The Explorer's Quest

Into the Jungle

Johnny stepped out the door of the plane and into the tropical platform of the town Sivakasi, followed by Grant, then Vanessa and Hugo. It was very warm outside, not to mention bright, and the air was very humid. The sun gleamed in Johnny's eyes, it reflected off of Grant's white shirt, it glorified Vanessa's tar-black hair, and Hugo was standing in the shade.

Johnny started to walk when Grant spoke, "Do you think we'll get to ride elephants?"

"More than likely if we are venturing through the jungle," said Hugo. "Just to be clear, you guys do have your revolvers on you?"

Johnny patted his chest, indicating that his revolver was resting there. He always kept his revolver on a belt which he wore around his chest, along with other important items such as extra bullets and a pouch where he would store small artifacts.

"Ok, be careful. You never know what we'll run into."

"Relax. You've clearly never left the comfort of your own home before," said Johnny.

*****

The group walked up to an outdoor diner and sat down at a table. Grant pulled his coat off and set it on the back of his chair. Hugo took his hat off. A lady walked up to their table and said, "What do I get you four?"

"Water, please," said Johnny.

The lady walked away, and they started in conversation.

"So who is this man we're meeting here?" asked Johnny.

"His name's Aryan," replied Hugo.

"And he said that he'd take us to the Scorpion Temple?"

"He claims to be the only one to know its whereabouts."

"Are we paying him?"

Hugo was astonished that Johnny had even asked that question. "Of course we're paying him! What, you thought that he would just do it for free?"

"I'm just wondering."

The lady returned with their water, and placed one glass in front of each person. She walked away.

"How much are we paying him?"

"Whatever amount he asks for."

A man wearing a dark purple turban and a blue robe-looking thing walked up to the table.

"So you four must be the treasure hunters I am supposed to meet?" asked the man.

"Yes! How did you find us?" asked Hugo.

"I have never seen someone more American-looking than you."

Aryan was a very young man, judging by his looks, who was about five feet tall. He had black hair and a chin strip. His nose was pointed, and his face was round.

The man sat down in a chair, and then held out a hand towards Johnny, saying, "So you must be Johnny?"

Johnny shook Aryan's hand and replied, "Yes."

Aryan held a hand towards Grant, and Grant just simply said his name.

"This here is Vanessa," said Hugo, pointing across the table to her. She nodded and said, "Hello."

"A pleasure to finally meet you all in person."

Hugo opened his backpack and pulled out an agenda. He laid papers all across the table, including the map. Aryan grabbed the map, studied it for a minute or two, and asked, "So tell me what this says."

"'Four thousand lies in the temple of the Great Khan, in Mangi. To reach it, you must find two keys, one is located in the Scorpion temple in India, the other is in a temple on top of a great mountain in Tibet. Where you must go, let the Light of the Great Khan guide you,'" said Vanessa.

"Ah, so that is why you rely on my help."

"Well, you said that you're the only person who knows where this Scorpion Temple is," said Hugo.

"I am not only that, but I am the only person here who's brave enough to enter that jungle."

"And why is that?" asked Johnny.

"Everyone believes that forest is haunted. People say spirits guard the forest, protecting whatever is hiding in there."

"Which I'm guessing is the Scorpion Temple?"

"That is my guess as well."

"And how much are we paying you again?"

"Twenty percent," Aryan said proudly.

"Twenty percent of what?!"

"The treasure. When we find it."

"We? You mean 'us' right?"

Aryan seemed offended. "I am coming with you to find the treasure. It's only fair to let me come, especially after I help you to the Scorpion Temple. That is what Hugo said, anyway."

Johnny glared at Hugo.

"I did, I did," he said. "What's wrong with a little extra help?"

"He's just gonna get in the way!"

"Come on, Johnny! Give him a chance, will you? Besides, we need him."

"For what?"

"He's the only one who can get us to the Scorpion Temple!"

"Johnny, just let him come. It is nothing worth arguing for," said Grant.

Johnny had been defeated. Was he really going to be stuck with this man all the way to the end? The answer is no. Not the entire journey, at least.

"Fine. Twenty percent only. No more."

"And no less!"

*****

The elephants were really not as comfortable as you would think. And they smelled terrible. But they were better than walking, which was the other option for venturing through the thick jungle. Elephants were the best thing when it came to traveling through the jungle.

Johnny and Grant both rode the same elephant. Hugo and Vanessa rode the same elephant, and Aryan walked. Of course Aryan and Hugo and Vanessa were in front of Johnny and Grant, because Aryan knew exactly where the Scorpion Temple was located, or so he said.

They had had a bathroom break about three hours into the trip, where they all had gotten off of their elephants and separated for a few minutes. On his way back to their elephants, Johnny noticed Vanessa standing by a tree. She was carving something into it with a knife. He walked over to her and she tried to hide it at first but then let Johnny see what she was carving into the tree. There was a little shape cut into the bark. It was the shape of a four-leafed clover. Johnny was usually suspicious about this stuff, and he had been suspicious when he saw her, but he never really paid much attention to this marking. It would cost him.

As they were riding through the jungle, Johnny had noticed that Grant seemed very unsettled. "What's wrong, Grant?" asked Johnny.

"Something about this jungle does seem a little off," answered Grant.

"Oh, don't tell me you actually believe Aryan's superstitions."

"Well, I do not believe this jungle's haunted, or cursed or anything. I just feel as if we're being watched, that's all. As if there's something lurking in the trees."

"Grant, there's nothing around us. Everything will be perfectly fine."

Grant believed Johnny, as he does most of the time. And Grant had been known to be paranoid when it came to superstitions. Johnny had always told him that he'd be fine.

But this time, Johnny could not be any further from the truth.