Malone watched in horror as Marguerite tumbled down the embankment. He laid there on the ground with his arms dangling off the cliff. Oh God what have I done, he thought. He had to find a way to get to Marguerite and to pull her safely back up, if she was still alive. No she had to be. He refused to believe anything else.
Malone sat up and reached behind and pulled off his pack. He opened it, pulling out two sets of rope. Malone first tied one rope to a big thick tree. He tied the other one close by, throwing both ropes down the ravine. He would use one to climb down on and the other to bring Marguerite up.
Malone made good time going down the rope. He landed about twenty feet from where Marguerite lay. The way down was treacherous giving him even more reason to be cautious as he descended the slope. He began to slowly make his way down to her on the uneven terrain. The hillside�s surface had been worn down by a raging river through a process that might have taken several hundred years. The same river was now the little unassuming stream that ran through the bottom of the ravine. Malone had to be careful to avoid the many protrusions sticking out of the ground. One wrong step and he would be joining Marguerite at the bottom. Finally he made it. Malone knelt down beside Marguerite.
Marguerite had blood covering the right side of her face, obviously where her head had hit the rock. Her right arm appeared twisted and laid at an odd angle making it most likely broken. He could see a long gash in her left arm that was bleeding profusely which would require stitches. Her legs had many cuts and bruises; most of them small, but some rather large gashes. Her blouse had ripped and he could see blood on her right side.
Malone realized he had to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible. He could not even think about trying to get her out of there until he had treated some of her more serious injuries.
Malone opened his pack. The first thing he pulled out was his shirt. He ripped it into pieces. Taking one of the sleeves, he folded it up and then pulled out his canteen. He wet the piece of cloth and begins to wipe the blood from the side of Marguerite�s head. He could see a gash about three inches long right at the hairline. Malone knew he had to stop the bleeding. He took another piece of his shirt and folded it to make a pressure bandage.
Malone reached into his pack and took out some of Challenger�s powder to fight infections, sprinkling it liberally on the wound. He then reached for a roll of the bandages. Placing the rolled up cloth on the wound firmly, he wrapped Marguerite�s head with the bandage, holding the cloth in place. He was careful to gently raise her head. He repeated this procedure for the wounds on her arm, legs, and side.
Malone looked around him until he located some sticks. He crawled over to them, looking until he found two rather stout ones. Using his knife he cut them down to about twelve inches long. Malone then crawled back over to Marguerite.
He again reached in his pack and got the other roll of bandage out. Malone straightened Marguerite�s arm and placed a stick on each side and then wrapped the remainder of the bandage around it, covering her arm from the elbow to the wrist. He then reached in his pack and took out a piece of cloth that Challenger had put in saying it would make a good sling if he needed it. Well this time he needed it.
Malone gently placed Marguerite�s arm in the sling and then tied it around her neck. Hopefully that would help to support her arm.
Now he had to get Marguerite back up the cliff. It wasn�t going to be easy. Very gently, Malone picked up the injured woman. Sitting with her in his arms, he began inching over towards the rope. The cliff was too steep for him to try and stand and carry her. If he fell, she would surely tumble to her death.
Eventually Malone made it to the first rope. This would be the best one to use to bring Marguerite up, Malone decided. The cliff in this one spot had eroded some, making it less likely that Marguerite would hit the side as he pulled her up.
Malone reached behind and opened his pack, pulling out the blanket. He wrapped it around Marguerite the best he could and then gently laid her down beside the rope. He placed her hands across her stomach and wrapped the blanket across them. Malone then took the rope and working it under Marguerite tied it across the front, underneath her arms. He then put her in position so he could pull her up the cliff.
Malone then crawled over to the other rope and started working his way back up the cliff. It was slow going because the cliff was steep and he was going uphill. Eventually he made his way back to the top and began the difficult task of pulling Marguerite to safety.
Malone would pull Marguerite up a few feet and then stop when she started swaying towards the cliff. He would wait until she became still and then proceed to pull her up again. This took quite a while but Malone knew he had no other option. He couldn�t risk Marguerite hitting the cliff and maybe injuring herself even more.
Once he had her safely to the top of the cliff, Malone laid her gently down on the ground and removed the rope. He untied one of the ropes from the trees and put it back in his pack leaving the other for any possible rescue party. He then sat down on the ground beside Marguerite.
Malone knew it would be impossible to get Marguerite back to the Zanga Village. She probably had a concussion and he knew enough to know it would be dangerous moving her. The only way he had to get her back was to carry her, which was out of the question. It would be far too dangerous.
Malone also thought about making some kind of stretcher. But then he would have to drag her along the uneven ground and through dense brush. Not only would it probably make her condition worse, it would still be difficult to keep an eye on the surrounding jungle and watch Marguerite as well.
No his only option would be to stay there and wait for rescue. The Zanga would probably come looking tomorrow. And if they didn�t, the others would come the next day. He knew they would arrive home sometime late tomorrow. Hopefully they would come to the Zanga Village looking for them.
Malone leaned back against a tree and looked towards the sky. There were dark clouds looming. It looked like they were in for a storm. They needed to find shelter. Malone also knew Marguerite�s blood would attract predators. They had to find somewhere safe. The caves seemed the most likely answer.
Malone picked up Marguerite and headed down the trail. Even though it was overgrown with jungle growth, it was passable. Malone walked as slowly as possible so he would not jostle Marguerite too much. Eventually he came to an open rocky area.
It was surrounded by trees. Where were the caves? Had he read the map wrong? Malone knew he had to find shelter fast. If he didn�t find the caves soon, they would be caught out in the open during a storm.
Malone saw an opening among the trees and headed for it. He stopped and pulled the blanket over Marguerite�s face, hoping to protect her from the wild brush. It was very dense but he spied an opening. Malone went through the opening and came out at the base of a large rocky mountain. Malone could see some small openings in the side of the mountain at ground level and some more about ten feet up.
Malone walked closer and he could see that the openings on the ground level were caves. They looked small but more importantly they were wide open. There would be no protection from predators. He would have to go up higher. The rock face was steep but not as steep as the ravine had been. If he took it slow he should be able to walk up.
Malone walked up to a place he thought would be easy to climb up. He sat down on the rock and then eased himself up still carrying Marguerite in his arms. The surface was hard but he still took it easy only taking one step at a time. He stumbled once but fortunately regained his balance before he fell.
Malone checked out the first cave he came to. It was very small. The ground was uneven and there were loose rocks all over the floor. Obviously there had been some rock slides. Malone knew it was unsafe and kept going. The next one was very narrow and the floor uneven. He deemed this one unsuitable too and kept searching. He passed two more both too small and too unstable.
Malone realized he was heading to a dead end. He�d have to go up another level. He knew that was nearly impossible, carrying Marguerite. Malone also knew he was running out of time. The storm was fast approaching and it was also getting dark. Then he saw it.
Set in a corner, he had almost missed it. There was a rock in front of it. Malone knew he had to check it out. There was a wide ledge about ten feet from the cave. He walked over to the wall of the cliff, setting Marguerite down. As his luck would have it, Marguerite began to stir.
�Shhhh Marguerite,� Malone said softly. �It�s going to be okay.�
�What happened?� Marguerite croaked her voice barely above a whisper.
�You fell,� Malone said.
Marguerite tried to move but cried out from intense pain.
�No Marguerite, don�t move,� Malone said. �You�re hurt so you need to keep still. I�ve only bandaged your wounds temporarily. So please don�t move.�
�I�the pain. How badly am I hurt Malone?� Marguerite said her voice barely audible now.
�You have some bad cuts and your arm is broken Marguerite, but I�m going to fix it. Trust me. But first I have to find somewhere safe,� Malone said urgently. �We have a storm coming and it�s almost dark. I have to leave you here for a few minutes.�
�Do what you have to Malone. I�ll be alright. I�ve been through worse,� Marguerite said, her voice filled with pain.
�It�s just for a couple of minutes Marguerite while I check out this cave,� Malone replied. �I promise I won�t be gone long. I need to get your pack though. I�m going to cut the straps and try to ease it off I�ll be as easy as possible. Do you understand me Marguerite?�
�Yes,� Marguerite managed to utter.
Malone was very worried. Marguerite was in a lot of pain and she didn�t seem completely lucid to him. The sooner he could find somewhere safe, the better.
Malone reached for his knife. He eased the blanket off Marguerite. Slowly he pulled her up into a sitting position. It broke his heart to hear her cry out in pain. Blood was starting to trickle down her face. The gash in her head was bleeding again. Malone gritted his teeth and cut the straps off Marguerite�s pack, easing it off her back and laying it down beside him. He then gently laid Marguerite back down.
Opening her pack, Malone pulled out the torch he knew she carried. He also pulled out the bag of matches. Pulling one out, he put the bag back into her pack. He struck the match against a rock, lighting it and then the torch. He blew the match out and threw it to the ground.
Picking up Marguerite�s pack, Malone walked slowly over to the cave. He leaned the torch over so it would shine into the cave. It looked like a large room, with an even floor. There was no evidence of rockslides or predators. Malone walked in and looked around.
The cave was perfect. There were no booby traps or signs that anything or anyone was living there. He noticed a little light coming in from somewhere. He walked over. There was a depression in the floor. Looking up he noticed the ceiling was uneven there. When he held his torch up, the smoke went out. Obviously, there was a hole there somewhere, but not straight up. This meant he could build a fire. The smoke would go out, but rain should not come in.
Malone looked around. On one wall he found what he was looking for: a small gap. Malone stuck the torch inside it. It leaned a little but stayed upright. He then laid Marguerite�s pack down and headed out the cave.
Marguerite was still conscious when he returned. He quickly kneeled down beside her.
�Marguerite I�m back,� Malone said. �I�m going to move you to the cave now. I know it�s going to hurt, but I have to get you inside.�
�Just do it,� Marguerite gasped, every breath painful.
Malone gently picked up the injured woman and slowly and carefully carried her inside the cave. He laid her down in the back of the cave. He gently lifted her head and made sure the blanket was underneath it. He then placed her head very gently on the blanket. He unwrapped the blanket from around her. Malone then went over and retrieved Marguerite�s pack.
Opening her pack, he pulled out the other blanket and partially unwrapped it. He began placing items on it, some extra ammo, some food that Assai had given them, an extra blouse, a towel and wash cloth, the bag of matches, a cloth bag, a small pot for cooking, a couple of enamel cups for her morning coffee, and a small leather bag.
Malone opened the cloth bag. It was Marguerite�s first aid kit. He took the items out and laid them on the blanket. There was a jar of the infection powder, some willow bark, more bandages, a needle and some coarse thread, and a metal cup, obviously for heating the willow bark. He then opened the small leather bag. It contained a few gems. He closed it back up and returned it to Marguerite�s pack.
Marguerite was drifting in and out of consciousness. Malone started checking all of her bandages. The head wound worried him the most because it could be a concussion.
He untied the bandage from Marguerite�s head. Very gently he lifted Marguerite�s head with one hand, while slowing unwrapping the cloth from her head. Marguerite�s gasps of pain made it more difficult. He was trying so hard not to hurt her.
Malone took out his canteen and opened his pack. He grabbed a piece of the scrap from his shirt. Wetting the cloth, he began to wipe the blood from Marguerite�s head.
After close inspection Malone decided not to try to apply stitches to Marguerite�s head wound. It had bled a lot, as most wounds do, but did not seem that deep. He sprinkled the wound liberally with Challenger�s anti infection powder. He reached for more bandage. Cutting off a piece, he folded it up and placed it on the wound. Malone then rewrapped the bandage around her head and tied it off.
Malone knew the wounds on her arm, leg, and side would need stitches. He removed the bandage from her arm. He threaded the needle with the thread.
�Marguerite,� Malone said softly, �can you hear me?� Malone waited but there was no reply. Her eyes were closed, her breathing uneven. He didn�t have a choice. He had to do this now.
Malone had watched Marguerite and Veronica sew up wounds before. He knew how to do it but had never actually done it before. Taking another piece of scrap material he wet it and cleaned the blood away. Taking a deep breath he began stitch her arm. It was slow going. Malone was afraid Marguerite would awaken, but she didn�t.
Finally Malone put in the last stitch. He then sprinkled more infection powder on the wound and then reapplied the bandage. Malone then folded her arm across her chest. Pulling her blouse up, he began the same procedure on her side. Because of its location, it took even longer to get this one stitched up.
Malone breathed a sigh of relief. Only one more to stitch up and then he could begin cleaning up her smaller cuts and scrapes. Malone pushed her skirt up until he got to the wound on her leg. It was a good thing Marguerite was unconscious, Malone thought. She�d have a fit with me seeing her thigh, not to mention my embarrassment.
Malone pushed aside his discomfort and began removing the bandage from Marguerite�s leg. Luckily there was no damage to the artery. After cleaning the wound, Malone began stitching. As luck would have it, Marguerite woke up. She screamed in pain. Malone began talking to her in hushed tones, calming her down. He stopped what he was doing until she had quieted down.
�Marguerite I�m sorry I�m hurting you but I have to take care of all your injuries,� Malone said softly. �Some of them needed stitches.�
�I know,� Marguerite said. �Sorry I�m not a good patient.�
�You�re doing fine,� Malone said. �I just have to finish this. I promise I will do it as quickly as possible.�
�Malone can�t you give me something for the pain?� Marguerite said. �My head is killing me.�
�I will fix some of the willow bark for you as soon as I finish here,� Malone replied.
�Okay,� Marguerite said, �please hurry.�
Malone returned to his task. He could hear Marguerite�s gasps of pain. He knew he couldn�t stop until he finished. Finally he was through and reapplied the bandage to her leg. Malone pulled her skirt back down and checked her pulse. It seemed to have calmed down some. He realized she was unconscious again.
Gathering all the supplies he put them back inside Marguerite�s bag. He then took the blanket and covered her. Malone needed to fix some willow bark tea for Marguerite. He took out the tin cup and willow bark. He would have to build a fire and for that he would need some wood. That would mean he would have to leave Marguerite alone for a few minutes. What if she awakened while he was gone?. Malone shook his head. He had no choice. He needed firewood and he had to get it before it rained. He stood up and grabbed his rifle and both his and Marguerite�s canteens. He had seen a small brook near the edge of the woods. He could fill the canteens while he was out getting firewood. Taking a last look at the heiress, he started out the cave.
It was already getting dark and the storm was not far away. He found the small stream in minutes and quickly filled both canteens. Hopefully he could find some broken branches and twigs close by. Luckily he was able to find several twigs along the edge of the woods. Taking all he could carry, he returned to the cave. Walking over to the fire pit, he laid down the wood and went over to check on Marguerite. She was still asleep.
Malone unhooked the canteens from his belt and set them down. He then got to work, building a fire. He heard the storm when it hit. Hopefully it would not last long, but at least they were safe and dry. Once he got the fire going, Malone put some willow bark into the tin cup and poured some water in. He then sat it on the fire and waiting for it to come to a boil. While he waited Malone began to think.
This whole thing is my fault, Malone thought. Marguerite didn�t even want to come. I really gave her no choice. Even though he knew he would catch hell from Roxton, he was desperate for the others to find them. Challenger would know what to do for Marguerite.
Malone went to check on the tea. It was boiling. Pulling out his shirt tail he used it to remove the cup from the fire. He sat it down so it could cool some. When Marguerite awoke he would give her some of the tea. Hopefully it would help ease her pain. Malone knew he was limited in what he could do for the injured woman.
When they did not return to the Zanga Village tomorrow, hopefully Assai would send a rescue party. And then it hit him. They couldn�t get to them. The bridge was destroyed. Malone got up and walked to the entrance of the cave. It never occurred to him before, but he and Marguerite were on their own. There would not be any rescue. Distressed, Malone returned to his vigil by Marguerite�s side.
�Don�t worry Marguerite,� Malone whispered to the sleeping woman, �I�ll take care of you. Somehow, some way, I will get you safely back to the tree house.�
