AUTHOR'S NOTE: I began writing this story before The Lost World's third season began. So, I will continue to write the story as though it took place sometime during the late second season. Therefore, the characters still regard Marguerite's past as a mystery.
The next day, Challenger, Roxton, and Qiv arrived at the treehouse.
"Veronica?" Challenger shouted.
Moments later, they heard Veronica shout back, "Come on up."
"We have a guest that might make that a little difficult," Challenger explained.
Suddenly, they saw Veronica come up and peer over the treehouse railing. Her reaction wasn't exactly what Challenger was expecting. Her eyes widened, and she drew her knife.
"Let them go," Veronica shouted.
Challenger exchanged a look with Roxton, both of them confused. They looked at each other, and then at Qiv who was positioned between them. Finally, they realized that Veronica was under the impression that Qiv had somehow captured them, and was holding them captive. Challenger did not understand this because it implied that Veronica was aware of the intelligence and communication skills of Qiv.
Roxton, though, did not take this much time to think the situation over. A smile stretched across his face. "Veronica," he said, "we're not prisoners."
"Why don't you come down here and say hello," Challenger added, "and get the others."
Within minutes Malone, Veronica, and Marguerite came down from the elevator and confronted the Bexnen beast. Still, Challenger and Roxton were somewhat puzzled as to why their friends seemed so suspicious toward Qiv.
"What do you want?" asked Veronica, clearly addressing Qiv.
Challenger didn't give him time to answer. "You mean you're aware of the creature's ability to speak? I'm curious, have you encountered these creatures before?"
"The Bexnens," Veronica confirmed, "sure."
"He," said Malone, gesturing toward Qiv, "stopped by here last night."
"Well," Challenger told him, "I'm afraid that's not possible. This is Qiv and he was with Roxton and I all evening."
"Qiv?" Veronica questioned.
"That's right," said Roxton, wondering if Veronica knew something.
"The Bexnen we saw told us he was looking for Qiv," Veronica explained.
Qiv quickly had an answer. "I think I can explain that," he calmly stated, "I was planning on returning to our village last night. That changed when I decided to help you all off the plateau. As I explained to you, Professor Challenger, we have strict regulations on how many of us there are at once. If I were injured or had died, then my people would have wanted to bring my body back to village to bury me, and begin working on replacing me with another. Undoubtedly, they sent someone after me to make sure I wasn't in any trouble."
"Why didn't you just send them a message telepathically?" Roxton asked.
"Our telepathy only works within a certain radius," Qiv answered swiftly and smoothly, "it is difficult to broadcast our thoughts great distances."
Roxton was beginning to think that there was nothing wrong with Qiv at all. Initially, his gut told him otherwise, but he had been rudely testing Qiv ever since they met, and Qiv politely answered all his questions. All the answers made sense too. The more Roxton got to know him, the more everything seemed to fit. Last night, Qiv even told Roxton that he'd draw a map if he had a few fingers. And judging from Qiv's confidence, Roxton was convinced that he did indeed know a way off the plateau, and Qiv was eager to get them there. At first Roxton thought that "there" might be a trap of some sort as opposed to a true exit off the plateau, but after he thought about it more, he realized that Qiv could've easily over-powered them at any moment, so he had no reason to lead them anywhere to commence an attack.
However, Qiv's interrogation wasn't quite over. "Perhaps," said Marguerite slowly, knowing full well what type of response she'd get, "you should go and tell your people of your change in plans. You seem to run fast, so it wouldn't take long, and it would ease their worries."
"It'll be okay," said Qiv, "they're just being precautious. There's no harm in me coming back a few days late."
Everyone seemed to accept Qiv's story, which was told through his laid back persona. With the exception of Marguerite, who knew that the Bexnen they saw last night was no friend of Qiv's, and that Qiv was in a big load of trouble. Nevertheless, Marguerite did not fill her friends in on the conversation she had with the other Bexnen.
That afternoon, the explorers helped set up an area near the treehouse where Qiv could spend the night. They put up what in essence was a large tent, using tall wooden stakes, and old pieces of cloth to form an area that was blocked off from three sides, the exception being the side that faced the treehouse. Challenger (of course) devised this so that Qiv could be nearby in the morning when they would leave, and so that during the night, Qiv's red coat and large mass would have little chance of capturing anything's attention.
After Qiv's temporary tent was set up, the explorers headed back up to the treehouse to begin packing the things that they would be bringing back to London.
Veronica went to her room. She found herself staring at the gems she had laid out on her table for Marguerite. It was then she realized that tomorrow her friends would leave and Marguerite's birthday would never be celebrated after all.
"Knock, knock." It was Malone.
"Finished packing?" Veronica asked.
"Actually," Malone said, "I'm working on it right now."
"Oh," said Veronica, sounding less depressed and more curious, "and what's in here that you're planning to pack?"
"You," Malone said simply.
Veronica blushed in response to his comment.
"What do you say?" Malone went on, "Would you like a first class tour of London?"
"I can't go, Malone," Veronica told him plainly, "I can't leave my home here—just like in the end, you can't leave your home in London."
"Well," Malone offered, still optimistic, "you don't have to leave your home. Just come with us, and stay in London a while. You can always come back here, and you know Challenger will want to lead another expedition here anyway, so you'll definitely have an opportunity. I've visited your world, why can't you visit mine?"
"I just can't," said Veronica.
"Is it because you know in your heart that if you came back to London, you might not want to come back here later?" Malone asked her.
Veronica looked down, and she wondered if that might be part of it. She couldn't really explain to herself what it was, but she just knew that she belonged here.
"You're parents," Malone added, "they'd understand, you know."
"It's not about my parents," Veronica said sharply, "it's about me, staying here, in this place where I belong."
"We'll talk later," said Malone, still thinking that in the end, it would all work out, and he would get her to come along. Malone knew that if she did, she could be happy.
"Nothing's going to change, Ned," Veronica told him firmly.
Roxton was in the living room, scrounging around for his belongings that he had out and packing them away in a pack. Then, he saw Malone walk out of Veronica's room.
"How'd it go?" Roxton asked.
Malone plopped down into the one of the chairs. "Why does she have to be so damn stubborn?" he asked aloud.
"She's very attached to this place, Neddy boy," Roxton said, "you know that."
"Yeah," Malone agreed, "but how can I go back without the love of my life."
"Before, when we left in the balloon, you were going to stay," Roxton recalled, "if you stayed back this time, well, Challenger would understand—we all would."
"I know," Malone said, "but after all the trouble we've encountered trying to get off this plateau… I get the feeling that it's either now or never. I'm not sure if I'm ready to give up my life back home, yet. I know I was going to stay before, but I've had time to think that through since then, and now I'm just not sure. I mean, what if, several years down the line, Veronica and I… Well, things go bad, and… Then what am I going to do?"
Before the conversation could continue, they were interrupted by a loud thud and a grunt of pain that came from Challenger's lab. Malone and Roxton ran over to the ledge overlooking the treehouse's second floor.
"You okay, Challenger?" Roxton called.
"Yes," replied Challenger, "I'm fine. Just having a little trouble moving out some of this equipment."
"Need a hand?" Malone offered.
Challenger sighed, "If it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all," Malone said with a smile, "just let me finish up collecting my things, and I'll be right down."
"Will do," Challenger agreed.
After everyone was packed, the explorers headed out to Qiv's tent. They started a big fire, and talked much of the night. Roxton became more and more confident that Qiv would be leading them off the plateau. He knew that Qiv was not as simple as he tried to let on, but Roxton could tell that his intentions to help the explorers, for whatever reason, were very true. He noticed that Marguerite seemed distant from the conversation, not saying much and keeping to herself. Roxton figured that she had her mind on returning to London in all her glory as part of the famed Challenger Expedition—a thought that would mesmerize Challenger too if he were not so fixed on learning more about Qiv and the Bexnen race. Even Roxton was an active participant in the conversation and found it interesting to learn about such a disciplined culture. It was a discipline that the hunter admired.
Malone and Veronica were also very active in the conversation. However, their tiff had apparently left some bitter feelings because the two did not interact with one another at all. They sat on opposite sides of the massive Qiv, and didn't really acknowledge each other's presence at the fire.
Something Malone realized for the first time in nearly two years was how sensitive Veronica was. Malone had always envisioned her as the toughest of them all—both mentally and physically. Yet now, he saw that she had a soft side too, and she was very protective of it. He felt guilty because she seemed to finally be exposing him to that side of her, and just as she was, he turned around and started appealing to the rough, rugged jungle girl in her, the girl who survived alone in the jungle for all those years.
In time, the explorers ended the conversation and made their way back to the treehouse. They needed their sleep, as they planned to begin their journey off the plateau at first light.
Before bed, Malone had to see Veronica. He hesitantly made his way to her door, and gingerly stepped inside.
"Veronica," he called softly.
"What do you want, Malone?" Veronica shot at him.
"I…"
But Veronica cut him off; "There's still not a chance I'm going back to London, if that's why you're here."
"It's not," Malone said quickly, intimidated a little by her harsh attitude, "I just wanted to say…"
"Say what?" Veronica urged him to continue, lightening up her mood.
"Well," Malone told her, "you know how much you mean to me." Veronica nodded. "It's not that I'm upset that you won't come to London with me—with us, it's just that… I wish I didn't have to let you go. And I just had to say that… I'm going to miss you, Veronica."
The two shared a long hug. "I'm going to miss you too," Veronica uttered, barely holding back tears that she would not let Malone see. Malone didn't realize that he was breaking her heart a piece at a time. The first part broke when she discovered that he had the opportunity to go back to London. The next broke when she found out he wasn't staying behind this time. And the rest of her heart would be broken tomorrow, when Malone would leave her life, perhaps forever. After several minutes, the two broke off the hug, and Malone left, not another word was spoken.
Meanwhile, Qiv was curled up comfortably within the confines of his tent—the fire still alive, but soon to reach it's end. He regurgitated the Shareb Crystal from his third stomach, which he had been careful not to use, and admired its beauty. He marveled at how something so pretty could be so damaging to a society. It symbolized something that they should have left behind a long time ago. Bexnens could pray without staring at a little rock. With the crystal taken away, Qiv believed that his people could grow closer to their gods. He placed the crystal back in his mouth, and swallowed, making sure to direct the crystal to his third stomach, the only place where it could not be digested. Bexnens had three stomachs. The third one was designed to store water in case they needed to travel for many days. This was useful since they could not carry canteens or water bottles. The lining of the stomach, slowly absorbed the water, but there were no acids there to break down solid foods. So, it was the safest place for Qiv to store the Shareb Crystal. Unfortunately, it meant that he could carry no water, but he had made sure to drink plenty when he reached a lake, river, or stream. He closed his large eyes, and prepared to sleep a bit, for he expected to carry many of the big cases he saw his human friends stuffing with useless junk.
Qiv was startled when the telepathic receiver in his head picked up one of the little brained humans heading his way.
"Surprised to see me," said Marguerite, holding a torch.
"What is it that you want?" Qiv asked her innocently.
"I want you to go away," Marguerite said.
"I thought you all wanted to get off this plateau?" Qiv said.
"Well," Marguerite said quickly, not really able to explain why she was doing this, "it's not that simple."
"Why not?" Qiv asked plainly.
"I don't know," Marguerite attacked, "why can't you simply let your people have that stupid crystal back, and stop looking for a place to hide?"
"I understand," Qiv said, "but I will not abandon the rest of your friends. If you do not wish to leave that's fine, but I've committed to helping them."
"If you don't leave," Marguerite threatened, "I'll tell them all about the crystal, and why your people are looking for you. Then nobody will be going anywhere with you."
"They are my friends," Qiv said, losing some of his confidence and casual tone, "they will understand."
"Will they?" Marguerite asked playfully, "if so, then why didn't you tell them the truth from the first place?"
Qiv realized that she was right. The rest of the explorers would not understand his cause, and would become fixated on making him do the right thing. Marguerite and Qiv both knew that his beliefs in this matter were so strong that he would die before returning the crystal to his people. How Marguerite was able to understand him so well, Qiv didn't quite know.
"I am aware that I wasn't completely honest," Qiv explained, "but I do know a way off the plateau, and I had every intention of leading you people off."
"I know," Marguerite said.
"Then why are you doing this to them?" Qiv asked.
"I'm doing them a favor," Marguerite told him, "we're all better off here then we were back in London. They just don't realize it yet. There's nothing you can do, Qiv. I've got you. Just walk away."
Qiv rose and prepared to walk off into the jungle.
"There is one more thing…" Marguerite prompted.
"What?" Qiv asked.
Marguerite smiled and slipped her hand into her pocket. She showed Qiv what it was, and he nodded to signify he knew what she wanted. Qiv would give it to her too.
"If you'd be so kind…" Marguerite said.
To Be Continued…