After hearing this mammoth-like, red hair, creature speak, Challenger and Roxton were beside themselves. Neither of them had any clue on how to deal with this. Oddly enough, they began by going on as if, despite it's words, they were unable to talk to the animal in front of them.
Roxton gulped, "Did he just talk?"
Challenger stuttered, "I… Well, I mean… Uhh… It certainly appears that way…"
"Friends," the creature spoke again, "don't be alarmed. I only wish to talk, and that is very possible, although awkward." Seeing the dumbfounded looks on the Challenger and Roxton's faces, it went on, "My species is called the Bexnens. We are native to this… plateau. Compared to your species, we are a bit smarter, with great physical strength. It is awkward for me to speak. While picking up your language was relatively simple for me, we Bexnens, communicate telepathically."
"I can imagine," Challenger said in wonder, "how after reading and interpreting the abstract thoughts of individuals, common bilingual skills would seem elementary, which is why you were able to pick up our language so easily."
"Very good," the Bexnen commented, "that is exactly the case."
"But where do you come from, do you have a name?" Challenger asked.
"My name, of course, that would be easier," the Bexnen realized, "telepathic communication doesn't require us to rely upon names to identify one another, but we do have them. I am called Qiv."
"Hello Qiv, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Professor George Challenger, and my comrade here is Lord John Roxton."
"The hunter," Qiv said.
"That's right," Roxton said, "what do you hunt for food?"
Qiv smiled, at least that's what it appeared to be, his mouth was already stretched quite far, and as his face contorted, all it did was lift his lips slightly, stretch his mouth just a bit more, and his eyes closed a tinge, thus revealing less of his eye. "We try not to hunt. We dine mostly on plants, but we do consider meat to be somewhat of a delicacy on special occasions. If that's the case, we most often will come here, to this plateau, and kill a few dinosaurs, which we figure does more good than harm."
Challenger chuckled, "I'd have to say you're right in that. Come to the plateau, does that mean that you don't live here?"
"No," Qiv explained, "we leave in the jungles of the Amazon, in places where we are left alone. Unlike your species, we don't have the ability to create such small, precise instruments and writings. Fortunately, we have no desire to do so, either. We are a simple society, who value, and blend in, with the nature around us."
"Well," Roxton stated firmly, "you seem to do a remarkable job at concealing yourself. What's your secret?"
"There are very few of us," Qiv told him, "we limit our size to 20 Bexnens."
"Sounds like strict regulations?" Roxton asked accusingly.
"Our desire to mate is not as strong as it is for most other mammal species," Qiv said simply, "When one of us dies, a couple is expected to volunteer themselves and agree to mate."
"Remarkable," Challenger said in wonder, "but you do say you're intelligent?"
"Yes," Qiv said, "because of our telepathy, we our able to share our knowledge with each other very easily, and quickly too. We are one of the older species on this planet. Our history dates back to when these dinosaurs here were much more common."
"But you don't live on the plateau?" Roxton asked. Qiv nodded to confirm. Roxton continued, "So, I presume you know of a way off?"
"Yes," Qiv replied, "I do."
"Well, that's wonderful!" Challenger exclaimed, "I don't suppose it would be a problem for you to show us the way off. We have been searching for a way back to our society, a human society that is, for some time now."
Qiv made a motion that had to be a shrug, "I can show you now if you'd like."
Challenger seemed enthralled with this Qiv being, but Roxton was not so quick to befriend him. This Qiv just appears out of nowhere and is all of the sudden an ally? There was still so much that Roxton and Challenger didn't know about him, and Challenger was putting all his trust in him. Challenger had let his rifle drop to the ground, and hadn't looked at anything but Qiv for several minutes now. Roxton was keeping his eyes and ears open, at a time like this more so than ever. Roxton was not so quick to trust this "new friend."
"For you," Qiv was saying, "the way to the nearest exit off this plateau is a few days journey."
"Yes," Roxton said wearily, "and in the meantime the sun will be down soon, and we're just standing here in the open."
"Right," Challenger agreed, starting to make his way back to the reality of things, "and we actually have some friends and equipment to take with us. We have a treehouse not far from here; we'd be delighted if you came with us for tonight. We could leave in the morning."
"That plan works for me, I suppose, I've got nothing better to do," Qiv said lightly.
Roxton grabbed Challenger's shoulder and pulled him away from Qiv for a word.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing here? Do we really want to lead him to the treehouse?" Roxton demanded of Challenger.
"Roxton," Challenger replied, "Qiv is going to show us how to finally get off the plateau. Doesn't that entitle him to our kindness?"
"We've been deceived before," Roxton reminded him.
"John," said Challenger with excitement in his voice, "I've got a gut feeling that this is the start of an amazing few days! By weeks end, we will be off the plateau!"
"So our friend so casually assures us," Roxton said grimly, "I've got a gut feeling too, Challenger."
"And what is it your gut is telling you?" Challenger wanted to know.
"For one thing," Roxton said, "leading him to the treehouse is a bad idea."
"Look Roxton…" Challenger began, but then broke off his speech. He paused, took a deep breath, and said, "Caution can't hurt here, you're right about that. But even if Qiv isn't the nice, peaceful, being he appears to be, isn't it worth a ticket out of here?" Roxton gave him a look of doubt. "As leader of this expedition," Challenger declared, "I say that it is. Now, you watch our backs, but I truly believe that Qiv knows a way off the plateau, and with any luck he'll show it to us. If he does have something else planned later, an ambush, then it won't hurt to be on your toes, but if we can just get off, then what odds can't we overcome? And once we are off the plateau, it's back to London where our glory awaits us!"
"And what if he leads us into an ambush that's set up right here – on the plateau?" Roxton asked.
"That's always a possibility," Challenger admitted, "but for our expedition to succeed, we are going to have to take risks. We'll be ready, but we're moving forward."
"Very well, Challenger," Roxton agreed, "let's hope your optimism is well founded."
Challenger walked forward to Qiv; "We should start heading toward our treehouse now. I doubt we'll make it there by sunset, but I guess we'll just have to camp in the jungle."
"I don't know," Qiv said, "my bright color and large mass would only attract nocturnal predators. If you were to hop on my back, and give me directions to your treehouse, I can move much faster than you, even through the dense jungle flora."
"That sounds reasonable," said Challenger, grabbing his pack and his rifle and hopping on Qiv's back.
Roxton took a deep breath, "All right," he said grudgingly, and joined Challenger on the back of Qiv.
Marguerite stepped back from the doorway, with a smile on her face. "So," she said quietly to herself, "some new gems for a birthday present. How thoughtful, and from what I saw, it looks they'll fit in nicely with my collection."
She stepped back, and went out to one of the railings. High atop the trees, over looking the jungle, with the setting sun fading on the distant horizon, she felt like a queen. And as she stood there, looking out at the picturesque scene before her, she wondered what it was that she hadn't been able to see before. Despite the primitive cultures on it, scenically, this plateau was gorgeous at times, but never before so much to her. Maybe it wasn't what she wasn't seeing, but what she had never learned to appreciate. It could be that living on the plateau gives Marguerite a new appreciation for nature and beauty. That being the case, Marguerite would soon discover that this new perception changed the kind of person she was, she could not return to London the same woman who left two years ago.
Veronica was busy sorting out Marguerite's gems. She had no idea how difficult it was to classify each stone, and then proceed to separate them by type and purity. Veronica found herself gaining somewhat of an appreciation for the time and effort Marguerite was always spending sorting her gems. The difference was, Veronica was doing this for Marguerite, a friend, and Marguerite's motives were selfish. Still, it was a lot of work, much more so than it appeared. She was just about halfway done, when Malone strutted in.
Veronica looked up, "Taking a break?" she asked casually.
Malone walked up behind her, "Yeah," he said, "something like that."
He put his hands on her arms, but, as he hovered behind her, Veronica barely noticed, as much of her concentration was still on her work. Then Malone veered his head around her long, wild hair and kissed her on the cheek.
The thought of the gems dropped out of Veronica's mind as she smiled with the thought of her charming suitor looming behind her. She turned around, "An unexpected little surprise, Ned Malone," she said.
"A pleasant surprise, I hope," Malone teased.
"Always," Veronica said softly, with an ardent and open expression on her face.
Malone caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Veronica," he began, "all my life, I never really knew what love was. With Gladys it was about wanting love that just wasn't there. But when I'm with you, I get a taste of what true love is like – from your deep blue eyes to your warm smile – from your smooth and luscious skin to your soft, scrumptious lips. I love you, Veronica. For all those reasons, and most of all, for your kind, loving heart. I want that love between us to last an eternity."
"I love you too, Malone," she said softly.
Marguerite looked on into the distance and noticed something. She didn't know what it was, but it seemed to be very large, and moving. She scooted down a ways, and looked into the telescope mounted on the railing. Through the heavy brush she couldn't quite make out what it was, but was able to confirm that it was big, and it was coming toward the treehouse. Marguerite began to wonder just how sturdy Challenger's electric fence was. If this dinosaur, or whatever it was, came to the treehouse with the intention of attacking, it would surely be large enough to resist the electric fence.
Deciding to alert the others, Marguerite went looking for Malone. She found his journals closed, and Malone was gone. She ran to Veronica's room. As she peered in, she saw Malone and Veronica standing there, about to embrace.
Oh, Marguerite thought to herself, why do I always have to play chaperone?
Marguerite stepped into the room and called, "Veronica,"
Veronica and Malone broke off their almost kiss, and quickly positioned themselves in front of the gems Veronica had been sorting. Veronica's eyes widened and she quickly ushered Marguerite away.
"Marguerite," she told her, "you can't be in here." As they exited Marguerite rolled her eyes, already knowing all about the gems.
"Why not?" Marguerite complained, acting innocent as they stepped out of Veronica's room, "In need of a little privacy?" she toyed.
Veronica gave Marguerite a hard stare, "Marguerite!" she exclaimed, but then she calmed herself down, "what do you want?"
"There's something outside…" Marguerite said slowly.
"What is it?" Veronica asked, assuming that Marguerite was overreacting to a so-called threat, that, in reality, she just didn't understand.
"I don't know," Marguerite replied, "it's hard to tell. Maybe you should take a look."
"Look," said Veronica, thinking of Malone, "is it really that important?"
"Veronica," Marguerite said seriously, "you'd really better check this out. I'm sure you'll recognize it, but I don't and…"
"Fine," said Veronica, "let's go."
Marguerite found what she had seen through the telescope and let Veronica look at it herself.
"Now," Marguerite told her, "maybe that's just a dinosaur, but to me, it doesn't look that way."
"That's no dinosaur," Veronica said.
The concern, bafflement, and confusion in Veronica's voice made Marguerite doubt their safety even more. She was expecting Veronica to look back at her, smile and say something along the lines of, "Oh, that's just…" Instead, Veronica sounded worried, and when Veronica was worried, bad things happened.
"Well," Marguerite said, "what is it?"
"I don't know," Veronica said, "I'm pretty sure I've never seen it before. Then again, it's hard to see, the suns almost down, and there's a lot of jungle over there. It's moving fast too."
Veronica was one to have her fun. "Veronica," Marguerite cautioned, "if you really do know what this is, and you're just playing with me, then I swear…"
"This is no joke," Veronica said, "go get Malone. And tell him to bring his rifle."
"Challenger," Roxton said, "I'm telling you, we're lost, this isn't the right trail."
Challenger gave a deep breath, "I'm beginning to believe you're right," he said.
"Don't beat yourself up old boy," Roxton told him, "moving that fast makes it hard to get your bearings straight."
"Right," agreed the stumped Professor.
"Where do we go now?" Qiv asked, almost amused by this situation more than anything else.
"Well," Challenger sighed, "I guess we'd better retrace our steps and go from there. You can do that, right?"
"No problem," Qiv assured them.
"We'll have to go a little slower this time," Challenger explained, "so that Roxton and I can determine the correct route."
"Sounds reasonable," Qiv said, "now, gentleman, hold onto your hats!"
Qiv took off like a rocket, sprinting fast and hard to retrace their steps. He knew time was important, as the setting sun barely peeked over the distant horizon.
I hope we make it back before nightfall, Challenger thought as Qiv swept them across the jungle.
Malone came running in with his rifle.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"That," said Veronica, pointing to a large red… something that was now almost there.
"What is that thing?" Malone asked with utter curiosity.
"Trouble," Veronica replied.
"And is that fur?" Malone wondered.
Marguerite put a hand on his shoulder; Malone turned to see her with a quaint little smile on her face. She raised his gun up, "Just be ready to fire," she told him.
Malone braced himself to fire, as did Marguerite. Veronica was there too, knife in hand.
"Wow," marveled Malone, "that's big!"
"Here it comes," announced Veronica.