(no subject)
Cassandra makes them a deal: the bones of her dead husband and the Manuins' king for Challenger’s life. His bones are in a cave, and none of the Manuins can enter because it is taboo. Roxton knows something isn’t right here. Things are usually marked as taboo for a reason. Veronica knows something’s wrong, too. Marguerite doesn’t like that Challenger isn’t allowed to come with them, but that’s what she would do. In the end, they agree. What choice do they have? It can’t be that difficult to bring back some bones, even if they do only have until tomorrow night to do so.
They set out the next day, and it doesn’t take long for Marguerite to start complaining. As usual.
“Face it. If it weren’t for Challenger’s arrogance, we wouldn’t be rustling through these prehistoric brambles,” she points out to the group.
“Tell us how you really feel,” Roxton says from behind her. She smirks at him over her shoulder.
“We couldn’t abandon him,” Malone tells her sternly from ahead.
“Why not?” Marguerite wants to know. Malone shoots her a glare, but is hushed by Veronica before he can respond. There are raptors nearby.
The five explorers come across a T-Rex, ripped to pieces. Malone stares at it, horrified by the sight until a raptor appears. He’s frozen by fear, unable to move to shoot the thing and it knocks him down, savaging his ankle before Marguerite shoots it. The wound is bad; Malone can’t walk on it and raptors hunt in packs of three.
“Don’t even think about leaving him behind,” orders Veronica, glaring at Marguerite.
There’s no time to get Malone to the Treehouse, not if they want to save Challenger by sundown. Marguerite, surprisingly, suggests the sulphur springs, and Roxton agrees, but he doesn’t like the idea of splitting up. Still, they have little choice. Veronica and Malone will hide in the springs until Roxton, Marguerite, and Summerlee are able to save Challenger.
The map Cassandra gave them is poorly drawn, and the cave they find first is not the one they want. Summerlee, the poor old man, is nearly eaten by its resident dinosaur until Roxton and Marguerite can drive it back enough to pull him out of harm’s way. They flee the animal but Summerlee is old and they have to stop for him.
Damn it, Roxton thinks when he sees that the old professor isn’t with them. “Summerlee, pull yourself together man.” They don’t have time for this. The sun is already past its zenith and they still haven’t found the right cave. Marguerite turns back to Summerlee’s side, making sure he’s alright.
“Give him a minute,” she scolds Roxton, but the hunter is undeterred.
“We don’t have a minute to give,” Roxton tells her. “We’re down Veronica and Malone; we can’t afford to lose him, too.” His eyes are squinty as he watches Summerlee. “Now are you with us?” The older man pants a moment, but nods.
“I’m alright, I’m fine,” he insists stubbornly. Roxton nods.
“Good. We have to keep going,” he says, still watching the professor.
“I know,” Summerlee replies trying to sound confident.
“Then let’s go.” Roxton starts moving again, taking point. Marguerite lays a hand on Summerlee’s shoulder.
“Come on,” she says, gently. They start to follow Roxton.
“John?” the professor calls, and Roxton pauses to turn around. Now what? “I’m sorry,” and Summerlee truly means it. He knows he’s slowing them down. Roxton blinks and smiles, suddenly feeling very guilty.
Finally, they come to another cave, one with the same taboo symbol that the springs had. Summerlee’s out of breath from the brisk pace and Roxton shares a look with Marguerite.
“Why don’t you stay here,” Roxton says with a small smile as he hands Summerlee his rifle. The professor is puzzled a moment as he takes the gun, but only a moment.
“Oh, nonsense. I’ll be just fine,” he tells them, still out of breath.
“Summerlee,” Roxton says, still smiling and clapping the man on the shoulder. “We need someone to watch our backs.” He starts walking towards the entrance and the professor looks at Marguerite. She nods.
“Very well, if you’re absolutely certain,” he says, sounding uncertain himself. Marguerite smiles at him.
“Yeah. If we’re not out in twenty minutes, call Scotland Yard,” she tells him with a laugh. Then she too heads towards the cave entrance.
Roxton slings his pack off his back and pulls out the torch he’s been carrying as Marguerite does the same. He takes off his hat and glances towards Summerlee, still feeling guilty. He’ll apologize to the man later. Right now they need to save Challenger’s life. Marguerite steps into the cave and Roxton follows her in.
((Dialogue from The Lost World))
They set out the next day, and it doesn’t take long for Marguerite to start complaining. As usual.
“Face it. If it weren’t for Challenger’s arrogance, we wouldn’t be rustling through these prehistoric brambles,” she points out to the group.
“Tell us how you really feel,” Roxton says from behind her. She smirks at him over her shoulder.
“We couldn’t abandon him,” Malone tells her sternly from ahead.
“Why not?” Marguerite wants to know. Malone shoots her a glare, but is hushed by Veronica before he can respond. There are raptors nearby.
The five explorers come across a T-Rex, ripped to pieces. Malone stares at it, horrified by the sight until a raptor appears. He’s frozen by fear, unable to move to shoot the thing and it knocks him down, savaging his ankle before Marguerite shoots it. The wound is bad; Malone can’t walk on it and raptors hunt in packs of three.
“Don’t even think about leaving him behind,” orders Veronica, glaring at Marguerite.
There’s no time to get Malone to the Treehouse, not if they want to save Challenger by sundown. Marguerite, surprisingly, suggests the sulphur springs, and Roxton agrees, but he doesn’t like the idea of splitting up. Still, they have little choice. Veronica and Malone will hide in the springs until Roxton, Marguerite, and Summerlee are able to save Challenger.
The map Cassandra gave them is poorly drawn, and the cave they find first is not the one they want. Summerlee, the poor old man, is nearly eaten by its resident dinosaur until Roxton and Marguerite can drive it back enough to pull him out of harm’s way. They flee the animal but Summerlee is old and they have to stop for him.
Damn it, Roxton thinks when he sees that the old professor isn’t with them. “Summerlee, pull yourself together man.” They don’t have time for this. The sun is already past its zenith and they still haven’t found the right cave. Marguerite turns back to Summerlee’s side, making sure he’s alright.
“Give him a minute,” she scolds Roxton, but the hunter is undeterred.
“We don’t have a minute to give,” Roxton tells her. “We’re down Veronica and Malone; we can’t afford to lose him, too.” His eyes are squinty as he watches Summerlee. “Now are you with us?” The older man pants a moment, but nods.
“I’m alright, I’m fine,” he insists stubbornly. Roxton nods.
“Good. We have to keep going,” he says, still watching the professor.
“I know,” Summerlee replies trying to sound confident.
“Then let’s go.” Roxton starts moving again, taking point. Marguerite lays a hand on Summerlee’s shoulder.
“Come on,” she says, gently. They start to follow Roxton.
“John?” the professor calls, and Roxton pauses to turn around. Now what? “I’m sorry,” and Summerlee truly means it. He knows he’s slowing them down. Roxton blinks and smiles, suddenly feeling very guilty.
Finally, they come to another cave, one with the same taboo symbol that the springs had. Summerlee’s out of breath from the brisk pace and Roxton shares a look with Marguerite.
“Why don’t you stay here,” Roxton says with a small smile as he hands Summerlee his rifle. The professor is puzzled a moment as he takes the gun, but only a moment.
“Oh, nonsense. I’ll be just fine,” he tells them, still out of breath.
“Summerlee,” Roxton says, still smiling and clapping the man on the shoulder. “We need someone to watch our backs.” He starts walking towards the entrance and the professor looks at Marguerite. She nods.
“Very well, if you’re absolutely certain,” he says, sounding uncertain himself. Marguerite smiles at him.
“Yeah. If we’re not out in twenty minutes, call Scotland Yard,” she tells him with a laugh. Then she too heads towards the cave entrance.
Roxton slings his pack off his back and pulls out the torch he’s been carrying as Marguerite does the same. He takes off his hat and glances towards Summerlee, still feeling guilty. He’ll apologize to the man later. Right now they need to save Challenger’s life. Marguerite steps into the cave and Roxton follows her in.
((Dialogue from The Lost World))