History Revived

It all started with a letter.

It was addressed to Dr. Quest, The Quest Compound, Maine. It had no addressee.

Dr. Benton Quest, world famous scientist and explorer had a feeling of trouble when he held the letter in his hand, pondering about it. The he carefully opened it with a paperknife.
He read it once, and then read it a second time.

"Incredible", he mumbled to himself. "He finally did it!"

Then he put the letter in his suitpocket and went to find his son.

* * * * *

Jonny Quest and his two best friends, Jessie Bannon and Hadji Singh were testing a new improved version of Live Bloodsport Football. Loud thumps and enthusiastic shouts were heard from afar and it wasn't very hard for Benton to find them.

- THUD -

"Ouch! Man, this sucks!

"Gotcha Quest! Are ya giving up?"

"Giving up? No way! I haven't gotten started yet."

"My friends, I think these new rules might have their faults."

Jonny looked up at his friend from the ground where Jessie had tackled him down.

"What d'ya mean Hadj?"

The young next-to-be sultan smiled at him.

"Well, at first, the idea of attatching minirockets to the ball rises the difficulty level a good bit. Second, to combine football with wrestling and doing the head-stomping, arm-breaking double supergrip before the ball is out DO make the risks of injuries a lot higher."

"So what? If it's rough, the tough gets rough. If you can't stand the heat, don't get in with your feet!"

Jessie sneered. "What kind of a proverb was that? And by the way, if I'm not totally wrong, it's Quest that's down and not us. So then, it doesn't matter." She looked at Jonny with a wide smile.

"Ha ha, very funny Jess. Just because I slipped on the grass..."

"Slipped?! No way! I had you down before you could say 'lawnmover'."

"You did not!"

"Did too, and don't try to deny it Quest! Hadji, you saw it. What do you say?"

Hadji stood a moment bewildered, as if he didn't know what to say, but then a smile lighted up his face.

"I'm sorry, Jonny my friend, but Jessie is right. You didn't stand a chance on that tackle."

Jonny looked sour and put on a injured face.

"OK, since you two are obviously in this together against me... But don't even think I'm gonna admit that you're right."

He was going to say something else, explaining how the soles on his shoes had been worn out after that mountain-climbing last week, but a voice cut him off before he had gotten into it.

"Jonny! Jessica and Hadji! I'd like to have a word with you."

They turned around and saw Benton walking towards them with a little upset look on his face.

"Hi dad. What's up? If it's about that rocket-football and the smashed window, I can explain..."

"Hi Dr. Quest. What is it?"

"Hello Doctor Quest. With what can we be of assistance?"

Benton looked at the three teenagers in front of him.

"Well, I received a most fascinating letter just now, and I think you would be interested in it."

When they just stood silently looking at him, he continued.

"It's from a very old friend of mine, professor John Hammond. I think I have talked about him a few times."

Jonny snapped his fingers.

"Yeah, right! That genetic-geologist, whatever-it-was-he-was-studying guy. He was British, wasn't he?"

"That's right. And yes, he has done a lot of advanced scientific studies in genetics as well as in geology, palaeontology, evolutionary theory, biology and half a dozen of other areas. The only reason why he hasn't yet received the Nobel Prize is because they wouldn't know whether to give him the award for Chemistry, Physics or Medicine!"

Hadji nodded impressed.

"He seems to be a very intelligent man, Dr. Quest."

"He most certainly is. I wouldn't hesitate to call him one of the finest scientists of all time. And if what he writes in his letter is true, he is truly the greatest."

"Why?" asked Jessie. "What is it he has done?"

Benton looked at her, with a mysterious glint in his eyes.

"I think I better read the letter to you, but not here. Let's go back to the house, where we can talk more freely."

The unspoken words "so that no-one can overhear us" was clearly heard in their minds, and they followed Dr. Quest back to the Compound.

"This is gotta be serious" Jonny mumbled to Hadji. "I haven't seen dad this way since... I don't know when."

Hadji nodded. "It is certainly of great importance to Dr. Quest. I can feel a shift in his aura."

They settled themselves in the lounge. Jonny threw himself on a sofa, Hadji sat down on a soft chair and Jessie in another sofa. Dr. Quest stood at the little table in the rooms center. He took his reading-glasses and took out the letter from his pocket.

"Hmmm, yes, here we are." he stated and then started reading.

For a few minutes, no-one spoke. The Jonny let out his breath.

"Pheuh, he's British awright!" He made a face. " 'with his hair on fire.' Hmpf, I've never burnt my hair."

"But, he never said what is was all about", Jessie exclaimed. "What IS that project that he was working on?"

"Whatever the project is", Hadji fell in, "it is located on an island."

"That is correct, Hadji" Dr. Quest said. "He has his base on a island outside Brazil, an island he bought some five years ago, I believe. I heard it was some sort of a tropical paradise, with great nature and stunning environment."

"Bought?" asked Jessie. "How can you buy a whole island?"

"Well", Benton said, "John isn't just a scientist. He is also a billionaire. He have more money than some small countries."

"And we're going there?!" Jonny jumped up from the couch, his voice full of excitement, and his blue eyes shining.

Benton looked at his son with a worried look.

"Hmmm, I don't know, son. I'm not sure that I should take you there. You have school, haven't you?"

"NO!" Jonny shouted. "That's the best part! In two weeks, we have a project period in archeology and pre-historic history. And those projects are easy, it shouldn't be hard to do them in a couple of days. And we have two whole weeks without any classes!"

Benton hesitated.

"Oh, pleeeaase dad! Let us go with you. I..." he swallowed. "I would really want to see Mr. Hammond again."

At least if it's on that island, he thought and crossed two imaginary fingers.

Both Jessie and Hadji was looking at Benton with their saddest abandonned-puppy-looks.

Dr. Quest sighed and shrugged. "Oh well, alright then. You can join me. But only if you promise to do your project full-time when we get back" he broke off the storm of rejoicing, and happy shouts that broke out at his words.

"Sure thing, dad", Jonny said convincingly, "it's gonna be a piece of cake!"

* * * * *