Title: Concourse
Author: Lady Primrose Roxton
Series: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
Date: 5/2002
Part: 3 - The Right Honorable Gentleman
Rating: R
Codes: M/R, N/V
Category: Romance, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi
Summary: Starts where HoTS left off. Danger Will Robinson! Mushy shipper alert, cliffhanger resolution alert, grandfather paradox alert, and hey, I even like Finn.
Spoilers: The Knife, BiA, TEG, & HoTS
Disclaimer: As a matter of fact, in the shifting planes of my own reality, I *do* own TLW ;)
Feedback: Tell me -- primrose4@canby.com
Website: http://www.canby.com/ryukyu4
Posting: ff.net, others please let me know first.
A/N: Thanks to those who have sent feedback and encouragement. Jewels and email make me happy ;)
A/N2: At long last, LJR makes his appearance. As a manic Roxton fan & M/R shipper, you'd've thunk I'd start out with him, but old Neddie-boy appears to have taken up the position of my muse. I find that I'm missing Malone a lot more than I thought I would. I guess I just think the lovely balance of characters is off just a trifle without our reporter. Not a Finn-bash, 'cause I kinda like her, just a plea to TPTB to make sure David comes back for S4. This section is the longest so far, as the previous two were mostly to set up the plot, and because, well, I can go on forever about LJR *g*.
A/N3: I have blatantly appropriated the very real Avebury Manor for use as the Roxton family seat in Wiltshire as well as the Avebury Circle and surrounding monuments, altering them to suit my fancy and storyline. Any ignoring of impossibilities as to geography, structure, etc., is purely the author's arrogance. Also, I've saddled Balliol College with LJR as an alumnus. I suppose if they're good enough to put up with Lord Peter Whimsey, they'll take LJR in stride...
***
We have met the enemy, and they are ours.
Admiral Oliver H. Perry (1785-1820)
We have met the enemy, and he is us.
Walt Kelly (1913-1973)
***
Lord John Roxton had stared death in the face many times, once even literally. Looking at the Conquistadors that held him captive, he reflected that this might be an ironically fitting end to him. The circle would be complete. His ancestor had stolen from them, now they would steal his life from him. The fact that the Spanish soldiers had stolen the treasure themselves was almost immaterial in his mind.
No matter how hard he tried to reason with his innate sense of honor, it had always been uncomfortable at the idea of Captain John Roxton stealing his way, royally sanctioned or not, into property and the English nobility. Living his life with honor and integrity never seemed to quite make up for such an ignoble family beginning.
Marguerite had been amused by his piratical ancestor, which had made him feel a bit better, but he was still somewhat embarrassed by him. Ah, Marguerite! Where are you? He was so worried about her. If things were proceeding as they usually did on the Plateau, she was in as much a world of trouble as he was.
Captain Perrez stood nearby, pleased at the prospect of executing the man he assumed was the British privateer responsible for the loss of countless treasures rightfully belonging to Spain. A proud man and uncompromising officer, he followed his orders to the letter always. His directive: Locate and eliminate the pirate Captain John Roxton using any and all means possible. In a few moments, he would have met this objective. His commander would approve, possibly even recommend him for promotion.
The two strong men stared at each other, neither giving ground. For all that he was a captive, Perrez recognized that Roxton would never surrender. A grudging sense of respect began to form in the Spanish man's mind; without a doubt, Roxton would die with honor, no small thing in his eyes.
The flash of brilliant light surprised everyone, but Roxton had been tensed to make a final move, and he reacted by rolling to one side and jumping up past the phalanx of soldiers to behind the large trunk of a tree. Just as he was getting ready to head for the hills, he heard murmuring voices, then silence. He peered around it to see what was going on, and was supremely surprised to see Ned Malone standing in front of a group of kneeling Spaniards. Malone looked extremely uncomfortable, but not in any danger. Roxton couldn't help himself and gave a short laugh and shook his head. Then, he came around the tree and carefully walked passed the immobile and prostrate soldiers to where Ned stood with a look of mild horror on his face.
"Neddie-boy, am I glad to see you," Roxton grabbed him in bear hug and swung him around. "What the bloody hell is going on, Malone?" he whispered to Ned as he held him. The soldiers just gaped at the two.
"A little misunderstanding," Malone replied quietly. "But, I think I can handle it."
"Be my guest," Roxton replied. "Just make sure we're both in one piece when you're finished. They were just now about to send me to meet my Maker," Roxton eased back from Malone and kept a watchful eye on the obeisant soldiers.
"You can, uh, get up now," Ned said somewhat hesitantly, and made an upward motion with his right hand.
"We would not show such disrespect to a messenger of God," Captain Perrez replied in a reverent voice.
"Messenger of God?" Roxton asked sotto voice.
"I think they think I'm an angel or something," Malone quietly explained with a grimace.
"If that's what's keeping them from killing us, then you've just been promoted, old boy," Roxton stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Uh, the Messenger is pleased that you are so....uh, pious. He'd like to thank you for your service, and then we've got to be going."
"You dare to speak for him," Perrez getting over his awe just a little looking at Roxton in askance.
"He's a friend of mine," Malone was inspired to say.
"Captain Roxton is your friend?" Perrez was incredulous.
"Well, he's more like my helper," Ned explained. Seeing the blank looks on the faces of the men, he added, "Uh, servant. He's my servant."
"This man is a thief and a rogue," Perrez frowned.
"That's why he's having to help me," Ned was inspired. "He's doing penance for his misdeeds."
"I see," Perrez nodded in approval, but still was a bit confused.
Roxton gave Malone a hard look for these last exchanges, but refrained from saying anything. Ned shrugged his shoulders; he was improvising the best that he could. Usually, he had more time to think up his stories. Marguerite was the one who could best improvise on her feet. He fervently wished she was there, and knew Roxton probably felt the same way.
"We really must be going now," Ned said in as angelic a voice as he could muster. "I must give Roxton his next...uh...penance to perform."
"As you say," Perrez acquiesced. "But, is there no service we may do for you? We have all prayed for a sign that we are following God's will in our conquest of this New World. You are the first such sign. It is a miracle!"
"Ah, no. But, thanks anyway," Malone replied, frantically trying to think of a way to placate the soldiers while he concentrated on getting Roxton and him the hell out of there. "You just keep on doing what you're doing...umm....You'll be receiving a sign soon. You'll know it when you see it. We have to be going now."
Roxton walked over and picked up his gun from where it had been placed on a log and joined Malone again. "Shall we go, Your Radiance?" he muttered in a low tone.
"Yes," Malone replied succinctly and firmly.
"Well," Roxton looked at Ned. "Which way?"
Ned smiled enigmatically at Roxton and took hold of his hand, "Hang on, Roxton." He added under his breath, "I sure hope this works." He'd never tried to take anyone with him to another plane; it could be that they wouldn't be going anywhere. Roxton was staring at him, puzzled, but Ned was gratified to see the trust in the other man's eyes.
The flash of light appeared again, and the sounds of the awed soldiers faded as the two men slipped into another plane. Ned was concentrating on Roxton, trying to make sure to hold onto him. Who knew where the hunter could end up if he let go of him? When the light cleared, they were standing on an open plain, with rolling hills and trees as far as the eye could see. Malone heard Roxton exclaim and turned to him, letting their joined hands drop.
"I can't believe it," Roxton said hoarsely.
"What?" asked Malone.
"I'm home," Roxton replied looking at Ned with wonder. "This is my home...England." His voice cracked with emotion as he looked around.
Roxton felt the fullness of his heart welling up at the sight of the green hills of Wiltshire, so different from the jungle greens of the Plateau. It had been so long since he had been home.
"How did you do it?" Roxton asked in wonder.
"I really don't know," Ned replied. "I'm pretty sure it has to do with my being in the spirit realm for a while, but I don't really understand it. I'm glad we're here together; I wasn't sure if I could take you with me when I left."
"Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better, Neddie-boy," Roxton said wryly. "Thanks for letting me tag along."
"You know what I meant," Ned shot back to Roxton, suddenly very glad to be with the older man. He had missed him fiercely on his journey of self-discovery. "I...it's good to see you Roxton," he finally got out pass the lump in his throat, moving awkwardly toward him.
Roxton looked at Ned for a moment, then crossed over and took him into another embrace, this one not quite so enthusiastic as the last, but much warmer and loving. Pulling back a little, he put his hands on Ned's shoulders and looked at him. "It's very good to see you, too, Ned," he replied. "You've been missed - by us all. Veronica mostly." He smiled at Malone then shook him by his shoulders once and released him.
Malone grinned sheepishly, "Really?"
"Wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," Roxton said and he gazed out at the horizon. He gestured toward a ridge and said, "We need to go this way."
"Why that way?" Malone asked as they started off in the direction Roxton had pointed.
"Because that's the way to West Kennet Long Barrow," Roxton explained.
"And we need to go there because?" Malone queried.
"Because, it's the way home," Roxton replied with quiet satisfaction.
"You mean your home," Malone confirmed, picking his way carefully down a slope of damp grass. "And, what's a barrow?"
"Yes, my home" Roxton replied. "A barrow's a burial mound. There's a lot of them around here." Burial mounds that a young girl once played on.
"You know, I wasn't really aiming for England, just out of where we were. I think you must have directed us here," Ned declared.
Roxton looked pensive, "Why would I do that?"
"Because, I think this is the place that's the center of your change that you've resisted," Malone stated.
Roxton stopped and looked at Malone. "What change?" he demanded of the younger man. "And why should it matter if I resist it?"
"It's something that Challenger and I sort of worked out when I was with him in the future," Malone replied.
"Sort of worked out?" Roxton's eyebrows were raised.
"We really didn't have a whole lot of time to hammer out all the details," Ned explained.
"You were in the future, with Challenger," Roxton stated. "Did he get that bloody tele-transporter working again?"
"No, I got there the same way we got here," Malone replied.
"Which you can't really explain," Roxton said impatiently. "Most likely something to do with those shifting planes of reality George is always going on about," his voice held a bit of apology at his shortness with the younger man. It wasn't his fault they were there. More than likely, he was right, and it was Roxton who had directed them there. Malone hadn't ever been to this part of England that he knew of.
"I know it's kind of hard to accept, but I've been able to move around those shifting planes of reality, just by...directing my thoughts there. Well, before, I just was there in my mind, but now, I've been able to actually, physically go to the different planes," Malone sounded excited.
"I'm very happy for you," Roxton replied sincerely. "But, right now, we have to figure out why we're here. What's all this about resisting change?"
"Change and overcoming fears," Ned explained. "Challenger said that we all must face our fears and embrace the change or we will be destroyed by them, that the confluence of changes that were destroying space and time were caused by us."
"You've lost me, Ned," Roxton said. "You're saying that the changes that have happened to me - here - were or are part of the reason for the destruction of space and time? How is this possible?"
"I don't really know. I barely understood what Challenger was telling me, but he seemed convinced of it. It has something to do with a theory of his about chaos and some guy named Einstein's theories about space being curved," Ned stated. "Also, it seems that the smallest of changes can cause the largest of changes, and a butterfly flapping its wings is causing the destruction of the universe."
Roxton thought about this for a moment. It was pretty deep for man of his temperament. He'd attended Oxford, but his studies at Balliol had involved the history of the Realm and taking a Blue in cricket, not theoretical mathematics or whatever it was that Malone was talking about.
"A butterfly," he finally stated, eyebrows raised.
"Uh, huh," Malone confirmed, his mouth twitching.
"Flapping its wings," Roxton put his arms out a bit and moved his hands in a flapping motion, his mouth pursed to keep himself from laughing.
"Yeah," nodded Malone, finally giving into the grin hovering about his mouth and he laughed. Roxton joined in, and it felt good.
At length, Roxton said, "All right, I suppose if George says it's true, it must be. So, what do I need to do to help get these changes back on track or confluence or whatever?"
"That's just it," Ned replied with dissatisfaction. "I can't tell you what you need to do. Challenger thought that each of us is going to have to discover what it is that we've changed and why we don't want it to change and how we are fighting it. He thinks that if we embrace the change and confront our fears, we'll restore the balance to the confluence."
"Because the Plateau is the center of the confluence of the shifting planes," Roxton stated insightfully. "But, why us? You said it was all of us who had caused the balance to be lost. Veronica is the Protector of the Plateau. How could she upset the balance? How do the six of us come into this?" he asked the reporter. "There are a lot more people than us on the Plateau."
"Challenger had theory about that, too," Malone explained. "He called us Strange Attractors. Basically, we're different people with the same function on the Plateau, and we were drawn to each other and to the Plateau because of them."
"But, we don't know what our function is or why we were drawn there," Roxton finished the idea for him.
"Exactly," Malone replied, impressed and relieved that Roxton had understood him so readily.
"And to think I thought it was all about the bloody dinosaurs," Roxton shook his head. "Well, we'd best be off," he said looking at the sky, "it'll be getting dark shortly and we've a bit of ground to cover before we get to the Manor."
The two men resumed walking in the direction they had begun, and Roxton said, "How long do we have to fix these problems?" At Malone's pained look, he said, "Let me guess, you don't know, but Challenger has a theory."
"Uh, yeah," Ned said sheepishly. "He said that there's something called time dilation the closer you get to a fixed body with gravitational forces and time slows down, so we have a while before it's too late, but there's no telling how long that is."
"The fixed body being the Plateau?" Roxton asked.
"I guess so," Malone replied. "Why?"
"Because, we're on the other side of the planet," Roxton explained.
"I never thought of that," Ned said worriedly.
"Nothing to be done for it but to hurry as much as we can," Roxton decided, but he picked up their pace. "We'll just have to work as fast as we can."
"Any idea why you're here back home?" Ned asked.
"I'm not sure," Roxton replied thoughtfully. "It depends on..."
"On what?" Malone prompted.
"On when this is," Roxton finished.
"Oh," said Ned, comprehending. They continued on in silence, at length climbing up a hill that gave view to a larger hill and a village.
"There," pointed Roxton in the waning light. "See Silbury hill? Over past there is Avebury village. The Manor's the large white stone building next to circle of stones."
"I see it," exclaimed Malone. "You grew up there?"
"Yes," Roxton replied, lost in memory.
Malone's appreciation of just exactly who and what Lord John Roxton was grew. When you fought side by side as long as they had for survival in a place as wonderfully strange but dangerous as the Plateau, you tended to forget who people were in the outside world. He started to remember that Roxton was a wealthy, titled nobleman with a string of illustrious ancestors and a house that, while not exactly a castle, would not be out of place grouped with the homes of some of the wealthiest of New York society.
They crossed a bridge over a small river and walked up a narrow road as darkness completely fell. It was so quiet, and there were no cars on the road. A few lights were shining in the village, but they saw no people. Roxton lifted his head to smell the breeze. Rain was coming. Ah, spring in England. He'd been in the jungle so long; he'd almost forgotten that smell. Then, he shivered. He'd also forgotten how cold it could be. He looked at Ned, who was dressed like himself - only in shirtsleeves and a vest. They were almost to the Manor. He wondered who would be there to greet them.
He had an ache in his stomach and anguish in his heart, torn between wanting William and Father to be there, yet knowing it would be hell for him to see them again, understanding what would/had happened to them. Challenger had said he'd effected the changes and that he would have to accept them. Roxton *knew* that meant William and Father, but how to accept what he'd been trying to accept for years? He'd drunk himself silly, punished himself with dangerous activities, and finally traveled all the way to Tibet in order to accept what had happened. None of it has fully resolved his guilt and anger at himself, and to be honest, at both William and Father. Marguerite had told him that he'd suffered enough, that he wasn't damned for what he'd done, but there was still that part of him that couldn't let it go. Mostly, it stayed in the back of his mind, coming out only in his dreams. Somehow, she always knew when he'd had the nightmare of William's death. For at those times, she always was attentive and treated him gently. Dear God, he hoped she was all right. He knew that should he survive, it would mean nothing if she did not.
Just then, the two men came around the last curve of the road and there was Avebury Manor. They walked up to the front stairs, and Roxton turned to Malone, "I think I know why I'm here. It has to do with my brother William's death and my father's reaction to it."
"It seems logical," Ned agreed, feeling the older man's pain and wishing he could help him.
Roxton took a deep breath and said, "Well, let's get this over with." He mounted the stairs and pulled the bell.
The door was answered by a butler, who said, "Yes, may I help you?"
"What's the matter? Don't you recognize me, Gardiner?" Roxton said pleasantly amused. However, since Gardiner had looked the same since ever he could remember, he still had no idea when they were.
"Why, Mr. John! Whatever are you doing here? And dressed like that?" Gardiner looked truly alarmed. "If the Earl should see you...well..." he was almost wringing his hands.
"Is my lady mother still up?" Roxton asked, motioning for Ned to come inside the foyer.
"My Lord and Lady are at a party at the Rutherford's this evening. They are not expected back until late," Gardiner informed them.
"Well, we'll have to see them when they get back," Roxton was relieved that they were from home. "My friend, Mr. Malone will require a room, and we'll need something to eat. Think you can have Mrs. Yarrow fix us up something?"
"Certainly, Mr. John," the butler had regained some of his dignity, and went to take care of Roxton's requests.
Ned looked around at the grand dwelling and shook his head in amazement. Roxton looked at him and just grinned, somehow immensely happy that he was able to show Ned his family home. The only person he wanted to show it to more was Marguerite, and he would, someday.
Roxton motioned to the ornate staircase, "Let's go upstairs, Malone. We'll have a drink, get cleaned up, and see about untangling this mess."
"What mess would that be, brother?" William, Viscount Roxton, queried in a derisive voice from the landing. "Have you been sent down from Oxford or is it something else this time?"
Roxton just stared up at his long-dead brother and couldn't speak a word.
To Be Continued
Author: Lady Primrose Roxton
Series: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
Date: 5/2002
Part: 3 - The Right Honorable Gentleman
Rating: R
Codes: M/R, N/V
Category: Romance, Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi
Summary: Starts where HoTS left off. Danger Will Robinson! Mushy shipper alert, cliffhanger resolution alert, grandfather paradox alert, and hey, I even like Finn.
Spoilers: The Knife, BiA, TEG, & HoTS
Disclaimer: As a matter of fact, in the shifting planes of my own reality, I *do* own TLW ;)
Feedback: Tell me -- primrose4@canby.com
Website: http://www.canby.com/ryukyu4
Posting: ff.net, others please let me know first.
A/N: Thanks to those who have sent feedback and encouragement. Jewels and email make me happy ;)
A/N2: At long last, LJR makes his appearance. As a manic Roxton fan & M/R shipper, you'd've thunk I'd start out with him, but old Neddie-boy appears to have taken up the position of my muse. I find that I'm missing Malone a lot more than I thought I would. I guess I just think the lovely balance of characters is off just a trifle without our reporter. Not a Finn-bash, 'cause I kinda like her, just a plea to TPTB to make sure David comes back for S4. This section is the longest so far, as the previous two were mostly to set up the plot, and because, well, I can go on forever about LJR *g*.
A/N3: I have blatantly appropriated the very real Avebury Manor for use as the Roxton family seat in Wiltshire as well as the Avebury Circle and surrounding monuments, altering them to suit my fancy and storyline. Any ignoring of impossibilities as to geography, structure, etc., is purely the author's arrogance. Also, I've saddled Balliol College with LJR as an alumnus. I suppose if they're good enough to put up with Lord Peter Whimsey, they'll take LJR in stride...
***
We have met the enemy, and they are ours.
Admiral Oliver H. Perry (1785-1820)
We have met the enemy, and he is us.
Walt Kelly (1913-1973)
***
Lord John Roxton had stared death in the face many times, once even literally. Looking at the Conquistadors that held him captive, he reflected that this might be an ironically fitting end to him. The circle would be complete. His ancestor had stolen from them, now they would steal his life from him. The fact that the Spanish soldiers had stolen the treasure themselves was almost immaterial in his mind.
No matter how hard he tried to reason with his innate sense of honor, it had always been uncomfortable at the idea of Captain John Roxton stealing his way, royally sanctioned or not, into property and the English nobility. Living his life with honor and integrity never seemed to quite make up for such an ignoble family beginning.
Marguerite had been amused by his piratical ancestor, which had made him feel a bit better, but he was still somewhat embarrassed by him. Ah, Marguerite! Where are you? He was so worried about her. If things were proceeding as they usually did on the Plateau, she was in as much a world of trouble as he was.
Captain Perrez stood nearby, pleased at the prospect of executing the man he assumed was the British privateer responsible for the loss of countless treasures rightfully belonging to Spain. A proud man and uncompromising officer, he followed his orders to the letter always. His directive: Locate and eliminate the pirate Captain John Roxton using any and all means possible. In a few moments, he would have met this objective. His commander would approve, possibly even recommend him for promotion.
The two strong men stared at each other, neither giving ground. For all that he was a captive, Perrez recognized that Roxton would never surrender. A grudging sense of respect began to form in the Spanish man's mind; without a doubt, Roxton would die with honor, no small thing in his eyes.
The flash of brilliant light surprised everyone, but Roxton had been tensed to make a final move, and he reacted by rolling to one side and jumping up past the phalanx of soldiers to behind the large trunk of a tree. Just as he was getting ready to head for the hills, he heard murmuring voices, then silence. He peered around it to see what was going on, and was supremely surprised to see Ned Malone standing in front of a group of kneeling Spaniards. Malone looked extremely uncomfortable, but not in any danger. Roxton couldn't help himself and gave a short laugh and shook his head. Then, he came around the tree and carefully walked passed the immobile and prostrate soldiers to where Ned stood with a look of mild horror on his face.
"Neddie-boy, am I glad to see you," Roxton grabbed him in bear hug and swung him around. "What the bloody hell is going on, Malone?" he whispered to Ned as he held him. The soldiers just gaped at the two.
"A little misunderstanding," Malone replied quietly. "But, I think I can handle it."
"Be my guest," Roxton replied. "Just make sure we're both in one piece when you're finished. They were just now about to send me to meet my Maker," Roxton eased back from Malone and kept a watchful eye on the obeisant soldiers.
"You can, uh, get up now," Ned said somewhat hesitantly, and made an upward motion with his right hand.
"We would not show such disrespect to a messenger of God," Captain Perrez replied in a reverent voice.
"Messenger of God?" Roxton asked sotto voice.
"I think they think I'm an angel or something," Malone quietly explained with a grimace.
"If that's what's keeping them from killing us, then you've just been promoted, old boy," Roxton stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Uh, the Messenger is pleased that you are so....uh, pious. He'd like to thank you for your service, and then we've got to be going."
"You dare to speak for him," Perrez getting over his awe just a little looking at Roxton in askance.
"He's a friend of mine," Malone was inspired to say.
"Captain Roxton is your friend?" Perrez was incredulous.
"Well, he's more like my helper," Ned explained. Seeing the blank looks on the faces of the men, he added, "Uh, servant. He's my servant."
"This man is a thief and a rogue," Perrez frowned.
"That's why he's having to help me," Ned was inspired. "He's doing penance for his misdeeds."
"I see," Perrez nodded in approval, but still was a bit confused.
Roxton gave Malone a hard look for these last exchanges, but refrained from saying anything. Ned shrugged his shoulders; he was improvising the best that he could. Usually, he had more time to think up his stories. Marguerite was the one who could best improvise on her feet. He fervently wished she was there, and knew Roxton probably felt the same way.
"We really must be going now," Ned said in as angelic a voice as he could muster. "I must give Roxton his next...uh...penance to perform."
"As you say," Perrez acquiesced. "But, is there no service we may do for you? We have all prayed for a sign that we are following God's will in our conquest of this New World. You are the first such sign. It is a miracle!"
"Ah, no. But, thanks anyway," Malone replied, frantically trying to think of a way to placate the soldiers while he concentrated on getting Roxton and him the hell out of there. "You just keep on doing what you're doing...umm....You'll be receiving a sign soon. You'll know it when you see it. We have to be going now."
Roxton walked over and picked up his gun from where it had been placed on a log and joined Malone again. "Shall we go, Your Radiance?" he muttered in a low tone.
"Yes," Malone replied succinctly and firmly.
"Well," Roxton looked at Ned. "Which way?"
Ned smiled enigmatically at Roxton and took hold of his hand, "Hang on, Roxton." He added under his breath, "I sure hope this works." He'd never tried to take anyone with him to another plane; it could be that they wouldn't be going anywhere. Roxton was staring at him, puzzled, but Ned was gratified to see the trust in the other man's eyes.
The flash of light appeared again, and the sounds of the awed soldiers faded as the two men slipped into another plane. Ned was concentrating on Roxton, trying to make sure to hold onto him. Who knew where the hunter could end up if he let go of him? When the light cleared, they were standing on an open plain, with rolling hills and trees as far as the eye could see. Malone heard Roxton exclaim and turned to him, letting their joined hands drop.
"I can't believe it," Roxton said hoarsely.
"What?" asked Malone.
"I'm home," Roxton replied looking at Ned with wonder. "This is my home...England." His voice cracked with emotion as he looked around.
Roxton felt the fullness of his heart welling up at the sight of the green hills of Wiltshire, so different from the jungle greens of the Plateau. It had been so long since he had been home.
"How did you do it?" Roxton asked in wonder.
"I really don't know," Ned replied. "I'm pretty sure it has to do with my being in the spirit realm for a while, but I don't really understand it. I'm glad we're here together; I wasn't sure if I could take you with me when I left."
"Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better, Neddie-boy," Roxton said wryly. "Thanks for letting me tag along."
"You know what I meant," Ned shot back to Roxton, suddenly very glad to be with the older man. He had missed him fiercely on his journey of self-discovery. "I...it's good to see you Roxton," he finally got out pass the lump in his throat, moving awkwardly toward him.
Roxton looked at Ned for a moment, then crossed over and took him into another embrace, this one not quite so enthusiastic as the last, but much warmer and loving. Pulling back a little, he put his hands on Ned's shoulders and looked at him. "It's very good to see you, too, Ned," he replied. "You've been missed - by us all. Veronica mostly." He smiled at Malone then shook him by his shoulders once and released him.
Malone grinned sheepishly, "Really?"
"Wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," Roxton said and he gazed out at the horizon. He gestured toward a ridge and said, "We need to go this way."
"Why that way?" Malone asked as they started off in the direction Roxton had pointed.
"Because that's the way to West Kennet Long Barrow," Roxton explained.
"And we need to go there because?" Malone queried.
"Because, it's the way home," Roxton replied with quiet satisfaction.
"You mean your home," Malone confirmed, picking his way carefully down a slope of damp grass. "And, what's a barrow?"
"Yes, my home" Roxton replied. "A barrow's a burial mound. There's a lot of them around here." Burial mounds that a young girl once played on.
"You know, I wasn't really aiming for England, just out of where we were. I think you must have directed us here," Ned declared.
Roxton looked pensive, "Why would I do that?"
"Because, I think this is the place that's the center of your change that you've resisted," Malone stated.
Roxton stopped and looked at Malone. "What change?" he demanded of the younger man. "And why should it matter if I resist it?"
"It's something that Challenger and I sort of worked out when I was with him in the future," Malone replied.
"Sort of worked out?" Roxton's eyebrows were raised.
"We really didn't have a whole lot of time to hammer out all the details," Ned explained.
"You were in the future, with Challenger," Roxton stated. "Did he get that bloody tele-transporter working again?"
"No, I got there the same way we got here," Malone replied.
"Which you can't really explain," Roxton said impatiently. "Most likely something to do with those shifting planes of reality George is always going on about," his voice held a bit of apology at his shortness with the younger man. It wasn't his fault they were there. More than likely, he was right, and it was Roxton who had directed them there. Malone hadn't ever been to this part of England that he knew of.
"I know it's kind of hard to accept, but I've been able to move around those shifting planes of reality, just by...directing my thoughts there. Well, before, I just was there in my mind, but now, I've been able to actually, physically go to the different planes," Malone sounded excited.
"I'm very happy for you," Roxton replied sincerely. "But, right now, we have to figure out why we're here. What's all this about resisting change?"
"Change and overcoming fears," Ned explained. "Challenger said that we all must face our fears and embrace the change or we will be destroyed by them, that the confluence of changes that were destroying space and time were caused by us."
"You've lost me, Ned," Roxton said. "You're saying that the changes that have happened to me - here - were or are part of the reason for the destruction of space and time? How is this possible?"
"I don't really know. I barely understood what Challenger was telling me, but he seemed convinced of it. It has something to do with a theory of his about chaos and some guy named Einstein's theories about space being curved," Ned stated. "Also, it seems that the smallest of changes can cause the largest of changes, and a butterfly flapping its wings is causing the destruction of the universe."
Roxton thought about this for a moment. It was pretty deep for man of his temperament. He'd attended Oxford, but his studies at Balliol had involved the history of the Realm and taking a Blue in cricket, not theoretical mathematics or whatever it was that Malone was talking about.
"A butterfly," he finally stated, eyebrows raised.
"Uh, huh," Malone confirmed, his mouth twitching.
"Flapping its wings," Roxton put his arms out a bit and moved his hands in a flapping motion, his mouth pursed to keep himself from laughing.
"Yeah," nodded Malone, finally giving into the grin hovering about his mouth and he laughed. Roxton joined in, and it felt good.
At length, Roxton said, "All right, I suppose if George says it's true, it must be. So, what do I need to do to help get these changes back on track or confluence or whatever?"
"That's just it," Ned replied with dissatisfaction. "I can't tell you what you need to do. Challenger thought that each of us is going to have to discover what it is that we've changed and why we don't want it to change and how we are fighting it. He thinks that if we embrace the change and confront our fears, we'll restore the balance to the confluence."
"Because the Plateau is the center of the confluence of the shifting planes," Roxton stated insightfully. "But, why us? You said it was all of us who had caused the balance to be lost. Veronica is the Protector of the Plateau. How could she upset the balance? How do the six of us come into this?" he asked the reporter. "There are a lot more people than us on the Plateau."
"Challenger had theory about that, too," Malone explained. "He called us Strange Attractors. Basically, we're different people with the same function on the Plateau, and we were drawn to each other and to the Plateau because of them."
"But, we don't know what our function is or why we were drawn there," Roxton finished the idea for him.
"Exactly," Malone replied, impressed and relieved that Roxton had understood him so readily.
"And to think I thought it was all about the bloody dinosaurs," Roxton shook his head. "Well, we'd best be off," he said looking at the sky, "it'll be getting dark shortly and we've a bit of ground to cover before we get to the Manor."
The two men resumed walking in the direction they had begun, and Roxton said, "How long do we have to fix these problems?" At Malone's pained look, he said, "Let me guess, you don't know, but Challenger has a theory."
"Uh, yeah," Ned said sheepishly. "He said that there's something called time dilation the closer you get to a fixed body with gravitational forces and time slows down, so we have a while before it's too late, but there's no telling how long that is."
"The fixed body being the Plateau?" Roxton asked.
"I guess so," Malone replied. "Why?"
"Because, we're on the other side of the planet," Roxton explained.
"I never thought of that," Ned said worriedly.
"Nothing to be done for it but to hurry as much as we can," Roxton decided, but he picked up their pace. "We'll just have to work as fast as we can."
"Any idea why you're here back home?" Ned asked.
"I'm not sure," Roxton replied thoughtfully. "It depends on..."
"On what?" Malone prompted.
"On when this is," Roxton finished.
"Oh," said Ned, comprehending. They continued on in silence, at length climbing up a hill that gave view to a larger hill and a village.
"There," pointed Roxton in the waning light. "See Silbury hill? Over past there is Avebury village. The Manor's the large white stone building next to circle of stones."
"I see it," exclaimed Malone. "You grew up there?"
"Yes," Roxton replied, lost in memory.
Malone's appreciation of just exactly who and what Lord John Roxton was grew. When you fought side by side as long as they had for survival in a place as wonderfully strange but dangerous as the Plateau, you tended to forget who people were in the outside world. He started to remember that Roxton was a wealthy, titled nobleman with a string of illustrious ancestors and a house that, while not exactly a castle, would not be out of place grouped with the homes of some of the wealthiest of New York society.
They crossed a bridge over a small river and walked up a narrow road as darkness completely fell. It was so quiet, and there were no cars on the road. A few lights were shining in the village, but they saw no people. Roxton lifted his head to smell the breeze. Rain was coming. Ah, spring in England. He'd been in the jungle so long; he'd almost forgotten that smell. Then, he shivered. He'd also forgotten how cold it could be. He looked at Ned, who was dressed like himself - only in shirtsleeves and a vest. They were almost to the Manor. He wondered who would be there to greet them.
He had an ache in his stomach and anguish in his heart, torn between wanting William and Father to be there, yet knowing it would be hell for him to see them again, understanding what would/had happened to them. Challenger had said he'd effected the changes and that he would have to accept them. Roxton *knew* that meant William and Father, but how to accept what he'd been trying to accept for years? He'd drunk himself silly, punished himself with dangerous activities, and finally traveled all the way to Tibet in order to accept what had happened. None of it has fully resolved his guilt and anger at himself, and to be honest, at both William and Father. Marguerite had told him that he'd suffered enough, that he wasn't damned for what he'd done, but there was still that part of him that couldn't let it go. Mostly, it stayed in the back of his mind, coming out only in his dreams. Somehow, she always knew when he'd had the nightmare of William's death. For at those times, she always was attentive and treated him gently. Dear God, he hoped she was all right. He knew that should he survive, it would mean nothing if she did not.
Just then, the two men came around the last curve of the road and there was Avebury Manor. They walked up to the front stairs, and Roxton turned to Malone, "I think I know why I'm here. It has to do with my brother William's death and my father's reaction to it."
"It seems logical," Ned agreed, feeling the older man's pain and wishing he could help him.
Roxton took a deep breath and said, "Well, let's get this over with." He mounted the stairs and pulled the bell.
The door was answered by a butler, who said, "Yes, may I help you?"
"What's the matter? Don't you recognize me, Gardiner?" Roxton said pleasantly amused. However, since Gardiner had looked the same since ever he could remember, he still had no idea when they were.
"Why, Mr. John! Whatever are you doing here? And dressed like that?" Gardiner looked truly alarmed. "If the Earl should see you...well..." he was almost wringing his hands.
"Is my lady mother still up?" Roxton asked, motioning for Ned to come inside the foyer.
"My Lord and Lady are at a party at the Rutherford's this evening. They are not expected back until late," Gardiner informed them.
"Well, we'll have to see them when they get back," Roxton was relieved that they were from home. "My friend, Mr. Malone will require a room, and we'll need something to eat. Think you can have Mrs. Yarrow fix us up something?"
"Certainly, Mr. John," the butler had regained some of his dignity, and went to take care of Roxton's requests.
Ned looked around at the grand dwelling and shook his head in amazement. Roxton looked at him and just grinned, somehow immensely happy that he was able to show Ned his family home. The only person he wanted to show it to more was Marguerite, and he would, someday.
Roxton motioned to the ornate staircase, "Let's go upstairs, Malone. We'll have a drink, get cleaned up, and see about untangling this mess."
"What mess would that be, brother?" William, Viscount Roxton, queried in a derisive voice from the landing. "Have you been sent down from Oxford or is it something else this time?"
Roxton just stared up at his long-dead brother and couldn't speak a word.
To Be Continued