1920s: Anna's jungle adventure - her final expedition

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Side note: as long as Anna is in the jungle, I have decided to follow only her, partly because I do not know what happens with the expedition if I rotate sims, but also because as remote as the jungle is, Anna would be unawares of what happens to everyone else. This will be the last explorer post, however, and after this I will return to the rest of the family and find out what happened to them while Anna has been away. 

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The day before her birthday, Anna gets a pleasant surprise as the mail arrives with letters from home. She reads with great curiosity about the fire in Josephine's and Nash's apartment, and how proud Ida is of her youngest son starting school. She especially enjoys reading about Alice and her success as an actress. Taking time off her chores she sets down to pen a reply. 

Dearest Alice, 

I finally got your letter, and just in time too because I am heading back out into the jungle the day after tomorrow. I am so pleased to hear of your lead, and cannot wait until I get the chance to see your movie. I just know that you will land many more roles after this, when people see how very talented you are. 

I received letters from mother today too, as well as Ida and Josephine. The mail really is slow in getting here, it did not take this long for your letters to reach me in a burning war in Europe. I have to admit, I had almost forgotten Austen's birthday, or Ida's, Beatrice's or even my own! I swear I would not have remembered had mother not mentioned it. 

It is a bit hard to fathom that I am now turning 30. Not that it feels any different than 29. My birthday will not be a wild bash, but a quiet affair down in the village square. They have this large barbeque in the square, and several of the people in town are already showing up to see me off to my next jungle tour. I cannot believe it has taken this long. It was in the first week of April as I returned, and we're now seeing the middle of May! I dare say preparations has taken longer than expected, but so has authenticating my artefacts. I am still not done with them all. 

Of course, my newest companion has taken my time as well. He's just a stray, and smaller than I'd have wished, but smart and independent and quick to learn. I have named him Omisco, from the temple. I felt it fitting seeing his purpose is to keep me company there. He's just learnt to heel, which means he too is ready. I couldn't possibly bring him with me on a leash, and need to know where he is so that he won't get lost in the jungle. I will bring your letters with me for added company, and read them when I feel as most lonely. 

I fear you won't hear from me until I return again, but I will keep you in mind, and send you copies of my journal when I return again. 

Your loving sister, 
Anna

 

The day after her birthday, Anna sets off again, this time with more provisions, and with Omisco in tow. She writes in her journal: 

May 11, 1921: 

Day 1 of my second, real, expedition into the jungle and I cannot believe how fast those vines grow. A little more than a month from my last visit, and the entrance to the jungle is already overgrown. I thought I would use my machete less this time around, but that does not seem to be the case. I found a new site in the jungle, of a crashed plane. There were several things to excavate, so I made camp here for the night, and got to work. Omisco is doing so well, and loves the freedom it brings to be out here, just like me. Tonight we take it easy, tomorrow we work harder. I plan to vacate this sight soon, to continue onto the temple and the secrets I am sure it still holds.

 

May 17, 1921: 

Today we pushed onwards into the jungle, into areas I have never seen before. We found this one area by a lake, which was a welcome site. The crocodiles, I do believe the locals call them snappers, made it impossible to swim there, which I otherwise would have enjoyed, but there was ample fish in the water. I have never been one to go fishing, in spite of my father's efforts when I was a child I always found the activity too stationary for my disposition. That has not changed, but the idea of eating fish for dinner instead of the same old provisions made all the difference. 

I managed to caught two fairly big fish, and one was dinner immediately. I hope the other one will keep until tomorrow. Omisco is enjoying the jungle, and chasing its squirrels. Mostly they run away, or he has the upper hand, but he did get bit once. I'm keeping an eye on him, and have my antidotes and ointments ready should he seem to suffer an infection. I hope they work if he has one. So far he seems fine.

 

May 20, 1921: 

I am starting to fear that this expedition is going to take much longer than the last. At least I have plenty of provisions with me this time, and Omisco is still having the time of his life. All the food and the comfort of the campsite but with the freedom to roam like he has been used to all his life. He is good company, and I am not plagued by the sense of loneliness that I had on my first expedition. 

I keep getting distracted by new sites, in stead of pushing steady onwards towards the temple. But I am in no rush, and the temple is not going anywhere. 

June 2, 1921: 

I am finally here again, standing in front of the temple that has so heavily featured in my dreams. It is just as magnificent as last time, if not more splendid now. I do not know why I lingered elsewhere, when this is where my heart wanted to be. I will make my camp tonight, and venture into the temple tomorrow. The sun sets fast in the jungle, and when it's dark it envelops you entirely. It's a kind of darkness not found elsewhere, and I think I will miss it when it's time to return to civilisation again.

 

June 3, 1921: 

I ventured into the temple again today. It is amazing, the ingenuity and skill the ancients had. Not only where the traps reset, the very contraptions seems to be run by some sort of randomized mechanism. It is quite fantastic, but not a single trap in the entire temple aligns with my original notes. In each and every one, the solution to opening the portals were new and different, putting me through quite a challenge. 

I found some chambers I had missed last time, and lingered longer on some excavation sites that I had previously ignored. My luggage is getting heavy and hard to carry now, and I fear I will have to set on home to manage to bring it all with me. Tomorrow me and Omisco will set out on our journey back home, and then begins the work with authenticating everything.

 

Finally back after her adventure, Anna writes her sister again, sending her copies of her journal. 

Dearest Alice, 

I am back in civilisation again, and cannot wait to write to you. The feeling of a hot bath and a proper bed is never as satisfying as when you've lived for weeks on end with nothing but the clothes on your back and the ground to sleep on. Yet I feel more invigorated than ever and pleased to say I have now uncovered what there is in the temple. 

Tomorrow my work of authenticating the many artefacts begin. I do expect that to take a few more months, at least, as they are many. Only when that is finished will I return home. 

Tomorrow I will set out to town to stock up on food and see if there are any letters waiting for me. I hope there is, as I am dying to hear word of you and everyone else. 

Your loving sister, 
Anna

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