Chapter 23
Jack and Sophie sat on the ground in the small, windowless room, a small fire burned near the door where one guard sat inside and one paced slowly outside. She told Jack everything that had transpired since they had last seen each other in Planaltina. He kept her talking trying to keep her mind off of her father. It didn’t work.
“Oh Jack, do you think they will hurt him?” She cried softly.
“As long as he cooperates he’ll be fine Sophie. They obviously need him in one piece.” Jack felt bad after saying this and it must have shown. Sophie chuckled through her tears and gingerly waved the stump of her left arm. Then the tears came and she sobbed uncontrollably for several minutes. When she had calmed a bit Jack raised her face with his hand, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
He had first seen her as a fragile girl but now he could see how strong she truly was. He had been guilt ridden for allowing her to come along in the first place. He knew now that he could not have stopped her.
“Do you remember that night at the Lazy Peacock? Cyril opened the door and there sat the most delicate, most graceful, perfect girl that I had ever seen. I fell in love with you in that moment Sophie. Since then I have held that notion of you in my heart. That image empowered me to continue, to not give up.”
Jack reached down, gently lifted her wounded arm, lowered his head and kissed her wrist. When he raised his eyes again they too were moist with tears.
“You were, and are now, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and I will love for all of my life, if you will have me.”
Sophie smiled and kissed his lips.
Jack heard a noise outside. Turning he saw a large shadow pass by the door between the guards. The firelight briefly reflected off the figures head giving it a strange orange hew. Turning back to face Sophie he heard heavy footsteps approaching.
Two hulking figures stepped through the door. Illuminated by the firelight the two Waffen “SS” sergeants grunted a few words to the guards ordering them to regroup at the pyramid.
A machine gun hung by a leather strap over one man’s shoulder while the other kept a Luger pistol in a holster at his hip. The men looked even bigger than before. Jack decided any attempt to overpower them would end badly… for him.
The one with the pistol casually removed it from the holster and moved toward Jack. The other took a step toward Sophie. Jack felt like an animal about to be led to slaughter. The soldiers lifted Jack and Sophie off the ground pushing them out the door.
“Jack, what is happening?” Sophie was terrified.
They were led outside and down the street toward a small lot surrounded on three sides by a high wall. Jack now knew what was coming. He threw his elbow hard into his captors rib causing the man to lose his grip on Jack’s arm. Jack lunged forward toward the man holding Sophie but made it only half a step before a huge hand, grabbing a handful of his hair, jerked him back and proceeded to beat him to the ground.
Jacks head was spinning, his vision dim and foggy. Hauled to his feet, Jack was pushed forward until he slammed into the stone wall surrounding the courtyard. Sophie was pushed up against him and had to help him stand. The two soldiers backed away.
“Jack… Jack!” Sophie screamed. “Jack they are going to kill us!”
Barely able to stand he stepped in front of Sophie facing his executioners.
“I love you Jack… I love you.” Sophie cried.
The soldier with the machine gun pointed it in their direction. Jack braced himself for the flurry of bullets. Just then his attention was drawn to the top of the wall above and behind the soldiers where something reddish orange moved behind them. Jack squinted and strained to make out the figure.
Was it the leopard? Had it stalked the expedition all this way?
The two soldiers spotted it, but too late. The monster loomed over the two men. There was a flash of red as one “SS” soldier fell to the ground. The second man raised his pistol, again too late. The beast struck again and the guard’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
The giant beast now moved slowly toward Jack and Sophie. He raised his hand in an attempt to ward off the phantom. As the behemoth loomed closer and closer it began to take on a familiar form.
“Jolly?” Jack, dazed and baffled, collapsed into Jolly’s arms.
“Hello Jack.”
He threw his limp friend over his shoulder and escorted Sophie out of the courtyard. They moved toward a building fifty yards away. Moving to a room far in the back of the structure Jolly laid Jack down on a low raised ledge.
“Where have you been?” Jack demanded deliriously.
“Looking for you!” Jolly replied with a smile.
“How... they said you were dead.” A confused Jack was coming around.
“The German soldiers said that they had killed you Capitaine Joley.” Sophie clarified.
“Exactly what I wanted them to think!” Jolley claimed playfully.
“Was getting shot part of your plan as well?” She chided seeing blood stains on his left shoulder.
“Perhaps we should share the tales of our adventures at a later time.” Jolly suggested. “Where is your father Sophie?”
“In the pyramid I believe.”
“Jack, can you walk?”
“I don’t know if I can but I will.” Jack replied.
“Get Sophie out of here, I will get the professor.”
“I’m coming with you!” Jack protested.
“No Jack, take care of Sophie, get her to safety, that is what her father would want. Don’t wait for us, keep moving.”
“Jolly… I just got you back, I can’t lose you again.”
“I’ll be right behind you son, just like always.”