The Adventurers

Chapter 19

Pazzo sulked under the sparse stand of plane trees where he and his men had made their camp. Three out of ten and nothing to show for their efforts except the knowledge that the woman's party was across the river and apparently with a tribe unknown to he or his men.

He couldn't decide whether or not to cross the river and follow their trail; he certainly didn't want to get into a fight with an unknown army He glared at his men and decided finally to send one of them across to find out what they were up against. He would give the order in the morning.

* * *

Sax asked one of his native guides if he could speak the language of their captors, hoping to get some food and water for the group. The native shook his head and drew his knees up to his chin.

"What's the matter with him?" Jed asked.

"I dunno. Scared of these guys though, that's for sure." Sax stood and called to their guard, miming eating and drinking.

The man moved to the entrance of the small room they had been moved to and made some strange sounds. Several moments later a small girl scurried in carrying a large basket filled with fruits and a strange looking cake or bread. A container of fresh water was also packed inside. She set the basket down and fled as quickly as she had come. The guard pointed to the basket and waved his hand at the group.

"That went well," Sax said, doling out the food and water.

"What do you think happened to Chessery?" Jed took some food to Krena and her daughter.

"I don't know, but she's pretty resilient and a true survivor."

"Who do you think that guy is, the leader?"

"No idea, but he sure isn't one of them." Sax lifted his chin toward the impassive guard. He tried once again to talk to Tapuk, but it was Matzumen who hurriedly described the legend of the Green Mist tribe and the Sky God who ruled over them.

Sax nodded thoughtfully and sat back chewing on some fruit. Sky God? A white man. A thought formed and he shared his suspicions with Jed, suggesting they look for any opportunity to speak with the guy.

* * *

Instead of being shoved into some dark cave, Chessery couldn't contain her surprise when the natives left her inside a cavernous room, decked out in a very west world style. Her original suspicions were immediately confirmed as she walked about the room examining the airline seats that formed a comfortable conversation area and the giant propeller that had become a ceiling fan.

Other plane parts were utilized in ingenious ways to make the room a most liveable and interesting space. Parts of the fuselage were formed into a huge funnel that hung over a fire pit and acted as a chimney, directing the smoke out through a hole in the roof of the cavern.

She wandered about, touching things, picking up ornaments and putting them down until she came to a shelf with a small wooden box and out of curiosity, she opened it up. Inside were some folded papers a couple of old photos and an American passport in the name of Samuel Parkhurst. The photo was of a younger Sky God.

"It's bad manners to pry through people's things without permission."

She slammed the box shut and spun around to face the Sky God. "It's just as bad to treat people the way you have who come to your area in peace." She regained some composure and stood defiantly before him.

"Have you been treated badly?" He asked.

"I don't call that barbaric demonstration we were forced to endure, being treated well."

"Oh, you mean Ginger. Yeah, that is gross, but then I have nothing to do with that. These people have their own form of law and justice."

"I thought you were the God here... the Sky God."