Chapters 5-6 of Indiana Jones and the Curse of Rhan

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Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on July 01, 2000 at 00:49:49:


Chapter 5


---by Muppet


    It was one day after Louis' unsuccessful dig in Corinth. He had made a very low-key return to France. The Empress had docked at a small dock on the coastline and Louis had been sneaked into Paris. To Louis' surprise, the police were not yet looking for him in France though, and Louis managed to maintain some semblance of a normal life. It would not be long though before the police in France - and other countries - were given details of Louis' escape in Greece.

    At the moment, Louis was on the phone to an ally of his who was a Nazi General in hiding somewhere in the depths of Austria. The man had changed names so many times, Louis no longer truly knew his real name. Louis was trying to find out more about his father's death - he was sure that his father had found the Ark of the Covenant, and this General was the link. He had taken dozens of Nazi files with him; they had the General's name plastered all over them, and the General didn't want to risk abandoning them (too risky) or burning them (too clumsy).

    "My father led an expedition to uncover the Ark's 'hiding place' then?"

    "Your father was part of an expedition to uncover a 'religious relic', yes"

    "The Ark of the Covenant?"

    The General said, "Yes. I would assume so, Louis"

    "And who was on that expedition?"

    "Details are scarce," said the General. "A group of soldiers, one of our men Toht, a high-ranking official, your father...and a man - listed as 'Hostile'"

    "Hostile?"

    "Yes, we have him listed as a spy; a saboteur"

    "Oh?"

    The General paused.

    "And who is that man?" asked Louis.

    "Herr Henry Jones, Jnr."


* * * * *


New York - three weeks earlier


    Indiana Jones stepped out of a cab on some affluent street to find himself in front of a large block of apartments; an exclusive residence and certainly one Indy couldn't afford. "Thanks," he said, paying the cab driver, who raced off as Indy made his way towards the door of the Montgomery Building; the apartment block where Dr. Jerome Launce lived. Maybe here Indy could get the answers about Louis Belloq he had come for.

    Indy made his way inside, climbing up to floor 11 and knocking on the first door he came to. A thin man in his 50's opened the door. He lowered his glasses, observed Indy and smiled, saying "Dr. Henry Jones?". Indy nodded, and was led inside.

    "Drink?" he asked.

    "No thanks" said Indy. He looked around the room. Ancient Egyptian artefacts, awards, diplomas, all kinds of information and history in this room alone. He sat down in a chair, as did Dr. Jerome, and after the customary greetings said "What can you tell me about Louis Belloq?"

    "What do you want to know?

    "Did you know his father, Rene Belloq?"

    "Rene Belloq? Never met the man"

    "Oh" said Indy, quiet for a moment.

    Dr. Jerome broke the silence, saying "Have you heard much about Tet Rhan?"

    Indy smirked. "I'm not a scholar in the subject. Any elaboration on the story would be gratefully received, Dr. Launce".

    "Please, call me Jerome"

    Indy nodded.

    "Where to begin?" asked Dr. Jerome. "You must remember that what I'm telling you is a story, there is no documented proof of Rhan's existence, save for the scroll that Louis purports to have found"

    "Which could be fake" said Indy.

    Dr. Jerome nodded. "Quite true...where was I? Tet Rhan. He was a leader of an occult group way back in ancient times, 500 BC. They were a strange band of worshippers who believed in death, who believed that we were on Earth simply to die and go to a better, more satisfying place...and this took the form of their ceremonies. Tet Rhan, their leader, would oversee the death of one selected 'worship'"

    Continuing, Dr. Jerome added, "And so it went. Maybe not such a story, you would think. But the crux of the myth is Tet Rhan. It is said that he used a powerful staff to - how can I put it - kill the 'worship'. Rays of power hit the headpiece of the staff and then struck the unfortunate soul waiting"

    Indy said "And what happened?" "They died," said Dr. Jerome. "This went on for many, many years. However, no matter how many people were sacrificed, no matter how many years passed - 250 according to some sources, Tet Rhan remained. He was
    older, yes, but still there"

    "Invincible" thought Indy.

    "Quite," nodded Dr. Jerome. "The ornate staff - combined with the headpiece to the staff - called the Jewel of Rhan - granted Tet Rhan invincibility. However, the story goes that a band of raiders took Tet Rhan by surprise, taking his staff from him...he became vulnerable again and they killed him"

    Indy said "But of course this is myth"

    Dr. Jerome didn't answer, simply continuing, "To prevent a leader like Tet Rhan becoming invincible ever again, Tet Rhan's body was hung, cut, fed to animals and burnt. His staff was broken in two - the ornate staff itself was simply left behind, but the headpiece was taken as far as possible and buried"

    "How far?" asked Indy.

    Dr. Jerome laughed. "That's the eternal question, isn't it, Dr. Jones? And that is exactly why Louis Belloq contacted me. He said he had a lead - a scroll depicting the location of the headpiece and possibly the Temple itself."

    "Can he decipher the scroll?" asked Indy.

    "I would wager so. I remember a telegram I got from him..." said Dr. Jerome, searching his room and picking up a scrap of paper. "Ah yes, here it is," he said, reading parts of it. "Louis had found what he believed to be the burial place of the headpiece"

    "Oh?"

    "Yes. In Corinth. Greece" said Dr. Jerome.


* * * * *


Paris


    It was three days after Louis' low-key return to Paris. He had been telegramming, visiting and contacting as many people as he knew in order to find out more about Henry Jones, Jnr. So far, Louis had learnt that Henry Jones was a professor at a university in Boston. Louis now also knew Jones' address, phone numbers and more importantly, had a couple of press photographs of him.

    "What an uncouth man" said Louis, throwing to one side a picture of Indy; it showed him in fedora and adventuring clothes at a dig site somewhere in Spain. "I shall take great pleasure in ridding the world of him"

    At the moment, Louis was waiting on the phone line. Someone he knew, Williams, worked for the government and could gain illegal access to many high-profile files for Louis. This help had proved invaluable. Williams was none too keen on divulging the
    information or risking his job - and jail - for opening these files for Louis. However, Williams was bullied by Louis in more ways than one - he was scared of Kas and also, Louis had set Williams up for the murder of a well-known politican that had never been solved. If Williams refused to co-operate, Louis would hand his fake dossier of 'evidence' to the police. "Just tell me about it"

    "There isn't much," whispered Williams, clearly panicked. "About twenty to thirty Nazi soldiers, someone classed 'Unknown', a German Official and a Mr. Rene - oh my - Rene Belloq!"

    Louis paused. His father. "Continue," he said.

    "It says here that the Ark of the Covenant was discovered - just as you thought. The storage number or location isn't even listed on this file - Louis, I'm in over my head - this is A-list stuff!"

    "Just continue, and it will all be over soon"

    "There's not much detail. Just that a Mr. Henry Jones, Jnr. reported that he believed the others present to be dead - killed. He didn't say how. At least, not in this report"

    "Who was found on the island?" asked Louis.

    "Louis, I can't tell you anymore!"

    "Yes you can"

    "I can't!"

    Louis paused. "Kas has already shown your sister what happens when you don't listen to us. Do you want him to do the same to you?"

    Williams paused. "Only him and a woman returned from the island. Her name isn't listed. That's a different file" said Williams
    quickly. "Please, Louis, I have to go"

    "Very well," said Louis. "And merci"

    Louis hung the phone up. He was deep in thought. He now knew that his father must have found the Ark of the Covenant, and that it had cost him his life - no, thought Louis - Henry Jones had cost Rene Belloq his life. For just two people to return from the island was too suspicious for Louis. He was now absolutely convinced that Henry Jones had played a substantial part in his
    father's death - if not directly, indirectly. Louis mused that whatever Henry Jones had done to survive whatever happened on the island he could have told Rene, and that would have kept him alive.

    "If we cannot find this Henry Jones, we find this 'unnamed woman' and take her life instead" said Louis, "Someone is going to die"

    Kas looked at Louis, as if to say "Now?"

    "Now we decide what to do with Mr. Jones"


* * * * *


Corinth, Greece - two weeks earlier


    Sitting in a local tavern, Indy didn't have a clue where to start. He was in Corinth, but had no map, no leads - all he had to go on was the name Korfos Bay, which Dr. Jerome had told him.

    With a flick of his hand, Indy ordered a drink, and fetched it from the dusty bar. The bartender grunted something, and Indy flipped him a couple of coins. Downing his drink, Indy wondered aloud "What am I doing here?". He turned to see an old man staring at him. The man was laughing to himself quietly. Indy was confused, and approached him. "Mister?" asked Indy.

    "Another one!" laughed the old man.

    "Another one?"

    "You're not the first"

    Indy was bemused. "Oh?"

    "Yes. Another man came looking too"

    "What for?"

    Laughing, the old man said "Listen to him, Paladin - he thinks I'm senile!". The bartender grunted a laugh. Continuing, the old man lowered his voice and said "The headpiece. Of Rhan"

    "That's right," said Indy, sitting down. "The Jewel of Rhan...what can you tell me?"

    "I can't tell you anything" said the old man. "But a drink can". Indy duly bought the old man a bottle of some unnamed liquor and watched the man finish half the bottle in little to no time.

    "Now can you tell me?" asked Indy.

    "Yes, yes. A man came looking. A very smart man. He had with him another man - quiet, tall, strong...they were both looking for the headpiece"

    Indy paused. "Was his name Louis Belloq?".

    The old man shrugged his shoulders. "They never told me their names...but they were very keen on learning about the Rhan myth....they asked a lot of questions and gave few answers"

    "Did they find the headpiece?"

    "No!" laughed the old man. Indy looked relieved. The old man suddenly became serious, lowering his tone and leaning towards Indy. "But they are one step ahead of you already," he said, tapping a nerve with Indy. "They know that the headpiece was taken from here...they know where". The old man started to laugh again.

    "Where?" asked Indy.

    "Where what?"

    "Where were they headed?" asked Indy.

    "Paladin, where were they headed?"

    "Afghanistan" the bartender said.

    "Ah yes! Faiza...Fayza..." the old man stuttered; the drink clearly getting to him.

    "Faizabad, Afghanistan" grunted the bartender. "A merchant, Mustafa Sharilla, took it"

    Irritated, Indy left the tavern saying "Thanks for your time". He put his fedora back on his head and made his way outside into the glaring sun. It seemed to make him stop and think. For the first time since leaving America, Indy realised he hadn't thought anything through.

    Indy couldn't just travel to Afghanistan. Firstly he didn't have the money to fund any more unnecessary travel and secondly wanted a more definite lead. That would only be possible by speaking to someone who knew what they were on about. Someone who could keep Indy informed of Louis Belloq's moves. Indy needed more information from Dr. Jerome.

    It was time to go back to New York.


*************************


Chapter 6


---by Muppet


New York - 1956


    Two days later, Indiana Jones was back outside the Montgomery Building in New York, ready to meet with Dr. Jerome Launce once again. However, this time Indy had come with more knowledge than before. He knew who Louis Belloq was, what he was looking for, where he was looking and - most importantly - that he had not found it yet.

    Indy made his way inside, again climbing the stairs to floor 11. He knocked on the door of Dr. Jerome's apartment. Seconds later, it opened and Indy was again given a warm greeting. "A triumphant return, Mr. Jones?"

    "Not exactly," sighed Indy. "More of an empty-handed last ditch effort. I was told by a man in Corinth that the headpiece supposedly exists..."

    "Fabulous! Just as Louis Belloq wrote in his telegram!" smiled Dr. Jerome. "So, did you find it?" he asked, eager to hear more. He was a little child being told some fantastical story.

    Indy, more placid, said "No...I was told that the headpiece had been taken to Afghanistan by a merchant...I wrote the name down - Mustafa Sharilla. He's based in Faizabad, or at least he was when he took the headpiece back with him"

    "Mustafa Sharilla?"

    "Yes. Do you know him?" asked Indy.

    "I had worried about this"

    "Oh?"

    "Yes," said Dr. Jerome. "Mustafa Sharilla. A more deceiving, low-down, undercutting and generally disgusting human being you could not wish to meet. He steals, he cheats - he deals in antiquities, but only ones that he doesn't have to pay for. His prices are ridiculous; only the rich and stupid buy from him"

    Indy grinned. "I hope I never meet him"

    "Oh but you will"

    "Will I?" asked Indy.

    "Of course! If you want the headpiece, well, even if Louis Belloq is already in Faizabad, chances are he has not taken the headpiece from Sharilla yet. Mustafa is a man who does not like being double-crossed or taken advantage of - he is flanked by bodyguards and henchmen who carry out the dirty work"

    Indy shifted in his seat, "Dirty work?"

    "Fights, thefts, that sort of thing...I have had more than enough encounters with Mustafa Sharilla. Sadly most of them ended up with me out of pocket - although I must admit the items he sells are authentic; if ill-gotten and wildly over-priced"

    "You are sure he has the headpiece?"

    "If someone has told you that Mustafa Sharilla has a certain object, it is a one-hundred per cent certainty that he has that object. Mustafa does not make false claims when he has what he wants...no, he will have the headpiece and will be guarding it"

    Indy asked "And what if I wanted it?"

    "Well," laughed Dr. Jerome, "You'll have to set off to Faizabad, won't you? I'm sure you can be enterprising and get the headpiece. If not, perhaps Mr. Louis Belloq may get hold of it"

    "I'd feel safer if I had it" said Indy.

    "Indeed....well, I have Mustafa's address. Let me see...ah!" he said, taking out an ageing piece of paper. "Here we are - the shop he runs is at this address". Dr. Jerome handed Indy the scrap of paper.

    As Indy pocketed it, he asked "How real a threat do you think the Temple of Rhan is?"

    Dr. Jerome stared hard at Indy. "Just think, Mr. Jones - if someone were to find both the headpiece and the Temple of Rhan, they might just have the pieces of the puzzle needed in order to make the...magic...of the place work"

    "Don't forget it's just a myth" said Indy.

    "Yes"

    Indy paused. "Are you not worried what Belloq might do if he finds the Temple?" he asked.

    "What would you do? There is the chance to become invincible; nobody could kill you so long as you held the Staff of Rhan. Are you telling me that any man on Earth would not desire to harness that power?"

    "Not this man," quipped Indy. "It would be disastrous for Belloq - for anyone - to find the Temple, let alone try and harness its power...if the place does actually exist" he said.

    "It's a possibility he may already be there" concluded Dr. Jerome, sitting back in his chair and idly toying with some loose papers.

    "It's a frightening thought" sighed Indy.

    Half an hour later, with concrete leads in Faizabad, and travel plans sorted out with Dr. Jerome's help, Indy bid the man goodbye. He made his way out of Dr. Jerome's apartment, out into the corridor. As Indy made his way down the corridor towards the staircase, somebody caught his attention. Standing at the top of the stairs was a tall, thin man. He was dressed in a dark suit with black overcoat, and seemed to be checking the time on his watch.

    Indy innocently passed by. However, the minute Indy had made one step past, the man quickly pounced, extending his arm full length, cracking Indy on the back of the neck. Startled and hit, Indy tumbled down the stairs - coming to a halt somewhere on floor 8. He sat dazed and confused on the floor, trying to figure out what just happened.

    His thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps, both upstairs and downstairs. Indy jumped to his feet. He looked upwards; the thug who had hit him was racing downstairs; no doubt to finish Indy off. Looking downwards, Indy saw two more dark-suited men racing upstairs, but this was more worrying; they were carrying revolvers.

    Indy swerved on one foot, and looked down the corridor he was now facing. Nothing but locked doors and a window at the end of the corridor. The footsteps were now running, getting closer.

    Indy saw one dark-suited thug racing up the stairs with his revolver. Spotting a table with an ornate vase, Indy didn't hesitate in grabbing the vase, giving it an almighty throw as it tumbled out of his hands and crashed down on the thug's head! He was knocked out instantly and tumbled down the stairs quickly. A couple of floors down, Indy could hear the other thug shouting something and racing upstairs even faster.

    As Indy turned to hide, he looked upwards. It was quiet. The dark-suit upstairs had stopped moving. Indy quickly glanced up again, and slowly saw the barrel of a revolver poking over the banister...in a split-second moment of thinking, Indy pulled the revolver, hauling the dark-suit over the banister. Indy grabbed his arm, the dark-suit was heavy, but not too heavy for Indy to dangle him over the eight-floor drop that awaited the dark-suit.

    "Who sent you?!" shouted Indy.

    The dark-suit didn't respond.

    "Who sent you?!!" repeated Indy.

    This time, the dark-suit started laughing maniacally, and spat in Indy's face. Without even hesitating, Indy let go of his grasp on the dark-suit. As he rocketed towards the marble ground floor of the Montgomery Building, Indy saw yet another of these
    relentless thugs racing towards floor 8 - Indy's floor! Indy had no option but to run down the corridor as the thug started to shoot with his revolver, firing bullet after bullet in Indy's direction. Indy ran as fast as he could towards the window at the end of the corridor, the thug thundering after him.

    "Here goes nothing!" shouted Indy, leaping towards the window. It smashed into a thousand pieces, Indy taking the wooden window frame with him as he fell through the air. Indy cascaded like a hopeless bird, tumbling down surprisingly quickly on the roof of an adjacent, slightly smaller building. Quickly getting back onto his sore legs, Indy raced towards the fire escape. As he ran, more bullets were fired at him. He turned to see the thug with the revolver still firing. Indy ducked behind a small wall on the roof, hiding. The thug soon ran out of bullets, and decided to fight Indy hand-to-hand.

    He stepped back in the corridor slightly, then raced towards the window, leaping out of it. However, his leap was less powerful, and he scrabbled desperately at air as he missed the roof by a couple of inches and shot downwards to the streets of New York. Indy didn't stop to look, instead clambering down the building's fire escape.

    As he emerged onto the streets, a car horn blared. Indy turned to see a man in a black car waving frantically at three other thugs who were standing at points along the street. They all got into the car, and it raced directly towards Indy! This was getting impossible! The car was seconds away from him - Indy leapt in the air, grabbing onto the awning of a building. As the car just missed him, passing under him, he dropped onto its roof. The car started to go faster, tearing through the New York streets in a haphazard manner, the driver mercilessly trying to shake Indy off the roof. But Indy clung tight - he surprised himself at how he could still do all this at his age!

    Indy didn't exactly have chance to relax. As if timing it, two thugs appeared from both back windows of the car. They both had guns aimed squarely at Indy. With a swipe of his arm, Indy managed to knock one thug's gun out of his hand. Grabbing hold of it, Indy turned and shot at the other thug - who was hit and fell out of the car window, his body rolling down the street. Swerving again, Indy punched the other thug in the face, making him fall back inside the car. The driver of the car was getting worried that rather than kill Indy, Indy would kill all of them. He sent his passenger, a bald-headed thug, after Indy.

    But it was a futile task. The bald thug leant out of his window, and was met with a sharp punch by Indy. However, it hurt Indy more than the bald thug. As Indy tried to hold onto the car, his hand in pain, the bald thug took the opportunity to clamber onto the roof. The driver was clearly struggling to cope with this weight on the roof, as the car swerved more than normal. The bald thug clung onto the roof, got a hold, then proceeded to start punching Indy in the face. Indy was helpless.

    The bald thug kept punching, not stopping. Indy saw the gun, now discarded, rattling more and more towards the edge of the roof. He slowly extended his hand out - the bald thug didn't notice as he kept punching. Just a few more seconds...Indy could feel the gun with the tip of his fingers...and then he had hold of it! However, rather than shoot the bald thug, he noticed that
    the thug was secured to the roof, and instead quickly blankly shot at the car's sides.

    Sure enough, a tyre burst. Then another. The car swerved desperately, the driver no longer able to control the car. The car's violent shaking pulled the bald thug away from Indy, who took the chance and leapt from the car, bruising and cutting himself as he tumbled onto the floor.

    However, the driver and bald thug couldn't do anything to stop their fates. The car was racing faster and faster towards a brick wall - it was impossible to stop. Indy turned away as the car rocketed into the wall, instantly killing the two men.

    Indy didn't know what was happening, but knew it was best to get out of this area. He got to his feet as quick as he could, wobbling slightly, then in a dazed voice said "Cab...cab". Cars passed him by. With a surprising burst of energy, Indy shouted "Cab!" once more. This time a taxi stopped for him.

    Indy jumped into the taxi, slamming the door shut behind him. As he sat in the back, trying to get his breath back, he thought.
    Indy needed to get out of the States. Somebody wanted him dead, and it was a good bet that that person was Louis Belloq. If Louis knew that Indy was in America, he was bound to know that Indy lived and worked in Boston. It wouldn't be safe to go home. But if Indy was to travel anywhere, he needed the essentials; his gun at the very least. He'd have to risk going back to Boston.

    A risk he wasn't keen on taking.


*************************





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