CHAPTER SIX
The explorers stand at the foot of the great snow capped mountains in front of them, the sun already beginning to set on the horizon provides little light to show them the path they should follow.
Veronica looks across at the hesitant Roxton whose standing beside her, he steps forward and goes to climb on to the first sharp rock. She pulls him back.
VERONICA: We can't start climbing today, it'll be dark soon if we move now we won't be able to see where we're going.
ROXTON: We've already taken long enough getting to this stage we can't waste any more time.
VERONICA: If we continue now we won't make it to the top, let alone the other side!
His face-hardens and his stubbornness forces him to carry on. A voice behind him makes him stop in his tracks.
MARGUERITE: She's right.
He turns around and faces her.
MARGUERITE: If we lose our way on the mountain it'll cost us more time than starting tomorrow would.
Veronica and Marguerite stand side by side, arms crossed and they look expectantly at him, he jumps off the rock and marches towards their make shift camp.
ROXTON: We set out at first light!
MARGUERITE: The way he's going anyone would think it was his life that's in danger.
VERONICA: He's worried about you.
MARGUERITE: He's a lot more worried than I am.
VERONICA: How can you be so calm about this?
She hesitates for a second.
MARGUERITE: Panicking does not help trust me.
Marguerite lies down by the campfire while Veronica takes first watch.
* * * * * *
A thick mist had set in while they had slept and it slowed down their already slow progress, Roxton takes Marguerite's hand and helps her over an icy piece of rock.
ROXTON: How are feeling?
MARGUERITE: I think the cold starting to numb the pain, I can hardly feel anything.
ROXTON: It'll get warmer once we start down on the other side.
MARGUERITE: We should've brought some extra blankets on this little outing.
ROXTON: Well if you're cold I have a suggestion…
He grins at her and she smirks at him before turning away.
MARGUERITE: Now Roxton you know we can't light a fire at this altitude.
He grabs hold of her and takes her in his arms.
ROXTON: The other suggestion.
MARGUERITE: I f this was any other time, I wouldn't refuse but right now…Hold that thought.
She wriggles out of his grasp and they walk faster to catch up to the others.
VERONICA: Having fun?
MARGUERITE: …You know you and Malone might learn something from us…
VERONICA: Malone and me?
MARGUERITE: Well…
She stops in mid sentence as a warning from Challanger snaps them out of their conversation.
CHALLANGER: Take cover!
He doesn't need to say anything else as they see mounds of snow cascading down the rocky slope, Challanger and Malone take cover among a group of withering trees, Veronica pulls Marguerite to a small alcove almost buried in the snow.
MARGUERITE: Where's Roxton?
They see next to nothing as the snow rolls past them. Knocking down a small tree on it's way down. Five minutes later they cautiously emerge from their hiding places, the almost comes up to their waists as they stand in the open.
MALONE: What caused that?
MARGUERITE: Nothing good I'll bet.
They look around for the missing member of their group.
MARGUERITE: He was right behind me!
CHALLANGER: I'm sure he's around here somewhere, he had to find cover from the avalanche.
MARGUERITE: The avalanche is over George, so where is he?
As if on cue Roxton runs through the thick snow towards them
ROXTON: We've got trouble.
Behind him a group of twelve fur clad men carrying spears charge round the corner finding no trouble in running through the snow.
MARGUERITE: This does not look good.
Two of the men come forward, holding out the long spears.
CHALLANGER: Do you know who they are Veronica?
VERONICA: No.
Malone steps forward and meets them halfway, they stop and look at him a mixture of suspicion on curiosity on their faces.
VERONICA: Malone get back here!
MALONE: I don't think they want to hurt us…
One of the men raises his spear, Malone steps back and the man trips him up with the spear, he falls deep into the snow. Veronica runs forward and the other man turns his attentions towards her. He brings his arm back and holds the spear like a javelin.
VERONICA: Ned?
The second man goes to throw the spear when Roxton shoots him, he looks in surprise before falling to the floor, the other ten start shouting then rush towards them.
ROXTON: Get up Malone!
Veronica kicks the spear out the man's hand and helps Malone out of the pit of snow. The struggle to run up the mountain. Challanger looks up to see figures on top of a ledge above them, they throw their spears and they land inches from the group.
MARGUERITE: So Malone is this them not hurting us?
A spear falls towards them, Marguerite shields her eyes from the glare of the sun shining on the metal spearhead. A flash of lightening above their heads causes everyone to stop what their doing.
CHALLANGER: That's odd.
MARGUERITE: That's odd! People are trying to kill us…
VERONICA: It's thundering and lightening but the suns still shining and there's no rain.
Another flash of lightening lights up the sky, it strikes down at one of the warriors as he nears the unsuspecting group. Roxton steps back from Marguerite and looks at her blackened eyes. She points towards the warriors on the ledge and the lightening strikes down on them, one of them falls forward and lands at her feet.
MARGUERITE: I'm hungry.
She turns to the remaining warriors and they bow down in the snow.
MARGUERITE: Pathetic.
Her eyes gleam as she looks from the explorers to the warriors, she speaks in their language and they stand up. She watches them intently as the stand before her.
MARGUERITE: Kill them…
TBC…