Joe Brody
Well-known member
The Untold Story of Indiana Jones?s Journey To The Raven
Chapter 1
?Dr. Jones, wake up, sir. Dr. Jones?
Indiana Jones stirred awake. In the aisle before him stood a gray-haired steward in a tight white double-breasted jacket. He offered steaming coffee -- the cup and saucer were of fine quality and emblazoned with the confident winged-globed logo of Pan-American Airlines.
?I?m sorry to wake you sir but we?re about to serve breakfast in the lounge. If you?d like, you can meet some of the other passengers traveling with you on to Manila.?
Indy blinked his eyes, set his fedora on the empty seat beside him, and took a sip of the coffee. The steady drone from the engines filled the cabin and rays from a morning sun played across the face of the kindly steward.
?I know you from somewhere, don?t I?? asked Indiana Jones.
?Yes sir,? replied the steward. ?I?m Andy Solemn. I worked the Golden State . . .?
?That?s it,? interrupted Indiana Jones, grinning and snapping his fingers. ?Boy was that some trip ? if it hadn?t been for you I wouldn?t be here today. So what made you swap the Golden State for the China Clipper??
The steward shifted his weight. ?I suppose it is bad for business when a porter ties up passengers ? even if they happen to be thieves. So the railroad put me on as a brakeman until their trial. When the conviction came down, I got my old job back but by that time I was ready for a change. Anyhow ? that?s when I heard about the Clipper. So I packed up and headed to ?frisco.?
?Good for you, Andy,? said Indiana as he rose and stepped into the aisle. ?But I?m sorry to hear about the hitch as a brakeman. That?s tough work at any age.?
?Don?t you have no worries Dr. Jones. I wouldn?t take back that trip on the Golden State if you paid me ? it was the most important thing I?ve ever done . . . and now I?m flying to beautiful places like Honolulu. It?s like I?m on permanent holiday.?
?Smart move. Speaking of Honolulu ? when do we land??
?In about an hour. Get your breakfast while you can. Once we land you won?t be getting any food until the Airline?s restaurant opens later this afternoon. Plus, you?ll want to meet some of the other passengers.?
Indy nodded and fell in behind the steward who led the way through a narrow portal. The lounge was a squarish space, wider than a Pullman car and with furnished high-backed stuffed seats mounted against the walls of the cabin. Andy crossed the room to the galley. A couple of passengers were seated before collapsible tables but most stood clustered in the middle of the floor where an older, heavyset man talked excitedly about the Clipper.
?. . . .and not only does she have the greatest range of any plane in the air today ? but she?s got unequaled luxury appointments that guaranty your comfort over the next five days as we make our way to Manila. . . . .?
Indiana Jones settled into a seat and was served immediately with a bowl of fresh fruit. But before Indy could make much progress a tall thin man in a linen suit broke from the group. He advanced with an unsteady gait.
?Good morning. I am Lucien S. Lake of Birmingham Alabama, I am pleased to meet you sir.? He spoke with a fast-paced southern drawl that sounded less than genuine.
?Good morning. Henry Jones.? Not much for small talk, Indy shook hands quickly and kept his attention fixed on his food.
Lake gave a dismissive nod toward the group as he settled in beside Indy. ?Novice travelers for the most part. There are some honeymooners and a couple of Navy flyers only going as far as Pearl. Right now the only other through travelers appear to be you, me, a rather dry Reverend type named Andrews, that lady who has something to do with a hotel in Australia ? her name is Nora something or other ? and that odd fellow over there.?
Lake nodded across the cabin to a thin sallow man in glasses who kept his head buried in a magazine. Lucas stared at the sallow man for a moment. ?I haven?t gotten his story yet.?
?What about him?? Indy pointed with his fork at the heavy-set man who stood singing the praises of the plane.
?Oh yes. Unfortunately he?s going all the way as well. Seems he?s some higher-up with the Airline. He?s to assume control of the Manila operations.? Lucas mockingly pushed out his chest. ?It?s a big job and boy does he know it. I haven?t seen her yet but I understand his eleven year old daughter is around here somewhere.?
A steward served Indy with a second plate of steaming eggs and bacon garnished with fresh pineapple. Lake stayed the steward by grasping his arm as he served Indy. ?A bit of gin, please. I?m still on West Coast time.?
Without thinking Indy observed, ?It?s still morning in San Francisco. ?
Lake chuckled, ?And so it is, but I have never allowed time to dictate my consumption ? especially when confined such as this . . . .?
Lake gave a wave to the cabin at large that caused Indy to look up at the group still conversing with the Pan Am Director. Just as Indy turned his attention back to his plate, the female bound for Australia caught his eye. She had taken a step back from the group and was surreptitiously working to get the attention of the Reverend on the far side of the group. The Reverend stood with his hands on his hips, thumbs in his belt, with both sides of his jacket pushed back revealing the butt of an automatic pistol holstered under his arm. The lady caught the Reverend?s gaze and gestured toward the exposed weapon. The Reverend caught on and dropped his arms. The scene played out in an instant -- so quickly that the lady?s gaze shifted to Indiana as he watched the pistol disappear from sight. Lake had missed the mini-drama as he savored his drink and spoke of the importance of drinking while traveling.
?One second,? interrupted Indiana Jones. ?That Australian ? is she traveling with the Reverend??
?Oh no, why would she? Why would you. . . . ? Lake trailed off in laughter. ?Ah, I quite understand. You seek diversions other than drink to see you through a long journey.? Lake turned to leer at the woman. ?One could certainly do worse. She seems a bit . . . formidable. I?m sure she?ll be quite the challenge -- but please sir make some time in the coming days for some libations.?
?Perhaps.? Said Indiana.
?Four days is a long time,? replied Lake. ?Anything can happen.?
Chapter 1
?Dr. Jones, wake up, sir. Dr. Jones?
Indiana Jones stirred awake. In the aisle before him stood a gray-haired steward in a tight white double-breasted jacket. He offered steaming coffee -- the cup and saucer were of fine quality and emblazoned with the confident winged-globed logo of Pan-American Airlines.
?I?m sorry to wake you sir but we?re about to serve breakfast in the lounge. If you?d like, you can meet some of the other passengers traveling with you on to Manila.?
Indy blinked his eyes, set his fedora on the empty seat beside him, and took a sip of the coffee. The steady drone from the engines filled the cabin and rays from a morning sun played across the face of the kindly steward.
?I know you from somewhere, don?t I?? asked Indiana Jones.
?Yes sir,? replied the steward. ?I?m Andy Solemn. I worked the Golden State . . .?
?That?s it,? interrupted Indiana Jones, grinning and snapping his fingers. ?Boy was that some trip ? if it hadn?t been for you I wouldn?t be here today. So what made you swap the Golden State for the China Clipper??
The steward shifted his weight. ?I suppose it is bad for business when a porter ties up passengers ? even if they happen to be thieves. So the railroad put me on as a brakeman until their trial. When the conviction came down, I got my old job back but by that time I was ready for a change. Anyhow ? that?s when I heard about the Clipper. So I packed up and headed to ?frisco.?
?Good for you, Andy,? said Indiana as he rose and stepped into the aisle. ?But I?m sorry to hear about the hitch as a brakeman. That?s tough work at any age.?
?Don?t you have no worries Dr. Jones. I wouldn?t take back that trip on the Golden State if you paid me ? it was the most important thing I?ve ever done . . . and now I?m flying to beautiful places like Honolulu. It?s like I?m on permanent holiday.?
?Smart move. Speaking of Honolulu ? when do we land??
?In about an hour. Get your breakfast while you can. Once we land you won?t be getting any food until the Airline?s restaurant opens later this afternoon. Plus, you?ll want to meet some of the other passengers.?
Indy nodded and fell in behind the steward who led the way through a narrow portal. The lounge was a squarish space, wider than a Pullman car and with furnished high-backed stuffed seats mounted against the walls of the cabin. Andy crossed the room to the galley. A couple of passengers were seated before collapsible tables but most stood clustered in the middle of the floor where an older, heavyset man talked excitedly about the Clipper.
?. . . .and not only does she have the greatest range of any plane in the air today ? but she?s got unequaled luxury appointments that guaranty your comfort over the next five days as we make our way to Manila. . . . .?
Indiana Jones settled into a seat and was served immediately with a bowl of fresh fruit. But before Indy could make much progress a tall thin man in a linen suit broke from the group. He advanced with an unsteady gait.
?Good morning. I am Lucien S. Lake of Birmingham Alabama, I am pleased to meet you sir.? He spoke with a fast-paced southern drawl that sounded less than genuine.
?Good morning. Henry Jones.? Not much for small talk, Indy shook hands quickly and kept his attention fixed on his food.
Lake gave a dismissive nod toward the group as he settled in beside Indy. ?Novice travelers for the most part. There are some honeymooners and a couple of Navy flyers only going as far as Pearl. Right now the only other through travelers appear to be you, me, a rather dry Reverend type named Andrews, that lady who has something to do with a hotel in Australia ? her name is Nora something or other ? and that odd fellow over there.?
Lake nodded across the cabin to a thin sallow man in glasses who kept his head buried in a magazine. Lucas stared at the sallow man for a moment. ?I haven?t gotten his story yet.?
?What about him?? Indy pointed with his fork at the heavy-set man who stood singing the praises of the plane.
?Oh yes. Unfortunately he?s going all the way as well. Seems he?s some higher-up with the Airline. He?s to assume control of the Manila operations.? Lucas mockingly pushed out his chest. ?It?s a big job and boy does he know it. I haven?t seen her yet but I understand his eleven year old daughter is around here somewhere.?
A steward served Indy with a second plate of steaming eggs and bacon garnished with fresh pineapple. Lake stayed the steward by grasping his arm as he served Indy. ?A bit of gin, please. I?m still on West Coast time.?
Without thinking Indy observed, ?It?s still morning in San Francisco. ?
Lake chuckled, ?And so it is, but I have never allowed time to dictate my consumption ? especially when confined such as this . . . .?
Lake gave a wave to the cabin at large that caused Indy to look up at the group still conversing with the Pan Am Director. Just as Indy turned his attention back to his plate, the female bound for Australia caught his eye. She had taken a step back from the group and was surreptitiously working to get the attention of the Reverend on the far side of the group. The Reverend stood with his hands on his hips, thumbs in his belt, with both sides of his jacket pushed back revealing the butt of an automatic pistol holstered under his arm. The lady caught the Reverend?s gaze and gestured toward the exposed weapon. The Reverend caught on and dropped his arms. The scene played out in an instant -- so quickly that the lady?s gaze shifted to Indiana as he watched the pistol disappear from sight. Lake had missed the mini-drama as he savored his drink and spoke of the importance of drinking while traveling.
?One second,? interrupted Indiana Jones. ?That Australian ? is she traveling with the Reverend??
?Oh no, why would she? Why would you. . . . ? Lake trailed off in laughter. ?Ah, I quite understand. You seek diversions other than drink to see you through a long journey.? Lake turned to leer at the woman. ?One could certainly do worse. She seems a bit . . . formidable. I?m sure she?ll be quite the challenge -- but please sir make some time in the coming days for some libations.?
?Perhaps.? Said Indiana.
?Four days is a long time,? replied Lake. ?Anything can happen.?