CHAPTER THREE
Roxton stands in the doorway; leaning on the frame. He watches her as she sleeps peacefully then turns away to leave her alone.
MARGUERITE: Roxton?
He half turns and waits for her to continue.
MARGUERITE: How long were you standing there?
ROXTON: Not long…I…How…Who's the father…
MARGUERITE: The baby is Alura's.
He looks at her now shock and relief written all over his face.
ROXTON: How?
MARGUERITE: You're asking the wrong person, before she died she passed something on to me…
ROXTON: She passed her baby on to you so it could live on.
She nods sadly; he walks to her and sits on the bed.
MARGUERITE: That's why I went to that village, I needed to make sure.
ROXTON: Why didn't you tell me?
MARGUERITE: Any other man would've left…
ROXTON: I'm not any other man…Once not so long ago I told you I'd always be around…I keep my word.
MARGUERITE: I didn't want to take that chance. Not again.
He contemplates taking the comment further but continues with the present conversation instead.
ROXTON: Why did you kill that man?
She looks up at him abruptly.
MARGUERITE: That wasn't me! She's controlling me; when someone threatens the baby or me she takes control…
ROXTON: How are you feeling now?
She pushes back the covers and stands up.
MARGUERITE: Perfectly fine.
He looks at her doubtfully.
MARGUERITE: I've never felt so good.
She walks into the living area and the others stand on her entrance. Roxton walks behind her.
CHALLANGER: How are you feeling…
MARGUERITE: I'm fine.
ROXTON: Though we have a slight problem.
MARGUERITE: Don't we always?
* * * * * *
The explorers sit around the table, deep in thought.
VERONICA: We could take you to the Zanga shaman, but his beliefs are different to the Maena.
ROXTON: You and Malone can see what you can find out from the Zanga's while Challanger and I can visit the Maena village…
MARGUERITE: What about me?
ROXTON: You'll be safer in the treehouse.
MARGUERITE: And when did you learn to speak in the Maena language?
CHALLANGER: She does have a point Roxton.
ROXTON: …Okay, you come with Challanger and I .
She nods satisfied.
VERONICA: What else did the shaman say to you?
MARGUERITE: Just what I told you, and he chanted over some kind of talisman.
VERONICA: What did it look like?
She stands up and shows them the engraved mark on her stomach.
MARGUERITE: Like that…
VERONICA: The Zanga can't help you; this shaman started something and only he can stop it.
ROXTON: The only problem is he's dead.
* * * * * *
The Maena woman hold back their children fearfully when they see the outsiders enter their village, a few cower behind the half open door of their huts. Roxton steps in front of Marguerite protectively when a group of Maena warriors come towards them, spears in their hands. An older man walks in between them. He looks at each of them in turn then speaks to Marguerite, after a minute or tow he turns and begins to walk back the way he came.
VERONICA: What did he say?
MARGUERITE: He wants to speak to me alone.
ROXTON: You're not going anywhere with him.
She walks after the old man anyway, he goes to follow her when two warriors stand in his way, they point to Veronica with the spear the look towards the old man.
VERONICA: I think they'll let me go.
She steps forward and they move to the side to let her pass. They keep the others at bay with their spears while Veronica catches up to Marguerite.
They venture inside a hut. Larger than the rest. As the old man enters a group of Maena kneel until he's seated. Marguerite and Veronica stay near the entrance.
MARGUERITE: He's the chief.
VERONICA: Well what does he want?
CHIEF: We can not help you…
MARGUERITE: So why bring me here?
VERONICA: (Whispers) he can speak English!
MARGUERITE: And of course that's the most important thing at the moment.
She walks towards the chief.
CHIEF: We cannot help you but I know someone who can…A shaman from this village, he went crazy many years ago and left the village.
MARGUERITE: Where did he go?
CHIEF: Across the Inland Sea, between the two mountains and on to where the sun fell.
MARGUERITE: Couldn't be a little more vague could you.
VERONICA: Do you have an exact location.
CHIEF: I have told you all that I can.
VERONICA: Let's go he doesn't know anything.
They turn to leave.
CHIEF: You're time is coming to an end.
VERONICA: What do you mean by that?
CHIEF: The chant is unfinished, as you're baby dies so do you.
He waves his arm and their ushered out of the hut.
MARGUERITE: I suppose that would be a good reason for us to hurry.
VERONICA: You actually believe him?
MARGUERITE: Yes.
VERONICA: Why?
MARGUERITE: Because for every second I was in there, I was holding back…
VERONICA: Holding back what?
MARGUERITE: The urge to kill him.
Marguerite walks back to where the others are waiting.
VERONICA: That's a good reason.
She joins the others outside the village.
ROXTON: Well what did he say?
MARGUERITE: You've got a long journey ahead of you.
MALONE: Why do I get the feeling that's a bad thing?
CHALLANGER: Can you elaborate on that Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: Over the inland sea, across two mountains and to where the fallen sun is.
ROXTON: That's all he said?
VERONICA: Wel…
MARGUERITE: Yes that's everything.
She gives Veronica a look and Veronica keeps quiet.
* * * * * *
Roxton and Challanger pack supplies for the trip.
ROXTON: We'll set out at first light.
MARGUERITE: The sooner the better.
ROXTON: You're not coming, you're staying here with Veronica.
Marguerite and Veronica both look at him indignantly and speak at the same time.
VERONICA: You'll need my help!
MARGUERITE: I'm coming with you!
ROXTON: Marguerite it's too dangerous.
MARGUERITE: I'm not an invalid!
VERONICA: It'll only waste time having to come back with something that'll help.
CHALLANGER: They have a point Roxton…The shaman might need to speak to Marguerite.
MALONE: Majority rules Roxton.
He's not pleased with the decision.
MARGUERITE: And if anyone is in danger around here…It isn't me…
As she walks towards her room she picks up Veronica's knife off the table.
MARGUERITE: (Whispers) it's you.
To be continued…
Roxton stands in the doorway; leaning on the frame. He watches her as she sleeps peacefully then turns away to leave her alone.
MARGUERITE: Roxton?
He half turns and waits for her to continue.
MARGUERITE: How long were you standing there?
ROXTON: Not long…I…How…Who's the father…
MARGUERITE: The baby is Alura's.
He looks at her now shock and relief written all over his face.
ROXTON: How?
MARGUERITE: You're asking the wrong person, before she died she passed something on to me…
ROXTON: She passed her baby on to you so it could live on.
She nods sadly; he walks to her and sits on the bed.
MARGUERITE: That's why I went to that village, I needed to make sure.
ROXTON: Why didn't you tell me?
MARGUERITE: Any other man would've left…
ROXTON: I'm not any other man…Once not so long ago I told you I'd always be around…I keep my word.
MARGUERITE: I didn't want to take that chance. Not again.
He contemplates taking the comment further but continues with the present conversation instead.
ROXTON: Why did you kill that man?
She looks up at him abruptly.
MARGUERITE: That wasn't me! She's controlling me; when someone threatens the baby or me she takes control…
ROXTON: How are you feeling now?
She pushes back the covers and stands up.
MARGUERITE: Perfectly fine.
He looks at her doubtfully.
MARGUERITE: I've never felt so good.
She walks into the living area and the others stand on her entrance. Roxton walks behind her.
CHALLANGER: How are you feeling…
MARGUERITE: I'm fine.
ROXTON: Though we have a slight problem.
MARGUERITE: Don't we always?
* * * * * *
The explorers sit around the table, deep in thought.
VERONICA: We could take you to the Zanga shaman, but his beliefs are different to the Maena.
ROXTON: You and Malone can see what you can find out from the Zanga's while Challanger and I can visit the Maena village…
MARGUERITE: What about me?
ROXTON: You'll be safer in the treehouse.
MARGUERITE: And when did you learn to speak in the Maena language?
CHALLANGER: She does have a point Roxton.
ROXTON: …Okay, you come with Challanger and I .
She nods satisfied.
VERONICA: What else did the shaman say to you?
MARGUERITE: Just what I told you, and he chanted over some kind of talisman.
VERONICA: What did it look like?
She stands up and shows them the engraved mark on her stomach.
MARGUERITE: Like that…
VERONICA: The Zanga can't help you; this shaman started something and only he can stop it.
ROXTON: The only problem is he's dead.
* * * * * *
The Maena woman hold back their children fearfully when they see the outsiders enter their village, a few cower behind the half open door of their huts. Roxton steps in front of Marguerite protectively when a group of Maena warriors come towards them, spears in their hands. An older man walks in between them. He looks at each of them in turn then speaks to Marguerite, after a minute or tow he turns and begins to walk back the way he came.
VERONICA: What did he say?
MARGUERITE: He wants to speak to me alone.
ROXTON: You're not going anywhere with him.
She walks after the old man anyway, he goes to follow her when two warriors stand in his way, they point to Veronica with the spear the look towards the old man.
VERONICA: I think they'll let me go.
She steps forward and they move to the side to let her pass. They keep the others at bay with their spears while Veronica catches up to Marguerite.
They venture inside a hut. Larger than the rest. As the old man enters a group of Maena kneel until he's seated. Marguerite and Veronica stay near the entrance.
MARGUERITE: He's the chief.
VERONICA: Well what does he want?
CHIEF: We can not help you…
MARGUERITE: So why bring me here?
VERONICA: (Whispers) he can speak English!
MARGUERITE: And of course that's the most important thing at the moment.
She walks towards the chief.
CHIEF: We cannot help you but I know someone who can…A shaman from this village, he went crazy many years ago and left the village.
MARGUERITE: Where did he go?
CHIEF: Across the Inland Sea, between the two mountains and on to where the sun fell.
MARGUERITE: Couldn't be a little more vague could you.
VERONICA: Do you have an exact location.
CHIEF: I have told you all that I can.
VERONICA: Let's go he doesn't know anything.
They turn to leave.
CHIEF: You're time is coming to an end.
VERONICA: What do you mean by that?
CHIEF: The chant is unfinished, as you're baby dies so do you.
He waves his arm and their ushered out of the hut.
MARGUERITE: I suppose that would be a good reason for us to hurry.
VERONICA: You actually believe him?
MARGUERITE: Yes.
VERONICA: Why?
MARGUERITE: Because for every second I was in there, I was holding back…
VERONICA: Holding back what?
MARGUERITE: The urge to kill him.
Marguerite walks back to where the others are waiting.
VERONICA: That's a good reason.
She joins the others outside the village.
ROXTON: Well what did he say?
MARGUERITE: You've got a long journey ahead of you.
MALONE: Why do I get the feeling that's a bad thing?
CHALLANGER: Can you elaborate on that Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: Over the inland sea, across two mountains and to where the fallen sun is.
ROXTON: That's all he said?
VERONICA: Wel…
MARGUERITE: Yes that's everything.
She gives Veronica a look and Veronica keeps quiet.
* * * * * *
Roxton and Challanger pack supplies for the trip.
ROXTON: We'll set out at first light.
MARGUERITE: The sooner the better.
ROXTON: You're not coming, you're staying here with Veronica.
Marguerite and Veronica both look at him indignantly and speak at the same time.
VERONICA: You'll need my help!
MARGUERITE: I'm coming with you!
ROXTON: Marguerite it's too dangerous.
MARGUERITE: I'm not an invalid!
VERONICA: It'll only waste time having to come back with something that'll help.
CHALLANGER: They have a point Roxton…The shaman might need to speak to Marguerite.
MALONE: Majority rules Roxton.
He's not pleased with the decision.
MARGUERITE: And if anyone is in danger around here…It isn't me…
As she walks towards her room she picks up Veronica's knife off the table.
MARGUERITE: (Whispers) it's you.
To be continued…