Ned and Veronica's laughter was quickly silenced as they exited the treehouse elevator and saw the very worried expression on Challenger's face.
"Challenger, what's wrong?" Veronica asked as she set down the provisions they had traded for at the Zanga village. It took a lot to worry George Challenger, so the news he was about to share couldn't possibly be good.
"Roxton and Marguerite are back, but Marguerite is quite ill. I can't say with absolute certainty, but I think she may have contracted pneumonia."
Ned and Veronica could only stare in horror as Challenger recounted the day's events. "What can we do for her?" Ned asked. Though he and Marguerite didn't always see eye-to-eye, deep down he knew there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help her. He knew Veronica felt the same way.
Veronica's mind, however, was already several steps ahead. "How are the herb stores Challenger?"
"I checked on them earlier. We appear to have plenty of mustard and willow bark. The willow bark should help with the fever and the mustard with the chest congestion. What we'll need is something to help with her breathing. I took the liberty of paging through some of your parents' journals, Veronica, and noticed they mentioned an herb called Asclepias Tuberosa. They specifically mention that the root can be used to treat coughs and ease breathing."
"Let me see the picture," Veronica said as she reached for the journal Challenger was holding. She stared at the hand-drawn picture, willing her memory back more then 12 years to a time when her parents were still with her. She and her parents would wander the plateau for hours looking for new flora to add to their journals. After a while, she could identify the various plants and their properties almost as well as they did.
Think, Veronica! Marguerite is depending on you. Where have you seen that plant before? Suddenly, it came to her. "I've got it!" she said with a quick smile. "My parents said it was also called pleurisy root or butterfly weed. I remember because I thought that butterfly weed was such a pretty name for a plant. They grow on the edge of the southern forest, about three hours travel from here."
"Then we'd better get going while we still have some light," Ned said matter-of-factly as he began gathering various essentials they would need. "Veronica and I should be able to at least make it to the southern forest by nightfall. We'll camp overnight and head back at dawn."
"Thank you. Both of you," came Roxton's unexpected voice from Marguerite's doorway.
Veronica stared at the man she knew was hurting in ways that none of them could understand. "She's our friend, too, Roxton. Whatever we can do to help her, we'll do."
A short time later, Challenger stood on the balcony of the treehouse watching Veronica and Malone head into the jungle in the waning late afternoon light. He couldn't help but whisper a prayer for their safe and speedy return.
"Challenger, what's wrong?" Veronica asked as she set down the provisions they had traded for at the Zanga village. It took a lot to worry George Challenger, so the news he was about to share couldn't possibly be good.
"Roxton and Marguerite are back, but Marguerite is quite ill. I can't say with absolute certainty, but I think she may have contracted pneumonia."
Ned and Veronica could only stare in horror as Challenger recounted the day's events. "What can we do for her?" Ned asked. Though he and Marguerite didn't always see eye-to-eye, deep down he knew there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help her. He knew Veronica felt the same way.
Veronica's mind, however, was already several steps ahead. "How are the herb stores Challenger?"
"I checked on them earlier. We appear to have plenty of mustard and willow bark. The willow bark should help with the fever and the mustard with the chest congestion. What we'll need is something to help with her breathing. I took the liberty of paging through some of your parents' journals, Veronica, and noticed they mentioned an herb called Asclepias Tuberosa. They specifically mention that the root can be used to treat coughs and ease breathing."
"Let me see the picture," Veronica said as she reached for the journal Challenger was holding. She stared at the hand-drawn picture, willing her memory back more then 12 years to a time when her parents were still with her. She and her parents would wander the plateau for hours looking for new flora to add to their journals. After a while, she could identify the various plants and their properties almost as well as they did.
Think, Veronica! Marguerite is depending on you. Where have you seen that plant before? Suddenly, it came to her. "I've got it!" she said with a quick smile. "My parents said it was also called pleurisy root or butterfly weed. I remember because I thought that butterfly weed was such a pretty name for a plant. They grow on the edge of the southern forest, about three hours travel from here."
"Then we'd better get going while we still have some light," Ned said matter-of-factly as he began gathering various essentials they would need. "Veronica and I should be able to at least make it to the southern forest by nightfall. We'll camp overnight and head back at dawn."
"Thank you. Both of you," came Roxton's unexpected voice from Marguerite's doorway.
Veronica stared at the man she knew was hurting in ways that none of them could understand. "She's our friend, too, Roxton. Whatever we can do to help her, we'll do."
A short time later, Challenger stood on the balcony of the treehouse watching Veronica and Malone head into the jungle in the waning late afternoon light. He couldn't help but whisper a prayer for their safe and speedy return.