Indiana Jones and the Death of the Gods- Chapter 1

Posted by IndyAntilles from spider-wl083.proxy.aol.com on August 18, 1999 at 12:25:28:

Hi all! I haven't posted very much (actually only twice) since I foudn this site. But I've been keepign an eye on the site, and now I'm posting the first chapter in my first Indy novel. I would any comments or suggestions (or continuity problems with anything else Indy) that you might have. Do you like what you see and want more? Or would you rather have me burn it? :) Either way, I hope you enjoy it, because if you do, I'll post more in the future!

Chapter One

New York
Late March, 1943

Marcus Brody sat at the steps of the
American Museum of Natural History, reading
the morning edition of the newspaper. It was a
gloomy, raining day in New York City, not to
mention cold. Brody would normally be
entertaining his guest, Julian Blake III,
archaeologist, but he was waiting for another.
Within several moments, a cab pulled in
front of the museum, splashing muddy water
onto the walk. Brody put down the paper,
folding it into quarters, placing it under his arm,
then opening his umbrella, heading towards the
cab.
A man in a brown fedora and tan
trenchcoat stepped out, handing the cab driver
his fee, then began walking towards Brody as the
cab pulled away, soaking the manís feet. The
manís right arm was being held in a peculiar
position, as if it was in a sling.
Indiana Jones looked up at Marcus.
ìIndy, did you see this morning paper?î
Marcus said, unfolding the paper. The fronts
pages said AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT BANISHES
AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGIST. Below that was
the sub heading AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR SAYS
HEíS NOTHING MORE THAN ìA COMMON GRAVE
ROBBERî.
Indy brushed it away with his good arm.
ìI didnít have to see it, Marcus. I was there.î
ìDonít worry, Indy. I have a friend in the
senate that might be of some help in getting
those pieces back...î
ìDonít bother. I got what I wanted.î
Indy pulled a piece of cloth from his trenchcoat,
slowly unwrapping it. it was the Rainbow
Serpent talisman.
ìThe Rainbow Serpent, one of the most
powerful spirits in aboriginal history. Many
explorers were lost to the dunes, and were
driven mad in search of this talisman. It is
rumored to convey the wisdom of the aboriginal
spirits unto itís owner,î Brody said softly, in
awe.
ìFrankly, it doesnít seem to work for
me.î Indy handed the talisman over the Brody.
Brody had just one question. ìHow?î
ìI didnít have it with me. I managed to
steal it back from the Japanese.î
ìWhy am I not surprised?î Brody
responded. ìItís a fascinating piece. Easily one
of the best in our collection yet.î
ìThatís great, Marcus. But, If itís not
too much trouble, mind if we go inside? My feet
are freezing.î

Brody led Indy into the museum, to
allow him a chance to dry off. Indy was first into
Brodyís office, placing his rain soaked fedora
unto the coat rack beside him. The soft sound of
drips could be heard as the excess rain created a
puddle near Brodyís door.
Indy then hung the coat on the rack as
well, which doubled the size of the puddle.
Brody, still preoccupied with the
talisman, sat at his desk, carefully turning the
talisman in his hand, studying itís every detail.
Indy already had his shoes and socks off,
placing them next to the heat register.
ìThe museum is in your debt, Indy,î
Marcus finally said.
ìJust consider that payback for that
spectacular failure I had in January,î Indy
replied, massaging his feet while simultaneously
placing them in front of the register to warm
them.
ìReally, I think the Ethiopian
government has cooled off by now,î Marcus
consoled.
Indy didnít reply.
ìIíll get this piece into the Australian
exhibit as soon as all the excitement had died
down around here.î
ìExcitement?î Indy looked up.
ìYes, the special Viking exhibit...î
ìYou got it?î Indy asked, a tinge of
excitement in his voice.
ìYes. It opened today... Dr. Blake is
scheduled to unveil it, just as soon as I get down
there...î
ìWhy arenít you down there, then?
Donít let me keep you.î
ìWell, you are. Dr. Blake was adamant
that you be there, as well, when he heard you
were flying in today.î
ìI would love to go, Marcus, but I donít
think I need the publicity right now,î Indy
replied.

ìDr. Jones,î the reporters hounded, ìDr.
Jones?î
ìNo comment,î Indy said, pushing his
way through the crowd gathered at the west
wing on the second floor, where Dr. Blake just
unveiled the new exhibit.
Marcus dodged the reporters, who
werenít interested in him anyway, and headed
for Dr. Blake, leaving Indy to deal with the
press.
ìDr. Jones, what is your reaction to the
Australian govenrments actions?î one man said.
ìNo comment,î Indy said, louder this
time, pushing harder.
ìIs it true that the governor threatened to
pull out your tongue is you ever returned?î
Another reported shouted.
ìNo comment.î Indy was on the verge of
yelling.
ìChalres Lindbergh called you a ëpoor,
bumbling excuse for a professorí. What is your
comment?î a woman asked.
ìNo comment!î Indy yelled, pushing
through the rest of the crowd.
ìDr. Jones,î another woman called out,
in a softer tone, ìwhy arenít you wearing any
shoes?î
Indy paused as the group of reporters
burst out in hearty laughter. He looked down at
the light blue slippers that Marcus had borrowed
to him. ìNo comment,î Indy said in a low,
angered tone.
Indy ignored to snickering and jokes
from the crowd, and headed towards Marcus.
He stood with another man, who looked like he
should rather be a Hollywood actor than an
archaeologist. He had black hair, a neatly
trimmed mustache, a neat white suit, and a
woman on each arm.
Indy had mussed hair, a five oí clock
shadow, a ruffled pin striped suit, part of which
was soaked, a arm in a sling, and light blue
slippers. Not the first impression I was hoping
for, Indy thought.
Marcus turned his attention to Indy. ìAh,
Indy, let me introduce Dr. Blake, the
archaeologist who brought all these fine artifacts
here.î
Dr. Blake let out a boisterous laugh.
ìThe infamous Dr. Jones,î he laughed, shaking
Indyís hand, ìIím terribly sorry to hear about
what happened in Australia,î he said, ìbut it
doesnít look like your doing any better now,î he
chuckled. The women laughed.
Indy remembered how he use to get
women like that, when he was Blakeís age. But
who says he still couldnít?
ìWell, that was a misunderstanding,î
Indy smiled.
ìYou havenít changed at all, Dr. Jones,î
Blake mused, ìfrom when I first read your name
in the paper. Your one of the reasons I went into
archaeology, Dr. Jones.î
ìMe?î
ìYes. I always thought archaeology
would be such a boring affair. But your career
rarely has a dull moment,î he chuckled.
ìWell,î Indy smiled, ìitís not always that
adventurous...î
ìBut those events donít make the
papers, Dr. Jones. Donít ruin the mystique of the
Indiana Jones character.í
Indy chuckled. ìNo, that wonít be
happening any time soon. And please, call me
Indy.î
ìAnd you may call me Jules. So, Indy,
what do you think of this?î Blake asked.
ìItís quite impressive, Jules. A incredible
collection.î
ìThank you. That means a lot to me,
coming from someone of your stature.î Blake
began to look around at his exhibit, as he spoke.
ìI has always been intrigued by the Norse
civilization, especially their mythology. It took
me over five years to excavate all of this. It was
worth it though, no?î
Indy nodded.
ìI am not quite finished, though. I am
returning to the site in Iceland within the week,
to finish up what I began.î Blake paused. ìThis
might be a bit premature on my part, but I would
be honored if you would accompany me and my
colleagues back to the site, Indy.î
ìOh, no, I couldnít,î Indy said with a bit
of a chuckle, ì I have to return to Barnett.
College. I teach there.î
ìYes, of course. I know of it, Doctor.
Your priority is with you students. I
understand.î He paused, then looked over at the
lingering press. ìWell, then, Indy, I must feed
the hunger of my public,î he chuckled. ìYou
understand, I assume.î
ìOf course,î Indy said, shaking Blakeís
hand, ìit was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Blake.î
ìAnd you, Dr. Jones. I hope to hear of
your escapades for years to come,î he smiled. ìI
assure you, you will hear about me.î

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup:

Name:    
E-Mail:  
Subject: 
Comments:

Link URL:   
Link Title: 
Image URL: