Chapter Two: Meanwhile Back at The Tree-House
Distant, across the plateau, a brilliantly colored bird raised its ruffled crest and whistled to its mate.
"My God, that sounds like Beethoven!" exclaimed the heavily laden man, as he stared with rapt attention up a tree.
"Challenger, are you feeling all right?" asked the beautiful blonde as she walked past him on the trail.
"Methinks the good Professor has been out in the sun too long," chuckled the younger, athletic blonde man, following closely behind.
"No, no Ned you didn't hear" Challenger replied. "And yes, I'm feeling fine, it's just that, that bird's song sounds almost exactly like the overture to Beethoven's 9th. Amazing!"
"Whatever you say Challenger" grinned Ned Malone pausing beside him. "How about we ponder that later, I don't know about you but it's not far now and I'm getting hungry."
"Very well, it can be investigated further after lunch" Challenger laughed and followed Malone, and Veronica who was rapidly disappearing down the path.
Shortly, they both came upon Veronica intently scanning the jungle.
"What is it?"
"Raptors?" asked Malone raising his rifle.
"No, I don't know. Something feels wrong, it's too quiet and . . . " she trailed off restless eyes scanning the dense underbrush.
"Maybe it was that storm we heard earlier. That can certainly influence animal behavior" Challenger offered.
"Never mind, it's nothing, let's get going, I'm sure Marguerite is dying for her tea."
At the mention of the tempestuous brunette Challenger grimaced good-naturedly while Malone rolled his eyes and sighed. They both knew from experience how difficult she could be and the trip to the Zanga village had been a welcome respite of peace and quiet. Chuckling at their expressions Veronica turned and led them onwards toward the tree-house, difficult or no, they were looking forward to getting back.
Idly Malone noted the abrupt evidence of rain. "It looks like the tree-house just caught the edge of the storm."
"Localized, but not uncommon, given the plateau's altitude and wind patterns" Challenger knowledgeably replied.
"Wait!" Veronica ordered coming back from further up the trail. "There have been others here. Footprints and lots of them."
"How old?" asked Malone.
"Maybe an hour or two." Veronica pulled her knife from her boot "They may still be around."
No words were needed as experience dictated their response. Malone checked his rifle, Challenger his shotgun, and both scanned the area as they stealthily moved, ready to fire. Slowly they reached the compound's perimeter, clothing soaked from the rain droplets shed by the sodden plants.
"Oh my God . . . " Challenger began. They all gaped in shock as they saw the tree-house. A large irregular hole had been ripped through the roof and the ground was heavy with water.
"Challenger, wait here and watch the tree-house while Ned and I make sure there aren't any uninvited guests nearby."
"Right, it could be a trap" the Professor agreed. Veronica nodded to Ned and they both slipped off. Challenger could see no signs of life and he feared the worst for his friends but knew it was foolhardy to rush in.
Inch by inch, he surveyed the area. The pattern of water deposition was remarkable, there was a consistent increase in water depth on the ground toward the tree-house which was independent of the elevation. Also, the hole in the roof, he was sure, was a lightening strike and there were several others all clustered in the same small defined region. How odd, there were no metal or mineral deposits that he was aware of that could . . .
"See anything?"
Challenger was startled by Malone and Veronica's silent return. "No, nothing, not even birds."
"Let's go." Veronica motioned them forward. She could see that there had been many men and they had circled their prey. A reflection caught her eye and she pulled one of Roxton's pearl handled revolvers out of the mud.
"It's been fired."
"But we didn't find any bodies" noted Malone.
Veronica carefully read the marks on the ground. "Or blood, but they could have taken them with them, it's hard to tell, everything is all churned up, but it looks like only one fell."
"Bad aim?" Malone could hardly believe that there could have been that many targets and Roxton hadn't hit anything.
Veronica walked around the area. "Maybe, there are also smaller footprints, women or boys, I can't tell if they're Marguerites."
"Perhaps we'll find out more in the tree-house" suggested Challenger.
Cautiously, they entered the elevator and rose upwards. The disarray which met their eyes was unbelievable.
"Marguerite . . . Roxton . . . "
Despite the mess Veronica could tell that there had been no fight, all of the damage had been done by the storm. With an almost physical feeling of pain, she picked up one of Summerlee's botanical paintings where the fine, detailed work had become but streaks of rainbow hues. She righted a table and carefully placed the picture upon it. Much was gone, but they were just things, her friends were more important, she had to find them first and mourn any losses later.
"Any sign of them?" she asked Malone as he returned from the sleeping areas.
"None, and in all this " he gestured widely "I can't tell if anything is missing either. You?"
Shaking her head Veronica looked to see Challenger approach who also indicated he had found nothing. "So we don't know who took them or why, but I can tell which way they went and we will find them." Anger gripped Veronica as she thought of losing two more companions "Let's go."
"Just a moment Veronica," Challenger cautioned "there is something unusual about this storm. While I was waiting for you outside, I counted a minimum of eight lightening strikes within fifty feet of the tree-house Indeed, the entire storm seems to cover a very small area, maybe two hundred feet in diameter with here as its centre. Have you ever seen a storm of such focus and intensity before on the plateau?"
Puzzled, Veronica glanced at Malone who looked equally perplexed "I've seen lots of storms but . . . "
Lost in thought Challenger smiled as it all fell into place, "Also, the conditions are wrong for production of a thundercloud and the elevator was down . . . "
"What, exactly, are you getting at Challenger?"
A possibility crossed Malone's mind but it seemed too fantastic, "Are you suggesting that someone made a storm to force them out and then captured them?"
"Yes, a weather machine, there is no other logical explanation. The forces of nature have been circumvented and that can only be done by one means - science! But whom on the plateau would be capable of making such a thing?"
"No one that I know of. They couldn't just have knocked?!"
"I suggest that we advance with extreme caution and there are a few extras I'd like to bring along."
"Fine." Veronica was impatient "But make it fast, they've got a couple of hours on us and I don't want to lose the light"
Nodding, Challenger hastened to his lab where he quickly collected his materials, his mind alight with the possibilities this discovery might present.
Meanwhile, Malone and Veronica searched through the once familiar space to find needed supplies, a task made more difficult as nothing was as it had been.
The trail was clear and they moved swiftly but Veronica was concerned as their quarry had made no effort to hide their tracks. It meant that either they were stupid, which wasn't likely, or so strong that they feared no challenge. From scuff marks it appeared that one, perhaps Roxton, was injured and being helped along, she knew that often wounded were disposed of by raiders if they slowed them down, and she quickened her pace. The hours passed, the light started to fade, traveling further ahead of the others she paused by a stream to await them when a pale shape bobbing in a pool caught her eye.
Malone and Challenger had been pushing hard to keep up to Veronica but were not able to match her ability to almost glide through the jungle. Breathing hard they broke through the dense brush and stood wearily on the streambank.
"We're definitely on the right track" Veronica approached them holding a hat, wet and filthy, but clearly Roxton's.
"Well at least now we know for sure they've got them and they're still alive" Challenger red-faced and panting sat on a boulder to rest.
"Any idea at to where they're going?" asked Malone dropping his pack to scoop water from the stream.
"We're coming into Nerite land. I've never been here before but it is known among the Zanga as bad land. Little food, isolated, few people and lots of dinosaurs"
"Not a popular destination then" Challenger fanned his face with his hat despite the coolness of the day.
"No"
"Lots of dinosaurs? You're sure? We haven't seen one since we left" Malone asked looking around.
"Hmmmm," Challenger pulled out a compass which spun wildly. "As I suspected, the earth's geomagnetic pull has been altered here."
Ned peered at the erratic dial "Either that or we're in the Bermuda triangle."
"Yes, perhaps," Challenger managed a faint grin, "but primitive brains such as reptiles and specialized ones, as many birds, are more sensitive to changes in the earth's magnetic charge. This scrambling of magnetic fields could be enough to deter dinosaurs, a type of repellant if you will. Fascinating, I am most eager to speak with these people." Challenger, rested replaced his hat and prepared to travel.
"Somehow Challenger these particular natives don't seem very friendly" Malone joined him.
"We're losing light, we'd better keep moving and cover as much ground as possible before dark." Veronica trusted Challenger's conclusion, but she'd feel a lot safer knowing she could see trouble coming. Smoothly, she turned to lead them onwards. Falling into step behind her, they fell into the practiced, efficient pace which helped them to cross many miles before having to camp for the night.
Sitting on watch, staring into the dark, the many sounds of the night crept around Malone while Challenger and Veronica slept. He jumped at a nearby rustling in the bush, instantly alert he held his breath, aimed carefully, and saw a small furry face with whiskers stare at him and scamper away terrified. Glad that no one had seen that he slowly relaxed. He bet that would never have happened to Roxton. He admired the way the other man always seemed to know what was out there just by listening, reading the signs, and making it seem so easy like he wasn't even trying. Veronica was like that. She was . . . he didn't know where to begin. She was unlike any woman he had ever met fierce, independent, sweet, kind and oh, that smile. There were times when . . .
A strong hand grabbed his shoulder, quickly Ned twisted round prepared to meet his attacker. "My turn for watch, get some sleep" Veronica smiled at his intensity. Malone nodded and moved to his makeshift bed, dreams haunted by a pair of captivating blue eyes.