Aloft Page #3

(groans)

- Fine.

- Yeah?

- What do we do now?

- We're a little vague on that.

Swarma's run out of legend.

I found some markings here

that might help.

They're eroded but these look

like a native dialect

and there's some French

around the corner here. There.

And these.

- It's Phoenician.

- What does it say?

"Phoenicians speak of a golden temple."

(screams)

Jesse! Can you hear me?

Are you all right?

Of course I'm not all right!

I just got sucked down this damn hole.

She's all right.

Jesse, take this lantern, see where you are

and tie the rope around your waist.

I know where I am.

Just get me out of here.

Gold! There's gold blocks down here.

Perhaps I should go down and help her.

Gold could be very heavy.

(Quatermain)

What's goin' on? Are you all right?

(screams)

- I'm coming down, honey.

- There's a bunch of dead people here!

- (Umslopogaas) Are you all right?

- Yeah, we're all right.

More than I can say for the rest of 'em.

It's a graveyard down here.

Oh, no.

- It's not your?

- No, no. It's Tremont.

We just have to keep hoping.

This kind of death goes hand in hand

with our kind of life.

It's the price we pay

for living a great adventure.

OK.

Pull her up.

(rattling and hissing)

(growling and roaring)

(yells)

(screams)

(roaring)

What's goin' on up there?

(screams)

(roars)

(Jesse) Quatermain, come on! Come on.

- (both scream)

- Let's get outta here. Quick.

(Swarma) You don't need to ask me twice.

(Jesse) Maybe this tunnel goes under

the lost city and keeps right on going.

Or maybe it stops right here.

Stand back.

- There's no other choice.

- Quatermain!

- I don't wanna do this.

- (Quatermain) Jump. You can make it.

(squeals)

Uh!

(Jesse) Come on, Swarma.

(yells)

Never in my life have I been so tempted.

- It's getting hot in here.

- We must be near the volcanos.

I hear breathing.

- I don't hear anything.

- (growling)

Flatten yourselves against the wall.

Take this.

(growling)

(roaring)

(roaring)

- (Jesse) It feels like we're going uphill.

- (Quatermain) Whole trip's felt that way.

The air is cooler, fresher.

(Quatermain) It's coming from up ahead.

- (Swarma) Please, do not do that.

- (Jesse) What?

(Swarma) Brush against my face.

You can bet your last turban

it wasn't me, pal.

Me neither. The breeze is getting stronger.

Jesse, light one of the matches.

(creature squeaks)

(screams)

(all scream)

Well...

Well done.

Look! The Lost City of Gold! It exists!

I've seen some amazing things in my life

but never anything to compare with this.

I sure hope Robeson's inside.

Swarma's praying the natives are friendly.

(Quatermain) Mackenzie was right

about the legend of the lost city.

I wonder if he was right

about the lost race.

(Jesse) Slow down, Quatermain.

Wait for me.

(Quatermain) Come on, Swarma.

- (Jesse) This is incredible.

- (Swarma) Just look at those doors.

- (Umslopogaas) Prideful people.

- And a little ostentatious.

Look.

The white race does exist.

Each discovery gives truth to the legend.

I amaze myself.

Wait. They may not be as enthusiastic

as we are. I'll go check it out.

- With Swarma.

- Me?

But...

(growling)

A magnificent display of courage.

I did not interfere because I did not wish

to intrude on such heroism.

Oh, no!

Look! Do you see what your stupid act of

barbarism has done? We're dead for sure.

- (Jesse) Well, they seem friendly.

- (Quatermain) Yeah.

- They're so trusting and friendly.

- They haven't met Swarma yet.

For us?

Mm. Mm!

- Heavy.

- (man) Allan!

Allan!

Robeson.

- Hey, little brother!

- Hey!

- God!

- God!

I can't believe it. You're here. Dumont

got through. What are you doing here?

We were in the neighbourhood.

I thought I'd drop by. What do you mean?

Excuse me. Hi.

I'm Jesse Huston, and this

could have been our honeymoon.

- What?

- Umslopogaas, the great warrior.

Gold, you see. Gold everywhere.

And no weapons. You'd think with all

the gold they'd be armed, but they're not.

It's wonderful just to see...

to... to see such peace.

Such tranquility does the soul

of a holy man good.

- Swarma's our spiritual leader.

- The man is a useless hollow reed.

May I slay him?

Come.

(speaks ancient language)

I told you your Japanese

would come in handy.

I told them you were my brother.

So, how are you? And Dumont, how's he?

I'm fine. He's dead. I'm glad you're OK.

(gong)

Except for that guy, you'll like it here.

- What's going on?

- That's Agon, the high priest.

(speaks ancient language)

He says you committed a sacrilege.

- We just got here.

- You killed a lion, the sacred beast.

Saved a child

from being eaten, you mean.

(speaks ancient language)

No. Go with them.

Boy, first impressions

sure can be deceiving.

Just when I was starting

to like these people.

(Umslopogaas yells)

Please, must you offend everyone?

(speaks ancient language)

Sorais.

Sorais. She and her sister Nyleptha

share the rule as queens.

(gong)

(guard speaks ancient language)

Nyleptha.

People love Nyleptha

but they're scared of Agon.

(both speak ancient language)

I am wary of people ruled by women

for, like women, they may quickly

change from friend to foe.

Careful.

I taught Nyleptha and Agon English.

Which one of you is going to die

for slaying our sacred beast?

Me?

But...

I am like the venerable Agon - a priest.

A man who respects the beliefs of others.

I admire the venerable...

By all that is holy,

someone has sought to mock me.

It was the savage.

Believe me. He hid these things

in my garments to make me the fool.

You need no help from me to be the fool.

And I will split your venerable head

if you speak more of sacrifice.

(beep)

(screams)

Hang on!

(speaks ancient language)

Get me outta here!

(yells)

(speaks ancient language)

(Jesse whimpers)

Allan!

(speaks ancient language)

That was a neat trick. He says

you're some kind of god, or a devil.

(speaks ancient language)

- Are you gods or devils?

- Neither, Your Majesty.

We came to find my lost brother.

Is he lost?

Forgive our rude welcome.

Agon is more interested in the power of

gold than in the great spirit of our temple.

You must be tired.

You must rest and refresh.

(speaks ancient language)

Go with them. They will assist you.

By the way, Q.

- Nice shirt.

- Careful, kid. You'll blow my cover.

(screams and moans)

(cackles)

(Robeson) This was like paradise

until Agon showed up.

He was a slave trader from the north,

selling arms to the Eshowe.

- They brought him here.

- From slave trader to high priest?

- How?

- By preying on the fears of the people.

He's created a cult of lion gods,

slavery, human sacrifice.

And the gold?

Agon uses the Eshowe to smuggle it.

The smelter's underground.

- The punishment for going near is death.

- Robeson, why don't you leave with us?

I'm in love with the people here.

- And Nyleptha's an enemy?

- She fights them.

Aris Tima.

- That means welcome in our language.

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