The Jungle Warrior by Andy Briggs

Author:Andy Briggs [Briggs, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4532-6294-8
Publisher: Open Road
Published: 2012-09-13T19:10:00+00:00

14

Tarzan clung to the narrow ladder rungs bolted on the side of the freighter’s smokestack. The deck perimeter was illuminated, but the main structure in the middle was dark and lifeless. He had raised the anchor chain intending to cause chaos, but was disappointed that none of the crew had spilled onto the deck in panic.

He bristled when he saw Rokoff emerge from his cabin. His instinct to attack was strong, but Tarzan was no fool. He needed the Russian to lead him into the belly of the steel beast so he could find Karnath. He watched intently as the hunter disappeared through another door.

Tarzan jumped lightly onto the cabin roof; before he dropped to the deck he caught a sound in the distance. The river’s voice was changing into a roar. Time was against him, but he still paused. Tracking quarry should never be rushed. Then, Tarzan silently leaped to the deck and followed Rokoff inside.

The stench in the claustrophobic corridor hit Tarzan hard. Civilization, sweat, engine fumes, sickening food aromas, and stale cigarette smoke. It all churned his stomach.

He zeroed in on the gentle creak of a closing hatchway ahead. He had ventured into underground cave systems before, but there was something about the man-made corridors that made him feel trapped. He stopped at the top of steel steps descending to another dark deck below and sniffed the air. Something was not right. He placed one foot on the hard steel step—then heard the noise behind him and whirled round in a low crouch, ready to fight.

Rokoff stood in the middle of the corridor. The open door next to him revealed where he had been hiding. He held Robbie around the throat with one arm. His other hand pressed a gun to the boy’s head. Robbie was pale, although he didn’t look frightened. If anything, Tarzan thought he looked angry. The Russian smiled as he studied Tarzan.

“So, we meet at last,” said Rokoff in a low voice. “Look at you. A legend . . . and here you are.”

Tarzan judged the distance to Rokoff—it was too great. The Russian could easily kill Robbie and turn the gun on him.

“Can you speak, ape-man?” taunted Rokoff. “Have you come for your little friend below? I assumed a mighty predator like you would have made more challenging prey. I expected more. You are a disappointment.”

Rokoff’s words dripped with sarcasm, intended to push Tarzan into a reckless attack. But the words had no effect on him and failed to invoke any emotion other than the one Tarzan was already feeling toward Rokoff—pure hatred.

“Where Karnath?” Rokoff didn’t see Robbie’s gaze flicker toward the causeway leading to the deck below, but Tarzan did.

“So you give them names, do you? Like pets?” Rokoff taunted. Again, Tarzan didn’t rise to the bait. The Russian renewed his grip on the pistol and pushed it hard against Robbie’s temple. “I want to know if you are human or an animal. Are you going to save your friend here

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