EPISODE SEVEN

SACRIFICING STEPHANIE

In the morning at nine o'clock, the group was in the air flying over Central and South America in pursuit of the gold in the Andes. Ben was a pretty good flyer. The plane actually had three seats in the front, so Stephanie and Matthew sat up front with him on either side of him while Lionel and Alexis rode in the back.

After a time Stephanie felt sleepy. She rested her head on Ben's shoulder and began to nod off. Ben always felt like daydreaming whenever Stephanie was that close to him, but he remembered he was the one flying the plane, so he did his best to keep his mind focused.

"How far from the Andes are we?" Alexis asked Matthew, who was holding the map.

Matthew looked. "Let me see...we're here, and the Andes are in this area...I'd say we're about three hundred miles yet."

Lionel suddenly looked straight ahead and saw a very high branch. "Ben, watch out!" he shouted.

Ben looked up and saw the branch. He pulled back on the stick, but it was no use. The plane crashed into the branch and fell to the ground.

"Nice one, Ben," Matthew said sarcastically as he rubbed his sore head.

"Hey, it's not my fault. The branch was in my way," Ben said. "Is everybody all right?"

"Yeah," they all answered. Lionel and Ben got out to check the engine to make sure it hadn't been damaged. When they saw things were all right, they helped Alexis, Matthew, and Stephanie out. But before they could go, they heard someone yell, "What are you doing in our territory?"

The travelers turned and saw a large man with a painted face and a loincloth approach them. He looked very frightening.

"We apologize, sir, but you see, our airplane crashed. It was an accident. We didn't mean to upset you," Lionel said quickly. "We'll leave now."

The big man calmed down. "Forgive me," he said. "I am Poobah, the king of the Amazons."

A young woman about Stephanie's age approached them. "Who are these, Papa?" she asked.

"We're travelers from the United States," answered Alexis. "I'm Alexis and this is my husband Lionel, and the children are Ben, Matthew, and Stephanie."

"This is my daughter Waki," said Poobah.

"Hi Poobah Waki," said the group. "It's nice to meet you both."

"Pleasure to meet you as well," Poobah and Waki said. Then Waki went to Ben. "My, what a handsome face he has," she said to her father. "And you told me you want me to get married sometime within this year. May Ben be my husband?"

Ben smiled. "It is a nice offer, but Steph and I are already together," he said, putting his arm around Stephanie.

"Oh," said Waki.

"We can make you dinner," Poobah offered. "Go and wash your hands in the river and we will soon have your dinner ready."

"Thank you," said Lionel. After they left Waki whispered to her father, "I must have Ben!"

"Dear child, he is married to another," Poobah said. "They will be together until death do them part."

"What if death did them part today?" Waki asked. "Papa, during tonight's dinner, please make Stephanie a sacrifice. If you don't, I will just die without Ben."

Poobah didn't want to see his little girl cry, so he agreed to do her bidding.

That night everyone enjoyed their delicious fish and fruits, and then Poobah leaned toward Stephanie. "All right, my dear," he said, "step right here into the center. I want to play a special game with you."

"Why me?" asked Stephanie.

"Because you look like you are energetic and filled with fun," Poobah told her. "First I need a big pole."

Waki brought her father the pole. "Now lie down on it," she commanded Stephanie.

When Stephanie did so, they stood it upright. "Let us tie her up now, Papa," Waki said.

"This must be some kind of magic trick," Stephanie reasoned. She giggled a little.

Poobah tied up Stephanie. "Now we need fire," said Waki.

"Fire?!" cried Stephanie, realizing what was about to happen.

"Fire?!" exclaimed the other travelers.

Ben ran into the center. "Stop the ceremony!" he cried. "Let my girlfriend go!"

Waki frowned at him. "GIRLFRIEND? You mean, you two are not married?"

"No," said Ben, "but I do love her. And if you really care about me, you won't hurt her."

Waki was sorry for letting her jealousy get the better of her. "Very well," she said, and released Stephanie.

"Ben, you love me?" Stephanie asked.

Ben pulled her close. "Stephanie, I'd die if anything happened to you."

"Oh, Ben," Stephanie said. They kissed. "I love you, too," she said.

After forgiving Poobah and Waki, the travelers spent the night in the forest, then got in the plane and headed home the next day.

TO FOLLOW...

Ben and his friends find Stephanie's sister Elizabeth in the Andes. She is serving as a foreign exchange student and decides to join them on their quest for the cities of gold. Read the next episode of THE MYSTERIOUS CITIES OF GOLD REVISITED.