She marched, unarmed, though the jungle behind her captor, praying for an opportunity to escape.

            Beaumont interrupted her thoughts, "Once we get back to the ship we can go straight south along the coast, stop in Brazil, and then go around the cape and head for the Philippines, were the rest of the crew is waiting. Hong Kong is supposed to have some magnificent silks coming out of it this year. They'll be worth a fortune on the black market, and you could make yourself some decent clothes, that khaki getup does nothing for you."

            "So back to the high seas, huh? That salt water air is really rough on my hair," Marguerite replied snidely.

            "Oh, it wont be for long, just until things cool off in Europe. Some rather unsavory people are after me in London, so I thought I'd get my favorite spy and head for the colonies. You were always so good at getting sailors to tell their cargo."

            Marguerite cringed at the thought of dirty sailors with their grubby mitts. The smell of the harbor pubs with their cheap watered down liquor and smoke make her nauseous. She could almost feel the men pawing at her as she got them drunk and questioned them. It was something she was good at, and had even used this talent to help her friends out of trouble once, which went quite unappreciated if she remembered correctly. Fortunately, her ability to talk her way out of dire straits was gaining more recognition. Especially with the whole 'giant' situation Veronica got herself into.

            Her fate lay in the decision she made today about this man, for better or for worse. Everyone had a defining moment in their lives, and it looked like hers had finally come to pass. She would fight back, she didn't know how yet, but she would rather spend the rest of her life on the Plateau than to go back to the life Beaumont offered her.

Marguerite stepped hard and broke twigs, leaving a trail that Malone couldn't miss. She hoped that they would let her handle this situation, but knowing John the way she did, she doubted it. She had to incapacitate him before Roxton and the others found them.

***

Veronica watched the elevator rise expectantly, overjoyed to see Roxton's hat peeking over the edge. "Thank God you're here. Someone cut me loose."

They were all surprised to see Veronica laying on her side, tied to a tipped over chair. "What happened to you?"

"Marguerite ties a mean knot."

Challenger quickly found Veronica's knives stuck in a pillar supporting the roof, and began to cut her loose as she explained what had happened. "When we got back he was sitting right over there. Marguerite left with him about two hours ago. What did you find that would have made him so jumpy all of a sudden?" She turned to Malone as she reclaimed her cutlery.

"These, a journal and a photograph. They belonged to Marguerite's mother." He skipped the part about the vision, that story would have to wait.

Roxton was listening intently to Veronica relate the details of her encounter until he saw the small slip of paper on the table addressed to him. He unfolded it and read:

John,

Don't try to stop me. It is time for me to face my demons, and dark ones they are. I will leave a trail for you to follow off the Plateau, and maybe someday our paths will cross again, but until then, don't forget me. I know I will never forget you.

Your Marguerite

            He looked up to find everyone staring at him. "What does it say?" Malone asked.

            "She doesn't want us to come after her," he replied, not revealing any intimate details.

            "I am not letting that monster take her anywhere, he'll have to kill me first," Veronica stated with more venom than they had ever heard before. It sent chills down their spines. She knew something she wasn't telling as well.

            "Then we are agreed, we go after her now.