I don't feel dead, then again I don't know what dead is supposed to feel like. I always assumed it would be like going to sleep. Lights closing, darkness surrounding until finally you don't think anymore.
It's the opposite. I have never felt more alive... My soul rises out of my body and I feel free, yet bound by worry. I can see my body, but it doesn't feel as if it belongs to me. I am not concerned with that though; I am more interested in what is happening below me.
How close my friends are, yet so very far away. I wish I could help them, guide them, but I have never felt more powerless.
With nimble fingers Marguerite placed the last remaining pebble in the large hole at the edge of the board. The board was made up of a series of small holes, each containing a different amount of pebbles. The object of the game was to get all of the pebbles into the large hole on their side of the board, the fastest one to do so winning the game.
"You won again Marguerite!" Veronica exclaimed with surprise. "That must have been the fifth game in a row!"
"Beginner's luck," Marguerite replied with a smile taking possession of the grapes they were using for bets. They had been playing Rithos' game for the past two days and she managed to win most of them. "Although I swear that I remember seeing this game somewhere. I wonder if I played this game when I was younger; it feels like a game a child would play."
At Marguerite's last comment Rithos looked up abruptly, "What was that Marguerite?"
"I just feel like this is a game that would keep children busy for hours. What do you think John," Marguerite said turning to the hunter beside her. He had lost all of his grapes hours before, and was now content to sit by her side and watch her play. "Did you ever play this game as a child in Avebury? Or was it not a proper activity for the son of a lord?"
"I played many games as a child, this unfortunately was not one of them," John replied with a laugh," I wish it was though. Maybe I wouldn't have lost my grapes after the third game!"
"Well, I'm off to bed," Ned said from his seat between Veronica and Rithos, covering a yawn with his hand. "Now that the rain has stopped we are going to have a big day ahead of us. I'm quite excited to have some meat around here. I never thought I would ever be this thrilled to have raptor for dinner!"
"I think I'll go to bed also," Veronica said using Ned's arms to help pull herself off of the couch. Her ankle was finally beginning to heal, just not as fast as she would like. The few times she forgot that she had sprained her ankle and tried to walk normally, she was rewarded with sharp shooting pains for her efforts. Slightly leaning on the reporter she turned back to face the trio, "Good night everyone! I'll see you all in the morning."
"Good night Veronica," Rithos called out to Veronica's retreating form. When she finally disappeared from sight he turned to Marguerite, "Up for another game? I fully intend to win this time so you better be careful."
"Ned is right, we have a busy day ahead of us. I really should get some sleep. I've had a wonderful time though. Maybe tomorrow we can bet with things of real value!"
"The only one that owns things with real value is you Marguerite, and those gems are hidden expertly from us," Roxton said getting up and offering a hand to the heiress. "I'll walk your room. Good night Rithos."
"Yes, good night Roxton. See you in the morning." He made a show of returning the pebbles back in their respective places as he strained to hear what Roxton and Marguerite were saying in hushed tones as they walked to their respective rooms.
"Maybe tomorrow we can play with things of real value," Rithos said in an uncanny impression of Marguerite. His smile waned as he shook his head in disgust. Oh, how he hated those explorers. Always smiling, acting like one big happy family; with no care about the consequences of their actions.
Everything had worked out perfectly; even God was conspiring to help him, practically throwing Veronica at his feet. Although he wanted to kill them immediately, he knew it was best to make them suffer. He wanted them to die the same way his friends did. Alone, afraid and forgotten. He had already gained their trust, and tomorrow he would ask for their help.
Dawn had just broken on the plateau but the treehouse was alive with activity. Rifles were loaded, extra ammunition was packed and water canteens were being filled. Everyone, save Veronica who was still nursing her hurt ankle, seemed anxious to start, and subsequently finish, their pending expedition.
"I think that's everything," Roxton said surveying the work the others had completed. "Food, guns, water… that should be enough for a five hour hunting trip."
"Ah, Roxton," Ned said throwing a journal and a couple of pencils into his pouch, "but when is it ever just a five hour hunting trip?"
"CHALLENGER!" Marguerite yelled over the banister at the opposite side of the treehouse. "We are going to leave without you! Get up here now!" Turning, Marguerite looked back at her companions.
"What on earth is he doing down there in that laboratory of his? Why is he even coming to begin with? How many specimens does he really need?"
Veronica, who had been watching the flurry of activities with a hint of jealousy, limped off the couch to join the men. Inspecting their supply of weapons and ammunition, she explained, "Marguerite, I'm sure he is just feeling the confines of being locked in the treehouse for so long. I know I would jump at the chance to go hunting if I didn't think I would slow everyone down."
"Slow everyone down?" Rithos laughed as he listened to interchange of conversations. "Veronica you would be lucky not to be a raptors lunch with that limp of yours!" Slinging his bow and arrows around his back he moved closer to the explorers. "Tell me, do you do this type of preparation every time you leave the treehouse?"
"Of course," Roxton said smugly, "I believe it is best to be prepared for every type of situation that can present itself on the plateau."
"You don't think you are overreacting just a bit? I usually bring just water and some arrows and I am able to make it to my traps and back just fine." He looked towards Marguerite, eying her inquisitively, "Hmm… does bad luck follow you around, Marguerite? Should I think twice about allowing you to come with me?"
"I don't know, what would you say Challenger." The heiress asked Challenger as he finally made his way up to from the laboratory, his bags packed to the brim with supplies.
"I'm not so sure if I would say bad luck seems to follow us around, I would say we go out looking for it sometimes."
"Go out looking for it?" Rithos said sounding quite alarmed, "Are you telling me you purposely get yourselves in trouble?"
"Well, I think it's more like helping to right wrongs that we happen to see." Veronica said nonchalantly taking a bite out of an apple left over from breakfast.
"Did you ever think that maybe the people you are helping don't really want to be helped? Or that you might make their situations worse than they were to begin with?" Rithos said angrily, the burst of anger surprised both him and the explorers. He quickly squashed it.
With a raised eyebrow Ned looked at the man in front of him, "Don't worry, Rithos, I'm sure Marguerite and Challenger can protect you."
"OK, so let's go over our plans again," Challenger said matter of factly, moving towards the elevator. "Marguerite and I will go with Rithos to check on his traps and bring whatever is edible back to the treehouse. Roxton, you and Ned will go out hunting towards Layton Falls. We should all rendevouz back at the treehouse by nightfall."
"And keep on the look out for any light signals from our mirrors, just to be safe." Roxton said looking at Marguerite as he spoke. "Try not to do anything foolish, okay?"
"I'm a big girl Roxton, I can handle myself." Marguerite said putting her hat on quite forcefully. Turning to Challenger and Rithos she smiled, "Are you ready to find some food?"
"After you," Challenger said, following Marguerite into the elevator. With one last look at the treehouse, Roxton tipped his hat at Veronica and joined Challenger and Marguerite in the waiting elevator.
"Now are you sure you are going to be ok here by yourself?" Ned said. "I don't think Roxton would mind if I stayed back here with you."
"Ned, I have a sprained ankle, but I'm not an invalid. I have plenty of things to do. I'm sure there is a book or two I haven't read yet." Veronica said smiling, almost pushing Ned towards the elevator. "Don't you worry about a thing."
"I guess that is my cue to leave," Rithos said as he moved closer to Veronica. "I think I will bring you back a present, Veronica." He moved his lips closer to her ears, and spoke in a whisper that no one but they could hear. "A flower."