Free The Mysterious Ambassador by Lee Falk Page A

forced herself to stay awake and peered from her hut window to watch the arrival of the chiefs. They were an impressive group of men with their jewels, furs, crowns, and scepters. Each had come with his armed escort of tall warriors. But the escorts were not permitted to enter the Deep Woods, and waited outside, beyond the waterfall. The chiefs sat on the ground in a circle with their masked host.
What were the jungle folk to do? Bababu's men were |
not mere ruffians like the deserters. They came with heavy weapons and with tanks. Could they be fought with snares and spears and arrows? No, the army would massacre them. The army was searching for I ,uaga, whom some of the chiefs knew about, but only vaguely. Some said this was not their fight. It was a matter between the city people.
"It is our fight," said the Phantom. "This Bababu is nn usurper—he has replaced the legitimate chief, Luaga, and intends to rule city and jungle as well."
"But how can we fight this army?" asked Llionto, high chief of the Llongo.
"We cannot," replied the Phantom, and all nodded iigreement. "My advice is this. Greet the army of Bababu with flowers, food, and wine."
"Flowers, food, and wine?" said the chief, Surprised.
"Yes, and with songs and dancing," said the Phantom. "Let them search wherever they wish. They will not find Luaga."
"Where is this Luaga?" asked Wambato, high chief of Wambesi.
"It is best that no one knows. Then no one can tell, nor be forced to tell," said the Phantom.
And so it was agreed. The chiefs were pleased by the wisdom of their decision. Then they ate and drank— non-alcoholic liquids, to their disappointment—exchanged gifts and left the Deep Woods with their tall warrior escorts.
The Phantom led Luaga deeper into the Skull Cave. Luaga had only a quick glance at the rocky chambers on either side of the long natural corridor. Burning torches set in the walls lighted the way. He saw one chamber containing chests brimming with glittering stones and metal that might have been (and were) precious jewels and gold. Another chamber with large ancient folio volumes on shelves (The Phantom Chronicles—the written records of the Phanton line for four centuries); another chamber like a museum with many strange unknown objects that had an air of great antiquity. He couldn't guess that among them were the diamond drinking cup of Alexander the Great, and Ex- calibur called Cal-ed-voch, the sword of King Arthur. Then, beyond the rooms, they came to a small cave with a modern radio transmitter. Here the Phantom kept in touch with the outside world.
The news from the capital was grim. Bababu had declared martial law, and his control over the city was almost complete. Some sporadic fighting continued on the outskirts by people loyal to Luaga. Bababu had also called back the congress for reasons that were not made clear in the controlled broadcasts. The delegation puzzled over this.
"Is it possible he'll reinstate the legislature?" asked the lawyer, Onata Omu.
"It's a trap," suggested the second delegate. "Once in the hall, he'll execute them all."
Luaga shook his head.
"Bababu yearns for legitimacy. He'll ask them to vote him into the presidency."
As the Phantom listened on his skull throne, the others discussed and argued.
"What does he care about being legitimate? He's taken power. He holds it," said the lawyer.
"Do you recall those foreign loans we were negotiating?" said Luaga. "The World Bank might withhold them for a country divided in civil war. He knows that. He wants the money."
"But you're the elected president. How can he force the congress to make him president?" asked the lawyer.
"He can declare me dead. Here, I might as well be," said Luaga bitterly.
"Declare you dead?" said Diana, who was seated at the side listening. "Impossible. He can't do that. I mean, he wouldn't."
"He can. My guess is that he will," said Luaga, "and then do everything possible to make it a fact—as he is trying to do."
"But it's not right," said