by Lee Falk
"A phone here?" said Osborne. "Can't we ever get away from the blasted things?"
"The telephone company, telling you your bill is perdue," said Lanston.
One of the fallen soldiers lifted his head weakly at the sound. He sat up, looking around in a daze. Then his eyes focused on the two men and he stiffened in surprise.
"Sit still, buster," said Lanston.
"Think he understands?" said Osborne.
"He understands this," said Lanston pointing the rifle at him. "Probably his rifle."
The phone continued, persistent and tinny, an alien sound from another world.
"Maybe I should go and take it off the hook. It might attract more of these guys," said Osborne.
"I'm not sure what's best to do," said Lanston.
As they looked at each other uncertainly, a figure suddenly joined them. The masked man. He had come from behind them without a sound. He looked quickly at the scene, the two pilots with rifles, the four soldiers, one sitting up, the other three still unconscious. The sitting soldier half-arose in obvious terror at the sight of the Phantom, then settled back on his heels when the rifle was pointed at him.
"I heard that ringing from a distance. Must be from their headquarters, asking for a report. They'll get it."
He beckoned to the seated soldier to get up. The man sat as though paralyzed, unable to move. The pilots saw that the sight of the masked man had literally stunned him. The masked man spoke sharply to him, then took him by the collar and pulled him to his feet.
"Watch the others. We're answering the phone," he said and marched off holding the soldier's arm.
They reached the ringing phone. The Phantom instructed the frightened soldier briefly, then took the receiver from its cradle and handed it to him. The man was sweating and nervous, licking his dry lips as a voice bellowed out of the receiver. The Phantom bent close to the receiver so he could hear the voice.
"Got him, at last!" said the voice. There were excited exclamations from the background. Then the voice said, "Where have you been, you gukaka schuck!' (the lowest and most vulgar expression in Bangallan.)
"On the mission," said the soldier, his voice quavering as the Phantom pressed his arm.
"Did you get them?" shouted the voice.
The Phantom pressed his arm hard.
"Yes," said the soldier into the phone.
"Are they dead?" asked the voice.
"Yes," said the soldier.
There was a pause on the phone, with excited voices in the background. Then the voice returned.
"Did you get the heads?"
The soldier trembled, staring at the Phantom. The Phantom nodded, grasping his arm so firmly that his biceps ached.
"Yes," said the soldier.
More muttering at the other end. Then the voice.
"You will bring them here, carefully wrapped. Is that clear?"
"Yes," said the soldier.
"You and your squad will receive extra pay and promotions," said the voice. "Now, you have your orders. Proceed quickly." And the receiver at the other end clicked.
The soldier looked at his masked captor and sighed.
"Extra pay, promotions," he said.
The Phantom tore the phone from the box, then marched the soldier back to rejoin the others.
"The deed is done," the Phantom told them. "You are now officially dead."
"Great," said Jim Osborne. "Now what do we do?"
"Get to a safe place so you won't be actually dead," said the Phantom.
"How about Kirk—and Diana Palmer and the others," said Osborne.
"I went to the Oogaan Village to send messages. They will join us at the safe place," said the Phantom. As he spoke, they heard distant drums.
"How about them?" said Lanston, looking at the soldiers. The other three were beginning to show signs of life.
"They go with us. We want them for witnesses."
"You said that before," said Osborne. "Witnesses for what?"
| "They're Bababu's men. At his orders, they shot you down, tried to kill you. You're UN pilots, on a mercy mission, to rescue doctors who wiped out an epidemic among Bababu's people. When we bring him to trial, this testimony will count heavily against him."
"You're going to bring General Bababu to trial?" said Lanston.
"Yes, he's an usurper, and a criminal besides," said the Phantom.
"He's an absolute dictator. He's got the army, fifty thousand men they told us, and you're going to bring him to trial? In the name of God, how?"
"There are details to clear up before that, but it will come. Let's move," he said.
He spoke sharply to the other soldiers who staggered to their feet. He quickly tore vines from a nearby tree, cutting them to short lengths with a sharp hunting knife, then bound the soldiers' hands behind their backs. They all started off, the Phantom leading, the two pilots with rifles bringing up the rear. A few yards away, the white stallion and wolf came out of the bushes and joined them. The pilots noticed that as each soldier came out of his daze, he stiffened at the sight of the masked man. The soldiers muttered to each other, until a sharp word from the masked man quieted them.
"There are more of Bababu's troops in the area— also some roving bands of deserters. We must go quietly until we reach the stream," he explained.
"How about that?" said Jim Osborne. "Bababu has most of the army and half the country—and he's going to try him!"
"Somehow, I think he will!" said Lanston.
The Phantom turned and put his finger to his lips.
"Shhsh," he said.
In Bababu's palatial office—a former colonial governor's bedroom, Ambassador Cari, a crowd of newspaper, TV, and radio reporters were throwing questions at the general. Bababu sat back in his big leather chair, puffing slowly on the long ivory holder, relaxed and confident now.
"What happened to the UN rescue helicopter?"
"Shot down, by miserable rebels, guerillas hiding in the woods," said Bababu.
"Are you sure?" asked Cari.
"Established, without question," said Bababu. "Who else? There are no regular troops in the jungle. Is that not true, Colonel?"
Mokata nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir," he said.
"We are searching for those miserable guerillas now. When we find them, they will be executed."
"How can you be searching for them if there are no regular troops in the jungle, sir?" asked a reporter.
Bababu scowled.
"There were none, at the time. Any more questions?"
"The pilots had parachutes. Perhaps they are alive," said Cari.
"Let us hope so, gentlemen, let us hope so," said Bababu, folding his hands together fervently.
"What about the medical team in the jungle?"
Bababu shrugged.
"That is not my responsibility," he said.
"A second helicopter is on the way," said Ambassador Cari.
Bababu looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.
"Indeed," he said. "That is good."
"Good? You approve?" asked a reporter.
"Why not?"
"Lamanda Luaga is with them. There were wagers you wouldn't permit the first crew to leave," said an English reporter.
"The medical team performed a good service for my people," said Bababu. "We hope for their safe return to their homes."
"What about Luaga?" persisted the Englishman.
"That is another matter, a political matter," said Bababu.
"Will you let him return?"
Bababu glanced at Colonel Mokata.
"This press conference was arranged for Ambassador Cari on behalf of the United Nations. It is not concerned with the internal affairs of this country. The conference is concluded," said Mokata.
A dozen voices protested, wanting to ask more questions.
General Bababu smiled and shook his head, and soldiers with rifles moved slowly toward the group.
"This way out," said Mokata.
When the doors were
closed and Bababu was alone with Mokata, the two men laughed.
"Another crew?" said Mokata.
"We can shoot them down as fast as they send them," said Bababu, bellowing with laughter.
"Faster!" said Mokata, as the two men howled.
In the Wambesi village, the team had spent the last hours saying their farewells to the people. During the four-month stay, they'd made many friends among all the jungle tribes, but the Wambesi were their special friends since the field hospital was here. The people brought them armloads of gifts, ornaments, furs, and food. For Diana in particular, the only woman, the gifts were impressive—jewelry decorated with gems of unknown value, beautiful wood carvings, and other artifacts.
"But there won't be room on the helicopter for all this," said Chris Able.
"We must find room," said Diana. "We can't disappoint them."
High chief Wambato came forward with a special gift for Diana, a long necklace, encrusted with jewels, and wrought of a dull metal in a curious intricate design. As he hung it about her neck, the villagers watched quietly, as though it was an event of great importance. He explained to Luaga who translated for Diana.
"It is an heirloom," explained Luaga. "From his ancestors, worn by queens of olden times, said by tradition to have been a gift of King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba."
"The Queen of Sheba?" gasped Diana. "But he shouldn't give that to me."
"He has given it to you, Diana," said Luaga.
"How am I able to thank you?" she asked.
The old chief took her hands in his.
"He thanks you for what you did for us."
There was general cheering, and wooden cups were passed containing the local equivalent of beer, a fermented squash and melon drink which, they'd long since discovered, had a hidden kick that sneaked up on you like a robber in the night. Then they waited patiently for the rescue craft.
One hour after the scheduled arrival, they began to worry. Diana connected the radio, which was partially packed, and called the helicopter. No answer. The others crowded about her. She called the Mawitaan airport. After several attempts, she got through. They got the news. The pilots had been shot down by guerillas. They were missing, probably dead. But a second crew would arrive in a few days. They stared at each other, stunned by the news.
"Guerillas?" said Luaga. "Bababu."
"You think he did it?" asked Kirk.
"Of course," said Onato Omu.
"But he gave permission for the crew to pick us up," said Kirk.
"That also sounds like him," said Omu.
"But Lanston and Osborne?" said Diana, her eyes filling with tears. "Shot down—dead?"
Kirk put his arm around her. "That is not known, Diana," he said. "Let's hope they got away. They're clever men."
It was a faint hope.
"What now? We can't just wait here forever," said Diana tearfully. They looked through the open village gates. In the background, the pygmies remained. No exit. It was then that they heard the drumbeats. Luaga listening alertly, then looked puzzled. The pygmies moved nearer the village and beckoned to them.
"What is it?"
The drums continued, coming from two directions.
"The talking drums. What are they saying?" asked Diana.
"They are saying—bring them to the grove," said Luaga.
High chief Wambato walked to them, and looked at the team.
"The message is for you, all of you," he said including Luaga and the delegation as well. "You are to go now. With them." And he pointed to the pygmies.
"But we must wait here, for the second crew," said Kirk.
"No, you must go. He has sent for you," said Wam-
"Another crew?" said Mokata.
"We can shoot them down as fast as they send them," said Bababu, bellowing with laughter.
"Faster!" said Mokata, as the two men howled.
In the Wambesi village, the team had spent the last hours saying their farewells to the people. During the four-month stay, they'd made many friends among all the jungle tribes, but the Wambesi were their special friends since the field hospital was here. The people brought them armloads of gifts, ornaments, furs, and food. For Diana in particular, the only woman, the gifts were impressive—jewelry decorated with gems of unknown value, beautiful wood carvings, and other artifacts.
"But there won't be room on the helicopter for all this," said Chris Able.
"We must find room," said Diana. "We can't disappoint them."
High chief Wambato came forward with a special gift for Diana, a long necklace, encrusted with jewels, and wrought of a dull metal in a curious intricate design. As he hung it about her neck, the villagers watched quietly, as though it was an event of great importance. He explained to Luaga who translated for Diana.
"It is an heirloom," explained Luaga. "From his ancestors, worn by queens of olden times, said by tradition to have been a gift of King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba."
"The Queen of Sheba?" gasped Diana. "But he shouldn't give that to me."
"He has given it to you, Diana," said Luaga.
"How am I able to thank you?" she asked.
The old chief took her hands in his.
"He thanks you for what you did for us."
There was general cheering, and wooden cups were passed containing the local equivalent of beer, a fermented squash and melon drink which, they'd long since discovered, had a hidden kick that sneaked up on you like a robber in the night. Then they waited patiently for the rescue craft.
One hour after the scheduled arrival, they began to worry. Diana connected the radio, which was partially packed, and called the helicopter. No answer. The others crowded about her. She called the Mawitaan airport. After several attempts, she got through. They got the news. The pilots had been shot down by guerillas. They were missing, probably dead. But a second crew would arrive in a few days. They stared at each other, stunned by the news.
"Guerillas?" said Luaga. "Bababu."
"You think he did it?" asked Kirk.
"Of course," said Onato Omu.
"But he gave permission for the crew to pick us up," said Kirk.
"That also sounds like him," said Omu.
"But Lanston and Osborne?" said Diana, her eyes filling with tears. "Shot down—dead?"
Kirk put his arm around her. "That is not known, Diana," he said. "Let's hope they got away. They're clever men."
It was a faint hope.
"What now? We can't just wait here forever," said Diana tearfully. They looked through the open village gates. In the background, the pygmies remained. No exit. It was then that they heard the drumbeats. Luaga listening alertly, then looked puzzled. The pygmies moved nearer the village and beckoned to them.
"What is it?"
The drums continued, coming from two directions.
"The talking drums. What are they saying?" asked
Diana.
"They are saying—bring them to the grove," said Luaga.
High chief Wambato walked to them, and looked at the team.
"The message is for you, all of you," he said including Luaga and the delegation as well. "You are to go now. With them." And he pointed to the pygmies.
"But we must wait here, for the second crew," said
Kirk.
"No, you must go. He has sent for you," said Wam-
bato, and he smiled at Diana. She suddenly hoped she understood.
"Who?" she said, almost afraid to ask. "Your good friend," said high chief Wambato.
The Wambesi crowded outside the village walls to watch the departure of their visitors. High chief Wam- bato himself stood at the gates to wave good-bye. Like all his people, he remained silent and seemed apprehensive. The departing party, consisting of the team and the delegation, had four horses and two mules. Diana and Luaga rode; the other animals were loaded with packs of paraphernalia, supplies, and gifts. The walking men all carried rifles. So they left in the eerie silence. Soon the village was out of sight, and they t
raveled on a narrow jungle path.