Disclaimer: Characters based on a story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Chapter 16

An Early Form of Viagra-The Final Chapter

Roxton lead the way through the jungle quickly. He knew that Summerlee, who was at the end of the group, was probably having a hard time keeping up. But he didn't have the time to slow down for anyone at this point. Not after he saw his daughter's legs this morning. Greta's legs...covered in thick ape hair.

When the hair was just on her feet, somehow, to Roxton, it didn't seem so bad. His daughter was still human looking. But the fact that the process had seemed to worsen in just a few days, told him and everyone else, that the reunion with Summerlee, and this plateau, was over. Now it was time for business.

Challenger was directly behind Roxton, and did not notice the quick pace. He had warned everyone of the gradual progression of Greta's illness. But he had no doubt that they would find the plants needed to cure her by the day's end. What was still on his mind was that kiss he had witnessed Summerlee give Caroline this morning.

Challenger sighed, keeping pace behind Roxton. What was it that bothered him about it? Was it surprise that apparently, something intimate was going on between his colleague and the beautiful widow? Or was it that at one time, for a few moments, he himself had had a crush on Caroline Hyland?

Challenger didn't know if it was all of these things or none of them at all. But first and foremost, was the fact that a relationship had formed from Summerlee's imprisonment by Nigel, and Caroline's working to unmask him, and that that tidbit had been left out of Summerlee's story that he told it to them. Challenger guessed he could understand it. With the difference in their ages, maybe he...maybe they both were embarrassed.

But other questions began to arise. Challenger mentally shook them to the back of his mind. Now was not the time for this. He began to pay attention to his surroundings...just in time, as he bumped in to Roxton! He clutched his rifle.

'What is it?' he asked.

Roxton took off his hat briefly, to rub his head, before placing it back on his head. He looked back at Challenger, Malone, Veronica and Summerlee. Marguerite, Finn and Caroline had stayed behind with Greta.

There was a dead couple on the ground, a tree sprawled over them. They looked as if they were naked and may have been engaged in some sort of passion, before the tree fell upon them.

'My God!' Challenger uttered. Malone scrunched up his face, while Veronica averted her eyes. Challenger looked back at Summerlee. He noted that he didn't seem as shocked as the rest of them. Challenger looked away from him. Why would a thought like that cross his mind? Of course Summerlee was shocked.

'I will have to remember to write this down.' Malone murmured. Summerlee looked at him.

'My dear boy. You can't tell anyone about that.'

Malone looked at Veronica, who shrugged. They both looked at Summerlee.

'Why not?' Malone asked.

'Because it's not done. These were human beings, to tell of someone dying in such an indecent manner...'

Veronica nodded. 'Of course you're right, Summerlee.'

Ned said nothing, but nodded. When he looked over at Challenger and Roxton, he saw that they had already started moving again, and were quite far ahead.

'We'd better get moving before we lose Roxton and Challenger.'

Veronica stared at their retreating backs.

'We won't lose them. I was with them when we first happened upon Hargrove. I remember how to get there.'

Malone nodded again and began walking. Veronica fell into step beside him. Summerlee was a few paces behind them.

'Nothing to say.' she commented.

Malone glanced over at her.

'About what?' he asked.

'Finn's get up.'

Malone rolled his eyes.

'That was interesting.'

'That's all you have to say about it? I mean it is obvious that she did that to get to me.'

Malone stopped walking suddenly and looked at Summerlee.

'Go on ahead. We'll catch up.'

Summerlee gave Veronica a look. Veronica returned it and watched as Summerlee walked off. She then turned to Ned.

'What is it?' she asked.

'I take it from that secret look Summerlee and you exchanged, he knows how you feel about returning to Boston with me?'

Veronica nodded, looking down at the ground.

'You know, I barely slept, thinking about what you told me.'

Veronica sniffed.

'Ned, the last thing I ever wanted to do is hurt you. I love you.'

Malone touched her shoulders.

'I love you too. And I don't want Finn!'

'I know that! I've always known that. Look, there's something I have to tell you. Something that might make you understand why I feel the way I do. Something that you will probably end up hating me for.'

Malone rubbed her shoulders.

'There's nothing you could say that could make me hate you.'

Veronica reached up and removed his hands from her shoulders.

'Your mother didn't just 'have a stroke'.'

Malone looked confused. He began to shake his head.

'I don't understand. And what does my mother have to do with anything?'

Veronica coughed.

'The day Greta got sick, I waited for you at your office. I was there to tell you about Finn, and her betrayal of us. Anyway, your mother was already there. She admitted that she had paid Jack Farrell to break us up.'

Ned backed away from her.

'I suspected as much, but I never could prove it conclusively. Oh Veronica! I'm sorry you had to find that out! I'm sure mother was her usual tactful self when she imparted this news!'

Veronica nodded.

'Oh yeah! She spared no expense. She made it clear to me, Ned, that she would never accept me as your wife.'

Ned was quiet for a moment. He then squinted at her.

'Did my mother work herself up in to some kind of tizzy or something? Is that what caused her stroke?'

Veronica bit her lip. Oh, it would be so nice to just nod and leave it at that! But she couldn't. It wouldn't be right, plus, Finn, not to mention Vivian Malone, knew differently.

'Ned, she was so mean...and insulting....I hit her...backhanded her....the shock of it caused her attack. I'm sorry.'

Malone just stared at her for the longest while. Veronica sighed with exasperation.

'Say something! Say anything!'

Malone swallowed.

'You hit my mother?'

Veronica reached out to touch his arm, but he flinched. Veronica drew her arm back.

'Ned, you had to have been there,' she said in a calm voice. 'She just kept egging me on and on. I know it was a horrible thing to do...especially to someone that age. It made me realize that I don't belong in your world. Hitting your mother was like instinct. Could you see me at some dinner party arguing with someone I disagreed with?'

Malone shook his head and gave a short laugh. Veronica was feeling more unnerved than ever.

'What?' she asked.

'I've seen you disagree with people plenty, Veronica, and your first 'instinct' has never been to strike them! I honestly never expected to hear this. Why did you wait so long to tell me?'

'Oh come on! Why do you think?! God! Do you really think this has been easy for me, living with this? I hit your mother, Ned! Even if she does recover, she could still sic the police on me. Or even if she doesn't, she will never give us a chance. I don't want to live like that. This place, here and now, was the best life I could've ever known. This is where I want to stay.'

Ned nodded quickly, then turned and began walking away. Veronica hurried to catch up with him. She grabbed his arm.

'Hey!'

Ned snatched it back!

'The real reason you want to stay here is so you can hide!'

'That's not true!'

'I don't even feel as if I know you! The Veronica Layton I know and love, would've never just given up and chose to hide in a jungle! We need to go back and face my mother. I will make sure she doesn't press any charges...'

'I'm not running! And you haven't been listening! If I go back and have to look at your mother's face, I might hit her again or worse! I don't want to give her liking me a chance! I don't owe her anything! I know I'm a good person and I know I'm good enough for her 'Neddie'!'

'Veronica I didn't mean...'

'She called me a 'jungle savage', Ned! Tell me, did you know that she called me that? Did she ever come over to your office and ask, 'Neddie, how is that 'jungle savage' of yours doing?' Did she ?'

Ned looked down. Veronica nodded.

'Yeah, that's what I thought. She 's your mother, Ned. You know better than anyone that she will never accept us.'

Ned grabbed her hands!

'Fine! So she doesn't? Who cares? Look, we can move. I'll turn over the paper to my mother and we'll live far enough away so that we don't have to see her ever again. '

Veronica nodded.

'This, here, is far enough away Ned.' Veronica said, then turned and walked off. She then ran a little to catch up to Summerlee. Ned rubbed his jaw, then began moving again as well.

****

When the group reached what was left of the Hargrove labs, Roxton began inching around the area, his rifle cocked. Challenger looked around, then glanced behind him at Summerlee. Summerlee was looking around as well.

'Any signs of the plant?' Roxton asked, still looking around for any hint of movement.

Challenger was about to answer, when he saw a brush of trees a little bit behind Roxton. Roxton, who noticed that Challenger's gaze was somewhere behind him, turned quickly, aiming his rifle.

'No, John! One of the plants...it grows at the base of that tree!'

Roxton lowered his rifled and rushed to the tree, along with Challenger and Malone. Summerlee who was looking for the other plant, was searching through other foliage with Veronica. Challenger yanked up a few sprigs, then examined them carefully.

'Well, George?' Roxton asked impatiently. Malone looked at him.

'Give him some time, Roxton.' Malone said.

'We don't have time!' Roxton hissed, knowing he was taking his frustration out on his friends, these same people who had traveled all this way for his daughter. But he couldn't get the look of devastation Marguerite wore on her face, out of his mind. She could barely handle being back here on the plateau.

Sure, Marguerite was strong and was making a show of it, but she did not want to be here. And if Greta's cure had not been tied to this place, there was no way she would've entertained the the thought of coming back here for a honeymoon or anything else! Roxton realized that that was fine with him. He just wanted the chance to be a husband and father. This stuff had to work on Greta, it just had to!

Challenger finished examining the plant and looked at Roxton and Malone.

'This is the rarauche...it's a traditional food plant...it will need cooking to make it edible.'

'But it is poison, right?' Roxton asked uneasily. How was his little girl eating poison, going to keep her from turning into an ape? What if it just killed her?'

'It is a poison indeed, John. But, if we can find the other component, we'll be set.'

'Got it!' Summerlee called out.

Challenger looked at Roxton and Malone.

'Gather up all you can of that! I'll go over and make sure Summerlee has the correct plant.'

Roxton and Malone nodded, then began snatching up as much of the required plant as possible. Challenger rushed over to Summerlee and Veronica. Veronica eyed the plant in Summerlee's hand.

'Are you sure this is it?' Challenger asked.

'Quite. I use it along with herbs to help me sleep.' Summerlee answered.

Challenger raised a brow. What the hell kind of herbs, mixed with poison, worked as a sleeping potion? He was once again, briefly reminded, that he still had many questions about his colleague's missing years.

Veronica was still looking at the plant in Summerlee's hands.

'What is it called?' she asked.

'Kalima latifolia. It is a type of calico brush. Let's hurry and gather as much as we can.' Summerlee said.

'Yes,' Challenger agreed. 'We still have to get back and mix the ingredients.'

Veronica nodded. Challenger hurried back over to Roxton and Malone. Summerlee and Veronica began gathering their part of the cure.

****

Caroline squeezed Greta's hand, as she looked over the garden that her and Summerlee maintained, in the ruins of the Summerlee Compound. She looked at a leaf, then looked down at the baby again.

It did look as if the child were almost half ape. Caroline's eyes strayed to the fallen plane. Finn was outside of it, making a fire close by. There was a big pot hanging over it. Marguerite was inside the plane.

Caroline shifted Greta in her arms. She knew the poor child's mother was having a hard time of it. So hard, that Caroline sensed she did not want to actually look at the baby.

Caroline walked over to the pot. Finn was adding more sticks to the fire. Caroline smiled.

'I like your attire.' she said, shifting the baby again. Greta's ape hair was tickling her arm.

Finn didn't look at her.

'Then you're probably the only one.' she replied.

Caroline decided to change the subject.

'Where is Marguerite?'

'In the plane taking a nap.' Finn said. She finally looked up at Caroline, then held out her arms. Caroline handed Greta over to her.

'She needs her rest.' Caroline said.

'Hmmm. Yeah, I guess she does. But Marguerite is strong. All she needs is to see this nasty ape hair disappear off of Greta, and she'll be good as new.'

Caroline nodded.

'Well, I guess I'll go tend to the duties over there.'

Finn raised a brow.

'What duties? The place is wreck!'

'Arthur and I have gardens that we tend...for food.'

Finn snorted, then shifted Greta to her other side.

'You know, young lady, you have the most atrocious manners! If there's something you want to say, then say it!'

Finn looked at Greta, who was now looking at Caroline.

'I guess there's no harm in speaking the truth, since no one else is around. Those 'plants' you're growing over there look an awful lot like...marijuana.'

Caroline blinked.

'What are you talking about?' she asked snidely.

'Where I come from, there were some members of society that grew drugs...painkillers...you know, stuff to get you high...to make you feel good. But, after looking at what you're growing over there...'

'You've been snooping through our garden?!' Caroline asked, outraged.

'I didn't know it was a secret. Anyway, I decided it isn't pot, but it's not food either.'

Caroline struggled to keep her cool. This Finn character was hitting a little too close to home with her suspicions.

Caroline was about to retort with a flat denial, when the rest of the group came running into the area. Finn saw them too, and ran up to meet them...or Ned, with Greta still in her arms.

'Ned? You got the stuff?'

Ned smiled at her. Finn was a bit taken aback. It had been a while since Ned had looked at her with anything but weary hesitancy and suspicion.

'You bet! You have the fire started?' Malone asked.

Finn nodded, thrilled that everyone was so positive. Veronica and Summerlee were the last to arrive. Veronica gave Finn an dirty look for the outfit, then hurried over to the fire as well.

Roxton dropped the plants off in front of the pot, then looked around.

'Where is Marguerite?' he asked, taking Greta from Finn.

Finn looked from Malone, to Roxton.

'In the plane. She's resting.'

Roxton nodded and hurried towards the plane with Greta. He bounced her a bit.

'You are going to be alright now, my darling! You just wait and see!'

Greta gurgled. Roxton stopped at the door of the plane and looked in. Marguerite was sitting in one of the chairs, staring off into space. As if sensing him there, she looked over at them. Roxton stepped in with Greta. Marguerite looked away again.

'We found the plants, Marguerite. She's going to be fine.'

Marguerite said nothing. She then stood up and looked at them. She then averted her eyes again. Roxton realized that it was Greta she was having a hard time looking at.

'Marguerite!' he practically growled, angry that she would act like this.

Marguerite looked at them both.

'I'm sorry! But I don't know how much more of this I can take!'

Roxton moved towards her with Greta. Marguerite struggled not to look away. But damned near the lower half of her daughter's body, looked as if it belonged to something else! This was too horrible to be believed!

'We're back now! Challenger and Summerlee are mixing the plants as we speak. Pull yourself together!'

'Don't tell me how to act! We don't know that any of this is going to work!'

Roxton couldn't believe she was being this way! Not now, not when they were so close to ending this nightmare.

'Of course it's going to work, Marguerite! What happened to you? When we got here and you saw Summerlee, you were on top of the world!'

Greta began to cry. Roxton tried to soothe her, but for some reason, that just made her cry harder. Roxton then glared at Marguerite.

'She needs her mother!'

Before Marguerite could respond, Veronica appeared in the doorway. She had overheard some of the disagreement a few paces before she reached the door. It was one of the worst she had ever heard between the two of them.

'Challenger and Summerlee are ready now.' she said quietly.

Roxton glared at Marguerite, before holding Greta protectively towards his chest, then turning and leaving the plane. Veronica watched him as he walked past her. She then sighed and looked at Marguerite.

'Are you coming?' she asked.

Marguerite nodded, wiping a tear. She then walked out of the plane, past Veronica. Veronica shook her head. The only two people who seemed to be blissful were Summerlee and Caroline.

****

Challenger fed Greta spoonfuls of the concoction. Marguerite clenched her hands together. She had never wanted anything so much in her life...with the exception of Roxton.

Roxton stopped watching Challenger momentarily, and looked over at Marguerite. He then reached out and touched one of her hands. She in turn, looked at him, the unclenched her fingers, letting him hold one of her hands.

Veronica looked over at Malone, who was standing next to Finn. Finn touched his arm. Summerlee and Caroline had their arms around one another.

Challenger finished spoon feeding Greta the concoction. Marguerite and Roxton stepped forward. Marguerite wore a puzzled expression.

'That can't taste too good. I wonder why she's not spitting it out?' she wondered aloud.

Roxton said nothing. The times he had had the privilege of feeding his daughter, she had never spit anything out on him.

The group stood there and watched, waiting for the cure to take effect. Then, suddenly, for a brief moment, the ape procession seemed to increase! Greta suddenly transformed into an ape baby and growled!

Marguerite screamed! Roxton uttered a curse. Finn turned and buried her face in Malone's chest.. He put and arm around her, his mouth agape. Veronica was stunned by the transformation, and Ned's gesture towards Finn. Summerlee and Caroline looked at one another.

But then, just as quickly, the process reversed itself, and Greta returned to being a normal, baby girl. Marguerite and Roxton hurried over to her. Marguerite picked her up and began kissing her. Roxton rubbed her hair.

Challenger smiled at the sight. His eyes then cut away to Summerlee and Caroline, who were walking off towards the compound, arms around one another. Challenger sighed. He would have to get Summerlee alone and ask him for the full story about this plateau, and his presence on it.

****

A few hours later, Veronica and Challenger walked around in the jungle a bit. Marguerite and Roxton were entranced with Greta, now that she was back to looking like the baby they knew and loved. Malone was writing in his journal and Finn seemed to be scuffing out the fire. Summerlee and Caroline had disappeared among the ruins of the compound.

'I know this is none of my business, but things seemed to be distinctly chilly between yourself and Malone.' Challenger noted.

Veronica looked around up in the trees. She then looked over at Challenger.

'I told him the truth, Challenger. I told him about what happened with his mother.'

'Oh.' was all Challenger said. The poor girl didn't need to explain herself any further.

'Yeah, 'oh'. He hasn't said two words to me since. And I can't say that I blame him.'

'Veronica, I know you. I know that that woman provoked something in you, that might have caused the very same reaction in anyone else.'

Veronica half smiled.

'You mean she was asking for it?'

'Of course. Obviously, given her age, it was not the wisest of moves, but I know that you would not set out to deliberately hurt an old woman.'

Before Veronica could respond further, a rustling of bushes caused them both to stop conversing altogether. Veronica looked over at Challenger.

'I guess all of the wildlife didn't die after all.' Veronica whispered.

Challenger nodded and pulled his pistol from out of his belt. They both stood stock still for a couple of moments, before being greeted by the most peculiar sight.

A harried looking man, with wire rimmed glasses, emerged from the brush. He was dressed in safari attire. He stopped short, as if surprised to see them.

'Who are you?' he squeaked.

Challenger cocked his weapon, though on sight, he would guess that the man was no threat. The man looked from Challenger, to Veronica, and grinned.

'Oh, sorry. I guess you're here to see the Professor as well?' he asked.

'Who are you?' Veronica asked, looking him up and down. She suddenly felt very possessive of the plateau. She couldn't believe a little worm like this was living on it!

The man ignored her question, and looked around Veronica and Challenger.

'Is the Professor around? I really need his help!'

Veronica rolled her eyes.

'I will go and get Summerlee and bring him here.' she told him. She then looked at Challenger.

'Will you be alright alone with him?' she whispered.

'Oh, I think I can handle him.' Challenger responded, with the barest hint of a smile. Veronica took off, leaving Challenger to wonder about the man's origins.

'That was some hurricane, hey?' the man said, as if trying to make small talk.

Challenger shrugged.

'I just arrived.'

'Oh. So how did you hear about this place?'

Challenger eyed him.

'I lived here for three years.'

The man's eyes widened!

'Really? Then you knew Professor Summerlee from before?'

'We came to the plateau together. I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your name?'

'Names aren't important here. You should know that.'

Challenger raised a brow. Names weren't important? What the hell was going on here?

'You know, when I lived here, there were all sorts of dinosaurs and cannibals, ape people...I have yet to see any now. Did the hurricane wipe everyone out?'

Before the man could say another word, Summerlee appeared. His shirt was open and his pants were somewhat loose. Veronica looked embarrassed. Roxton was close on her heels with his rifle.

'What's going on here? Who is this?' Roxton asked, pointing his rifle at the unknown man.

Summerlee looked back at Roxton.

'There is no need for that, Roxton. Mr. Albrightson is an old friend.'

Mr. Albrightson looked at Summerlee.

'Can I have more of the stuff? Please?'

Veronica, Challenger and Roxton all looked at one another. What stuff?

'Come back in the morning, Mr. Albrightson. Tomorrow there will be more.'

Albrightson sighed heavily.

'The night will be cold then....for me!' he whined. Summerlee patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. Albrightson hung his head and walked off. Challenger looked at Summerlee.

'I think you owe us an explanation....now!' Challenger hissed.

'Why, George! You almost sound angry!' Summerlee noted.

'Arthur, I want you to explain where all of the wildlife is...right now! And who was that man? And now that I think back, what was the real story of that naked couple we happened upon on the way to the Hargrove sight? Answer me!'

Summerlee nodded resignedly. Roxton put down his rifle and looked at Veronica.

'You might as well know. My murderous son, Nigel ,was not completely inept when it came to science.'

'You could've fooled me!' Challenger snorted.

'Me too, Challenger. But what I neglected to explain, was that a few months before Nigel got his just desserts, Caroline was secretly letting me out of my cell. Nigel never knew I had left the prison.'

Veronica looked at Roxton. Roxton spoke.

'Why pretend? Why didn't you just escape?'

'Because I couldn't let another person die at his hands. And my chances of escape on my own, and at my age, were not the greatest.'

Veronica shook her head.

'I still don't understand, Summerlee. We were here in the compound at one point. Why didn't Caroline free you and let you show yourself to us?'

'Yes, we could've overpowered Nigel in a minute!' Roxton proclaimed.

Summerlee looked down. Challenger placed a hand on his shoulder.

'What is it Arthur?' he asked.

'Nigel, did make one discovery. An herbal plant. My love for science overcame my common sense. I feared that if I showed myself to you all, you would convince me to come home with you all. I needed to stay and work on the plant.'

'Work on it?' Challenger asked, not liking where this conversation was headed.

'Yes...it was an herb that helped men....men with special problems.'

'What kind of problems?' Veronica asked. Roxton peered at Summerlee.

'Yes, Summerlee, what kind of problems?' Roxton asked, but he half knew already. That Summerlee! What a sly dog he was!

Challenger had practically figured it out too, and was not pleased. That explained Caroline's presence, to some extent.

'Sexual problems. To be specific, impotency.'

Veronica turned red. She then glared at him.

'What happened to the dinosaurs and the other wildlife Summerlee?' she asked, her tone a bit sharp.

Summerlee looked down at the ground.

'I had to test the herbs first. I mean, Nigel was not known for his accuracy. I placed it in strategic places, where I knew many of the dinosaurs feasted on plants. They died. Everyone one else, cannibals and ape creatures, died in the hurricane.'

Roxton looked around, then spoke.

'But others knew about it, correct? I mean, that couple we found...and that man we just met. God, he acted like some sort of addict or something!'

'And yourself, Arthur?' Challenger said, scarcely able to breathe.

Summerlee looked up from the ground and stared straight at them.

'It works wonders, George! Wonders! Caroline and I have been having the time of our lives! Planes come here all of the time, filled with couples looking for the herb!'

Challenger turned and walked away, thoroughly disgusted. Roxton called after him, but Challenger did not respond. Summerlee had kept his presence from them, and stayed on this plateau with his son's lover, all for sex?! When Challenger thought about it, that's what it came down to! What had he been looking for in Summerlee's explanation? Some romantic cure for an illness or something? What?!

He looked back at Summerlee, Roxton and Veronica. God! Summerlee's sloppy appearance was probably due to another liaison with Caroline! Challenger looked away quickly. At least they all knew that Summerlee had not been suffering all of this time!

*****

10 days later, another plane did arrive on the plateau. It was filled with three couples looking for the herb. They were all desperate and gracious enough, to allow some of their group to return to civilization with them.

Some, meaning Marguerite, Roxton and Greta. Ned decided that if he left the plateau now, angry with Veronica, they may never have a chance to repair their relationship. They also worked on a compromise of living on the plateau for six months. After, Veronica would return to Boston with Ned, to set things right with his mother.

Finn insisted on staying, since it was always the plan for her to assist Challenger with his work here. Needless to say, Veronica was not pleased.

Challenger was oblivious to all of the squabbling, as he realized that learning of Summerlee's creation, had only made him become competitive with his friend again. He was determined to find something equally revolutionary, yet, more tasteful, to take back to civilization one day. He also found himself trying to hide his secret feelings for Caroline, which grew with each day.

And Marguerite, Roxton and Greta, headed back to London. They were already planning a very small wedding, which would not be much of one, without the others there. But Marguerite had made peace with that. Just as she had made peace with society and how the three of them would be viewed. They were together. That was all that mattered.

And Roxton, for his part, had decided to go along with the 'home sweet home' thing, that Marguerite appeared to crave, for a little while. Then, he would sweet talk his Marguerite into taking another expedition, or maybe going somewhere else with George Challenger in about a year. He knew his lady love would throw a fit when he suggested this, and yes, they would fight. But Lord John Roxton was already looking forward to the making up part!