I read somewhere about Count Byron de Prorok an archaeologist that Indiana Jones could have been modeled on. So I went to the USC library and got his “In Quest of Lost Worlds.” His other titles include “Dead Men Do Tell Tales”, Digging for Lost African gods,” and “Mysterious Sahara, the land of gold, of sand, and of ruins.” These are all pretty good and as I finish reading them I will pass on, hopefully, next issue further scenarios.

Some scenarios from “Quest”

Scenario 1

In the 1920s he and his expedition (4 archaeologists, an FFL Officer as guide, 1 photographer, 1 reporter, three drivers, and a native cook) went into the Sahara (driving three specially built six wheel Renaults). He also mentioned caterpillar Citroens as he drove by their rusting hulks. They always went armed, and mentions leaving behind a machinegun and its six cases of ammunition to save some weight and add more water cans. He passes several deserted FFL forts and stays at the fort at In Salah (about the middle of Algeria) with the FFL Camel Corps in 1920s white uniforms (Gerry some more troop types for your Castaway Arts FFL range).

He finds, where they suspected it was in the Hoggar mountains several days south of Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, the tomb of a 4th century AD Tuareg Queen (Tin Hinan) and excavated her tomb under the noses of a village of former Tuareg slaves. The village is located in the middle of a swampy area (quick sand) and surrounded by bamboo. When he arrives the car gets stuck and he bribes the village elders to help pull the car out and build a bamboo roadway. When the Tuareg villagers finally figure out what he is doing they send for the tribal warriors. Prorok races to finish the excavation and leave before the Tuareg warriors arrive.

Unfortunately, they only have one car, they run out of food, have no gas for the return trip, so they are waiting for the rest of the party. The other cars show up separately a day apart. The last arriving as they finish their hurried excavation.

Scenario 2

An unknown number of Tuareg and Senussi warriors ambush a convoy of six cars with 30 FFL from behind rocky cover while the cars are descending, single file, a long, downhill, narrow track.

Historically, all but 3 FFL are hit in the opening fire, these three find cover and are later found with 200 cartridges around their dead and mutilated bodies.

Scenario 3

In his next expedition he is in the Libyan Desert during the Italian conquest in 1931. In these adventures they (8 archaeologists, a geographer, a cameraman, British army Capt., reporter, 4 drivers, and 3 natives) run into the Italian army, Italian Camel Corps (Italian Meharist rode white camels their uniforms, lances, turbans, and half-veils to keep the sand from their mouths were white enough so that they virtually disappeared when just feet away; I think these troops may have been Italian officered with Somalian camel troopers, they certainly met Somalian Askari at the same time), more Tuaregs, drug runners, Senussi rebels, and well you get the idea. In this expedition he has four vehicles that had previously been driven to Lake Chad across the desert by a French Prince (Sixte de Bourbon). The cars were the latest style including comfortable Pullman seats for each that had place for a thermos, roof straps for the guns and compartments for water, gas and other stuff.

During the exploration of eastern and southeastern desert Libya they encounter all sorts of situations and are at times very close to the fighting front. On one occasion they are close to 24-armed Senussi rebels fleeing from the Italians. While in reality they gave the rebels food to keep them from starving they could have been attacked in camp or while exploring.

Scenario 4

This one is really bizarre, but, true. Ethiopian sex cult have captured female for priests and tribal rape, the full village is in on it and drunk. With 8 Archaeologists and 1 British officer you try and free the women without the use of guns.

Scenario 5

You have completed your excavation but the sultan of the district is coming for his share of gold that you did not find and that might mean your deaths. With 8 Archaeologists and 1 British officer you race to the nearest town on the border to cross and wait for your escort before the mad sultan and his slavers and gunmen capture you. You get to the town in the dark and set up camp. You bury you booze and ammo plus any valuables. Dawn comes, you think you’re safe only to find the sultan already there and you have camped on Abu Moti (the hill of death)or Execution Hill with two decaying bodies hanging from a near by tree.

The Sultan invites you to tea, you tell him you have an escort coming from King Menelik II, he doesn’t believe you and sends scouts to check. Will your escort arrive in time?