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

Chapter 36: Flashback: Attu Island, North Pacific, 1942

They moved into the next chamber, Seal Child still leaning against Indy's back. The light from the flashlight where they'd left it on the ancient altar waited for them, revealing the ancient patterns in the frost.

Indy noticed the frozen mummy in the center seemed to be getting larger and larger as he approached it. And then there was the glint of metal... two swords sticking out of the corpse. They would have been mortal wounds. "But why leave them in?" He thought. "Its supposed to be dead."

The chambers divided. There was the niche with the largest mummy inside, towering at least a head and shoulders above the rest. On either side in their own niches were two other corpses. These were of women about Indy's height, covered in battle gear and missing their swords. The tallest mummy was partially blocked in by some fallen rocks, but Indy could see a tunnel through them.

"Seal Child," Indy announced, kneeling. "Can you go back and wait with the flashlight?"

"Why?"

"Well," Indy swallowed. "This is the most dangerous part."

"What are you going to do?" The little boy clutched Indy's neck and shoulders, unwilling to let go.

"See those swords over there? In the tallest mummy? I have to get them. I'm gonna need my arms, which have been wrapped around and holding you on my back."

Seal Child reluctantly slid off Indy's back. "It won't eat you will it?"

"Remember the big rubber band in the jaws, I told you about?" Indy asked.

"Uh-huh." Seal Child opened his jaw and lowered it in demonstration.

"It can't eat me if that's busted," Indy grinned. He plunked his fedora hat on the boy's head.

The child stared up in wonderment as the hat bobbed, too big for him.

"I'll be back for that," Indy instructed. "I always come back for my hat." He pointed back to where the lantern was. "Wait back there, and if you hear any weird noises, run."

"What about you?"

"I've got longer legs, I'll catch up," Indy smiled. "Besides, you said you liked to go fast."

"Right..." Seal Child pushed the fedora up so he could see Indy. "...But I don't wanna leave you here."

"I'll be right behind you if anything goes wrong," Indy assured the boy. "Let me know if anything happens in this area too. Its important I've got someone I can trust watching my back." There had been too many others in multiple ancient ruins who'd proven themselves the wrong choice for Indy's trust. A child wasn't an ideal treasure hunting partner, but Shorty's loyalty in the Temple of Doom had made an impression and Indy was always more willing to trust the local children than the adults.

"Okay." The oversized fedora bobbed on Seal Child's head.

Indy grinned at the child and headed back into the narrow chamber to face the ancient mummy and grab the swords.