Free The Jungle Warrior by Andy Briggs Page A

it.
    She was so absorbed in her research that she only noticed Robbie when his shadow fell over her. Still angry, she deliberately ignored him.
    â€œHow long are you going to keep this up?” She remained silent. Robbie sighed and sat next to her. “You can’t be mad at me forever.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
    Despite the atmosphere, Robbie couldn’t help but smile. That was more like the old Jane.
    â€œWe’re both stuck out here whether we like it or not. There’s not a whole lot of space to get mad in.”
    Jane put her phone down and stared at him. Her jaw muscles tensed as her anger built. “I can’t believe you told that . . . that stranger all about Tarzan!”
    Robbie held up his hands defensively. “Wait a second. I never mentioned Tarzan. He was looking for the gorillas.”
    â€œThey are Tarzan’s family!”
    â€œAnd Rokoff’s trying to help them.”
    â€œThey don’t need help!”
    â€œI don’t see what you’re so crazy about. Surely it’s a good thing that people are trying to help the gorillas? Tarzan won’t be around forever . . .” Jane looked up sharply. “You were the one who suggested telling the Greystokes about him. What if he decides to leave?”
    Jane looked away, but Robbie caught the hint of regret.
    â€œHe’s better off here. Better off without us interfering,” she said quietly.
    Robbie was thankful that she didn’t see his face in case his reaction roused her suspicions. She didn’t know that he and Clark had already contacted the Greystoke estate and had received an answer demanding proof of their claims.
    â€œShouldn’t he make his own mind up about that?” Robbie asked gently.
    Jane looked at him suspiciously. “What do you care?”
    â€œHe’s saved my life, quite a few times now. I owe it to him.” Robbie spoke the truth, but not the whole truth. What was left unsaid made him feel sick with guilt. However, Tarzan was not his only problem right now.
    â€œJane. I need your advice.”
    Jane abruptly stood up. “My advice is to leave him, and me, alone.” She stormed off across the camp.
    â€œJane!” he called after her, but she ignored him.
    Robbie was angry. The whole Tarzan situation was detracting from what was really important. He’d do everything he could to help the Russian find the stupid gorillas and the aircraft—then he’d have the proof they needed to claim a reward for bringing Lord Greystoke home.
    Then Robbie would be able to set about getting his life back on track.
    â€¢â€¢â€¢
    Before Jane returned to the camp, Tarzan had made an arrangement with her so she could contact him. He showed her an animal trail that cut across the camp and was relatively easy to follow. After an hour on foot, it opened into a wide clearing with ancient trees circling a dust bowl at the foot of a smooth, gently curving cliff face. The trees were hollow, long dead and devoured by insects. Tarzan called it a Dum-Dum. He beat out a specific rhythm on one of the trunks with his fists and the sound reverberated through the hollow tree; a deep bass which bounced from the curved cliff to amplify the sound across the jungle.
    Jane was entranced; it sounded like melodic thunder. Her first attempts were pretty ineffective and left Tarzan laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face. She tried using a stick but it broke on impact, sending Tarzan into more fits of laughter. She found a sturdier branch and eventually got the hang of beating out the rhythm he showed her. If she wanted to contact Tarzan, she just had to beat the tattoo on the Dum-Dum and he would hear.
    Jane felt claustrophobic in the camp. Robbie’s attitude had annoyed her and she didn’t like the look of the two Russians now hanging around. They had brought their own four-by-four, a huge modern Land Cruiser with