The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction - Part 2

Chapter 231: Cave, Kamchatka Wilderness, Soviet Union, 1960

Cave

Kamchatka Wilderness

Soviet Union

1960

The ash continued to fall like snow, as the volcano rumbled outside of their cave. Safety was an illusion, but the darkness was too thick to run in, and the land unfamiliar to everyone except Lizavet.

One of Indy's arms was stretched around Emily's shoulders. Emily slept with her head against his chest, nestled like she was four again. Lizavet and Shorty were piled together on his other side. Lizavet had a smile on her face as she slept on Indy's shoulder, and Shorty's grin was bigger, as he slept against Lizavet's back and shoulders, because his hands were wrapped around her waist. He'd finally gotten to reunite with the girl he'd left behind in World War II... even though they still hadn't managed anything more than fight bad guys and steal back supernaturally endowed swords.

Lizavet's head slipped. She jerked awake.

"You ok?" Indy asked.

Lizavet nodded. "I am sorry if I hurt your arm."

"No. The heat and pressure feels good." Indy flexed his injured shoulder slightly. "You're welcome back there."

"I -" Lizavet realized that she was pressed between two men, with Emily's legs blocking her in as well. "I do not know what this is... but... I should not be afraid of it? Or... should I be afraid?"

"Are you comfortable?" Indy asked.

"Yes."

"Are you safe?"

"Yes... I think?"

He looked around. "Well, there's no covers to steal, so I know that answer." He looked toward Lizavet. "What's on your mind?"

"I... do not understand this."

Indy smiled. "When Marion, my wife, would wake up in the middle of the night, I'd ask her the same things I just asked you."

"And the stolen covers?"

"She usually had them, or had kicked them off, gotten cold and was trying to claw her way to absorb all my body heat - when I was cold too, because she'd stolen all my covers." Indy smiled. "Perks of marriage. She steals covers, I get hugs."

"It sounds... wonderful, and safe... and comforting." Lizavet carefully placed her head back against his shoulder. "I remember little of my parents. My true parents. I think they were in love. We lived in a village of families. There were many children. Our school was not reading or writing, it was listening and watching our parents. It was lovely. I remember laughter."

"What happened?"

"The Soviets came. They said we could not do the things we used to. They wanted to take our land, dig under the earth. We told them that was evil, because we knew under the earth was where the seven shamanesses had worked with the Treasure Guardian to entomb the apkallu, using the Seven Swords of Diya. Then KBG and the apkallu spirits showed up controlling the KBG and destroyed everything. - And then the Russian KBG took the children. When the parents and elders protested this greater evil, the taking of children... peacefully, mind you... we did not have weapons other than to hunt with... my tribe were defeated and killed easily. The Soviets had guns. We only had knives, arrows and harpoons. My parents died protecting us. The KBG took us hostage and separated us from everything we knew." Tears flooded Lizavet's eyes. "Except the apkallu wanted me. So they followed me. They have followed me ever since. I ended up with parents who did not believe in the unseen. They wanted me to be loyal to the Soviet state. So they would beat me because of my nightmares... as if beating me would get rid of the visions, and the voices of the apkallu."

Indy reached for Lizavet's chin, gently tilting it up to face him. "Lizavet, I will never hurt you because of your dreams."

She burst into tears, pressing her head against Indy's shoulder. He winced.

"You have no idea what they speak of!" Lizavet cried.

Indy softened his voice. "What do they say?"

"They want me to use the swords to set them free," Lizavet whispered. "I know how. And they know that I know."

"Why don't you obey them?"

She blinked. "Because, like you, Papa - I know they're evil, and I want my children free."

"Children?" Indy asked, wondering if there was another life to protect in their already perilous situation.

"Someday," Lizavet smiled. "Someday I would like them. I did not think I would ever get a chance to be a mother," she glanced at Shorty, "Especially with a man I cared about... until now. Thank you for the hope."

"Lizavet, I'm not sure you should be thanking me for giving you hope... we don't have a way home..." Indy warned. "I don't know where we are -"

"The way will be shown. The way is always shown."