Kamchatka Wilderness
Soviet Union
1960
Shorty finished gathering the wood. "What about the third time?"
"It was earlier this year, Shorty." Indy watched the flame of the cigarette lighter struggle in a sudden gust of wind as the ground trembled beneath them. There were tears in his eyes. "I just got my wife back, Shorty... earlier this year. I've finally got Marion back. I'm a dad to two beautiful daughters, and I have two grandchildren. I could have had this life of adventure - but if I could do things over again - I'd trade it for a better relationship with Marion the night she came to me for the first time, and I'd try my damnedest to keep us together no matter what. I didn't know how to give comfort to anyone else but me back then. It hurt Marion. And that's not love Shorty. What you do should never frighten or demean the person you're with. Force and fear cause that, Shorty. Never force or cause fear to another person who you claim to love... especially a woman or a child. And when people get scared, sometimes its hard to tell the difference."
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Indy smiled, "That when people get scared, they go back to the age that they were scared at. That's why I had to call you out at Edo's camp, and reassure you that you were a grown man and able to do something."
Shorty gathered the wood. "Because I was convinced that I was back at the Temple of Doom as a ten year old kid?"
"Yeah. That's how it works," Indy replied. "And trust me, I've faced it too for myself." He paused. "Most nights when I'm home, my granddaughter Laurel finds me and asks me to make sure she's safe."
"Monsters under the bed?"
"No. Monsters that live in her memories." Indy swallowed. "She's four, Shorty. That four year old child has memories of my daughter - her mother - screaming, because Riley Dawson was a hideous wife-beating bastard. Somehow, I think, if Marion and I had stayed married - Annie wouldn't have looked for a protector and chosen an abuser by accident."
"How do I give Lizavet safety?"
"Time, trust, consistent gentleness. Its more difficult than it sounds." Indy looked at Shorty. "You got all the wood?"
"Yeah. I'd like to go back where we're sheltered. The darkness feels too thick out here."
YOU ARE READING
The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction Part 1
FanfictionIndiana Jones and his daughter Emily Ravenwood Jones are back in action! Seven missing Japanese swords which may have the power to open hell, unleashing monsters upon the earth are their quest. Along with them is a hotshot pilot who got his career s...
