The Grand Illusion - Ninep
(Disclaimer: Characters from The Lost World belong respectively to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Telescene, et al. This is for entertainment purposes only. Any original characters belong to the author and cannot be used without permission.)p
Neither Roxton nor Marguerite would admit it, but they only had eyes for each other and didn't notice the admiring and sometimes envious looks that the crowd gave them. p
Well to be truthful, Marguerite was very aware of the picture she made and Roxton knew it.p
"So, are you sure you want to leave all this behind?" Roxton asked. p
"And miss all that enjoying running from raptors? Never!" p
Marguerite tossed her head, which made the diamond earrings in her ears jingle enticingly. p
Roxton smiled down at her, enchanted by her looks as always - although he knew better than to TELL her that.p
She started to hum to the waltz that they were dancing to and Roxton pulled her just a degree closer to him. p
"Strauss..I never get tired of his waltzes." Roxton said as they glided across the floor. p
"Neither do I." Marguerite bestowed upon him one of her rare soft smiles.p
"It does sound different with a live orchestra than on Veronica's phonograph, doesn't it?" Roxton asked.p
"Not really. It's the music that can carry you away to another place, another time.." Marguerite still had that far away dreamy look in her eyes.p
"Do you remember when I asked you to dance at the treehouse?" Roxton said softly.p
A smirk crept on Marguerite's face and her eyes began to dance.
"Humph. Yes I do and I was up to my elbows in wash when you did it too." p
"Ah, my poor Marguerite, a drudge to the mundane art of washing 'unmentionables'.." Roxton smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Who would have EVER thought?" p
"Speak for yourself. *I* would never be a drudge!" p
"No, you wouldn't.." Roxton said smoothly. iNever to me/ip
They continued to dance and the waltz seemed to go on and on..p
****p
Meanwhile Arthur Summerlee and Edward Challenger were outside, taking in some fresh air and a glass of brandy.p
"You seem rather somber, Edward. More than usual, I might say." Summerlee took a sip of his drink as he watched his colleague shift restlessly on his feet. p
"I have only been thinking, Summerlee. I wonder how is it possible that we have all had the same dream of the plateau?"p
"You know the answers as well as I do, Edward."p
"Yes, but they don't add up."
p
"And that drives you mad, doesn't it?" Summerlee chuckled.p
"It does not! I simply like a rational explanation for something *I* know happened." Challenger took a fortifying drink and gave Summerlee a glare.p
"If it makes you feel any better, Challenger. I too, feel that we were at the plateau. Did you know I still have the scar from when that creature attacked me? I never had it when I was here in London."p
Challenger nodded. p
"We can both say it's some complex psychological disorder, but we both know don't we? We were there, Summerlee." Challenger finished his drink.p
"The question is - how did we get back to London?" Summerlee asked. "The last I remember was tracking through the jungle with the rest of you and - " p
Summerlee's face paled and his eyes widened as he happened to look off at the manicured grounds of Roxton's estate. p
"Edward! Look!" Summerlee pointed.
"What? I don't see.." This time it was Challenger's turn to stare.p
"Jungle.." Summerlee adjusted his glasses.
No longer did they see the vast trimmed lawns of Roxton's estate, but the jungles of the plateau. They could smell the heavy scent of the greenry, the flowers, and they could also smell the smoke of a fire.
Challenger said softly, "I recognize this area. We fought here. Somehow we - " Suddenly he felt a headache coming on.
"Gentlemen, I see you are quite out of brandy. Can't have that, now can we?" A friendly voice interrupted them and quite promptly their glasses were refilled.
Challenger and Summerlee looked down at their half-filled glasses. By the taste in their mouths, they HAD drank the brandy but didn't remember doing it.
Challenger's brow furrowed. "We need to go inside. Gather the others, including Veronica. Something is not right about this!"
"I agree."
Summerlee threw his brandy glass out towards the green lawn. He did not see it ripple and disappear back into nothingness..
