Atawna

Adventures in the Lost World

Episode 1

Atawna and the Lost World

Chapter 3 Pickle

Central Africa, 1953

“Well, this is a pickle,” said seventeen-year-old, Lin Yao Court. “Mummy would not be pleased.”

Her brother James, older by six years nodded his dark-haired head. He looked at his green-eyed sister with an “I told you so look,” but said nothing. It was not James’ way to find fault in others. They were in a jam and he would have to find a way out of it. Condemning Lin Yao for being headstrong and foolish would gain them nothing. “Let’s take an inventory,” he said. “What we have on us is going to have to keep us alive until we find our way back to the base.”

Lin Yao began to empty her pockets, listing each item as she did so. She was dripping wet and her shirt clung to her exquisitely formed body, but she was not at all self-conscious in front of her brother. “I have a pack of waterproof matches, a Swiss army knife, a comb, a pair of nail clippers, two sticks of Wrigley’s, and two shillings, tuppence in change.”

“Very good,” said James sardonically. “We can chew the gum and if we find a sweet shop, we can stock up again.”

“I’m sorry Jamie,” she answered, using her pet name for her brother. “I didn’t realize how strong the current was. What do you have?”

“My sidearm,” answered James, checking his Browning .45, “and two clips of ammo. Then I have my Bowie.” He unsheathed the knife from his belt. “Perhaps you better take this. That penknife won’t offer you much protection.” Lin Yao took the knife from him and he continued to catalog his possessions.

“Another pack of matches. My wallet. A lot of good that will do us,” he mused. He shook his head and put it back in his pocket. “The ignition key to the jeep. Mummy will not be amused when she finds she cannot get it started.”

“Auntie Melissa will just hot wire it,” said Lin Yao. “What else do you have?”

“Nothing worth keeping really. A pencil and soggy notebook. A few coins. My comb. Some pocket lint. I am afraid that is all.”

“Looks like our first priority is food,” said Lin Yao.

James looked at his beautiful half sister. Her Eurasian ancestry was evident. She was tall, like her mother, standing five-foot-nine inches. Glistening black hair, now damp and disheveled from her immersion in the river, hung almost to her waist. Her tan cotton shirt was slightly open at the neck, revealing the swell of her well developed bosom. He had always thought of her as his little sister, but she had grown into a very attractive young woman. Not that he was attracted to her, but he could not fail to be impressed by her arresting green eyes. Their stare was almost hypnotic.

“Our first priority is finding a way out of this gorge,” he said.

“Yes, that too,” she agreed. She turned her large eyes on him. “Jamie,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. I was just trying out the raft. I didn’t realize that it took two people to paddle it properly, and the current was stronger than expected.”

“Nothing to forgive, Sis,” he said. “But next time you want to go for a boat ride please ask me first.” He smiled. He could never be angry with Lin Yao for long. It had been damned lucky that he had spotted her danger in time. He had been helping to break camp when he noticed that his sister was not around. That was not unusual as in the morning the members of the expedition went their separate ways to attend to bodily functions. But he had heard a sharp cry from the river. Leaving what he had been doing he had dashed down to the water just in time to see Lin Yao being swept out into the powerful current. The rubber raft she was in was turning in circles and she was paddling frantically but futilely in an attempt to regain the shore.

It had been fortunate that the line used to secure the raft to the back was trailing in the water close to the bank. Diving into the river, he had managed to reach it just as the raft was pulled into the mainstream. His weight helped to slow the raft, but even pulling hand over hand he was not able to prevent it from being swept downstream. He was, however, able to pull himself into the raft. It was fortunate that he did. The river had turned ugly and without his help the raft would certainly have overturned. He and Lin Yao had paddled furiously in order to keep from capsizing or striking one of the huge boulders that jutted out of the river. As it was the raft turned almost vertical several times, dumping out most of the gear the raft was carrying. It had been a near thing for James and Lin Yao. They had lost both the paddles and had been reduced to clinging desperately to the netting on the raft to keep from being thrown into the raging waters.

James had no idea how far they had been swept downstream before the raft had reached more placid waters. It seemed like hours, but he reckoned from the position of the sun in the sky that probably it had been considerably less than that. His watch had been broken during the wild ride down the rapids and he could not be sure of the exact hour. As far as he could tell, it was about mid morning. But it did not really matter what time it was. He and Lin Yao had to find a way back to the main expedition. He only hoped that his mother would not try to come after him. It would be just like her to try to follow him and his sister down the rapids. He hoped that she had enough faith in his ability to trust him to get back on his own.

He looked about him. The small beach they were on was surrounded by steep cliffs. On the water side of the beach was the river. Just downstream the river turned ugly once more. The only way out was up the cliffs. He hoped that once he was at the top he would be able to follow the river back to the original starting point.

“Hadn’t we better get going, big brother?” Lin Yao asked, cheekily interrupting his thoughts. He smiled at her. In spite of their age difference they were very close, having been raised to their mother’s exacting standards. That had meant that they had never gone to a regular school. Regular schools did not teach martial arts or the use of firearms.

That did not mean that other aspects of their education had been neglected. Both of them were fluent in several languages and had an extensive knowledge of history and geography. Like his illustrious mother, James had a deep interest in archeology. Lin Yao had developed a passion for zoology. It was this interest that had prompted her mother to bring her along on the expedition to central Africa. James reflected that his sister was going to get a closer look at African wildlife than she had expected.

“Think you can make it, Sis?” he asked. By way of answering Lin Yao began climbing the nearest rock face. Within seconds she was twenty feet up the cliff, moving with the sure grace of a mountain goat. James chuckled and climbed after her.

Lin Yao settled down after her first surge up the cliff. It was a long way to the top. James stayed just below her in case she lost her hold, but although she was climbing more slowly, Lin Yao never faltered. She seemed to have a natural instinct for finding the best way up the rock face. Still it was a long climb, and in the tropical heat and humidity they were soon both drenched in sweat. Both James and Lin Yao soon wished that they had some sort of means of bringing water with them, but they struggled on, hoping that when they reached the top they might find something to drink.

It took them the rest of the morning to make the top of the cliff. The sun was well past noon, when Lin Yao and James, gasping from their exertion, and badly dehydrated, pulled themselves over the edge of the cliff. For several minutes they could do little more than lie where they were. But after a few minutes James stirred himself. “We need water, little sister, or something that will do just as well.”

He got to his feet. Heavy forest and jungle extended right to the cliff edge. Below him he could see the river that had given him and Lin Yao such a wild ride. The water beckoned invitingly, but it was out of the question to go back down there. He wondered which direction would be the best one to take. He and Lin Yao needed water urgently. He turned to look at his sister – she wasn’t there!

Almost panicking he looked frantically around for Lin Yao. Where had she gone? Then there was a movement in the vegetation just a few feet away. His sister emerged, a bright smile on her face. She was holding what looked like two large green melons.

“I thought you might want something, juicy,” she said offering him one. James stood there with his mouth open. “It’s alright, big brother,” she laughed, “it’s a papaya. There is a whole tree load of them in there. She pointed into the forest.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he said. “It’s not safe to go off by yourself.” Then remembering his manners he added, “Thanks,” as he took the papaya from her.

“Sorry,” Lin Yao,” said. She looked a little abashed. “I didn’t think; I just saw the tree and thought it would be a good idea to get something to eat.”

“It was a good idea,” said James, borrowing the knife he had given to Lin Yao to slice the papaya open, revealing the ripe yellow interior. “It’s just that I think we should stay close to one another. We don’t know where we are. And there could be all sorts of dangers near here.”

“You’re right,” Lin Yao agreed, biting daintily into a slice of the fruit. “From now on I won’t let you out of my sight.”

James smiled. Somehow his little sister made it seem as if she was looking after him. “Let’s get another couple of papayas,” he said. “We might not come across another tree soon. Then I think we should try to follow the river back to the base camp. I’m not sure how far downstream we were carried. But I’m guessing we have at least a day or so of walking before we get back. Assuming that we don’t run into any serious obstacles.”

Lin Yao nodded. The base camp was located in an isolated part of central Africa, but at least it was on the map. The downstream journey had taken them into uncharted territory. There was no telling what obstacles lay between them and the base camp.

They finished the papaya. The brief rest and the fruit restored some of their strength. They would need more than ripe fruit to sustain them, but it would do until something else presented itself. Lin Yao was confident that she would be able to recognize most edible plant species. Her zoological studies had also included some study of tropical flora. She had thought it might come in handy given the fact that her mother’s expeditions often took her into equatorial regions. There was also the chance that they might come across some sort of wild game. James was a good enough marksman to bring down most animals provided he got close enough for a good shot.

They made fairly good progress for the first hour or so of their trek, and then the going got tough. The forest pushed right to the edge of the steep-walled canyon forcing them to detour away from it in order to proceed. A tangle of undergrowth impeded any rapid progress and they found themselves going deeper and deeper into the forest proper. They continually tried to move back to the rim of the canyon, but often found their way blocked by impenetrable thickets of thorn bush and razor edged saw grass.

It soon became clear that there was no chance of getting back to the camp on the first day. And if the going was as difficult tomorrow it was unlikely that they would make it the next day either. “We better look for someplace to camp,” James said. “No point in waiting until it gets too dark to find a good spot.”

Lin Yao nodded. Although it was early afternoon the forest floor was swathed in shade. The sun would only have to decline a little more to make it even more difficult to see where they were going. Just ahead, James spotted the buttress roots of one of the forest giants. “This looks like as good a spot as any,” he said. “We can make a little shelter between the roots and light a fire to keep the wildlife and insects away.”

“Right,” said Lin Yao, cheerfully, “you make the shelter and I’ll gather firewood.”

James smiled after his sister as she scampered away. She was an excellent companion; intelligent, resourceful, and above all cheerful. Most girls would have been terrified or complaining constantly about their predicament. Instead Lin Yao had soldiered on without complaint, easily keeping up with him. How he wished he could meet a girl like her. The only women he had met who could compare to his sister were his mother and her companions. But linking up with one of his mother’s long time friends was out of the question. Attractive as they were, they were all twice his age.

He soon had the shelter ready. And Lin Yao had accumulated a pile of wood that should last them through the night. It was still light enough to see. He unholstered his Browning. He hadn’t seen any game on their trek other than brightly coloured birds and monkeys high in the treetops. Somehow he didn’t think they were suitable for a barbeque. But perhaps if he looked around he might find something more appropriate. “I’ll be back in a half hour or so,” he said to Lin Yao. Then he moved off stealthily into the forest.

James suspected that there must be considerable game close by. He and Lin Yao had simply been too noisy while they were traveling. By moving quietly, he hoped to come across some animal worthy of being eaten. Ten minutes later, he heard a slight sound. It was directly behind him. With a shiver he realized that the hunter had become the hunted. He was being stalked. He froze. And then moving slowly, he turned in the direction of the sound. As he swung around his eyes focused on the most horrendous creature he had ever seen.

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