Indiana Jones & The Curse of Rhan - Chapter 13 [New]

Posted by Muppet from modem7.langly.kingston-internet.net on August 23, 1999 at 13:17:06:

=============================================
Chapter Thirteen: The Mediterranean Sea, 1956
=============================================

“How much more time?”

“An hour - two at the most” said Louis Belloq, standing on the deck of ‘La Haise’, a small tug-like boat that had left France and was now well on the way to its destination of Cairo. Remarkably, the police incident in Corinth had had little effect on Louis’ travelling and life; whatever misdemeanour they had wanted to arrest Louis for in Greece was obviously not serious enough to warrant alerting other countries.

Standing on the deck with Louis was Dr. Jerome. The two men looked out to the sea as it splashed the sides of the boat. The captain was taking the boat as fast as he could through the waters, part of Louis’ growing impatience to reach the Temple. Louis didn’t want to end up as impatient as Grundman. Unlike the Nazi Commander, Louis realised that such archaeological searches and discoveries took lengthy periods of time. But in the same heartbeat, Louis was also desperate to reach Cairo, travel to Chad and then explore for the Temple of Rhan.

“I wonder how our friend Dr. Jones is coping?”

“I hope he is suffering down there,” grinned Louis.

When Indy had been brought aboard the ship, he had yet again been tied to a chair, and taken down into the dark, almost cavernous hold of the boat and stuck in a corner. Belloq had almost thought this punishment enough, but to minimise problems, he made Kas punch Indy hard in the face and chest, knocking him out.

“What are you going to do with him?”

“I am not certain,” said Louis, like an bored child with a toy. “I may let Kas murder him. I may torture him myself. Or I may let the hundreds-year old ritual of Tet Rhan claim its first victim of the twentieth century....a true sacrifice to Rhan”

Dr. Jerome was concerned by Louis’ maniacal glare.

“Don’t be concerned!” laughed Louis. “I am going to sacrifice Jones. Not you”.

. . .

Indy woke up, tied to a chair.

He felt groggy, slightly disorientated.

The last thing he could remember was being brought aboard Belloq’s ship, headed for Cairo - onwards to Chad - and then having the lumbering menace Kas knock him out.

It was quiet for a moment.

The ship’s motors had stopped. Indy had no idea how long they’d been travelling for, but figured it was near impossible that they had already arrived in Cairo. Something must have happened. The police? Indy hoped so.

Indy heard voices - Louis’ and Dr. Jerome’s - and other various shouting. A few unknown voices shouting in Egyptian. Indy could hear loud footsteps on the roof of the hold, some making their way downstairs.

A key turned in the hold’s lock. As the door opened, Indy winced slightly at the ray of sunlight that came beaming in to the dark, cold room. As his eyes readjusted, Indy saw the figure of one of the ship’s crew in the doorway. He was carrying a lead pipe - probably to hit Indy with should he try and cause any trouble.

Locking the door behind him, the guard slipped the keys into his breast pocket. He stood against the door, watching Indy with an evil glare. Taking a packet of cigarettes out, he placed one to his mouth and lit it. Indy decided against trying anything bold.

“You wouldn’t want to untie me, would you?” asked Indy.

The guard sneered at Indy, snorting a laugh then once again paying full attention to his cigarette. The burly, slow-looking guard wasn’t worried about a tied-up man - an American at that - escaping. This was the guard’s easiest shift yet.

Indy paused for a moment, thinking.

There was some shouting upstairs. The guard unlocked the door.

“What is happening down there?” Indy heard Belloq shout.

“Nothing,” replied the guard.

“How is Dr. Jones?” Belloq shouted down.

“Going nowhere,” laughed the guard.

There was a brief silence, which Indy broke.

“Can you ask him a question?”

“What?”

“Ask Belloq a question - can you do that?” said Indy.

“Mr. Louis!” the guard shouted upstairs. “Mr. Louis!”

“What is it?”

“The American has a question”

“Oh?”

“Oh?” repeated the guard.

“Can I at least have a cigarette?”

The guard repeated the question to Belloq, who shouted back “Very well, Dr. Jones. Just to show you I am not at all uncivilised, I will let you indulge in that particular treat - keep an eye on him”. Louis said a few more words, then the guard once again locked the door.

Meanwhile, up on deck, problems were brewing. ‘La Haise’ had come to a complete halt when a fishermen’s boat had sailed into its path. The two boats were now blocking each other’s paths, both refusing to move and both shouting orders.

Back in the hold, it had irritated the guard that he would now have to give this American one of his cigarettes, but begrudgingly he removed one from the packet and paced over towards Indy. Before Indy could say anything, the guard had jammed a cigarette in Indy’s mouth.

“Thanks,” grumbled Indy. Even with slight movement in his chair, Indy was too restricted to do anything at the moment. Just as the guard moved the flame of his Zippo lighter towards the cigarette in Indy’s mouth, Indy flinched, moving away from the flame.

“Stay still!”

“How can I smoke if I can’t hold the cigarette?” asked Indy.

“I don’t care”

Indy’s simple plan to get the guard to unite the ropes and let Indy smoke the cigarette in peace had clearly not worked. Despite the fact that Indy didn’t really want the cigarette in his mouth, the guard went ahead and lit it.

“Abdul!”

The guard turned. Another voice shouting from upstairs.

“Abdul! Come to the door!”

The guard - Abdul - paced back to the door of the hold. He once again unlocked it, opening it wide, and stood at the bottom of the steps as he had a conversation in Egyptian with another of the crew members. From what Indy could make out, it was something regarding why the ship had stopped, but Indy was not sure what.

Taking no chances, Indy quickly spat the lit cigarette out of his mouth, tilting his head as he did so. Indy cupped his right hand, and the cigarette fell into it - still burning. Although it was hurting Indy, there was method in his madness. Indy had little room to move, but could just get a good grasp on the cigarette and turn it towards the ropes binding him to the chair.

There was a faint noise as the ropes started to burn. The guard finished his conversation, and turned back round. He locked the hold door yet again, slipping the key back into his breast pocket. Then he stopped sharp. He saw Indy without the cigarette. Now the guard could see smoke coming from behind Indy’s chair.

“American! What are you doing?!” shouted the guard.

“Smoking”

The guard started marching towards Indy, who still had both hands behind the chair. The smoke intensified as the guard got nearer and nearer. The guard wasn’t risking anything, and raised the leap pipe in the air, ready to knock Indy out. But just as he brought it down, Indy’s now burnt-free hands swept forwards in fist-shapes, punching the guard in the chest and sending him to the floor.

Indy quickly used his now freed hands to untie the ropes on his legs and feet, and jumped up. It took him a few seconds to get used to standing upright and not being tied to something for so long. When he was orientated, Indy watched the guard get back to his feet, and swiftly punched the guard hard in the face. “American...” hissed the guard as he slumped to the floor.

Indy rifled through the guard’s pockets, finding the key to the door of the hold. The guard had no weapons on him, only the leap pipe, which Indy took with him just in case. The key slotted into the hold door and soon unlocked it. To his relief, Indy found that the hold door opened without a noise.

As he looked outside, Indy saw a few steps leading up to the deck. Then, about two metres further, Indy saw the edge of the boat. Indy saw a fishermen’s boat in the waters - not too far away and, unlike Belloq’s boat, the fishermen were slowly revving up their engines and preparing to sail away. If they had been the cause of Belloq’s boat stopping, they had certainly learnt their lesson.

Indy took another step up.

“I have you now!”

Indy felt two hands wrap around his neck, and haul him up the stairs, pulling him backwards onto the roof of the hold. Indy looked up to see another fat guard glowering down at him, his hands in a choke hold on Indy’s neck.

Instinctively, Indy used the lead pipe in his hand, cracking the fat guard on the head with it. With some pathetic noise, the fat guard rolled to one side, limp, as Indy got back to his feet. But it wasn’t to be for long. Louis Belloq had seen him.

“Jones...” said Belloq, almost breathless.

The fishermen’s boat started up, moving away.

A gunman, wielding a powerful-looking ammunition loaded piece, took position on the deck and under Belloq’s command, aimed the gun at Indy, who was caught like a cat in headlights. But the fishermen seemed to be cheering Indy on.

“Fire!” shouted Belloq.

The gunman aimed at Indy, pulling the trigger. Indy threw the lead pipe directly at him. It hit him hard on the side of the face, sending him tumbling overboard. The very next second, Indy jumped and ran across the deck, diving into the sea with a resounding splash.

Belloq raced to the side of the boat. He watched Indy clamber to the side of the fishermen’s boat, bobbing his head to keep out of view - or more specifically gunshot - of Belloq’s boat. As the fishermen’s boat had already started its engines, it was moving away.

“Captain!” shouted Belloq, “Move!”

Belloq heard the engines of ‘La Haise’ roaring, grumbling, spluttering, then he heard a large band that rocked the boat. Smoke started to billow out of various portals on the boat. The Captain raced downstairs, panicking.

“JONES!” shouted Belloq as the fishermen’s boat moved further and further away. In minutes the men - and Indy - would be safely out of range and would have a good headstart on Belloq.

“Damn!” cursed Dr. Jerome.

“Kas!” shouted Belloq. “You let him get away!”. Belloq was infuriated, red in the face with anger. He pulled a revolver from its shoulder holster, aiming it squarely at Kas. Although Kas didn’t even flinch, Dr. Jerome was sweating - the scene needed diffusing and quickly before it got out of hand. Before it got deadly

“Louis! He is not the main prize. Remember...”

“No?!” shouted an enraged Belloq.

“Louis - you set out to find the Temple - not Jones”

Louis thought for a moment. “The Temple...”

“Well?” asked Dr. Jerome.

“Yes. You are right,” concluded Louis, calming down. He put his revolver back in its holster and buttoned his jacket back up. “Dr. Jones will not be gone for long. He knows where we are headed and will not wait to track us down. I very much hope he brings some help with him - he’s going to need it”

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup:

Name:    
E-Mail:  
Subject: 
Comments:

: =============================================
: Chapter Thirteen: The Mediterranean Sea, 1956
: =============================================

: “How much more time?”

: “An hour - two at the most” said Louis Belloq, standing on the deck of ‘La Haise’, a small tug-like boat that had left France and was now well on the way to its destination of Cairo. Remarkably, the police incident in Corinth had had little effect on Louis’ travelling and life; whatever misdemeanour they had wanted to arrest Louis for in Greece was obviously not serious enough to warrant alerting other countries.

: Standing on the deck with Louis was Dr. Jerome. The two men looked out to the sea as it splashed the sides of the boat. The captain was taking the boat as fast as he could through the waters, part of Louis’ growing impatience to reach the Temple. Louis didn’t want to end up as impatient as Grundman. Unlike  the Nazi Commander, Louis realised that such archaeological searches and discoveries took lengthy periods of time. But in the same heartbeat, Louis was also desperate to reach Cairo, travel to Chad and then explore for the Temple of Rhan.

: “I wonder how our friend Dr. Jones is coping?”

: “I hope he is suffering down there,” grinned Louis.

: When Indy had been brought aboard the ship, he had yet again been tied to a chair, and taken down into the dark, almost cavernous hold of the boat and stuck in a corner. Belloq had almost thought this punishment enough, but to minimise problems, he made Kas punch Indy hard in the face and chest, knocking him out.

: “What are you going to do with him?”

: “I am not certain,” said Louis, like an bored child with a toy. “I may let Kas murder him. I may torture him myself. Or I may let the hundreds-year old ritual of Tet Rhan claim its first victim of the twentieth century....a true sacrifice to Rhan”

: Dr. Jerome was concerned by Louis’ maniacal glare.

: “Don’t be concerned!” laughed Louis. “I am going to sacrifice Jones. Not you”.

: . . .

: Indy woke up, tied to a chair.

: He felt groggy, slightly disorientated.

: The last thing he could remember was being brought aboard Belloq’s ship, headed for Cairo - onwards to Chad - and then having the lumbering menace Kas knock him out.

: It was quiet for a moment.

: The ship’s motors had stopped. Indy had no idea how long they’d been travelling for, but figured it was near impossible that they had already arrived in Cairo. Something must have happened. The police? Indy hoped so.

: Indy heard voices - Louis’ and Dr. Jerome’s - and other various shouting. A few unknown voices shouting in Egyptian. Indy could hear loud footsteps on the roof of the hold, some making their way downstairs.

: A key turned in the hold’s lock. As the door opened, Indy winced slightly at the ray of sunlight that came beaming in to the dark, cold room. As his eyes readjusted, Indy saw the figure of one of the ship’s crew in the doorway. He was carrying a lead pipe - probably to hit Indy with should he try and cause any trouble.

: Locking the door behind him, the guard slipped the keys into his breast pocket. He stood against the door, watching Indy with an evil glare. Taking a packet of cigarettes out, he placed one to his mouth and lit it. Indy decided against trying anything bold.

: “You wouldn’t want to untie me, would you?” asked Indy.

: The guard sneered at Indy, snorting a laugh then once again paying full attention to his cigarette. The burly, slow-looking guard wasn’t worried about a tied-up man - an American at that - escaping. This was the guard’s easiest shift yet.

: Indy paused for a moment, thinking.

: There was some shouting upstairs. The guard unlocked the door.

: “What is happening down there?” Indy heard Belloq shout.

: “Nothing,” replied the guard.

: “How is Dr. Jones?” Belloq shouted down.

: “Going nowhere,” laughed the guard.

: There was a brief silence, which Indy broke.

: “Can you ask him a question?”

: “What?”

: “Ask Belloq a question - can you do that?” said Indy.

: “Mr. Louis!” the guard shouted upstairs. “Mr. Louis!”

: “What is it?”

: “The American has a question”

: “Oh?”

: “Oh?” repeated the guard.

: “Can I at least have a cigarette?”

: The guard repeated the question to Belloq, who shouted back “Very well, Dr. Jones. Just to show you I am not at all uncivilised, I will let you indulge in that particular treat - keep an eye on him”. Louis said a few more words, then the guard once again locked the door.

: Meanwhile, up on deck, problems were brewing. ‘La Haise’ had come to a complete halt when a fishermen’s boat had sailed into its path. The two boats were now blocking each other’s paths, both refusing to move and both shouting orders.

: Back in the hold, it had irritated the guard that he would now have to give this American one of his cigarettes, but begrudgingly he removed one from the packet and paced over towards Indy. Before Indy could say anything, the guard had jammed a cigarette in Indy’s mouth.

: “Thanks,” grumbled Indy. Even with slight movement in his chair, Indy was too restricted to do anything at the moment. Just as the guard moved the flame of his Zippo lighter towards the cigarette in Indy’s mouth, Indy flinched, moving away from the flame.

: “Stay still!”

: “How can I smoke if I can’t hold the cigarette?” asked Indy.

: “I don’t care”

: Indy’s simple plan to get the guard to unite the ropes and let Indy smoke the cigarette in peace had clearly not worked. Despite the fact that Indy didn’t really want the cigarette in his mouth, the guard went ahead and lit it.

: “Abdul!”

: The guard turned. Another voice shouting from upstairs.

: “Abdul! Come to the door!”

: The guard - Abdul - paced back to the door of the hold. He once again unlocked it, opening it wide, and stood at the bottom of the steps as he had a conversation in Egyptian with another of the crew members. From what Indy could make out, it was something regarding why the ship had stopped, but Indy was not sure what.

: Taking no chances, Indy quickly spat the lit cigarette out of his mouth, tilting his head as he did so. Indy cupped his right hand, and the cigarette fell into it - still burning. Although it was hurting Indy, there was method in his madness. Indy had little room to move, but could just get a good grasp on the cigarette and turn it towards the ropes binding him to the chair.

: There was a faint noise as the ropes started to burn. The guard finished his conversation, and turned back round. He locked the hold door yet again, slipping the key back into his breast pocket. Then he stopped sharp. He saw Indy without the cigarette. Now the guard could see smoke coming from behind Indy’s chair.

: “American! What are you doing?!” shouted the guard.

: “Smoking”

: The guard started marching towards Indy, who still had both hands behind the chair. The smoke intensified as the guard got nearer and nearer. The guard wasn’t risking anything, and raised the leap pipe  in the air, ready to knock Indy out. But just as he brought it down, Indy’s now burnt-free hands swept forwards in fist-shapes, punching the guard in the chest and sending him to the floor.

: Indy quickly used his now freed hands to untie the ropes on his legs and feet, and jumped up. It took him a few seconds to get used to standing upright and not being tied to something for so long. When he was orientated, Indy watched the guard get back to his feet, and swiftly punched the guard hard in the face. “American...” hissed the guard as he slumped to the floor.

: Indy rifled through the guard’s pockets, finding the key to the door of the hold. The guard had no weapons on him, only the leap pipe, which Indy took with him just in case. The key slotted into the hold door and soon unlocked it. To his relief, Indy found that the hold door opened without a noise.

: As he looked outside, Indy saw a few steps leading up to the deck. Then, about two metres further, Indy saw the edge of the boat.  Indy saw a fishermen’s boat in the waters - not too far away and, unlike Belloq’s boat, the fishermen were slowly revving up their engines and preparing to sail away. If they had been the cause of Belloq’s boat stopping, they had certainly learnt their lesson.

: Indy took another step up.

: “I have you now!”

: Indy felt two hands wrap around his neck, and haul him up the stairs, pulling him backwards onto the roof of the hold. Indy looked up to see another fat guard glowering down at him, his hands in a choke hold on Indy’s neck.

: Instinctively, Indy used the lead pipe in his hand, cracking the fat guard on the head with it. With some pathetic noise, the fat guard rolled to one side, limp, as Indy got back to his feet. But it wasn’t to be for long. Louis Belloq had seen him.

: “Jones...” said Belloq, almost breathless.

: The fishermen’s boat started up, moving away.

: A gunman, wielding a powerful-looking ammunition loaded piece, took position on the deck and under Belloq’s command, aimed the gun at Indy, who was caught like a cat in headlights. But the fishermen seemed to be cheering Indy on.

: “Fire!” shouted Belloq.

: The gunman aimed at Indy, pulling the trigger. Indy threw the lead pipe directly at him. It hit him hard on the side of the face, sending him tumbling overboard. The very next second, Indy jumped and ran across the deck, diving into the sea with a resounding splash.

: Belloq raced to the side of the boat. He watched Indy clamber to the side of the fishermen’s boat, bobbing his head to keep out of view - or more specifically gunshot - of Belloq’s boat. As the fishermen’s boat had already started its engines, it was moving away.

: “Captain!” shouted Belloq, “Move!”

: Belloq heard the engines of ‘La Haise’ roaring, grumbling, spluttering, then he heard a large band that rocked the boat. Smoke started to billow out of various portals on the boat. The Captain raced downstairs, panicking.

: “JONES!” shouted Belloq as the fishermen’s boat moved further and further away. In minutes the men - and Indy - would be safely out of range and would have a good headstart on Belloq.

: “Damn!” cursed Dr. Jerome.

: “Kas!” shouted Belloq. “You let him get away!”. Belloq was infuriated, red in the face with anger. He pulled a revolver from its shoulder holster, aiming it squarely at Kas. Although Kas didn’t even flinch, Dr. Jerome was sweating - the scene needed diffusing and quickly before it got out of hand. Before it got deadly

: “Louis! He is not the main prize. Remember...”

: “No?!” shouted an enraged Belloq.

: “Louis - you set out to find the Temple - not Jones”

: Louis thought for a moment. “The Temple...”

: “Well?” asked Dr. Jerome.

: “Yes. You are right,” concluded Louis, calming down. He put his revolver back in its holster and buttoned his jacket back up. “Dr. Jones will not be gone for long. He knows where we are headed and will not wait to track us down. I very much hope he brings some help with him - he’s going to need it”

Optional:

Link URL:   
Link Title: 
Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Indyfan Fan Fiction Forum ]