The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction Part 1

Chapter 28: Flashback: Flight Over USA, 1942

Indy watched the United States stretch out below them. Grasslands, mountains, valleys, patchworks of grain, small towns and lakes...

"You'd never know we were at war," he mused.

"That'll come later," the navigator mused. "Ross."

"Indiana Jones," he gripped the young man's hand. "How long is the flight?"

"You might as well relax," Ross replied. "I haven't even gotten out the navigation map." He paused. "Nervous?"

"For the flight, no? I've been traveling longer than aircraft have been in existence," Indy grinned. "I didn't want to leave my wife."

"I noticed she was expecting. Is this your first?"

"Second." Indy sighed. "I didn't want another one - the first one was too perfect." He took out the photograph from his wallet. "Marion's my wife and our little girl is Annie. Formally Anna."

The navigator grinned at the photograph. "As in... Indiana? Like... you? She takes after you. I've got four kid siblings. My parents swear they're all perfect til they wake up in the middle of the night."

"Annie's six," Indy explained. "My wife's been after me for a son, but she's convinced the second child is another daughter."

Ross chuckled. "Mom always knew too. She was only wrong with me. It looks like you're going to have another girl."

"I'd love that." Indy admitted. "Annie thinks I'm going to the island of Achoo. And I can't convince her otherwise."

"It does look like something a kid sneezed up and flung into the ocean," Ross agreed. He got out a map. "The archaeological site is on the hill. When we moved the locals off their land, they begged us not to go there."

"Where are the locals?"

Ross shrugged. "I heard they were going to be put on a reservation on the mainland."

Indy sighed. "There's something awful about fighting for freedom, but not being allowed to have it in your own country. Will I get a chance to talk to them about their local legends?"

"Probably not. This flight will stop to refuel, but I don't know how much time we'll have, or if they'll be around." Ross thought for a moment. "We found a kid hiding on the island last week. He might help you. We're trying to track down his parents. He's staying at the base on Attu until then."

"I'm cold."

Ross and Indy stared back at the small voice behind them.

A boy about Annie's age crawled out from under a cargo net. He had jet black hair, a round tanned face and was grinning while rubbing his arms.

Ross sighed. "Dr. Jones - meet - "

The boy announced his name in his native language.

Indy grinned and replied, recognizing the language. "Pleased to meet you, Seal Child."

The boy grinned at Ross, and then skipped to the cockpit and announced in Russian, "You owe me fifteen rubles Pilot Kuzmin! Dr. Jones can say my name!"

Ross stared at Indy. "We call him Skant."

Indy chuckled and stepped into the cockpit, speaking in Russian. "Pilot Kuzmin, I have learned never to try and outsmart a small child of the native tribes."

Kuzmin handed the child Russian cash. "A lesson well learned, Dr. Jones," he replied in English. "How do you speak my language and theirs?"

"I was over in Russia around the time Lenin took power," Indy answered in Russian. "And then I spent some time in Alaska with Roy Chapman Andrews soon after. What are you doing here?"

Kuzmin replied in English. "I am learning how to fly your country's planes to help beat back the Nazis. It is the Lend Lease program."

"Welcome... better you than me. The last time I flew a plane I crashed it into a house."

Kuzmin nodded. "That is landing. Landing is difficult. Fly, yes, land, no?"

"That's exactly what I told Dad."

"It will get colder," the child looked up at Dr. Jones. "Can I have a coat?"

"We didn't bring anything extra, Skant," Ross answered, opening up the map case. "Because you weren't supposed to be on this trip. Captain said no stowaways! Last time you almost got yourself shot!"

"I didn't know when I fell asleep helping the mechanic that the plane was going to attack Japan the next day!" The boy protested holding up his hands in a shrug.

"Take my suitcoat," Indy smiled, kneeling and putting the coat around the child's shoulders. He pulled off his tie and wrapped it around the boy's waist, making a knot. "Its not perfect, but you'll be warmer than you are now. I need to get into my adventure gear."

"Won't you be cold?" Ross asked watching Indy walk to the back of the plane.

"No," Indy answered returning, settling into the seat wearing khaki trousers, high boots and a parka. "Marion is always stealing my coat. But she cooks, so I have a few extra layers to lose. Perils of marriage." He plunked his brown fedora over his head.

"I'm still cold," a little voice announced.

"Ok, Seal Child - c'mere." Indy opened his parka.

"You know what my name means!" The child bolted at him, jumping into his arms and snuggling against Indy's shoulder.

Indy smiled at Ross. "Perils of being a dad. This isn't the first time I've adopted random kids."

Indy reset his fedora. "Wake us up when we get there."