Copyright: I don't own the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I do not intend to infringe any copyright, trade mark or patent. But the idea for the story was mine… :-)
Chapter 6 - Thunderstorm and Lightening
At the same time Roxton stood on the balcony of the tree house. He needed a time-out, because Marguerite was in an evil mood... She had been yelling at everything all morning until she broke out in tears. When he wanted to comfort her she just slammed the door right in front of his face and locked herself in the bedroom.
Roxton frowned. He knew it was not her fault, it had to do with her pregnancy and the chaos of her hormones, but nonetheless he had felt hurt inside.
Now that he was standing outside he focused his thoughts on the baby-party a few days earlier. He still could hardly believe Veronica was expecting a baby as well. On the other hand: This had been very likely to happen sooner or later. And he shared hers and Ned's happiness.
A smile spread over his face. A lot of things would change in the tree house. The lazy days and quiet nights would be over – at least for the next years. Even so he knew they all would manage.
Roxton looked up and recognized the dark colouring of the sky a few miles west.
'Good that Challenger is on his way back home right now. He must be about to arrive every minute', he thought and watched out for the man. But even his well trained eyes were not able to figure out a movement down there in the jungle that might be caused by a human.
With a shrug of his shoulders he turned around and entered the tree house. There was a frigid breeze outside.
He heard a low sob and Marguerite's distressed voice.
"John?"
She appeared in the doorway and immediately he felt sorry for her. She looked really down, her eyes reddened and swollen of her crying.
"Oh, Marguerite - what's wrong with you, darling?", he gently asked and put his arms around her body.
Marguerite sobbed and placed her head on his chest.
"It's the whole situation, John", she muttered. "I'm afraid something might go wrong. I mean, none of us has got any previous experience in obstetrics."
"I know, but listen", he said in a soothing tone "Giving birth is the most natural thing..."
Marguerite cut him off.
"I know that Veronica said so, but she didn't give birth yet, either. How can she know?"
John stroke her back and felt her strain.
"You know as well as I do that she's right. Women all over the last centuries gave birth." He made a short pause. "I know that we will make it. That you will make it. And do you know what makes me so sure? Your strength. Your strong will to get what you want. Your ambition." He put a hand under her chin and gently forced her to raise her head. "You're the strongest woman I've ever met and it's one reason why I love you. You won't be alone, Marguerite. We're all there for you and no matter what you need, we'll do anything to help."
"I'm so glad you're by my side, John" whispered Marguerite and Roxton could feel her relax a bit.
They stood there for a while, saying nothing, simply enjoying each other's presence. After a few minutes Marguerite cleaned her throat and looked around.
"Where's Challenger?"
This was a sign whereby John knew the topic was through for her. At least for the moment. And so he shrugged.
"Don't ask me. I haven't seem him since he has left this morning. He should actually already be back from his expedition..."
"Do you think something happened to him?" Marguerites voice sounded worried. Roxton shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. I'm sure he got into the thunderstorm in the west and made a rest. He certainly has got a dry place somewhere below a tree or in a cavern."
"Well, I've got a bad feeling about it", Marguerite mumbled concerned.
Roxton thought for a moment, then proposed:
"If he's not back until Veronica and Ned return from their walk, I will look for him. I know he wanted to go west, so I'll probably find him."
"That would be nice" agreed Marguerite with a relieved smile. "Thank you."
################################
"Someone's coming", Marguerite suddenly claimed and Roxton nodded. He heard the sound of the elevator as well now.
Both turned to the entrance, excitedly waiting for the elevator to appear and reveal who was returning home. After a few seconds they saw Ned and Veronica step out of the cabin and approach.
"We're back!", Ned shouted.
Marguerite did not respond but sighed in disappointment. Not that she didn't like them to return, but-
"John... Please do something. Just sitting around here and wait drives me crazy!" she demanded. Veronica looked at her in surprise.
"What's going on? You two look somehow worried... What shall John do?" she asked and exchanged inquiring looks with Ned. Roxton sighed, stood up and replied:
"Challenger's still somewhere out there. Marguerite is worried something might have happened to him. Did you two notice the thunderstorm in the west?"
Veronica nodded.
"Yeah, looked serious. I hope it won't reach us. The tree house is strong, but it's the lightening that I fear. It could set the roof on fire. Luckily this didn't happen during the last years" She broke off and concentrated on the central point. "So you said Challenger didn't return yet. What shall we do?"
"I asked John to look for him", Marguerite answered. "I'm sure something has happened. He never stayed away for such a long time!"
Roxton was already about to fetch his rifle and his hat. He had to admit to himself that he was apprehensive as well. At least now. The sun set and it was dusky outside – maybe Marguerite was right and Challenger was in need of their help... He tightened the belt with his guns and turned to Ned.
"I will leave immediately – now there's at least a bit sunlight left, but it'll soon be pitch black out there. I'll have to hurry – we only know he went west, but that's a quite imprecise specification."
Veronica had already grabbed her knives.
"We will help you, John."
"No, Veronica" Ned said and shook his head. "I will accompany him, but you'll stay."
"But I've been raised in this jungle! I know it a lot better than you do! This is not the right time for sexism – you just want me to stay, because I'm a woman and you don't want me to be in any danger... This is so bloody unfair!", Veronica shouted at Ned who's face showed a scared expression.
John smiled amused. He knew Marguerite would have reacted just the same way – but in this case Ned was right.
"You must stay at home", Roxton said to Veronica who turned to him enraged. "Someone has to stay with Marguerite, don't you think so?" He watched a remorseful expression showing up on her face.
"Yes... you're right. I'm sorry." She turned to Ned. "I'm sorry, Ned. I know you're not over-protected about me. I overreacted..." She smiled lightly. "Maybe it's because of the pregnancy."
Ned seemed to know it better, but returned her smile. Roxton waited until Ned had fetched everything he needed, then the two men said goodbye. Veronica and Marguerite remained in the living room while Ned and Roxton climbed into the cabin of the elevator and descended.
When he stepped out of the elevator, Roxton could feel the light voltage in the air that indicated an approaching thunderstorm. A look behind showed him that Ned felt it, too. It was a tense atmosphere in which they felt anything but comfortable. Roxton could only see as far as a few yards and clutched his rifle.
"I think we should stay together as long as possible. I'm not keen on facing dinosaurs, anarchistic natives or what the hell might be out there alone", Roxton said. "But we'll probably have to split up if our search shall be more efficient."
Ned nodded and the two of them moved westward, trying to make as little noise as possible. Roxton concentrated on the way that lay in front of them. Any broken branch or footprint might be a help to give them a closer idea of where exactly Challenger had gone.
Soon they almost weren't able to see their way anymore and Ned asked:
"Wouldn't it be easier to set a torch alight?"
Roxton smirked.
"Easier for us or for eventual enemies?"
At the same time in the tree house Veronica prepared a small dinner for herself and Marguerite who lay on the sofa and muttered something to herself. She still looked concerned. Female intuition?
Veronica brought the tray with the plates and food to the table and looked at Marguerite.
"I hope you're hungry!"
Marguerite sighed.
"Not really, sorry. I'm still cross about Challenger..." She pushed herself up and remained seated. "I don't know if I can manage to eat anything now"
"Well – first, they'll find Challenger. I'm sure, and you are too, aren't you? And second, I think once you started to eat you'll feel you're hungry.", Veronica said. "So please join me."
Marguerite was just about to answer when a deep thunder cut the silence. Veronica felt herself freeze. Was it just the stone-cold breeze that now blew into the tree house? She had always been afraid of thunderstorms because she knew they were unpredictable and could rob you of everything. The most mighty force of nature to destroy.
She stood up and walked outside. Even though it was dark outside she could see the dark clouds which had almost reached the tree house. Veronica heard Marguerite step outside as well.
"Oh no", she growled. "Don't we have enough problems?" She glanced at Veronica who turned and walked into the tree house again. There were several things to do and she wanted to be ready when the thunderstorm would have reached them completely.
"Marguerite, could you please help me?", she asked and waved at her friend to come in. "We'll have to fix the wooden fibre mats in front of the windows unless we appreciate to take a bath in here..."
She rushed to the first window on her right side and stretched to the wooden fibre mat that was attached above the window, furled and fixed with a leather strap around it. Veronica untied the strap and the mat uncoiled downwards until the complete window was 'shut'.
Still, Veronica hurried. 'I haven't got enough time', she thought desperately. 'It's almost there... Why are all the men gone? Why can't they help me? Why-'
"Let me help you", she heard Marguerite's voice and looked up. She saw that Marguerite already untied the second mat. Veronica gave her a smile and continued her work.
Both worked as fast as possible, but they hadn't even sealed up half the windows when the storm broke and filled the tree house with ice cold air. Veronica shivered and saw that it had started to rain. At first it were just a few light drops, but after a few seconds the women heard the loud patter on the roof.
The wind now brought wet air into the room and with a sudden blast most of the candles went out. Just a moment later the first glaring lightening illuminated the room. Veronica noticed the frightened expression on Marguerite's face and realized that she felt the same.
The room was dark again and a deafening thunder resounded right above their heads.
"Shit!", Veronica exclaimed and rushed to another window. But the tree house was just one thing she was worried about – the men were somewhere outside! She could only hope they had a place to hide from the storm.
She realized she wouldn't be able to finish. The storm was just too strong and the mats were ripped again and again from her hands. The wind blew into the house without any mercy. Stunned, Veronica watched papers, plants and a lot of other equipment swirl through the room when she heard a sudden cry from behind. She turned around and in the glow of a candle she saw Marguerite looking bewildered.
"What's up?", Veronica asked puzzled. "Did something hit you?"
Marguerite shook her head and Veronica realized that her hands were placed on her belly. 'No, please no, this cannot be true...' she thought but she know it was.
Marguerite seemed at least as frightened as Veronica felt and said:
"The baby's coming..."
to be continued…