Vrs. 
In my first James Bond versus Indiana Jones story, I made Bond the victor. However, the American Film Institute ranked Indiana Jones as the second greatest hero of all time, with James Bond in third place. It is obvious that both characters have their supporters, and with this in mind I have written a story with eight possible endings. In four of them Bond wins, and in the other four Jones wins. It is up to you, therefore, who will be the victor. When you get to the options, just click on the line you want and it will take you to the appropriate page.
*I have loosely based this story on the Tower of Babel account from the Bible. This account is part of Christian and Judean beliefs. I would just like to say that this work is a work of fiction, and I have created much of the story from my own imagination. The parts that are connected to the Tower of Babel are not meant to insult or defame any religious beliefs, nor are any of the cultural references in the story. I have researched the cultural references I make, and I believe they are accurate. If they are not, I apologize, but my intent was not to offend anyone. I hope you enjoy the story.
Jan 15, 1947
Brazil
Indiana Jones stepped out of the rainforest, breathing in heavy rasps. He took his trusty hat off in a futile effort to blend in with the crowd. He has been running from local villagers. While exploring a scattering of statues recently found just inside the rainforest, the villagers became convinced he was a spy sent to steal the statues.
Indiana stood against a building and watched the group of half a dozen men who had been on his tail. They were now asking a few locals if they had seen him. Indiana noticed a foreigner step up to them. The man seemed familiar, but Indiana could only see his back. He couldn’t quite hear what the man was saying to his pursuers, but the man pointed away from him. The men ran off in that direction. The man then turned around, and Indiana realized that he had indeed met him less than three months ago, not too far from where they now were.
“Dr. Jones,” James Bond said as he walked over. “We need to talk.” Indiana was wary. His last encounter with Bond had not gone well. However, Bond had just done him a favor. Indiana would at least hear him out.
Five minutes later the two men were sitting in a small, smoke filled room. “I take it you remember the last time we met?” Bond asked.
“I do. Sorry about the car. It’s safe, if that’s what this is about. You can have it back.”
James smiled. “It wasn’t mine. It was provided by my government for the mission. They will let you keep it as a gift for the favor you are about to do them.”
“What favor?”
“When I returned to London after our last encounter I looked into your history. I discovered you’re quite famous in certain circles. And infamous in others.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are a well-known and respected professor of archaeology, but you’re also a notorious ‘grave robber’ in others. You’re persona non grata in Madagascar, Honduras, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Tasmania…I’m not forgetting any, am I?”
“Point taken,” Indiana said.
“I helped you with the locals so that you can help me on my upcoming mission.”
“How can I help you?”
“To start with, you can tell me everything you know about the Tower of Babel.” Bond leaned forward, waiting for Indiana’s reply.
“A Judeo-Christian myth, from the Torah, or Pentateuch, if you prefer. Genesis chapter eleven, verses one through nine. ‘And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.’ I’ll spare you the rest, but the gist is that the people make a temple to reach heaven. This offends God, who destroys the temple and causes the people to speak different languages.”
“That’s the biblical account,” Bond said. “There are other myths surrounding the Tower of Babel. Are you familiar with the one about the Summit Stone and Asshur?”
“I’ve heard of it. It’s not very widespread. Perhaps a handful of archaeology and history professors know about it. The story is that God blessed the stone at the very top of the temple, the so-called Summit Stone. He then shattered it into seven pieces and hurled them to the far corners of the world, saying that a humble man could search for them, learning all the newly formed languages along the way. Once that man had all seven pieces the idea was that he could refit them and the world would again speak one language.”
“What if someone had only an individual piece?”
Indiana hesitated. He knew that Bond had been briefed on the myth for some reason. Perhaps it involved his upcoming mission. However, he was sure that Bond probably knew more about it than he did. So why was he asking questions? Was he testing him? “An even more obscure part of the legend says that the individual pieces would destroy men’s words, so that they could not understand any language. So if a piece were sitting on this table, you would hear what I’m saying as gibberish.”
“What about Asshur?” Bond asked.
More directed questioning, Indiana noticed. “He was the son of Nimrod. Nimrod was the first king of Babylonia, whom many people credit with the building of the tower of Babel. The myth has it that Asshur, or one of his sons went on a quest to find the seven pieces of the Summit Stone, learning all of the languages along the way. Some versions say he gathered the pieces and built a temple, but died before fitting the pieces together. Others say he died a lonely fool’s death in a desert somewhere.”
“And what do you think, Dr. Jones?”
“I think it’s a myth.”
“What do you know about Nanga Parbat?”
“Isn’t it one of the tallest mountains in the world? It’s in the Himalayas. But what does it have to do with anything?”
“It’s actually the ninth highest mountain in the world. Have you ever heard any versions of the myth where Asshur built his temple on Nanga Parbat in an attempt to build it high enough to reach heaven?”
“No.” Indiana did not try to hide the incredulity in his voice.
“Well, an Icelander named Terence Grimson has.”
“Terence Grimson?” Indiana asked.
“He’s been causing my government problems lately. He’s power hungry, but his legitimate attempts to attain any political power have failed. Apparently he’s decided to try a less orthodox approach. He’s gotten it into his head that Asshur built a temple on Nanga Parbat. He thinks the pieces of the Summit Stone are there.”
“He’s a nut. Your government has nothing to worry about. Let him freeze to death on the mountain.” Indiana was getting impatient. He wanted to know what Bond wanted from him. Did his government just want his expert opinion that the myth really was fake?
“I don’t believe in the myth, and neither does my government. However, my superiors do think that Grimson is a dangerous man. They are worried he might try to stir up trouble in India. As you may know, my government’s relationship with India has been deteriorating lately.”
“But why do you need me?”
Bond sighed. That was exactly the question he had asked M. “Let it never be said that my superiors don’t ‘cover all the bases’ as you Americans put it. You’re coming on the off chance that there is a temple. At the very least, you can serve as my guide in the remoter parts of India. I believe you’ve had some experience with the country.
Indiana’s memory flashed to an image of holding onto a broken rope bridge hundreds of feet above crocodile-infested water while a mad man tried to tear his heart out of his chest. “Yeah, I have.”
Jones hit the ground hard, falling on his side to protect his organs.
