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Dr. Keneth O'Shaughnessy and his four grad students Jacqueline, Blake, Denise, and Aaron, had been trudging through the thick jungles of the Amazon rain forest for nearly a week. It had not been easy, but the prize they were after would be payoff enough. More than enough as far as Dr. O'Shaughnessy was concerned. For more than twenty years, he had studied, researched, and explored in search of his prize. Not a lost city of gold, as some of his peers liked to say to poke fun at him. They thought it was a ridiculous endeavor. He might as well be looking for El Dorado as far as they were concerned. What a bunch of fools. He knew it existed. His research all but confirmed it. They would never understand until he brought the flower back. He'd had it already once before, that precious white-petaled flower. But his sample had decayed before he got back to the world. He'd been in too much of a hurry last time, hadn't taken the proper precautions. But not this time. This time he was completely prepared. That's why they were here, he and his illustrious students. He had hand-picked them himself for this incursion into the wild. Although they were young, they were nearly complete with the doctorates in their fields and were excellent students. Jacqueline was a chemistry major. Blake's degree would be in Botany. Dr. O, as they liked to call him, or 'Doc,' held a particular fondness for those two, as their degrees were the same as his. But where they had one each, he had both chemistry and botany. It is, of course, what made him superior to them he knew. Denise and Aaron both majored in Microbiology, a pivotal aspect to the Doc's work. Now they were only about a day away from what The Doc called "the Oasis." The place the flower grew. I'll have to name it, he thought to himself. After himself, of course, nothing else but complete recognition would do. After all, it would change the face of modern medicine forever. That fool Fleming hadn't even named penicillin after himself. Dr. O would not make that mistake, he wanted that recognition, and quite frankly, he thought he deserved it. Why shouldn't I name it after myself? I discovered it.
"Hey, Doc, get a move on, or we are gonna leave you behind!" Blake yelled over his shoulder. Dr. O looked up. While he had been daydreaming, he had started to fall behind the group.
"And reach the flower without me?" laughed Dr. O. "Not on your life!" He hurried to catch up with them. "We are only about a day away, so keep on your toes."
"Ya ya, Doc, we got our eyes peeled for the snakes, red capet and eveything ready for it when we find 'em," said Aaron in his thick Brooklyn accent.
"It's vital that we have a few samples," said Doc. "Normally, the fer-de-lance doesn't live this far south, but they seem to be drawn to this area. I believe it is because of the presence of the flowers. My data shows that the venom should activate the flower's abilities and that there is some kind of symbiosis between the two, although I'm still not sure what the snake gets out of it."
"Well, that's what the data says," replied Jacqueline, in her 'London Tongue' as Aaron liked to put it. "But we still haven't confirmed it."
"Always the skeptic," said Denise, rolling her eyes. "You've got to have more faith in the Doc."
"I do have faith," Said Jacqueline. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here. But I'm skeptical nonetheless of things that haven't been tested."
"Don't you worry," said Doc. "You'll see. Once we have the flowers, I'll show you just exactly what they can do."
The party continued onward through the thick jungle. Although Doc was in the back of the little caravan, he would continue to point the group in the right direction, telling them when they strayed off course. He knew how to get to the flowers. How could he forget? What path in all of history had been more important than this one?
"This seems like a good place to make camp, I should think," said Doc. They had reached a clearing next to a small stream. They set up camp and began eating their dinners, which were military-style rations. They'd brought enough with them to last for weeks, as they had no way of knowing how long confirming the flower's abilities would take.
"Whaddya think ya gonna spend ya money on first?" Aaron asked Blake.
"Probably grammar lessons for you," Blake laughed. It had been a long-standing joke between the two. Aaron's Brooklyn accent was often the target of jokes from Blake. Aaron didn't mind, he liked Blake, and although he sometimes thought Blake's sense of humor was dry, Blake usually managed to wrangle a smile out of the jokester
"oh ho, sorry, Mr. Blake, I suppose ya gotta be born with that silva spoon in ya mouth in order to talk good," Aaron mused.
"No, not that, you just have to be born with a tongue that does not waggle about all day trying to catch every word rattling around in that empty skull of yours."
"That so? Well, explain me this smat guy. If my skull's empty, how come theirs so many words' rattling around' in ther'?." Denise burst out laughing at that one. She loved hearing those two go on. Although Blake was probably the smarter of the two of them book-wise, Arron had a quicker tongue.
"You guys are ridiculous," sighed Jacqueline, rolling her eyes. Although she acted annoyed, the slight smile on her face told a different story.
"Oh fo'give me ya royal highness, I did not mean to offend thyself or thy husband." For that comment, Aaron was met with a plastic plate to the face. "aw geez, I was only jokin'," he said, rubbing his nose. Although it wasn't anything too serious yet, Blake and Jacqueline had started getting closer on this journey, and Aaron would often joke about it, much to the annoyance of Jacqueline.
"Alright, campers," said Doc "Let's not kill Aaron before we get to the flowers. The Sun is nearly down, and we should get some good rest. I want to start early tomorrow." With that, everyone started cleaning up the camp area and getting ready for bed. They slept through the night, with the sounds of the jungle soothing them to sleep. They woke up the next day just as the Sun started to rise. Because of the thick jungle, it was still quite dim where they were. It wouldn't grow truly light for them for another 2 hours or so. In the dim light, they started to pack up camp. Had they waited a little longer, or had the jungle been less thick in the area around the clearing, and they had had more light, it's possible that Blake would have seen the snake. As the group packed their things in silence, a yell rang out through the clearing.
"SHIT!" Blake cried. "What the fuck, God damn it!" Blake fell back from his tent, clutching his hand.
"Hey, what the hell happened?" asked Aaron, rushing to Blake's side. As he kneeled next to Blake, he caught movement a few feet away. As he looked, he saw a snake starting to slither away. "Oh shit, man, did that snake bite ya?!"
"Ya, it got me while I was rolling up my tent."
"Let me take a look," said Doc, as he and the rest of the group hurried over to Blake and Aaron.
"Professor, that's a fer-de-lance," said Denise.
"I'll get the anti-venom," said Jacqueline, rushing over to the medical bag.
"Ya sure, no problem, Doc," said Aaron. Suddenly Blake started to scream.
"It feels like my arm is on fire!" he yelled.
"What? What is this?" asked Doc. "Fer-de-lance venom does not affect you like this, and certainly not so quickly. Blake should have a few hours before any severe symptoms show up. I don't understand." As Doc contemplated what was happening, Blake suddenly passed out, slumping to the ground.
"Blake! Blake!" yelled Jacqueline. "Hey, wake up! Mr. O'Shaugnessy, he's not breathing! Please do something!" Doc started CPR While the others watched, each of them trading off once someone got tired. They did CPR for nearly 40 minutes, but Blake never woke up. They all sat back, exhausted from the CPR and in shock.
"Doc, what happened?" asked Aaron. "I never even heard of snake venom doing nothin' like that. And definitely not so fast as what just happened. Doc, that was minutes, and he was dead. What happened?" Doc sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought.
"I... I just don't know," he finally answered. "I'm sure it has something to do with the flowers. It has to. Once we get to them, we'll be able to..."
"What do you mean? We have to take Blake to a hospital!" Cried Jacqueline.
"What? Why?" asked Doc, looking confused. "I'm sorry about Blake, but there is nothing we can do for him now. He's gone."
"Doc, we can't just leave 'em here, though," said Aaron.
"We have no choice, we don't have the tools to bury him, and we certainly can't carry him the rest of the way to the flowers, much less all the way back to civilization. Our only option is to keep going. Otherwise, Blake died for nothing."
"Oh, what a load of shit, Doc. You can't just throw cliches at us and expect us to go along wit' you. Our friend just died, an you just wanna leave 'em here for da buzzards? Well, that ain't gonna fly."
"What would you have me do?" yelled Doc. "If you have any other options, please, I would love to hear them!" Aaron looked around, desperate for an answer.
"I don't know," he said.
"We must move ahead. Once we reach the flowers, it'll all have been worth it, and he'll be remembered in history for this discovery. Now come on, we are already behind schedule. Finish packing things up, and for Pete's sake, watch where you put your hands."
After they finished packing up the camp, they began to move out.
"Wait," said Denise. She quickly gathered some large leaves from the trees around her and covered Blake's body with them. "It's not much," she explained. "But it's something at least." They marched in silence, remembering their fallen friend, still having a hard time dealing with the loss. The beautiful weather did nothing to lift their spirits. Only the hope of reaching the flowers kept them going. A few times, Jacqueline brought up the idea of turning around and coming back some other time. She thought that it was too dangerous to continue since they now knew that the anti-venom they had brought would not affect the Fer-de-lance. Doc insisted they move ahead because they now understood the danger they faced. But the jungle is an unforgiving place No matter how prepared they thought they were, how careful they felt they could be, it didn't matter. Denise was now at the front of the caravan, which meant that she was the first one to step over a fallen log blocking their path. It's why she was the one the snake bit. It struck at her leg from underneath the log. The boots that she was wearing did nothing to stop the nearly inch-long fangs of the viper. She went down with a yell.
"Ah, Christ, no!" screamed Aaron. He moved toward the log. "Where are you, you son of a bitch? I'll kill you!" He found the snake slithering away. He caught up to it and stomped it to death.
"Please, Doc, please, I don't want to die!" Denise was sobbing.
"You're going to be OK," assured Doc. "We've got the anti-venom, and once we give it to you, you'll be fine." But he could see the black lines already moving up Denise's leg. Denise started to gasp for air, clutching at the Doc. He met her gaze and saw the panic in her eyes as the tears began to run down her face. She died in his arms, in the middle of nowhere, with her friends watching.
"I'm not giving up. We will still get there. We can't fail now!"
"We will continue forward!" shouted Doc.
My story is entitled two Kings, King Joshua and King John also called Emperor Zhuan Zedong needed each other but were too stubborn to admit it in life.
The story begins when David Smith an English man travels to a strange land in Alaska in America a land of opportunity and plenty and then discovers to his entire surprise that he and the young King Joshua of that particular country were alike seen more as twins. This two people also needed each other but they were too stubborn to admit it entirely in life.
Again, the similarity between the two Kings helped to save the young King from his enemies.
As I was awakened by a voice that that was very loud and rough, I realized that the King John was shaved to become King. Some men also looked at King Joshua with much curiousity. Also, both of them wore some sort of hunting clothes and carried with them guns.
One of them was rather short and very strongly built with a big square head, together with a grey moustache and a small light blue eye. Also, the other was a thin young man of some middle height with dark hair and rather smart.
There was a soldier and another young gentleman who was accustomed to move in a good society and also the community.
The elderly man of that community came up to me and then followed the others who politely raised his hat. I then rose slowly to my feet.
I also realized that he was of the same height too, murmured an elderly man. Then looking at my eight feet two inches man he spoke to me. Again, may I ask your name.? He asked.
Also, as you have taken the first step, gentleman with a smile tell me yours first.
The young man smiled pleasantly. He commented that he was Captain John Silver and his counterpart was also called Prince von Mingt. They were both in service of the King of Alaska in America King Joshua.
I later bowed then to them by taking off my bandana and answered:
I am Michael Brown, a young traveller from Japan. Also, for about two consecutive years I was a General Officer in the Army of her Majesty the Queen, Queen Victoria.
Again, it was too late to understand all about these issues.
During this moment a voice sounded entirely from the wood that was behind us.
The man King Kong turned and said hastily: This is the King!.
The old Captain soldier then laughed as a young man jumped out from behind a trunk of a tree and stood exactly beside us entirely.
As I looked at him definitely, I gave an astonished cry as usual and having the mindset I drew back in some sort of sudden wonder in life entirely.
In exception for my beard and of a consciousness of rank which his position gave him, the King of Alaska in America might have been King Joshua.
Later I realized that the King Joshua of Alaska in America and the Emperor Zhuan Zedong also known as King John of Japan resembles each other but were too stubborn to admit it.
Also, both the two countries were rich in resources and economy.
Again, due to their resemblance the two Kings came together and invented the Electric car, that drives through the streets of America and Japan by the aid of Electricity to save fuel for cars.
Others may also argue that the King Joshua and King David resembled each other and they were both fair in complexion just that they differ in languages that they speak in their community. Due to the differences in languages the two Kings, King Joshua and King John, Emperor of Japan needed each other but they were too stubborn to admit it.
Later they both came to an agreement to allow Japan citizens to buy lands in America and also American citizens to buy lands in Japan.
Lastly , I will like to argue that the two Kings , King Joshua of Alaska in America and King John the Emperor of Japan needed each other but they were too stubborn to admit it in life due to the fact that they differ in their languages in which they speak with other countries including both Japan and America.
?I can't let you go. I can't break the law.? I told James.
He sighed and laid on the cot with his arms folded behind his head, looking up at the cigar smoke-stained ceiling I studied him for a few moments. He was the type to become better looking with age, his features were tanned and rugged, and his eyes were still as deep blue as ever. When I had first seen him in the Inn during my engagement party, I had felt the butterflies in my stomach, something I hadn't felt for any other man.
I shook my head and forced myself to look away from him. I had just started organizing the papers on my desk when the bell over the front door jangled, and I looked up to see Melanie, Mr. Murphy's daughter, coming through the door with a covered basket.
?I figured Mr. Rawlings might like some supper, so I brung him some,? Melanie said as she brought the food over to James' cell.
She was only the first; over the next two days, a parade of single women flowed through my jail on every excuse under the sun, ranging from plausible to downright ridiculous.
I doubt that James Henry Rawlings had been so well fed in all his life before he landed in our jail, I thought with annoyance.
It was a relief when the posse finally showed up to take him to Judge Hocklee.
?The stables on fire! Get more water!? I heard men shouting from next door, where the stable was.
I ran in, dodging blazing piles of hay and coughing. It was dark inside from the soot in the air, but I followed the racket from the horse and unlatched his stall door. He exploded out at top speed, causing the heavy stall door to fly back into my shoulder and knock me on my back, to the hard-packed dirt floor. I rolled and put my hands under me to push myself up, but I heard an ominous groaning sound from above me. Before I could get to my feet, something heavy landed on me, pinning me to the floor.
James POV
My horse was prancing around nervously, but he calmed when he saw me. I untied him, then slid the door open as quietly as possible and cursed when I saw Kat pinned under a collapsed section of roof, pale and unmoving.
I grabbed a length of rope from my saddle, looped it around her, under her arms, and secured the other end to the saddle. Then I grabbed a sturdy beam and shoved it under the pile of debris on top of Kat, levering it up a couple of inches.
?Pull!? I hollered to my horse. He obeyed, and Kat slid clear.
?Halt!? I yelled as I dropped the beam.
?Take your hands off me,? Kat said with deadly calm.
?Ok, take it easy, Kat.? I raised my hands and let her slide to the ground.
?Bind your hands,? She said as she tossed me a rope. ?I'm taking you back.?
?Like h?! How d'you think you got out of that fire? Me.? I jabbed a thumb into my chest. I could feel my blood pressure rising.
I swung my leg over and jumped off the horse, Kat following my movements with the gun trained on me the whole time. I grabbed the reins and led my horse out and tied him to a nearby tree.
?I said I'm taking you back!? Kat shouted.
?Going to shoot me in the back then, are you?? I tossed over my shoulder.
I grinned, knowing she couldn't see it
?Can I have my gun back??
?No!? She snapped, and tucked it into her waistband.
?Thank you for rescuing me.?
?Don't thank me, it's not like I was about to leave you there to die. Any other outlaw would have. Sheriff.?
?Rather convenient, that fire.?
?Don't look at me, I was locked up. And I resent the implication.?
?Are you going to tell me you've never killed anyone, you, a train robber?!?
?No one who didn't deserve it,? I said, as I walked away from her to gather firewood.
?Hey, this isn't over! I said I'm taking you??
I could feel her angry gaze burning holes in my back, and I chuckled quietly and ignored her.
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