A man named Edward Pettigrew is writing a diary entry:
The log of Captain Edward Pettigrew. May the 8th 1880. For weeks now, I know not how many, we have endured this living hell. Ever since our ship the H.M.S. Courage ran aground on the jagged rocks of this accursed island, we have been driven mad by the voices. One by one, our party has been rendered insane. To now, only I remain. But the voices in my head grow ever louder and I no longer know what is real and what is not. There are noises outside in the jungle, noises in the dead of the night that would strike terror into the heart of any man. No animal could make those sounds. They come each night and they grow in number, but are they real or merely a symptom of my madness?
Pettigrew hears a shuffling sound in the bushes outside and leaves to investigate. He demands the hidden perpetrator show themselves but receives no response. In order to flush out the source, he fires a flare into the air. The flare does flush out the source…hundreds of man-sized bug-like creatures… the creatures surround Pettigrew and prepare to consume him…
Onboard the Fata Morgana, Jago and Litefoot are enjoying dinner in the dining lounge. Lady Danvers invites Jago to dance on the dancefloor with the band playing in the background, to which he reluctantly accepts.
The next morning, Jago meets Litefoot on the outer deck to take in the morning air. Jago notices land ahead, Aubrey arrives and confirms they will be dropping anchor on the small island to make minor repairs to the ship after the previous night’s storm, which seems to have blown them off course.
Captain Mercer informs the passengers that the island is off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. They will be anchored there to make repairs and set off afterwards. He invites the passengers to leave the ship to explore while this is going on. While most of the passengers are content with staying onboard, Litefoot is eager to explore and convinces Jago to join him. With Jago exploring, Lady Danvers decides to join as well, so she prepares a picnic basket.
On the shore of the island, Jago, Litefoot and Danvers are looking for a spot to set down their picnic when they hear a familiar voice – Neville Tibbs. The trio aren’t entirely fond of Tibbs’ company as they find him boring and try to slyly coerce him from joining them, but Tibbs is insistent on exploring.
Later, The group decides to explore the jungle. Suddenly, Danvers hears what sounds like a roar. Jago and Litefoot hear it too but reassure Danvers its just a falling tree…but Tibbs assumes it’s a Sumatran tiger, or a wildcat, a leopard or a bear, which he claims are indigenous here, not reassuring anyone at all. Danvers becomes slightly worried, but Litefoot grits his teeth and reassures him that they’ve nothing to fear while directing his comment specifically at Tibbs to make him realise his lack of tact. Tibbs doesn’t seem to get the hint and describes the possibility of an array of exotic insects and snakes in the jungle. Danvers becomes overwhelmed with fright and runs into the jungle, leaving Tibbs confused as to what he had said. Danvers suddenly screeches even louder than before and comes running back to the trio, while pointing shakily at the jungle. Litefoot instructs Tibbs to take care of Danvers (while warning him to not frighten her further) and he and Jago venture deeper into the jungle.
The Infernal Investigators come across a strange sight…a ship in the middle of the jungle - H.M.S. Courage. They discover what caused Lady Danvers to come running back in terror…a human skeleton. The two men find a flare gun in the skeleton’s hand, indicating it as the last act of a desperate survivor. Litefoot decides they should investigate inside the overgrown ship. They step inside the wheelhouse and discover a journal left abandoned on the table owned by a man called Edward Pettigrew. Both men assume Pettigrew is the skeletal remains outside. Jago reads a passage from the journal:
There are noises outside in the jungle, noises in the dead of the night that would strike terror into the heart of any man. No animal could make those sounds.
Before Jago can continue, they hear the terrified scream of Lady Danvers. Both men rush outside to see what the commotion is, and they come face to face with several French explorers armed to the teeth. They aim their weapons at Jago and Litefoot and order them to place their hands above their hands…
Jago, Litefoot, Danvers and Tibbs are taken to the French explorer’s ship. When they arrive, they are greeted by the surprisingly friendly leader of the explorers - Victor Bataille, Regional manager of the Empire Mining Company and game hunter enthusiast. Danvers explains that they are part of a cruise that just so happened to anchor at the island for repairs. Bataille explains that he and his men have set foot on the island to mine for raw minerals and mentions that its fortunate he and his men discovered the group before ‘the natives’ did, as he states that they don’t like anyone who may trespass on the island. The natives apparently believe that monsters roam the island during the night. He invites the group to look at his mining operation on the island to set their minds at ease.
Bataille escorts the group to a fenced off compound in the jungle. He shows the group a huge drill that he is using to mine the earth and extract the minerals – including iron and gold! Litefoot observes that they have found fragments of pottery as well, which Bataille explains is because the area they’re mining on used to be the sight of an ancient temple, of which some ruins are still standing and the locals still regard it as a holy site. Danvers becomes intrigued and leaves the group to look at them.
Danvers and Tibbs discover what appears to be a mosaic pattern on the ground. She wipes away some of the earth and dirt and suddenly screams in terror before passing out.
Later, Jago, Litefoot and Tibbs visit Bataille’s camp. Bataille has Danvers confined to the camp’s infirmary while she sleeps. Bataille assumes that while there were no physical injuries, it could be possible that she was hallucinating. Litefoot notices the telegram machine in the corner of the cabin and requests he be allowed to send a telegram to Inspector Quick to assure him of their safety, as he and Ellie must be worried sick about their return being delayed. One of Bataille’s men arrives and informs the group that Danvers has reawakened.
The group enters the infirmary and find Danvers chanting loudly in a strange unknown language. Litefoot clicks his fingers in Danvers’ face to no avail. With one last shout, Danvers passes out once more. Litefoot suggests that they take turns to keep watch over Danvers and elects Jago to start off.
That evening, Bataille orders one of his men to shut the gate to the compound. As they close the gate, they hear something scuttle in the bushes followed by an inhuman screech…
In the compound, Litefoot is reading the journal discovered in the H.M.S. Courage. Tibbs is eager to learn what happened, so Litefoot decides to read aloud the entries.
March 21st, 1880, Hargreaves has been taken ill. On Tuesday we ventured north-east and discovered a clearing in the jungle. Roughly circular, perhaps 300 yards in diameter and within it the ruins of an ancient structure. Mitcham and Hargreaves were exploring the grounds when he suffered a violent fit and lost consciousness. We carried him back to the Courage and some hours later, to our great relief, he awoke. But Hargreaves was not himself. He thrashed and ranted in incomprehensible tongue before falling back into a deep slumber. There he has remained for the past two days, twisting violently in his sleep, his face and body horribly contorted as if in the grip of fever or worse. Hargreaves is a stout fellow not given to displays of hysteria. I fear something has invaded his mind, perhaps even his very soul.
March 22nd, 1880, This morning we woke to find Hargreaves gone from his bed. We have searched for him all day, but he is nowhere to be found. Where he might be, we do not know. All we can do is pray for his safe return and that his mind is restored to him.
Litefoot closes the book and he and Tibbs come to the same conclusion. Whatever happened to Hargreaves on the H.M.S. Courage is happening to Danvers…
Meanwhile, Jago stirs awake after falling asleep trying to keep watch over Danvers. He looks over and discovers Danvers has gone missing! He desperately searches the infirmary for her to no avail. He steps outside into the compound and starts calling for her. He notices that the gate to the compound is unlocked. He opens it and finds Danvers on the other side. He calls to her and tries to coerce her to return, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she runs off deeper into the jungle. With no other choice, Jago shuts the gate behind him without locking it and gives chase…
Meanwhile, Tibbs is trying to comprehend what was written in the diary, calling it outlandish. Suddenly, the compound sirens sound their horns. Bataille runs into the cabin and warns them that they are under attack!
Jago, Litefoot and Bataille open the gate to the compound and discover the gruesome remains of the gate guards. Litefoot inspects the bodies and assumes something large and animalistic could’ve done the disgusting deed. They discover that the gate had been unlocked, hence how the guards were attacked. Someone inside the compound let these monsters in… Bataille suggests they all head to the compound office and take up arms. With the gate now closed however, Litefoot poses a scary possibility…what if they have locked themselves in with what killed the guards?
In the jungle, Jago is still chasing Danvers, but struggles to keep up and starts to get out of breath. He begs her to stop…and she does so. However, she is still talking in an intangible tongue. She runs off once more into the jungle, with Jago in no fit condition to give chase.
Acting on Litefoot’s weariness of the monster still being among them, Bataille instructs one of his men to scout the compound as they leave the office. Tibbs offers to look around the rear of the camp, to which Litefoot finds commendable of him to do so as the creature could attack from the rear. But Tibbs’ nervous reaction states overwise, but nonetheless accepts the pleasantry. Bataille hushes the group and they stop in their tracks as they hear the faint sound of light steps crawling around the camp…the creature is hunting them…
Jago is still chasing Danvers through the jungle to the edge of a waterfall. She stops and Jago tries to coerce her to return once more. But then he sees why she stopped…a large white bug-like creature with multiple eyes emerges from the shrubbery next to Danvers. Danvers begins chanting in tongues once more before disappearing behind the waterfall with the creature following her. Jago follows behind and discovers a cave behind the waterfall!
After scouting the base, Litefoot, Tibbs and Bataille return to the office after assuming the creature has disappeared. When Bataille opens the door…they discover the creature inside - a large white bug with multiple eyes! Litefoot however assures the group that the creature is merely frightened as it recoils in fear at their presence. This is all the distraction Bataille needs as he swiftly grabs his elephant gun and shoots the creature dead in one shot. Litefoot wishes to examine the creature in the compound’s infirmary so that he can determine what they’re up against.
Jago finds the cave to be rather spacious inside. Danvers is still talking in tongue and being followed by the bug-like creature, but she appears to be trying to lead Jago to something. He finds the caves have paintings on the walls drawn in blood. He looks at the painting and then looks at the creature and discovers that it is the drawing on the wall.
Litefoot has finished his autopsy on the creature and concludes that its no animal he’s aware of, but from his autopsy, he deduces that the creature is possibly the larval offspring from an insect. Which means that if the larva is about the size of a human…how big is an adult?
Jago continues studying the wall paintings in the cave and deduces that they are telling a story. The first image shows a meteorite falling to the island, followed by a larger version of one of the bug creatures emerging from the meteorite. Danvers begins to repeat the word ‘Kiibu’ over and over, so Jago assumes that ‘Kiibu’ is the name of the bug creature. The next image shows the natives entrapping Kiibu in a hole, where they built a temple over the hole. He then hears the faint sound of drumming outside the cave and comes face to face with several native tribespeople…
Litefoot studies Pettigrew’s journal once more and discovers a passage of interest that could be a clue to Danvers’ delusional state:
In the mosaic I see forms, recurring shapes and variations that I believe may be a message.
He skips a few pages ahead:
At last I think I have it. The idiom resembles ancient Austronesian languages and translated reads thus: ‘Kiibu sleeps under’.
Litefoot also states that Pettigrew believed Kiibu may have been an ancient king. Which would mean that the temple on the island isn’t just a holy site…it’s a burial ground. But if Kiibu is dormant…how can this larva creature exist? Unless…Kiibu isn’t as dormant as one would like and is birthing a great number of spawns somewhere underground. Litefoot assumes that some external force must have reawakened Kiibu…like Bataille’s mining operation! Bataille resolves to stop the drilling immediately. Suddenly, Tibbs produces a gun and holds the two men at gunpoint. He madly reveals that he is a member of the Brotherhood of Kiibu, a cultist group (with only one member currently, Tibbs himself) that have been searching for centuries for Kiibu’s island, and now that he’s found it, he will be the one to welcome it back into the world! Despite his attempts at sounding threatening, Litefoot and Bataille don’t seem phased by Tibbs’ mad ranting. With his borderline comical villain rant out of the way, Tibbs leaves to prepare for Kiibu’s rebirth and locks the two men inside the office…
Some time has passed since Tibbs left on his mad quest of power. Litefoot and Bataille hear the sound of somebody trying to open the office door. One of Bataille’s men enters and informs Bataille that they are surrounded by the natives.
Litefoot and Bataille discover the native islanders breaking down the door to the compound. They manage to breach it and watch as they carry a woman wearing a crown on a throne through the compound – Danvers! And bringing up the rear is a cage with a man inside – Jago! The convoy marches on through the compound towards the ruins. Litefoot is horrified to realise that they natives intend to sacrifice Jago. He entrusts Bataille to stop the drilling while he rushes off to rescue his friend.
At the ruins, the natives chant ominously as they start a fire while Danvers watches on, still under the malign influence. Litefoot arrives, much to Jago’s delight. Litefoot explains Tibbs’ defection, to which Jago finds rather funny considering he hid it well. Unfortunately, both men are discovered by a tribesman…
Bataille arrives at the drilling site and urges Tibbs to stop what he’s doing, but Tibbs is dismissive and pretends to not hear him. All he does is demand the drilling be accelerated while firing warning shots at Bataille.
Litefoot is now encaged with Jago. He tries to convince Danvers to tell her tribespeople that they mean no harm, but she refuses to do so as she’s still under the influence of Kiibu. Litefoot in a loud voice tries vainly to convince the natives that he, Jago and the mining company mean no harm and that they can still come to some agreement. But the tribespeople still demand a sacrifice and they push the Infernal Investigators’ cage towards the temple…
At the drilling site, Tibbs and Bataille engage in a shootout while exchanging unpleasant remarks with one another. All the while, the drill continues to burrow through the ground…
Inside the temple, the infernal investigators are nearing the sacrificial pit when the ground beneath them begins to shake. The tribespeople begin to flee in terror…Kiibu is about to reawaken…
At the drilling site, Tibbs feels the ground shake beneath him and he proclaims victory in reawakening Kiibu. Moments later…hundreds of Kiibu’s larvae wriggle out of the hole where the drill had been drilling. Tibbs gleefully rushes down to meet his brethren as they surround him…and quickly mutilate him in front of Bataille.
Inside the temple, Jago and Litefoot manage to break out of their cage. They resolve to get away while they can, but Danvers is still under Kiibu’s influence and refuses to leave. Litefoot deduces that Kiibu is talking through Danvers telepathically and that its supressing her mind. However, Jago still believes that Danvers is still somewhere in there. Litefoot remembers a story that Jago told him on the ship earlier of Harry Hypno the Hypnotist - a hypnotist who taught Jago the basics of hypnosis. Litefoot theorises that if Jago can hypnotise Danvers, he could possibly reach Danvers and possibly Kiibu subconsciously and break the telepathic connection! Despite Jago’s doubts of the plan working, Litefoot reassures him that he has every bit of faith in his plan…
At the compound, Bataille and his men fight valiantly against the swarms of larvae attacking them. Unfortunately, the more they kill, the more that show up to take their place. Worst still, their ammunition is running low…
Inside the cave, Jago prepares his hypnotism routine, despite admitting he’s never practiced it before. Jago holds up his pocket watch like a swinging pendulum and begins to talk to Danvers, trying to make her remember some of the events that have transpired on their cruise. Danvers begins to start talking English once more and react to the stimuli around her. Jago gently begins to make her believe that she is at home preparing to go to bed, to which Danvers does become rather sleepy. Finally, Jago does manage to get Danvers to fall asleep. For good measure, he hypnotises her into forgetting the events on the island, especially Kiibu...and with that, Danvers begins to snore. Litefoot notes that the ground around them has stopped shaking…Jago has not only put Danvers to sleep, but also sent an ancient alien monster to sleep!
At the compound, the fight seems to be looking unfavourable for Bataille and his men as they spend their last bullets. Knowing the end is inevitable, Bataille and his men prepare to offer themselves to the larva while singing La Marseillaise. Moments into their singing, they look around and find the larva have fallen asleep around them. Bataille decides that it may be for the best that he and his men pack up their business, leave the island as quickly as possible and never tell a soul what they’ve endured…
On their way back to the ship, Danvers has reawakened and is speaking English once more. She tells Jago that their adventure has brought them closer than before. She offers the idea that when they return to London…that they formalise that bond. Jago is taken rather aback by her question but promises to think on it. Litefoot arrives and assumes he missed something, to which Jago wonders if she is free of Kiibu. Litefoot assumes that the further away from the island they go, the weaker her link to Kiibu will become if indeed there is a residual trace. Aubrey arrives with a telegram message for Litefoot from Inspector Quick, given to him by Bataille. Litefoot reads the message and is horrified by what he reads. According to the message, a mutilated body, seemingly savaged by a wild animal, was discovered in the Thames not long after their departure from London with a ticket for the Fata Morgana. Litefoot deduces that this can only mean that a murderer or wild animal is onboard…Suddenly, they hear screams of terror from the ship. Aubrey explains that there has been a death. The victim was the reclusive Riverstock, who was found in his cabin torn to pieces…
