7. LAND OF THE VAMPIRES
Chapter 1
THE RIVER ROBBERS
“I want to warn you beforehand that this could be an expedition of death. We will have to go on foot and by rowboat through untamed, steaming jungles, which will even make those in Africa look like child’s play.”
The scholar sucked on his pipe and looked forcefully at the Jungle Hawk.
“It’s the land of man-eating fish and of Indian headhunters. A strange world where no white man has ever set foot and those who did scrape together the courage and tried it, are no longer alive to tell their story.”
Dr. Frank Braun suddenly leaned forward and pointed at the Hawk with his pipe stem. “Because we knew this, we came to ask you for help. Without you, we have no hope of getting out of that green hell alive. With your help, I would say the chances are maybe fifty-fifty, but that’s enough for us.”
He leaned back again. “If we fail.” He shrugged his shoulders and remained dead silent for a few moments. “If we fail, then that’s the end of it, but if we succeed, and it’s important that we succeed, it will be in the interest of science and civilization...”
Where they were sitting in the Hawk’s treehouse of the Matonga, in the heart of Africa, the Jungle Hawk suddenly smiled. “Dr. Braun, you can just say I am a member of your expedition. It’s an opportunity that I will certainly never let pass.”
Dr. Braun quickly stood up, grabbed the brown-tanned giant’s big hand and then began to babble as excited as a schoolboy.
From where they sit comfortably in the Dakota airplane, which rumbles high over the Brazilian highlands, the Hawk thinks back to his first meeting with Dr. Braun, the world-famous South African explorer and scientist.
It was two months ago. Since then, the organization for the dangerous expedition has switched to top gear. Everything is now virtually finalized... The journey through the green hell of South America can begin.
The Jungle Hawk leans back in his soft seat. He is dressed in a white summer suit, which had to be made especially for him, as well as the other Western clothes he brought with him. His attractive, brown-tanned face with the steel-gray eyes contrasts sharply against the light suit. His broad shoulders fill the entire seat back.
On the seat opposite him, Dr. Braun sits with a slight frown between his closed eyes. The man has a strong, open face and is strongly built. One cannot help but like him.
In front of Dr. Braun sits Alberto Solini, a slightly stout but still resilient Portuguese, and his daughter Petra Solini, a paragon of fiery Romanesque beauty...
The Solinis are part of the company and were responsible for the arrangements in Brazil. When they met Solini a few days ago in Rio de Janeiro, he said that his daughter would come along. He dismissed Dr. Braun’s objections with the words. “Where Papa Solini goes, his daughter goes...”
And so it was. Dr. Braun then raised no further objections, just shrugged his shoulders and said. “You know what lies ahead Solini. If you want to put your daughter’s life at stake, it is your business.”
Solini just snorted and lit a thick Portuguese cigar. Solini, who will accompany them as an interpreter and expert on the jungles of Brazil. Solini, the man with the consuming quest for action and adventure...
The Hawk’s eyes wander further. Two benches in front of him, with only the backs of their heads visible, sit Len Jones, an American millionaire’s son, and also Anita Strauss, a beautiful American blonde of German descent.
It is Len Jones who actually finances this expedition.
It is he who wants to drag the frail city damsel on the extremely dangerous journey. Here too, Dr. Braun’s objections fell on deaf ears.
“Look B
