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

Chapter 40: Flashback: Attu Island, North Pacific, 1942

Indy slammed the gears in reverse, slinging mud. Ross was behind him, firing the machine gun positioned in the back of the jeep. Indy checked the seat. Seal Child sat on the floor, reloading Indy's pistol. The kid knew what he was doing - he came from a hunting culture. The machine gun stopped.

"Ross! Why is it stopping?"

Ross was scrambling around in the back. He looked up at Indy. "I'm outta ammo!"

"Did you not pack more?"

"No! We're a little island in the North Pacific! No one was supposed to be interested."

Indy glared, watching the Japanese infantry encroach. "They're very interested. And we have a kid with us! Do you know what the Imperial Japanese Empire have done to women and children in other countries? We can't be caught - Unless you want to die!"

"Then drive faster!" Seal Child yelled at both grown ups.

They stared at him. The jeep bounced over the crest of the trail, slid in the permafrost, revealing the layer of ice underneath.

Indy fought the steering wheel as the back end fishtailed out, spinning. Ross stared off the edge of the embankment, as Indy faced the Japanese infantry.

"Oh, Marion's gonna be furious," Indy muttered, staring into the rifles.

There was a sudden order.

One of the men in black silk uniforms approached, ordering the infantry to put down their weapons.

Indy kept a easy hand on the gear shift. Seal Child tapped Indy's knuckles with the gun. Indy flicked his eyes to the side.

Ross was perfectly still.

"Don't put your hands in the air," Indy instructed. "They consider surrender a sign of weakness."

"Will we have to fight with the swords?" Ross asked. "I wasn't trained on swords."

"Easy - butter the bread, stab the steak," Indy answered. "And if it helps - the pointy end is for the bad guy."

"That... is not reassuring."

"Tell that to my nearly orphaned daughter, and wife about to become a widow." Indy smiled easily as the man in the back suit approached them.

"Dr. Jones?"

"Edo." Indy mused. At the corners of his vision he could see more of the black suits approaching.

"Do you like our tiny island, Dr. Jones?"

"I didn't realize you had claim to it."

The Japanese officer echoed Indy's smirk. "Then you do not know of the legend? I find that incredulous, Dr. Jones."

"Well..."

"You just came from the barrow grave, Dr. Jones. You certainly know what I'm speaking of."

"No. Not really." Indy played dumb.

Seal Child stared up at him. The jeep was partially stuck in the mud, on the side of an icy ridge. Its front faced the Japanese, while both Indy and Seal Child knew - that if the Jeep's clutch was released, it would roll downhill, away from the Japanese, but also at risk for flipping.

"The Seven Swords of Diya," Edo answered.

"The what?" Indy asked. "There's no connection to Attu and Japan! Or ancient Buddhist beliefs!"

"Dr. Jones, surely you do not believe that every culture existed, sprung out of nothingness and continued in obscurity - only to be found by treasure hunters like yourself...?"

"Edo," Indy rolled his shoulder slightly. "I don't know what your... sources....told you... but I like solid information. Bedtime stories are for children."

"And nightmares are for men."

Indy took his foot off the clutch.

The jeep rolled backwards, pitching and sliding at an angle. Ross grabbed the back of the passenger seat.

Indy grinned, whipped the jeep to the side, skidding on ice as it slid down the mountainside, muttering. "Here we go again."