Author's Note: Much thanks to everyone who has responded to this and my other stories. I truly do appreciate all of the kind words and suggestions. Thanks again!! Also, sorry for the delay in posting this segment, but I was out of town for the holiday. Rest assured, there is more to come.
3/?
"You can read that?" Marguerite tore her gaze from the inscription to judge whether or not Roxton was joking with her.
The hunter shot back, "I think I recognize English when I see it." He glanced over to her then returned to the writing.
Looking as if he'd lost his mind, she replied, "Roxton, it's not English.... It's German."
"I'm looking at the same thing you are, Marguerite, and what I'm seeing is the King's English."
"And I swear to you, it's German. It says, 'Vorsicht,das Bild das du siehst ist nicht die Wahrheit, es ist eine Maske die wegzunehmen ist.'"
"Beware, the image you see is not a truth. It is a mask to be lifted away," Roxton interjected, his words overlapping hers.
Startled by his perfect translation and knowing that he didn't *speak* German let alone read it, she looked back at him. "Maybe the words appear in different languages depending upon the person who's reading them..." she murmured, more stunned by the possibility than the actual message.
"Do you think Veronica's parents could have left it here to tell anyone else to avoid the place?" Roxton asked, chambering a bullet and surveying the area.
Marguerite shook her head as she fully absorbed the words. "Anything's possible here -- you know that," she replied wryly.
Roxton stared thoughtfully at the words and then turned his measuring gaze on his companion. "You're seeing that in German wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that pilot, would it?"
Inwardly shocked at his insight, for a brief moment, she considered telling him the truth about her connection with Dieter. Then at the last second, she decided against it and countered, "Why, Lord Roxton, one would think you were jealous!"
The hunter in him knew that was not the response she had originally planned. However, glad to hear her attempt to restore their usual flirtatious teasing, he let it pass. He'd get the truth out of her someday.
A mischievous smile graced her lips as she cast an appraising glance in Roxton's direction and then peered into the cave. "Let's see what else is in here."
"Mar-" Roxton's warning was cut off by a distinctly familiar roar. "Maybe you're right," he answered, pushing her further along. They walked in silence for a few feet before Marguerite caught her foot on a piece of the crystal which had fallen in some sort of landslide. Grabbing the wall to catch her balance, she didn't notice that the path dropped several feet down into the grotto. As she righted herself and took her next step, she felt the rock give underneath her. Seconds passed like minutes, but before she could call for help, she landed only to fall forward into a pit of crystals and then tumble into the darkness.
3/?
"You can read that?" Marguerite tore her gaze from the inscription to judge whether or not Roxton was joking with her.
The hunter shot back, "I think I recognize English when I see it." He glanced over to her then returned to the writing.
Looking as if he'd lost his mind, she replied, "Roxton, it's not English.... It's German."
"I'm looking at the same thing you are, Marguerite, and what I'm seeing is the King's English."
"And I swear to you, it's German. It says, 'Vorsicht,das Bild das du siehst ist nicht die Wahrheit, es ist eine Maske die wegzunehmen ist.'"
"Beware, the image you see is not a truth. It is a mask to be lifted away," Roxton interjected, his words overlapping hers.
Startled by his perfect translation and knowing that he didn't *speak* German let alone read it, she looked back at him. "Maybe the words appear in different languages depending upon the person who's reading them..." she murmured, more stunned by the possibility than the actual message.
"Do you think Veronica's parents could have left it here to tell anyone else to avoid the place?" Roxton asked, chambering a bullet and surveying the area.
Marguerite shook her head as she fully absorbed the words. "Anything's possible here -- you know that," she replied wryly.
Roxton stared thoughtfully at the words and then turned his measuring gaze on his companion. "You're seeing that in German wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that pilot, would it?"
Inwardly shocked at his insight, for a brief moment, she considered telling him the truth about her connection with Dieter. Then at the last second, she decided against it and countered, "Why, Lord Roxton, one would think you were jealous!"
The hunter in him knew that was not the response she had originally planned. However, glad to hear her attempt to restore their usual flirtatious teasing, he let it pass. He'd get the truth out of her someday.
A mischievous smile graced her lips as she cast an appraising glance in Roxton's direction and then peered into the cave. "Let's see what else is in here."
"Mar-" Roxton's warning was cut off by a distinctly familiar roar. "Maybe you're right," he answered, pushing her further along. They walked in silence for a few feet before Marguerite caught her foot on a piece of the crystal which had fallen in some sort of landslide. Grabbing the wall to catch her balance, she didn't notice that the path dropped several feet down into the grotto. As she righted herself and took her next step, she felt the rock give underneath her. Seconds passed like minutes, but before she could call for help, she landed only to fall forward into a pit of crystals and then tumble into the darkness.
