Concept date: 15th December, 2018
First published: 9th December, 2019Status: COMPLETED.
Version: EXTENDED FINAL.
Age Recommendation: 15+
Average reading Time: Approximately 60 minutes.
Revisions: 5. [Last Edit: May 2020]
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time:
Human Time:
Gregorian Calendar: MMX
Muslim Calendar: 1431- 1432 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 5770-5771
Christian Calendar: 2010AD
On-Line episode No. 015
Next episode: “The peculiar pirates of Paradise Bay.”
Previous episode: "Queen Eleanor's last voyage to the darkness."
Mission No. 12 - 149021 - 12 - 2010
IMPORTANT NOTES:
THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS:
SMOKING - ALCOHOL USE - VIOLENCE [INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE & BDSM] - STRONG LANGUAGE - GRAPHIC HARD SEX REFERENCES INCLUDING PROSTITUTION AND DIVERSE SEXUAL PRACTISES - DRUG REFERENCES – STRONG ANTI-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING – STRONG COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOUR THAT MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE BUT WERE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL' IN THE TIME PERIOD – MILD HORROR & SUPERNATURAL, PARANORMAL FEAR.
"The "ALEXANDRA" series versions [if available] are always age rated at 18+ and you may need proof of age to enter the site. These versions contain: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE [including sexual violence] STRONG GRAPHIC SEXUAL REFERENCES with references to diverse sexual practices such as BDSM etc. Also STRONG HORROR BOTH SUPERNATURAL AND HUMAN ORIGINATED. Each episode has it's own WARNINGS which should be considered before reading. You have been warned!
Please be aware that the "ALEXANDRA" version WILL DIFFER from this original!
"PROFESSOR JACK DAWES LOST EXPEDITION TO THE AMAZON'S SUBTERRANEAN WORLD."
by Stephen J. Williams
MISSION SUMMARY:
"The year 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of the famous Edwardian Archaeologist and explorer; Professor Jack Dawes. He and his entire team simply vanished, whilst travelling up the Amazon to find the fabled lost city of Noah. Now, a hundred years later, Doctor Amber Bellman is going to retrace his journey with a team of her students in an effort to discover the Professor's fate - what she discovers is a whole new world!"
1. IN
THE FOOTSTEPS OF PROFESSOR JACK DAWES.
The Helicopter swung left, dipped a little and then listed right as the winds rose and dropped. The rain cascaded down the small window and Dr. Amber Bellman struggled to see anything outside, as the gathering gloom of nightfall started to descend over the thick dark jungle.
Her companion and assistant, Anzio Parker dropped back into his seat next to her and tried to shout above the noise of the engine and blades; “According to the Pilot, we have another fifteen minutes of this before we reach Telos.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, then sighed; “Mind you, he said the same thing ten minutes ago!” Anzio grinned and pulled a packet of mints from his shirt pocket and offered them around.
The Doctor declined, despite her dry mouth; she had a pretty good feeling that if she placed anything on her tongue, her troubled stomach would react with a little violent eruption – the air-sickness pills were reaching the end of their effectiveness. She prayed hard for a quick and safe landing with her eyes closed tight.
The good Doctors other student-assistant; Yoki Azzurri leaned across the pair and pointed at the little window, shouting; “Look, there’s lights down by the river!” Everyone peered through the rain swept windows and could clearly see the lights below; and they were coming up quite fast.
"I'm really looking forward to a hot bath and some 'Jack Daniels'." Muttered Anzio and wiped his mouth in anticipation of his favourite beverage - apart from coffee. Everyone was jerked about in their seats as the helicopter started to descend towards the helicopter pad attached to 'The Emerald Forest Hotel'.
"Hold on to your hats - and everything else!" Anzio shouted and gripped the arms of his seat quite tightly. He glanced at Doctor Bellman and grinned; her eyes were firmly closed and she gripped her old leather briefcase with both hands.
"Not long now!" Yoki said to no one in particular and gripped her seat's armrests with hidden strength. She also smiled at the good Doctor and actually would be seriously relieved to be on land again - even if it was the bloody jungle!
The 'copter landed with a bounce and the Doctor Bellman's party departed the craft - with some relief - for the comfort of 'Emerald Forest Hotel'. Anzio pointed out the flat bottomed river boat, the 'Madre de Deus' moored against the nearest river jetty. "That's our ride tomorrow." He said simply and Yoki grinned broadly; "At least it can't drop out the sky and it comes with a bloody lifeboat." They both chuckled, but the tired Doctor said nothing and they headed for reception.
They were a little surprised to be greeted by the Hotel Manager; his name badge boasted ' Miguel Joao Murphy'. Yoki smiled at Anzio; "Murphy. The Managers name is bloody Murphy!" Anzio shook his hand and asked where the Irish name came from. The happy man informed the party that his Great, great grandfather was from Wexford and that's why the hotel logo is a shamrock and was called the 'Emerald'. In good English he also announced that the hotel sold the best Guinness in Brazil and kept a good stock of Irish whisky.
After they booked in, Miguel showed them the rooms he had allocated, telling them several times they were the best in the hotel; "Very few insects and snakes." He smiled broadly and Doctor Bellman asked if their guide had arrived and the look upon the Managers face was priceless when she named their guide.
The smile was gone, he rubbed his hands together and shuffled his feet; "You have hired Senhor Crawford?" Miguel rolled his eyes and nodded with some apprehension; "A most excellent man in the forest, but no good around whisky and girls." He shrugged his shoulders and told them dinner would be served at six; he left muttering to himself and it wasn't flattering about 'Senhor Crawford'.
Doctor Bellman threw her case upon the big bed and slumped next to it; "Well, I didn't hire the fellow - I've never met him - he was hired by the Geographical Society's office in Brasilia." She told herself and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
In the small bar, Anzio and Yoki were enjoying 'Jack Daniels' after a couple of very cold bottles of beer. The little barman's English wasn't great, but he knew his beers and spirits and always had a broad smile on his face - especially for Yoki who he called 'Angel lady'. The smile faded from his happy face when a tall, strapping white man approached the bar.
Yoki prodded Anzio and whispered; "Now that's a good looking man who looks like he knows his way around the jungle." Anzio nodded and said quietly; "He's probably an office clerk!" They both chuckled, then noticed the barman didn't pour him a whisky, but placed the bottle on the bar with a clean glass.
The big man turned to Anzio and Yoki with his hand held out; "I'm Jack Crawford." He said simply and grinned broadly. Both Anzio and Yoki had a strange feeling that Jack Crawford seemed strangely familiar to them, but those thoughts soon disappeared as the drinks started to flow.
It was just before midnight when Anzio and Yoki made it to their respective bedrooms - they had enjoyed the evening immensely; Jack Crawford certainly knew how to recount tales, stories and legends of the Amazon with much humour and whisky. Anzio loved his story about the cannibal tribe that worshipped a giant Anaconda and made human sacrifices to the creature - which was part myth and part bar story telling.
But he became really interested, when Yoki mentioned the ill -fated 1910 expedition of Professor Jack Dawes. Both Anzio and Yoki were actually impressed and a little amazed, that he knew about the professor's total disappearance, whilst searching for the fabled city of Noah.
He had the pair almost crying with laughter, when he likened their expedition to a very, very late rescue mission. "I can see the old professor sitting on a wooden crate, chewing on some half-cooked lizard, with a long white beard wondering if they will back pay his old age pension!"
The drinks flowed and they only stopped to eat salt beef sandwiches and some fruit - Yoki also had a bottle of cold water to accompany her 'Jack Daniels' and coke. Anzio noted that Jack Crawford was running up a 'tab' behind the bar - despite the notice that said this wasn't allowed. When jack went to the toilet, Anzio asked the barman about that; Carlos shrugged his shoulders and whispered in broken English that Senhor Crawford was good for any credit offered - "He very wealthy man I think." Carlos said and refilled the drinks, adding; "He say your money no good here. All on him."
But it was the arrival of the three strangers in the bar at about nine o'clock, that Anzio remembered clearly. A well dressed young white man in a resplendent white 'safari suit' complete with straw hat caught Yoki's attention. But Anzio's and Jacks eyes were immediately drawn to the young woman that accompanied him - she was a real beauty in a stunning silk jacket and dress.
The big African drew stares all round; he looked the sort of man you didn't mess with. "Probably their bloody bodyguard or something." Whispered Yoki and they watched the Hotel Manager falling over himself to greet and serve them.
The three sat at a corner table drinking and talking very quietly amongst themselves and Anzio also noted they spoke in fluent Portuguese to the waiter and other staff they dealt with. "Rich tourists." was all jack commented, but didn't take his eyes off the woman. The party broke up and Jack left the bar, heading for the river boat, where he was staying the night with his friend; Captain Carlos Henrique Garcia.
Anzio made his bed with some difficulty and slept soundly until his watch alarm woke him up at seven o'clock. He couldn't shake the image of the young woman from his mind; a real beauty he mused as he showered and shaved. The hangover had kicked in and paracetamol was necessary to get him down the stairs to breakfast.
Doctor Bellman was quite amused by the subdued behaviour of her young colleagues at their breakfast. The pair were drinking bottle after bottle of cold water and only managed some toast to eat. But they did recount their encounter with Senhor Jack Crawford in some detail. Anzio informed the Doctor that Crawford and his assistant would meet them at the river boat after breakfast.
A very subdued Yoki whispered across the table to her companions; "Apparently the gorgeous couple are a couple of rich tourists, travelling with an old friend from New York - they're from Scotland. Carlos the barman says the woman has 'Dr.' on her luggage - a medical doctor I suppose. But her husband is stinking rich, probably owns a bloody castle in the Highlands or something."
Doctor Bellman smiled; "Miguel told me that they're travelling on the river boat with us until the township at San Marco. A real doctor on board could be really useful." She gathered her papers together and pushed them into her old briefcase, adding; "If your finished, lets get going."
2. THE 'MADRE de DEUS' RIVER BOAT.
Captain Carlos watched his passengers arrive with a fixed smile; he was glad that the good Doctor's party had hired a guide who actually knew what he was doing in the jungle - they don't travel cheap then. He slapped jack Crawford on the shoulder and actually grinned; "The other party - the Scottish group - his Lordship paid in American dollars and in advance. I like them." Jack laughed then fell silent and pointed out Doctor Alex Tibbs to Carlos.
Both men watched as the lady came aboard, on the arm of her husband, they also noticed that most of the men on the jetty were also watching. "isso é beleza real e uma mulher real. "Carlos muttered and returned to the bridge, shaking his head and drawing heavily on his fat cigar. He hoped that his friend would behave himself around such a woman - then sighed; "o papa é casado?"
Alex was quite impressed by the cabin; "Not bad, toss you for the bed!" She gestured to the big double bed and smiled. Jericho just grunted and dropped his travelling suitcase on the small table by the door. He nodded and smiled a little; "Ladies first for the bed, you know I sleep well in chairs or on sofa's." Alex was more than happy with that decision and sat on the bed - bouncing up and down until Wilson appeared, drinking a cold bottle of beer and chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny?" Alex asked the big man, who handed her and Jericho a cold beer. He grinned and jerked a thumb down the corridor; "The little native steward - Paulo, I think - is telling everyone, all he can hear is the god damn bed springs in here!" That did make the little group laugh.
Jericho closed the door, with a smile and checked the window was closed despite the heat. "Right, this boat will reach the small township of San Marco in a couple of days, where the good Doctor Amber Bellman will start to trace the journey of Professor Jack Dawes. It should take her to the ruins of the old silver mining town [at the time named Para'.] on the edge of the jungle. The place has been practically abandoned since the 1960's - but in 1910 it was a booming frontier town. It was from there that the professor disappeared into the jungle and was never seen again." Jericho eased into the armchair by the window and sipped his beer.
Wilson pulled out a brown paper file and read parts from it:
"There was the professor and two assistants; an young American man called Gordon Grant and an Englishman, who was a railway surveyor from Manchester, and went by the impossible name of Colgate Standround! They had several native bearers and their guide was a strange white man called Lewis Ludlow, who actually knew the jungle well - he had worked for a couple of mining companies, protecting their staff exploring the jungle for oil, gold or other minerals. They were well armed and well equipped, with experience of the jungle and yet they simply vanished - no stories or sightings emerged about them until just after the Second World War - 1948 I think - when some American oil men returned from the jungle mountains near here, with an old English 'Lee-Enfield' rifle inscribed with the letters; 'LL'. It remains the only item found, that could be linked to the ill-fated expedition."
Wilson dropped on the bed and passed Alex the brown paper file. "When does Owen join us?" She asked the deep thinking Jericho and he waved a hand; "At San Marco - I sent him ahead to poke about."
Wilson chuckled again and gripped Alex's arm; "He's gonna love his undercover disguise!" Alex grinned and asked why. "He's father Owen Jones - he's been promoted from a Monk at last!" Wilson really did laugh to himself at that. Alex just shook her head; but she did smile broadly - as did Jericho.
"Not a single soul has ever been recovered from the expedition; which means they didn't meet a natural end. Now after a hundred human years not one can still be living. So we need to discover what exactly happened to them - why no souls, if they came to a normal human death?" Jericho stood by the window and stared out across the river. "We'll tag along with Doctor Bellman and see what happens." he added and finished his beer.
Everyone went silent, as they could hear shouting and the ships whistle sounded several times - the movement of the boat told them they were underway.
"Up the bloody Amazon without a paddle!" Yoki laughed to herself as the boat pulled away from the jetty, heading up river. She couldn't help but keep glancing at Issa, jack Crawford's assistant; the little native sat cross legged at the stern, pulling thin rope through his teeth and winding it around long arrows, that he was making by hand. Issa was from the mountain-jungle tribe of the 'Shimsac' - they had been renown as fierce warriors, before the arrival of Christianity had subdued them slightly.
But it was their immediate neighbours that caused concern; the 'Tahain' were a mountain people, brave warriors who still indulged in the odd bit of cannibalism, human sacrifice and giant snake worship! Anzio had been deeply shocked to find that the people he had laughed about, in the bar with Yoki and Jack, did actually exist.
Wilson had made friends with the boat's old cook and the pair sat drinking cold beer in the small dinning room. The cook, who was half French European and half native [his mother had been a local girl] had a quite few tales to impart about the good Captain Carlos, jack Crawford and the river itself.
Miguel the cook was actually quite good at what he did; the food was simple and definitely edible - and plenty of it. He fussed over Alex; when she mentioned that tomato soup was a favourite - it appeared the very next meal. For three days and nights the 'Madre de Deus' moved slowly up river; heading towards the heart of the jungle and further away from civilisation with every kilometre.
Jack Crawford had desperately tried to get Alex interested in him, with little success and his ego was greatly bruised - but it amused Captain Carlos to see his friend's sexual ambitions thwarted by a beautiful woman, who didn't stand any nonsense from preening men!
But Jericho and Alex had cultivated a shipboard friendship with Doctor Bellman and her two young assistants; finding out about the ill-fated expedition of Professor Jack Dawes back in 1910.
After a few shots of Vodka, Amber Bellman opened up about the purpose of the expedition; to gain closure for the family - Professor Dawes was her Maternal Great, great grandfather. So the background story of the expedition was common knowledge to Amber Bellman and she seemed quite happy to tell the two very friendly strangers, who wouldn't allow anyone to buy a drink - including the sulking Jack Crawford.
That night, the three temporal detectives met up in Jericho's and Alex's suite to swap information and make a few decisions. Wilson had discovered that Jack Crawford was a former Mining Guard, who had quit his well paid job because he really didn't like shooting natives, protesting about their land being stolen!
"Least he has some sort of morale's." Alex sighed and smiled broadly, thinking about his futile attempts to seduce her - his ego would make Mount Everest look like a hillock, she mused.
But everyone one agreed on one thing; he knew his way around the jungle.
It appears that the Dawes expedition had left 'San Marco' in the spring of 1910 and headed for Para - which was booming at the time - he departed from there and travelled north towards the jungle mountains - and vanished completely.
3. FATHER PATRICK COOK'S JOURNAL.
The 'Madre de Deus' docked the following morning and Captain Carlos was a little sad to see his very friendly - and generous - passengers depart. 'Father' Owen Jones greeted his friends at the dockside, accompanied by a gaggle of ragged children, some clung to his robes and Alex could see they were outcast orphans - there were little social services in the jungle.
A very sheepish Owen tried to explain to Jericho how he became involved with the starving, homeless children who now lived in his part ruined church. Jericho said nothing as he watched Alex and Wilson take the children's hands and walk with them to the old church. Owen whispered to Alex; "I don't think Jericho is too pleased, but I just sort of acquired them. I gave some food to one little girl and treated her cut feet. Then suddenly I had a dozen of them!" Alex just smiled broadly and gripped Owen's arm; "Well you are playing a priest after-all."
"I'm going to give them the once over, see what their medical conditions need." Alex stated and Jericho, strangely enough, didn't argue. The team were a little embarrassed when hoards of local natives, cheered and clapped them as they walked through the poverty stricken streets of San Marco. Many pushed coins into their hands for the children; coins many couldn't actually afford to give away.
"I did make one major discovery that will interest everyone." Owen said, carrying a little girl who had bloodied rags tied about her feet. Jericho nodded his approval; "We'll get together after the children are settled in and Alex's had a look at them." Wilson smiled broadly and whispered to Alex; "I really think that our boss does actually have a heart hidden somewhere in that old coat of his." Alex chuckled, then noticed that Amber Bellman and her team were approaching - with Jack Crawford and his native assistant in tow - carrying what appears to be bags of shopping!
"When Captain Carlos told us about what Father Jones had been doing for the street children, we raided the two local shops for some supplies the children may need and Yoki can assist Dr. Alex, she's a second year medical student - when not exploring the jungle!" Amber Bellman smiled broadly and the everyone entered the church buildings; laughing and chatting.
Alex and Yoki worked tirelessly through the day, examining each of the dozen street children, whose ages ranged from three years to eleven. All were suffering from malnutrition, worms and lice.Two clearly needed urgent medical care for injuries to feet and arms - Alex arranged for a local native woman to take the pair on the river boat, back to Telos, for hospital treatment and paid for it herself.
The two older girls [aged eight and nine] reduced Alex and Yoki to tears; they had been working as prostitutes to earn money for food. The stories they told made Yoki very upset and she had to walk around the old churchyard to compose herself. Alex cleared up her own tears and got back to work with the other children - she was clearly made of sterner stuff than poor young Yoki.
That night, when the children had been settled down, Wilson produced a brandy bottle and in the Priest's small rooms, Jericho and his team listened to what Owen had discovered. Owen produced from his robes a faded and fragile old notebook, he held it up; "The Journal of Father Patrick Cook who was the Parish Priest here from 1905 to 1921. There are several pages that cover the arrival of Professor Jack Dawes in the Spring of 1910."
It became apparent that Father Patrick disliked Dawes; referring to him as 'an arrogant Godless man' of little charity or mercy, with an ego that could rival Mount Everest! Alex actually chuckled; "Christ! I said that about our current gentleman Jack." Wilson nodded and poured more brandy into the small plastic cup that Alex was using; "It appears Crawford and Dawes have a lot in common." He noticed that Jericho was consulting his mirror and rubbing his chin in thought.
Owen continued; "Dawes and his team stayed for just two days before heading into the jungle. But he did impart some important information to Father Patrick; Dawes told him that he had a map, an ancient map, that showed the fabled city of gold [Noah] in the jungle mountain range called "Montanha de almas perturbadas" or 'Mountain of troubled souls' - apparently, even the local tribes avoided the mountain like the plague, he had to pay his bearers extra wages or they wouldn't go near the place. Two simply refused and deserted into the jungle the night before - after being told their destination - and none of the local natives would go, so he left two men short. Father Patrick did note one strange thing about Dawes guide Ludlow; he couldn't speak any Portuguese!"
Wilson grunted in real puzzlement; "If he was an experienced guide around these parts, how could he operate without knowing the bloody language?"
Alex sipped her brandy and said quietly; "Even our Jack speaks the language quite fluently, so how the hell did Ludlow cope?"
Owen turned a couple of faded pages and tapped the notebook; "There's an entry for Christmas 1913 that you might find interesting. Two German explorers arrived in Para and sought out anyone who had dealings with Dawes. They questioned Father Cook and repeatedly asked him if Dawes had an old map and rather strangely; a square compass!"
Wilson chuckled, refilling everyone's cup; "A bloody square compass - what use would that be?" Owen shrugged his shoulders; "Dunno, but according to Father Patrick the pair left on Boxing day and he never saw them again - and he actually notes that the four bearers they employed in Para, never did return to their families."
Everyone sat in silence until Owen turned a few more pages and read out; "March 7th 1919, news arrived today that the Great European war is over and contained with the same mail, came news that my dear brother Joseph was killed in France in 1917. God rest his soul. I also received a letter from a Richard Dawes saying he will be arriving after the rainy season and urgently needed to speak with me." Owen closed the fragile book carefully and added; "The last entry was written by Father Patrick's curate, saying that the dear father had been gathered unto God - it's dated August 1921. You can still make out his name on a weathered tombstone in the derelict churchyard."
"Richard Dawes." Jericho spoke quietly and finished his brandy, but accepted a refill from Wilson who tapped his cup and asked directly; "Jericho, what are we doing here in 2010, when we could just jump back to 1910 and deal with everything as it happened?"
Owen chuckled; "I've been wanting to ask that since we bloody started!"
Jericho sighed, but smiled; "Angel Margret gave implicit instructions that we work this case backwards - I have no idea why." Everyone exchanges puzzled glances, until Alex drained her cup and said; "I'm going to check the children, then get some sleep. If Angel Margret insisted that we work this mission backwards, then she will have a bloody good reason for doing so."
Owen nodded at that and joined Alex in checking the sleeping children. "You actually make a really good Priest Owen, you did miss your true vocation." Alex patted Owen's shoulder with some real pride in her young colleague.
4. INTO THE JUNGLE.
Jack Crawford checked his small shoulder haversack for essentials and grunted in satisfaction, it contained; two bottles of whisky, four packets of tobacco and papers, a large bag of humbugs and two packets of condoms - in case he got lucky with Dr. Bellman and/or her assistant Yoki.
"Preparation is everything." He muttered to Issa, who simply nodded; he had worked with Jack Crawford long enough to know the man well. They watched as the little expedition assembled with last minute checking of supplies and equipment until, finally Dr. Bellman was happy and gave the nod to Jack to get underway.
Anzio shouldered his camera and started to film the leaving of San Marco for Para, when he noticed, only briefly, two natives standing in the tree line. Yoki saw them too and whispered to him; "Issa [who spoke good English when needed] told me they are scouts from that mountain tribe, he said they'll probably shadow us for the journey to the their mountain home. Apparently our Jack has already visited their Chief's village on the lower slopes, to get permission for us to cross their sacred land - something Dawes didn't bother to do and look how that turned out!"
The pair picked up their equipment and signalled the eight bearers to load their burdens and everyone moved into the forest, behind Jack and the good Doctor - Issa had already gone ahead and he simply vanished from sight.
"I have several fully charged batteries for my satellite phone and our expedition office in Brasilia can track our movement into the jungle via GPS, using the phone. We won't ever be out of contact with civilisation." She smiled at Jack as the pair led the expedition, deep into the dark green forest.
Watching from the part ruined church, Jericho and Wilson exchanged looks and both consulted their mirrors; "He should arrive in a couple of minutes and he'll easily pick up their trail. You best get Owen and Alexandra ready. Make sure they have good boots on." Jericho smiled at Wilson and pushed the mirror into his dark green shirt and wiped his face - placing his jungle hat on completed his jungle designed uniform. Wilson was dressed the same; they looked like soldiers without any rank insignia.
Jericho stared at the jungle in silence until Wilson returned with Alex and Owen; both suitably dressed for their adventure. "Young Miguel will oversee the children; he's applied to the local Bishop to join the church and according to Records, he ends up a bloody Bishop!" Owen chuckled as he spoke and pulled on his back pack. Alex just smiled and spoke to Wilson; "I didn't know the Brazilian army had boy soldiers." Wilson grinned and checked her pack straps, then handed Owen a rifle and slung his own, over his shoulder. "He's here." He said simply as a figure approached the church ruins.
Former Brazilian army Captain Hernando Santos raised his arm in salute and joined the little group, placing his rife and shoulder bag down. Alex noted that he was a big man, equal in statue to Wilson or Mr. Harris [Jericho's Butler] with bright blue eyes and brown hair with streaks of natural blond. Captain Santos had served in the army, training the men for jungle combat and survival. But on leave in Brasilia one summer in 1971, he contracted pneumonia and died several days later. He had worked as a Collector for a while, then joined Inspector Stella Longstreet's team as a Temporal Detective. He was a very happy man to be back in the jungle; even for this one mission.
He shook hands all round and the little group chatted for a while, then he re-checked everyone's packs and boots. "I'm glad to see you are, all carrying two water bottles each; dehydration can be a soldiers downfall in the heat of the jungle." Wilson, rather sheepishly, had to admit that one bottle was full of brandy! The Captain actually chuckled, while shaking his head in disapproval, then laughed out loud when Owen also admitted that one of his bottles contained brandy.
Alex said nothing and pushed one bottle around her belt; out of sight to the Captain. Only Jericho, apparently, was actually carrying two water bottles. "We'll track the good doctors party whilst we still have light, then camp near the river with the small waterfall, over night. If their guide is any good, he'll do something similar, so we may have to change our plans slightly. Do you know who their man is?" The captain turned to Jericho and adjusted his pack.
"I doubt if you'll know him coming from the 1970's; he's called Jack Crawford and he certainly has a reputation for knowing his way around the jungle." Alex accepted a mint from Owen who added; "He also has a reputation for women and whisky, oh, and tall tales of the jungle."
The Captain chuckled; "Sweet Jesus, that sounds like the civilian guide we [the Brazilian Army] use to hire sometimes, back in the sixties. he was excellent in the forest - there was none better. But he couldn't leave the damn women or whisky alone and some of the stories he came out with, would make your hair curl; if you believed them."
The Captain scratched his chin; thinking, after a few moments, he snapped his fingers and smiled; "Jack London, bloody Jack London. A strapping English gentlemen who could drink all night and appear totally sober for breakfast - normally with some young tart in tow!"
The group stood in silence, exchanging glances. The Captain noticed the change in their demeanour and asked what bothered them. Jericho consulted his mirror and held it up to Hernando; "Is that your man Jack London?"
The captain smiled broadly; "Oh yes, that's the bugger!"
Jericho showed the mirror around to everyone; it was a photo of Jack Crawford.
5. PARA.
"If he was in his late fourties in the 1960's, then he should be nearly ninety now." Wilson spoke softly to Alex as the little group moved slowly through the thick vegetation, behind Captain Hernando and Jericho. Owen grunted, his rife cradled in his arms; "He's not ageing because his not in his own time, so who exactly is Jack Crawford?"
Jericho turned about and smiled, wiping sweat from his face; "Our friend Jack must be unique in history - he's leading an expedition to trace himself." Wilson laughed out loud; "I'll update my last statement; he should be nearly 130 years old!" Owen shook his head in amazement; "So jack Crawford is really Jack Dawes!" Alex sipped from her water bottle and adjusted her pack; "Well, we know he's no time-traveller, so how is he staying the same age despite a century passing by? - now that's the real interesting question."
Jericho looked quite grim and said quietly; "Remember Professor Wolfgang Leitcher, that bastard was born in 1764 and he's still around - somewhere - and we all know who he serves." Wilson explained to Captain Hernando about the team's mission to Nazi Germany, as they progressed through the dark jungle.
The captain told the group; that they should make Para in about four days of jungle travel. "I warn you all, the place is like the bloody wild west!" He added, unsmiling.
They camped by a small stream and Owen started the dinner over a reluctant fire, whilst Jericho and Alex raised the tents. Wilson and Hernando went ahead to scout out the other party. They returned just before nightfall and in time for dinner; Owen had knocked up curry and rice. It vanished off the plates in double quick time.
Hernando informed Jericho and the team, that 'Jack Crawford' had indeed camped by the small waterfall and his native assistant was scouting ahead - he hadn't seen him yet. He also told them that two warriors from the mountain tribes were following Dr. Bellman's party. "Their bearer's are a surly lot and a little scared about approaching 'Montanha de almas perturbadas' - I think they'll disappear at the first sign of real trouble. We need to keep on our toes." Jericho nodded his agreement and the very tired group settled down for the night.
"Where is he taking the good doctor and perhaps, more importantly; why?" Wilson threw the question out to everyone, as they carefully negotiated the old jungle trail towards the outskirts of Para. "I think we need to discover how he has survived - un-aged - for a century in a very hostile environment and what the hell happened back in 1910 to cause those changes." Jericho panted and adjusted his pack straps, swinging his machete at some thick bushes along the route, which made him feel better about the trek.
They were just hours away from Para and Alex had become subject to some humour from the team - especially Wilson - over her shrinking shorts and shirt. Four days in the hot steaming jungle, had strangely, made Alex's shorts much smaller than before and her shirt was now sleeveless and tied around her, with her bra showing. "Alex, my baby girl, you better hope we reach Para today because come tomorrow - at this rate of clothes loss - you'll be walking along stark naked - apart from your hat." Wilson managed to say between chuckles. He received a straight finger digit in reply and some words that a real lady shouldn't use - the jungle heat was really starting to get on her nerves.
"I'd sleep with the bloody devil himself for a shower or bath." She confided to Owen, who grinned, saying: "I'd bet he would take you up on that." They reached Para that afternoon and were told by a car mechanic, that Doctor Bellman's party had already left. He was a very generous man and upon hearing Alex's real need for a shower; offered Alex his shower-room. All she had to do was let him, his grandfather, brother and two sons watch; she declined his offer not very politely.
The local Madame of Para's best brothel came to her aid and allowed Alex to use its facilities - a tin bath in a room that actually could not be locked and boasted a large window that had no curtains. Apparently, the brothels incumbent girls weekly bath day was a highlight in Para - there were no televisions or Internet. The Madame [a shrewd business woman] even offered to split the takings from Alex's performance - Alex politely declined her offer and paid for the facilities with brandy and some spare make-up.
Alex was determined to get her relaxing bath, without any worries about being disturbed by perverts; So Wilson sat on a small stool outside the room - rifle in hand - whilst Owen pinned his ground sheet over the window - it worked.
"I could have made a small fortune; several men from the town offered me brides to drop the curtain at the right moment." he sighed, adding; "I've no real head for business." Wilson congratulated him on making the right decision, explaining that Alex would have probably used the rife on him - had he succumbed to those generous offers from the men. He started to laugh until he realised that Wilson wasn't joking.
Issa was panting heavily and took several breaths before he could speak to them. Alex gave him a water bottle which he gratefully sipped from [not the brandy filled one, as Alex knew the little man didn't touch alcohol]. He handed the bottle back and spoke directly to Jericho and Hernando, but everyone stood in silence as Issa recounted what happened.
Issa had gone ahead of the main party by a mile or so and found the pig shaped rock formation that jack Crawford had told him to locate. But was trapped there for some hours while the storm raged. He returned slowly through the soaking wet jungle and found that the party had left where they had been camped.
Despite the heavy rainfall, Issa had the skill to track Dr. Bellman's party back into the jungle and received the surprise of his life; a ruined temple. All their tracks ended there and no tracks could be found heading away from the strange place. Captain Hernando asked Issa why he thought, the old ruined temple was strange. Issa shrugged his dark shoulders; "I have passed that way many times and it was never there before!"
"Then, that is certainly strange." Muttered Jericho and asked issa if he could take them there. He agreed and they set off at once. It took four hours to come upon the Temple and they stood before it with real puzzlement; "It appears to be a jumble of Ancient Egyptian, Aztec and even Indian culture. It shouldn't exist." Jericho spoke out, consulting his mirror and that's when he shouted; "There it is!" Everyone stared at the ruins and could see nothing but forest and stones.
Doctor Bellman collapsed upon her knees in front of Jericho and grabbed the water bottle he offered and gulped it down. Wilson handed out biscuits and apples. Anzio swallowed some water and grabbed hold of Owen's arm; "You have to get the fuck outa of here, this place is fucking crazy and dangerous!" He slumped upon the grass and wept.
Owen gripped his shoulders and offered him some brandy from his hip-flask, which was gratefully accepted; "Crawford just abandoned us, he disappeared a few hours after we came here and we are only still alive due to luck - the bastard." Anzio cursed and swigged the brandy.
Doctor Bellman had recovered her composure and spoke to Jericho; "This place seems to be a jumble of time zones from Earth's history. Dinosaurs roam the great forest whilst there's a city on that far mountain. You've already seen one of their patrol planes; they are not a friendly people." Doctor Bellman drank some more water and sighed loudly; "The bloody satellite phone stopped working after the storm, it was like the satellite wasn't there anymore - a useless piece of junk that didn't work when you really needed the bloody thing!" Jericho nodded and stared at the ragged threesome and knew he had to make a hard decision.
Owen and Alexandra would take Doctor Bellman and her distressed party back through the portal, whilst he, Captain Hernando and Wilson would try to find the elusive 'Jack Crawford'. Jericho gave clear and concise instructions to Alex and Owen; "Take those sorry looking souls back to where the storm started, that way they will not have suffered all this and will remember nothing about the temple ruins or the damn time portal it hides. I strongly suspect that our Jack will not join them again. He won't return to that time for a while yet. We can rely on Issa to take them back to Para."
Alex and her little group left a few minutes later and Captain Hernando, Jericho and Wilson headed for the city that could be seen on the mountain opposite. Warm rain tumbled down as they passed beneath the huge and ancient trees, occasionally hearing the calls and roars of the odd dinosaur within the depths of the jungle.
They stopped briefly by a beautiful little waterfall which was escaping from a crack in the ridge that towered above them. They ate some cheese and apples, sipping their canteens. That's when the flickering lights caught Wilson's eyes and he stared hard at the waterfall, Wilson tapped Jericho upon the arm; "Unless I'm seeing things, there are some lights behind that waterfall." Jericho and Hernando stood and watched the waterfall - sure enough; there were lights flickering behind the cascading water.
Jericho rubbed his chin and then pointed towards the falling water; "Well, lets get our feet wet." Wilson and Hernando nodded their agreement and the curious group disappeared into the falling water.
8. THE SELF IMPOSED CASTAWAY.
"The map was very old and written in Portuguese; but the city's name was clear enough; Noah - the fabled city of gold. I picked my team, as best I could, given where I was and the time constraints; I wanted to get underway straight away. That was my first big mistake, a real whopper actually." He grunted and sipped his whisky. "The guide was no guide, right?" Jack chuckled; "Spot on, your a clever man Jericho. He couldn't guide a pen to paper. I caught on after a few days, but it was too late by then, we were in uncharted jungle and frankly; quite lost." He rose from his chair and walked to the big desk in the corner and rummaged in the top drawer. He handed Jericho a well worn leather pouch.
Jericho slowly opened the pouch and stared at the old map. Wilson leaned over him and held his mirror above the paper. "Jesus Jericho, it's about four hundred years old." Jack chuckled and gestured to the paper; "Take it and get rid of it; its caused more deaths that smallpox, I think." Jericho nodded; "What happened to the rest of them?" Jack slumped back in his armchair and his daughter sat at his feet. He affectional touched her hair. "There was a fierce and strange storm that washed away most of our equipment and made our compasses go nuts. All our watches had stopped. The native bearers simply disappeared over night, we were really in a bad way. Then we came across the temple. I knew it wasn't right, but we camped down for the night."
"Lewis Ludlow was a liar and a con man; the only true part of his story was that he had, in fact, worked for a Mining Company - a small outfit - and they were after him because he took off with a lot of their money. A small venomous snake got the stupid bugger, he didn't even know to shake his boots out in the morning." Jack smiled at that.
"They found his rife some years later." Wilson said and finished his whisky. Jack nodded; "We marked his grave with that. It was no point keeping the damn thing; the brains of Brittan had only brought enough ammunition for one clip!" His smile dropped; "Cole got it next [Colegate Standround]. He started with a fever and vomiting blood, less that a day later, we buried him. I had never seen fever like it. It took him like that." Jack snapped his fingers; "He was actually a good man, pretty loyal and decent compared to most."
"It was Gordon that found the portal and I followed him in. The bastards in the city got him. They chased us through the forests and he slipped and fell down a small ravine. He was still alive - I could hear him calling for help. Those bastards climbed down the ravine on ropes. I was hidden, watching from a tree. They beat him to death with the butts of their old rifles - muskets actually - and then, in utter horror, I watched them dismember his naked body and shove it in canvas bags. I was actually sick. The bastards ate human flesh."
Jack face betrayed what he was thinking, but he spelled it out clearly; "After that, when ever I - we - encountered anyone from the city; we killed them. Man, woman or child, we killed them like the fucking vermin they are."
Wilson showed Jericho his mirror; " Those three are all missing souls; like jack is. No Collector appeared because they were clearly out of their ordained time. Their souls are lost." Jericho gestured around the room; "Where did all this come from?" Jack smiled; "A very nice old Frenchman called Jean De Floret, he was trapped here in the 1680's and spent years constructing this little fortress. He took me in, and it was with some incredible realisation, as we spoke together - he spoke quite good English - that he was nearly three hundred years old! Time here doesn't affect us humans from above. We simply don't age, but we can be killed. He was careless one morning, filling water caskets by the waterfall, one of the really big bloody snakes got him. They make anaconda's look like nasty worms. I really did miss him. He was a good man; for a Frenchman!"
Jericho eased from his chair and rubbed his chin; "You can't stay here Jack. Doctor Bellman was a descendant of yours and she wanted to know what happened to you. Other expeditions have been lost or killed trying to find you and that damn map. It has to stop - Yes?"
Jack slowly nodded; he knew only to well that it had to stop. He ran a hand over his face; "But how Jericho?" He asked and glanced at his young daughter, who in the world above, would now be nearly 56 years old. His son would be over a 112 years old and Jack, himself, would be near 150 years old!
Jericho smiled; "Leave that to us Jack, but if you give me your word, I'll return you 1910 and you can stop yourself ending up in this nightmare. It's also your son's time period and he can join you. It will be both your ordained time period. You can live out your natural lives, but more importantly; when the time comes, your souls can be collected and processed properly. Your three companions that died, will have never met you and so won't die on the expedition. That means their souls can be recovered by the natural process of death in their own time periods."
Jack nodded and gestured at his daughter; "And..." He muttered and looked quite sad. Jericho smiled again; "We can make a little exception for her Jack - if you co-operate with us - I can guarantee that the young lady will have a good life in the modern world, and of course, she will die within her ordained time period and have her soul collected properly, when the time comes. She can go back with her descendant- the good Doctor Bellman."
Hernando gripped Jericho's shoulder and smiled; "I think Inspector, we should allow them a little time together; to say goodbye - yes?" Jericho nodded and he and Wilson waited on the other side of the big door. Wilson managed to chuckle; "Now I see why Angel Margret insisted we work this case backwards. We would have missed the young girls soul and it would have been lost. Angels are really clever buggers- aren't they?" Jericho just laughed and nodded; "Ain't they just." He murmured.
EPILOGUE:
"The recovery of so many 'lost souls' was considered a great success by Angel Margret. The changes to the current human time line was also considered acceptable. The only 'fly in the ointment' was Jack Dawes; he only went and lost his soul again! - Jericho has been assigned the case; reluctantly!"
CHARACTERS:
Doctor Amber Bellman was the Great, Great Granddaughter of Professor Jack Dawes and the expedition to trace him was always a big ambition of hers. When Jericho returned him [Jack Dawes] back to 1910 and the ill-fated expedition never took place, he just became an interesting ancestor of hers and nothing more. She died 2051 and her soul was collected and processed.
Anzio Parker was never on the expedition and that proved fatal for the young man; instead of being up the Amazon, he was now in Argentina, filming the government crackdown on protesters there. He was killed near his hotel by two desperate robbers, who stole his camera's and watch. His body wasn't identified for weeks. His soul was collected and processed.
Yoki Azzurri was never on the expedition and remained in England instead. She met a nice young man who worked for Asda Supermarkets and the pair married in 2013. They had two children and she died in 2067. Her soul was collected and processed.
Miguel Joao Murphy [Manager - Emerald Forest Hotel] remained the Manger of his ancestors hotel and it was a very popular tourist spot for adventurous travellers. He died in 2043 of pneumonia. His soul was collected and processed.
Carlos De Silva [Barman - Emerald Forest Hotel] the young barman was killed by his estranged girlfriend in 2012. He had kicked her out of the apartment they shared, after finding her in bed with another man. She took exception - and a large knife - to this. His soul was collected and processed.
GO "ALEXANDRA" EXTENDED ADULT VERSION. [if available.]
The Helicopter swung left, dipped a little and then listed right as the winds rose and dropped. The rain cascaded down the small window and Dr. Amber Bellman struggled to see anything outside, as the gathering gloom of nightfall started to descend over the thick dark jungle.
Her companion and assistant, Anzio Parker dropped back into his seat next to her and tried to shout above the noise of the engine and blades; “According to the Pilot, we have another fifteen minutes of this before we reach Telos.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders, then sighed; “Mind you, he said the same thing ten minutes ago!” Anzio grinned and pulled a packet of mints from his shirt pocket and offered them around.
The Doctor declined, despite her dry mouth; she had a pretty good feeling that if she placed anything on her tongue, her troubled stomach would react with a little violent eruption – the air-sickness pills were reaching the end of their effectiveness. She prayed hard for a quick and safe landing with her eyes closed tight.
The good Doctors other student-assistant; Yoki Azzurri leaned across the pair and pointed at the little window, shouting; “Look, there’s lights down by the river!” Everyone peered through the rain swept windows and could clearly see the lights below; and they were coming up quite fast.
"I'm really looking forward to a hot bath and some 'Jack Daniels'." Muttered Anzio and wiped his mouth in anticipation of his favourite beverage - apart from coffee. Everyone was jerked about in their seats as the helicopter started to descend towards the helicopter pad attached to 'The Emerald Forest Hotel'.
"Hold on to your hats - and everything else!" Anzio shouted and gripped the arms of his seat quite tightly. He glanced at Doctor Bellman and grinned; her eyes were firmly closed and she gripped her old leather briefcase with both hands.
"Not long now!" Yoki said to no one in particular and gripped her seat's armrests with hidden strength. She also smiled at the good Doctor and actually would be seriously relieved to be on land again - even if it was the bloody jungle!
The 'copter landed with a bounce and the Doctor Bellman's party departed the craft - with some relief - for the comfort of 'Emerald Forest Hotel'. Anzio pointed out the flat bottomed river boat, the 'Madre de Deus' moored against the nearest river jetty. "That's our ride tomorrow." He said simply and Yoki grinned broadly; "At least it can't drop out the sky and it comes with a bloody lifeboat." They both chuckled, but the tired Doctor said nothing and they headed for reception.
They were a little surprised to be greeted by the Hotel Manager; his name badge boasted ' Miguel Joao Murphy'. Yoki smiled at Anzio; "Murphy. The Managers name is bloody Murphy!" Anzio shook his hand and asked where the Irish name came from. The happy man informed the party that his Great, great grandfather was from Wexford and that's why the hotel logo is a shamrock and was called the 'Emerald'. In good English he also announced that the hotel sold the best Guinness in Brazil and kept a good stock of Irish whisky.
After they booked in, Miguel showed them the rooms he had allocated, telling them several times they were the best in the hotel; "Very few insects and snakes." He smiled broadly and Doctor Bellman asked if their guide had arrived and the look upon the Managers face was priceless when she named their guide.
The smile was gone, he rubbed his hands together and shuffled his feet; "You have hired Senhor Crawford?" Miguel rolled his eyes and nodded with some apprehension; "A most excellent man in the forest, but no good around whisky and girls." He shrugged his shoulders and told them dinner would be served at six; he left muttering to himself and it wasn't flattering about 'Senhor Crawford'.
Doctor Bellman threw her case upon the big bed and slumped next to it; "Well, I didn't hire the fellow - I've never met him - he was hired by the Geographical Society's office in Brasilia." She told herself and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
In the small bar, Anzio and Yoki were enjoying 'Jack Daniels' after a couple of very cold bottles of beer. The little barman's English wasn't great, but he knew his beers and spirits and always had a broad smile on his face - especially for Yoki who he called 'Angel lady'. The smile faded from his happy face when a tall, strapping white man approached the bar.
Yoki prodded Anzio and whispered; "Now that's a good looking man who looks like he knows his way around the jungle." Anzio nodded and said quietly; "He's probably an office clerk!" They both chuckled, then noticed the barman didn't pour him a whisky, but placed the bottle on the bar with a clean glass.
"são esses dois com a festa dos médicos
ingleses?" he spoke directly to Carlos, the barman and jerked his thumb
towards Anzio and Yoki - then smiled and poured himself a large whisky. The
Barman nodded and refilled their glasses without comment or introduction of the
stranger.
The big man turned to Anzio and Yoki with his hand held out; "I'm Jack Crawford." He said simply and grinned broadly. Both Anzio and Yoki had a strange feeling that Jack Crawford seemed strangely familiar to them, but those thoughts soon disappeared as the drinks started to flow.
It was just before midnight when Anzio and Yoki made it to their respective bedrooms - they had enjoyed the evening immensely; Jack Crawford certainly knew how to recount tales, stories and legends of the Amazon with much humour and whisky. Anzio loved his story about the cannibal tribe that worshipped a giant Anaconda and made human sacrifices to the creature - which was part myth and part bar story telling.
But he became really interested, when Yoki mentioned the ill -fated 1910 expedition of Professor Jack Dawes. Both Anzio and Yoki were actually impressed and a little amazed, that he knew about the professor's total disappearance, whilst searching for the fabled city of Noah.
He had the pair almost crying with laughter, when he likened their expedition to a very, very late rescue mission. "I can see the old professor sitting on a wooden crate, chewing on some half-cooked lizard, with a long white beard wondering if they will back pay his old age pension!"
The drinks flowed and they only stopped to eat salt beef sandwiches and some fruit - Yoki also had a bottle of cold water to accompany her 'Jack Daniels' and coke. Anzio noted that Jack Crawford was running up a 'tab' behind the bar - despite the notice that said this wasn't allowed. When jack went to the toilet, Anzio asked the barman about that; Carlos shrugged his shoulders and whispered in broken English that Senhor Crawford was good for any credit offered - "He very wealthy man I think." Carlos said and refilled the drinks, adding; "He say your money no good here. All on him."
But it was the arrival of the three strangers in the bar at about nine o'clock, that Anzio remembered clearly. A well dressed young white man in a resplendent white 'safari suit' complete with straw hat caught Yoki's attention. But Anzio's and Jacks eyes were immediately drawn to the young woman that accompanied him - she was a real beauty in a stunning silk jacket and dress.
The big African drew stares all round; he looked the sort of man you didn't mess with. "Probably their bloody bodyguard or something." Whispered Yoki and they watched the Hotel Manager falling over himself to greet and serve them.
The three sat at a corner table drinking and talking very quietly amongst themselves and Anzio also noted they spoke in fluent Portuguese to the waiter and other staff they dealt with. "Rich tourists." was all jack commented, but didn't take his eyes off the woman. The party broke up and Jack left the bar, heading for the river boat, where he was staying the night with his friend; Captain Carlos Henrique Garcia.
Anzio made his bed with some difficulty and slept soundly until his watch alarm woke him up at seven o'clock. He couldn't shake the image of the young woman from his mind; a real beauty he mused as he showered and shaved. The hangover had kicked in and paracetamol was necessary to get him down the stairs to breakfast.
Doctor Bellman was quite amused by the subdued behaviour of her young colleagues at their breakfast. The pair were drinking bottle after bottle of cold water and only managed some toast to eat. But they did recount their encounter with Senhor Jack Crawford in some detail. Anzio informed the Doctor that Crawford and his assistant would meet them at the river boat after breakfast.
A very subdued Yoki whispered across the table to her companions; "Apparently the gorgeous couple are a couple of rich tourists, travelling with an old friend from New York - they're from Scotland. Carlos the barman says the woman has 'Dr.' on her luggage - a medical doctor I suppose. But her husband is stinking rich, probably owns a bloody castle in the Highlands or something."
Doctor Bellman smiled; "Miguel told me that they're travelling on the river boat with us until the township at San Marco. A real doctor on board could be really useful." She gathered her papers together and pushed them into her old briefcase, adding; "If your finished, lets get going."
2. THE 'MADRE de DEUS' RIVER BOAT.
Captain Carlos watched his passengers arrive with a fixed smile; he was glad that the good Doctor's party had hired a guide who actually knew what he was doing in the jungle - they don't travel cheap then. He slapped jack Crawford on the shoulder and actually grinned; "The other party - the Scottish group - his Lordship paid in American dollars and in advance. I like them." Jack laughed then fell silent and pointed out Doctor Alex Tibbs to Carlos.
Both men watched as the lady came aboard, on the arm of her husband, they also noticed that most of the men on the jetty were also watching. "isso é beleza real e uma mulher real. "Carlos muttered and returned to the bridge, shaking his head and drawing heavily on his fat cigar. He hoped that his friend would behave himself around such a woman - then sighed; "o papa é casado?"
Alex was quite impressed by the cabin; "Not bad, toss you for the bed!" She gestured to the big double bed and smiled. Jericho just grunted and dropped his travelling suitcase on the small table by the door. He nodded and smiled a little; "Ladies first for the bed, you know I sleep well in chairs or on sofa's." Alex was more than happy with that decision and sat on the bed - bouncing up and down until Wilson appeared, drinking a cold bottle of beer and chuckling to himself.
"What's so funny?" Alex asked the big man, who handed her and Jericho a cold beer. He grinned and jerked a thumb down the corridor; "The little native steward - Paulo, I think - is telling everyone, all he can hear is the god damn bed springs in here!" That did make the little group laugh.
Jericho closed the door, with a smile and checked the window was closed despite the heat. "Right, this boat will reach the small township of San Marco in a couple of days, where the good Doctor Amber Bellman will start to trace the journey of Professor Jack Dawes. It should take her to the ruins of the old silver mining town [at the time named Para'.] on the edge of the jungle. The place has been practically abandoned since the 1960's - but in 1910 it was a booming frontier town. It was from there that the professor disappeared into the jungle and was never seen again." Jericho eased into the armchair by the window and sipped his beer.
Wilson pulled out a brown paper file and read parts from it:
"There was the professor and two assistants; an young American man called Gordon Grant and an Englishman, who was a railway surveyor from Manchester, and went by the impossible name of Colgate Standround! They had several native bearers and their guide was a strange white man called Lewis Ludlow, who actually knew the jungle well - he had worked for a couple of mining companies, protecting their staff exploring the jungle for oil, gold or other minerals. They were well armed and well equipped, with experience of the jungle and yet they simply vanished - no stories or sightings emerged about them until just after the Second World War - 1948 I think - when some American oil men returned from the jungle mountains near here, with an old English 'Lee-Enfield' rifle inscribed with the letters; 'LL'. It remains the only item found, that could be linked to the ill-fated expedition."
Wilson dropped on the bed and passed Alex the brown paper file. "When does Owen join us?" She asked the deep thinking Jericho and he waved a hand; "At San Marco - I sent him ahead to poke about."
Wilson chuckled again and gripped Alex's arm; "He's gonna love his undercover disguise!" Alex grinned and asked why. "He's father Owen Jones - he's been promoted from a Monk at last!" Wilson really did laugh to himself at that. Alex just shook her head; but she did smile broadly - as did Jericho.
"Not a single soul has ever been recovered from the expedition; which means they didn't meet a natural end. Now after a hundred human years not one can still be living. So we need to discover what exactly happened to them - why no souls, if they came to a normal human death?" Jericho stood by the window and stared out across the river. "We'll tag along with Doctor Bellman and see what happens." he added and finished his beer.
Everyone went silent, as they could hear shouting and the ships whistle sounded several times - the movement of the boat told them they were underway.
"Up the bloody Amazon without a paddle!" Yoki laughed to herself as the boat pulled away from the jetty, heading up river. She couldn't help but keep glancing at Issa, jack Crawford's assistant; the little native sat cross legged at the stern, pulling thin rope through his teeth and winding it around long arrows, that he was making by hand. Issa was from the mountain-jungle tribe of the 'Shimsac' - they had been renown as fierce warriors, before the arrival of Christianity had subdued them slightly.
But it was their immediate neighbours that caused concern; the 'Tahain' were a mountain people, brave warriors who still indulged in the odd bit of cannibalism, human sacrifice and giant snake worship! Anzio had been deeply shocked to find that the people he had laughed about, in the bar with Yoki and Jack, did actually exist.
Wilson had made friends with the boat's old cook and the pair sat drinking cold beer in the small dinning room. The cook, who was half French European and half native [his mother had been a local girl] had a quite few tales to impart about the good Captain Carlos, jack Crawford and the river itself.
Miguel the cook was actually quite good at what he did; the food was simple and definitely edible - and plenty of it. He fussed over Alex; when she mentioned that tomato soup was a favourite - it appeared the very next meal. For three days and nights the 'Madre de Deus' moved slowly up river; heading towards the heart of the jungle and further away from civilisation with every kilometre.
Jack Crawford had desperately tried to get Alex interested in him, with little success and his ego was greatly bruised - but it amused Captain Carlos to see his friend's sexual ambitions thwarted by a beautiful woman, who didn't stand any nonsense from preening men!
But Jericho and Alex had cultivated a shipboard friendship with Doctor Bellman and her two young assistants; finding out about the ill-fated expedition of Professor Jack Dawes back in 1910.
After a few shots of Vodka, Amber Bellman opened up about the purpose of the expedition; to gain closure for the family - Professor Dawes was her Maternal Great, great grandfather. So the background story of the expedition was common knowledge to Amber Bellman and she seemed quite happy to tell the two very friendly strangers, who wouldn't allow anyone to buy a drink - including the sulking Jack Crawford.
That night, the three temporal detectives met up in Jericho's and Alex's suite to swap information and make a few decisions. Wilson had discovered that Jack Crawford was a former Mining Guard, who had quit his well paid job because he really didn't like shooting natives, protesting about their land being stolen!
"Least he has some sort of morale's." Alex sighed and smiled broadly, thinking about his futile attempts to seduce her - his ego would make Mount Everest look like a hillock, she mused.
But everyone one agreed on one thing; he knew his way around the jungle.
It appears that the Dawes expedition had left 'San Marco' in the spring of 1910 and headed for Para - which was booming at the time - he departed from there and travelled north towards the jungle mountains - and vanished completely.
3. FATHER PATRICK COOK'S JOURNAL.
A very sheepish Owen tried to explain to Jericho how he became involved with the starving, homeless children who now lived in his part ruined church. Jericho said nothing as he watched Alex and Wilson take the children's hands and walk with them to the old church. Owen whispered to Alex; "I don't think Jericho is too pleased, but I just sort of acquired them. I gave some food to one little girl and treated her cut feet. Then suddenly I had a dozen of them!" Alex just smiled broadly and gripped Owen's arm; "Well you are playing a priest after-all."
"I'm going to give them the once over, see what their medical conditions need." Alex stated and Jericho, strangely enough, didn't argue. The team were a little embarrassed when hoards of local natives, cheered and clapped them as they walked through the poverty stricken streets of San Marco. Many pushed coins into their hands for the children; coins many couldn't actually afford to give away.
"I did make one major discovery that will interest everyone." Owen said, carrying a little girl who had bloodied rags tied about her feet. Jericho nodded his approval; "We'll get together after the children are settled in and Alex's had a look at them." Wilson smiled broadly and whispered to Alex; "I really think that our boss does actually have a heart hidden somewhere in that old coat of his." Alex chuckled, then noticed that Amber Bellman and her team were approaching - with Jack Crawford and his native assistant in tow - carrying what appears to be bags of shopping!
"When Captain Carlos told us about what Father Jones had been doing for the street children, we raided the two local shops for some supplies the children may need and Yoki can assist Dr. Alex, she's a second year medical student - when not exploring the jungle!" Amber Bellman smiled broadly and the everyone entered the church buildings; laughing and chatting.
Alex and Yoki worked tirelessly through the day, examining each of the dozen street children, whose ages ranged from three years to eleven. All were suffering from malnutrition, worms and lice.Two clearly needed urgent medical care for injuries to feet and arms - Alex arranged for a local native woman to take the pair on the river boat, back to Telos, for hospital treatment and paid for it herself.
The two older girls [aged eight and nine] reduced Alex and Yoki to tears; they had been working as prostitutes to earn money for food. The stories they told made Yoki very upset and she had to walk around the old churchyard to compose herself. Alex cleared up her own tears and got back to work with the other children - she was clearly made of sterner stuff than poor young Yoki.
That night, when the children had been settled down, Wilson produced a brandy bottle and in the Priest's small rooms, Jericho and his team listened to what Owen had discovered. Owen produced from his robes a faded and fragile old notebook, he held it up; "The Journal of Father Patrick Cook who was the Parish Priest here from 1905 to 1921. There are several pages that cover the arrival of Professor Jack Dawes in the Spring of 1910."
It became apparent that Father Patrick disliked Dawes; referring to him as 'an arrogant Godless man' of little charity or mercy, with an ego that could rival Mount Everest! Alex actually chuckled; "Christ! I said that about our current gentleman Jack." Wilson nodded and poured more brandy into the small plastic cup that Alex was using; "It appears Crawford and Dawes have a lot in common." He noticed that Jericho was consulting his mirror and rubbing his chin in thought.
Owen continued; "Dawes and his team stayed for just two days before heading into the jungle. But he did impart some important information to Father Patrick; Dawes told him that he had a map, an ancient map, that showed the fabled city of gold [Noah] in the jungle mountain range called "Montanha de almas perturbadas" or 'Mountain of troubled souls' - apparently, even the local tribes avoided the mountain like the plague, he had to pay his bearers extra wages or they wouldn't go near the place. Two simply refused and deserted into the jungle the night before - after being told their destination - and none of the local natives would go, so he left two men short. Father Patrick did note one strange thing about Dawes guide Ludlow; he couldn't speak any Portuguese!"
Wilson grunted in real puzzlement; "If he was an experienced guide around these parts, how could he operate without knowing the bloody language?"
Alex sipped her brandy and said quietly; "Even our Jack speaks the language quite fluently, so how the hell did Ludlow cope?"
Owen turned a couple of faded pages and tapped the notebook; "There's an entry for Christmas 1913 that you might find interesting. Two German explorers arrived in Para and sought out anyone who had dealings with Dawes. They questioned Father Cook and repeatedly asked him if Dawes had an old map and rather strangely; a square compass!"
Wilson chuckled, refilling everyone's cup; "A bloody square compass - what use would that be?" Owen shrugged his shoulders; "Dunno, but according to Father Patrick the pair left on Boxing day and he never saw them again - and he actually notes that the four bearers they employed in Para, never did return to their families."
Everyone sat in silence until Owen turned a few more pages and read out; "March 7th 1919, news arrived today that the Great European war is over and contained with the same mail, came news that my dear brother Joseph was killed in France in 1917. God rest his soul. I also received a letter from a Richard Dawes saying he will be arriving after the rainy season and urgently needed to speak with me." Owen closed the fragile book carefully and added; "The last entry was written by Father Patrick's curate, saying that the dear father had been gathered unto God - it's dated August 1921. You can still make out his name on a weathered tombstone in the derelict churchyard."
"Richard Dawes." Jericho spoke quietly and finished his brandy, but accepted a refill from Wilson who tapped his cup and asked directly; "Jericho, what are we doing here in 2010, when we could just jump back to 1910 and deal with everything as it happened?"
Owen chuckled; "I've been wanting to ask that since we bloody started!"
Jericho sighed, but smiled; "Angel Margret gave implicit instructions that we work this case backwards - I have no idea why." Everyone exchanges puzzled glances, until Alex drained her cup and said; "I'm going to check the children, then get some sleep. If Angel Margret insisted that we work this mission backwards, then she will have a bloody good reason for doing so."
Owen nodded at that and joined Alex in checking the sleeping children. "You actually make a really good Priest Owen, you did miss your true vocation." Alex patted Owen's shoulder with some real pride in her young colleague.
4. INTO THE JUNGLE.
Jack Crawford checked his small shoulder haversack for essentials and grunted in satisfaction, it contained; two bottles of whisky, four packets of tobacco and papers, a large bag of humbugs and two packets of condoms - in case he got lucky with Dr. Bellman and/or her assistant Yoki.
"Preparation is everything." He muttered to Issa, who simply nodded; he had worked with Jack Crawford long enough to know the man well. They watched as the little expedition assembled with last minute checking of supplies and equipment until, finally Dr. Bellman was happy and gave the nod to Jack to get underway.
Anzio shouldered his camera and started to film the leaving of San Marco for Para, when he noticed, only briefly, two natives standing in the tree line. Yoki saw them too and whispered to him; "Issa [who spoke good English when needed] told me they are scouts from that mountain tribe, he said they'll probably shadow us for the journey to the their mountain home. Apparently our Jack has already visited their Chief's village on the lower slopes, to get permission for us to cross their sacred land - something Dawes didn't bother to do and look how that turned out!"
The pair picked up their equipment and signalled the eight bearers to load their burdens and everyone moved into the forest, behind Jack and the good Doctor - Issa had already gone ahead and he simply vanished from sight.
"I have several fully charged batteries for my satellite phone and our expedition office in Brasilia can track our movement into the jungle via GPS, using the phone. We won't ever be out of contact with civilisation." She smiled at Jack as the pair led the expedition, deep into the dark green forest.
Watching from the part ruined church, Jericho and Wilson exchanged looks and both consulted their mirrors; "He should arrive in a couple of minutes and he'll easily pick up their trail. You best get Owen and Alexandra ready. Make sure they have good boots on." Jericho smiled at Wilson and pushed the mirror into his dark green shirt and wiped his face - placing his jungle hat on completed his jungle designed uniform. Wilson was dressed the same; they looked like soldiers without any rank insignia.
Jericho stared at the jungle in silence until Wilson returned with Alex and Owen; both suitably dressed for their adventure. "Young Miguel will oversee the children; he's applied to the local Bishop to join the church and according to Records, he ends up a bloody Bishop!" Owen chuckled as he spoke and pulled on his back pack. Alex just smiled and spoke to Wilson; "I didn't know the Brazilian army had boy soldiers." Wilson grinned and checked her pack straps, then handed Owen a rifle and slung his own, over his shoulder. "He's here." He said simply as a figure approached the church ruins.
Former Brazilian army Captain Hernando Santos raised his arm in salute and joined the little group, placing his rife and shoulder bag down. Alex noted that he was a big man, equal in statue to Wilson or Mr. Harris [Jericho's Butler] with bright blue eyes and brown hair with streaks of natural blond. Captain Santos had served in the army, training the men for jungle combat and survival. But on leave in Brasilia one summer in 1971, he contracted pneumonia and died several days later. He had worked as a Collector for a while, then joined Inspector Stella Longstreet's team as a Temporal Detective. He was a very happy man to be back in the jungle; even for this one mission.
He shook hands all round and the little group chatted for a while, then he re-checked everyone's packs and boots. "I'm glad to see you are, all carrying two water bottles each; dehydration can be a soldiers downfall in the heat of the jungle." Wilson, rather sheepishly, had to admit that one bottle was full of brandy! The Captain actually chuckled, while shaking his head in disapproval, then laughed out loud when Owen also admitted that one of his bottles contained brandy.
Alex said nothing and pushed one bottle around her belt; out of sight to the Captain. Only Jericho, apparently, was actually carrying two water bottles. "We'll track the good doctors party whilst we still have light, then camp near the river with the small waterfall, over night. If their guide is any good, he'll do something similar, so we may have to change our plans slightly. Do you know who their man is?" The captain turned to Jericho and adjusted his pack.
"I doubt if you'll know him coming from the 1970's; he's called Jack Crawford and he certainly has a reputation for knowing his way around the jungle." Alex accepted a mint from Owen who added; "He also has a reputation for women and whisky, oh, and tall tales of the jungle."
The Captain chuckled; "Sweet Jesus, that sounds like the civilian guide we [the Brazilian Army] use to hire sometimes, back in the sixties. he was excellent in the forest - there was none better. But he couldn't leave the damn women or whisky alone and some of the stories he came out with, would make your hair curl; if you believed them."
The Captain scratched his chin; thinking, after a few moments, he snapped his fingers and smiled; "Jack London, bloody Jack London. A strapping English gentlemen who could drink all night and appear totally sober for breakfast - normally with some young tart in tow!"
The group stood in silence, exchanging glances. The Captain noticed the change in their demeanour and asked what bothered them. Jericho consulted his mirror and held it up to Hernando; "Is that your man Jack London?"
The captain smiled broadly; "Oh yes, that's the bugger!"
Jericho showed the mirror around to everyone; it was a photo of Jack Crawford.
5. PARA.
"If he was in his late fourties in the 1960's, then he should be nearly ninety now." Wilson spoke softly to Alex as the little group moved slowly through the thick vegetation, behind Captain Hernando and Jericho. Owen grunted, his rife cradled in his arms; "He's not ageing because his not in his own time, so who exactly is Jack Crawford?"
Jericho turned about and smiled, wiping sweat from his face; "Our friend Jack must be unique in history - he's leading an expedition to trace himself." Wilson laughed out loud; "I'll update my last statement; he should be nearly 130 years old!" Owen shook his head in amazement; "So jack Crawford is really Jack Dawes!" Alex sipped from her water bottle and adjusted her pack; "Well, we know he's no time-traveller, so how is he staying the same age despite a century passing by? - now that's the real interesting question."
Jericho looked quite grim and said quietly; "Remember Professor Wolfgang Leitcher, that bastard was born in 1764 and he's still around - somewhere - and we all know who he serves." Wilson explained to Captain Hernando about the team's mission to Nazi Germany, as they progressed through the dark jungle.
The captain told the group; that they should make Para in about four days of jungle travel. "I warn you all, the place is like the bloody wild west!" He added, unsmiling.
They camped by a small stream and Owen started the dinner over a reluctant fire, whilst Jericho and Alex raised the tents. Wilson and Hernando went ahead to scout out the other party. They returned just before nightfall and in time for dinner; Owen had knocked up curry and rice. It vanished off the plates in double quick time.
Hernando informed Jericho and the team, that 'Jack Crawford' had indeed camped by the small waterfall and his native assistant was scouting ahead - he hadn't seen him yet. He also told them that two warriors from the mountain tribes were following Dr. Bellman's party. "Their bearer's are a surly lot and a little scared about approaching 'Montanha de almas perturbadas' - I think they'll disappear at the first sign of real trouble. We need to keep on our toes." Jericho nodded his agreement and the very tired group settled down for the night.
"Where is he taking the good doctor and perhaps, more importantly; why?" Wilson threw the question out to everyone, as they carefully negotiated the old jungle trail towards the outskirts of Para. "I think we need to discover how he has survived - un-aged - for a century in a very hostile environment and what the hell happened back in 1910 to cause those changes." Jericho panted and adjusted his pack straps, swinging his machete at some thick bushes along the route, which made him feel better about the trek.
They were just hours away from Para and Alex had become subject to some humour from the team - especially Wilson - over her shrinking shorts and shirt. Four days in the hot steaming jungle, had strangely, made Alex's shorts much smaller than before and her shirt was now sleeveless and tied around her, with her bra showing. "Alex, my baby girl, you better hope we reach Para today because come tomorrow - at this rate of clothes loss - you'll be walking along stark naked - apart from your hat." Wilson managed to say between chuckles. He received a straight finger digit in reply and some words that a real lady shouldn't use - the jungle heat was really starting to get on her nerves.
"I'd sleep with the bloody devil himself for a shower or bath." She confided to Owen, who grinned, saying: "I'd bet he would take you up on that." They reached Para that afternoon and were told by a car mechanic, that Doctor Bellman's party had already left. He was a very generous man and upon hearing Alex's real need for a shower; offered Alex his shower-room. All she had to do was let him, his grandfather, brother and two sons watch; she declined his offer not very politely.
The local Madame of Para's best brothel came to her aid and allowed Alex to use its facilities - a tin bath in a room that actually could not be locked and boasted a large window that had no curtains. Apparently, the brothels incumbent girls weekly bath day was a highlight in Para - there were no televisions or Internet. The Madame [a shrewd business woman] even offered to split the takings from Alex's performance - Alex politely declined her offer and paid for the facilities with brandy and some spare make-up.
Alex was determined to get her relaxing bath, without any worries about being disturbed by perverts; So Wilson sat on a small stool outside the room - rifle in hand - whilst Owen pinned his ground sheet over the window - it worked.
"I could have made a small fortune; several men from the town offered me brides to drop the curtain at the right moment." he sighed, adding; "I've no real head for business." Wilson congratulated him on making the right decision, explaining that Alex would have probably used the rife on him - had he succumbed to those generous offers from the men. He started to laugh until he realised that Wilson wasn't joking.
Jericho's party left the following morning - including a much more relaxed and agreeable Alex - plunging back into the jungle, heading for 'Montanha de almas perturbadas'. Alex couldn't really understand why Jericho and Wilson laughed for some time, as they trudged through the forest. Neither of the pair had the courage to explain the joke. Wilson had confessed to Jericho; that Alex had taken every precaution not to be overlooked during her much needed bath. "But she forgot to bung up the very large keyhole and I'm just a man." He admitted with a very big grin. Jericho really did laugh at that and said nothing to Alex - for the sake of a 'peaceful' mission.
6. THE TEMPLE RUINS.
They camped that night in a small clearing at the base of a waterfall, that fell from a cliffside into a fast moving river. The tents were pitched close together, all facing the fire and Alex made and served up a respectable chili which proved popular. Captain Hernando was impressed with Alex and spoke directly to Wilson; "Stunningly beautiful, can trek through a jungle without whinging - well not too much - cook a decent chili and have a laugh." He smiled, as he received a second portion. Wilson just sighed; "Another moth to the flame."
Jericho took the first watch, sitting staring up at the bright stars and even brighter moon; he always enjoyed the heavens and the clear jungle night made them shine like lamps against the darkness. That's when he noticed the strange grey clouds and suddenly could feel wind against his face and body. He woke Captain Hernando very quietly who came to the same conclusion as Jericho; a jungle storm was approaching - fast.
The rain was simply torrential and the group had to abandon their camp and head for several large trees to seek shelter and some safety. The sky was streaked with red, orange and white lightening. The very earth seemed to shift and roll beneath the tree's, in which they clung for dear life. The sky lit up with several brilliant flashes of white and by sunrise, the jungle was quiet again.
They managed to salvage most of their camp and the captain led them into the forest, stopping several times to check his compass. Finally, they halted about noon and Alex brewed coffee and they ate from tins directly. Hernando pulled Jericho to one side and showed him the compass. Both men watched, a little amazed, as the needle slowly swept round the face, very slowly and covered a full 360 degrees!
"Its been like that since this morning. Check your one." Captain Santos looked extremely worried; without a good compass they could walk in circles - not a good idea in a jungle. Jericho pulled his small pocket compass out and both men saw it was behaving exactly the same.
The little group assembled around Jericho, who explained the dilemma - they now faced - they could try and continue to follow the Bellman party, relying on the captains experience and skill or return to the lighthouse. They unanimously agreed to continue, which made the captain feel quite good about himself. "Thank you for your confidence in me..." He was saying when Issa - Jack Crawford's assistant - burst from the trees and ran towards the group. Hernando raised his rifle, which Jericho pushed gently down; explaining who the native was.
6. THE TEMPLE RUINS.
They camped that night in a small clearing at the base of a waterfall, that fell from a cliffside into a fast moving river. The tents were pitched close together, all facing the fire and Alex made and served up a respectable chili which proved popular. Captain Hernando was impressed with Alex and spoke directly to Wilson; "Stunningly beautiful, can trek through a jungle without whinging - well not too much - cook a decent chili and have a laugh." He smiled, as he received a second portion. Wilson just sighed; "Another moth to the flame."
Jericho took the first watch, sitting staring up at the bright stars and even brighter moon; he always enjoyed the heavens and the clear jungle night made them shine like lamps against the darkness. That's when he noticed the strange grey clouds and suddenly could feel wind against his face and body. He woke Captain Hernando very quietly who came to the same conclusion as Jericho; a jungle storm was approaching - fast.
The rain was simply torrential and the group had to abandon their camp and head for several large trees to seek shelter and some safety. The sky was streaked with red, orange and white lightening. The very earth seemed to shift and roll beneath the tree's, in which they clung for dear life. The sky lit up with several brilliant flashes of white and by sunrise, the jungle was quiet again.
They managed to salvage most of their camp and the captain led them into the forest, stopping several times to check his compass. Finally, they halted about noon and Alex brewed coffee and they ate from tins directly. Hernando pulled Jericho to one side and showed him the compass. Both men watched, a little amazed, as the needle slowly swept round the face, very slowly and covered a full 360 degrees!
"Its been like that since this morning. Check your one." Captain Santos looked extremely worried; without a good compass they could walk in circles - not a good idea in a jungle. Jericho pulled his small pocket compass out and both men saw it was behaving exactly the same.
The little group assembled around Jericho, who explained the dilemma - they now faced - they could try and continue to follow the Bellman party, relying on the captains experience and skill or return to the lighthouse. They unanimously agreed to continue, which made the captain feel quite good about himself. "Thank you for your confidence in me..." He was saying when Issa - Jack Crawford's assistant - burst from the trees and ran towards the group. Hernando raised his rifle, which Jericho pushed gently down; explaining who the native was.
Issa was panting heavily and took several breaths before he could speak to them. Alex gave him a water bottle which he gratefully sipped from [not the brandy filled one, as Alex knew the little man didn't touch alcohol]. He handed the bottle back and spoke directly to Jericho and Hernando, but everyone stood in silence as Issa recounted what happened.
Issa had gone ahead of the main party by a mile or so and found the pig shaped rock formation that jack Crawford had told him to locate. But was trapped there for some hours while the storm raged. He returned slowly through the soaking wet jungle and found that the party had left where they had been camped.
"Then, that is certainly strange." Muttered Jericho and asked issa if he could take them there. He agreed and they set off at once. It took four hours to come upon the Temple and they stood before it with real puzzlement; "It appears to be a jumble of Ancient Egyptian, Aztec and even Indian culture. It shouldn't exist." Jericho spoke out, consulting his mirror and that's when he shouted; "There it is!" Everyone stared at the ruins and could see nothing but forest and stones.
Jericho pointed to the rear of the Temple and an overgrown gateway with a dark inside; "Check your mirrors people and see what they are reporting." Alex tapped her screen and sighed; "It's a portal - hidden behind that cave entrance which has been carved like a doorway." Wilson and Owen stood a few feet from the doorway; "It's pitch black in there, does anyone's mirror show where it is linked too?" Wilson asked; reading his own mirror with some real intent.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Muttered Jericho and disappeared into the darkness, Captain Hernando advised Issa to remain here at the cave entrance, in case the any of the good Doctor's party should turn up and then he too; disappeared into the cave. Wilson, Owen and Alex made no comment and followed Jericho and Hernando into the darkness.
7. ANOTHER TIME, SAME PLACE.
"We're in some subterranean world that can only be accessed when the Temple appears above - and that doesn't happen every day, I suspect." Jericho pulled his water Bottle out and took a couple of mouthful's; the heat was damp and oppressive. Alex pointed out the pools of 'silver or glass' that appear to be part of the grey, rocky ceiling. "That's where the light and heat is coming from." She said and sipped her water bottle. Owen coughed, he had a dry mouth; "My mirror tells me that the current Human Earth Time is minus eighty three million...or thereabouts."
"Well, keep a bloody eye out for dinosaurs then." Wilson took a long swig from his water bottle and stared up at the roof again; that's when he saw old wooden plane approaching slowly, almost struggling to keep aloft. "What the fuck....." He yelled and everybody looked up. The bullets hit the trees around them and they dived for cover below the edge of the ridge. They watched as the single propeller pulled the two winged plane upwards. It carried two persons and one was firing a machine gun from the rear of the cockpit.
"That's from the First World War!" Captain Hernando shouted as they made their way deeper into the dark forest. Jericho watched the plane disappear out of sight and consulted his mirror; "The number painted on the tail tells me that it shouldn't exist; it has never existed - odd that." Alex shook her head and dumped her pack and promptly sat on it; "This place doesn't make any sense, our mirrors tell us the correct time is: minus eighty three million years, but they have planes from the bloody First world war - what next?"
"One of them, I suppose." Owen calmly pointed down the valley, towards the fierce looking Dinosaur with three horns upon its head. It was lumbering slowly through the forest, pushing small trees over and crushing thick bushes beneath its huge grey/green feet. They could hear its voice, even from where they were standing; some distance away. "Now, who the fuck are they?" Wilson asked, jerking up his rifle in anticipation of trouble.
Three ragged figures, holding each other up were making their way towards Jericho's team from the small ridge above. Alex stared hard at the threesome struggling through the thick grass and bushes. "Sweet Jesus; its Doctor Bellman with Yoki and Anzio!" No-one could believe these three skinny, dirty people dressed in rags were the same people who left San Marco just days ago.
Jericho and his team stood on the small ridge and stared down onto the valley which was thick with jungle and two small waterfall's, a few kilometres apart, at the far end. Wilson then looked up and simply couldn't believe what he saw in the sky; there was no sky!
"We're in some subterranean world that can only be accessed when the Temple appears above - and that doesn't happen every day, I suspect." Jericho pulled his water Bottle out and took a couple of mouthful's; the heat was damp and oppressive. Alex pointed out the pools of 'silver or glass' that appear to be part of the grey, rocky ceiling. "That's where the light and heat is coming from." She said and sipped her water bottle. Owen coughed, he had a dry mouth; "My mirror tells me that the current Human Earth Time is minus eighty three million...or thereabouts."
"Well, keep a bloody eye out for dinosaurs then." Wilson took a long swig from his water bottle and stared up at the roof again; that's when he saw old wooden plane approaching slowly, almost struggling to keep aloft. "What the fuck....." He yelled and everybody looked up. The bullets hit the trees around them and they dived for cover below the edge of the ridge. They watched as the single propeller pulled the two winged plane upwards. It carried two persons and one was firing a machine gun from the rear of the cockpit.
"That's from the First World War!" Captain Hernando shouted as they made their way deeper into the dark forest. Jericho watched the plane disappear out of sight and consulted his mirror; "The number painted on the tail tells me that it shouldn't exist; it has never existed - odd that." Alex shook her head and dumped her pack and promptly sat on it; "This place doesn't make any sense, our mirrors tell us the correct time is: minus eighty three million years, but they have planes from the bloody First world war - what next?"
"One of them, I suppose." Owen calmly pointed down the valley, towards the fierce looking Dinosaur with three horns upon its head. It was lumbering slowly through the forest, pushing small trees over and crushing thick bushes beneath its huge grey/green feet. They could hear its voice, even from where they were standing; some distance away. "Now, who the fuck are they?" Wilson asked, jerking up his rifle in anticipation of trouble.
Three ragged figures, holding each other up were making their way towards Jericho's team from the small ridge above. Alex stared hard at the threesome struggling through the thick grass and bushes. "Sweet Jesus; its Doctor Bellman with Yoki and Anzio!" No-one could believe these three skinny, dirty people dressed in rags were the same people who left San Marco just days ago.
Doctor Bellman collapsed upon her knees in front of Jericho and grabbed the water bottle he offered and gulped it down. Wilson handed out biscuits and apples. Anzio swallowed some water and grabbed hold of Owen's arm; "You have to get the fuck outa of here, this place is fucking crazy and dangerous!" He slumped upon the grass and wept.
Owen gripped his shoulders and offered him some brandy from his hip-flask, which was gratefully accepted; "Crawford just abandoned us, he disappeared a few hours after we came here and we are only still alive due to luck - the bastard." Anzio cursed and swigged the brandy.
Doctor Bellman had recovered her composure and spoke to Jericho; "This place seems to be a jumble of time zones from Earth's history. Dinosaurs roam the great forest whilst there's a city on that far mountain. You've already seen one of their patrol planes; they are not a friendly people." Doctor Bellman drank some more water and sighed loudly; "The bloody satellite phone stopped working after the storm, it was like the satellite wasn't there anymore - a useless piece of junk that didn't work when you really needed the bloody thing!" Jericho nodded and stared at the ragged threesome and knew he had to make a hard decision.
Owen and Alexandra would take Doctor Bellman and her distressed party back through the portal, whilst he, Captain Hernando and Wilson would try to find the elusive 'Jack Crawford'. Jericho gave clear and concise instructions to Alex and Owen; "Take those sorry looking souls back to where the storm started, that way they will not have suffered all this and will remember nothing about the temple ruins or the damn time portal it hides. I strongly suspect that our Jack will not join them again. He won't return to that time for a while yet. We can rely on Issa to take them back to Para."
Alex and her little group left a few minutes later and Captain Hernando, Jericho and Wilson headed for the city that could be seen on the mountain opposite. Warm rain tumbled down as they passed beneath the huge and ancient trees, occasionally hearing the calls and roars of the odd dinosaur within the depths of the jungle.
They stopped briefly by a beautiful little waterfall which was escaping from a crack in the ridge that towered above them. They ate some cheese and apples, sipping their canteens. That's when the flickering lights caught Wilson's eyes and he stared hard at the waterfall, Wilson tapped Jericho upon the arm; "Unless I'm seeing things, there are some lights behind that waterfall." Jericho and Hernando stood and watched the waterfall - sure enough; there were lights flickering behind the cascading water.
Jericho rubbed his chin and then pointed towards the falling water; "Well, lets get our feet wet." Wilson and Hernando nodded their agreement and the curious group disappeared into the falling water.
They followed the rugged little tunnel, which was lit with small bulkhead lamps, for some minutes until they came upon a large wooden door, braced with steel bands. An amused Jericho pointed out the small camera fixed above it. "Some one takes his security seriously." Wilson was examining the door carefully; "No key hole or lock apparent, how do they open the damn thing?" Jericho smiled and waved at the camera; "I think it can only be opened from the inside, which means there must be at least two people in there."
Hernando looked puzzled; "How can you know that?" Jericho grinned; "If it cannot be opened from the outside, then someone must always remain behind, when the others are out, to open the damn thing from the inside, so there must be at least two people involved- logical really."
"Hello, can I help you?" A woman's voice made the three men fall silent until Jericho pointed to the camera; "Probably has a two way microphone connected to it." He looked up and said loudly; "We're here to see Jack, thank you."
"Hello, can I help you?" A woman's voice made the three men fall silent until Jericho pointed to the camera; "Probably has a two way microphone connected to it." He looked up and said loudly; "We're here to see Jack, thank you."
There was silence for a short while and then a man's voice was heard; "Is that Mister Jericho Tibbs?" Jericho shouted back: yes. Everyone heard the door locks clicking behind the door and the heavy door swung open a few inches. Wilson gripped the door and pulled it open enough for each one of them to squeeze through. They were in a wood panelled hallway, complete with ornate mirror, umbrella stand and coat pegs which carried black oil skins. Several pairs of green wellingtons lay neatly placed beneath the coats.
The large door slowly closed behind them and they heard the locks come on. "Yep, they certainly do take their security seriously." Muttered Wilson. Captain Hernando pointed out a portrait of the English King Edward the Seventh on the opposite wall; "The crazy English always did love their royalty." and relaxed a little - but still with rifle in hand. That's when he noticed the portrait of the beautiful young woman opposite the King's picture. "I don't think that's Queen Alexandra," He added and stared at the artist's signature and date.
"Lady Charlotte; 1952." Wilson peered over his shoulder and read the details out to Jericho, who checked his mirror and grunted with some satisfaction. The door at the end of the hall came open slowly and a young man stood, rifle in hand. Jericho smiled and removed his hat; "Richard, we've come to speak to your father." Wilson nodded to Hernando and said softly; "Like two pea's in a pod." They were staring at a younger version of Jack Crawford/Jack Dawes. The young man didn't lower the gun or smile; "Why did you come here Mr. Tibbs?" He asked softly and then they saw the young girl standing behind him - with an oversized pistol clutched in both hands.
"Daddy did say he could trust the man." She said quietly and lowered her big pistol and stepped back. Richard nodded and lowered the rifle, clicking the safety catch on. "You best come in and have a whisky." He cradled the gun and actually smiled a little. Jericho nodded his thanks and the three dumped the packs and rifles in the hall way. The girl placed her pistol back in the holster hanging next to the door and showed them into a beautifully furnished room; then produced a tray with a whisky bottle and several glasses.
The young girl was very pretty by anyone's standard of beauty; she was wearing a check shirt and clean white shorts with ankle boots. Wilson certainly admired her long legs and smiled back at her, when she handed him a glass and filled it with whisky - very good whisky. "You look like your mother, the lady in the hall portrait." Captain Hernando said, sipping his whisky and easing himself upon the large leather sofa and looking about the room. Richard half smiled; "Yeah, Charlotte does look a lot like her mum."
Charlotte sat on a chair by the fireplace and smiled; "Thank you, that was painted the year mum and dad was married. I was born a couple of years later." She was drinking a bottle of coke-cola with a straw and looked the picture of young innocence from a very different world. Wilson stared at the young woman; she should be nearly sixty years old now and her step brother would be over a hundred. The passing of human time apparently did not happen in this strange place.
Jericho drank some whisky and sat upon a chair opposite the grand fireplace. "Your mother was Lady Charlotte Wells-Gordon, who according to history was a painter and photographer. She disappeared in the jungle in 1952, whilst working as a freelance photographer for a Zoological expedition along the Amazon river. She was never seen again by any living person and can I assume she is, sadly, no longer with us?"
The young girl nodded; yes - but said nothing. She jumped to her feet when a deep voice came over the door intercom; it was her father - Professor Jack Dawes. Jericho placed his glass down and rose from his seat, the look on Jacks face was priceless as he heaved his pack and rifle against the wall. "Hello Hernando, its been a long time." He spoke softly, accepting a glass of whisky from his son.
Hernando nodded; "Over fifty years Jack and you look like you haven't aged a day." Jack smiled; "I did go to your funeral, the piss up afterwards almost became a legend." Hernando chuckled at that and raised his glass in salute.
Hernando nodded; "Over fifty years Jack and you look like you haven't aged a day." Jack smiled; "I did go to your funeral, the piss up afterwards almost became a legend." Hernando chuckled at that and raised his glass in salute.
Jericho picked up his glass and sipped his whisky , he said simply; "what happened in 1910 Jack?"
Jack slumped into his favourite armchair and rolled his glass between his hands and stared up at the ceiling, he sighed loudly and half smiled; "Bloody disaster Jericho - a real bloody disaster."
9. THE STORY OF JACK DAWES.
"I had obtained the map from two old natives who owed me more than any money could repay; I had rescued their young granddaughter from the clutches of sex traffickers, who tried to sell the abducted girl to a brothel ran by a big mining corporation." Jack shifted uncomfortably in his chair and his attentive daughter refilled his glass.
Jack slumped into his favourite armchair and rolled his glass between his hands and stared up at the ceiling, he sighed loudly and half smiled; "Bloody disaster Jericho - a real bloody disaster."
9. THE STORY OF JACK DAWES.
"I had obtained the map from two old natives who owed me more than any money could repay; I had rescued their young granddaughter from the clutches of sex traffickers, who tried to sell the abducted girl to a brothel ran by a big mining corporation." Jack shifted uncomfortably in his chair and his attentive daughter refilled his glass.
"The map was very old and written in Portuguese; but the city's name was clear enough; Noah - the fabled city of gold. I picked my team, as best I could, given where I was and the time constraints; I wanted to get underway straight away. That was my first big mistake, a real whopper actually." He grunted and sipped his whisky. "The guide was no guide, right?" Jack chuckled; "Spot on, your a clever man Jericho. He couldn't guide a pen to paper. I caught on after a few days, but it was too late by then, we were in uncharted jungle and frankly; quite lost." He rose from his chair and walked to the big desk in the corner and rummaged in the top drawer. He handed Jericho a well worn leather pouch.
Jericho slowly opened the pouch and stared at the old map. Wilson leaned over him and held his mirror above the paper. "Jesus Jericho, it's about four hundred years old." Jack chuckled and gestured to the paper; "Take it and get rid of it; its caused more deaths that smallpox, I think." Jericho nodded; "What happened to the rest of them?" Jack slumped back in his armchair and his daughter sat at his feet. He affectional touched her hair. "There was a fierce and strange storm that washed away most of our equipment and made our compasses go nuts. All our watches had stopped. The native bearers simply disappeared over night, we were really in a bad way. Then we came across the temple. I knew it wasn't right, but we camped down for the night."
"Lewis Ludlow was a liar and a con man; the only true part of his story was that he had, in fact, worked for a Mining Company - a small outfit - and they were after him because he took off with a lot of their money. A small venomous snake got the stupid bugger, he didn't even know to shake his boots out in the morning." Jack smiled at that.
"They found his rife some years later." Wilson said and finished his whisky. Jack nodded; "We marked his grave with that. It was no point keeping the damn thing; the brains of Brittan had only brought enough ammunition for one clip!" His smile dropped; "Cole got it next [Colegate Standround]. He started with a fever and vomiting blood, less that a day later, we buried him. I had never seen fever like it. It took him like that." Jack snapped his fingers; "He was actually a good man, pretty loyal and decent compared to most."
"It was Gordon that found the portal and I followed him in. The bastards in the city got him. They chased us through the forests and he slipped and fell down a small ravine. He was still alive - I could hear him calling for help. Those bastards climbed down the ravine on ropes. I was hidden, watching from a tree. They beat him to death with the butts of their old rifles - muskets actually - and then, in utter horror, I watched them dismember his naked body and shove it in canvas bags. I was actually sick. The bastards ate human flesh."
Jack face betrayed what he was thinking, but he spelled it out clearly; "After that, when ever I - we - encountered anyone from the city; we killed them. Man, woman or child, we killed them like the fucking vermin they are."
Wilson showed Jericho his mirror; " Those three are all missing souls; like jack is. No Collector appeared because they were clearly out of their ordained time. Their souls are lost." Jericho gestured around the room; "Where did all this come from?" Jack smiled; "A very nice old Frenchman called Jean De Floret, he was trapped here in the 1680's and spent years constructing this little fortress. He took me in, and it was with some incredible realisation, as we spoke together - he spoke quite good English - that he was nearly three hundred years old! Time here doesn't affect us humans from above. We simply don't age, but we can be killed. He was careless one morning, filling water caskets by the waterfall, one of the really big bloody snakes got him. They make anaconda's look like nasty worms. I really did miss him. He was a good man; for a Frenchman!"
Jericho eased from his chair and rubbed his chin; "You can't stay here Jack. Doctor Bellman was a descendant of yours and she wanted to know what happened to you. Other expeditions have been lost or killed trying to find you and that damn map. It has to stop - Yes?"
Jack slowly nodded; he knew only to well that it had to stop. He ran a hand over his face; "But how Jericho?" He asked and glanced at his young daughter, who in the world above, would now be nearly 56 years old. His son would be over a 112 years old and Jack, himself, would be near 150 years old!
Jericho smiled; "Leave that to us Jack, but if you give me your word, I'll return you 1910 and you can stop yourself ending up in this nightmare. It's also your son's time period and he can join you. It will be both your ordained time period. You can live out your natural lives, but more importantly; when the time comes, your souls can be collected and processed properly. Your three companions that died, will have never met you and so won't die on the expedition. That means their souls can be recovered by the natural process of death in their own time periods."
Jack nodded and gestured at his daughter; "And..." He muttered and looked quite sad. Jericho smiled again; "We can make a little exception for her Jack - if you co-operate with us - I can guarantee that the young lady will have a good life in the modern world, and of course, she will die within her ordained time period and have her soul collected properly, when the time comes. She can go back with her descendant- the good Doctor Bellman."
Hernando gripped Jericho's shoulder and smiled; "I think Inspector, we should allow them a little time together; to say goodbye - yes?" Jericho nodded and he and Wilson waited on the other side of the big door. Wilson managed to chuckle; "Now I see why Angel Margret insisted we work this case backwards. We would have missed the young girls soul and it would have been lost. Angels are really clever buggers- aren't they?" Jericho just laughed and nodded; "Ain't they just." He murmured.
EPILOGUE:
"The recovery of so many 'lost souls' was considered a great success by Angel Margret. The changes to the current human time line was also considered acceptable. The only 'fly in the ointment' was Jack Dawes; he only went and lost his soul again! - Jericho has been assigned the case; reluctantly!"
CHARACTERS:
Doctor Amber Bellman was the Great, Great Granddaughter of Professor Jack Dawes and the expedition to trace him was always a big ambition of hers. When Jericho returned him [Jack Dawes] back to 1910 and the ill-fated expedition never took place, he just became an interesting ancestor of hers and nothing more. She died 2051 and her soul was collected and processed.
Anzio Parker was never on the expedition and that proved fatal for the young man; instead of being up the Amazon, he was now in Argentina, filming the government crackdown on protesters there. He was killed near his hotel by two desperate robbers, who stole his camera's and watch. His body wasn't identified for weeks. His soul was collected and processed.
Yoki Azzurri was never on the expedition and remained in England instead. She met a nice young man who worked for Asda Supermarkets and the pair married in 2013. They had two children and she died in 2067. Her soul was collected and processed.
Miguel Joao Murphy [Manager - Emerald Forest Hotel] remained the Manger of his ancestors hotel and it was a very popular tourist spot for adventurous travellers. He died in 2043 of pneumonia. His soul was collected and processed.
Carlos De Silva [Barman - Emerald Forest Hotel] the young barman was killed by his estranged girlfriend in 2012. He had kicked her out of the apartment they shared, after finding her in bed with another man. She took exception - and a large knife - to this. His soul was collected and processed.
Jack Crawford/Jack London/Jack Dawes was returned to his correct time and continued to live his life as an explorer and adventurer. He was too old for service in the Great War of 1914/18. But after it ended, he found himself abroad again; this time in Egypt, working for an American Oil Company, who sent him to the Sudan in 1921. He never returned from that expedition [and neither did anyone else]. Some one hundred years later, his soul is still missing - yet again! As Jericho remarked, upon being handed the case; "The bloody man is a liability, why doesn't he just stay at home and die nicely; that would make our job a lot bloody easier!" Jack Dawes has joined a very select group of human's who have managed to lose their souls not once; but twice! There is no resolution to the case yet.
Captain Carlos Henrique Garcia [The river boat: Madre de Deus] never became a close friend of Jack Crawford/Dawes. But still travelled the Amazon River with many tourists and explorers over the years. In 2017, whilst deep in the jungle with passengers from a Photographic expedition to film giant anacondas, his river boat was lost in a strange storm. There were no survivors apparently. But his soul was not collected [with several others] and is the subject of a Temporal Detectives investigation by Inspector David Holberg and team 15. There is no resolution yet.
Richard Dawes followed in his father's footsteps and became an explorer himself - which was short lived. He was killed at the battle of Ypres in 1915 during the First World war. His soul was collected and processed.
Issa 'Tree leopard' [Jacks native assistant] never worked with Jack Crawford/Dawes, but scouted and guided many expeditions into the jungles. He was accidently shot by an inept hunter in 2015 and died of his wounds. His soul was collected and processed.
Gordon Grant [part of Dawes 1910 expedition] obviously never went on the 'Dawes Expedition' and returned to America in 1915. He became a News Reporter for a big New York Paper and married his childhood sweetheart. They had four children and Gordon died in 1956. His soul was finally collected and processed.
Colgate Standround [part of Dawes 1910 expedition] was another who never went on the ill-fated expedition. He left the Amazon and worked in a small provincial town as part of the planning department. He married a local woman and had five children He died in 1966, celebrating England's world cup win- he got very drunk and fell into a local river; he was eighty-one years old! His soul was collected and processed - finally.
Lewis Ludlow [part of Dawes 1910 expedition] never was on the Dawes expedition and that proved fatal; some unpleasant men from the mining company he had stolen from, found him in a local brothel and extracted a terrible revenge on him; they beat and shot him to death. He died in 1910 and his soul was collected and processed.
Charlotte Ann Dawes should never have existed, but her soul was now part of the current human time line and so Angel Margret allowed the change to stand. She travelled to England and worked for the local council, helping refugee's to settle into their new home. Sadly, she was killed in a motorway pile up in 2016 and her soul was collected and processed. Her short, new life in the modern world, changed very little. Angel Margret was pleased with her decision to allow the changes.
Jean de Floret should have died in 1711, but being a castaway in the Amazon's subterranean world, he actually died in 1873 and thus, became a lost soul - since he was outside of his ordained time period - and his soul remains lost to this day. His case is currently under investigation by team 44 and Inspector Yasmin Khan. There is no resolution at this time.
Charlotte Ann Dawes should never have existed, but her soul was now part of the current human time line and so Angel Margret allowed the change to stand. She travelled to England and worked for the local council, helping refugee's to settle into their new home. Sadly, she was killed in a motorway pile up in 2016 and her soul was collected and processed. Her short, new life in the modern world, changed very little. Angel Margret was pleased with her decision to allow the changes.
Jean de Floret should have died in 1711, but being a castaway in the Amazon's subterranean world, he actually died in 1873 and thus, became a lost soul - since he was outside of his ordained time period - and his soul remains lost to this day. His case is currently under investigation by team 44 and Inspector Yasmin Khan. There is no resolution at this time.
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"All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.”
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