*End Flashback*

Marguerite sat down, suddenly looking very pale.

'Looks like Malone's got himself in quite a fix,' Challenger muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to digest the information.

The tent flap opened and Jarl poked his head through.

'The rain has let up and the men are assembled.'

'Great,' Roxton looked at Jakum. 'We just barge on in, set the campsite on fire and rescue Ned then?'

'Don't have a better plan,' Jakum admitted.

'Works just fine,' Marguerite said as she stood abruptly. Turning back, she saw the puzzled looks on their faces.

'What? Are we going now or do we have to wait for an invitation?'

'What about Miss Veronica? She would want to come,' Jakum pointed out.

'She may not be up for it. She's still resting.'

'Should we ask her?'

Roxton shook his head. Knowing her, Veronica would be adamant about coming, and frankly, she was in no condition to be trouping around the jungle.

'We will leave quietly, and get Assai to do the explaining for us.' He looked at the Zanga princess, who heaved a resigned sigh.

'I have some tea that should put her to sleep in any case.'

'Right, let's get a move on then. The less time we waste, the better.'



The interrogator dunked his head in the tub again and held it down. Malone struggled, and only succeeded wetting him by his violent splashing.

'Well lad, the girl-slave made it out, but you didn't. pity pity,' the tall man standing at the end of the room laughed as Malone's head was brought up. He barely had time to inhale before he was pushed down again.

'Don't you worry now, I'm just getting started. Quad here has a strong arm, don't you agree?' He nodded to the interrogator, who released his grip. Malone collapsed on the floor gasping, the cold water burning the cuts on his face.

'You are a brave one, thinking of escaping and all,' he mocked as Quad lashed Ned's hands together and pulled him up. He hooked him to an iron chain-ring in the ceiling and left him dangling, his feet barely touching the ground.

'Well, you won't be so brave when I'm done,' the man laughed as he unfurled the whip with a crack.

'Scream all you want boy,' he sneered as he tested the whip. 'Give us some entertainment. You won't be disturbing anyone.'



The three explorers took the lead with Jakum guiding them through unfamiliar territory. They had reached the campsite faster than expected.

'So what now?' Marguerite whispered.

'We charge in, as planned,' Roxton replied.

'Not much of a plan really.'

'Well, we have the element of surprise.'

'How much does that help? We don't even know how many traders there are!'

'Children children, play nice,' Challenger intervened before their bickering revealed their hiding place. 'The Zanga have taken up positions at the forest edge and are waiting for your signal, Roxton.'

'Right,' He glanced at Marguerite, Jakum and Challenger. 'On the count of three.

'One.

'Two.

When the gunshot went off, chaos ensued.



The Zanga had been quick to attack. They raided the houses and killed any trader that posed a threat to them. They took the torches from the guardhouse and set alight the thatched roofs. The smoke was thickening, as was all the screaming.

'Jakum, where is the cell block?' Roxton yelled, holding a cloth over his mouth and nose.

'I will take you there,' came the muffled reply. Roxton grabbed Marguerite's hand and they followed Jakum, careful not to stumble into crossfire.

'Did you find Ned?' Challenger shouted over the din when he finally saw them emerge from the cell-block.

'No,' the worry in Roxton's voice was evident.

Suddenly, a trader, in his panic, ran straight into Challenger, almost knocking him over. Roxton pushed him roughly to the ground, gun trained on him.

'Badger?' The man looked up at Jakum, anger clouding his features.

'You turncoat!' he spat.

'Now quit with that and tell me where's the boy you brought in this morning.'

'You know, Pip got killed because of you. When you and that girl got away, Ranch figured things out and Pip got shot for conspiring!'

'I'm sorry! What can I do about that? He knew the risks, and he agreed.'

Roxton was tired, worried, and getting very annoyed with all the delays. He grabbed Badger by the lapels and hauled him to his feet.

'Listen here, Badger or whatever your name is. I've got a friend, who is probably with that maniac you call Boss, and I don't know what's happening to him. He may be dead for all I know. But what I do know is that if you don't tell us where he is, I am going hang you by your worthless neck and feed you to the raptors, you hear?'

The severe threat stunned everyone within hearing range into momentary silence. Badger took one look into Lord John Roxton's eyes, and decided that this wasn't a man to trifle with.

'He. they took him to the chambers. I never touched him, honest! I-'

Roxton let go of him and he landed with a thump on his rear. Jakum slapped a palm to his forehead.

'Of course! The interrogation chambers, I should've known.'

'Stunning revelation, now let's go,' Marguerite snapped. Even if Malone was mainly on the receiving end of her teasing, she cared about him like he was her brother.