THE PASSION OF STRANGE GODS

This is a Lovecraft inspired story but the mood is much more romantic and sensual than eerie. Please comment nicely!

The drums started at sunset, an endless rhythmic throbbing that came from deep in the heart of the jungle and drifted lazily across the tranquil blue waters of the bay.

"Takes some getting used to, doesn't it?" The fat, red-faced colonial governor grinned at the pale and slender girl in the light blue satin gown. "All this is very different from that fancy finishing school in Switzerland, eh, Samantha my love?"

"Yes, it's very different." Samantha sipped the liquor in her glass, closing her eyes as the soothing warmth spread through her. Father and mother had died so suddenly, their ship torpedoed by the cruel Germans who were making war on half the world. Samantha hoped that she could make a new start here, a world away from war-torn Europe. But the drums in the jungle reminded her that there were dangers everywhere, even at the very edge of civilization.

"Come to dinner, you two." Aunt Katrina stepped onto the terrace with a worried look on her powdered, perspiring face. "Herbert, I do wish you'd do something about those drums!"

"Not to worry, my dear," the colonial governor said, smiling at the way Samantha swiftly drained the remainder of her drink. "Tomorrow my niece and I are going to visit the interior!"

"Even after all these years, I'm afraid Herbert is still a bit of an adventurer," Aunt Katrina said, stopping by Samantha's bedroom in her curlers and frilly bed gown to say goodnight.

"But is the interior really dangerous?" Samantha had been lying on her bed half-asleep, listening to the endless throbbing of the drums and feeling strangely at peace.

"Well, my dear, the natives themselves are perfectly harmless," Aunt Katrina declared, waving her plump little hand as she settled herself on the side of the enormous bed. "Herbert has taken steps to destroy all the old idols, the jungle gods that caused all their wicked behavior in the past. The problem now is that there's a new god from the sea!"

"But the drums are coming from the jungle, not the sea." Samantha objected, studying her aunt with a sleepy frown. Deep down she didn't like the idea of smashing the native idols or forcing them to abandon their ancient ways. The drums were just a harmless native custom, the girl thought. In fact their soothing, steady throbbing was rather pleasant.

"Clever girl." Aunt Katrina pushed a thick lock of golden hair away from Samantha's forehead. "Someone must have come ashore after the last big storm, stirring the natives up with stories of the gods who ruled these islands before time began. The drums are calling up strange gods from the bottom of the sea."

"Strange gods might give the natives strange ideas." Samantha was yawning before she could finish her thought.

"Precisely," the older woman chuckled. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Samantha. Herbert and I can count on you, can't we? Tomorrow the two of you will get to the bottom of things . . . but first I suggest a good night's sleep!"