Just a quick authors' note: Thanks to everybody who's reviewed. It's nice
to know that you're enjoying what we've given you so far. Hopefully, this
next installment doesn't disappoint. Thanks again and enjoy.
Ch. 4 Challenger's musings
The man stopped just short of the bars of the cage and silently studied the prisoners. "Who are you?" he finally asked.
"I am Professor George Challenger, and this is Lord John Roxton and Veronica Layton," Challenger said as he slowly stood and approached the bars. "We mean you no harm. There has been some sort of misunderstanding- "
The man held up his hand, silencing Challenger. "I am Darrus, second of the Keergans. Why were you attempting to steal away Mirra and Renn?"
Challenger quickly glanced back at Veronica and Roxton, who looked as confused as he felt. "The people you refer to as Mirra and Renn are our friends, Marguerite Krux and Ned Malone. We've come to take them home," he explained. "We have no intention of 'stealing' anyone. We only want our friends returned to us."
Darrus gave Challenger an appraising look. Apparently satisfied by what he saw, he leaned in towards Challenger. "I suppose you cannot steal what has already been stolen," he said in a low voice.
Challenger pulled back, startled by the man's words. Darrus dipped his head in a small nod, knowing that his message had been received. Stepping back to a safer distance, he looked over the trio again. "Do nothing to draw attention to yourselves," he ordered. "I will return shortly." He turned and strode into the house Ned and Marguerite disappeared into.
"Well, at least we know who we're dealing with now," Roxton said as they watched Darrus depart.
"I don't understand. There are no more Keergans," Veronica protested. "Their village was totally destroyed and there's been no sign of them since."
Roxton stood and methodically began testing the strength of their cage. "Apparently, a few of the did survive and it's taken them this long to rebuild."
"I suppose that's one way to rebuild," Challenger muttered quietly. He absently stroked his beard, putting pieces of this puzzle together.
Veronica looked up from her examination of Ned's journal, one of the few things their guards didn't take from them. "What did you say, Challenger?"
He turned to look at her. "What do you know about the Keergans?"
She frowned slightly at the question. "Only what I remember from my parent's journals and stories from the Zanga. There's not a lot of information on them. They tended to keep to themselves, but got along well enough with the Zanga."
Roxton stopped his testing and turned to look at Challenger. He recognized the thoughtful expression on his face. "George, what did that man say to you? Did he tell you what's wrong with Marguerite and Ned?"
Challenger ignored him and continued with his questions. "Did you ever visit the Keergan village before it was attacked?"
"Yes, once with my parents as a small child and once with Assai as a part of Zanga trading party. The Zanga would trade with the Keergans a few times during the year."
"When was the last time you were here?"
Veronica glanced at Roxton, hoping he could give her some clue as to where all of this was leading. He gave her a tiny shake of his head as he intently watched Challenger, wondering the same thing himself. "The last time was about six months before the village was destroyed, I guess," she recalled. "It was during the next trading period that the Zanga discovered the ruins of the village. Assai told me that the trading party returned early, telling stories about the village have been burned to the ground by an unknown enemy, that death hung in the air and no one survived."
Challenger made a noncommittal noise and turned to watch the village center.
Roxton folded his arms, clearly annoyed. "Challenger, if you have any idea what is going on here, you have to tell us. It's obvious that you know something."
"I have a theory as to what has happened. I need more information to be sure it is correct." Challenger sighed as he turned to face his friends. "If you really want to know what I believe is happening, sit down and I will tell you." He gestured towards the opposite side of the cage. When Veronica and Roxton had settled themselves, he continued. "My theory is fairly unusual, but hear me out before you discount it."
"We might as well begin with what we know. These people have identified themselves as the Keergan people. Now according to Veronica, the Keergans perished in an attack on their village. But as we can see," he waved his hand in an encompassing gesture, "some of the Keergans survived the attack and rebuilt their society."
"We all already know that Challenger," Roxton impatiently pointed out. "What we don't know is why they have Marguerite and Ned, and why they don't recognize us."
Challenger gave him a disapproving look before continuing. "What did Darrus ask us when he spoke to us?"
Now it was Veronica's turn to be impatient. "He asked why we were trying to take Marguerite and Ned. I don't see what you're getting at or how this explains anything."
"What is important about that question is the fact that he asked why we were trying to take Marguerite and Ned," Challenger explained. "While it was our intention to get them both back, Roxton had only attempted to retrieve Marguerite at that point. They had no way of knowing that we were going to rescue Ned as well. That by itself means nothing until you add in what Darrus said to me."
Roxton and Veronica both leaned forward. "Which was?"
"'You cannot steal what has already been stolen'. You were right, John. The Keergan have been rebuilding their tribe. I believe that they have been increasing their numbers by capturing individuals or small groups of people, then integrated them to the community." Challenger watched as Roxton and Veronica digested the information.
"But why would Marguerite and Ned stay with them? It didn't look like they were being held against their will when we saw them. And why don't they recognize us?" Veronica asked as she absently stroked the cover of the journal.
"That is something I don't have the answer to yet. I'm sure there is a logical explanation for their behavior," Challenger said, frowning slightly. The whole situation they were in reminded him of something, but he couldn't remember what.
"Looks like we're about to get our chance to get that explanation," Roxton said, nodding towards the village center. They stood and waited as Marguerite, Ned, and an older man headed towards them. The man confidently strode up to the bars while Marguerite and Ned hung back several steps, warily watching the group of prisoners.
To be continued in chapter 5
Which we could be persuaded to speed along for some reviews. (
Ch. 4 Challenger's musings
The man stopped just short of the bars of the cage and silently studied the prisoners. "Who are you?" he finally asked.
"I am Professor George Challenger, and this is Lord John Roxton and Veronica Layton," Challenger said as he slowly stood and approached the bars. "We mean you no harm. There has been some sort of misunderstanding- "
The man held up his hand, silencing Challenger. "I am Darrus, second of the Keergans. Why were you attempting to steal away Mirra and Renn?"
Challenger quickly glanced back at Veronica and Roxton, who looked as confused as he felt. "The people you refer to as Mirra and Renn are our friends, Marguerite Krux and Ned Malone. We've come to take them home," he explained. "We have no intention of 'stealing' anyone. We only want our friends returned to us."
Darrus gave Challenger an appraising look. Apparently satisfied by what he saw, he leaned in towards Challenger. "I suppose you cannot steal what has already been stolen," he said in a low voice.
Challenger pulled back, startled by the man's words. Darrus dipped his head in a small nod, knowing that his message had been received. Stepping back to a safer distance, he looked over the trio again. "Do nothing to draw attention to yourselves," he ordered. "I will return shortly." He turned and strode into the house Ned and Marguerite disappeared into.
"Well, at least we know who we're dealing with now," Roxton said as they watched Darrus depart.
"I don't understand. There are no more Keergans," Veronica protested. "Their village was totally destroyed and there's been no sign of them since."
Roxton stood and methodically began testing the strength of their cage. "Apparently, a few of the did survive and it's taken them this long to rebuild."
"I suppose that's one way to rebuild," Challenger muttered quietly. He absently stroked his beard, putting pieces of this puzzle together.
Veronica looked up from her examination of Ned's journal, one of the few things their guards didn't take from them. "What did you say, Challenger?"
He turned to look at her. "What do you know about the Keergans?"
She frowned slightly at the question. "Only what I remember from my parent's journals and stories from the Zanga. There's not a lot of information on them. They tended to keep to themselves, but got along well enough with the Zanga."
Roxton stopped his testing and turned to look at Challenger. He recognized the thoughtful expression on his face. "George, what did that man say to you? Did he tell you what's wrong with Marguerite and Ned?"
Challenger ignored him and continued with his questions. "Did you ever visit the Keergan village before it was attacked?"
"Yes, once with my parents as a small child and once with Assai as a part of Zanga trading party. The Zanga would trade with the Keergans a few times during the year."
"When was the last time you were here?"
Veronica glanced at Roxton, hoping he could give her some clue as to where all of this was leading. He gave her a tiny shake of his head as he intently watched Challenger, wondering the same thing himself. "The last time was about six months before the village was destroyed, I guess," she recalled. "It was during the next trading period that the Zanga discovered the ruins of the village. Assai told me that the trading party returned early, telling stories about the village have been burned to the ground by an unknown enemy, that death hung in the air and no one survived."
Challenger made a noncommittal noise and turned to watch the village center.
Roxton folded his arms, clearly annoyed. "Challenger, if you have any idea what is going on here, you have to tell us. It's obvious that you know something."
"I have a theory as to what has happened. I need more information to be sure it is correct." Challenger sighed as he turned to face his friends. "If you really want to know what I believe is happening, sit down and I will tell you." He gestured towards the opposite side of the cage. When Veronica and Roxton had settled themselves, he continued. "My theory is fairly unusual, but hear me out before you discount it."
"We might as well begin with what we know. These people have identified themselves as the Keergan people. Now according to Veronica, the Keergans perished in an attack on their village. But as we can see," he waved his hand in an encompassing gesture, "some of the Keergans survived the attack and rebuilt their society."
"We all already know that Challenger," Roxton impatiently pointed out. "What we don't know is why they have Marguerite and Ned, and why they don't recognize us."
Challenger gave him a disapproving look before continuing. "What did Darrus ask us when he spoke to us?"
Now it was Veronica's turn to be impatient. "He asked why we were trying to take Marguerite and Ned. I don't see what you're getting at or how this explains anything."
"What is important about that question is the fact that he asked why we were trying to take Marguerite and Ned," Challenger explained. "While it was our intention to get them both back, Roxton had only attempted to retrieve Marguerite at that point. They had no way of knowing that we were going to rescue Ned as well. That by itself means nothing until you add in what Darrus said to me."
Roxton and Veronica both leaned forward. "Which was?"
"'You cannot steal what has already been stolen'. You were right, John. The Keergan have been rebuilding their tribe. I believe that they have been increasing their numbers by capturing individuals or small groups of people, then integrated them to the community." Challenger watched as Roxton and Veronica digested the information.
"But why would Marguerite and Ned stay with them? It didn't look like they were being held against their will when we saw them. And why don't they recognize us?" Veronica asked as she absently stroked the cover of the journal.
"That is something I don't have the answer to yet. I'm sure there is a logical explanation for their behavior," Challenger said, frowning slightly. The whole situation they were in reminded him of something, but he couldn't remember what.
"Looks like we're about to get our chance to get that explanation," Roxton said, nodding towards the village center. They stood and waited as Marguerite, Ned, and an older man headed towards them. The man confidently strode up to the bars while Marguerite and Ned hung back several steps, warily watching the group of prisoners.
To be continued in chapter 5
Which we could be persuaded to speed along for some reviews. (