Chapter two:
Challenger, Malone, and Veronica looked up as Roxton exited the elevator. He smiled over at them as he hung his hat by the door and said, "You will never guess who is right behind me." They looked over his shoulder as Marguerite stepped into view. "Oh... We've seen HER before," joked Malone. Veronica slapped his shoulder as she giggled then said "that isn't nice." "Ha ha," began Marguerite "but can you tell me who they are?" She asked pointing back at the two people who were making their way into the room. Veronica looked suspiciously at the pair. "Someone who knows the way home?" she asked sarcastically. "How did you guess?" Marguerite said mockingly. Challenger looked at the two new faces and asked, "Who are you?" Kayla walked over to him and taking his hand in hers she replied "I am Kayla Rigby and this is William Marshal. And you are Professor George Challenger, Ned Malone, and Veronica Layton." Everyone stared at her in wonder waiting for some kind of explanation. "I am Arthur Summerlee's granddaughter" she smiled back at them. "And yes," began Roxton, "they have come to take us home!" Looking even more skeptical, Veronica asked, "Haven't we heard all of this before?" "Yes, we have," Challenger said. "But not from someone claiming to be Summerlee's granddaughter." Stepping back from Challenger, Kayla turned to Veronica. Smiling she said, " He told me you wouldn't believe me so he sent a few things along to prove I am telling the truth." She reached into her knapsack and retrieved a small wooden box. Setting it on the table, she opened it and took out a pair of glasses, a sealed envelope, and another piece of paper, which was folded together. She handed the glasses to Marguerite, "A pair of grandfather's spectacles." Handing the envelope to Challenger, she said "this is for you." Smiling he took it from her and turned it over in his hands. "And this is for you;" she said handing the other piece of paper to Veronica. Like Challenger, she didn't open her gift right away because she was not sure of what she might find.
Slowly, as if he were opening a bag of snakes, he opened the envelope and removed its contents. He unfolded the piece of paper and sat down at the table. Looking over the letter, he said "It IS Arthur's handwriting." "Well, read it, George!" coaxed Marguerite as the others looked on with growing interest.
He looked the paper over once more then began to read.
My Dearest Friends,
If you are reading this, I can safely say that my granddaughter and companion have been successful in their search for you and my dreams were correct in the location of the caves. I am hoping this finds you all doing well and in good spirits. However, it is with great sadness that I must explain to you the circumstances of your return home.
Upon My return homE, I have been met with great interest as to my whereabouts the year I was away. And, I am sorry to say, most of these interests are from people who would gladly tear apart the wondrous plateau, which we learned to call home, for personal gain and profit. It is for these reasons and a few others, that I have given my granddaughter orders to destroy the only known way to and from the plateau once you are all safely back home in London. George, she is my granddaughter and has learned much from me so don't even try to argue this point with her, for you will most certainly loose.
I understand that the possibility of never being able to return may carry a large weight in some of your decisions to leave or stay. With this in mind you should all take some time to battle with your own hearts and minds. Although, I think that you all would agree with me that the longer you wait, the more dangerous it becomes that the caves may be found.
Veronica, I knew you would be skeptical about my granddaughter, so I have sent along a special gift for you. It is a painting much like the one I had been working on before that horrible day on the bridge. I hope this little item well help all of you to trust that she is who she says and not out to harm any of you in any way.
Whatever you decide, I know it will come from your hearts. And though I would hope to see you all again, I would not blame any of you for staying in our wonderful and beautiful lost world. Not a moment passes that I don't wish I were still there with you.
With love forever to you all,
Arthur Summerlee
The room that only moments before had been filled with the hopeful and intriguing aspects of the possibilities of going home, now was solemn and sad. Challenger looked up from the letter at Kayla. "Dreams?" he asked. Kayla looked around the room at the expectant faces and began, "When my grandfather came home from the hospital, he started having what he thought were nightmares about the plateau. But after a while he came to understand them as signs. His dreams showed him the caves behind the great waterfall and in one of the dreams, Malone came to tell him the caves were the way home." "That explains the dream I had of Summerlee at the waterfall" Malone said. "That explains ALL our dreams," Roxton added. "Yes, but how can we go home knowing we can never return?" Challenger asked. "Who would want to come back?" Marguerite began, "I'll give you my answer now. When do we leave?" Kayla looked around at the rest of the group. "I take it the rest of you would like to sleep on it?" she asked. Veronica looked up from the painting Summerlee had sent her at Marguerite. Then looking over to Malone she turned and walked out of the room. "I'll take that as a yes," said William. Malone watched Veronica walk away not knowing if he should go after her or not. After all, he didn't know if he would be staying or going himself, so what would he tell her? He looked at Kayla and said, "Excuse me please." then went to his room. Roxton stood there looking shamefully at Marguerite. Why can't you keep those comments to yourself?" he asked her. "I'm sorry," Marguerite whined. "But you know I've never been good at hiding my feelings to spare someone else's." "Well...you could have fooled me," he shot back before walking out of the room. As the harshness of his words hit home, tears welled up in her eyes. She turned and stomped out of the room. Challenger looked at Kayla and William and said, "I'll...be in the lab if anyone needs me." And he stood up and left the room. William walked over and put his hand on Kayla's shoulder. "You always knew how to clear a room dear," he said smiling. She didn't find the humor in his remark. She shot him a heated glance and then went off to find Veronica.
