"If Everything Had
Been Different (IEHBD)"
by Lady F., Lady K, TowandaBR
DISCLAIMER: All of the characters of the show "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World" are property of John Landis, Telescene, Coote/Hayes, DirecTV, New Line Television, Space, Action Adventure Network, Goodman/Rosen Productions, and Richmel Productions.SPOILERS: OUT OF TIME
To all people who write or read Fics keeping TLW alive.
A very special thanks to Cris (our very kind translator) and Maria Celia for her professional consultancy, besides her infinte patience and tenderness towards us. We hope we have learned everything right!
We hope you like what you are reading as much as we like to write.
English is not our first language so please be nice and review.
Also in Portuguese: “Se Tudo Fosse Diferente”
Your children are not your children.
Khalil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Book The Prophet
In OUT OF TIME, Veronica, Challenger makes a surprising discovery in the jungle: a baby.
But if after the conclusion of the episode other events happened bringing a new and unexpected resident at treehouse?
Chapter 1 – “Your children are not your children.”
Veronica looked saddened the departure of the ape woman and her baby. "HER baby, not mine". She had already begun to stick that innocent and sweet little creature, and she knew, however, that nor everything was to be as she wanted.
She followed the way back to the treehouse thinking about the great change that had happened in her life in such little time, and as she had discovered feelings that she didn't imagine that could have, when a horror scream stopped her.
Without hesitating, Veronica ran until the origin of the sound and then she found the ape woman, already wound, with the baby in her lap, surrounded by two raptors.
She removed the two knives that she brought in the waist and she threatened them so that they moved away, however the smell of blood already poked their instincts and the young woman knew that they would not give up easily. She threw one of the knives in the jugular of the most ferocious of them, that struggled before falling dead on the ground.
Also remained one. More and more furious and already smelling of its quite bloody prey, the animal, didn't have any intention of leaving.
Veronica threw the last knife that she had in the animal, however, without success. Now she was unarmed and being corner, with the ape woman and her baby. Unless she acted fast, it was a question of time so that they were surround and defenseless. She pushed the woman so that she hid herself for among the roots of a fig tree. Then she caught some earth, threw in the raptor's eyes and immediately ran attracting the animal for herself. She had moved the animal away of the baby. But what about herself? Her opponent was not interested to give up. At the end of her jump, she found a lance, probably of the ape woman that agonized. She got a caper and she fell lying, the raptor came with all its hunger to attack her, but before it could savor its hunt, Veronica got right it with the lance that still fell to your side dashing in her. Alleviated, she rested and let herself to calm down breathing breathless.
The ape woman was very weak among the roots. In the anguish of protecting him, she held the baby as a snake to a branch. Veronica looked at the woman's wound: the cut had been deep and bled so much. And she knew that there wasn't anything else to do. Very carefully she caught the child that cried, hugging him. Feeling safer, he was nested in her lap, sobbing in a low voice. And when a third raptor appeared, the blond knew that there wasn't anything else to do. She pressed the small body of the child against hers and closed her eyes knowing what the worst would come.
Then she heard several shots and opened her eyes to see the animal falling down near her.
Malone was running with concerned expression. There was ape woman’s blood everywhere and he wondered if Veronica would be well. He looked at the roots of the tree then seeing something moving and he found Veronica holding the baby, her eyes full of tears and by her side the ape woman, already died, with petrified eyes.
"Veronica, what happened? Are you all right?" - He asked hugging her, but without having the correspondence of the affection. She babbled, among tears:
“She's dead Ned " - Only a glance to the ape woman's body was enough so that Malone confirmed Veronica's information.
He helped her to get up still carrying the baby.
"Your arm is bleeding. I take the baby..." - Offered Ned.
"It's nothing... I take care of him " - She answered going with the child in the direction of the treehouse, weeping she passed through Roxton, Challenger, Marguerite and Summerllee, all of them surprised to be a witness of a moment of fragility of their always tough hostess.
“What happened?” - Roxton approached of Ned that looked concerned in the direction where Veronica has just gone.
Ned told them in full details everything that he knew until they arrived there. Everybody heard without interrupting they were surprised and very frighten about what had happened to Veronica.
"Those raptors are getting more aggressive at each day that passes... " - Professor Arthur affirmed removing the pipe of the mouth.
"She couldn't have done this, we can’t take care a child here " - George spoke in habit coldness. Marguerite gave a little smile and balanced her head a little, but they all noted her cynicism.
“What’s the matter Marguerite?” - Ned crossed his arms.
“One more mouth to feed and that is a little animal'...” - She crossed her arms – “Well, we are making progress...”
"Always concerned with yourself, as always!" - Roxton cried out, and Marguerite didn't like at all. The woman got up with her nobility manners and walked to the corridor. Before leaving the room, she stopped beside Roxton and whispered. - "Always. There isn't anybody here that deserves my concern. Good night, Lord Roxton ". She looked at his eyes, letting him to notice the rage that she felt and left the living room.
Ned breathed alleviated. - “Well, I think that we can talk now ... respectfully...”
"I maintain what I said. We can not keep this baby!" – Challenger said causing the immediate answer of Summerllee.
"George, don't you understand the situation? Malone told us what happened, and the baby's mother is dead! How can that child survive in the jungle alone?".
"Besides, the house belongs to Veronica, she decides who leaves and who stays here... " - Ned was a little revolt with the scientist’s words. - “What about you Roxton?”
The hunter looked to each member of the room, analyzing their expressions. - “I think Veronica would not leave this baby alone in the jungle, that is a fact... since as you said Professor, she didn't want to leave him nor when that ape woman was alive...”
"What are you insinuating, Roxton?" - George showed some interest at his glance.
"Now, anything... Why? What are you thinking now? That Veronica tried something against the ape woman in order to keep the baby?"
"Veronica would never hurt that ape woman!" – Ned protested irritated.
“I think we shouldn't question it boys. Let’s take it easy.” - Summerllee tried to calm, but without success.
“... Arthur, I am impressed with your blindness of not seeing the facts!!! See, you said that those animals are being more dangerous and noxious at each day, however, Veronica brings one of them for her own house! She doesn't know what she’s doing. I’ll go there and took that monster from her, before it makes something bad..." - George lifted resolved to go to Veronica's room.
"It's just a baby monkey, Challenger!" Roxton cried out.
Ned got up quickly and it impeded Challenger to move forward.
“Go away Malone, you are quite blind....”.
"I won't leave, if you want you will have to pass over me. You won't disturb Veronica with your scientific theories. SHE IS NOT YOUR EXPERIMENT, GEORGE!" - Malone screamed furious and didn't moved away.
They were all surprised by Malone's reaction, ignored by his friends until then. They all looked at him.
"Come on, Challenger... Malone is nervous, all of us are tense with this situation. It won't be good if we begin to discuss... " - Roxton threw the hands in the scientist’s shoulder and took him away from Malone.
"Summerllee, I think it’s better you come with me, I will see how Veronica and the baby are... " - Ned called Summerllee that hesitated in getting up. - "If you don't want to come with me, no problem, Professor... But I would like that later you examined the baby, and Veronica got a wound that could be infected... " - Malone waited for Summerllee in the exit of the living room. Arthur looked at the two serious men who expected his decision.
"Veronica needs care... " - The Professor got up and without looking for Roxton and Challenger he followed Malone.
After they left, Challenger beat with the hands in the table. - “Summerllee is a fool!!! Doesn’t he see that I am trying to protect her and all of us against that animal?”
"Maybe it is not what seems my old friend..." - Roxton tried to calm him down. - "The baby can stay here until we find a family for him. Don't worry. It won't stay here for a long time, he is an animal, and his instinct of freedom will speak loudly in few times...."
“I hope that his wild instinct doesn't wake up so early...” - The two men looked to each other and they knew that they didn't have so many options at that moment.
Next morning, it seemed that a big black cloud and its thunders, was over the house. Veronica, besides having a terrible night since the baby had missed his mother, soon she prepared the breakfast of the little one.
For consequence, the others had not closed their eyes also. They got up exhausted and irritated, however, nobody dared to complain or to begin a possible "friendly discussion" on the presence of the new member of the house. Nobody, except Marguerite.
"What a night! That explains why the ape men had abandoned these little 'thing', he only knows how to cry. You are not going to keep that creature, are you?" She asked while bit an apple, faking indifference.
Veronica washed some dishes and when she heard the heiress, she turned immediately with the eyes full of fury and sorrow. - “I'll just repeat what I already said before: the treehouse is MY home and now it's Tommy’s home too. If you aren't satisfied, go to live in another place, I am sure that you will find much more silent places.”
“Veronica, don't you see the mistake that you're doing? That little monster will grow and to eat us, listen what I say!”
The young jungle woman just ignored everything what Marguerite said, until that she got more irritated, she throw the apple on the table and left loosening fire from the eyes. She passed by Roxton, that arrived in the kitchen, and she almost dropped him.
“Ohh, take it easy, Marguerite!”
“Go to hell you too!”
“Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed...”
Challenger, Summerllee and Ned didn’t paid attention, their attention was on Veronica. Seated to the table, they follow each movement of the woman and Tommy. Ned began:
“Veronica, I don't agree the way Marguerite spoke to you. By the way, you know that she speaks too much and she isn't delicate with the words, but... deeply she can have a certain reason...”
“About what? What part? About Tommy be different? Or that I should be left him to die in the jungle, as the ape men did? Wouldn’t this make us wilder than they are?”
“I just think...”
“Tommy's mother died, Ned. I will have to take care of him...!”
“Unacceptable! An ape baby with us? You need to review!” - Challenger interfered.
"So begin to accept. All of you! Tommy will be here because now he is my responsibility and don’t worry, he will stay just with me!" - She dried the tears and went to her room, taking the baby, leaving behind a perplexed group.
Chapter 2 – “They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.”
It’s the dawn of a new day in the plateau. The typical climate of harmony and renewal among the explorers doesn’t seem so obvious this morning.
Veronica, despite the adverse opinions about her attitude, installed Tommy, the newest member of the Treehouse, in her room, removing some things that had not been used for a long time, making room for an improvised basket, the same one she had used before for the ape-baby.
Using her imagination, she increased “Tommy’s place” as she called it, using her childhood mementos that she kept with a lot of affection. There were some toys that were still well conserved and some also from when she was a baby, besides the lion Edward that she adored and that was her companion when she was 10 years old and her parents disappeared. She wanted just to leave the essential part of her own things.
For two days, Roxton privately observed his friend to arrange everything carefully. Even Malone avoided entering there. It was as if that place had transformed into a refuge of mother and son.
Even when she thought she was not being observed, John noticed as the routine, mainly the morning routine, had changed after the baby's arrival. Veronica had now nocturne’s habits. She often had to come in and out of her room, sometimes with a small bottle of hot milk for the baby and other times with cloths and hot water. No matter how long she was the awake, and she often was awaken all night, she didn't get tired, her dedication to the baby was admirable, and this was something that Summerllee noticed very well. But other notable thing was related to the baby’s crying that a lot of the times were turning their nights into days. They were restless and the nights badly slept due to the baby’s noise only made the climate tenser.
Nobody commented anything, not even a word that could be considered a complaint. Well, it was not really necessary, since it was only a matter to pay attention to the shadows around the eyes of Challenger, or Arthur's tired eyes, or even the bad mood more evident than ever in Marguerite.
Roxton was in the room alone and it was still dawn. He was sleepless and decided to browse a book for maybe bring back his peace. He was leaning in a chair, his long legs crossed, a hand in the back of his head and the other holding the book, when he glanced to Veronica.
"It's late and I can’t sleep. I try to read, but I can’t concentrate. Veronica woke up and didn’t see me here. She went to the kitchen and prepared the food for the child. A side of my mind says that I should be a gentleman and help her. But something inhibits me and I am here, observing her efforts without knowing what I should do".
And during those two days Roxton disappeared for hours and nobody knew where he was.
“Veronica is and is not alone, at the same time. I cannot remain cross-armed just observing this all. She and the baby need my support. They need help... but on the other hand... Dammit! She only wanted to help, it was a human attitude. She risked her life so many times for us and we hardly ever rewarded her with the gratefulness she deserves. Can’t we understand that she may wish to save other lives, besides ours? She saved the baby's life and she didn't wait for anything from us, her friends. However, she had a terrible reception from all of us. No exceptions. Even I judged her, but only in the first moment. Now I see that nothing is what seems to be when you look through the eyes of the body and not through the eyes of the heart. It was not the right thing to do, however I am not against her. And I shall never be... And there she comes, for the decimal or twentieth time, leaving the bedroom and returning to the kitchen. Her glance is so lost and so concentrated that she hadn’t noticed me once more. I listen to the baby's cry. Really, her dedication is captivating...”
He even tried to prevent Marguerite to accompany him.
At dusk on the third day Roxton appeared with a cradle that he had been doing hidden in the forest. Veronica and the others couldn’t see him at the moment, so he entered the bedroom substituting the little basket for the craft cradle where he arranged carefully some linings that would serve as mattress. It was a discreet and affectionate form of showing his support to his friend and to little Tommy. He left a pinned note without signature in the cradle and when Veronica read it she was really touched. The jungle girl was strong, but to be alone with the baby was something different in her life. And knowing that somebody supported her was wonderful, even if it was only one person. And when passing for Roxton she gave him a sad smile in gratitude and the hunter responded with a light nodding of his head.
Only after some days, when entering Veronica's bedroom, Marguerite found out the new cradle and mentioned about it during dinner.
“Hum... It seems that The Red Cross came to the plateau...” She commented bitterly while taking one more sip of wine.
The others looked at her not understanding the situation. John noticed the tone of cynicism in Marguerite’s voice and he suspected she had discovered the cradle.
“What?” – Veronica asked.
“Come on, Veronica, don't you know?” - She faced her with a little smile and Veronica just stared back.
“Tell us, Marguerite...” Malone said.
She stared at him and smiled. “It seems that a good soul... That seems to have a name and a last name, gave a cradle for the baby monkey... It is at Veronica's room, and whoever this benefactor was, I will discover him....”
Challenger stopped eating and exchanged glances among Veronica and Marguerite.
Veronica got up and was ready to confront Marguerite, but Malone held her for an arm that she pulled loosening.
“I lost my appetite...” She said going to her bedroom.
Before Veronica closed the door, Marguerite teased. “You forgot the banana for the little monster....” She shook her head and gave a mischievous smile. The door beat with violence.
“Marguerite, couldn’t you wait until Veronica finished her dinner?” Challenger faced her and continued to eat.
“Finish?” John was irritate - “What do you mean? That she could tease Veronica if it was after dinner? Is that what you meant, Challenger?!.”
Malone faced Marguerite with rage and also left the table.
“How could you say that, Marguerite?” John got up and she looked into his eyes.
“I didn't do anything, Roxton. And mind your own business....”
“You should take care of your own business!... You are the most repugnant person that I‘ve ever met, Marguerite...” He stood back, but turned for her again. “Congratulations, you made all of us loose the appetite...” And he went to his bedroom.
“I think we discovered the good soul....” She arched her left brow and drank a little more wine.
When noticing Summerlee observing her, she stopped eating. “What? Will you also criticize me? Will you combat me?.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Summerlee only shook his head. “I am very disappointed with you, Marguerite... You should never have said that, especially in front of Veronica...” He daintily moved away the plate and got up, also going to his bedroom.
Then, he turned again. “Remember that the worst thing for a human being is the rejection, my dear... More than anybody, you should know that.”
Marguerite turned slowly for the table to find Challenger just finishing his dinner, without saying a word.
“Good night, Marguerite...” He rose, but Marguerite didn't listen what he said. The botanist's words still echoed in her ears, making her remind not very pleasant or beautiful things from her childhood.
Veronica was seating besides the cradle with her hands under her chin and her eyes almost closing, showing visible signs of fatigue. Her body was completely sore. But she was happy. Despite everything and everybody, she was happy. She knew that somebody was by her side: a cradle was not an easy thing to do. She looked with love at the baby that slept peacefully. “If Tommy is calm, I am also calm...” She smiled to herself.
Two light knocks on the door brought her back to reality.
“Who is it?.”
“It’s me, Ned... May I come in?.”
She rose and opened the door. “Sure...”
He entered and slowly and went towards the cradle. “How is he?”
“He is better now, his belly-ache is gone...”
Malone observed the boy, but soon he stood back. “Veronica, if you want some help to take care of him, I can....”
“No Ned, everything is fine... I am fine....”
He sighed and looked to the baby once again. “Are you sure?.”
She nodded her head. “Yes, no problem... But thank you...”
“Well... Then, if you need me...”
“I will call, I promise...”
He smiled discretely and left the room. Veronica followed him to the door before coming back and sitting down besides the cradle again.
She closed her eyes and breathed heavily. She caught the boy in her arms and reclined on her bed observing him sleeping.
“... I think the others won't accept you, Tommy...” She thought “They are very busy with their own problems... They don't have time for you, my love... But you can be sure... I will always be here, taking care of and protecting you... from anything or anybody who even think to try to do something evil to you... They will see that we are stronger than them all together, my little one... They will see....”
She repeated for herself while caressing the baby's head and finally lying down herself by his side and falling sleep deeply.
John walked through the forest. He was very thoughtful and the last events in the treehouse were leaving the hunter stunned. Not in a bad sense, but because he wanted to help.
“They were never so segregated like this before... What is happening?... It is not that difficult to accept a baby... for me he is a baby as any other, but... I don't know how to deal with that....”
Slowly, he approached the river, stopped down and refreshed himself a little. He drank fresh water. He removed his hat and fanned himself. “It is so hot today...” He looked around verifying his safety. Everything was calm. “I think all the animals are refreshing, taking the day off...”
The day was unbearable hot, very stuffy.
In the Treehouse, Challenger was in his laboratory. Malone and Summerlee were talking in low voice at the balcony, while Marguerite verified some stones she had found close to a waterfall and was studying them better as per Challenger’s request.
She balanced her blouse a little. “That’s enough, I will take another bath...” She got up and went to the bathroom. It was closed. “Ah, that is good....” She lifted the hands and leaned to the side, waiting impatient.
She heard laughter. Laughter came from inside - Veronica’s laughter. She thought she was delirious because of the intense heat, but then she heard again, allowing herself to relax wrapped by the sounds that came there from within.
She got her ear carefully closer to the door.
On the other side, Veronica was bathing Tommy.
He was seating in a great wood basin that was used to wash clothes. Now, it was Tommy’s bathtub.
He shook his tinny legs and water splashed everywhere. Veronica had fun either and for each glance of her the baby smiled back at her and shook his legs again, wetting everything.
The bath had finished and Tommy complained for having left the water. Veronica smiled, rolling him up in a towel and left the bathroom.
She still could see somebody moving away, and she recognized the person as being Marguerite
Chapter 3 – “They come through you but not from you,”
Marguerite left as fast as she could. She did not want Veronica noticing that somehow her interest by the baby boy had been awoke, even if only for a brief instant. Even she could not explain the origin of this interest. She smiled to herself. “Veronica is too troubled to keep smiling around with that little ape...”
Marguerite decided to go back to her bedroom, and stopped when passing by the mirror. “You are jealous, aren’t you?” She questioned herself still smiling, not believing in her own thoughts and shaking her head. “Of course not! In the worst case... Envy... Yes, envy... Envy of... Envy of having a peaceful bath... Guess what, the little ape can get it, and Marguerite Krux can’t!” She wrinkled up her noise, and remained there for sometime walking around the room. Restless, she sat on her bed. She looked towards the balcony, waiting to listen to some noise coming from Veronica and the baby. “Has someone seen me? Everything is so silent...”
Curiosity got the best of her, and the heiress stood up and went to Veronica’s bedroom, where she paid attention to the noises coming from inside. “Hum... What are they laughing of? It doesn’t matter, Marguerite, whatever is happening inside, it’s simply stupid... What could possible be funny in watching a little monkey having a bath, or even bathing one?...”
Marguerite was surprised to notice they were leaving the room and quickly pretended to be examining some Zanga craftwork that was hanging on by one of the pillars of the Treehouse, at the same time that Veronica appeared with Tommy already in clothes, wearing a blue overalls with short leaves that had belong to Veronica when she was a little older than she supposed Tommy was, what made her think that Tommy was growing up faster. She had used a handkerchief to create a small hammock passing through her shoulders where she put Tommy in a way she could carry him safe and sound, and at the same time keep her hands and arms free. And the boy either seemed to enjoy this new arrangement. He could see practically everything around him, and look straight to Veronica who was always responding to his mirth. “Go ahead, Veronica, came on!” Marguerite thought glancing at her sideways. And as if Veronica could listen to her, she quickly stared back the heiress in silence, took a bag with some food, and took the elevator down with the boy. “Time to walk around and feed the little ape...” Marguerite thought with sarcasm. Trying to make sure she was not being observed, Marguerite Krux looked to her back while stepping to the opposite direction and bumped into something. She turned back rapidly just to find herself practically over John Roxton’s chest, who was looking to her arms-crossed attentively. She missed his eyes at the same time that stepped back. “As always, you are on my way...”.
“Do you need anything, Marguerite?” Roxton asked, almost ironically, interrupting her thoughts.
”I need you to leave my way free!... No, I’m not going to say that, no...”.
“Are you ok, Marguerite? You’ve not gave me any bad answer yet...”.
“I’m ok, John” she said with an unnatural smile “Thanks for asking. Now, can you excuse me?”.
“Why have I said that? I don’t owe you any satisfaction, John Roxton... This rude man... so crude, so arrogant, so strong... so... Marguerite, you are delirious, maybe you are just ill, yes...”.
With a light smile, John bowed to her. Marguerite looked at him as if she was a queen, and, raising her nose, went to the common room.
Roxton followed her steps and she noticed that, turning back very fast and facing the hunter. “What do you want, John Roxton?”.
“I do have a task for you”.
“That’s great!” She looked curiously at him. “Explain yourself....”.
“Come on” he answered to her, taking the heiress’ hand and guiding her to his bedroom. Marguerite was fighting against her own will, and sometimes looked back looking for Veronica and Tommy.
Roxton opened a woodened box.
"These are cloths that I took from the expedition trunks. You need to make some sheets and clothes to the baby".
"How do you dare to tell me what I need to do? And why an ape would need clothes?”.
“Don’t be rude, little Marguerite...” Roxton said pointing an accusative finger to her.
“Listen to me. I don’t care what you think. And I’m not asking...”.
“Roxton...” She interrupts. “Not today, ok?”.
Marguerite left the room while listening to the hunter responding rapidly “Are you sure?”.
“Are you asking if I’m sure of not wanting to beat around the bush with you? Of course, I’m completely and totally sure!”. She gave him a tiny smile that awoke the rage in him. But he decided not to enter her game and to show her who was in control, and then he said:
“Coffee is over. So, you sew or I’m not going to toast any more coffee...”.
"Challenger or Malone can toast the coffee...".
“... Yeah, you are right, they could... IF they knew where the coffee is...”.
"What have you done? " she was starting to feel scared.
"I hid it. And from now on, there will only be coffee in the Treehouse when and if I want and I tell that, while you do not sew, Miss Krux, there will be no coffee for you...” Calmly John completed his message to the heiress, and now was her time to be furious.
“What is this, blackmail? Torture? Marguerite asked aggressively, bothered by the calm expression in Roxton’s face.
“You may call it anything you want...”.
“Challenger won’t appreciate your help to Veronica and the little monkey...”.
Roxton advanced pointing an accusative finger to Marguerite’s face, and firmly continued. “His name is Tommy... And if you tell someone about this, you will have no coffee the same way. Just sew and give me the resulting clothes. I take care of the rest”. The hunter just left, leaving behind and even more enraged Marguerite.
“Dammit, all this due to the dummy little ape!”
Since she decided to take care of the boy, Veronica tried to recall all she had observed in the raising of children in other tribes, especially in the Amazons and the Zangas whom she had more contact with. Besides that, she used her own memories about how her parents educated her. She decided to create a daily routine to help making things easier and more efficient. In the first two days it had been difficult to support the baby in an efficient way what made her notice that if she did not change her way to drive the situation, soon she would not be able to take care of the baby anymore. And in this routine she had included a middle-afternoon tour to enjoy the heat. She spread a large towel under the shadows of a tree, and sat there simply playing with the baby. At the same time it was a period when she was away from the curious eyes of the other fellow residents in the Treehouse. She knew that soon she would have to know more about Tommy to decide what his needs were, but she would prefer to delay this moment. Besides that, what started just as saving someone needing help was becoming now much bigger than she could have ever expected.
The policemen followed closer the smart girl that knew all the streets of the city. She could hide easily whenever she wanted, until the day she was caught and dragged by the arm across the streets, still trying to resist. She made the mistake of wanting to walk among the rich and wealthy people of London, and someone so off-standard as she was could never ever be welcome by them. “Aristocracy, go to hell!” she thought, hiding in an alley, at the same time observing a refined party across the block. “Someday I will be one of them... I swear by my parents...” She stopped “If I ever had parents. Well, Marguerite... You got it... You are surrounded by jewels so bright that could make a blind man come back to sight, my God! I’m among them, but I don’t feel like one of them... Even wearing this expensive dress, this wonderful hat, these bright jewels, I’m not and I shall never be one of them... I don’t want to be.... ".
“Never, ever...” Marguerite whispered waking up with a startle. That dream followed her during most of her life, but it had been so long since the last time it happened. Why now? She stood up and suddenly noticed that everything was abnormally quiet as it had not been for a long time. She went to Veronica’s bedroom and looking through a crack noticed that the blond and the baby were deeply sleeping. She went to the kitchen where she sat sipping some water. She recalled her dream and thought bitterly about Tommy. “Is that why you are here, little boy? To bring me back the memories I’ve buried so long ago? Are we as similar as I imagine?” A tear slowly traced across her face. “No, we are not. With all my efforts I left this part of my life behind, and neither you nor anybody else shall bring it back...”
In the next morning Roxton was finishing buttoning his shirt when he was surprised by an enraged Marguerite invading his bedroom with some ready child clothes that she threw on his lap.
"Ready. Was that what you have in mind, milord?".
Roxton opened the clothes observing them carefully.
“Very well... But...”.
“... But what?” she was even more enraged...
He critically assessed once more the heiress’ handwork, who was turning back furiously heading to leave.
"Hum..." Roxton muttered making her to turn back suspiciously.
“What?". As he remained quiet, she got mad "Does "hum" means good or bad?".
"It depends... Take a look... This border is not well done... This other sewing is not neatly finished...” Roxton lied, knowing the Marguerite’s abilities were not questionable, even when she did not wish to cooperate.
“HA HA!” She clapped slowly, and then rested her hands on her hips. John continued calmly.
“Marguerite... these clothes are not for you, they are for a baby... you can be more careful, include some needlework... and well done... otherwise you will rework them again and again... and no coffee”.
Marguerite grunted and took all the clothes, leaving in heavy feet, but before completely disappearing from Roxton’s sight, she still glanced to him as if asking for his comprehension. But John kept his position and just nodded his head negatively. She rolled her eyes and left heavier than before, now almost crying in rage for that man.
As soon as Marguerite left, Roxton laughed, and laughed a lot.
The baby muttered bringing Veronica back to reality. “I’m already preparing your milk, honey...”. She smiled going to the kitchen. By some time she observed the child on her arms, sat straddled across her waist. He smiled as if he had understood what she had just told him, and the blond answered “Thanks for waiting, little boy!”.
She put the goat’s milk in a bowl over the fire and took a sit rocking the boy on her lap.
The baby was impatient. “What is that, Tommy? Your milk is almost ready... Do you have belly-ache again?” As if looking for something, he scanned her. Suddenly he stopped when he calmly rested his tiny hands over one of Veronica’s breasts. Tommy’s face showed he was looking for his feed under her leather top. Initially she did not react, thinking that the milk’s flavor had increased Tommy’s hunger. But soon she learned that he was looking for her breast to get fed.
Then she finally left her despair to take over. “Tommy, I cannot offer you any food from here...” Her eyes were covered with tears while she looked to the child that was either on the verge to cry. Veronica moved his hands from her breast and hugged him warmly. Her tears could not be held any longer, nor could the baby’s tears, who seemed to understand what she said.
"I would do anything for you to get feed from me... I would give you my life, little one... But... I cannot offer you more than care and shelter...” She was crying freely, and she felt good-for-nothing.
She was not trying to stop the baby’s cries, his cry was a moan, a different cry, as if the baby could finally understand that she was not his real mother.
"Veronica! What is this scent?" Roxton said tracing something different in the kitchen.
She looked to John with her eyes red of crying, finally recalling the milk that was now shed. She tried to stand up, but Roxton prevented her by simply resting a friendly hand on her shoulder. He smiled to her wet face “It’s not worthwhile to cry over the spilled milk...” They both smiled as if nothing was happening. The hunter threw some water over the fire looking to Veronica, who was grating him with her eyes, and soon she missed his eyes to hide her momentary weakness. Someone saw her weakness and she was not used to that.
John kneeled in front of her and carefully lifted her chin.
"Please... Don’t tell anybody that you’ve just seen me crying... I trust you, Roxton...”. Her wounded and hesitating voice broke his heart. The unshed tears were on her eyes while the lady begged for his discretion. John had never seen her so fragile. Indeed he did not even know she could be fragile.
"You can trust me... You know that...".
A shy smile appeared in Veronica’s lips. “Thanks... ".
"Veronica, you must smile, despite everything that is happening... You must remember that everything a mother feels is transmitted to her baby... And you do not wish Tommy to be sad, do you? ".
Veronica was stunned. "Mother?"
“There are several ways to be a mother, and there are several women who are more than mothers... You know that... You are doing very well, don’t dare to doubt that. Your attitude was noble, brave and very human. Your mother would be proud of you.”
Veronica’s eyes were full of tears again due to the mention to her mother. “Do you really think that, Roxton?”
“I’m completely sure.”
Veronica sighed. She looked to the baby now quiet on her lap. He was almost closing his eyes, sleepy, and now he was already getting used to her scent. Veronica now understood why he was so restless.
"You see how calm he is now?" John whispered. "I told you that if you remain calm, he will remain calm...".
She smiled and caressed Tommy’s head, who now was with his eyes completely shut.
"I don’t think he will want milk now..." She mentioned a little bit encouraged.
John smiled and before standing up, tenderly kissed her forehead, while she closed her eyes softened by knowing she had a friend like him around her.
She wiped away her tears when she listened to the elevator, meanwhile Roxton took away the bowl containing the remaining of the spilled milk.
Challenger and Malone left the elevator bringing some birds from their hunting.
“Good hunt, boys” – Roxton smiled helping Challenger with the birds, putting them in an empty bowl. – “I’m going to call Marguerite and check if she wants to join this old hunter in a walk.” – and saying that he left.
“Good afternoon, Veronica” Challenger said in a very formal way. Since the boy had become an inhabitant of the Treehouse he had not exchanged more than a few not at easy little words with her. They both knew they needed to discuss their different points of view, but none of them was prepared for that and to anticipate this conversation could only hurt them even more.
“Good afternoon, Challenger.”
“I will be in my lab...” the scientist left without looking to her or to the boy.
“How are you?” Malone sat besides her showing his worry that Veronica knew to be true and sincere.
“I’m ok, Ned...”
“I would like to talk something with you” Veronica seemed surprise by the grave tone in his voice.
“I know I’ve been not giving you the support you need, deserve and wait from me, but...” Veronica interrupted.
“I don’t expect anything from anyone, Ned, I’ve never expected...” He noticed the angst tone in her voice.
“I know that. I just don’t know how to deal with this situation... I really like you very much, but everything is just so different and strange that I don’t know how to proceed... And it’s exactly because I like you so much that I don’t want to take any decision in which you may feel I’m not comfortable... I prefer not to get too close to you while I’m still in doubt about how I feel about Tommy. It would not be fair... And I don’t want to make the same mistakes Challenger made...”
Veronica tenderly caressed his shaved face while he closed his eyes. He wished to hug and kiss her right there and now. Veronica lightly pressed her lips against his for seconds that seemed endless to them both.
“I will wait for your decision, Ned... Whatever it is...”. Caressing his face once more she smiled at him, and stood up carefully, taking Tommy to her bedroom to allow him to rest on his cradle.
Ned Malone went to the balcony alone. With a lost look he observed the dark plateau night and started to register in his journals:
“I came here as an impartial observer but could never ever imagine myself so involved emotionally with the object of my observation. But before I take any decision that involves other people I need first to solve the things that are going on inside me...”
Chapter 4 - “And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.”
“... but several times, living together is much more difficult that just surviving... Now changing subjects: the new inhabitant of the Treehouse, Tommy, was very calm this evening. I ask myself: had Veronica a big trouble to make him silent, or is him getting used to this new life? I couldn’t decide which option is correct, and new questions just pop into my mind at each minute. I see and listen to so many things that all the others have to say about this delicate matter, and I feel confuse sometimes about who I can trust or whom I can believe into. Unfortunately I reach the insecurity level that is showed through my actions, especially to Veronica who plays the most strong and most weak part in my heart. I believe that some impartiality could help solving these small conflicts between us”.
Malone closed his journals with a sad look in his eyes. He did not know what to do and was not sure if he could even talk about that subject with someone else. Veronica could listen to him completely, but she could not guide him or provide advice in this specific situation – even she was not sure about how to deal with that.
His perspective about this fact was so different that he was not sure about how to react to the others. Sometimes he just stared to the others during the dinner, and noticed that each one was observing the others, as if they were competing for something, and as if everybody was being guarded in a way that any weakness could win a game. He felt like a player in an infinite and continuous game.
"If you run, the raptor catches you. If you stay, t-rex eats you...” he thought trying to cheer up. But the only thing he managed to get was a new perspective to see this situation, and he was tired of that.
“Marguerite thinks I’m weak, Challenger feels I’m insecure, Roxton thinks I’m just a boy and I can’t get closer to any of them to talk about serious subjects”.
After Veronica had created her routine with Tommy, including the mid-afternoon tour, Malone always left the Treehouse to fish almost at the same time. He knew the river was close to the place where she and the boy usually spent some hours under the shadows of the trees. Veronica could deal with any danger, but he would prefer to be around in case any emergency would happen. And he was not comfortable knowing she was alone with the baby without anyone else with them. From the river he could see them, and so he paid attention to any sign of danger. In the beginning he invited Challenger or Summerlee to go with him, but since Challenger was always too busy, Summerlee became his buddy in every afternoon he spent fishing.
Even from the distance, he could always manage a way to glance at Veronica and the boy as long as he could to make sure they were really alright. He never remained observing for too long since he was sure that was a privacy moment between Veronica and the baby, something special that should never be interrupted.
In one of those several afternoons, Malone noticed that the boy was already able to sit without Veronica’s help. And that even being very young, he was able to crawl on all fours behind his toys, and was becoming very fast. When he tried to run away, Veronica would catch him by one ankle and bring him back to closer to her while both of them kept laughing. The boy waited for her to continue playing, and then started crawling on all fours away from her again. “You are really smart.."
“What have you said, Malone?”. Ned was so involved that he had not noticed he was thinking and speaking aloud.
"Nothing, professor..." He answered turning back to his friend. “...Let’s go. The fishes are waiting for us...".
At the river banks, Summerlee talked again to Malone a little bit later: “Don’t take me wrong, Malone, but would you allow me to ask you one question?”.
"Of course... Any problem, professor?".
"We’ve been coming here for weeks just to bath the baits, since we all know this is the worst place to fish in all the course of this river...".
Malone glanced back quickly to the professor, almost guessing what was to come. “I see...” Ned just answered trying to just express puzzled curiosity.
“... so I ask you, young boy, why?” - Malone looked to Summerlee to assess if the wise professor already knew the answer.
“You already know, don’t you?”.
“I just wished to confirm...” Summerlee sat by the banks with Malone by his side.
“You love her, don’t you, Ned?”.
Ned hesitated for a while, but he knew the professor had already trusted him with secrets before.
“More than I could ever imagine, professor...”.
“So, boy, don’t loose your time – or hers. You know she needs you more than ever now, why don’t you reveal yourself to her?”
"I was going to do that, professor..."
"You were going to do that... And aren’t you going anymore?"
"I believe she's got other things to worry about and I wouldn’t like to be a new problem in her puzzle.”
"I think you would be a great help and support for her, Ned, even emotionally..."
"I think I caught one!” – Malone tried to change the course of the conversation and Summerlee just observed. “Come on, professor, help me, this one seems to be a big one!”
"Let it go, Malone. You don’t need that now "
Malone left his fishing stick and lowered his face, knowing Summerlee was right.
“I love her, but I’m not so sure if I’m able to accept... Tommy...”
“You don’t think you could accept this specific child, or do you think you could not accept any children in your relationship?”
"That’s not the point, professor. In London we had that shows with aberrations in the circus... Tommy, descending from ape men, would not be either an aberration?... Forgive me for using this word, but I cannot get used to the idea of him being...”
“...different? I don’t believe you are making such kind of comparisons, Ned. Tommy, as far as I know, is very far from being an aberration, he can even represent the evolution to the human race...”
“I’m not so sure if I’m ready to accept him... But listen to me, professor. At the same time when I see him with Veronica, and notice how he is growing up strong and healthy, and learning so fast, and how he is tender and lovely... For some seconds these ideas and contradictions just disappear from my mind, and I just can see a little boy growing up as any other child in his age...”
Summerlee could understand a little what was going on through his young reporter friend’s mind. He could see both sides of the question and due to that he was cultivating conflicting ideas. He had learned to see the situation in a rational way, and, at the same time, in a very human way.
"As far as I’ve observed, Malone, Veronica is ready to accept you in her life and in Tommy’s life. But you need to be careful. We may reach a time when you will be not welcome any longer in their lives. Don’t wait for too long to take your decision, because I indeed pray for the happiness of you all...”.
“This morning I’ve surprised myself thinking about the baby. I think this is really curious, and so I decided to write about it. I believe I dreamt about him, I’m not sure... I just know I woke up thinking about him. It’s funny. Once again I had not listened to any crying this evening. It had been several weeks since his arrival, and the boy really seems to have got used to everything here. I thought he would get longer to get used, as we took several weeks in the beginning to start felling at easy around here, and even today I doubt if we are at all at easy with living in a home so far from home. Well, now I will have some coffee before I continue reading another of Veronica’s parents’ journals later”.
Malone was sat in a chair by the common room, but he put the book he was reading aside when Veronica and Tommy arrived to the kitchen to start preparing dinner and to play. Since a long time they’ve had split the tasks in a way that in each day of the week one of them was entirely responsible for the groups’ meals.
“I think I had not chosen the best time to read...”
Veronica put the boy on a chair that had been specially build for the baby, once again a gift from Lord John Roxton who revealed himself as a skilled joiner, and held him using the belt for safety. She went back to the stove and started preparing dinner. Every then and a while she would turn to check on the boy. And observed Ned either, who was exchanging glances between her and the baby.
Tommy reached a wooden-spoon over the table and started beating it on his chair.
“Hey, little boy, this is not a toy...” Veronica turned back when she listened to the noise, then she got closer and took the spoon away from the boy after a little effort. “You are becoming stronger, little boy, it’s better to leave this with me. You are going to get hurt..."
But as soon as she turned her back to him, he started crying. He wanted the wooden-spoon back.
"No, Tommy, you can’t!" She caught a colorful cube made of old cloths and gave it to him. “This is a toy”. And the boy continued stretching his arms trying to reach the spoon, but Veronica remained firm. Tommy left the cube fall over the floor and started crying again.
Ned observed that curious “war”. Nobody could deny that the boy could sometimes be as stubborn as Veronica. And, as a thunder lightening, Summerlee’s words came back to his mind.
“Veronica... I would like to read and...”
“I know, Ned, I’m sorry...”
“No, not at all... You could give him the wooden-spoon so we both or, even better, we three will be happy”
“He can get hurt”
“I can take care of him...”
Veronica was a little surprised by those words, and even Ned was, since he just weighted what he had just said after he had already pronounced the words. But now it was all said and he would never come back.
“Are you sure?”
“I am... Yes, I can take care of... the wooden... of Tommy...”
Veronica thought this was strange, but decided to accept. “That’s alright... If that’s what you really want.”
She turned back smiling to herself. He was managing to accomplish at least a good start about what he had talked with her before.
Ned brought his chair closer to the boy, who received the wooden-spoon with a smile playing over his lips. He gave a quick smile to the boy and re-started reading. While Tommy continued to beat the spoon end on the table and Ned tried to show him the right way to hold the spoon. The boy challenged him, holding again the spoon by the opposite side and continuing to beat it on the table. Ned tried once more, but the boy changed it again, and now, instead of continuing beating it on the table, just smiled to the reporter.
“Are you trying to irritate me, aren’t you?” Malone asked, just pretending to be mad.
Tommy seemed to understand and suddenly was laughing. Malone laughed as he had not done in a long time. Veronica turned to them caught by surprise by the laughs. It took some time for her to believe that it was Ned and Tommy who were there laughing with so much mirth.
“You pay attention now, little boy” Malone continue, pointing a finger in front of the child’s face and trying to keep a serious look on his face. Tommy took his hand and Malone noticed that was the first time since Veronica had took the boy that they had exchanged a single touch.
Malone felt a shiver through his spine. The boy continued to shake his finger, smiling at him. Veronica stopped observing Malone.
Ned looked to her between confusion and perplexity. Never ever before had his mind been in a so opposite side when comparing to his heart.
“Please, Veronica, don’t take any early conclusions...” he thought to himself.
“Ned, the firewood is almost finishing. Could you please take some for me to finish cooking the dinner?”
“Oh... Of course...”. He said. Slowly he pulled his hand from Tommy’s reach, but experienced warmly each touch from the child, thinking about the odd sensations that situation had triggered on him.
And even if it seemed odd, Ned noticed he would enjoy staying a little longer with Veronica and the boy. But he decided to withdraw a little before he got still more confuse.
Then he put the spoon with the right side in Tommy’s hand who this time left it in the right way. “You learned this, didn’t you? Ned thought smiling before leaving.
Tommy looked to the spoon and once again held it by the wrong side. He beat it against the table and looked to see if Ned would come back to correct him. He beat it again, now faster, and started shrieking, while Veronica drove to him a severe look. “Tommy, no...” the boy stopped shrieking and beating, but he continued looking around to check on the man which whom he was playing before. He beat the spoon once more and looked to Veronica, who was getting closer, already trying to cool the porridge in his small plate. She took the spoon from him and started feeding the boy. Even while eating, the boy continued to insist looking for Ned who had already went down with the elevator. She listened to Ned going down, and lowered her head. Tommy looked to her as if asking: “Why has he left?”
“He already left!” – She said to the boy. And the boy tried to tell her something with a distressed expression of his young face.
Malone went to the ground and headed to the firewood. He knew there was plenty of firewood in the kitchen, and smiled to himself recalling that Veronica was a bad liar. Suddenly he stopped closing his eyes, caressing his own hand, still felling the tenderness the boy gifted him during that brief magic moment between them.
Roxton was sharpening some tools on the ground when he listened to someone yelling his name.
“Lord John Roxton” he turned back to see Marguerite, hands on hips, an annoyed expression over her beautiful face.
“Marguerite Krux.” – He smiled cynically – “May I ask what brings you here and gives me the honor and the pleasure of a so soft voice calling my name?”
“You come with me” Roxton opened his mouth to protest, but seeing her angry expression staring at him he changed his mind and stopped. He knew the limits to play with the heiress, and decided not to take a chance with luck this time.
Marguerite went up quickly to her bedroom, being followed by a curious hunter.
After they’ve entered the bedroom, she ordered him: “Close the door, Roxton”.
“Marguerite, although I love the idea, what the others would think about you trying to seduce me in open day light?”
“Shut up, dammit...” She lowered herself opening a trunk in front of her and taking off some clothes carefully folded and giving them to the man, who after appreciating the sight of Marguerite’s movements quickly reassumed a correct attitude – “Ready, here they are”
Caught by surprise, Roxton opened one of the clothes very carefully.
“Who have you paid to do that?...” Roxton looked to the neatly done clothes, all delicately embroidered.
“You know you are simply rude, don’t you?”
“I assure you there is someone who really enjoys it”. He intentionally cocked his head and arched a brow, leaving her a little bit disconcerted.
He knew that Marguerite had made the clothes, but he could never imagine the result would be as neat and delicate as the clothes on his hands. She was impatient and was not looking into his eyes, and he smiled at her.
“Thank you, Marguerite... Tommy will appreciate...”
“... Ah, and I will appreciate either, especially because now I will not miss my coffee anymore...” she interrupted. But then she softened her expression and looked at him a little bit worried: “You are not going to tell them that I did it, are you?”
Roxton got closer to her, stopping with his face about two inches from hers, and she sighed involuntarily. Roxton loved to tease her, but getting too close from her always made him tests his own self-control.
“You did a wonderful job, Marguerite, and shall be rewarded. Tonight you will have the better and fresher coffee anyone could wish and I shall not tell anyone our little secret”
Her eyes gleamed and she smiled. “One of your most beautiful smiles” Roxton evaluated, still trying to pretend he was not interested, but that was really a test for his nerves. Quickly he inclined his head and kissed her lips softly.
Marguerite withdrew. “I hope you can keep this secret either...”
And without the others noticing, Roxton ran and left the clothes by Veronica’s bedroom.
Everybody noticed that Tommy was using new clothes during dinner.
“Tommy is wearing a very well fit clothe tonight, Veronica” – Roxton said with a mischievous glance while Marguerite was kicking him under the table.
“Thank you, Roxton” Veronica answered in a smile. “It’s really wonderful, isn’t it?" She said, discreetly raising her glass as in a toast and driving a light smile towards Marguerite, who responded almost imperceptible under the intrigued glances of Summerlee, Challenger and Malone.
Although they remained together around the table, Veronica and the baby were always a little distant, keeping quiet.
"Malone, can you please hand me the salt?" – she asked. Ned took the salt cellar and stood up, but when passed through Tommy, he caught a spoon, held it by the wrong side and started beating the table, while smiling at Malone. Malone answered the smile, took the spoon, and put it again on Tommy’s hand, but now by the right side. A simple gesture but very funny for them both.
They all looked to Ned, Veronica and to Tommy, and the three of them seemed to ignore the others.
Challenger shook his head and continued to eat, looking firmly to his plate. Roxton looked to Marguerite and finally they all continued the dinner. Summerlee remained there for still a long time, observing Ned restless turning the spoon in Tommy’s hand while them both laughed.
After everybody left the table, Ned stayed there playing with Tommy. Summerlee was doing the dishes instead of Marguerite, since she had alleged she had a terrible headache and had left to her quarters.
“It’s already time to go to bed...” Veronica smiled taking Tommy on her arms.
“It’s early still...” Ned protested.
“No, it’s not... It’s almost 8PM and Tommy needs to rest, he had a full day today... Good night, Ned, good night, Summerlee...”.
“Good night” both answered and Ned completed in a lower voice. “Good night, Tommy...” The boy smiled and Veronica took him with her to the bedroom.
Summerlee listened to this conversation smiling. “I believe they are finally reaching an understanding” Maybe his words were finally making some difference to his friends.
Chapter 5 - “You may give them your love but not your thoughts.”
Since the last night it was raining in the plateau, and all of them were a little bit sleepy.
Challenger and Malone were working at the lab, while Marguerite was reading by the common room and Roxton was cleaning his guns.
Veronica had spread a mattress by the balcony where both she and Tommy were laying down. He still played a little, but feeling the huntress hand slowly caressing his head, the sleep took the best of them and both fell asleep.
Silence dominated the Treehouse that afternoon, inviting everybody to take a nap. Summerlee seemed to be most active inhabitant. He observed Malone helping Challenger with his journals. Roxton was peeping into Marguerite whenever he thought she was not paying attention. Arthur still planted some seedlings, and organized his notes. Then he walked to the balcony. He smiled seeing Veronica sleeping with Tommy, both covered in an old retail’s mattress, since none of them had much to do in that rainy day.
One thing was starting to bother Summerlee: Veronica’s super protection towards the baby. It’s was right that Tommy needed care and attention all the time, but she insisted in remain with the baby even in areas that were safe and couldn’t offer any danger to the boy. Veronica enjoyed waking up early and swimming by the river at dawn. Then she liked to walk or run through the forest and harvest some fruits for breakfast. By sunset or after dinner she dedicated some time for reading or painting. But since she had assumed the baby’s responsibility, these little pleasures of her life had been completely forgotten. She used any time while the baby was sleeping during the day to wash some clothes and to finish her other chores in the Treehouse. And by night, when the baby was sleeping again, she organized her things before she herself got some sleep. And Malone wished she could retake some of the activities she loved to do. For that, he offered himself to take care of Tommy, but Veronica always rejected his offering politely. She was not fearing bring work to Malone, but she simply could not control her anxiety about something wrong happening to the boy if she was away from him. Summerlee feared that if the boy had to stay away from Veronica even for a short period of time he would miss her a lot.
Summerlee sat just enjoying that rare peaceful moment in the jungle and in the Treehouse. Suddenly, he noticed the mattress moving and coming to his direction. He smiled, but just waited to see what was going to happen next.
Crawling on all fours, totally covered under the mattress, Tommy was coming to his direction. All of a sudden the boy stopped, trying to free himself from the mattress, but only managed to get even more wrapped up. Summerlee then decided to help him before he started making noises and woke up Veronica
"Hi, little Tommy! Don’t you ever get some rest? " he teased, disentangling the mattress from the boy on the floor. As soon as they faced each other, they smiled. Summerlee put the boy sat on his lap and sat again by the bench. And when the baby started to make sounds, Arthur put a finger over his mouth just to sign him silence.
"Psiu..." – the boy observed silently and Summerlee hold himself to prevent laughing when noticed the boy trying to imitate him. After that, the boy distended his arm trying to reach the white beard of the scientist. At the first touch he withdrew, thinking strange the harshness of it, but in a while he got used to it and continued experiencing that strange and new sensation. At the same time that the baby was caressing his beard, Summerlee was softly rocking the boy. And then he finally felt the longing pain that only the missed beloved could cause.
Summerlee then remembered his loved and long dead wife, and his children and grandchildren who he had not seem for so long – and now he really doubted he would ever see them all again.
He recalled the Sundays when everybody was reunited for lunch; he sat by the upper end of the table, feeling proud and blessed for having a so connected family. After lunch, he would sat by his favorite chair having some liqueur and trying to read, but was always interrupted by his grandchildren running around him. And when his children tried to stop the grandchildren, Summerlee would only smile and nod his head authorizing the children to remain.
"Are you sure, dad?" – one of his daughters would say.
"Yes, I am, dearest..." he would answer happily. And the racket continued.
And when his beloved Anna died, everybody doubted he would resist to the solitude that dominated him.
It was only when Challenger’s expedition was formed that Summerlee seemed to regain his interest by something in life. His family supported him as good as they could because they knew that the expedition could save his life.
He knew and respected George Challenger’s work, although he not always agreed with his purely scientific approach to everything. For Challenger, only pure science mattered, and any other thing that could deviate his attention from science would bother him. Arthur saw science as a complement to explain who we are and to where we go in the world, maybe. George was a genius, but still had a long way to learn about people. And Summerlee knew some lessons would come in a more difficult way than others.
It was only when he joined the expedition that Summerlee knew his other fellow explorers.
First thing he thought about Lord John Roxton after observing him for the first time was the prepotency he transmitted. But soon he would learn that behind the self-confident hunter who never lost a prey was a loyal, kind and noble man. He, as well as any of the others, would trust his life to Roxton.
He saw in Edward D. Malone a scared boy trying to become a man. And what really called his attention was Malone’s impulsiveness. Malone never gave a second thought whenever his friends were in danger, and this sometimes would put him in difficult or dangerous situations. Only later he found out his kind character and his dreamful soul.
Marguerite Krux. Ah! The mysterious Marguerite Krux. A woman trying to protect and hide herself behind a shield made of indifference, hardheartedness and sarcasm. But Summerlee soon learned that, after her arrival to the lost world, little by little this shield was being lowered and thinned revealing, very slowly, a wonderful and temperamental woman. A woman who had not hesitated to hold his hand and remain by his side all the time without any complain to provide him all comfort and support while he was ill and in need.
And after arriving to the lost world, they’ve found that young huntress that initially pretended she could not understand them just to laugh at them later and show them all her kindness, strength and independence after eleven years living practically alone. Veronica was a unique specimen.
Finally he looked to the boy, now sleepy, but still playing with his beard.
"And you, my little friend. So small and already able to awake in this old scientist so wonderful and missed memories. " – he took the tiny hand of the boy who was smiling again, now awake. Summerlee shook his hand, as in a compliment - "Hi, Tommy. My name is Arthur Summerllee. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Arthur observed the boy’s attention to deviate to Veronica, who was starting to wake up. Summerlee put the boy on the floor carefully. The boy hesitated between the professor and the huntress.
"Go there, little one. Be a gentleman and be her escort”. As fast as he could, the boy crawled again on all fours towards Veronica. She was still awakening, but extended her arms waiting for him to come. The boy tried to play going from one side to the other and shrieking with mirth.
"Come here, Tommy! Come on, sweetheart!" – she asked him. And when both hugged happily they could not even notice they were being discreetly observed by an old pair of eyes now full of tears.
Finally she noticed Summerlee. “Good afternoon... I mean... Good evening, professor..." She smiled with the boy on her lap.
"Good evening, my dear... Have you had a chance to rest for a little while?".
"I think so...".
Summerllee withdrew for the opposite side of the balcony, still touched by his memories. He felt Roxton’s strong hand on his shoulder.
"Professor, would you care for some tea?" – the hunter asked, already with a cup on his hand.
"Thanks, John" – he accepted, smiling, while Roxton went back to the common room while Summerlee observed him.
Marguerite quickly glanced over the pages of her book and sighed heavily, turning the next page. John could just notice that.
"Would you also care for some tea, Marguerite?".
She nodded her yes and slowly she pushed the cup for him over the table.
John looked at her quizzically. "It seems you are reading something really interesting, since your eyes hadn’t left the book pages for the last two hours...".
John took the teapot and served her. He put the sugar bowl with a small spoon closer to her. Marguerite put the sugar on her cup and mixed the tea with a certain air of impatience.
Roxton was really curious to know what she could possibly be reading.
He could not refrain himself, he needed to know what she was reading, because maybe this could help explaining to him the kind of creative imagination she had. “Marguerite, please forgive me if I’m being bold, but which is the book you are reading so concentrated? ".
She glanced back at him seriously and sighed once more before answering calmly, “May I continue reading in peace?".
"I just wanted to know...".
"... It’s about nutrition. Are you satisfied now? So...".
Arthur could not prevent smiling while observing the couple teasing and flirting all the time. It was a funny game between them.
Marguerite stood up quickly, seemed to recall something very important, and ran to her room, leaving the book opened over the table.
John observed and shook his head. He could not resist and pried on the opened book over the table.
"Hum... ‘Infantile Nutrition’?".
Making an effort to put a serious expression on his face, he headed to Marguerite’s quarter knocking by her doorframe.
“Marguerite” – he called.
“What do you want?”.
“May I come in? It’s about a serious subject”. Roxton was fighting to hold back his laugh.
Marguerite was curious.
“You may” - John entered her bedroom.
“I came to return your book” – he said, handing the closed book back to her.
“Thanks” - Roxton was already leaving her bedroom, but he couldn’t resist and turned back.
“Marguerite?”.
“What?”.
“I need to tell you something else”.
“Go ahead...”.
“It is...”.
“I don’t have all day long, Roxton”.
“I marked the page for vegetables soup...” - Roxton started laughing. Marguerite was caught by surprise and felt like flying to strangle the hunter.
"Were you prying over my things?".
"Well, Marguerite, as far as I know this book is not yours and, if it is, congratulations for your pregnancy, who is the father?" – And before she could answer anything, he caught her by her slim waist, bringing her closer to him, and kissed her intensely. She corresponded to the kiss, but knowing her he knew that his luck would not last forever. Not with a woman like her. Before they broke the kiss, she bit his lower lip. Roxton jumped when he felt the pain and tasted the blood in his mouth.
“Dammit, Marguerite, it’s the second time you do that to me...” – he said recalling a similar situation when they had just arrived to the plateau and the Treehouse.
“Everything has a price, Lord Roxton” – she smiled. He was already leaving, but turned back to answer:
"Ah... and congratulations once again, mother-to-be...".
“You are rascal, rude!...” – she yelled to him. Then she smiled, putting a soft hand over her lips, still recalling his lips against hers some seconds before. Only then Marguerite thought that, despite all her secrets, day by day she was growing more and more able to reduce the shields around her. And she enjoyed that. But at the same time she felt a shiver running through her spine signaling that something was definitely going on.
Summerlee saw John coming back smiling, fixing his shirt, and smiled recalling his very agitated youth around his female neighbors. Roxton looked at him as if questioning him. Arthur turned serious.
"It’s nothing, Roxton... nothing really”.
John smiled, understanding the underlying message. "Women... Well, you understand that, don’t you, professor?".
“I have all my concepts well established about these enchanting creatures”.
Still smiling Summerlee met Malone who was leaving the laboratory in a hurry.
“What’s is this rush, Ned?”.
“I forgot it was my turn to prepare dinner. I’m late”.
“Hum. And what we are going to have tonight?”.
“I’m thinking about some soup and salad. We can talk later...”.
Summerlee went downstairs to find Challenger examining a raptor’s egg.
“Arthur. I was going to look for you. I needed to talk to you”.
“Is there any problem, George?”.
“Indeed I would like to ask you a favor”.
“Go ahead”.
“Well, you know that I and Veronica are not talking...”.
“Yeah, we all know that”.
“I would like to ask you to talk to her”.
“What about?”.
“I want to examine the boy”.