Chapter 5
Roxton and Veronica return with help. Ian meets an untimely death. The Countess tries to make a getaway.
Roxton and Veronica moved quickly through the jungle.
'We're almost there.' Veronica noted.
'I know where the village is.' Roxton answered tightly. He then stopped suddenly and looked at Veronica.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bite your head off.'
Veronica laid a hand on his arm.
'Marguerite will be alright. Challenger will take care of her.'
He nodded. They began moving again. Roxton started talking as they walked.
'You know, Marguerite doesn't talk much about her background, but I happen to know that one of her greatest desires is to know who her parents were. Did you get the feeling that the Countess was lying or playing games with her head?'
'Roxton, it just makes no sense that this woman would come all the way here just to make Marguerite's life miserable. I saw that document...the Countess needs a signature from someone so that she can control the Von Bubrik fortune. I wondered for a moment if it was Challenger she was after.'
Roxton raised a brow. 'Challenger?'
'Well, they are sort of related. Could he be the one she needs to sign that document?'
Roxton shook his head. 'From the little Finn told us, and what I know of the family history, the Countess needs the only heir to renounce their claim.'
He suddenly fell silent. Veronica peered at him.
'What? What is it?'
'I love Marguerite. I love her with every breath in my body.'
'And she loves you.'
'I know that. But I fear that the restlessness that she 's feeling now, because we're still here on the plateau and she's expecting, I just fear it will get worse now that she knows she's due a fortune.'
Veronica didn't answer him. He gave her a sidewise glance.
'What? No 'I'm sure you're wrong, Roxton'. No 'I'm sure she's changed'?'
Veronica smiled as they neared the Zanga Village.
'If you had asked me that last year, I would've been as skeptical as you. But I don't think Marguerite was ever looking for rich parents. She just wanted to know who they were. And for that news to come from a woman that she doesn't trust at this time right now...it's just a bad combination. When we get back, we need to find out if the Countess is telling the truth.'
Roxton nodded, moving faster. He then smiled at her.
'On a happier note, I think you made Ned a happy man by agreeing to come back with us.'
Veronica smiled back. 'Even if it never happens?'
'Oh, I don't know about that.'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean we've been sitting here talking as if the Countess and her solicitor are the ones controlling the balloon. We have the weapons and we're the ones that know how to fix it. They're not going anywhere without us. And after what the Countess pulled today, we're not just going to fix her balloon, then wave goodbye to her. She will be taking us with her.'
Veronica raised a brow at the forcefulness she heard in his voice. She then looked ahead.
'We're here.' she said.
****
Challenger left Marguerite just as she fell asleep. He hoped she would find some rest from her pain.
He moved towards the balcony and looked down. The Countess was no where in sight. She couldn't hide forever. She knew they...he...wanted answers. Soon, the dangers of the jungle would bring her back here.
Challenger thought back to the conversation around the balloon today. The topic of the Von Bubrik baby. Was it possible that all of those whispered rumors were true? Has Charisse murdered the first Countess and ordered a servant to kill the child? And why Charisse had never given the Count children of his own, specifically a son, Challenger would never understand. A son would've made the possibility of Marguerite's existence obsolete. So many questions...where was the Countess?
****
Ned and Finn were so caught up in conversation, that when they did look up to eye Ian Royce, they discovered he was gone.
'Maybe he wandered off or got lost?' Ned suggested.
'I doubt it,' a skeptical Finn replied. 'I think that he just took advantage of our gossiping and took off. Too bad he doesn't know the jungle.'
'Can you imagine Marguerite actually belonging to the Von Bubrik family?'
Finn shrugged. 'You forget I'm from way off into the future. I've never heard of these people.'
Ned gave her a strange look. 'And from the little I've learned, you didn't have the time to be impressed with material things.'
Finn just nodded. She began to feel funny again. She didn't want to sound stupid around Ned, and whenever they began to engage in one on one conversation, that was when Finn felt as if she was about to put her foot in it. She decided to turn the conversation back to Marguerite.
'I don't know that much about Marguerite. She's not very open about her past.'
'Ha! That's the way she's always been. I think the closest anyone has ever got to her is Roxton.'
'Hmmm. So, what do we do about the Countess when we get back?'
Now Ned shrugged. 'I think we should leave that up to Challenger. I mean he knows her the best. I just hope he isn't gullible enough to fix her balloon and let her leave as well!'
'Why not?'
Ned's mouth dropped open. 'Because that would mean we would be stuck here.'
'Fine with me. C'mon, Royce can't be that far ahead!'
Finn began to run ahead. Ned stared after her. He reminded himself to sit down and talk with her about the world she came from, for his journal. When they did get back to civilization, the world as he knew it, would never believe it.
****
The Countess hid behind a tree and watched Ian make his way back to the treehouse. She did not see anyone else with him. She stepped out from behind the tree as he began to pass by her hiding place.
Ian stopped short. He looked her up and down.
'Countess? What are you doing out here alone?'
Charisse glared at him.
'It was either stay and risk being throttled by Lord Roxton and George, or wait until their tempers dimmed.'
Ian returned the glare. 'From what I overheard, I can't say that I'd blame the Professor or Roxton. Really, Countess! Do you expect me to believe that it was your news alone that caused Ms. Krux so much distress?'
'I don't care what you believe! I want to know if the balloon is fixed?'
'It just needs a patch here or there. But essentially, a person could fly it now and be alright.'
'Good! Let's go.'
'What?'
Charisse looked him up and down.
'We're leaving now. Everyone's main concern seems to be whether the widow Krux gives birth to Lord Roxton's bastard child. We'll be long gone before anyone notices.'
Ian gave her a small smile.
'That 'bastard' is an heir to the Von Bubrik and Roxton fortunes. I hope to be Marguerite Von Bubrik's solicitor when we return. You had just better hope that she shows you some mercy and throws you a pittance. Something you can live comfortably on.'
'How dare you!'
'I have now come to believe that your inability to give your husband heirs, was punishment for your previous murderous behavior. Now come on! We're going back to the treehouse!'
The sound of some sort of creature could be heard. Ian began moving again. Charisse glared daggers at his back, then began to smile. She called out to him.
'This is the path I came from. Hurry! It looks like rain!'
Ian looked up. It did indeed look like rain. He sighed, then altered his course, going the way the Countess suggested.
****
Phoix, the medicine woman, hurried into Marguerite's room. Challenger stayed as well. He turned to Veronica and an anxious looking Roxton.
'We need to work alone. Try and stay calm.'
Challenger's comment was to Roxton, who didn't move. He tried to peek around Phoix, but finally gave up. He turned abruptly and walked down the stairs. Veronica nodded to Challenger and followed him.
It had begun to rain lightly. Roxton paced the floor.
'I see the Countess is out of sight.' Veronica noted.
'Better so.' Roxton answered.
'Though, she could be using this time to escape in the balloon.' Veronica said.
Roxton shook his head.
'Malone and Finn wouldn't let that happen.'
Veronica said nothing to this. There wasn't much noise coming from above them. She took this has a hopeful sign that everything was going well.'
'Where is this damned document?' Roxton asked.
Veronica looked around, then saw it, left out on the table. She nodded towards the table and Roxton hurried over to it. He snatched up the paper and began reading it. Veronica watched him for awhile. He then set the document down. He looked at her.
'Well?' Veronica asked.
'A solicitor is supposed to sign this as well. For now, I have no choice but to accept what the Countess told Marguerite as fact.'
Veronica shakes her head.
'No, see this whole thing gets strange now. We all know what Marguerite can be like when it comes to money, including the Countess. How did she think she was going to get Marguerite to sign this?'
Roxton frowned. 'By using something against her. I don't even want to know what...'
Roxton and Veronica looked up. Phoix and Challenger were coming down the stairs.
'She's resting now. The baby is fine.'
Roxton walked over to Phoix and hugged her. The medicine woman gave him a silent, gentle smile in return. Veronica walked over to her.
'Stay until the rain clears up. Then we'll return you to your village.'
The woman smiled again. Challenger watched as Roxton hurried up the stairs.
****
When Roxton hurried up the stairs, he found Marguerite fast asleep. He pulled up a chair and sat beside her. He began stroking her hair.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The idea of the Countess leaving Marguerite for dead as a baby made him burn with rage. She had cheated his lady love out of a life...a past, a family history.
But what Roxton feared more, was how much Marguerite would long to be recognized as the Von Bubrik heiress. If they did not get off this plateau, would it be enough for her to at least know where she came from?
Marguerite stirred slightly. Roxton picked up her hand and squeezed it.
****
It had just started to rain when Malone and Finn heard the screams.
'Who is that?' Finn asked.
'It's got to be Royce!' Malone exclaimed and began running in the direction the cries were coming from. Finn followed closely. Then, the screams suddenly stopped. Finn and Malone looked at one another, then looked around.
'God! What's happened to him?!' Malone had to shout, as the rain came down heavily,
Finn wiped some of her wet hair back off of her forehead. She then looked down at the ground, a few feet away from Malone. Her mouth dropped open and she pointed. Malone gave her a quizzical look, then turned to see what she was pointing at.
Ian Royce's hat sat in a mud pile. Finn began to walk past Malone to get it, when he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. Now Finn was puzzled, and surprised at the jolt she felt at having Malone's hands on her body.
'What?' she asked.
'That's not mud!'
Finn looked from Malone to the mudpile. She then gasped as the hat slowly sank.
'That's quicksand! Holy crap! I didn't know that stuff was around here!'
''Holy crap'? Another phrase from your time?' Malone teased her.
But Finn was too horrified to notice.
'If Royce's hat hadn't been there, we could've died!'
Malone sighed, then grabbed Finn's hand.
'Let's get back and tell the others about this. The Countess is now without her protector.'
Finn grinned. 'Oh, poor baby!'
****
Challenger stared out on to the balcony. The rain had just begun to let up when Veronica had insisted on escorting Phoix back to her village. Challenger offered to go with her, but Veronica insisted she would be alright. Challenger sensed that she was worried about Ned and Finn, and wanted the chance to look for them.
Where was Charisse? Could a woman he had considered family, really be this cruel? He heard a slight noise behind him and turned. Roxton was standing there.
'Is she still asleep?' Challenger asked.
Roxton nodded, then walked over to the table and picked up the document. Challenger shook his head.
'I looked at it. I don't know what to say.'
'That balloon is almost airborne, George. For all we know the woman could be making a get away as we speak!'
'We left Malone and Finn with the balloon. They are more than a match for a solicitor and a woman of a certain age.'
The elevator started to come up. Challenger raised a brow.
'Veronica couldn't be back already.'
Challenger and Roxton were stunned to see a bedraggled looking Malone and Finn.
'What are you doing here? Where's Royce?' Roxton demanded.
Finn was caught off guard by Roxton's tone. Malone ignored it.
'We've got trouble! Where's the Countess?'
'Not here! She made herself scarce as soon as George and I got back here!' Roxton hissed.
'What's happened?' Challenger asked. 'Where is Mr. Royce?'
'Dead.' Malone said. 'All we found was his hat.'
'He stepped into some quicksand.' Finn volunteered.
Roxton looked at Challenger.
'Do you think it's possible the Countess perished with him?' he asked Challenger.
'I suppose...neither one of them would know this jungle well.'
Roxton picked up his hat and the document.
'Where are you going?' Malone asked.
'I'm going to that balloon. If it's still there, then the Countess probably did die along with Royce. But if it's gone...'
Challenger nodded. 'I'll come with you!'
'Me too!' Malone exclaimed, looking at Finn.
'Stay with Marguerite and Veronica.' he said to her.
'Veronica is on her way to the Zanga Village...it's a long story...let's go.' Challenger said.
Finn watched as three men descended the tree house by elevator. She threw down her cross-bow on the table and sat down.
****
Roxton was way ahead of Malone and Challenger. It was as almost as if some unseen force was guiding him towards that balloon. Every fiber in his being told him that the Countess was trying to make a getaway...and that she had killed Ian Royce.
The particulars weren't important. She could've come across the quicksand earlier, then tricked Royce into stepping in to it. The point was, killing Royce eliminated the only other person that knew that the real Von Bubrik heir was still alive.
The old witch would probably tell her sister that she hadn't found George, or the rest of them. How a woman could be so cruel, Roxton would never understand. The thought that his parents had never liked her, continued to race through his mind.
Roxton vaguely heard Malone and Challenger calling for him to slow down and wait up, but he knew there was no time. He felt it as he drew nearer and nearer.
When Roxton finally reached the clearing, his worst fears were realized. the Countess was just climbing in, when Roxton leaped into the balloon as well. The Countess squeaked.
'Well, well. Long time no see. And you leaving without saying goodbye. I'm hurt Countess.'
'You'll be more than hurt if you don't leave this balloon, Lord Roxton.'
'Is that a fact? How is that going to happen exactly? I have no intention of allowing you to go back and steal what's rightfully Marguerite's. Now, I'll help you out of the balloon.'
Charisse threw back her head and laughed. She then smirked.
'Lord Roxton, I'm just going to be frank. If you thought that my telling Marguerite about her true heritage, was distressing enough, then you really wouldn't want me to come back to your little tree hut and make her sign that paper.'
Now Roxton laughed. 'You are out of your bloody mind! You couldn't make Marguerite sign that! What would you threaten her with? Don't tell me! Some scandal about the baby? Well it won't work!'
Charisse gave him a cool look, then looked past him. George and the American journalist had just come into the clearing and were advancing on them. She raised her voice slightly.
'She will sign it Lord Roxton, or else when I return to the treehut, I will be forced to tell the widow Krux something that you thought no one knew. That you are indeed a married man!'
Roxton stepped back a bit.
'I know it was an arranged marriage that neither your or...what is her name again? Ah yes, Emma, were too thrilled with, but just the same, Lady Emma Roxton would not be pleased to find that her husband had sired a child with another woman, when she thought you were dead. Not to mention what poor Marguerite would think. Now, either leave this balloon, or I tell your ladylove about your marital status.'
Roxton couldn't breathe! The marriage was what the Countess said it was. Arranged. Emma had been in love with someone from a lower station, Roxton not really interested in a wife at all. He had come on this expedition with Challenger to get away from the pressures of marriage and running estates.
But it had not been well known. Emma had insisted on something small and quiet, so she could ready the man she really loved for heartbreak. It was a condition that she had insisted on to her father.
And Roxton, who liked her well enough, actually felt sorry for her plight. They never even consummated the marriage.
Roxton climbed out of the balloon and stood back. He ignored the sharp glares of Challenger and Malone, who had overheard everything. Challenger and Malone ran forward, as the balloon became airborne.
'Charisse please!' Challenger cried out. 'Don't do this!'
Charisse blew him a kiss, then turned away, as the balloon took flight. What happened next was poetic justice.
Two raptors flew into the balloon. One ripped the canvas. Charisse began screaming for help. Challenger raised his rifle and got off a shot, but the hungry predators were already dining on the Countess. Challenger, Roxton and Malone watched from the ground, as the balloon soon descended from the air and crashed on the other side of a hill top.
Challenger stared off into the distance. Malone looked at Roxton.
'Is it true? Is what the Countess said true?'
Roxton did not answer and began walking back to the treehouse. Malone walked over to Challenger, who was still staring off into the distance.
Roxton and Veronica return with help. Ian meets an untimely death. The Countess tries to make a getaway.
Roxton and Veronica moved quickly through the jungle.
'We're almost there.' Veronica noted.
'I know where the village is.' Roxton answered tightly. He then stopped suddenly and looked at Veronica.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bite your head off.'
Veronica laid a hand on his arm.
'Marguerite will be alright. Challenger will take care of her.'
He nodded. They began moving again. Roxton started talking as they walked.
'You know, Marguerite doesn't talk much about her background, but I happen to know that one of her greatest desires is to know who her parents were. Did you get the feeling that the Countess was lying or playing games with her head?'
'Roxton, it just makes no sense that this woman would come all the way here just to make Marguerite's life miserable. I saw that document...the Countess needs a signature from someone so that she can control the Von Bubrik fortune. I wondered for a moment if it was Challenger she was after.'
Roxton raised a brow. 'Challenger?'
'Well, they are sort of related. Could he be the one she needs to sign that document?'
Roxton shook his head. 'From the little Finn told us, and what I know of the family history, the Countess needs the only heir to renounce their claim.'
He suddenly fell silent. Veronica peered at him.
'What? What is it?'
'I love Marguerite. I love her with every breath in my body.'
'And she loves you.'
'I know that. But I fear that the restlessness that she 's feeling now, because we're still here on the plateau and she's expecting, I just fear it will get worse now that she knows she's due a fortune.'
Veronica didn't answer him. He gave her a sidewise glance.
'What? No 'I'm sure you're wrong, Roxton'. No 'I'm sure she's changed'?'
Veronica smiled as they neared the Zanga Village.
'If you had asked me that last year, I would've been as skeptical as you. But I don't think Marguerite was ever looking for rich parents. She just wanted to know who they were. And for that news to come from a woman that she doesn't trust at this time right now...it's just a bad combination. When we get back, we need to find out if the Countess is telling the truth.'
Roxton nodded, moving faster. He then smiled at her.
'On a happier note, I think you made Ned a happy man by agreeing to come back with us.'
Veronica smiled back. 'Even if it never happens?'
'Oh, I don't know about that.'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean we've been sitting here talking as if the Countess and her solicitor are the ones controlling the balloon. We have the weapons and we're the ones that know how to fix it. They're not going anywhere without us. And after what the Countess pulled today, we're not just going to fix her balloon, then wave goodbye to her. She will be taking us with her.'
Veronica raised a brow at the forcefulness she heard in his voice. She then looked ahead.
'We're here.' she said.
****
Challenger left Marguerite just as she fell asleep. He hoped she would find some rest from her pain.
He moved towards the balcony and looked down. The Countess was no where in sight. She couldn't hide forever. She knew they...he...wanted answers. Soon, the dangers of the jungle would bring her back here.
Challenger thought back to the conversation around the balloon today. The topic of the Von Bubrik baby. Was it possible that all of those whispered rumors were true? Has Charisse murdered the first Countess and ordered a servant to kill the child? And why Charisse had never given the Count children of his own, specifically a son, Challenger would never understand. A son would've made the possibility of Marguerite's existence obsolete. So many questions...where was the Countess?
****
Ned and Finn were so caught up in conversation, that when they did look up to eye Ian Royce, they discovered he was gone.
'Maybe he wandered off or got lost?' Ned suggested.
'I doubt it,' a skeptical Finn replied. 'I think that he just took advantage of our gossiping and took off. Too bad he doesn't know the jungle.'
'Can you imagine Marguerite actually belonging to the Von Bubrik family?'
Finn shrugged. 'You forget I'm from way off into the future. I've never heard of these people.'
Ned gave her a strange look. 'And from the little I've learned, you didn't have the time to be impressed with material things.'
Finn just nodded. She began to feel funny again. She didn't want to sound stupid around Ned, and whenever they began to engage in one on one conversation, that was when Finn felt as if she was about to put her foot in it. She decided to turn the conversation back to Marguerite.
'I don't know that much about Marguerite. She's not very open about her past.'
'Ha! That's the way she's always been. I think the closest anyone has ever got to her is Roxton.'
'Hmmm. So, what do we do about the Countess when we get back?'
Now Ned shrugged. 'I think we should leave that up to Challenger. I mean he knows her the best. I just hope he isn't gullible enough to fix her balloon and let her leave as well!'
'Why not?'
Ned's mouth dropped open. 'Because that would mean we would be stuck here.'
'Fine with me. C'mon, Royce can't be that far ahead!'
Finn began to run ahead. Ned stared after her. He reminded himself to sit down and talk with her about the world she came from, for his journal. When they did get back to civilization, the world as he knew it, would never believe it.
****
The Countess hid behind a tree and watched Ian make his way back to the treehouse. She did not see anyone else with him. She stepped out from behind the tree as he began to pass by her hiding place.
Ian stopped short. He looked her up and down.
'Countess? What are you doing out here alone?'
Charisse glared at him.
'It was either stay and risk being throttled by Lord Roxton and George, or wait until their tempers dimmed.'
Ian returned the glare. 'From what I overheard, I can't say that I'd blame the Professor or Roxton. Really, Countess! Do you expect me to believe that it was your news alone that caused Ms. Krux so much distress?'
'I don't care what you believe! I want to know if the balloon is fixed?'
'It just needs a patch here or there. But essentially, a person could fly it now and be alright.'
'Good! Let's go.'
'What?'
Charisse looked him up and down.
'We're leaving now. Everyone's main concern seems to be whether the widow Krux gives birth to Lord Roxton's bastard child. We'll be long gone before anyone notices.'
Ian gave her a small smile.
'That 'bastard' is an heir to the Von Bubrik and Roxton fortunes. I hope to be Marguerite Von Bubrik's solicitor when we return. You had just better hope that she shows you some mercy and throws you a pittance. Something you can live comfortably on.'
'How dare you!'
'I have now come to believe that your inability to give your husband heirs, was punishment for your previous murderous behavior. Now come on! We're going back to the treehouse!'
The sound of some sort of creature could be heard. Ian began moving again. Charisse glared daggers at his back, then began to smile. She called out to him.
'This is the path I came from. Hurry! It looks like rain!'
Ian looked up. It did indeed look like rain. He sighed, then altered his course, going the way the Countess suggested.
****
Phoix, the medicine woman, hurried into Marguerite's room. Challenger stayed as well. He turned to Veronica and an anxious looking Roxton.
'We need to work alone. Try and stay calm.'
Challenger's comment was to Roxton, who didn't move. He tried to peek around Phoix, but finally gave up. He turned abruptly and walked down the stairs. Veronica nodded to Challenger and followed him.
It had begun to rain lightly. Roxton paced the floor.
'I see the Countess is out of sight.' Veronica noted.
'Better so.' Roxton answered.
'Though, she could be using this time to escape in the balloon.' Veronica said.
Roxton shook his head.
'Malone and Finn wouldn't let that happen.'
Veronica said nothing to this. There wasn't much noise coming from above them. She took this has a hopeful sign that everything was going well.'
'Where is this damned document?' Roxton asked.
Veronica looked around, then saw it, left out on the table. She nodded towards the table and Roxton hurried over to it. He snatched up the paper and began reading it. Veronica watched him for awhile. He then set the document down. He looked at her.
'Well?' Veronica asked.
'A solicitor is supposed to sign this as well. For now, I have no choice but to accept what the Countess told Marguerite as fact.'
Veronica shakes her head.
'No, see this whole thing gets strange now. We all know what Marguerite can be like when it comes to money, including the Countess. How did she think she was going to get Marguerite to sign this?'
Roxton frowned. 'By using something against her. I don't even want to know what...'
Roxton and Veronica looked up. Phoix and Challenger were coming down the stairs.
'She's resting now. The baby is fine.'
Roxton walked over to Phoix and hugged her. The medicine woman gave him a silent, gentle smile in return. Veronica walked over to her.
'Stay until the rain clears up. Then we'll return you to your village.'
The woman smiled again. Challenger watched as Roxton hurried up the stairs.
****
When Roxton hurried up the stairs, he found Marguerite fast asleep. He pulled up a chair and sat beside her. He began stroking her hair.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The idea of the Countess leaving Marguerite for dead as a baby made him burn with rage. She had cheated his lady love out of a life...a past, a family history.
But what Roxton feared more, was how much Marguerite would long to be recognized as the Von Bubrik heiress. If they did not get off this plateau, would it be enough for her to at least know where she came from?
Marguerite stirred slightly. Roxton picked up her hand and squeezed it.
****
It had just started to rain when Malone and Finn heard the screams.
'Who is that?' Finn asked.
'It's got to be Royce!' Malone exclaimed and began running in the direction the cries were coming from. Finn followed closely. Then, the screams suddenly stopped. Finn and Malone looked at one another, then looked around.
'God! What's happened to him?!' Malone had to shout, as the rain came down heavily,
Finn wiped some of her wet hair back off of her forehead. She then looked down at the ground, a few feet away from Malone. Her mouth dropped open and she pointed. Malone gave her a quizzical look, then turned to see what she was pointing at.
Ian Royce's hat sat in a mud pile. Finn began to walk past Malone to get it, when he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. Now Finn was puzzled, and surprised at the jolt she felt at having Malone's hands on her body.
'What?' she asked.
'That's not mud!'
Finn looked from Malone to the mudpile. She then gasped as the hat slowly sank.
'That's quicksand! Holy crap! I didn't know that stuff was around here!'
''Holy crap'? Another phrase from your time?' Malone teased her.
But Finn was too horrified to notice.
'If Royce's hat hadn't been there, we could've died!'
Malone sighed, then grabbed Finn's hand.
'Let's get back and tell the others about this. The Countess is now without her protector.'
Finn grinned. 'Oh, poor baby!'
****
Challenger stared out on to the balcony. The rain had just begun to let up when Veronica had insisted on escorting Phoix back to her village. Challenger offered to go with her, but Veronica insisted she would be alright. Challenger sensed that she was worried about Ned and Finn, and wanted the chance to look for them.
Where was Charisse? Could a woman he had considered family, really be this cruel? He heard a slight noise behind him and turned. Roxton was standing there.
'Is she still asleep?' Challenger asked.
Roxton nodded, then walked over to the table and picked up the document. Challenger shook his head.
'I looked at it. I don't know what to say.'
'That balloon is almost airborne, George. For all we know the woman could be making a get away as we speak!'
'We left Malone and Finn with the balloon. They are more than a match for a solicitor and a woman of a certain age.'
The elevator started to come up. Challenger raised a brow.
'Veronica couldn't be back already.'
Challenger and Roxton were stunned to see a bedraggled looking Malone and Finn.
'What are you doing here? Where's Royce?' Roxton demanded.
Finn was caught off guard by Roxton's tone. Malone ignored it.
'We've got trouble! Where's the Countess?'
'Not here! She made herself scarce as soon as George and I got back here!' Roxton hissed.
'What's happened?' Challenger asked. 'Where is Mr. Royce?'
'Dead.' Malone said. 'All we found was his hat.'
'He stepped into some quicksand.' Finn volunteered.
Roxton looked at Challenger.
'Do you think it's possible the Countess perished with him?' he asked Challenger.
'I suppose...neither one of them would know this jungle well.'
Roxton picked up his hat and the document.
'Where are you going?' Malone asked.
'I'm going to that balloon. If it's still there, then the Countess probably did die along with Royce. But if it's gone...'
Challenger nodded. 'I'll come with you!'
'Me too!' Malone exclaimed, looking at Finn.
'Stay with Marguerite and Veronica.' he said to her.
'Veronica is on her way to the Zanga Village...it's a long story...let's go.' Challenger said.
Finn watched as three men descended the tree house by elevator. She threw down her cross-bow on the table and sat down.
****
Roxton was way ahead of Malone and Challenger. It was as almost as if some unseen force was guiding him towards that balloon. Every fiber in his being told him that the Countess was trying to make a getaway...and that she had killed Ian Royce.
The particulars weren't important. She could've come across the quicksand earlier, then tricked Royce into stepping in to it. The point was, killing Royce eliminated the only other person that knew that the real Von Bubrik heir was still alive.
The old witch would probably tell her sister that she hadn't found George, or the rest of them. How a woman could be so cruel, Roxton would never understand. The thought that his parents had never liked her, continued to race through his mind.
Roxton vaguely heard Malone and Challenger calling for him to slow down and wait up, but he knew there was no time. He felt it as he drew nearer and nearer.
When Roxton finally reached the clearing, his worst fears were realized. the Countess was just climbing in, when Roxton leaped into the balloon as well. The Countess squeaked.
'Well, well. Long time no see. And you leaving without saying goodbye. I'm hurt Countess.'
'You'll be more than hurt if you don't leave this balloon, Lord Roxton.'
'Is that a fact? How is that going to happen exactly? I have no intention of allowing you to go back and steal what's rightfully Marguerite's. Now, I'll help you out of the balloon.'
Charisse threw back her head and laughed. She then smirked.
'Lord Roxton, I'm just going to be frank. If you thought that my telling Marguerite about her true heritage, was distressing enough, then you really wouldn't want me to come back to your little tree hut and make her sign that paper.'
Now Roxton laughed. 'You are out of your bloody mind! You couldn't make Marguerite sign that! What would you threaten her with? Don't tell me! Some scandal about the baby? Well it won't work!'
Charisse gave him a cool look, then looked past him. George and the American journalist had just come into the clearing and were advancing on them. She raised her voice slightly.
'She will sign it Lord Roxton, or else when I return to the treehut, I will be forced to tell the widow Krux something that you thought no one knew. That you are indeed a married man!'
Roxton stepped back a bit.
'I know it was an arranged marriage that neither your or...what is her name again? Ah yes, Emma, were too thrilled with, but just the same, Lady Emma Roxton would not be pleased to find that her husband had sired a child with another woman, when she thought you were dead. Not to mention what poor Marguerite would think. Now, either leave this balloon, or I tell your ladylove about your marital status.'
Roxton couldn't breathe! The marriage was what the Countess said it was. Arranged. Emma had been in love with someone from a lower station, Roxton not really interested in a wife at all. He had come on this expedition with Challenger to get away from the pressures of marriage and running estates.
But it had not been well known. Emma had insisted on something small and quiet, so she could ready the man she really loved for heartbreak. It was a condition that she had insisted on to her father.
And Roxton, who liked her well enough, actually felt sorry for her plight. They never even consummated the marriage.
Roxton climbed out of the balloon and stood back. He ignored the sharp glares of Challenger and Malone, who had overheard everything. Challenger and Malone ran forward, as the balloon became airborne.
'Charisse please!' Challenger cried out. 'Don't do this!'
Charisse blew him a kiss, then turned away, as the balloon took flight. What happened next was poetic justice.
Two raptors flew into the balloon. One ripped the canvas. Charisse began screaming for help. Challenger raised his rifle and got off a shot, but the hungry predators were already dining on the Countess. Challenger, Roxton and Malone watched from the ground, as the balloon soon descended from the air and crashed on the other side of a hill top.
Challenger stared off into the distance. Malone looked at Roxton.
'Is it true? Is what the Countess said true?'
Roxton did not answer and began walking back to the treehouse. Malone walked over to Challenger, who was still staring off into the distance.