Wrath of the Volcano God Part Eight

 

 

WRATH OF THE VOLCANO GOD

A Pulp Adventure

Part Eight

The Kazooli stared, awestruck as Carlsbad crossed the narrow outcropping to the main floor, the Heart of Tiki-Taki in his hands.

Hokumba raised his hands in praise.  With both his body and voice atremble, he shouted out a decree that echoed in the wide the chamber.  Without hesitation, the Kazooli warriors knelt in reverence.  Nearby warriors seized Lewis and Bethany and forced them prostrate as well. 

"What now?" Bethany cried as the natives forced her onto the floor. 

Sarah, watching from behind a column, offered an answer.  "They seem to think the Professor is somehow favored by the Volcano God, since there was no obvious sign of displeasure when he seized the Heart!" 

Struggling in the grip of two Kazooli warriors, Lewis glared up at the Professor as he stepped off the narrow rock bridge.  "You'll never get away with this, Everard!" he snarled.  "Not if I have anything to say about it!" 

Carlsbad smiled down at him.  "Sorry, old boy, I'm afraid you haven't anything to say about...well, anything ever again!  Now that the Kazooli have recognized my authority, I think we'll all repair to their encampment where you three can be the VIPs in their sacrifice ceremony!  Yes, I think that would be a fitting end to your careers!" 

The Professor jabbed one finger toward the floor and the two warriors pushed Lewis' head down.  Lewis frowned down at the stone ground, his nose only a few short inches above a red stick.  His frown changed from one of anger to one of amazement as he realized what he was staring down at.  He took a deep breath, his muscles relaxed, and in turn the natives relaxed their grip on him. 

Lewis lashed out to grab the dynamite, but one Kazooli seized his wrist, tried to pull his hand away.  The sudden move sent the red stick spinning across the floor, it slammed against the edge of the rock bridge, twirled about a yard into the air and plopped into the glowing lava.  After what seemed like a long moment, it slipped beneath the surface. 

Meanwhile, the warriors pulled Lewis to his feet, a sharpened stone was pressed against his throat.  

Carlsbad stood over him and gloated.  "An admirable attempt, and I can't blame you for trying.  However, it seems that your luck has run out!" 

Somewhere beneath the surface of the churning lava, there was a muffled Pop.  Then, the mountain rumbled all around them.  Members of the expedition and natives looked around with wary eyes.  Then, in the middle of the lake, a stream of lava burst into the air like a waterspout.  The surface began to ripple and bubble with ferocity. 

Hokumba pointed at the sign from their deity and issued a new announcement.  Sarah translated:  "Now he says Tiki-Taki is displeased, that the thief must be killed to avert his wrath!" 

As per their new instruction, the natives abandoned Bethany, threw Lewis aside, and turned all their attention--and their weapons--upon Professor Everard Carlsbad.  They advanced with a slow and menacing gait with their stone daggers and their spears ready to distribute the Volcano God's divine punishment. 

The mountain rumbled again, and the chamber shook around them.  "Mr. Clark!  Miss Gale!  This way, hurry!" Sarah called to her companions.  Ignored by the natives, they slipped through the mob and joined her behind the pillars.  She showed them the side passage that Klugman had used moments earlier and fled down it, leaving the greedy Professor to his fate. 

"What are you doing?" Carlsbad cried as the natives closed in on him.  "Keep away!  I am the favored of Tiki-Taki!"  He held out the Heart to emphasize his claim.  

Regardless of his protestations, the Kazoolis continued to close in on him.  Carlsbad stepped out on the rock bridge, still protesting as they prodded their spears toward him.  He stumbled back, his foot missed the narrow outcropping, and with a frightful scream he fell into the boiling lava.  

So, too, did the Heart of Tiki-Taki.

As if in disapproval, the mountain rumbled again.  Hokumba ordered his warriors to evacuate, and hoped it was not too late.  Rocks and dust rained down from above as they charged through the entry hall and out through the skull in the side of the mountain.

*  *  *

Lewis, Bethany and Sarah ran through the twisting cavern.  Ahead, they saw daylight streaming in from an unseen opening around a corner.  It was at that corner that the walls sparkled and winked in the light.  As they approached the tur.n, Bethany skidded to a stop to investigate. 

"These...look like...diamonds!" she exclaimed as she scratched at one of the winking rocks embedded in the wall.  "Uncut diamonds!" 

Before the others could comment, the mountain rumbled again.  The ceiling collapsed behind them, dumping a barricade of rubble between them and the altar room.  They coughed and waved away the dust, then Lewis choked, "Forget about ém!" and waved his companions on. 

They rounded the corner and found the exit a few yards ahead.  Sprinting forward, they burst from the cave onto a sandy beach lined with thick jungle foliage on one side.  High above them, the volcano exploded with a spout of fiery wrath that began its steady march down the steep mountainside. 

"What do we do now?" Sarah whined. 

"We keep moving!  Come on!" Lewis told them.  He turned and saw Igor Klugman emerge from the jungle, and take a few steps onto the beach, his revolver still in his hand. 

"You again?" Bethany growled. 

"Igor, we've no time for this!" Lewis announced.  "Carlsbad is at the mercy of the Kazoolis, and the volcano is erupting!  We've got to get off this island!  Now!" 

The brute glared at them and shook his heavy head.  He plucked a small pouch from his belt and tossed it to Bethany's feet.  The rugged adventuress picked it up, untied the cord and looked inside.  "Diamonds!" she exclaimed, "Raw diamonds, from the cave!" 

They looked up at the large man with quizzical expressions, he responded with a scowl and one thick digit pointing back at the cave mouth. 

"I...I think he wants us to dig out some more diamonds!" Lewis said, astounded. 

"Are you crazy?!" Sarah shouted at him, "We're not going back there to die for a handful of diamonds!" 

With a growl, he fired a shot into the sand at her feet, and she jumped back with a shriek. 

But another growl emanated from the verdant jungle foliage.  A heartbeat later, a great orange blur shot through the air with a vicious roar and the one-eyed tiger pounced upon the armed man.  Klugman fell to the sand where he rolled and wrestled against the striped jungle cat, assailed by fangs and teeth. 

Above them, the lava continued to roll down the mountain, and would soon marched across the beach.  Lewis looked longingly out at the wide ocean and spied a hearty sandbar just a few hundred feet offshore. 

"Come on, time to swim!" he said as he pulled the industrialist's daughter into the oncoming surf, with Bethany right behind. 

The trio swam out to the tiny islet and watched as the lava crawled across the sand, into the jungle, and into the ocean.  

"Well, this is it," Bethany glumly conceded.  "We'll never get out of this." 

Lewis scanned the horizon for some inspiration.  Somewhere in the distance, he thought he heard a familiar sound.  "Do you hear something?" 

"Like what?" Sarah asked. 

Suddenly, a familiar yellow plane emerged from the mountains.  

"It's the Golden Goose!" Lewis exclaimed.  "But how...?" 

"Who cares!" Bethany said.  "Just wave it down so we can get out of here!" 

They jumped and waved at the plane as it passed over them once, then cheered as it circled back.  The plane landed in the water and drifted to a stop beside them.  Without hesitation, they climbed aboard. 

"Is that everybody?" Ethan called back from the pilot seat. 

"Clap!" Lewis exclaimed as he rushed to the cockpit.  Upon seeing his friend, he wrapped his arms around him.  

Bethany and Sarah were right behind him.  "How'd you do it?" Bethany asked. 

Ethan shrugged.  "I landed in the river," he said.  "I had the map, the compass, and the parts I salvaged from the derelict.  So I thought it best to get back to the Goose and start the repairs." 

"Lucky for us that you did!" Sarah said. 

"Clap!  You've no idea how glad I am to see you!" Lewis told him. 

The pilot pushed him away.  "Hey, not so fast!  You let me fall off that bridge in the first place!  I'm not talkin' to you!"  But he said it with a smile. 

"Whatever you say, Clap!" Lewis told him.  "I'm just glad you're alive!" 

Ethan pulled back on the stick, started the plane forward.  He flipped some switches, adjusted his throttle and took off into the sky. 

"What about that fella Johnson?  Or Carlsbad?  Klugman?" the pilot inquired.

"They didn't make it," Sarah announced gravely. 

"Oh," Ethan replied.  "Well...what about the big jewel?"

Lewis considered it for a minute.  "I guess the Kazoolis got it back from Everard," he said at last.  "Otherwise, it must've been in that temple when the volcano erupted.  It could be buried forever." 

"You mean we came all this way for nothing?" Ethan whined.

"Not at all!" Sarah exclaimed.  "I got several pictures!  And notes about the entire expedition!  It should make a marvelous thesis!" 

Bethany checked her pockets, pulled out a small pouch.  She untied the drawstring and dumped out a small collection of uncut gems.  "We do have Klugman's raw diamonds!"

"That should make a decent contribution to the science department at Munsey University!" Lewis mused. 

"After our expenses, I hope!" Ethan said as he guided the plane over the clouds.  "I've still got to get some proper parts for this bird!"

Lewis smiled back at him.  "At least she can fly us home, Clap!  At least she can fly us home!"

To Be Continued...