
"I'd ask you the same?", he guessed as the man cocked his gun again making him flinch, "I have no idea."
The man's expression hardened as he looked Jumanji's way.
"Oh, isn't this sweet.", he said smiling cruelly, "The very boy who tried to pilfer the Amulet of Africa for me on the term that I spare him only for him to fail and run into my old trap I used on him before."
/
Jumanji's eyes darted around for a second and then he smiled.
"Van Pelt, is this really necessary?", he asked, "Theo here is just-"
"Silence!", Van Pelt snapped aiming his gun, "Say good-bye."
Theo then snapped his fingers after he smiled also.
"Good-bye."
Instantly, Theo and Jumanji were far away from Van Pelt and kept running into the jungle as they heard Van Pelt roaring after them.
"You won't get away you know! I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth if I have to!"
They didn't stop running until they were safe at the community where it was getting close to sunset and Jumanji started paying his dues as the hunters arrived back with Jumanji's father with their catch of wild boar and gathered fruits. As Jumanji's father looked his son's way, he then looked Theo's way.
"So, did my son behave himself?", he asked.
Theo smiled nervously.
"I guess.", he admitted, "He had me put in some dangerous situations, but we managed in the end."
Jumanji's dad rolled his eyes up to the darkening skies.
"Jumanji, what am I going to do with you?"
"Love me, feed me, and never leave me.", Jumanji answered, "Now can I go play?"
Jumanji's father sighed heavily.
"Just try and not stray too far away so we can partake in the evening ceremony."
Jumanji hurried off and Theo felt obliged to follow and Jumanji's father seemed to have thought the same thing.
"Theo, why don't you go keep an eye on my son? I have to make sure the evening feats is underway."
The darkness making its way as the sun was setting over the treetops. Theo followed Jumanji as the teen nimbly came to what seemed to be a large and grand tree near the outskirts of the community.
"Jumanji?", Theo asked as the teen made his way up a bit on the tree's trunk.
Jumanji paused and looked Theo's way smiling.
"Hey, you want to see something terrific?", he asked.
Jumanji then kept climbing upward and Theo felt like he should follow and so he did. As they got higher into the dense leaves and vines, Theo could see the community and beyond a bit. He found Jumanji sitting on a large limb and looking outward looking at ease. As Theo got to the limb and Jumanji helped him be able to sit next to him, Theo saw something that made his breath pause in awe. A huge mountain range loomed across the land and the setting sun was making it more beautiful as the final rays started leaving the skies and darkness started settling into the evening sky.
"Wow, it's so beautiful.", Theo stated.
Jumanji nodded.
"I know.", he answered, "Sure beats the heck out of hunting practice, giving old Van Pelt the slip, and surviving the jungle wildlife."
/
Soon, the evening feast had gotten underway and as Theo started to noticing some of the native children rolling what looked like small rocks and moving small sculptures made of wood across some smooth stones.
"What are they doing?", Theo found himself asking.
Jumanji was nearby and was at Theo's side instantly.
"It's a game we often play.", he explained, "It tells about the four animals who we idolize. The white rhino for his wisdom, the elephant for his strength, the crocodile for her loyalty, and the monkey for his cleverness. We roll the rocks and move the idol we're pretending to be and once we move, we make up a rhyme and the others have to guess what it is."
"How do you win?", Theo asked.
"We get to the center.", Jumanji stated issuing to a hollow in the middle of the smooth stones, "It's the place where our home was established."
Theo observed as one of the players looked thoughtful for a moment and then smiled at the other two players.
"His fangs are sharp, he likes your taste. You better move post haste."
The other two thought for a moment and one suddenly spoke up.
"A lion."
Theo suddenly looked interested.
"Funny, back where I'm from, we use dice."
"Dice?", Jumanji asked, "What are those?"
Theo waved his hand and a pair of white dice appeared in his palm. Jumanji was spellbound.
"How did you do that?", he asked.
Theo thought fast.
"Um… long story.", he answered, "I picked up some magic on my travels and-"
"You can do magic?", Jumanji asked cutting Theo off and growing more interested, "Like what the medallion does?"
People started noticing and Theo thought it best not to let others know.
"Sorry, just pulled out some dice I had.", he explained as he mentioned the dice still in his hand.
People then dismissed what they thought as they went back to eating. Soon, some drums started up and some of the natives started to dance and before Theo knew it he was soon on his feet and dancing as well. But eventually, the people grew sleepy and then retired to bed with Jumanji's father leading Jumanji and Theo back to their hut where Theo had taken a hammock unaware that far off, an encampment of explorers were getting traps ready, loading their guns and sharpening knives when Van Pelt stepped out of the jungle and gained their attention.
"Prepare yourselves gentlemen.", he said smiling wickedly, "For the Amulet of Africa will soon be ours!"