Revenge is Sweet
Chapter One
A Zanga priest stands before a grave accompanied by the tribe and the explorers.
PRIEST
: Lord John Roxton died as he lived, a courageous man, a hero. Loved and respected by all who knew him.Four of the Zanga villagers stand at each corner of the clearing a burning torch in their hands, its eerily silent as if the whole of the plateau is in mourning for him. Marguerite breathes in deeply and closes her eyes, trying to stop the tears that would come at any moment. Assai stands by Veronica comferting her friend. Challanger and Malone step forward to pay their respects joined by a a group of the tribe. Everyone that is except the brown haired man, Applegate crouches by the bushes poised to attack ready to make his move...
TWO DAYS EARLIER
Roxton stands and stretches still tired even though he'd slept for six hours, Marguerite opens one eye and watches him taking in every inch of him, his rugged handsome looks, savouring the moment. He crouches in front of the campfire resting his rifle on one knee. He turns around and catches sight of Marguerite as she looks away.
MARGUERITE
: Anyone would think you'd been up all night.She stands and walks over to join him.
ROXTON
: Well I was.She looks at him questioningly.
MARGUERITE
: Why's that? Malone was on watch.ROXTON
: How could I sleep with a bueatiful woman in the next tent?MARGUERITE
: Flattery won't get you out of it...Admit it, I was right.Malone walks over to them.
MALONE
: She was Roxton, if we'd have followed your directions we could be anywhere right now.Marguerite turns to Mlaone and laughs.
MARGUERITE
: His directions? If I remember rightly, you agreed with Roxton.He opens his mouth to object.
MARGUERITE
: The both of you can share a months worth of my chores between you, and I don't want to hear another word on the matter.* * * * * *
A little girl hurries through the trees, running away as fast as she can to escape the stranger that follows her. She stops and listens not hearing a sound, she turns slowly not seeing Applegate creep up behind her, he clamps a hand over her mouth before she can cry out.
APPLEGATE
: I won't hurt you, I just need your help to find some friends of mine, do you understand? I'm going to move my hand now, okay? And I don't want you to scream.He moves his hand and the little Zanga girl screams loudly, the noise echoing throughout the plateau.
* * * * * *
Roxton, Marguerite and Malone stop their converstaion and look at each other.
MALONE
: Did you hear that?MARGUERITE
: Loud and clear.Roxton nods as they hear another scream, he grabs his rifle and takes off at a run deep into the jungle.
MARGUERITE
: Wait for us!They follow him minutes later, catching sight of him every so often as he dashes in and out of the maze of trees.
* * * * * *
The little girl continues to run, looking back every now and then to see how far ahead she is of Applegate. She trips on a rock and falls to the dirt, she rolls down a slope and screams as part of the ground gives way. She grabs onto a rock, the only thing that keeps her from falling over the cliff.
Applegate watches from the top of the slope he moves forward as if to help then runs behind a group of trees as Roxton comes into view. He kneels and inspects the slide marks on the ground, he makes his way carefully down the slope, looking around until he see's the girl. Her eyes widen as she see's Applegate sneak out from behind the rocks.
Roxton grabs hold of her and pulls her to safety. She points st Applegate as he pushes one of the rocks down the slope, Roxton turns as it hits him, he pushes the girl out of the way then everything goes black, the last thing he see's is a man slinking away from the scene.
Marguerite and Malone run out of the trees as as Roxton falls over the edge of the cliff.
MARGUERITE
: (Shouts) Roxton!The little girl crawls up the slope and shrinks back afraid as Malone comes towards her.
MALONE
: She's from the Zanga village.MARGUEIRTE
: Who cares? Where did he go?MALONE
: Maybe she can tell us what happened.The little girl looks from Malone to Marguerite then points at the cliff. Marguerite walks to the edge of the cliff.
MALONE
: Be careful.She peers over the edge of the cliff.
MALONE
: Can you see him?He shakes her head slowly.
MARGUERITE
: He went over.PRESENT
As the Zanga priest finishes the ceremony, Marguerite walks away from the crowd, Applegate watching her all the time. Veronica walks over to her and stands beside her.
MARGUERITE
: He's not dead.VERONICA
: We searched up and down the river...MARGUERITE
: We need to look harder!Veronica puts a reassuring hand on Marguerite's shoulder, she shrugs it off and starts walking.
VERONICA
: You saw him fall.MARGUERITE
: He's not dead until I see a body!Applegate smiles to himself.
APPLEGATE
: Your so anxious to see him, you'll be the next to join him.To be continued...
