Chapter Two

False Recovery

Part One

By mid-morning, Veronica Layton snuck into her companion's room with a dish of steamy herbal soup to shockingly find the heiress propped up reading a book.  The jungle girl handed the meal over.  "You're looking much better, Marguerite.  That remedy of Challenger's did wonders.  Clarias was going to come today, but do you still need her?"

Clarias was a medicine woman from the Zanga tribe.  She had been tending to a mother in labor last night, but promised to drop in this afternoon to check on Marguerite.  By the color and stamina on Marguerite's face, Veronica assumed that Clarias would be making a wasteful trip.

Marguerite wrinkled her nose at the smelly soup.  "No, I'm feeling wonderful this morning.  I must have eaten something that didn't settle yesterday."  She handed the bowl back to Veronica.  "I suppose I ought to get up now.  If I don't, Challenger will be in here shoving that horrid medicine down my throat."  She crawled out of bed, slipping on her lavender blouse.  "Are the men here?"

"Malone and Challenger went for a walk around the perimeter.  Roxton is outside chopping wood for Challenger's next experiment."  Veronica brushed back a strand of golden hair.  "He's a brilliant man, but half the time I don't understand what he's rambling on about.  I guess I've really missed a few advances that emerged in the outside world."

It was rare for Veronica to be wistful about her missing time from "the outside world."  To her, the plateau had become home over the decade she'd lived alone in the tree house waiting for her parents to return.  Marguerite smiled warmly at her.  "Things haven't changed all that much; at least not for the better," she reassured her friend.

Veronica gave her an appreciative grin.  "I think I'm going to go find us dinner.  I can't stand another night of herbal soup."  She paused a moment before exiting the bedroom to gather her hunting knife.

Marguerite pulled on her boots, then walked out and onto the elevator.  She swept her hair back and wrinkled her nose.  Her hair felt dirty.  I really should go take a bath, she thought.  At the bottom, she walked off the elevator and spotted Roxton hacking away at firewood.  Should I tell him?  No, I won't be gone long.

Marguerite crept around him and went to take her bath.

Part Two

Nearly finished, she ducked her head under one more time, marveling in the refreshing feeling of being clean.  Sighing, she began wading towards shore, but a sharp pain shot through her stomach and she struggled to stay above water.  The pain turned agonizing, tearing through her belly in excruciating waves of hot needle pricks.  Holding her side, she used her other arm to propel her self closer to the edge, tears stinging her eyes.  Her body impulsively bent over, doubling over in the pain.  Frightened, she screamed for all she was worth.

Part Three

Roxton raised the ax, but hesitated at the sound of a shrill cry.  In a split second, he was racing towards the sound, panic rising.  Clearing the tree line, he saw Marguerite struggling to crawl her self out of the water hole grasping her stomach.  She was naked and sobbing.  In an instant, he was at her side, yanking her the rest of the way out of water.  He reached over and dragged her skirt over her body.  It wasn't much coverage, but at least it offered her some protection.

He cradled her to him, checking her over for signs of a wound, wondering where the blood was coming from that she didn't seem to realize was there.  "Marguerite, Marguerite," he cupped her tear-streaked face.  "What's wrong, Marguerite?  What's happened?"

"My…st-stomach!"  She howled in pain, squeezing her eyes shut.  "Help me, Roxton!  Make…make it stop!"

Roxton gathered her in his arms and rushed her to the tree house.

End Chapter Two

Hey, I hope you like it so far.  Reviews are always welcome!  Sorry about an typos, I tend to write and spell check too quickly to catch all mistakes.