Author's Note: Mid-Year exams are finally over! Sorry for the extremely
long delay. It was a combination of writer's block, preparation for exams
and having to go through piles of homework that accumulated over the 2
weeks 'holiday' in March because of the SARS outbreak here. Anyhow, should
be posting the ending chapters by next week (hope I can keep that promise
there). Thanks for the support so far, and sorry again.
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"No, Veronica!"
She spun around, confused.
"I'm. I'm fine," Ned said as he slowly uncurled and shakily stepped off the bed. "I just. got up too soon."
He glanced up at her, saw the doubt, and knew that he wasn't fooling anybody. His excuse sounded hollow even in his own ears. But he couldn't let them see him like this. He couldn't be weak. He wouldn't.
Veronica held out her hand, but he ignored it after a moment's consideration.
"I'm fine," he told her again.
She just nodded wordlessly and went outside to help the others pack up for the journey home.
"How is he?" Marguerite asked.
"I don't know. He's shutting me out."
"People do that when they try to forget the things that have happened to them."
Veronica quickly blinked back the sudden rush of moisture to her eyes.
"I guess that would explain it then," she said, more to herself than to her other companions. Roxton and Marguerite shared a worried look, not liking the resigned tone that pervaded their friend's normally strong, confident tone of voice.
"Malone!" Challenger hurried over to the limping figure that was making its way towards them. "Are you out of your mind lad? What are you doing out of bed?"
Malone grinned, or tried to. The bruises and lacerations were burning with every step, made worse by the uneven terrain.
"I thought I'd just come out here to help with some packing. I think I can manage something."
"Like killing yourself if you carry on at this rate," Roxton said sternly as he took in the ragged appearance of the man before him. His face was too pale, and the skin around his eyes had tightened, giving him a pained expression that was accentuated by the clenched jaw.
Malone stumbled and Roxton had to catch him before he smacked his head against a stone.
"I'm alright Roxton," Malone almost pleaded, desperately wanting the older man to believe him. "If I can't handle a bag, at least let me walk by myself."
Roxton closed his eyes in frustration.
"Fine. But if you pass out, I'm going to leave you behind."
Challenger rubbed a hand over his face. He watched as Roxton stalked angrily over to the pile of bags and hoist two over his shoulders, then turned to Malone.
"I'll. I'll take the rear. Don't hesitate to tell me if you can't go any further."
The jungle trail never seemed so rugged to Malone as it did now. He felt the bumps and holes along the dirt track more distinctly than ever, felt it in every jar and jolt that sent pain screaming along his back and sides.
When his legs gave out, the next step was the one that brought him to the ground.
"Malone!" Challenger raced forward and knelt down next to Ned. "Malone, why did you have to go and do this. . Roxton!"
Roxton cursed when he heard George call his name, knowing full well what had happened. Veronica took off as soon as she heard the yell.
"He's passed out," Challenger said, stating the obvious. Marguerite glanced at John, suddenly afraid that he might keep his 'promise' and leave the journalist there. But Roxton just breathed out another string of colourful curses, dropped his bag, and carefully lifted the unconscious man over his shoulder. Without missing a beat, he continued walking towards the treehouse.
"No, Veronica!"
She spun around, confused.
"I'm. I'm fine," Ned said as he slowly uncurled and shakily stepped off the bed. "I just. got up too soon."
He glanced up at her, saw the doubt, and knew that he wasn't fooling anybody. His excuse sounded hollow even in his own ears. But he couldn't let them see him like this. He couldn't be weak. He wouldn't.
Veronica held out her hand, but he ignored it after a moment's consideration.
"I'm fine," he told her again.
She just nodded wordlessly and went outside to help the others pack up for the journey home.
"How is he?" Marguerite asked.
"I don't know. He's shutting me out."
"People do that when they try to forget the things that have happened to them."
Veronica quickly blinked back the sudden rush of moisture to her eyes.
"I guess that would explain it then," she said, more to herself than to her other companions. Roxton and Marguerite shared a worried look, not liking the resigned tone that pervaded their friend's normally strong, confident tone of voice.
"Malone!" Challenger hurried over to the limping figure that was making its way towards them. "Are you out of your mind lad? What are you doing out of bed?"
Malone grinned, or tried to. The bruises and lacerations were burning with every step, made worse by the uneven terrain.
"I thought I'd just come out here to help with some packing. I think I can manage something."
"Like killing yourself if you carry on at this rate," Roxton said sternly as he took in the ragged appearance of the man before him. His face was too pale, and the skin around his eyes had tightened, giving him a pained expression that was accentuated by the clenched jaw.
Malone stumbled and Roxton had to catch him before he smacked his head against a stone.
"I'm alright Roxton," Malone almost pleaded, desperately wanting the older man to believe him. "If I can't handle a bag, at least let me walk by myself."
Roxton closed his eyes in frustration.
"Fine. But if you pass out, I'm going to leave you behind."
Challenger rubbed a hand over his face. He watched as Roxton stalked angrily over to the pile of bags and hoist two over his shoulders, then turned to Malone.
"I'll. I'll take the rear. Don't hesitate to tell me if you can't go any further."
The jungle trail never seemed so rugged to Malone as it did now. He felt the bumps and holes along the dirt track more distinctly than ever, felt it in every jar and jolt that sent pain screaming along his back and sides.
When his legs gave out, the next step was the one that brought him to the ground.
"Malone!" Challenger raced forward and knelt down next to Ned. "Malone, why did you have to go and do this. . Roxton!"
Roxton cursed when he heard George call his name, knowing full well what had happened. Veronica took off as soon as she heard the yell.
"He's passed out," Challenger said, stating the obvious. Marguerite glanced at John, suddenly afraid that he might keep his 'promise' and leave the journalist there. But Roxton just breathed out another string of colourful curses, dropped his bag, and carefully lifted the unconscious man over his shoulder. Without missing a beat, he continued walking towards the treehouse.