Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to TLW.
Chapter 1: Gone Fishing
Long before the first occupant of the tree house awoke, only birds
knew what kind of day was dawning as sunlight began to stream
through the trees, ushering in a fresh and beautiful day. It would
be the kind of day that beckoned all to escape the confines of
walls and ceilings and venture out, to feel the warm breeze lightly
brush back your hair and the sun to bring color and life to your
skin.
And so, the sun had risen to the height where the first ray struck
Veronica on the face. Being the diligent one in the group, she
always slept so that she would awaken at the break of dawn.
With little regret for leaving bed, Veronica stretched and stood,
donning her usual attire and heading for the kitchen. The mornings,
before the rest awoke, were her favorite time of day, a time when
she could she re-live the peace of living alone; but remain secure
in the knowledge that she was amongst family once again.
"Hmmmm....now what should we have for breakfast?" mused Veronica.
Working her way around the kitchen, Veronica began the tally.
"Coffee, of course, for Marguerite. Some eggs for Roxton and
Challenger, I'm sure they'll be busy as usual today and need the
energy. And some fruit for all. Well, mostly for me."
After setting out several bowls of sliced fruit, Veronica began
frying several eggs. And although Roxton slept through nature's
alarm, the smell of cooking food was just enough to lull him out of
his dreams. Striding into the kitchen, Roxton immediately began to
pitch in. "Here, Veronica, looks like you've got the food under
control, I'll grind some beans and get the coffee started."
"Morning, Roxton, sleep well?" asked Veronica.
"Like a baby, as always," said Roxton. Of course, a few sweet
dreams starring his favorite companion always made for enjoyable
nights.
"I'm surprised Challenger isn't up yet," said Veronica.
"Actually, you might want to brew that tea extra strong today. I
think he fell asleep in his lab again. If he keeps this up,
Marguerite will start beating him to the breakfast table," said
Roxton.
"I heard that," mumbled a sleepy-eyed Marguerite as she strolled
into the kitchen, lingering at the table only long enough to grab
some mango on her way to the coffeepot.
"What's he working on now? Instead of a food supplement, that man
needs a cure for sleep. He'd be in heaven if he could work on his
projects 24 hours a day," said Marguerite.
"Not so loud. You'll give him ideas," warned Veronica.
"Maybe we should eat up and head out so he can sleep in this
morning," suggested Roxton. "It looks like we'll have nothing but
sunny skies and a light breeze today. In fact, it looks to me like
a perfect day for fishing."
"You can go right ahead and catch some fish, but the only help
you'll get from me is at the dinner table," said Marguerite.
"What about you, Veronica?" asked Roxton. "We could see who catches
the biggest fish."
Well, what are we waiting for, let's do it," exclaimed Veronica.
She and Roxton turned as one to coax Marguerite with their grinning
faces.
"Oh, all right, but I'll just sit on the bank and cheer you on,"
said Marguerite, easily giving in to Roxton's plan.
And so, with as much stealth as they could muster, they gathered
their supplies, deposited a quick note on the table for Challenger,
and slipped into the elevator with plans for a fun and relaxing
day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
Once they'd reached Roxton's favorite hole, a slight bend in the
river near the tree house, the two anglers picked their spots and
began to cast for fish. For several hours, there was little in the
way of conversation, only the swish of string cutting through the
air and contented sighs from all parties.
Quickly losing interest in the two intrepid fishermen, Marguerite
dug out a book and bean an enjoyable morning of leisure. No chores;
no dirty, manual labor; no explosions from the lab; and no
marauding invaders to disturb the peaceful day.
But soon the contentment of a quiet day began to pall and boredom
set in. With the heat of the mid-day sun bearing down, Veronica
looked over to Roxton and in silent agreement, they gladly took a
break from a rather pitiful bout of fishing. After reeling in only
one tiny fish and losing numerous worms, it was time to break out
some food and join Marguerite under the trees.
Of course, Marguerite was having much better luck with a nap that
was about to be interrupted by an already-scheming Roxton, but all
evil plots for how to wake her up quickly dissipated when a nearby
flock of birds frantically broke through the treetops and fled for
the safety of the sky.
For an instant, every muscle in Roxton's body tensed. Looking over,
he saw that Veronica was equally alert and Marguerite was beginning
to stir. With a few strides, Roxton reached for his rifle and began
to scan the perimeter.
"Marguerite, come on, wake up," said Veronica in quiet tones as she
shook her dark-haired friend. "We might have company."
"Of course we have company. We're in a bloody jungle yet we can't
go for a day without uninvited guests. A person would have to go to
bloody London if they wanted some time alone," grumbled the half-
awake Marguerite. But, as usual, she was awake enough to find and
efficiently draw her pistol.
With a sudden jerk, Challenger awoke, cringing as a pain flared in
his neck, punishing him for falling asleep at his desk. "Was that a
gunshot?" he wondered. And in answer, he quickly heard several more
rounds of gunfire. Despite the stiffness that had set in during the
night, Challenger quickly hit the stairs, calling out for his
companions as he made for the main room. "Roxton! Veronica!
Marguerite!" But no one answered, and even the gunfire had stopped.
With a quick scan of the room, the meticulous eyes of the scientist
spotted the note, "Gone Fishing. The usual spot. Join us when you
wake up. Roxton."
Chapter 1: Gone Fishing
Long before the first occupant of the tree house awoke, only birds
knew what kind of day was dawning as sunlight began to stream
through the trees, ushering in a fresh and beautiful day. It would
be the kind of day that beckoned all to escape the confines of
walls and ceilings and venture out, to feel the warm breeze lightly
brush back your hair and the sun to bring color and life to your
skin.
And so, the sun had risen to the height where the first ray struck
Veronica on the face. Being the diligent one in the group, she
always slept so that she would awaken at the break of dawn.
With little regret for leaving bed, Veronica stretched and stood,
donning her usual attire and heading for the kitchen. The mornings,
before the rest awoke, were her favorite time of day, a time when
she could she re-live the peace of living alone; but remain secure
in the knowledge that she was amongst family once again.
"Hmmmm....now what should we have for breakfast?" mused Veronica.
Working her way around the kitchen, Veronica began the tally.
"Coffee, of course, for Marguerite. Some eggs for Roxton and
Challenger, I'm sure they'll be busy as usual today and need the
energy. And some fruit for all. Well, mostly for me."
After setting out several bowls of sliced fruit, Veronica began
frying several eggs. And although Roxton slept through nature's
alarm, the smell of cooking food was just enough to lull him out of
his dreams. Striding into the kitchen, Roxton immediately began to
pitch in. "Here, Veronica, looks like you've got the food under
control, I'll grind some beans and get the coffee started."
"Morning, Roxton, sleep well?" asked Veronica.
"Like a baby, as always," said Roxton. Of course, a few sweet
dreams starring his favorite companion always made for enjoyable
nights.
"I'm surprised Challenger isn't up yet," said Veronica.
"Actually, you might want to brew that tea extra strong today. I
think he fell asleep in his lab again. If he keeps this up,
Marguerite will start beating him to the breakfast table," said
Roxton.
"I heard that," mumbled a sleepy-eyed Marguerite as she strolled
into the kitchen, lingering at the table only long enough to grab
some mango on her way to the coffeepot.
"What's he working on now? Instead of a food supplement, that man
needs a cure for sleep. He'd be in heaven if he could work on his
projects 24 hours a day," said Marguerite.
"Not so loud. You'll give him ideas," warned Veronica.
"Maybe we should eat up and head out so he can sleep in this
morning," suggested Roxton. "It looks like we'll have nothing but
sunny skies and a light breeze today. In fact, it looks to me like
a perfect day for fishing."
"You can go right ahead and catch some fish, but the only help
you'll get from me is at the dinner table," said Marguerite.
"What about you, Veronica?" asked Roxton. "We could see who catches
the biggest fish."
Well, what are we waiting for, let's do it," exclaimed Veronica.
She and Roxton turned as one to coax Marguerite with their grinning
faces.
"Oh, all right, but I'll just sit on the bank and cheer you on,"
said Marguerite, easily giving in to Roxton's plan.
And so, with as much stealth as they could muster, they gathered
their supplies, deposited a quick note on the table for Challenger,
and slipped into the elevator with plans for a fun and relaxing
day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
Once they'd reached Roxton's favorite hole, a slight bend in the
river near the tree house, the two anglers picked their spots and
began to cast for fish. For several hours, there was little in the
way of conversation, only the swish of string cutting through the
air and contented sighs from all parties.
Quickly losing interest in the two intrepid fishermen, Marguerite
dug out a book and bean an enjoyable morning of leisure. No chores;
no dirty, manual labor; no explosions from the lab; and no
marauding invaders to disturb the peaceful day.
But soon the contentment of a quiet day began to pall and boredom
set in. With the heat of the mid-day sun bearing down, Veronica
looked over to Roxton and in silent agreement, they gladly took a
break from a rather pitiful bout of fishing. After reeling in only
one tiny fish and losing numerous worms, it was time to break out
some food and join Marguerite under the trees.
Of course, Marguerite was having much better luck with a nap that
was about to be interrupted by an already-scheming Roxton, but all
evil plots for how to wake her up quickly dissipated when a nearby
flock of birds frantically broke through the treetops and fled for
the safety of the sky.
For an instant, every muscle in Roxton's body tensed. Looking over,
he saw that Veronica was equally alert and Marguerite was beginning
to stir. With a few strides, Roxton reached for his rifle and began
to scan the perimeter.
"Marguerite, come on, wake up," said Veronica in quiet tones as she
shook her dark-haired friend. "We might have company."
"Of course we have company. We're in a bloody jungle yet we can't
go for a day without uninvited guests. A person would have to go to
bloody London if they wanted some time alone," grumbled the half-
awake Marguerite. But, as usual, she was awake enough to find and
efficiently draw her pistol.
With a sudden jerk, Challenger awoke, cringing as a pain flared in
his neck, punishing him for falling asleep at his desk. "Was that a
gunshot?" he wondered. And in answer, he quickly heard several more
rounds of gunfire. Despite the stiffness that had set in during the
night, Challenger quickly hit the stairs, calling out for his
companions as he made for the main room. "Roxton! Veronica!
Marguerite!" But no one answered, and even the gunfire had stopped.
With a quick scan of the room, the meticulous eyes of the scientist
spotted the note, "Gone Fishing. The usual spot. Join us when you
wake up. Roxton."