-Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you truly are making me happy. This is the last chapter, enjoy.
- My science knowledge is very limited, and knowing Challenger, there is always something new to discover.
Chapter 8
Back at the tree house, a party was being planned. Since Marguerite had returned, Ned and Veronica had planned this party for two days.
"Mum, do you think Aunt Marguerite will be surprised?" Arthur asked.
"I hope so, it was John's idea" Veronica turned to Roxton.
It had been his idea since they returned, sending them off to the Zanga, knowing the distance between the tree house and the village.
"They're coming" the elevator started to move.
"I need to talk to you now" Marguerite demanded as the others scattered.
"What?" he asked innocently, knowing what was about to be revealed.
"Tell me you didn't marry Miss Montague".
"I did" he shrunk back as her eyes seemed to burn.
"Did you all know about this? Do you know that this woman married my husband, who thought I was dead and fathered a child by her, a demon who wanted to take my daughter as his queen?" she demanded.
"Marguerite, we..." Challenger started to explain.
"Thank you, all of you, for your love, your honesty and your lies. I will be going now" Picking up her pistol and pack, she started for the elevator.
"Mum" Will and Kate ran for their mother.
"I'm going to the Zanga, you can come visit me whenever you wish, I love you two, I always will" forcing her eyes down, the elevator disappeared.
"Marguerite" he slumped in a chair, knowing that for the second time in his life, he lost the woman that was his life.
"We'll go after her" Veronica and Finn disappeared in a ball of light.
The cannibals canvassed the surrounding jungle, watching for their evening meal. Normally, they would have to wait till morning, but their luck was about to change. Marguerite ran through the jungle, not caring where she ran, as long as it was away from the tree house. The guilt obvious on their faces, the tears filling up in her children's eyes, it was as if nothing had changed. He had still cheated on her and the rest of them; they didn't see the evil beyond the pretty face and cultivated manners of Miss Montague.
"Marguerite!" Veronica's voice reverberated throughout the dark, quiet jungle.
Now the cannibals knew they were in not just for a meal, but for a feast.
"You want it? Come and get it" hearing the crunch of the leaves, she pull out her pistol as the cannibals attacked.
Three lay at her feet as she emptied her pistol. Muttering a curse, she hit two more with the butt of her gun before she felt pain on her left shoulder and saw the blood stain trickle down her arm where the arrow hit her arm. Muttering in pain, she pulled it out.
"Marguerite, where are you?"
She tried to call out, but instead she felt a kick to the ribs.
"Over there" Finn pointed out the shadows against the trees.
"Hey boys, over here".
Two more were knocked out as the rest fled.
"Leave me"
"No".
"I can't go back, after what he did to me...".
"Marguerite, we were all fooled. We need you, Will and Kate need you. You should have seen him, he was miserable without you. He may have married her, but you were the one he was thinking of".
"That thing, looked like him, talked like him..." Veronica and Finn's faces disappeared as the world became dark.
"Challenger, Roxton" they orbed back to the tree house.
"Mum" Kate whimpered.
"She'll be fine, why don't we finish that book?" Ned shooed the children away.
"What happened?".
"Cannibals" John gently placed her on the bed and started to remove her bloody clothing.
"She has a concussion and broken ribs; she should be fine a day or two".
He watched over as she slept, feeding her broth, changing her clothes and praying that they would get through this.
"How is she?" Challenger walked in carrying Summerlee's medical kit.
"No change".
"Challenger, where are you?"
"In here Finn".
"Would this help?" she handed him the arrow.
"Vee and Ned sent it down, it smells weird" she wrinkled her nose at the stench.
It was as if a light bulb went up off in his head.
"Eureka" his face light as a child's on Christmas morning.
"John, stay with her, Finn, you come with me".
"What?" Finn asked hours later.
"Arthur, wherever you are, thank you" he gleefully ran to the bedroom.
"John, I know how cure her".
"Will you tell us?" Finn asked impatiently.
"Do you remember the scorpion sting during the encounter with Summerlee's ghost?"
"Of course".
"The tip has been dipped in a mild sedative called Throcyene. It comes from a plant called Hibirious protectus. It looks dead, but it's not. More specifically the sedative is found on the thorns. The thorns are cut off from the plant and boiled until they become liquid. In small doses, the victim is out for a short time, but if given enough, it's deadly".
"The effect of the scorpion sting is similar" John surmised.
"Get the point, Challenger" Finn grumbled.
"She'll be as good as new by morning".
"Have her drink this" George handed John the cup a short while later.
"C'mon, that's my girl" Finn propped her up as the foul smelling liquid went down her throat.
"What happened?" the world came to as pain exploded throughout her body as Finn walked out.
"Cannibals, you've been out for nearly two days".
"I'm sorry" he held her as she wept.
"It's my fault, you were right about Sabrina".
"No, John, it's my fault, I should have trusted you. After all we've been through, I should have known better".
"Let's make a deal, you and I. We both know that this plateau has many surprises in store for us. We'll face it together and we'll trust each other, even if we disagree with each other".
"Marguerite, John, dinner is ready".
"I love you, John".
"And I love you, Marguerite. Come; let's get some food in you".
"I'm starving".
"That's what I like to hear" helping her out of the bed, they walked out of the bedroom toward the dining room.
THE END! FINITO! Please send some love, I've feel like I've spent forever on this story.