Skalkaho Chapter 14: Eureka, The Elephants Pull Its Weight In?
By late afternoon thy after the private wedding between Prescott and Malee, the party started as a simple walk in the park onboard on these elephants. They were trained for log moving and heavy loads for the hauling of rubber tanks throughout the plantation. Prescott and Mauli had spent hours making the supply frames put on the four elephants before loading the expedition supplies. They would be reconfigured and the way back if Gold was found they could load the elephants with about 1,000 lbs. for each animal. When Malee and Frank first it was assumed more elephants would be acquired after the cache of Gold was obtained. Then Frank would go to Samarn's village for more freight bearing elephants. Enough to carry it all. After-all one elephant would carry about $18 dollars in gold and what was expected was about 50 elephants or loads back to BCP. That would mean, Frank, expected to obtain almost one billion in the gold with a US value. Enough to complete any mission Frank would desire.
A mystery was laid on the table before he left the plantation. Samarn had sent a message on foot by a messenger from the village. It simply stated, "I await you in Samarn's village", signed Jeff Danbury.
His old Air America compatriot had reared his head on the plateau. It meant things were not going well to the East with the Vietnam war or otherwise, he wouldn't be there, but what was more compelling of a question was how did he find the plateau country and Frank's last location? He wasn't an enemy but was a good friend and Frank was worried.
Gold was an interesting commodity. It grew or shrank in value relative to the world's condition so it remained just as valuable no matter the wealth or power of one nation. It was a constant relative value for the last five thousand years. Back in ancient times, 100 links of gold could buy an estate. Those same links of gold would buy the same estate. Only paper money changes its value through a time where gold is a constant for its buying power. Twenty-five tons of gold goes a long way in modern times just as it did for the Greeks. Yes, Frank needed lots of elephants or trips back and forth to do the deed. There was a lot to think about as the party traveled through the foliage and its trails within. Fortunately, there was a river basin to follow going in the direction of the final destination but it was rife with bandits and murderers for profit. Only the wits and gifts of Skalkaho would see them through where a messenger could pass through unnoticed as Samarn's had done with his message. It was important to contact the newly christened Frank Prescott before he embarked on this journey. It was not going to be an ordinary elephant walk.
The first night on the trail would mark what would follow on this daily trek for the next two weeks, At the campfire, the party could smell other smoke wafting through the air from the direction they would travel the next day. There were bad people laying in wait for the party four of them on this trail northward. Frank and Malee enlisted the help of a trusted plantation worker who as trusted family friends and very good at confrontation and defeating an adversary. Mauli was the third member of this party. The party was at its best strength at this time and they packed firepower for the journey. They just needed a jump on problems that would expose itself. The first encounter would be the next day and the bush-whackers didn't count on a wind that would expose them as they plotted around a campfire that would give them little comfort. They were about five miles from the elephant trekkers and usually, that would be sufficient for them to get the jump on unsuspecting and novice travelers.
Frank was ready before sunlight and they hit the trail winding away from the main river trail. This was a move for the high ground which would somehow give them an advantage. It was assumed the trouble lay in wait along the main trail way and they would pass by above them by about a mile distance. However, a plan doesn't always fall into place. The robbers split its group into two parts one stayed on the main river trail the other would go up the slope in a flanking move to surround the supposed approaching party. Frank heard birds scattering below from their position on the higher trail. He knew trouble was just below him. As a precautionary measure, he wanted to take the bandits alive to find out what they knew of the banditry that lies ahead and to put fear into them to spread the rumor to other we are coming and it would not go well if the bad ones tried to jump the elephant people.
The plantation party moved downhill and Frank pulled his high powered .334 caliber rifle from his cargo pack. He slides down the elephant's side and would walk his way down to a firing position. There were two bandits traversing the slope just below him they were going in the direction from where he had just come. His instinct told him not to fire and kill out of fear or want so he let them continue. The main object was to send a message to the other robbers on the main trail that they were already a dead target but he let them lie for a safe passage. If he could convince them of his charity towards bandits then the word would indeed spread that he had a drop on the brotherhood of thees and to let them pass without harm. His "instinct" told him this was a sound plan in this situation. As the traversing bandits disappear around the shape of the slope, Frank lead his party back to the main trail staying on its border so as to jump the others who were laying in wait of the elephant train.
About 500 yards from the trail Frank spotted the others hiding in a bush ready to pounce on any travelers coming but in this case, none would be coming. Frank reached up and slide his sniper rifle back in the pack and then stretched over the elephant's side pack for an automatic M4 carbine automatic rifle. What he had to do next would not require a snipers rifle and M4 made Frank equal to ten armed men. Slowly he moved through the next 500 yards taking careful steps to remain concealed from the bandits who smugly lay in waiting for some kind of action from their flanking partners in crime. Nothing happened, but a twig snapped just at their position as if done in a clumsy manner and on purpose.
Frank uttered, " drop the weapons you are all dead"!
A startled look came from the three as they spun around and seeing a gunman did indeed have an automatic weapon pointed right at their bodies. They did comply and drop the weapons.
The assumed bandit leader spoke out in broken English, "others are coming and they will act to kill you right away."
A mystery was laid on the table before he left the plantation. Samarn had sent a message on foot by a messenger from the village. It simply stated, "I await you in Samarn's village", signed Jeff Danbury.
His old Air America compatriot had reared his head on the plateau. It meant things were not going well to the East with the Vietnam war or otherwise, he wouldn't be there, but what was more compelling of a question was how did he find the plateau country and Frank's last location? He wasn't an enemy but was a good friend and Frank was worried.
Gold was an interesting commodity. It grew or shrank in value relative to the world's condition so it remained just as valuable no matter the wealth or power of one nation. It was a constant relative value for the last five thousand years. Back in ancient times, 100 links of gold could buy an estate. Those same links of gold would buy the same estate. Only paper money changes its value through a time where gold is a constant for its buying power. Twenty-five tons of gold goes a long way in modern times just as it did for the Greeks. Yes, Frank needed lots of elephants or trips back and forth to do the deed. There was a lot to think about as the party traveled through the foliage and its trails within. Fortunately, there was a river basin to follow going in the direction of the final destination but it was rife with bandits and murderers for profit. Only the wits and gifts of Skalkaho would see them through where a messenger could pass through unnoticed as Samarn's had done with his message. It was important to contact the newly christened Frank Prescott before he embarked on this journey. It was not going to be an ordinary elephant walk.
The first night on the trail would mark what would follow on this daily trek for the next two weeks, At the campfire, the party could smell other smoke wafting through the air from the direction they would travel the next day. There were bad people laying in wait for the party four of them on this trail northward. Frank and Malee enlisted the help of a trusted plantation worker who as trusted family friends and very good at confrontation and defeating an adversary. Mauli was the third member of this party. The party was at its best strength at this time and they packed firepower for the journey. They just needed a jump on problems that would expose itself. The first encounter would be the next day and the bush-whackers didn't count on a wind that would expose them as they plotted around a campfire that would give them little comfort. They were about five miles from the elephant trekkers and usually, that would be sufficient for them to get the jump on unsuspecting and novice travelers.
Frank was ready before sunlight and they hit the trail winding away from the main river trail. This was a move for the high ground which would somehow give them an advantage. It was assumed the trouble lay in wait along the main trail way and they would pass by above them by about a mile distance. However, a plan doesn't always fall into place. The robbers split its group into two parts one stayed on the main river trail the other would go up the slope in a flanking move to surround the supposed approaching party. Frank heard birds scattering below from their position on the higher trail. He knew trouble was just below him. As a precautionary measure, he wanted to take the bandits alive to find out what they knew of the banditry that lies ahead and to put fear into them to spread the rumor to other we are coming and it would not go well if the bad ones tried to jump the elephant people.
The plantation party moved downhill and Frank pulled his high powered .334 caliber rifle from his cargo pack. He slides down the elephant's side and would walk his way down to a firing position. There were two bandits traversing the slope just below him they were going in the direction from where he had just come. His instinct told him not to fire and kill out of fear or want so he let them continue. The main object was to send a message to the other robbers on the main trail that they were already a dead target but he let them lie for a safe passage. If he could convince them of his charity towards bandits then the word would indeed spread that he had a drop on the brotherhood of thees and to let them pass without harm. His "instinct" told him this was a sound plan in this situation. As the traversing bandits disappear around the shape of the slope, Frank lead his party back to the main trail staying on its border so as to jump the others who were laying in wait of the elephant train.
About 500 yards from the trail Frank spotted the others hiding in a bush ready to pounce on any travelers coming but in this case, none would be coming. Frank reached up and slide his sniper rifle back in the pack and then stretched over the elephant's side pack for an automatic M4 carbine automatic rifle. What he had to do next would not require a snipers rifle and M4 made Frank equal to ten armed men. Slowly he moved through the next 500 yards taking careful steps to remain concealed from the bandits who smugly lay in waiting for some kind of action from their flanking partners in crime. Nothing happened, but a twig snapped just at their position as if done in a clumsy manner and on purpose.
Frank uttered, " drop the weapons you are all dead"!
A startled look came from the three as they spun around and seeing a gunman did indeed have an automatic weapon pointed right at their bodies. They did comply and drop the weapons.
The assumed bandit leader spoke out in broken English, "others are coming and they will act to kill you right away."
Frank's M4 Carbine used for firepower in tight situations
Frank knew his Caucasian look trick the bandits into thinking the party was nothing more than an inexperienced group lead by some kind of cowboy hero type. The look the bandits gave Frank as they talked, indicated they had no respect for Frank or his party and the bandits would to take them out if needed. Frank sensed an effort was afoot to neutralize his position so he had Mauli get involved with a 9mm handgun with 15 rounds in the magazine. An offensive would be maintained and Frank told the three bandits to line up against a big shade tree with their backs against the tree as he gently nudged the leader with his M4 carbine. Ropes were wrapped around the three up against the tree. Mauli tied the hands and Frank tied their feet while a rope was strung around and around the three bandits and ending in a big knot no one who was tied to the tree could reach it.
Now for the other two who should be coming back since no elephant party would be found or ambushed. Frank's goal remained not to kill anyone but to use the bandit's fireside story to other to give them a safe passage. Two bandits appeared as predicted in about five minutes. They would head to bush expecting to find their comrades in crime. Instead one got the butt of a rifle across the head the other got its barrel jammed in his mouth. All in the course of one second. It was not enough time to even complain about, the speed of the confrontation was very one-sided. Next, it was reasoned the party would continue with bandits in tow for the next five miles after which they would be released with just the shoes on their feet. They would most certainly go free up the bandit boss left tied to a tree off the main trail if someone else comes and sets them free. Frank doubted someone would since they were in their despicable best dirt and smell of a bandit. He left them with a chance and some distance and enough time to spread the story the elephant people were well armed and dangerous.
It was time to camp and they found a nice spring but camping on the trail is dangerous and those bandits could show up again and exact revenge. Frank then told Mauli to follow the spring through the bushes until he found the source. If was distant enough from the main trail they would camp. Elephants do leave an obvious sigh that they had passed. It was hoped the track through the bushes would resemble wild elephants were in these parts and no one would notice the sidetrack from the main trail. It was after about an hour Mauli and his elephant stepped back on the main trail about several hundred yards from where the party rested awaiting his return. The foliage around them was a robust density slaying green leaves everywhere and creating a peaceful canopy. The greenery was intense and it smelled of organic turf underfoot.
Mauli said, " it's an easy one hour to a meadow in the jungle where there is a cover, grass, and water making it an Ideal place for both man and elephant. Frank knew if the Bandits caught up to this point on the main trail it would hard for them to see this deviation to the trail they had taken going into the jungle canopy and brush. It would be dark at the least when the bandits passed this point.
Striking through the jungle like that was a dream. The foliage formed big leafy fronds and was like big dinner plates with little diamond jewels of water sparkling on the leaves. The humidity was high as sometimes the sky unleash light rains without any reasons. The elephant train plodded on without seeming to notice any rain distraction or discomfort. Each rider has a spot on the elephant in which to hunker down in among the crates and luggage each elephant carried. It was a warm and humid dreamland for which someone called Skalkaho could hide for a long life or until his calling was made to the forefront front as Frank Prescott.
Mauli showed the trailing party the meadow as they followed the spring through the center of the meadow. Mauli had scouted out all the best places of concealment for the party. It was on the Northwest side of the meadow with a dense clump of trees growing out of a little rise in the ground. It shouldn't get wet for them no matter how hard it rained. The elephants could stand deeper into the trees and they would be just background color for the setting no one could tell elephants or people were camping in these trees and the spring away from them would remain open to anyone who needed water or who were hunting for the party on the four elephants.
The camp was a delight this evening, It was a time to reflect and talk to each other about the day's happenings. Malee remarked, she seemed safe the whole time as Frank showed he knew how to handle himself and this party while providing safety at the same time. The camp fireless confidence gently soothed them asleep. It too would be another good day.
Comments
Post a Comment