CHAPTER THREE
A few yards away from the treehouse a raptor collapses and the mist moves towards the treehouse.
* * * * * *
Marguerite has fell asleep resting against the bed; she still has hold of Tim's hand. The mist flows in through the window, Roxton whose sitting on the chair watches it entranced.
ROXTON: What the hell?
The mist moves towards him, he gets out of the chair, it surrounds him then disappears, his eyes glaze over. In the bedroom Tim starts shaking.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) Challanger.
He rushes in from the lab, Tim stops shaking, Challanger checks his pulse.
CHALLANGER: He's alive, barely.
Tim opens his eyes. Roxton walks in.
ROXTON: What's all the commotion?
He looks at Tim, whose looking at Roxton scared.
TIM: It's him, Marguerite look!
Challanger ushers Roxton out of the room.
CHALLANGER: He's delirious.
ROXTON: Well he'll be dead by morning.
The door to the bedroom is open and Marguerite can hear every word.
ROXTON: I'm surprised he lasted this long...good riddance he was no help anyway.
Roxton looks at Marguerite, who looks at him with hate in her eyes, Challanger walks back to the lab. Marguerite walks out of the bedroom and closes the door quietly, she stands face to face with Roxton.
ROXTON: You look angry Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: Who the hell gave you the right to judge if he's going to live or die?
ROXTON: Look at him, he's wasting away.
MARGUERITE: Why are you acting like this?
ROXTON: Truth hurts, doesn't it?
MARGUERITE: So does a bullet to the head.
ROXTON: And when did you gain the ability to have compassion?
He laughs and turns around.
MARGUERITE: And what s that supposed to mean?
He starts to walk off, she grabs hold of his arm, he pushes her back. She steadies herself against the table, she starts coughing and shaking a little, and she grabs hold of the table to regain her balance. Roxton walks over to her and grips her arm. She looks him in the eye not showing her fear.
MARGUERITE: Let go of me.
ROXTON: Look at yourself, you're as pathetic as he is, I can't use you when your like this.
She grabs hold of a saucepan and hits him over the head with it. He flinches, she grabs a knife from the other end of the table. He walks towards her, she holds the knife at arms length.
MARGUERITE: Get out (SHOUTS) Get out.
Challanger comes out of the lab, Malone and Veronica join him shortly after.
MALONE: What's going on?
Marguerite and Roxton are oblivious to those around them. Roxton walks over to Marguerite until the knife she's holding is pressing against his neck.
ROXTON: Go on, do it (HE RAISES HIS VOICE) do it...Remember though it won't be me you're stabbing.
He grabs hold of Marguerite's wrist and directs the knife to his chest.
ROXTON: Maybe here would be better.
MARGUERITE: Stop it.
Challanger steps towards them.
CHALLANGER: She's right, Roxton?
Tim shouts from the next room. Marguerite drops the knife and Roxton walks out of the treehouse.
VERONICA: What was he doing?
Marguerite ignores the question and walks into her room, she sits beside Tim on the bed.
TIM: You need to help him, It has Roxton now.
MARGUERITE: I know.
She looks at Tim.
MARGUERITE: You're fevers breaking.
TIM: I feel better.
He lies back down, she kisses him on the forehead and takes his hand.
MARGUERITE: Goodbye.
He closes his eyes, she checks his pulse, then lets go of his hand. Challanger walks in.
CHALLANGER: What was Roxton...Marguerite?
He sees Tim.
CHALLANGER: I'm sorry...Look about Roxton...
MARGUERITE: We need to find him. We don't have much time.
CHALLANGER: You need to tell us what's going on.
She nods then gets up and wanders into the other room.
* * * * * *
The group is getting ready to leave the treehouse.
VERONICA: How long do we have to find the spirits body?
MARGUERITE: Give it two days.
CHALLANGER: The people who killed this man, the spirit...Who are they? Are they still alive?
MARGUERITE: Does it matter?
She impatiently waits for them at the elevator.
CHALLANGER: If we don't find the body, the spirit will drain Roxton, if we find at least one of the killers, the spirit will leave Roxton a lot sooner.
MALONE: Where was he killed? The killers could live around there.
MARGUERITE: Or they could be dead and we would have wasted time looking for them.
VERONICA: It's worth a try.
MARGUERITE: Head hunter territory, and from what Tim told me they moved from there to live six miles south.
VERONICA: Then thats where we'll go.
MARGUERITE: It's a long shot, you go look for the killers, I'll find the body myself.
Challanger steps towards the elevator.
CHALLANGER: Out of the question, it's too dangerous.
MARGUERITE: I can take care of myself.
The elevator descends before Challanger can stop her.
CHALLANGER: She is the most stubborn human being...
MALONE: we should go after her?
CHALLANGER: We should split up, two of us go south and one of us go after Marguerite.
They all look at each other wondering who should accompany the worried Marguerite.
* * * * * *
Marguerite kept the gun in her hand, keeping an eye out for danger and Roxton. The bushes behind her rustled and she turns and aims her gun.
Malone comes out.
MALONE: Hey, it's only me.
MARGUERITE: Where are Challanger and Veronica?
MALONE: On they're way south.
MARGUERITE: I hope they have fun looking for someone that doesn't exist anymore.
She carries on walking Malone hurries to catch up with her.
MALONE: Do you know where the body is?
MARGUERITE: I have an idea.
MALONE: Care to let me know?
MARGUERITE: I'll tell you when we get closer...who decided you got to come with me?
MALONE: No one...I drew the short straw.
She turns and glares at him.
MARGUERITE: Very funny Malone.
He runs to catch up with her.
MALONE: Will you slow down!
MARGUERITE: If you wanted to walk, you should have gone with the others.
MALONE: It'll be dark soon, we have to make camp then.
MARGUERITE: Then I suggest we hurry now so we can get as far ahead as possible...not that we're stopping anyway.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile Challanger and Veronica were still walking after going 5hrs without stopping.
VERONICA: It'll be dark soon, we should make camp.
CHALLANGER: We can walk for about an hour longer, make camp, then start again first thing in the morning.
VERONICA: Do you think we'll get help to Roxton in time?
CHALLANEGER: I hope so, I sincerely hope so.
* * * * * *
It's dark now and Marguerite and Malone are still walking, they can hardly see even with the burning torches. Marguerite leans against a tree resting, waiting for Malone to catch up.
MALONE: We need to rest.
MARGUERITE: No we don't.
He stops in front of her. She starts shivering.
MALONE: You're already sick, not sleeping is only going to make things worse.
MARGUERITE: I'm not sick.
MALONE: Then why have you been coughing all the way here? And why are you shivering now?
MARGUERITE: We need to keep moving.
MALONE: I'm staying.
MARGUERITE: Fine.
MALONE: Good.
He sits down satisfied.
MARGUERITE: You can catch up to me in the morning.
MALONE: The way you're going, you'll be dead by morning...I know you're worried, we all are, I saw Tim too. I know what this spirit can do...
Marguerite, who had carried on walking, stopped and turned to face Malone.
MARGUERITE: No, you don't know, you don't know because you only saw Tim sick for two minutes, I saw him dying for two days...If you know what this thing can do then educate me Malone. Give me the facts.
MALONE: I, I don't know.
She walks towards him and crouches down in front of him, the torch she's holding reflects the flame in her eyes causing Malone to see the pain and anger she feeling.
MARGUERITE: He told me what happened at the start. First your fine, minding your own business then all of a sudden your cold, dizzy, lethargic, a bit of a headache now and again. You gradually get more tired as the spirit consumes you, takes your energy, your mind and your thoughts aren't yours anymore, you can't control them. You can't get warm so you go blue cos of the cold, you feel feverish, sweaty and dirty...
MALONE: Marguerite I...
MARGUERITE: Then I saw him, he was hallucinating, fighting the spirit, walking around like a zombie well when he could muster the strength to even stand that is...he couldn't keep his footing, you can't eat, you can't sleep, you can't drink, you can't fight anymore cos your so tired, he felt nauseous, senile for a time, paranoid, hallucinating some more.
Then his fever broke a real high fever like when you get stung by a giant bee, he felt cold but happy...he thought he was going to live, then he died and if I hadn't have been sick the spirit would've got me instead of Roxton and Tim might still be alive.
Write that in your book, never know all that knowledge you just gained might get you that Pulitzer you always wanted.
Marguerite turns round and carries on walking, she pulls her coat tighter and puts her hand over her mouth to mask a series of coughs, and she fights to keep her eyes open. Malone stares after her; worriedly, he gathers his thoughts and runs up to her. The rest of the journey was quiet and Malone didn't pry anymore.
Morning came after what seemed like hours, they walk towards a stream and stop for a drink.
MALONE: Marguerite, about last night...
MARGUERITE: Forget about it.
MALONE: I...
MALONE: I told you forget about it.
She walks over to a tree and leans against it, she closes her eyes.
MARGUERITE: We're almost there. This stream opens into a lake we can stop there.
Head Hunters gather by a large bush across the stream; watching them. While Roxton watches them from a distance.
MALONE: Where's the body?
MARGUERITE: When Tim's friend was lucid at the start, he asked where the body could be buried. The spirit answered saying his killers spent a lot of time gathering jewels that they'd stolen from nearby tribes and taking them to the waters edge of a lake in head-hunter territory, he searched near there but found nothing...
MALONE: What happened?
MARGUERITE: He searched their cabin instead, they found him and knocked him out, then killed him when he'd answered their questions.
MALONE: Why not bury him where they lived?
MARGUERITE: They were superstitious, they thought if they kept the body at the murder site the spirit would return to his body one last time to seek revenge.
MALONE: So they hid the body and a tormented spirit was made.
MARGUERITE: Now it takes vengeance on anyone and uses their bodies until he can find his own...We need to carry on.
She stands up, Malone stops drinking and stands beside her.
MALONE: And you think the body was dumped near the jewels, in the water?
MARUERITE: It has to be.
She steadies herself against the tree.
MALONE: Why?
She looks at him.
MARGUERITE: If it's not, Roxton's dead and you'll be the next body on the menu.
MALONE: Why me?
MARGUERITE: The spirit thinks I'm sick remember?
* * * * * *
Challanger and Veronica are kneeling behind a bush, spying on a little hut, a MAN in his late 50's walks out.
VERONICA: Do you think that's him?
CHALLANGER: I hope so.
VERONICA: I'll go and talk to him.
CHALLANGER: We'll both go.
They both walk out from their hiding place, the man looks at them and aims his gun.
VERONICA: We just want to talk.
MAN: Bout what?
CHALLANGER: Are you James Fletcher?
JAMES: Yep, are you here to see my jewel collection?
VERONICA: (WHISPERS) Marguerite and I are in the wrong places.
CHALLANGER: We want to know where the body is, of a man you killed a few years ago.
The man starts shooting at them, they duck behind the bush.
VERONICA: What happened to the subtle approach?
James' shooting attracts the attention of a T-Rex, it roars behind Challanger and Veronica, they start running back towards James who is now shooting at the T-Rex.
VERONICA: Don't shoot, run.
Veronica and Challanger run into the hut while the T-Rex munches on James.
CHALLANGER: Lets go.
They sneak past T-Rex and run back to the bushes.
VERONICA: Now what do we do?
CHALLANGER: Hope the others had more luck.
VERONICA: And if they didn't?
CHALLANGER: God help us all.
* * * * * *
Marguerite and Malone are almost at the lake, the head-hunters are following silently behind, Marguerite and Malone turn round at the sound of a snapping twig and are faced with six head-hunters. Marguerite shoots one as does Malone and two more come out of the bushes, M and M stand back to back shooting at the head-hunters, they retreat into the bushes then jump out again as Marguerite and Malone try to leave.
They jump Marguerite and Malone who immediately fight back. Malone stabs one that wraps its arms around his neck. Two of them grab Marguerite by each arm, Malone shoots one, and Marguerite takes the spear he held and stabs the other. Three are left they circle Marguerite and Malone. Roxton runs out of the bushes into the clearing, the headhunters take one look at him and flee. Marguerite slowly walks towards Roxton.
MARGUERITE: Roxton? Is that you?
Roxton walks over to her. His eyes no longer glazed.
ROXTON: (PLEADING) Marguerite?
He suddenly smiles then grabs her arm.
ROXTON: Roxton is almost dead.
Malone walks to the edge of the lake, Roxton takes no notice of him, Roxton pushes Marguerite against a tree then walks towards her, Malone sneaks up behind him and hits him over the head with the butt of the gun, he falls to the floor.
MALONE: Are you all right.
MARGUERITE: I feel sick.
The spirit rises out of Roxton like a mist, he gasps for breath then falls unconscious, The mist moves towards Malone.
MARGUERITE: Malone run, (SHOUTS) run, go.
He starts running the mist follows him, Marguerite slowly stands, she looks around near the water anxiously.
MARGUERITE: Where the hell is it?
She walks into the water, something at the bottom of the water is glistening, she wades in and dives under and swims to the glistening object. A sack is at the bottom of the water filled with jewels. A rope is attached to the sack, she follows it to a large underwater plant
in the middle attached to the rope is a body, she unties the rope and drags the body back to shore ignoring the jewels. She gets out of the water.
Roxton is starting to regain conscious, Marguerite kneels beside him.
MARGUERITE: I'll be right back.
She runs in the direction that Malone went in.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) Malone, Malone where are you?
Faintly in the distance she hears Malone shout her name.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) run back towards the water.
She hears him running he ducks under a large branch and sprints past Marguerite. The mist passes right through her, she falls to the ground.
Malone runs back to the water and stops beside Roxton, The mist stops right in front of Malone, it turns and hovers over the body then disappears.
ROXTON: What was that?
MALONE: Long story, how are you feeling?
ROXTON: Tired a little cold.
MALONE: Hear that Marguerite, he'll be fine.
He turns round when she doesn't answer.
MALONE: Where is she?
ROXTON: She's here?
MALONE: She saved your life.
They run to where she was standing before.
ROXTON: There she is.
They hurry over to her, Roxton kneels beside her, he puts his hand to her forehead.
ROXTON: She's got a fever...Where's Challanger?
He gently moves her hair away from her face.
MALONE: Now, I don't know.
ROXTON: He'll have to meet us halfway.
He tries to pick her up.
ROXTON: Why do I feel so weak?
MALONE: Let me help.
ROXTON: I've got her.
He picks her up.
ROXTON: We need to get back, now.
They start walking as fast as they can, Roxton is stumbling because of the recently departed spirit and Malone because of the lack of sleep.
* * * * * *
Challanger and Veronica are picking up the trail that Marguerite and Malone were taking.
VERONICA: Where are they?
In the distance Roxton shouts them.
VERONICA: Hear that? He's alive, they did it.
They run towards the other, their cheeriness dampers when they see Marguerite's state.
MALONE: She's sick.
VERONICA: Ned you look tired...Are you okay?
MALONE: Great.
He smiles at her.
ROXTON: Challanger, she needs help.
* * * * * *
Everyone is sat at the table, including Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: I'm not used to all this attention...Roxton's the one that almost died, you should be giving him all the attention.
ROXTON: (JOKING) They would be if you hadn't have got sick trying to help me.
MARGUERITE: Next time I'll let the spirit kill you then...We'll have to go back to that lake sometime soon.
VERONICA: Why's that?
MARGUERITE: You wouldn't believe the amount of jewels that were in that sack below the water.
Everyone looks at her.
MARGUERITE: I was joking.
Marguerite walks into her room and closes the door, Tim's gun is on the dresser, she looks at it and puts it in the drawer sadly. Roxton opens the door and walks in, he closes the door behind him.
MARGUERITE: You're supposed to knock.
ROXTON: You know whatever I said or did before...
She faces him.
MARGUERITE: It's forgotten.
ROXTON: I'm sorry.
She sits down on the bed.
MARGUERITE: It wasn't you.
He sits down beside her.
ROXTON: So, you really stayed up all night just to help me?
MARGUERITE: (JOKING) Well I didn't have anything to do just then.
ROXTON: Well thankyou.
She leans in close to him and looks into his eyes.
MARGUERITE: You know how you can really thank me?
Roxton smiles.
ROXTON: How's that?
She gently puts her hands on either side of his face and pulls him closer.
MARGUERITE: Get me the jewels...
She whispers in his ear.
MARGUERITE: From the bottom of the lake.
He watches her as she walks out and smiles to himself, he gets up and leaves a beautiful light blue gemstone on her pillow then walks out.
THE END
A few yards away from the treehouse a raptor collapses and the mist moves towards the treehouse.
* * * * * *
Marguerite has fell asleep resting against the bed; she still has hold of Tim's hand. The mist flows in through the window, Roxton whose sitting on the chair watches it entranced.
ROXTON: What the hell?
The mist moves towards him, he gets out of the chair, it surrounds him then disappears, his eyes glaze over. In the bedroom Tim starts shaking.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) Challanger.
He rushes in from the lab, Tim stops shaking, Challanger checks his pulse.
CHALLANGER: He's alive, barely.
Tim opens his eyes. Roxton walks in.
ROXTON: What's all the commotion?
He looks at Tim, whose looking at Roxton scared.
TIM: It's him, Marguerite look!
Challanger ushers Roxton out of the room.
CHALLANGER: He's delirious.
ROXTON: Well he'll be dead by morning.
The door to the bedroom is open and Marguerite can hear every word.
ROXTON: I'm surprised he lasted this long...good riddance he was no help anyway.
Roxton looks at Marguerite, who looks at him with hate in her eyes, Challanger walks back to the lab. Marguerite walks out of the bedroom and closes the door quietly, she stands face to face with Roxton.
ROXTON: You look angry Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: Who the hell gave you the right to judge if he's going to live or die?
ROXTON: Look at him, he's wasting away.
MARGUERITE: Why are you acting like this?
ROXTON: Truth hurts, doesn't it?
MARGUERITE: So does a bullet to the head.
ROXTON: And when did you gain the ability to have compassion?
He laughs and turns around.
MARGUERITE: And what s that supposed to mean?
He starts to walk off, she grabs hold of his arm, he pushes her back. She steadies herself against the table, she starts coughing and shaking a little, and she grabs hold of the table to regain her balance. Roxton walks over to her and grips her arm. She looks him in the eye not showing her fear.
MARGUERITE: Let go of me.
ROXTON: Look at yourself, you're as pathetic as he is, I can't use you when your like this.
She grabs hold of a saucepan and hits him over the head with it. He flinches, she grabs a knife from the other end of the table. He walks towards her, she holds the knife at arms length.
MARGUERITE: Get out (SHOUTS) Get out.
Challanger comes out of the lab, Malone and Veronica join him shortly after.
MALONE: What's going on?
Marguerite and Roxton are oblivious to those around them. Roxton walks over to Marguerite until the knife she's holding is pressing against his neck.
ROXTON: Go on, do it (HE RAISES HIS VOICE) do it...Remember though it won't be me you're stabbing.
He grabs hold of Marguerite's wrist and directs the knife to his chest.
ROXTON: Maybe here would be better.
MARGUERITE: Stop it.
Challanger steps towards them.
CHALLANGER: She's right, Roxton?
Tim shouts from the next room. Marguerite drops the knife and Roxton walks out of the treehouse.
VERONICA: What was he doing?
Marguerite ignores the question and walks into her room, she sits beside Tim on the bed.
TIM: You need to help him, It has Roxton now.
MARGUERITE: I know.
She looks at Tim.
MARGUERITE: You're fevers breaking.
TIM: I feel better.
He lies back down, she kisses him on the forehead and takes his hand.
MARGUERITE: Goodbye.
He closes his eyes, she checks his pulse, then lets go of his hand. Challanger walks in.
CHALLANGER: What was Roxton...Marguerite?
He sees Tim.
CHALLANGER: I'm sorry...Look about Roxton...
MARGUERITE: We need to find him. We don't have much time.
CHALLANGER: You need to tell us what's going on.
She nods then gets up and wanders into the other room.
* * * * * *
The group is getting ready to leave the treehouse.
VERONICA: How long do we have to find the spirits body?
MARGUERITE: Give it two days.
CHALLANGER: The people who killed this man, the spirit...Who are they? Are they still alive?
MARGUERITE: Does it matter?
She impatiently waits for them at the elevator.
CHALLANGER: If we don't find the body, the spirit will drain Roxton, if we find at least one of the killers, the spirit will leave Roxton a lot sooner.
MALONE: Where was he killed? The killers could live around there.
MARGUERITE: Or they could be dead and we would have wasted time looking for them.
VERONICA: It's worth a try.
MARGUERITE: Head hunter territory, and from what Tim told me they moved from there to live six miles south.
VERONICA: Then thats where we'll go.
MARGUERITE: It's a long shot, you go look for the killers, I'll find the body myself.
Challanger steps towards the elevator.
CHALLANGER: Out of the question, it's too dangerous.
MARGUERITE: I can take care of myself.
The elevator descends before Challanger can stop her.
CHALLANGER: She is the most stubborn human being...
MALONE: we should go after her?
CHALLANGER: We should split up, two of us go south and one of us go after Marguerite.
They all look at each other wondering who should accompany the worried Marguerite.
* * * * * *
Marguerite kept the gun in her hand, keeping an eye out for danger and Roxton. The bushes behind her rustled and she turns and aims her gun.
Malone comes out.
MALONE: Hey, it's only me.
MARGUERITE: Where are Challanger and Veronica?
MALONE: On they're way south.
MARGUERITE: I hope they have fun looking for someone that doesn't exist anymore.
She carries on walking Malone hurries to catch up with her.
MALONE: Do you know where the body is?
MARGUERITE: I have an idea.
MALONE: Care to let me know?
MARGUERITE: I'll tell you when we get closer...who decided you got to come with me?
MALONE: No one...I drew the short straw.
She turns and glares at him.
MARGUERITE: Very funny Malone.
He runs to catch up with her.
MALONE: Will you slow down!
MARGUERITE: If you wanted to walk, you should have gone with the others.
MALONE: It'll be dark soon, we have to make camp then.
MARGUERITE: Then I suggest we hurry now so we can get as far ahead as possible...not that we're stopping anyway.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile Challanger and Veronica were still walking after going 5hrs without stopping.
VERONICA: It'll be dark soon, we should make camp.
CHALLANGER: We can walk for about an hour longer, make camp, then start again first thing in the morning.
VERONICA: Do you think we'll get help to Roxton in time?
CHALLANEGER: I hope so, I sincerely hope so.
* * * * * *
It's dark now and Marguerite and Malone are still walking, they can hardly see even with the burning torches. Marguerite leans against a tree resting, waiting for Malone to catch up.
MALONE: We need to rest.
MARGUERITE: No we don't.
He stops in front of her. She starts shivering.
MALONE: You're already sick, not sleeping is only going to make things worse.
MARGUERITE: I'm not sick.
MALONE: Then why have you been coughing all the way here? And why are you shivering now?
MARGUERITE: We need to keep moving.
MALONE: I'm staying.
MARGUERITE: Fine.
MALONE: Good.
He sits down satisfied.
MARGUERITE: You can catch up to me in the morning.
MALONE: The way you're going, you'll be dead by morning...I know you're worried, we all are, I saw Tim too. I know what this spirit can do...
Marguerite, who had carried on walking, stopped and turned to face Malone.
MARGUERITE: No, you don't know, you don't know because you only saw Tim sick for two minutes, I saw him dying for two days...If you know what this thing can do then educate me Malone. Give me the facts.
MALONE: I, I don't know.
She walks towards him and crouches down in front of him, the torch she's holding reflects the flame in her eyes causing Malone to see the pain and anger she feeling.
MARGUERITE: He told me what happened at the start. First your fine, minding your own business then all of a sudden your cold, dizzy, lethargic, a bit of a headache now and again. You gradually get more tired as the spirit consumes you, takes your energy, your mind and your thoughts aren't yours anymore, you can't control them. You can't get warm so you go blue cos of the cold, you feel feverish, sweaty and dirty...
MALONE: Marguerite I...
MARGUERITE: Then I saw him, he was hallucinating, fighting the spirit, walking around like a zombie well when he could muster the strength to even stand that is...he couldn't keep his footing, you can't eat, you can't sleep, you can't drink, you can't fight anymore cos your so tired, he felt nauseous, senile for a time, paranoid, hallucinating some more.
Then his fever broke a real high fever like when you get stung by a giant bee, he felt cold but happy...he thought he was going to live, then he died and if I hadn't have been sick the spirit would've got me instead of Roxton and Tim might still be alive.
Write that in your book, never know all that knowledge you just gained might get you that Pulitzer you always wanted.
Marguerite turns round and carries on walking, she pulls her coat tighter and puts her hand over her mouth to mask a series of coughs, and she fights to keep her eyes open. Malone stares after her; worriedly, he gathers his thoughts and runs up to her. The rest of the journey was quiet and Malone didn't pry anymore.
Morning came after what seemed like hours, they walk towards a stream and stop for a drink.
MALONE: Marguerite, about last night...
MARGUERITE: Forget about it.
MALONE: I...
MALONE: I told you forget about it.
She walks over to a tree and leans against it, she closes her eyes.
MARGUERITE: We're almost there. This stream opens into a lake we can stop there.
Head Hunters gather by a large bush across the stream; watching them. While Roxton watches them from a distance.
MALONE: Where's the body?
MARGUERITE: When Tim's friend was lucid at the start, he asked where the body could be buried. The spirit answered saying his killers spent a lot of time gathering jewels that they'd stolen from nearby tribes and taking them to the waters edge of a lake in head-hunter territory, he searched near there but found nothing...
MALONE: What happened?
MARGUERITE: He searched their cabin instead, they found him and knocked him out, then killed him when he'd answered their questions.
MALONE: Why not bury him where they lived?
MARGUERITE: They were superstitious, they thought if they kept the body at the murder site the spirit would return to his body one last time to seek revenge.
MALONE: So they hid the body and a tormented spirit was made.
MARGUERITE: Now it takes vengeance on anyone and uses their bodies until he can find his own...We need to carry on.
She stands up, Malone stops drinking and stands beside her.
MALONE: And you think the body was dumped near the jewels, in the water?
MARUERITE: It has to be.
She steadies herself against the tree.
MALONE: Why?
She looks at him.
MARGUERITE: If it's not, Roxton's dead and you'll be the next body on the menu.
MALONE: Why me?
MARGUERITE: The spirit thinks I'm sick remember?
* * * * * *
Challanger and Veronica are kneeling behind a bush, spying on a little hut, a MAN in his late 50's walks out.
VERONICA: Do you think that's him?
CHALLANGER: I hope so.
VERONICA: I'll go and talk to him.
CHALLANGER: We'll both go.
They both walk out from their hiding place, the man looks at them and aims his gun.
VERONICA: We just want to talk.
MAN: Bout what?
CHALLANGER: Are you James Fletcher?
JAMES: Yep, are you here to see my jewel collection?
VERONICA: (WHISPERS) Marguerite and I are in the wrong places.
CHALLANGER: We want to know where the body is, of a man you killed a few years ago.
The man starts shooting at them, they duck behind the bush.
VERONICA: What happened to the subtle approach?
James' shooting attracts the attention of a T-Rex, it roars behind Challanger and Veronica, they start running back towards James who is now shooting at the T-Rex.
VERONICA: Don't shoot, run.
Veronica and Challanger run into the hut while the T-Rex munches on James.
CHALLANGER: Lets go.
They sneak past T-Rex and run back to the bushes.
VERONICA: Now what do we do?
CHALLANGER: Hope the others had more luck.
VERONICA: And if they didn't?
CHALLANGER: God help us all.
* * * * * *
Marguerite and Malone are almost at the lake, the head-hunters are following silently behind, Marguerite and Malone turn round at the sound of a snapping twig and are faced with six head-hunters. Marguerite shoots one as does Malone and two more come out of the bushes, M and M stand back to back shooting at the head-hunters, they retreat into the bushes then jump out again as Marguerite and Malone try to leave.
They jump Marguerite and Malone who immediately fight back. Malone stabs one that wraps its arms around his neck. Two of them grab Marguerite by each arm, Malone shoots one, and Marguerite takes the spear he held and stabs the other. Three are left they circle Marguerite and Malone. Roxton runs out of the bushes into the clearing, the headhunters take one look at him and flee. Marguerite slowly walks towards Roxton.
MARGUERITE: Roxton? Is that you?
Roxton walks over to her. His eyes no longer glazed.
ROXTON: (PLEADING) Marguerite?
He suddenly smiles then grabs her arm.
ROXTON: Roxton is almost dead.
Malone walks to the edge of the lake, Roxton takes no notice of him, Roxton pushes Marguerite against a tree then walks towards her, Malone sneaks up behind him and hits him over the head with the butt of the gun, he falls to the floor.
MALONE: Are you all right.
MARGUERITE: I feel sick.
The spirit rises out of Roxton like a mist, he gasps for breath then falls unconscious, The mist moves towards Malone.
MARGUERITE: Malone run, (SHOUTS) run, go.
He starts running the mist follows him, Marguerite slowly stands, she looks around near the water anxiously.
MARGUERITE: Where the hell is it?
She walks into the water, something at the bottom of the water is glistening, she wades in and dives under and swims to the glistening object. A sack is at the bottom of the water filled with jewels. A rope is attached to the sack, she follows it to a large underwater plant
in the middle attached to the rope is a body, she unties the rope and drags the body back to shore ignoring the jewels. She gets out of the water.
Roxton is starting to regain conscious, Marguerite kneels beside him.
MARGUERITE: I'll be right back.
She runs in the direction that Malone went in.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) Malone, Malone where are you?
Faintly in the distance she hears Malone shout her name.
MARGUERITE: (SHOUTS) run back towards the water.
She hears him running he ducks under a large branch and sprints past Marguerite. The mist passes right through her, she falls to the ground.
Malone runs back to the water and stops beside Roxton, The mist stops right in front of Malone, it turns and hovers over the body then disappears.
ROXTON: What was that?
MALONE: Long story, how are you feeling?
ROXTON: Tired a little cold.
MALONE: Hear that Marguerite, he'll be fine.
He turns round when she doesn't answer.
MALONE: Where is she?
ROXTON: She's here?
MALONE: She saved your life.
They run to where she was standing before.
ROXTON: There she is.
They hurry over to her, Roxton kneels beside her, he puts his hand to her forehead.
ROXTON: She's got a fever...Where's Challanger?
He gently moves her hair away from her face.
MALONE: Now, I don't know.
ROXTON: He'll have to meet us halfway.
He tries to pick her up.
ROXTON: Why do I feel so weak?
MALONE: Let me help.
ROXTON: I've got her.
He picks her up.
ROXTON: We need to get back, now.
They start walking as fast as they can, Roxton is stumbling because of the recently departed spirit and Malone because of the lack of sleep.
* * * * * *
Challanger and Veronica are picking up the trail that Marguerite and Malone were taking.
VERONICA: Where are they?
In the distance Roxton shouts them.
VERONICA: Hear that? He's alive, they did it.
They run towards the other, their cheeriness dampers when they see Marguerite's state.
MALONE: She's sick.
VERONICA: Ned you look tired...Are you okay?
MALONE: Great.
He smiles at her.
ROXTON: Challanger, she needs help.
* * * * * *
Everyone is sat at the table, including Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: I'm not used to all this attention...Roxton's the one that almost died, you should be giving him all the attention.
ROXTON: (JOKING) They would be if you hadn't have got sick trying to help me.
MARGUERITE: Next time I'll let the spirit kill you then...We'll have to go back to that lake sometime soon.
VERONICA: Why's that?
MARGUERITE: You wouldn't believe the amount of jewels that were in that sack below the water.
Everyone looks at her.
MARGUERITE: I was joking.
Marguerite walks into her room and closes the door, Tim's gun is on the dresser, she looks at it and puts it in the drawer sadly. Roxton opens the door and walks in, he closes the door behind him.
MARGUERITE: You're supposed to knock.
ROXTON: You know whatever I said or did before...
She faces him.
MARGUERITE: It's forgotten.
ROXTON: I'm sorry.
She sits down on the bed.
MARGUERITE: It wasn't you.
He sits down beside her.
ROXTON: So, you really stayed up all night just to help me?
MARGUERITE: (JOKING) Well I didn't have anything to do just then.
ROXTON: Well thankyou.
She leans in close to him and looks into his eyes.
MARGUERITE: You know how you can really thank me?
Roxton smiles.
ROXTON: How's that?
She gently puts her hands on either side of his face and pulls him closer.
MARGUERITE: Get me the jewels...
She whispers in his ear.
MARGUERITE: From the bottom of the lake.
He watches her as she walks out and smiles to himself, he gets up and leaves a beautiful light blue gemstone on her pillow then walks out.
THE END
