Red Line: Destination Nepal

Joe Brody

Well-known member
* * *


Indiana slipped into Grieves? hotel room the instant the Pan Am Director opened the door. Before Grieves could react, Indiana Jones pulled the door closed and said, ?Yang is a Japanese Agent. He intends to hijack the Clipper on the way to Manila.?

?My God,? hissed Grieves. He looked across the dark room to his still-sleeping daughter and pulled his suspenders up over his undershirt. Grieves? sweat and the remains of a late meal on a near table gave the air a rank, sour smell. ?Just the thought of Madam Sinn being a Japanese spy is utterly preposterous. What would make you think that??

?I never said Sinn was an agent.? Indiana stepped close to Grieves and whispered in a fast, intense tone that revealed a complete lack of patience. ?One of Sinn?s kidnappers came to me tonight and told me of Yang?s plot after having talked to Sinn last night on Wake. I believe he is telling the truth because he nearly killed himself stowing away on the Clipper and he has nothing to gain by coming forward now. Sinn, however, will deny everything because her baby has been kidnapped by Japanese agents in Shanghai.?

?Assume this man is right. What do you want me to do ? simply remove the threat from the plane by placing a Chinese film star literally on a slow boat to China just as I?m about to embark on a trip there to negotiate landing rights for Pan Am? The Chinese press would paint the episode as being motivated by prejudice and fear. I won?t risk that sort of incident. Or perhaps you would prefer me to ground the plane and put us all on a slow boat? Can your mission for Army Intelligence suffer any delay after the death of your man in Shanghai??

Put off-guard by Grieves? shrewd guess at his dilemma, Indy looked away for an instant but then took a menacing step toward Grieves. ?Something has to be done.?

Grieves paced the room. ?Here is what we?ll do. I?ll see to it that the pilots are carrying side-arms for tomorrow?s flight. I?ll also contact Manila and have some Army planes fly out to meet us. The Clipper?s arrival has been so momentous in the Philippines that every arrival has received an escort. I?ll have the intercept moved up to further out at sea and confirm that the fighters are armed.?

Indy nodded. ?Good. So if Yang?s plan is to hijack the Clipper mid-flight and fly us North to Japan, we get chased down.?

?Exactly. Several Japanese cities ? including Tokyo-- are easily within the Clipper?s range from Guam. But if we miss a radio check en route to Manila, then the Army will be able to run us down over the Philippine Sea before we make Japan.?

Indiana rubbed his chin, weighing likely outcomes. ?It?ll have to do. But why arm just the pilots? Shouldn?t you arm the rest of the aircrew??

Grieves shook his head emphatically. ?It?s too dangerous. The Clipper?s main fuel tanks are in the Sea Wings under the plane. Every gun up on the flight deck that is fired down toward the Sea Wings dramatically increases the chance of explosion. I know and trust the pilots. I trained them ? but I don?t know the others as well. Bear in mind, the flight deck is elevated and the access portal is narrow so it will be difficult for Yang?s men to even gain the flight deck. Also, I?ll be armed down in the main compartment and you yourself have proven that you?re capable in a tough spot. . . . together with the crew we easily outnumber Yang and his men.? Grieves stopped and looked back at Indiana Jones. ?I should think the other passengers would be of some assistance as well.?

Indy shook his head. ?I have my doubts. Aside from his gin, Lake?s one other fixation is your little bag of loot . . . . .?

?What do you know about my money?? Grieves? rage caused Gwen to stir.

?Nothing really, until now that is.? Indiana stepped back toward the door. ?Just that Lake claims you?re carrying quite a lot of cash. Both Lake and Nora assume it?s to gain favor for the landing rights.?

Grieves eased into a seat by the ruins of his late meal. ?Exactly so, it?s a good thing the pilots will be armed for our landing in Manila because it appears that some of my passengers are a threat after all.? Grieves poked at some bones on his plate and then asked ?Last thing, where is the stowaway now??

?In my room.? Indiana cracked the door to leave. ?I want to wake Solemn and have him get the stowaway on board.?

?Perfect. Just make sure Solemn places him in the forward cargo hold before the air crew and passengers arrive. . .and if our flight goes off without incident, I intend to hand the stowaway over to the authorities and have him sent back to Hawaii.?

Indiana opened the door wide and paused in the frame. He looked back, nodded and headed down the hall.

********

Couple of things:
(1) Sorry for posting the short section above --it really should've part of the last post. I just got sick of holding onto it because I want to move on.
(2) With respect to Sinn's baby and her career in Shanghai -- while it may have seemed a little tangential, these facts are very relevant to Part 2 of Red Line. Do any readers want to hazard a guess as to the father of Sinn's baby? Hint: it's not Shortround.
(3) For the next segment, some mood music may be in order. I suggest the music from Empire Strikes Back when the Speeders break through the morning sun on Hoth in search of the missing Solo and Skywalker.
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
Sorry for the long delay but my third kid was born in early August and I've pretty much lost my writing time to doing the last feeding of the day.

[Start of] Chapter 9 [first post]


A pensive Indiana Jones turned to watch as the Philippine Clipper?s air crew broke from their quarters and crossed the hotel?s screened-in porch. Consistent with Pan Am pre-flight ritual the flyers -- all dressed in Navy inspired dark blue jacket uniforms and white hats -- formed-up in two columns with the Captain and the Second Pilot in the lead. They strode out into glaring morning sun across the grounds of the old Marine base; a formidable contingent, confident, smiling and proud. As the Second Pilot passed Indiana Jones, he pulled back his jacket to reveal a pistol holstered to his belt. Then he gave a cocky grin and made imaginary pistols out of his index fingers and thumbs and pretended to fire a rapid series of shots, like a cowboy letting loose with his six-shooters.

From the far side of the porch, Lake saw the gesture but not the concealed weapon. The southern grafter nodded to himself, contemplated his drink for a second before polishing it off and then stood to join Reverend Andrews and Nora Crowe, who had come out from their table by the bar to start the procession down to the plane. Indiana picked up his satchel and joined the group.

Reverend Andrews looked back into the empty lobby. There were no other passengers and the front desk was strangely unmanned. ?Could it be just us going on to Manila??

The small group started the walk down to the pier. Lake caught Indy?s eye. ?What was that business with that pilot? Is he armed??

Nora stepped in front and put up a hand on Indiana Jones? chest. ?Why would the pilot be armed??

Indiana hesitated, weighing whether to disclose the situation to his fellow passengers. He looked around to make sure he would not be overheard. ?Yang and his buddies may be Japanese agents, and they . . . .?

?Are gonna hijack the plane?? interrupted Reverend Andrews, leaning forward. When Indy, dumbfounded, nodded in response, the Reverend exploded, ?God Damn it!? Andrews pulled his .45 from his under his jacket and started for the plane. He looked back at Nora, ?I told you they weren?t after Grieves. Let?s roll.?

?Who are you people?? asked Indy.

Nora shouted out, ?Bob, hold up.? ? She turned back to Indiana ? ?We?re Navy Intelligence assigned to protect Grieves. Grieves?s long-range flying expertise is so critical that the Navy has been keeping tabs on him since his last stint in the Orient when he ran up some pretty huge gambling debts.?

Indiana Jones accepted the revelation with far greater ease than Lake who needed a good shot from his hip flask to restore his nerves. ?So Grieves doesn?t know that he?s being shadowed?? asked Indiana.

?No,? Nora hesitated. ?My job was to first get close to Gwen . . . . and then in Manila get close to Grieves.?

A crack of doubt snaked through what Indiana had assumed to be true chemistry with the beautiful agent. He stood open-mouthed, at a loss for words. Nora kept her gaze fixed on Indiana, matter-of-fact and unashamed ? while a dark cloud settled over Andrews. Finally, Indiana dragged out, ?get close to Grieves??

Without change in expression, Nora simply nodded in response. Bewildered but noting Indiana?s predicament, Lake took another swig and turned toward Andrews. ?I can?t believe that I have been duped by the likes of such an unlikely Reverend. Impressive cover ? what with the way you sprang that passage from the Bible back on Wake.?

Andrews brightened and returned the large pistol to its holster as the group continued toward the plane. ?Growing up in Chicago I had an English name in an Irish neighborhood. As a kid I sold Bibles door-to-door and believe me if it wasn?t for that quote, I don?t think I would?ve sold a single one of those damn heavy books.?

The group stepped onto the long dock, and Indiana stopped to gaze at the Clipper. Nora stepped beside him. ?What are you thinking??

?Listen up. Yang and his men are armed but Sinn is not in on it. Grieves, the pilots and me are all armed. I know you are carrying? ? Indiana looked at Andrews ? ?What about you??

Nora nodded and tapped her clutch.

?O.K., good. The odds just got a whole lot better. Now, let?s keep our advantage to ourselves. If Yang?s men make any move to seize the plane. We take them out, agreed??
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
[Start of] Chapter 9 [second post]

Everyone nodded. At the plane, Indiana boarded through the front hatch and headed back toward the passenger compartment. He tensed when he saw Sinn?s entourage seated stone-faced at the front of the section. He tipped his fedora at Madam Sinn and went to settle into his seat for takeoff.

Engines sputtered and came to life causing the whole plane to vibrate. Noise from the idling engines filled the cabin as a Pan Am agent stood at the open hatch waiting for the all-clear. Just as Grieves signaled for the agent to seal the door, a bloody Richter stumbled aboard and fell down onto the floor of the galley. He turned back to the agent and handed up a dirty and streaked piece of paper. ?Have this cable sent immediately.?

Climbing to his feet, Richter glared at Indy as he passed back into the passenger compartment and found a seat. The plane taxied across the calm waters and then took to sky, climbing up through a brilliant morning sky. At altitude the passengers moved into the lounge where breakfast was served. Andrews took the seat across from Indiana and snatched a piece of toast off of Indy?s plate. ?Man, that German fellow must have picked the wrong party back on Guam.?

Curious, Indiana looked up from his food. ?What do you mean??

?Back in Hawaii, I followed Richter into Honolulu on a hunch. All I got for my trouble was a trip to the telegraph office and a tour of the red-light district that went on well into the wee hours.? Andrews laughed so hard that he had to grab his knees and leaned over to catch his breath. ?Man that skinny German is as feisty as a sailor that?s been at sea for a year! I nearly busted a gut when he boarded the Clipper all guilty and disheveled the next morning. So when he showed up bruised and battered I figured he went into town for more of the same last night and made some bad decisions . . . .?

?Yeah, it must have been something like that,? replied Indiana embarrassedly as he shifted in his seat.

Andrews took a slice of Indiana?s bacon and ate the strip whole. ?You know, Nora thinks Richter is on your tail? -- Indiana looked up from his breakfast ? ?Yeah, and it gets more interesting. We checked him out - it turns out the horny little bastard is a German spy. So what?s your game pal??

Indiana leaned in close to Andrews. ?Do you happen to know a Colonel Musgrove or Major Eaton in Army Intelligence??

?No!? Andrews slapped the table and whispered. ?Eaton? Don?t tell me you?re Army??

Indiana shook his head. ?No, I?m not Army ? I?m just running an errand for Eaton? ? Andrews looked skeptical ? ?Really,? said Indiana with sincerity.

Andrews turned heads with his deep laughter but kept his tone low. ??My first assignment as a junior officer was as a liaison to the War department. Eaton was the Army liaison. Talk about paranoid sons-of-a-*****. What does he have you working on ? something crazy like stopping Hitler from replacing Eleanor Roosevelt with a double??

Indiana shifted again. ?No, nothing like that.?

?What then?? Andrews swiped the last strip of bacon and took a bite.

Indiana sighed. ?Retrieving the lost Ark of the Covenant that holds the Ten Commandments before the Germans can get it for Hitler.?

Dumbstruck, Andrews froze. The strip of bacon fell from his mouth. ?We?re talking about the Ten commandments? Why in the Hell would that crazy son-of-a-***** Eaton have you trying to get some stupid old chest . . . . .? Andrews stopped short, struck by a realization. ?My God, for once Eaton is actually onto something important. He figures Hitler must want it as a gift to curry favor with the Pope.?

Again Indiana looked sheepish and could only manage to shrug his shoulders. ?I suppose. All that is way beyond me. I?m just an Archeologist.?

Andrews wiped his mouth with a napkin from the table and looked toward Sinn?s entourage that sat stoically in the front of the passenger compartment. He stood but then leaned down close to Indiana. ?Well sorry to interrupt your little field trip but it likes you are in for a little action.?

Indiana stood and followed Andrews toward the passenger compartment as the Stewards moved to clear breakfast. Andy Solemn looked up from the table he was clearing and nodded as Indy passed. Morning faded and the passengers whiled away the time quietly reading and staring out the windows. Indiana sat behind Sinn?s party with his bag on his lap. Nora and Andrews across the aisle and in the last sat a brooding Richter. Lake had become sullen since the disclosures on the dock and sat behind Indiana engaged in game-after-game of solitaire. After breakfast, a drowsy Madam Sinn, Grieves and his daughter adjourned to the sleeping quarters -- most likely, Indiana assumed to stay well clear of any violence.

Just before noon, the radioman strode through the passenger compartment, intent on deploying the antenna for a radio-check with Manila. As he passed, Yang?s henchmen rose with hydraulic precision. Each clasped an automatic pistol in both hands. One turned and sent three rounds rapid-fire directly into the radioman?s back. Grinning for the first time, the killer then trained his guns on the passengers, freezing them in their seats. At the same time the other bodyguard and Yang rushed forward into the lounge and opened fire on the stewards. Sitting in his second row aisle seat, Indy attempted to furtively reach for his gun but was stayed as the grinning bodyguard closed in and trained a pistol directly at Indy?s forehead. In the lounge, Yang struck Solemn in the right shoulder and the bodyguard took out the other steward with a horrific head shot. The dead steward fell on to one of the collapsible tables, sending a pile of dishes crashing to the floor. Looking stupefied and pale, Solemn slumped to the floor limp.

Yang and his crony immediately continued on into the Galley and opened fire up into the Flight Deck. Indy tensed for the inevitable return volley and the sure-to-be sickening fire fight between the hijackers and the pilot?s .45?s -- but his stomach sank when no return fire came from above. With his gun aimed above his head, Yang?s crony circled beneath the entrance to the flight deck. Between cries and sobbing pleas of ?No, no, no? and ?Please don?t!? from the men on the Flight Deck, the bodyguard fired up intermittent shots until the cries from the air crew stopped. Yang then turned to the door to the forward hold and fired several shots through the door. Then the henchmen and Yang scrambled up the steps to the Flight Deck. For nearly a full minute all was silent until three quick shots rang out. Indy strained to look in the Galley where a figure descended the ladder steps. Yang ? grinning widely and carrying his smoking pistol ? stopped near the base and shouted back to his comrade in Chinese, ?We have control of the flight-deck. Kill Jones ? he may be armed.?

The bodyguard?s grin widened in acknowledgment. Just as he extended his arms and was about to fire, a knife sliced through the air and into the bodyguard?s throat causing him to jerk the gun up. A shot passed harmlessly into the ceiling and the gun fell to the floor. The hijacker followed as he clutched at the blade, which simply increased the flow of thick blood shot from the death wound. Panicked, Yang stumbled back up the stairs.

Wide-eyed and amazed to be alive, Indiana Jones looked over to where the knife had been thrown. A sweating and still filthy Richter stood in front of his seat, gasping for breath.

?I need you alive ? for now,? said the German Agent as he stepped in the aisle to retrieve his knife from hijacker?s corpse.

Two things. First, sorry for all the talking, but there was still a need for more set-up and I get a kick out the Reverend Andrews character-- he's a bit of a block head. Second, going back to the earlier Noir discussion -- I'm hard pressed to think of anything more satisfying than having a sleaze that just had the stuffing beat out him by the hero having to immediately turn around and save the hero's life.
 

roundshort

Active member
Good to have you back Joe!!!!!!!! The content on Raven blows and the mods seem to suck to high heaven, finally some quailty stuff! Well I think you have mastered Indy dialouge. Great stuff keep 'em coming, Did you say third kid, my god man who has that many kids now in days!
 

Paden

Member
Sorry for the belated praise, Joe. I can't believe I missed this when it was first posted. Excellent stuff as usual...but what a place to leave us! I really enjoyed Andrews' conversation with Indiana, particularly the swiped food and the information on Eaton. Having Richter save Indy was a nicely ironic development. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment, but I completely understand how fatherhood can limit one's time for creative pursuits. :)
 

roundshort

Active member
Thats nice paden, but as Joe is one of the few people here that actually creates something that is quailty, don't get me wrong I love debating the merits of Halloween flavored soft drinks, he should not be so selfish with his time, leave his kids in front of the T.V.and write for my (our) entertainment!
 

Indy Parise

New member
Joe Brody said:
I'll leave the door open on that one. The Art Weber character has never made any sense to me:



. . . .and I admit I'm grinding an ax by having him killed. An opium addiction would be a fitting vice for a Brit in Shanghai (Britain made a fortune off the trade) -- but on the other hand it wouldn't surprise me that if Art Weber were alive today he would be a huge Liza Minelli fan.

I like Grieve's inference because it says something about the type of person that Grieves is and how he looks at people.


You had to kill Aykroyd didn't ya. S.O.B. :) (just kidding)
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
Beginning of Chapter 10

Richter retrieved his blade with a silk handkerchief and slinked back toward the sleeping compartment. Without even acknowledging his dubious savior, a grim Indiana Jones started forward toward the lounge when a shot rang out the instant Richter crossed into the shadows. A second later, Richter staggered backwards clutching at his chest. As the German Agent fell to the ground, gurgling blood, Grieves stepped forward into the light, clutching a smoking pistol. Unsteady and pale, the Pan Am Director looked pleadingly at the passengers.

?I heard gunfire and was scared,? quivered Grieves. ?And then Richter came back at me with that bloody knife. . . .?

In the aisle Richter?s body ? pasty white and glistening with sweat -- went still. Indiana turned his back on the scene and stumbled to Andy Solemn. ?Forget Richter,? said Indiana as he looked over his friend. ?And tend to the living.?

Nora knelt beside Indiana. ?What do you think??

?Find me something to dress the wound,? Indiana replied anxiously. Solemn was as pale as Richter but maintained a weak pulse and labored breathing. He appeared to be in shock and was nearly unconscious. Almost speaking to himself as he cut away the Steward?s uniform, Indiana said, ?Not a lot of blood. . . . ****et passed clean through.?

Nora stepped nimbly over Richter?s corpse and past the other passengers as she returned with a First Aid kit from the rear of the plane and a bottle of liquor.

?Good thinking,? said Indiana eyeing the bottle as he broke out a pressure dressing.

Nora moved close to inspect the wound. ?Solemn may be a very lucky man.?

Indy only grunted as he continued to work. Nora looked at Indiana. ?You however. . . . if somehow you make it to Manila whoever has been receiving all of Richter?s cables may well assume that you killed him.?

There was no way to tell if Indiana heard the warning. He worked on Solemn without thinking, consumed with cleaning and dressing the wound. As he worked he failed to notice the figure standing at Solemn?s feet, with an automatic at his side. Nearly complete with the dressing, Indy started when he noticed the gun and looked up to see Andrews sternly watching the triage.

?You ready chief?? asked Andrews.

?Ready for what?? Indy crouched up, and shot a look at Nora who stayed close at his side.

Andrews cocked his head toward the galley. ?To take back this plane.?

Indiana smirked and shook his head. ?You?re hunting with the wrong dog. Rushing the Flight Deck will only get us killed.?

?Think Bob,? said Nora. ?The plane has an autopilot and the Flight Deck is elevated. That?s two shooters from a protected position.?

?So what are we supposed to do?? asked an exasperated Andrews. As he spoke he repeatedly tapped his gun against his thigh. ?Sit back, have a drink and wait until we land in Tokyo??

Indiana rubbed his jaw and then looked up at the ceiling. He pushed past Andrews and nearly tripped over Richter?s body as he made his way aft staring the ceiling. Finally, he broke into a broad grin and turned back to the pair of Navy Intelligence Agents. ?No. We split up and take the Flight Deck from every direction but the entrance.?

Puzzled, Andrews studied the ceiling. Lucien Lake raised his flask and spoke up from his seat. ?I vote for cocktails in Tokyo. Isn?t any attempt to take back the plane putting us all at risk??

?What choice do we have?? snapped Nora. ?This hijacking could precipitate a war between Japan and the United States. So it is easy to guess Yang?s orders for dealing with us passengers.? Nora put her hands on her hips and looked up at the ceiling. ?What do you have in mind Indiana??

?The Clipper?s wing is elevated well above the main cabin ? and there?s a crawl space above us that runs from the wings here,? Indiana pointed to a small hatch in the ceiling. ?That continues under the wing.? Still pointing, Indiana began walking forward to the lounge. ?To the Throne Room where the Engineer?s seat is located.? Indiana stopped in the middle of the lounge and turned back toward the group.

?But any man in a crawl space will be a sitting duck,? said Andrews.

?True,? nodded Indy. ?Unless there?s a distraction that keeps Yang and his buddy occupied.?

?What do you have in mind?? asked Grieves.

Indiana put on his grey fedora and reached into his bag for his Smith & Wesson. ?Someone in the forward hold?s docking hatch shooting back into the plane.?

Grieves looked incredulous. ?That?s suicide. The docking hatch is in the nose of the plane and is only several feet away from the pilot?s controls. It would be as easy for Yang to shoot you from the pilot?s chair as it would be for a driver of a car to shoot someone sitting on the front bumper. Whoever pokes his head out will be an easy target.?

?Maybe so,? said Indiana. ?But I?m betting Yang and his buddy will be more focused to the rear. If I?m lucky I can shoot one through the windscreen and Andrews should be able to take out the other. Since the pilots are likely both dead -- you, Lake and Nora will have to re-take the flight deck once we kill the hijackers and give the all-clear.?

Andrews nodded and reached toward the hatch in the ceiling. ?It sounds better than a trip to the dentist. Indiana, take Nora with you into the forward hold and I?ll signal when I?m in position. She?ll tell you when to go.?

?Sounds like a plan,? smiled Nora. She stepped to forward and kissed Andrews with a familiarity that left Indiana hollow.

Indiana tucked his gun into the small of his back and turned to Andrews. ?Let me help hoist you up. You should be safe climbing into the crawl space ? I don?t think anyone in the flight deck can see past the chair in the Throne Room ? and the Engineer?s body is likely obstructing the view.?

Nora set her clutch on a seat and stood by Indy?s side. Andrews removed his jacket and snapped his pistol into his shoulder holster to keep the gun safe for the climb. As Andrews stepped into Indy?s interlaced fingers for a boost up, a suddenly steady Grieves lunged forward and grabbed Nora?s clutch and trained his gun on the three.

?Everybody stop right there ? raise your hands and give your guns to me, slowly.?

Stunned, Indy looked up and raised his hands. Andrews ? with his back to Grieves ? rather than reaching for the hatch left his arms in the air and turned to stand beside Indiana. Nora slowly raised her arms and glared at the Pan Am Director. Furious, she could only spit out one word, ?Why??

Couple things:
(1) roundshort: I'll reply to you in the Moab thread.
(2) Thanks as always for the kind words Paden. FYI, I try not to post here unless I have some story to post. Your reading this means alot since you and a few others are writing a neat little adventure of your own.
(3) Speaking of hikacking, can anyone find the nod to the passengers aboard Flight 93? (hint, it's not in the most recent post).
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
Here's a shot that shows the docking hatch:

img42.gif


And here's a shot taken from the Engineer's throne room:

img33.gif


Note that the throne room is higher than the Flight Deck.
 

Paden

Member
What a well written roller coaster this has become. Your pacing of the story is great, Joe. Were this a completed novel, the cliffhangers would keep me reading well into the night. I'm intrigued to see what card Grieves plays in the next installment. I'm also curious: is it Richter's death that plays into Toht's characterization of Jones being "nefarious"? You had alluded to that some time ago. If so, how ironic, since we know he didn't have any hand in the agent's demise. Fantastic work as usual.

Oh, and...
Joe Brody said:
Andrews pulled his .45 from his under his jacket and started for the plane. He looked back at Nora, ?I told you they weren?t after Grieves. Let?s roll.?
Very, very cool.
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
Paden, Bingo on the Flight 93 reference. You have some serious reading comprehension skills.

You're right on the money about Toht. It's a minor spoiler -- but Richter got the cable off right before departure. I imagine the message being something along the lines of: "Found out and savagely beaten by subject".

One of the Compelling things about Raiders is how Indy lets Barranca walk. I thought it would be neat to have Indy screwed by showing nearly the same 'compassion' (if you can call savagely beating someone and leaving them in a jungle, compassion) for Richter and then it come back to haunt him.

Stick with this. I'm almost done with Part I. Part II is going to be a whole different type of story.
 

roundshort

Active member
Joe,
You always make my day when I see you have added to the post, and while I am not sure about Indy asking others to play a key role in his plan, I do like the pace and the action!

Thanks
 

Joe Brody

Well-known member
[End of] Chapter 10

Grieves gave a self-satisfied smirk. “Because Japan is poised to become master of the Pacific. Seventy-five years ago that island was still in the Middle-ages, and thirty years ago it’s navy sank the Russian Fleet. Ever since that victory all of Japan has embraced new inventions to become a modern power. The Japanese appreciate the potential of this plane’s marvelous engineering.” Grieves gestured with his gun toward the plane around him. “We westerners on the other hand waste theses machines on the idle rich and bicker with our British allies for a tourist route to Europe. Imagine what the Japanese could to with a fleet of Clippers.”

“Start another World War?” ventured Lake from his seat.

“The price of progress,” snapped Grieves.

“And I thought you just needed the money,” sneered Indiana Jones. “How big are your debts in Shanghai?”

“Irrelevant,” said Grieves. “When the time is right the Japanese will strike and whatever obligations I have will be of no matter.”

With his hands still in the air, Indiana rolled his eyes. Grieves shouted over his shoulder and Yang’s remaining henchman descended from the Flight Deck, gun in hand. Grieves gestured with his gun, “Everyone in the Lounge. Let’s make this quick.”

Lake rose up from his seat. As he made his way to the aisle he swayed and seemed to lose his footing. As he fell, he quickly changed direction and lunged forward -- knocking Grieves’s pistol free. Yang’s henchmen opened fire and his rounds went high, splintering the cabin walls. Indy and Andrews scattered. Nora dove for Grieves’s gun. In an instant, Indy came up from behind a row of passenger seats, firing steadily at Yang’s henchmen who hastily backed up the steps to the Flight Deck. Nora succeeded in retrieving the pistol and got the drop on Grieves.

Grinning, Indy nodded at Lake, “Good work.”

The lubricious lush shrugged. “It was imperative we retake the Galley and the ship’s stores – my flask is empty.”

Nora stepped close to Grieves. “Where’s your daughter?” she asked.

“Both Sinn and my daughter are in the rear, drugged and sleeping,” said Grieves.

“One second,” said Indiana. He retreated to the rear of the plane, and after a minute he returned clutching Gwen Grieves’s white canvas travel bag. He held open the bulging bag to reveal two pistols. “Gwen has quick fingers. My guess is that Grieves here had Gwen pilfer the pilot’s guns.”

Andrews picked up a tablecloth and started to rip broad bindings. “You’re sick to use your daughter like that.”

“And cold-blooded to betray the crew,” said Nora.

“I suppose it goes without saying you never cabled Manila for the fighter escort?” said Indiana.

Grieves stood silent and simply looked down at his shoes. Andrews stepped forward. “I’ll tie him up.”

Indiana shoved Grieves down into a seat and turned to Andrews. “O.K. Same Plan. I’ll go with Nora to the Cargo Hold. We’re right back to where we were before – except now we’ll just have to keep an eye on our pilot here once we re-take the plane. Have Lake signal us when you’re ready.”

Andrews leaned over Grieves and spoke close in the broken Director’s ear. “You and me are going to have some special alone time once we land in Manila.”

Grieves’s eyes went wide, and Andrews grinned with grim satisfaction. He beckoned toward Indiana who had turned to go. “You remember what Indiana looked like the morning you found him on Wake Island?”

Grieves looked panicked.

“You’ll be lucky if you look half that good once I’m done,” said Andrews.

“That was you?” Indy looked incredulous at Andrews, and thinking fast he turned to Nora. “Then that means that it was you . . . .”

Nora looked sheepish and shrugged. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what you were doing sneaking around so I kicked you through the wall.”

“I’m sorry too,” said Andrews as he put his hand on Indy’s shoulder and pulled him close. “I only beat the Hell out of you back on Midway because you scared the crap out of me when you came crashing into that greenhouse.”

Indiana stole a glance at Nora as he broke free of the large agent. “Think nothing of it. I’m sure you went easy on me.”

Indiana handed the bag containing the pilots’ guns to Lake and said “You’ll need these.” Then he crossed the Lounge to the entrance to the Galley. Nora stood on the other side of the portal, holding a pistol she had retrieved from her clutch. The ladder steps leading up to the Flight Deck occupied the middle of the space. Indiana gestured toward the cargo hold door at the far end of the Galley and said, “You go first.”

Nora smiled. “Gee thanks.”

Indy looked hurt. “No seriously. The first runner has the better chance.”

“I know,” laughed Nora. “I’m just messing with you.”

As she spoke she took a step back – like a schoolgirl on a date – and then darted fast across the Galley. She jerked open the Cargo Hold door and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Indy detected motion from the Flight Deck above but no shots came down. With half a shake of his head and a quick shift to his fedora, he ran across the room but unlike Nora he cut left of the ladder instead of right. Three shots trailed behind him as he dove through the open door. In darkness he landed on what he immediately registered as a slick, cold body. He recoiled in horror.

On the floor before him, framed in the light from the Galley, was the body of Bill Peng – shot in both the head and chest. Nora – her right arm clutched close across her chest as she held her left arm – leaned against the port wall, staring down at the corpse. She looked up from the body – her black hair framing her fine, sculpted features. “Who was that?”

“Madam Sinn’s friend – the one who stowed away and tipped me off to Yang.” Indy stepped over the body. “Come on.”

The Cargo Hold, filled with large heavy canvas mail sacks piled high to the ceiling, was thick with the smell of travel. After clicking the lights repeatedly with no success, Indy scrambled over the bags toward the nose of the plane. He rested on his side to inspect the hatch. Nora followed suit and settled close to Indy. The hatch was straightforward and unlocked. Indy looked across at Nora. “I didn’t know the Navy had female officers.”

“They don’t.”

Puzzled, Indy asked, “If you’re not an officer, then how did you become a field agent?”

“I was a typist.”

“A typist?”

“I worked for the translators in Navy Intelligence. One day one of the brass happened to check the translator’s original handwritten notes against my work. . . . “

Smiling, Indy said “And the Brass realized that your Chinese was better than any of his real translators.”

Nora laughed and propped herself up on an elbow. “Pretty much – but it was Bob,” She caught herself. “. . .it was Andrews that championed getting me out into the field.”

“Andrews, huh?” Indiana looked down at the sacks and pulled back.

Nora put her hand on Indy’s arm and fixed her gaze on him. “Bob and I broke off our engagement over a year ago – he’s still possessive but it’s over now. Ask him.”

Nora leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them, looking for a reaction. Then she shifted her head slightly and just as she started to pull back Indy leaned forward and kissed her.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around a women like you.”

“Hmmm,” Nora pulled back. Then she looked down through the door and saw Lake silently gesturing from the Lounge. “Bob’s ready to go. You get set.”

Indiana loaded his revolver. Ruefully, he said, “I guess I’m ready for some fresh air.”

<<<<>>>>
Three things:
(1) One mystery left. . . . .
(2) In my two posts on 9/15, while shifting text between the two posts I lost an innocuous paragraph that mentioned, among other things, Gwen moving about the plane with her white canvas bag. I was really irked with myself when I realized it was missing.
(3) Marion Ravenwood vs. Nora Crowe. My intent with the Nora Crowe character is that she is not meant to upstage Marion, but rather she is intended to put Indy in a certain frame of mind for when he reaches the Raven. Speaking of Marion, I'll be honest -- I don't think she is the love of Indy's life. She holds her own with him but she's a little too eager. To me, Marion's like that intense college romance you shake off before moving on to the love of your life. Nora Crowe is meant to be worthy of being Indy's equal (and she certainly doesn't whine) -- but again I'm not setting her up as anything special.
 
Last edited:
Top