2/?
"Did you see that?" Marguerite asked, stopping so suddenly that Roxton almost ran into her.
Irritated by her sudden pause, he bit back, "See what?"
"That!" she exclaimed pointing to a distant hill. "That...flash..." She gazed intently at something only she for the moment could see and then grabbed Roxton by the arm and drew his face to hers. "Can't you see it? It's almost sparkling."
Enjoying his brief encounter with the honeyed scent of her, he nonetheless couldn't help the retort that passed his lips. "Trust you to find the only sparkling thing for five miles."
She abruptly pushed him away and started out, eagerly anticipating what she was certain had to be jewels. "Come or not, but I'm going to find out what it is."
Roxton cast an amused glance toward her back as she frantically cut through the underbrush, unmindful of the thorns and stickers that were bound to leave her pants with several tears. He opened his mouth to warn her only to close it shortly thereafter deciding he would risk her future tirade to enjoy the potential view. He heaved a self-pitying sigh and followed her, rifle at hand; ready for any of the nasty surprises for which the plateau was famous.
Within minutes of first spotting the light, the pair reached the edge of the clearing, but instead of finding the source, they encountered something more amazing. The entire face of the hill was covered in a crystalline substance. Awed, Marguerite caressed the shiny surface as she walked further into the grotto. "Marguerite, wait!" chastised Roxton who had paused for moment to absorb the sight. "You don't know what's in there!"
Dazzled by the display, she shrugged off his concerns and walked further ignoring his muttered, "Damn, infuriating woman," knowing he would follow her. Just inside the grotto, she took in a quick breath. Did the air seem sweeter? She shook her head, continuing on until she reached a more expansive area.
Roxton found her moments later staring up at the crystallized wall. "Marguerite, don't run off like that again. Who knows what the devil is in here!" He searched her face and asked, "Marguerite, did you hear anything that I said?"
"I heard you, Roxton," she breathed, her mouth barely moving. "And, unfortunately, so did that." He followed her gaze to the top of the wall face only to take a step back in shock.
Glancing uncertainly at her, he asked, "Is that what I think it is?"
She nodded. "It's a warning."
Roxton shook his head, bewildered. "And it's in English."
"Did you see that?" Marguerite asked, stopping so suddenly that Roxton almost ran into her.
Irritated by her sudden pause, he bit back, "See what?"
"That!" she exclaimed pointing to a distant hill. "That...flash..." She gazed intently at something only she for the moment could see and then grabbed Roxton by the arm and drew his face to hers. "Can't you see it? It's almost sparkling."
Enjoying his brief encounter with the honeyed scent of her, he nonetheless couldn't help the retort that passed his lips. "Trust you to find the only sparkling thing for five miles."
She abruptly pushed him away and started out, eagerly anticipating what she was certain had to be jewels. "Come or not, but I'm going to find out what it is."
Roxton cast an amused glance toward her back as she frantically cut through the underbrush, unmindful of the thorns and stickers that were bound to leave her pants with several tears. He opened his mouth to warn her only to close it shortly thereafter deciding he would risk her future tirade to enjoy the potential view. He heaved a self-pitying sigh and followed her, rifle at hand; ready for any of the nasty surprises for which the plateau was famous.
Within minutes of first spotting the light, the pair reached the edge of the clearing, but instead of finding the source, they encountered something more amazing. The entire face of the hill was covered in a crystalline substance. Awed, Marguerite caressed the shiny surface as she walked further into the grotto. "Marguerite, wait!" chastised Roxton who had paused for moment to absorb the sight. "You don't know what's in there!"
Dazzled by the display, she shrugged off his concerns and walked further ignoring his muttered, "Damn, infuriating woman," knowing he would follow her. Just inside the grotto, she took in a quick breath. Did the air seem sweeter? She shook her head, continuing on until she reached a more expansive area.
Roxton found her moments later staring up at the crystallized wall. "Marguerite, don't run off like that again. Who knows what the devil is in here!" He searched her face and asked, "Marguerite, did you hear anything that I said?"
"I heard you, Roxton," she breathed, her mouth barely moving. "And, unfortunately, so did that." He followed her gaze to the top of the wall face only to take a step back in shock.
Glancing uncertainly at her, he asked, "Is that what I think it is?"
She nodded. "It's a warning."
Roxton shook his head, bewildered. "And it's in English."
