CHAPTER 5

Later that night
Indy’s house

Indy was sat in the lounge, waiting for Marcus.

He had spent the afternoon sorting out paperwork and various other things. Later he had showered and changed into a white shirt and dark grey suit with bow tie.

He was thinking about his recent adventure in Egypt with Sallah. It had been good seeing Sallah again. Thinking of Egypt made him think about someone who he hadn’t seen in a while. Marion. Before he had left for the trip, he had spoken to her and she said that she’d meet up with him at some stage when he returned to the States and he wondered when that would be.

There was a knock. The door.

It was Marcus and Indy opened the door.

“Come in, Marcus. Won’t be a moment”, said Indy, who went to get his coat.

Marcus walked into the lounge. He loved this room. It was full of various artefacts, bits and pieces that Indy had collected over the years.

Indy walked into the room.

“Ready”, he said and they headed off.

As they began talking, Indy asked:

“There’s something you’re not telling me isn’t there?”

Marcus smiled.

“What makes you think that?”

“Oh, call it a gut instinct”, said Indy as they approached Grey’s restaurant.

As they entered the restaurant, Indy saw his father seated at a table and wondered why there were six chairs.

“Expecting a few more people, Marcus?” asked Indy as they were shown to their table.

“Oh, some friends of mine may be joining us later, that’s all”, he told him.

“I see”, said Indy.

As they approached the table, Henry smiled and got up from his chair and acknowledged the two men, and as he did, he put his arms round Indy and gave him a hug.

“My boy. Great to see you!”

“Great to see you too, Dad”, replied Indy, slightly confused by the hug.

When Henry let him go, he looked slightly bewildered.

“What. Can’t a father embrace his own son?” he asked, smiling.

“Yeah, of course. Just didn’t expect the public show of affection.”

“I see.”

“It’s okay Dad. No problem”, said Indy smiling, and both of the men sat down.

“So Marcus. How are you?” he asked the curator.

“Fine, Henry. So tell me, how did the lecture tour go?”

“Very well. Thanks. Quite productive. Managed to meet some very interesting people.”

“So. Indy, son. Marcus told me that you went to Egypt. How did it go?”

“It went quite well, Dad. We ran into a few, ahem, difficulties but-”

Henry cut in.

“But I’m sure that you handled it with no problems, eh son?” he said smiling.

Just then, Marcus excused himself for a moment.

As Indy and Henry talked, Marcus went over to the bar where a familiar young man stood. They exchanged pleasantries and together they walked over to Indy and Henry.

“Indy”, said Marcus. “An old friend of yours has turned up. Won’t you say hello.”

Indy turned round as Brody said this and he recognised the friend, all right. Sure he was a bit older now and was a few years into his teens. A bit taller too.

“Short Round!” said Indy.

“Dr. Jones!” the young man exclaimed and hugged Indy.

Indy hadn’t seen Short Round for about a year. After their adventure, which had taken place in India four years ago, Indy had wanted to adopt Short Round but was unable to, due to the fact that a lot of the time he was out on digs and expeditions. Although Indy would have made a very good father and the fact that they got on very well, it would have been an unsuitable arrangement. What followed was a very upsetting time and eventually the boy was adopted by a family living in New York. Of course Short Round was allowed to visit Indy when he wanted to and now, here he was as a sixteen year old and when Marcus had called him up, he’d arranged to meet Short Round here. Short Round was more than happy to meet with him and especially as he hadn’t seen Indy for some time.

They all sat down.

“Short Round. How have you been?” asked Indy.

“Oh, just fine. Family treat me very well. Sorry, Indy if not been much in touch.”

“That’s okay. No problem. Dad, this is the young Chinese boy that I’ve been telling you about.”

“Ah.” Henry shook his hand. “Very nice to meet you young man. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Short Round was worried.

“Dr. Jones. What you tell your father about me?”

Indy held up a hand. “Now, Shortie. I only told him about how I met you in China and our adventure in India.”

Short Round settled back into his seat. “Oh, that okay then.”

“So, Indy”, began Marcus. “Tell us about Egypt. I would really like to know what happened.”

Short Round and Henry looked very interested.

Where to start? thought Indy.

He told them how he and Sallah had located the temple and how they had gotten the necklace and about Horus.

“Okay, I know it sounds crazy, but it really happened”, said Indy.

“Not at all”, said Henry. “A few years ago, I would have scoffed at such things, but after what I experienced last year, what we all experienced; well my boy, I imagine it to be true.”

Short Round was enthralled at Indy’s retelling of the story, especially the end.

“My God”, said Henry. “I thought that my tour was interesting, but it was nothing as exciting as your recent adventure, Indiana. So this temple is in El Mansura, eh?”

“Yes, that’s right”, said Indy.

“And how is Sallah? Haven’t seen him since our, ahem, adventure a few years ago.”

“He’s fine, Dad. Seems he is very good at conspiring with certain people”, he said, looking across at Marcus.

Marcus cleared his throat.

“Now Indy. That wasn’t my idea. Sallah came up with it.”

“Funny. That’s what he said about you”, said Indy.

“What’s this?” asked Henry, curious.

Marcus explained.

“Aha, I see”, said Henry. “That’s one thing I can say about my son. He can’t sit still for five minutes. Always needing to move around. Was the same when he was a child, always-”

“Okay Dad”, said Indy.

“-Sorry son, I was just saying.”

Henry turned to Short Round.

“So, young man. What have you been up to lately?”

“Working for a friend at the local hotel”, the boy replied.

“I see”, said Henry.

At the entrance of the restaurant a woman stepped into the foyer. It was Marion. She was wearing a green dress and her hair was put up. A waiter asked her if she was all right and she told him that she was waiting for someone.

Willie was running slightly late. Getting ready had taken a little longer than expected and she was now at her destination. Marion waited and hoped that Willie wouldn’t be much longer. Just then, Willie stepped into the room wearing a blue dress and she also had her hair up. They both looked stunning.

“Where have you been?” asked Marion.

“Sshh, he’ll hear us”, said Willie. “Sorry, took a bit longer than anticipated.”

They both took a deep breath and walked towards the table. The occupants of the table were too busy talking and at first didn’t notice anyone approach their table.

“Indy”, said Marion. “Nice to see you again. I met this lady and she keeps saying that she knows you. In fact, she’s been quite insistent on joining me this evening, just to see if she got the right man.”

Indy’s jaw dropped.

“Hmm, let’s see”, said Willie, going over to him. “About six feet tall, dark hair, hazel eyes, quite good looking. Yes”, she said, nodding. “That’s him.”

Indy was stunned beyond belief.

“You, both-”, he began, as the ladies took their seats, Marion to his left and Willie to his right.

“-know each other!”, he finished. He took a swig of his drink.

“Oh, I don’t believe it.”

“I think you’ve got him there”, said Marcus, as Short Round laughed.

Two women for one Indy! This is fun!

“Okay”, he looked between them both. “Let me get this straight. You, both know each other”, he said slowly. “And you never told me!” he said incredulously.

“Sorry”, shrugged Willie. “Just didn’t cross my mind, did it Marion?”

“No, it didn’t. We were too busy discussing the in’s and out’s of Archaeology Professors-”

“Okay”, said Indy. “Someone please order me a drink. I’m beginning to need it.” He looked between them both. “Just out of interest, when did you both meet?” he asked.

“Oh”, said Marion. “Today.”

“What!” Indy couldn’t believe it. “Okay”, he said, holding up a hand. “Please don’t tell me any more” just as Willie was catching up with Short Round.

“I would, however like to say that you ladies look great. Very nice.”

“So do you, Indy”, they both chimed together.

Great! thought Indy as he put his hand up to his forehead and sighed.

Tonight was going to be very long indeed.

CHAPTER 6

Later that evening
Marcus Brody’s house

A few hours, and conversations later about past and present events, not to mention Indy catching up with Short Round, they left the restaurant and headed back to Marcus’ house. Everyone was very impressed by the house. Marcus had a very impressive collection of Greek and Roman statues and figurines, not to mention paintings of various landscapes.

“Marcus”, said Marion. “You have really great taste, you know that?”

“Thank you, Marion.”

“Now, are you going to tell us what this is about?” she said as they all sat down, Willie sitting behind Indy.

“Oh I don’t know. I think I’ve had enough surprises for one evening”, said Indy, looking at Willie and Marion.

They smiled.

“All right”, said Marcus. “Well, Indy. Yourself, Willie and Mr Round will be more than interested in what I have to tell you.”

“Oh?” asked Indy.

“A few years ago, the three of you got, how shall we say, involved in the recovering of some very important artefacts.”

“The Sankara Stones”, said Indy and Willie together.

After their involvement, the Indian government were aware that there had originally been five stones. Of course, two were lost; one was returned to Mayapore Village and the other two fell into the river and have never been found since.

“Now”, Marcus continued. “The Indian government is very interested in recovering the two missing stones-.”

“I really don’t like the sound of this”, said Willie.

“You know what I’m about to tell you, don’t you”, said Marcus to Indy.

Indy nodded.

“Don’t tell me. They need an Archaeologist to help with the excavation and seeing as I was there four years ago they want me to return.”

Willie was upset. A great surge of anger began to grow inside of her.

“No way”, she protested. “Do you have any idea what we went through to get the stone for that village and rescue hundreds of children from the mines, not to mention those very scary Thuggee guys-”

“It’s okay”, said Indy

“No, it’s not okay”, she said to everyone. “And I don’t think that it’s fair on Indy”, she said, gently massaging Indy’s neck as she spoke. “And I’ll tell you why it not fair. Just because he’s an Archaeologist, they are expecting him to go over there and-”

“Just an Archaeologist”, muttered Indy to himself.

“Oh, sorry Indy. You know what I mean.” She looked at him. “You’re an Archaeologist and a damn good one at that.”

“Gee, thanks”, he said smiling.

He turned to her.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Really. The Thuggee cult are definitely extinct now. I think you’ll agree that we made sure of that.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that it was an experience I’m sure that none of us wish to repeat. I mean I still get nightmares about it. I sure Short Round does as well, even Indy does.”

Indy nodded self-consciously.

Marion looked at him sympathetically.

“Well, Miss Scott”, said Marcus. “I’m more than aware how bad the experience must have been for the three of you and it’s nice that you care about Indy so much, but if you’ll just let me explain. The government have a proposition for you. If you help to retrieve the stones they will let you display them in my museum. They say it’s the least they can do to make up for what the three of you went through.”

“Okay”, said Indy to Marcus. “I think you’ve got my attention now. I’ll do it, provided that no one else from here goes. Just me.”

“Oh, Indy!” exclaimed Willie.

“Without me, Dr. Jones!” said Short Round.

Brody held up a hand. “Hold on. Hold on. I’m sure that we can come to some agreement.”

“Indy”, Willie turned to him. “I think that’s slightly presumptuous of you, don’t you think so, Shortie?”

The boy nodded.

“Hey”, began Indy. “I’m not saying that I think I’m better than you or anything, it’s just that I really don’t think that it’s fair to drag the both of you through it again. There could be others searching for the same thing and I don’t really want to involve you into any danger. Besides, Miss Scott, I thought that you didn’t want to come with me on any more adventures.”

She began to protest.

“Yes”, he nodded slowly, a smile spreading across his face. “You specifically told me that you weren’t going to come with me on any more expeditions.”

She held up a hand.

“Okay, okay. I know what I said. I don’t really want to return to the place, but at the end of the day, if you are going, I’d rather go with you. Besides, you’ll need some company and I pretty confident that his time you won’t crash the plane-” she said, playfully.

“What? Me, crash the plane? Oh, I don’t believe this-”

They both smiled at each other.

Marcus cut in.

“Well, I’m sure that this debate is fascinating to the rest of us”, said Brody. “Now, does anyone else wish to accompany Dr. Jones and Miss Scott on this expedition?”

“Me”, said Short Round.

“Here we go again”, said Willie.

“Shortie” said Indy. “Are you sure?”

“Yes”, said the boy.

Indy sighed.

“Okay, if it’s all right with your parents, it’s fine with me.”

Marion piped up.

“If it’s okay with everyone, I’d love to come as well. I’ve been looking for a scoop for my newspaper and my Editor will have a field day, that is”, she looked at Brody. “If it’s all right with the museum.”

“That would not be a problem, I can assure you.”

“Sorry, son. If it’s all the same to me, I’ll decline,” said Henry. “You’ll be all right. Besides”, he whispered in Indy’s ear. “I think you’ve got a few admirers on your team already.”

Indy smiled. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad.

“That’s okay, Dad. Now you’re sure about that?”

“Yes son, I’m sure. Thanks all the same.”

~~~~~

Later that evening
Indy’s house

Indy, Willie and Marion were sat in the lounge while Short Round was asleep upstairs.

“Were really sorry about earlier”, said Marion.

“Oh”, said Indy. “Just about the fact that you both met in secret and never bothered to tell me? Oh, that’s fine. Y’know just carry on. Completely disregard any thought for me. That’s it. Hope your both satisfied.” He waved a hand. “But do you think of me. Nah, you just go on in there and-”

He broke into a huge grin.

“Indy!” said Willie.

“Seriously, though. Don’t worry about it. So”, he said to Marion. “Just how is your position at the newspaper going?”

“Very well, Indy. I’m really enjoying it. So, Willie was telling me about your adventure a few years ago. Sounds pretty intense.”

“Believe me it was. But I don’t think you would have appreciated it”, he told her. “And I suppose that you told her about our adventure the year after that.”

Marion nodded.

“Now that sounded very interesting”, said Willie.

Marion looked at Indy.

“Oh, believe me, it was. Especially when Indy-”

Oh god. He thought. Here we go again.