Disclaimer and other information in Prologue.

Chapter Three

" She's getting worse isn't she, George?" Roxton said sullenly, his jaw clenched as he waited for his friend's answer.

"Yes." He paused before practically jumping up from where he was kneeling checking Marguerite's pulse. In the last few hours it had jumped to an alarming rate and the stress on her heart was becoming worrisome. "Damn! Where are Ned and Veronica?" Challenger exploded, his patience wearing thin as he watched his companion suffer.

" Right here, Challenger." Ned said eliciting a sigh of relief from both of the men in the tent.

" Did the Zanga have a remedy?" Roxton asked anxiously

" They did." Veronica said peeking into the enclosure with a triumphant smile on her face. " Challenger, they said you need to seep these flowers in hot water and mix them with two of these cedron leaves. It should help slow her heart and lower her temperature."

" Thank God." Challenger said, exhaling with relief. " Let's just hope there will be no permanent side effects to this little misadventure."

'Side effects!' thought Roxton with alarm. The possibility of permanent damage to his beloved hadn't even entered his mind until now.

" Drink up, Marguerite." Roxton said softly as he administered the brew Challenger had quickly concocted.

"How soon will we see results?" Ned asked Challenger.

" I'm not sure, Malone. I would think it would depend on the extent of the poison in Marguerite's bloodstream."

" But she is going to recover." Roxton said, as more of a statement than a question, daring anyone to argue with him.

" It's very likely." Challenger said, giving the hunter's tense shoulder a gentle squeeze of reassurance. Glancing over at Veronica he followed her cue to step outside along with Ned, leaving Roxton to stand vigil.

" The shaman said that there is a time period for which this remedy will be effective." Veronica whispered, so that the already worried Roxton would be spared.

" Then if Marguerite is too far gone-" Ned said with renewed worry.

" Then she may not survive." Challenger confirmed grimly. " I'm worried about the strain to her heart. It is not uncommon for long term effects to be linked to this kind of infection."

" Let's just hope that she'll still be the same Marguerite she was before when she wakes up." Veronica said hopefully.

" If she wakes up." Ned said sadly.