|
Once
Jed decoded his father's secret message, he felt that it was
safest to keep it a secret.
"Well,
we must start traveling again." and with this, Ngubu
jumped back in the water, but headed in a different direction
than before.
Jed
thought for a moment. "We aren't anywhere near Nampula,
are we...?"
Ngubu
just gave the same, uncommitted frown.
As
they walked in the new direction, Jed read numerous papers
that were also in Millie's bag. Many were in the written language
that he translated before at the museum. They were all notes
from Charles to Millie. From these, Jed put all the pieces
to together of what really happened three years prior.
It
seemed that on the expedition's return trip to Beira, they
were intercepted by a warring tribe to the lost tribe the
scientists were studying. The four were captured, but two
escaped - Charles Whitlow and Joseph Stanley. There were TWO
Joseph's on the team. It seemed that Charles and Joseph came
back to the US, but didn't tell anyone about their return,
except to Millie. At this time, she seemed to have been told
about some precious gem mine that only the warring natives
knew of. The two greedy scientists agreed to go back, but
with fire power to exploit the mine at the sake of the tribe.
However, Charles, even greedier than his partner, left Joseph
behind in Madagascar - perhaps dead. That was what the first
note meant that Mille had given Jed to decypher. But why would
Millie have brought the note to Jed? Wouldn't she have figured
that he would have suspected something? There were still so
many questions that needed answers.
Once
at Nampula, Ngubu immediately began asking the tribespeople
about the missing scientists. After speaking to one man painting
a beautiful mask made out of wood, Ngubu became excited. "Come
quickly. We may have found something!"
He
took Jed over to a larger hut where, once inside, he saw a
man sitting quietly in dark solitude. Ngubu seemed to ask
him a question. Without looking up, the man simply nodded.
After Ngubu spoke some more, the man stood up and pulled out
a piece of paper from his garment and handed it to him. As
he held out the paper for Jed to take, he looked him over
and smiled before walking out of the hut into the sun.
Jed
opened the paper. It was more of the writing.
Ngubu
led Jed out of the hut and explained. "That was Gwaru.
He led them here on Thursday and has not returned to his village
in nearly three years. He said that they were attacked by
the warring tribe of the Jabarus just after leaving this village.
Your father traded his own life for Gwaru's and gave him a
note. He had instructions not to leave the village until his
son came looking for him and to give him the note. He has
waited here for three years, only now able to return home,
keeping his promise.
This
is what the note said.
<---------------------------------------->
< >
< -- <: ^^ >
< >
< / // > // > . <: .. ^^ - >< .. >
< >
< /// ^. <> <> - / <: >
< >
< <> // // \\\ ^ // .< \\\ :: <: <> <:
>
< >
< ^^ - ^^ >
< >
<---------------------------------------->
Ngubu impatiently spoke up, "Where do we go now? I know
of two great guides who can take us safely to the Jabarus.
One is named Obawe and the other is Jaru. Who would you like
to guide us?"
What
village should Jed and Ngubu go to and who should take them
there? The answers and finale to the story will be published
in the next issue of Quest Adventures.
CLICK
HERE FOR THE FINAL PUZZLE SOLUTION
Return
to Adventure Puzzles
|
