CHAPTER EIGHT
Roxton quickly surveys the surrounding area, seeing nothing but footprints in the mud.
ROXTON: The mountain warriors are going to be more trouble than you thought.
MARGUERITE: It's a trap, they want me to go back to the mountain, they must know about the shaman and what we intend to do.
ROXTON: We'll carry on with the origional plan--
MARGUERITE: If I don't go to them by morning they'll kill Veronica.
Roxton walks towards her.
ROXTON: How do you know that?
Marguerite steps aside to reveal one of the mountain warriors lying half dead in the grass.
MARGUERITE: He told me…You have to help them, I'll carry on.
ROXTON: No I won't allow that, its too dangerous!
MARGUERITE: I'm immortal remember…Nothing can harm me until the babies born.
Roxton shakes his head.
ROXTON: You're not going alone Marguerite.
She turns away from him and kneels before the warrior.
MARGUERITE: You don't have a choice.
As she stands up she swings the spear around like a quarter staff and hits Roxton across the head, he falls back on the floor. She picks up one of the rifles and turns to walk away.
MARGUERITE: I'll miss you most of all…
She looks straight ahead.
MARGUERITE: Oh I'm going to regret this.
She takes one last look at the unconscious Roxton then continues on the journey.
* * * * * *
Around half an hour later as the sun starts to rise on the horizon, Roxton slowly rises from his 'sleep' he rubs the side of his head where he feels a bump, he groans and gets to his feet.
ROXTON: Stubborn woman--
He grabs the rifle off the floor and starts to run in the direction that Marguerite went he stops and turns around when he hears a low distant humming coming from the mountain, he sees a group of flickering lights in the distance. He looks to the east then back towards the mountain.
ROXTON: Damn!
He back towards the mountain the opposite direction to Marguerite.
* * * * *
Marguerite follows a small stream east towards what she hopes will be the river the chief had talked about, she hears a voice not far from where she is, a man sings loudly followed by laughter and a cackling sound, her curiosity gets the better of her. she walks away from the stream to where an old man in brown rags dances around a small fire, he waves a crooked stick in the air the like a madman. He suddenly becomes very quiet, he mumbles something and throw a purple powder into the fire, grey images flash before him and he jumps back then turns to where Marguerite hides behind a tree. He points the stick at her and walks forward.
SHAMAN: I know you.
MARGUERITE: I think I'd remember seeing you around.
SHAMAN: You plague my dreams.
MARGUERITE: Not my fault I can assure you.
SHAMAN: You came to see me.
MARGUERITE: Oh you're the shaman…Who else would wave a stick in the air and talk to fire.
He looks at her through narrowed eyes.
SHAMAN: Do not mock me child for you need my help to live.
He hold out a wrinkled arm and takes her hand.
SHAMAN: Come I will heal you.
MARGUERITE: Can you help me?
SHAMAN: For your sake I hope so.
He laughs again and leads her away from the fire which dies down as soon as they leave.
* * * * * *
Roxton sneaks up the mountain and hides behind a boulder, a large group of warriors dance around a bonfire, waving their spears above their heads, Roxton turns his gaze to the left where he sees Veronica tied to a wooden pole that sticks out of the snow.
ROXTON: Now, how do I get to you?
He looks around and sees a light inside a slit in the wall, he moves towards it quietly as possible. Once inside he takes a torch off the wall and looks around a relatively small room, he turns his attention to a knocking in the corner of the room, he aims the rifle into the darkness and lowers it in relief seconds later when he sees the faces of Malone and Challanger.
MALONE: They have Veronica!
ROXTON: I know, she's outside.
CHALLANGER: Where's Marguerite?
ROXTON: I don't know.
CHALLANGER: You let her leave the camp!
Roxton rubs his head.
ROXTON: I didn't have a choice.
He hits the lock with the butt of the rifle and part of the wooden gate snaps open.
MALONE: How do we get Veronica?
ROXTON: We trade Veronica for their chief.
CHALLANGER: Where is their chief.
Roxton grins.
Roxton: He had a little accident.
* * * * * *
Further down the mountainside Challanger and Malone see a tied up chief lying at an uncomfertable angle by the wall.
ROXTON: He's not a very good look out…Didn't even see me coming.
MALONE: Okay, lets trade.
* * * * * *
Twenty minutes later a relieved Veronica walks down the mountainside with Malone, Roxton and Challanger, they look back and see one of the warriors cut the ropes that bind their chief. Once free he pushes the warrior back angrily and shakes his fist at the explorers, his red face almost glowing with rage.
VERONICA: We haven't seen the last of him.
CHALLANGER: Did you see where Marguerite went?
Roxton shakes his head in answer.
ROXTON: I just hope she hasn't covered her tracks.
VERONICA: The suns almost up we should be able to see where she went.
Malone looks at Roxton.
MALONE: What happened to your head!
* * * * * *
The shaman kneels down by the stream and puts his stick in the water.
MARGUERITE: What are you doing!
The shaman puts his hand in the air to silence her, he raises the stick in the air then brings it down into the water. He stands up shortly after, at the end of the stick is an unusual looking fish with long jagged teeth.
SHAMAN: Dinner.
MARGUERITE: I'll pass.
She turns away from the shaman and walks forward stopping seconds later when she hears a scream behind her, she aims the rifle at a raptor which mercilessly attacks the panicking shaman. The bullet rings out across the jungle and the raptor drops dead.
Marguerite runs towards the shaman who gasps for breath.
MARGUERITE: No! No you can't die, wake up!
The shaman pushes a wad of scrunched up paper into her hand.
SHAMAN: Hut…near river…Amulet…box…Hurry, no time!
MARGUERITE: How can I survive when my only hope is dead?
The shaman groans and closes his eyes in answer.
TBC…
*Feedback appreciated as always*