Chapter Two
He crawls along the muddy floor and tries to pull himself up into a sitting position, the pain errupts through his back, agony consuming his whole body. He stands up slowly and limps over to a large boulder, he breathes in deeply then bangs his shoulder against the hard stone. The dislocated shoulder pops back into place with a sharp crack and Roxton sits back against the cave satisfied, he's hurting all over but alive.
* * * * * *
Veronica walks onto the living area and watches as Marguerite packs a bag then walks to the elevator.
VERONICA: What are you doing?
Marguerite stops and turns around.
MARGUERITE: I'm going to look for Roxton.
VERONICA: We all want him to be alive, to see him walk in here like nothings happened...
MARGUERITE: He's been in worse situations than this and come out alive!
She takes Marguerite's back and puts it on the table.
VERONICA: The let us go, out of all of us you've had the least sleep.
Marguerite walks to her room then turns to Veronica.
MARGUERITE: Just imagine this had happened to Malone, what would you do?
VERONICA: ...Never give up hope.
Marguerite smiles satisfied.
MARGUERITE: That's what I thought.
* * * * * *
Applegate lies down on the ground, hidden in the tall grass. He watches as Veronica, Malone and Challanger leave the treehouse and walk until their out of his sight. He stands and looks up at the treehouse, he moves towards it then retreats almost immediately into the bushes as he hears the creaking of the descending elevator.
He watches as Margueirte walks into the jungle in the opposite direction to the others.
APPLEGATE: This is going to be easier than I thought.
* * * * * *
Roxton walks slowly to the trickling stream and kneels down to take a well deserved drink, the cool water runs down his burning throat. He splashes the water onto his face to cool him down. A gash on the side of his face colours the water, he stands back up and looks aroundto get his bearings then starts off on his way home.
* * * * * *
Marguerite sits in front of the little girl trying not to let her frustration show as she tries to find out what happened on that fateful day. She speaks in the Zanga dialect and the little girl doesn't seem so worried. Assai sits next to the girl as she won't talk without a familiar face there.
MARGUERITE: Please tell me what happened.
The little girl looks up at Assai.
ASSAI: I'm sorry, she's afraid of something.
MARGUERITE: Or someone...Who else was with you on the cliff? Was there someone else?
The little girls nods then speaks in a low voice as if afraid that someone other than Marguerite and Assai might hear her.
GIRL: A man pushed rock onto Lord Roxton, he ran into the bushes.
MARGUEIRTE: What was he like?
GIRL: He wore clothes like Lord Roxton.
MARGUERITE: Did he say his name?
The little girl shakes her head, no.
ASSAI: Was that any help?
MARGUERITE: It's better than nothing.
ASSAI: We all want to help he saved a daughter of the village, I know how much he means to you.
MARGUERITE: Thank you.
* * * * * *
MALONE: Over here!
Veronica and Challanger run to where Malone is kneeling by the stream.
MALONE: Blood and...
CHALLANGER: Boot marks, size eleven if I'm not mistaken.
VERONICA: That wasn't here yesterday.
CHALLANGER: He is alive.
MALONE: Marguerite was right.
Veronica stands up and looks around.
VERONICA: But where is he now?
* * * * * *
Marguerite shoots a warning shot into the bushes and waits for whatever made the noise to come out, she walks towards the bushes and aims the gun in that direction. She hears a click behind her then a familiar voice.
APPLEGATE: Drop it!
He walks ip behind her.
APPLEGATE: Don't make me ask twice...Slide it along the floor.
She kneels down and throws the gun away as she stands back up she takes hold fo the knife and conceals it in her hand.
APPLEGATE: It's been a long time.
MARGUERITE: Not long enough.
She turns around bringing the knife to his kneck, he grabs hold of her arm and take the knife from her. He looks at it then tucks it into his belt.
APPLEGATE: You stole this from me.
MARGUERITE: It probably wasn't yours in the first place...So you didn't die in that blast after all...Pity.
APPLEGATE: Neither did you or your friends.
MARGUERITE: Better luck next time...It was you who tried to kill John.
APPLEGATE: Tried? He is dead...And you're about to join him.
He pushes her forward and aims his gun at her.
MARGUERITE: You don't want to do that.
He thinks for a moment.
APPLEGATE: Yes I do.
Footsteps behind them momentarily distracts him.
"I want my cut".
Applegate rolls his eyes and sighs.
APPLEGATE: Now isn't the time Roberts.
ROBERTS: Now's the perfect time.
APPLEGATE: You'll get your share when I get my trophy.
MARGUERITE: Are you still looking for that?
ROBERTS: Still?
MARGUERITE: Yes, his last employees tried to help him too.
APPLEGATE: Ignore her!
ROBERTS: What happened to them?
MARGUERITE: He killed them.
ROBERTS: (To Applegate) you didn't tell me that!
APPLEGATE: You didn't need to know.
Roberts draws his gun and aims at Applegate.
ROBERTS: I want my money, now!
APPLEGATE: Oh for Gods sake!
Applegate turns around around and shoots Roberts.
APPLEGATE: I told you I was busy.
Marguerite seizes the opportunity and runs when he turns around she gone.
APPLEGATE: (Shouts) I'm going to hunt you all down! One by one, you won't escape next time.
He picks up Marguerite's gun.
APPLEGATE: I guarantee it.
* * * * * *
Later that night the rest of the explorers set up camp futher down the stream, Malone and Challanegr sleep while Veronica keeps watch. She listens to the noises of the Plateau amd watches out for any signs of danger. Nothing stirs, all is quiet. As Malone comes to yake over watch they don't see Applegate as he shifts closer to the unsuspecting explorers, watching every move they make.
* * * * * *
Marguerite leans back against the elevator as it ascends, she steps out then curses when she remembers the others won't be back until the next day.
She hears a voice shout her name, the best sound she's heard all day. She runs to the balcony and looks down.
MARGUERITE: (Shouts) Roxton!
She runs back into the elevator as as soon as it stops run to his side. She grabs hold of him as he falls and lowers him to the ground, she cradles him in her arms as he smiles then closes his eyes.
To be continued...
