Indiana Jones and the Scrolls of the Prophet (Prologue and Chapter 1-3)
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Posted by The Man with the Hat from port141.maxc03.bignet.net on July 28, 1999 at 19:37:06:
PROLOGUE
1566, France
He had been staring out into the starry midnight sky for hours. Waiting. Now as he sat there on the bench, which he used for climbing into bed, he wondered whether anyone in the future would ever believe him. Him and his prophecies.
Outside an owl hooted and a whiff of fresh air breezed through the room. He walked over to the window to close it when he heard steps coming up the spiral staircase. Was this it?
The sound of the steps stopped dead before his door. Silence, then a soft knock.
"Come in," Michel de Nostradame called out, amazed at how calm his voice sounded. The door opened with a crack and a lone figure, garbed in a black cloak, entered. He held his breath. Catherine de Medici threw back her hood, exposing her dark curls and stepped towards him. Surprisingly, she was alone.
He bowed low. "Your Highness, what...?"
"Hush! I have come in secret, and no one is aware of this visit," she was whispering in excited tones. "It is with great sorrow that I have discovered this impending doom!"
He didn't respond, but looked at her thoughtfully.
She beckoned him to sit. "In a few hours, you shall be killed..."
"I know."
The Queen of France looked at him in astonishment. "Then you are not afraid?"
"No, Your Highness. 'Tis meant to be. One cannot change fate, one can only accept it."
"Then you do not want me to save you? I have a plan..."
"No, you saved me once." His eyes bored into hers. "But I can't keep running all my life. I have accepted my fate. You must go now."
He guided her to the door. "But ere you go. I want you to take this." He pulled out a thick scroll, bound together with a simple scarlet ribbon.
Catherine de Medici stared at him, totally flabbergasted. "What is this?" She took the scroll and weighed it in her hands. It was quite heavy for a document.
"Something of great importance. I entrust this unto you, knowing Your Highness will make use of it wisely, and not let it fall into the hands that deem unworthy."
She nodded, not having yet understood entirely what he meant, yet she knew that he trusted her more than anyone else, and she felt that she would never breach this trust, either. I must do what I must.
She will do what she must. Sadly, he watched her in the flickering candlelight; she would never know how much he admired her over these years, and ironically, it was through her that his death would occur.
Catherine stepped toward the door, hooding herself again. "If that will be the last thing I can do for a good friend..."
"Fare ye well, my Queen."
"Fare ye well, Nostradamus."
CHAPTER ONE
Hawaii, 1941
Indiana Jones pulled the Ford up to the guard post at the naval base. A short, stocky lieutenant held out a hand as if to stop the car with his palm, like Indy had seen in the serial reels at the local Bijou.
Indy stopped the car and the officer stepped to the driver's side window. "May I help you, Sir?" the young Navy man asked.
"Professor Jones," Indy said, using his professional name, "here to see Major Cartwright."
The lieutenant checked a clipboard which, until now, had been cradled in the crook of his left arm. "Major Cartwright. Yes, sir. The Major is expecting you." He pointed past the gate toward the interior of the installation. "Just follow this street until you can't go any farther, then turn right. You'll see the Major waiting with a vehicle."
The guard turned on his heel and entered the guard shack; the gate opened a few seconds later. Indy saluted as he drove past.
Indy easily found the Major, standing by a convertible staff car.
The Ford pulled up and Indy exited, clasping the hand of the Major.
"Henry," Cartwright said. Indy cringed, but didn't correct him. "How the hell have you been?"
"Keeping busy," was Indy's response.
"Yeah, you were always good at that," the Major said, as he slapped Indy on the back.
"I know you didn't ask me all the way to Hawaii to ask me what's going on in my life, Tom," Indy said. "What's going on?"
"I'm glad you asked," Tom Cartwright said. He reached into the back seat of the military convertible, and removed a satchel. From the satchel he took an ugly little idol.
"What's this?" Indy asked, as Tom handed him the statuette.
"Wikkikkaki," the Major told him, "the Hawaiian god of death and destruction."
"All right," Indy said, "but why are you giving it to me?"
"The curse."
"Curse?"
"Yes," Cartwright said. "There is a curse upon this idol. If anyone would know what to do with it, you would."
"Well..." Indy started.
Suddenly a buzz could be heard from the east. Indy and Tom both looked and saw several black dots on the horizon.
"What's that, Tom?" Indy asked.
"I don't know," Cartwright said, as several sirens started to blare.
Suddenly the shapes took on form. "The Japs!" the Major said.
Bullets struck the ground as the Japanese planes made their assault. Indy sprawled on the hard pavement as hot lead stitched a path near him. He started to get up as the hail of tiny missiles struck the Ford. It exploded in a fireball, sending Indy back to the ground.
"C'mon," Indy said to Tom, when he was finally on his feet. Indy threw the idol into the back seat of the staff car, and hopped behind the wheel, Cartwright in the passenger seat. Tires squealed as Indy sped away, trying to find some cover.
"There," Indy said, as he spotted some huge tanks, that might afford him some protection. Indy whipped the wheel around, and spun the car toward the tanks.
"Not there!" Tom screamed. Indy slammed on the brakes.
Tom answered the unasked question on Indy's face. "Fuel farm," he said.
Indy shoved the car into reverse, as a Japanese plane appeared over the tanks. Machine guns blazing, the bullets pinged off the body of Tom's car. The sky was filled with smoke, as Indy took the car backwards off the dock. The plane flew over them, and crashed into a large destroyer. The car hit the water like it was hitting a brick wall. Indy grabbed the Major's arm. "C'mon," Indy said to Tom, then saw the crimson floating on top of the water. The idol was held tightly in Tom's hand. "Wikkikkaki," Tom said, before sinking under the water, still grasping the idol. "Wikkikkaki."
Indy swam to safety, under the dock, as the planes flew away.
Wikkikkaki had been busy today.
CHAPTER TWO
"As you know," Indy told his class, "war has been declared on Japan. With that in mind, I would like each of you to write a paper outlining important Japanese archaeological findings." The tension in the classroom was broken by the ringing of the bell dismissing class. "Remember," Indy said as the students were filing out, "this is on top of your regular assignments."
A man in a dark suit struggled to make his way through the groaning students. Finally he broke through the crowd and approached Indy. "Dr. Jones?" the man inquired.
"That's right."
"I am Agent Cyrus," the man said, slipping a card into Indy's palm. "I represent a government office."
"What government?" Indy asked, placing the card into his jacket pocket without looking at it.
Cyrus chuckled. "Very good," he said. Then he became serious again. "Dr. Jones, we need your help."
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid Hitler is once again becoming a pain where a pill won't reach." Cyrus laughed at his own joke.
"I don't think I follow you," Indy said.
"Have you ever heard of Nostradamus, Dr. Jones?" the agent asked.
"Of course. Sixteenth century French prophet with a supposed uncanny ability to predict the future."
"Not supposed, Dr. Jones," Agent Cyrus said. "It has come to our attention, as it has Hitler's, that the rise of the Fuhrer is told of in his prophecies."
"And what does this have to do with me?" Indy wondered.
"There is a legend," Cyrus began, "that not all of Nostradamus' prophecies have been recorded. It is rumored that many of the scrolls that Nostradamus wrote his prophecies on were buried with his body. Hitler believes that he may again be mentioned in some unrecorded text, perhaps telling of his victory in Europe." Cyrus paused, as much for dramatic effect as anything. "Perhaps his rule of the world."
Indy picked up his papers. "We can continue this in my office, Mr. Cyrus," Indy said. "I have a few things to take care of before my next class."
They continued talking as they walked down the hall to Indy's office. "Even if I wanted to do this, which I'm not saying I do," Indy said, "I just got back from a leave. I don't think I could get another one."
Cyrus said, "It's all been taken care of."
The philosophy professor, Dr. Tyree, walked by and smiled at Indy. "Have a good time on your vacation, Dr. Jones," the teacher said.
Indy and Cyrus exchanged glances as they reached the door to Indy's office. "Excuse the mess," Indy said, as he flicked on the light.
Indy sat at his desk while Agent Cyrus cleared some artifacts from a chair in front of the desk and sat there.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cyrus," Indy said, "I can't think of one good reason why I should do this."
"Three years ago, Dr. Jones, you infiltrated a castle on the Austrian/German border, did you not?"
"Yes, Castle Brunwald."
"And you encountered a butler there?"
"Yes."
"He was one of our finest agents, and you compromised his position."
"But I didn't know..." Indy said.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Jones, but this fact, coupled with the fact that you were in the company of a Nazi agent at the time, leaves me little choice. If you do not wish to do this small favor for us, then you will be taken into custody and tried for treason."
Indy stroked his chin and thought. "Where do I sign up?" he asked.
CHAPTER THREE
"Do you have to follow me around like a lost puppy?" Indy asked.
"My orders are clear: make sure that you make your rendezvous with Captain Russell, and that you get on the plane." Suddenly, the agent changed the direction he was walking. "There's the Captain now."
Indy spotted an attractive brunette in a green Army dress uniform. Cyrus approached and shook her hand. "Agent Cyrus, it is good to see you again."
"Yes," he said. "And this would be Professor Jones."
"Please," Indy said, "my friends call me 'Indy'"
"Yes," she said. "Shall we go, Professor Jones?"
Indy swept an open palm out in front of himself. "After you," he said.
Indy sat in a window seat, reading a month old issue of Life magazine. Captain Russell came down the aisle from the lavatory, wearing civilian attire.
"You were right, Professor Jones," she said, as she sat down in the seat next to him. "I do feel better out of that uniform."
"I didn't mean it the way it sounded," Indy said. "I just thought that with that uniform on, you'd stick out like a sore thumb."
"Quite all right," the captain said.
"And please, call me Indy."
"Let's get one thing straight, Professor," she said, capturing him in an accusing stare. "I'm not your buddy, pal, or sweetheart. I can see how some women may find you somewhat attractive, but I am not one of those women. "I am a professional, and I expect to be treated as such."
Indy reclined his seat and pulled his fedora over his eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Good," Russell said. "As long as we have an understanding."
"Understood."
The captain spotted the magazine draped across Indy's lap. "And you might have spent your reading time looking over the packet of information that we provided to you."
"Read it," Indy said, from under his hat.
"And...?"
"And, there's not much there that's gonna help," Indy said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some rest."
"But..."
"Wake me when we get to Paris," Indy said, turning his back to the captain. In a minute, he was snoring.
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I'm doing these three chapters at a time for the benefit of those who haven't read any of this story yet. I have seven chapters total, so I'll probably put the next four on tomorrow. Please do not attempt to write new chapters on this story until all seven original chapters are on here. BTW, I have embellished it a little by changing some wording and correcting some punctuation. This is the Scrolls of the Prophet: Special Edition, now titled Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Scrolls of the Prophet. This is Scrolls of the Prophet, the way it was meant to be; my original vision. God, I wish you could letterbox and THX fanfic.
Hope you enjoy,
The Man with the Hat