Chapter
17:
Into the Fire: The Fight to
the Finish
"Percy you can not be serious! This plan is beyond mad!" Andrew
shouted in protest as the remaining details had been laid out.
The countdown to the moment of truth had begun, and time was
slowly ticking away. With Chauvelin's permission, I had managed to
free myself from the prison, as well as Marguerite's embrace, and
make my way quickly to the league's hideout, Marie's cellar, where
the entire group was gathered. From the very first word, the men had
been silent, hanging on my every sound as if it were the source of
life…at least until I had finished.
The plan was to be that Chauvelin and his soldiers would bring
Marguerite and Armand to the seacoast as I had already set up the
previous night; however his soldiers were to be the league in
disguise. Once I appeared to take the bait, I would allow Chauvelin
to think that he held my life in his hands, not knowing that in
truth, I held all the tricks in my hand! Unfortunately, the plan
seemed to be failing from left to right as not only escape routes had
been barricaded but also none of the bounders had agreed to it.
As I sat in my chair, ready to explode with impatience, I could
hear one after the other have some sort of complaint.
"Percy, there is no way to get out past Miquelon's shores!
Chauvelin had them all guarded just the other day!" Elton argued.
"What about Grappin? He has been your best disguise, and it would
be ludicrous to ruin all of that for one small mission!" Hastings
added.
"There must be some other way!" Tony had concluded, for I would
hear no more of their protests.
"That is quite enough!" I shouted to be heard over the din.
"Listen, this plan is our only hope for survival whether it becomes
more easy or difficult! Another life has been added to our group and
should we not at least make an attempt to pull through, I shall be a
widower! I know what all of you must think of Marguerite after what
we discovered, but everything is different! I know now that without
this woman my life is over, and I shall do all that I can to keep her
safe even if I really must die tonight! Why should I be saved instead
of her, Armand, and all of you?
"You have all sworn that you would give your lives for me; it
should only be humane for me to do the same for you! This plan will
be carried out as I have explained to you, and that is my final word
on the matter. Whether you all join me in it or not, the decision is
yours, and I shall not stand in the way of your choices. But either
way, I guarantee you all that I shall be on my way to Miquelon by
tonight with my sword in hand. Any man who desires to help may do so.
Is that clear?"
As I looked on to all of the ten faces staring at me, I was not
certain as to whether they had wanted to appear guilty, surprised,
shocked, or awed, but I did not care. I had meant every firm word
that I had said, and they all knew quite well that I was far too
determined and stubborn to change my mind.
Slowly as gazes were exchanged, one man after the other stood up,
and Andrew, silently chosen as a representative, stepped forward, his
hand on the handle of his sword. Staring up as much as he had to, for
our heights had been almost equal, he drew the weapon, and knelt down
with its point holding up the both of them. As each bounder followed
the suit, he spoke.
"We, who have sworn unquestioning obedience to you our chief,
friend, and comrade, have therefore sworn to join you in any venture
you place before us. Thus, with that oath in mind, we, the league of
the Scarlet Pimpernel, shall indeed join you once again…in the
most insane mission we have ever heard of!"
I could not help but join in the laughter that followed, for leave
it to the bounders to take a serious moment and add in a bit of humor
to calm our nerves. As they all rose, I held out my sword before the
small circle that had formed. "Into the fire?"
With a smile from each of them, each blade slowly crossed mine in
agreement.
"Into the fire!"
* * * * *
Hiding in the demmed bushes once again, I watched cautiously as
Chauvelin paced the steps of the guillotine that he had conveniently
ordered to be built on the seacoast. Swiftly but surely, the head
must fall mustn't it? I thought bitterly with a sarcastic smile. He
could never be a patient man now could he?
"The hour has passed; what could possibly be taking the phantom so
long?" he complained whiningly as he passed every one of the
disguised bounders up.
Never even thought he had the entire group right under his demmed
nose!
"Odd's fish, Shovelin! Have you not yet learned that I am always
fashionably late?" I shouted still hiding, for I so wanted to torture
and frighten him! "Really now, will you never learn the behavior of
the English aristo or at least this one in particular?"
"Who said that?" I could hear his fearful reply, and figured that
it was time to put the poor man out of his misery.
"The Scarlet Pimpernel of course! Did you really think that I
would turn down such an invitation as this?"
"That is not what I asked! I want to know who is talking to
us!"
"Ah but that is what I answered, but since you must be so demmed
particular about everything I guess that I have no other choice but
to show you who I am," I replied with a small laugh before walking
out from my shadow.
Everyone other than Marguerite and Armand must have held their
breath as I walked out into the open, my flippant tone as always
unscathed.
Looking to my little friend in black, I laughed. "My dear
Shovelin, you look as if you have seen your ghost, and yet you have
not even attempted to kill me!"
Finally coming to his senses, Chauvelin discreetly stepped in my
direction. "Well well, Sir Percy, all this time you have been our
elusive Pimpernel, and we had been too stupid to see it? Am I
correct?"
"Oh indeed you are, Shovelin! I would have told you sooner, but
would you really have believed me? No I did not think so, and that is
why I had decided to leave the little surprise until tonight!"
"That is all I needed to know!"
Suddenly I do not know how, but he managed to take a good swipe at
me with his sword, and I just barely missed I might add! Knowing that
my only way out of this one would be to fight back, I drew my own
weapon, trying to slow down his actions by countering them.
"Oh really now Shovelin, you would injure a man you thought to be
unarmed? I had no intention of taking your life you know."
"That may be true, but I am rather the opposite, Sir Percy; I have
every intention of taking your life whether it be by sword or
guillotine!"
I truly had not a moment to respond, for it took only a second to
realize that this man was not going to give in as easily as I
expected. He was more than willing to put up a good fight, and there
was nothing left to do but defend myself or die. Obviously, the wise
decision would be the first.
Minutes on end flew by as quickly as the blades we held in our
hands. From the way he battled, I knew for sure that Chauvelin was
stubbornly refusing to become tired and therefore, he would not to
stop until he had made his kill. Sure enough, every viscous blow had
paid off and he finally took my own weapon in addition to his own. It
was finished.
"Seize the man and prepare him for Madame Guillotine, for both she
and I have waited long enough for this!" he said with a laugh as the
soldiers moved in ready to do as they were told. However, they only
helped me to stand up as it finally occurred to the little Frenchman
what was going on around him.
"Well Shovelin I could only guess that you always seem to
underestimate my ingenuity. Would you allow me to present my own men,
since your own would not have followed the plan I had in mind or
would it be too much of a shock for you?"
"Y-y-your men?"
"That is correct! And just to prove that, I do believe that they
know what to do with you, don't you boys?"
Without further questioning, the entire league, even Armand who
had joined them to gladly help, made our friend more than comfortable
on the steps of his beloved guillotine. Tying him to the railing, and
gagging him just to keep his bothersome mouth closed, I looked the
scene over for inspection.
"It really needs something else! Something is lacking!
Hmm…what could it be?" I asked slowly as I noticed my seal ring
on my finger. "Ah yes that's it! Monsieur Shovelin must have wanted
to give his officials their Pimpernel, so…what if he surprised
them by actually being the man himself?"
As everyone nodded in agreement, I took out of my pocket my forged
papers that I had always used and put it in his hands.
"And now for a ring! Of course this one we shall need," I asked
again indicating the object in question. "So what is there that we
can use?" Then turning to Marguerite, I continued. "My dear Lady
Blakeney, would you not have one that we may borrow? I promise I
shall replace it soon enough!"
Her famous smile beaming bright in the darkness, Marguerite handed
over her wedding band, and after a quick thank you, I placed it on
Chauvelin's finger.
"Well would you look at that! A perfect fit!" I exclaimed as our
entire group joined in on the laughter. "Now I believe that there is
nothing left to do but leave; who's with me?"
In reply every man made a run for the DayDream, which waited at
the shore, while Marguerite simply held onto me. As I gently put my
arm around her, I looked once more to our dear friend, Shovelin. "You
should have known, citizen, that the good always wins over the bad,
even in the love of a wonderful creature as the one beside me. Now I
have no doubts that you shall be comfortable until someone finds you
here. 'Til our next meeting then; vive la France and long live the
king!"