The Sidenstrasse Tapestry: An Indiana Jones Fan-Fiction

Chapter 116: American Safe House, Free Berlin, 1960

         Emily Jones stared into the fireplace at their safehouse. She could hear Annie settling the children into bed, while Marion and Indy spoke in low voices in the kitchen.

"Em?" Indy asked, touching her on the shoulder.

Emily jumped in shock. "Dad! I couldn't see you! Both eyes are... kind of swollen."

Indy lifted Emily's face studying it. She looked stunningly like Marion, and somehow, like him. Paternal adoration filled his heart. He brushed the side of her face, smearing the make up, revealing her scars. "Sorry, Em... but I think its more than that. What you did today was foolhardy, yet brave -"

"It was the only thing left to do, Dad," Emily replied, noticing her hands were shaking, despite her grin. "And you were there to get me out of trouble – like always."

"Sit down with me, sweetheart," Indy smiled. "You ok?"

"I... don't know..."

Indy took her hands. "You've got some bruised knuckles... Mind if I look at your face? Russian boots aren't known to be soft and there's a lot of little bones to break when you get into a fight. Don't want infection."

"I'm ok, Dad. I cleaned up and put the makeup on as soon as I could. I didn't want to scare Laurel and Tyler with the scars. Or Annie..." Emily swallowed. "I look like a monster sometimes."

"You're not gonna scare me," Indy murmured. "And honestly Em – I've never been more infuriatingly proud of you. Just don't invade Communist Berlin again... no matter what's in the museums over there."

Marion moved behind him, setting a bowl of water and some cloths on the coffee table beside Indy's elbow. She also set down a steaming cup of something.

Emily sniffed at it. "Is that hot cocoa?"

Marion smiled. "Its still your favorite, right?"

"Yes, Mom. Thanks..."

Marion kissed Indy on the cheek. "I'm going to bed." She glanced at Emily. "Em, don't keep him awake too long... Mac is picking up the scrolls tomorrow and your father will have to defend the virtue of museums."

Indy smiled after his wife, holding her hand, not allowing her to leave. "Marion, it's good to be back together."

"You still owe me a lot of lost years, Jones."

"I know, hon. Its not the years, it's the milage."

Marion snorted. "That won't save you, Jones. I hope you still know how to show a lady a good time."

"Count on it, Marion. We're partners, remember?" Indy kissed Marion's hand. "Be there soon." He turned his attention to Emily. "Littlest artifact, are you all right?"

"You haven't called me that in years..." Emily whispered. "I've missed it."

"You had me thinking you were dead today," Indy answered.

"Sorry, Dad." Emily sat down across from Indy, removing the pieces of the ancient Chinese scroll from her pockets and coat lining. She shifted them in several different ways in the light of the fireplace, the ancient dyes still vibrant.

"Like this," Indy moved the pieces, placing them in the proper order.

"What does it say?" Emily asked.

"Its an ancient weapon," Indy explained. "I don't know if it would work. Most ancient weapons rely on magical ingredients, but some mad scientist would attempt to figure it out. What do you want to do with them? They're rightfully yours, Em."

Emily fingered the four silk fragments. "It's lasted so long... and it's been kept so secret."

She started rolling the pieces of the scroll up inside another despite her bruised knuckles. "It traveled along the Silk Road riding in a tapestry that spelled 'doom' in an ancient language, was discovered by an archaeologist that risked life and limb to get it."

Indy and Emily grinned at each other.

"That's two archaeologists, now," Indy reminded her.

"Like father... like daughter?" Emily asked, hesitantly.

Indy nodded. "Sons are overrated. I love you, Em. Don't ever forget that."

"Keep reminding me, Dad. The scars and society make me forget." Emily turned back to the scroll, setting two rolled up scroll pieces on the table in front of them. "The Sidenstrasse Tapestry: Ended up in a Berlin museum, in the basement, until World War II, then traveled to the four winds and it took four generations of our family to bring it back together. It's a tapestry of our family - both Ravenwood and Jones - as much as it's from the Silk Road, or as they say here in Germany, "Sidenstrasse.""

Emily looked at Indy, a spark of adventure returning to her eyes. "The world's in enough trouble right now. Let's end the Sidenstrasse Tapestry."

She handed Indy a rolled up piece of the scroll, stuck the other in her own mouth like a cigarette and grinned, "Gimme a light."

Indy leaned forward and struck a flame with his cigarette lighter.

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Indy murmured, lighting up his half of the Sidenstrasse Tapestry grinning at his daughter. "What's the next adventure, Em?"

END

*Bring on the Indiana Jones theme, The Raiders March*

---

The next adventure is The Seven Swords of Diya.

Tuesdays, 2023

Stay tuned for a teaser and author's historical note!