THE ALTERED COURSE

BY:  ROSE CARR

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Madame?"

Richelleen looked up at the sound of Milos's voice.

"Look Yvette," Richelleen said to young woman she was tending. "It's Milos. What news do you have for us today Milos," Richelleen said as she tied another strip of material around Yvette's torso to keep the bandages in place. She had taken turns with the old lady Claudine, changing the bandages every few hours so they would not stick to the oozing wounds, and their hard work seemed to be paying off. The swelling had gone down and the welts no longer were a dark angry red, plus her fever had broken and Yvette had begun to take in a little nourishment and managed a weak smile in Milos direction. He smiled at the young girl before speaking again.

"Madame, I must speak with you." Something in his voice made Richelleen stop what she was doing. Clearly he was disturbed about something. Quickly she handed the basin that held the bandages to Claudine and stood up, wiping her hands on a towel that hung from her waist. She was loathe to leave the young woman's side in the middle of a treatment but seeing the anxious concern in Milos's eyes, she knew she'd better go with him and see what was troubling him. She told the old woman to continue her work, made assurances to Yvette that she would be back soon and followed Milos out into the hall. Rubbing the back of her neck with one hand she leaned back against the wall.

"All right, Milos. What is it that's troubling you?"

"Madame Richelleen, one of our people has just came from meeting with Gautier," he said, his eyes sliding away from hers.

"And?" she asked. "What is it?"

"He said Gautier is livid with rage because news has reached him that the Chief Inspector has learned about our hiding place and may be on his way here."

"Javert!" she said, touched her hand to her chest feeling sure it might heart might jump out it was beating so hard. Javert was coming to rescue her; everything was going to be all right. "Milos, this is wonderful," she cried. "He's coming. Don't you see, it's not just me that will be rescued but you too, and Yvette? You shouldn't be so scared." Then her expression changed as she recognized the expression in Milos's eyes, dark and shadowed as they were and gripped his thin shoulders with both hands. "Milos," she said. "Look at me, what is it you're not telling me?"

Milos turned his head away. His voice almost a whisper. "Gautier knows your Inspector is coming. He went wild when he found out. He's sending someone for you. He wants to bargain his freedom... for your life.

"Milos," she cried, taking him by the chin and forcing him to look at her. "This is terrible! Do you know where Javert is? Do you know when he'll be here? We have to warn him he might be walking into a trap!"

Milos shook his head. "No, I don't. And Gautier does not know for sure when the Inspector is coming, he just knows he will...because of you."

"Milos, we have to get Yvette out of here. She's not quite well enough to move but it would be better to move her to safety in her condition than let her be here when the fighting breaks out."

"No!" Milos said forcefully, feeling she was not taking her own danger seriously. He just had to make her understand. "Gautier is quite mad, he'll stop at nothing to have his way. I came to you as soon as I could so that I could help you get out of here. You've been so kind to us, I don't want any more harm to come to you."

"Milos," she said taking his hands in hers. "You know Inspector Javert would never agree to setting that animal free. It's us that he wants. There is no need for you and Yvette to be hurt. Please, come in and help me get her ready to leave."

He was failing, Milos thought, he desperately wanted to help her but he could not make her understand the danger she was in. Richelleen's dark eyes were bright with excitement as she smiled at him and he opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came out. Her own life in danger he marveled and she thought not of her own safety but of the safety of others.

"It's all right," she said gently, understanding the expression on his face. "I understand more than you know. Trust me, trust Javert. Everything will be all right, I promise. Now, come," she said grabbing his hand and pulling him after her. "We have little time and much to do."

*******************

Javert's men were already beginning to move toward the entrance of the building. Javert watched them from his vantage point at the mouth of the alley. All were in position. He knew that everyone was waiting for him to give the signal but hesitated, an uneasy feeling, that prickling of the tiny hair on the back of his neck signaled to him that something was wrong. No one had come in or out of the building since they had taken up their positions. Three of his men led by the young detective Hardin, were crouched beneath a window, weapons in hand, waiting. His face a stark mask of concentration, Javert took a deep breath and with a wave of his hand signaled to the waiting men. Instantly they moved, hitting the closed door as one. The old dried wood gave way, splintering under their shoulders as they broke through. A shout came from within the darkened corridor, harsh and rough, ringing loudly though the empty halls.

"Don't come in here! We don't want to kill any of you, but if you force our hand, we will!"

"We're coming in!" Detective Hardin yelled. "You have been warned!" They surged forward, hesitated as a shot whined though the air then moved again. Javert heard the commotion and dropped his hand.

"Attaque!" Javert shouted to the men waiting with him. He raced for the entrance, the sound of his heart pounding loudly in his ears. Quickly his long loping strides covered the ground between the alley and the entrance. Roland leaped forward an instant later, his breath burning in his chest as he struggled to draw even with Javert. Roland heard steps to his right, turned and fired his pistol at the man who was almost upon him, a dagger in his upraised hand. The bullet caught the brigand square in the chest, dropping him in his tracks. He knelt, touched his fingers to the man's neck, then shook his head. Getting to his feet he fell in behind the group, one at a time they cautiously entered though the splintered doorway. Shadows danced on the walls, making it difficult to see but Roland caught sight of three figures darting quickly into the dark. He did not hear the other officers. His scalp prickled. Where had they gone?

"Surrender!" He called out, his back hugging the wall. "There is no escape!" A flash of fire from a pistol in the darkness ahead and the whine of a bullet hitting the wall behind him was their answer.

Pistol in hand, Javert came forward, heard the retort of a pistol, dropping and rolling across the hard uneven stones of the floor as the bullet whistled passed his ear. Crouching low, he made his way down the darkened hall, stopping every few feet and listening for sounds. He flinched as his fingers touched something soft. Cold hands closed around his heart when the sharp coppery smell of blood filled his nostrils. He moved closer. A moan came from the body. It was one of his men. He knelt beside him touching his fingers to his throat; letting out the breath at the feel of the steady pulse beneath his fingers that assured him his man was still alive. He motioned to Alfred, a young officer who followed behind him. "Yes sir!" Alfred said, as he scuttled over to his side.

"He's still alive. See that he gets help. The rest of you come with me."

*********************

Something touched her shoulder and she spun around, a scream dying on her lips. Before her stood Gautier, his black hair sticking out at crazy angles from his scalp, his eyes wild and wide, so wide, the whites were visible around the empty black irises. Her resolve suddenly weakened she backed away from him, fear gripping her for the first time. His gaze held a dark cunning that she had never seen in a man and it sent a shiver down her spine. He trembled violently and his skin was slick with a sheen of sweat that ran down his neck soaking his shirt, but the weapon in his hand was steady. With a bravado she did not feel she glared at him.

"You!" she sneered with as much contempt as she could muster. "What are you...."

"Shut up!" he snarled, moving towards her. "Do you really think I'm afraid of your...your husband, the great Chief Inspector?"

She stiffened as his hand brushed her cheek and swatted his arm away. "You would be wise to be afraid of him because he is coming for you and he is ten times the man you will ever be."

"You slut!" he roared, raising a hand to strike her.

"Halt now!" came a booming voice from behind him. "Or I'll kill you where you stand!"

Gautier, froze but never released his grip on Richelleen and spun her around, trapping her against him, the pistol in his fist pointing at Javert whose framed now filled the doorway.

Richelleen's eyes widened, but she didn't cry out. Instead she spit directly into Gautier's face and sunk her teeth into the arm that held her. Blinded and in pain he released her and stepped back, causing the aim of the weapon in his hand to waiver for just an instant. Javert took advantage of his momentary lapse and launched himself at him. Gautier's epitaph cut off as Javert grabbed him, pinning his arms at his sides. His body writhed and struggled mightily in Javert's iron grip. Locked together in a hideous parody of an embrace, Gautier and Javert lurched across the room smashing furniture, sending crockery and dishes crashing to the floor. Richelleen backed up and dropped to the floor, crawled to the pallet and shielded Yvette as best she could from the worst the flying debris. She looked over her shoulder. Javert had Gautier by the throat. She could hear his breath rattling in his chest and see his hold on Javert loosen as the enraged policeman's steely hands held him and shoved him against the wall, hoisting him completely off his feet. At that moment from out of nowhere a screaming woman burst into the room and jumped on Javert's back cursing and tearing at him with her nails causing him to lose his grip on Gautier. Javert spun around, trying to dislodge her. Taking advantage of this distraction, Gautier got to his feet and ran. Javert grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her off his back, sending her sprawling. But like a cat she sprang up quickly clawing and scratching at him. Loath to hit a woman Javert did his best to fend her off and get around her so he could go after the fleeing Gautier but she would not be easily subdued. Richelleen understood his actions and quickly moved in and not having the same aversion to striking a woman landed a blow on the harpy's chin that sent her crumpling to the floor. Javert raised his eyebrows and nodded appreciatively in Richelleen's direction."Well", she said, standing there sucking on her bruised knuckles her breasts heaving from her recent effort. "Don't just stand there gawking! Go after him!"

After a good fifteen minutes of navigating dark, winding long unused hallways, Javert halted. He heard the slightest click and froze. A dark shape moved ahead of him. His mind raced wildly.

"Are you ready?" he demanded.

"Javert? Is that you?" came a voice from the dark shape ahead.

"Roland?" Javert said.

"Yes, it's me." Roland said. "What's going on?"

Javert blew out a breath and stood straight. "I had Gautier, then lost him. Did you see anyone else come this way?"

"No, but to leave these dungeons you have to take the back passageways," he explained. Many of them are not longer used. I learned about these areas during my...illness," he grinned sheepishly.

Javert looked at him with pursed lips, clearly he was not in the mood nor had time for Roland's explanations. "I'm ready, he said. "Lead the way." Roland nodded and together they moved quickly through seemingly endless ancient stone corridors until they reached an antique door. Cautiously, indicating that he should wait behind him Javert watched Roland as he stepped out into the street. He signaled to him to follow when he suddenly froze. Javert looked around the corner of the door and saw two men blocking their way. Rolling his eyes upward, unable to believe they were going to have to go through these two apes he took a deep breath and launched himself through the doorway. One of the men collapsed, gurgling then lay still. "Go Javert, after him," Roland shouted. "I'll handle this one!"

It had started to mist again, making visibility poor. From out of the mist Javert saw Hardin stumble and fall. He scrambled to his feet, holding his injured arm in his hand. "He went that way Chief Inspector," Hardin said, indicating the direction with a nod of his head. "Go ahead, hurry, before he gets away. I'll be okay." Javert bolted forward, sliding on the wet stones, then regaining his footing. Blindly he rounded the corner of the bridge, then went down hard, tripped by an unseen arm. He recovered, getting to his feet in one smooth movement. Gautier charged, a dagger now extended before him. Javert deflected his feint and punched the enraged man hard in the eye. Gautier howled, and his eye began to swell and close, blood flowing blinding him further. Javert spun around, avoiding the small blade as it licked wildly out at him. Humiliated and enraged beyond all caution, Gautier charged him, sending both of them back against the balustrade of the bridge sending both men tumbling over the side, towards the roaring angry waters of the Seine.

Roland ran onto the bridge. "No!" he screamed as he saw the pair go over and bolted to the side, barely realizing that Gaspar had moved in behind him. Reaching over the side his hands found Javert's and hung on. This can't be happening to him again! He can't die! He thought frantically pulling back with all his might. He can't!

"Gaspar, hang on to my waist and pull!" he yelled.

"Hold steady!" Javert yelled to Gautier who had hold of one of Javert's boots with both hands. "Hold steady and they will be able to pull us both up."

"I told you I'm not going back to prison!" Gautier howled beneath him, swaying wildly to and fro.

"Let him go Javert," Roland yelled, his arms on fire with the weight of the two men dangling below him. "You don't owe him anything!" More men had been alerted by Hardin and rushed to help Roland and Gaspar, lining up behind them, each man grasping the other about the waist.

"Do not be a fool Gautier," Javert said, tightening his grasp on Roland's hands. "There is no need for anyone else to die today. Help me and I will help you!" Javert had felt murderous towards Gautier earlier but now he had no desire to see him fall into a watery grave. He knew only too well how that had felt and did not wish that fate on anyone, even the man who swung beneath him trying to hurl him to his death.

"You want to see that pretty wife of yours again Chief Inspector?" Gautier yelled above the noise of the roiling river.

"Yes, yes I do!" Javert said.

"She'll have to see you in hell, " Gautier snarled. "Because you're coming with me!" With that he yanked his arms down hard. Javert felt his hold on Roland's hands slip and the roar of the river in his ears when his boot slid off and the cursing convict lost his grip. Hurtling to meet the river Gautier screamed his anger, falling into the churning river, hitting with a splash and in the wink of an eye disappeared from view. Free of Gautier's weight, the line of men who had been holding each other's waists fell backward, pulling Javert up and over the edge to land with a waumping big thud in the middle of the sprawling pack of men. Javert lay for a moment, gulping in great breaths of air as his heartbeat slowed to normal. Slowly he untangled himself and rose to stand before the edge of the bridge. In bitter sorrow he looked down into the dark water, knowing what had happened to Gautier and felt pain for the embittered savage man, for somehow he knew that there would be no miracle, no second chance for him, only a cold lonely death with no one to mourn him.

A hand touched his shoulder. "We cannot weep for him, Javert. You gave him every chance, it was his choice."

Javert managed a weak smile and shook his head, then turned his head to look down into the water. Roland could only imagine what he was thinking.

"Hardin is here, do you have any instructions for him?" Roland asked quietly.

Javert looked up, grimaced slightly at the pain in his shoulders then stood tall, straightening his clothes as best he could. "Ah, yes. Procedure Inspector Hardin, follow arrest procedure." The men hurried off to take care of the business at hand.

"Look," Gaspar said walking over to stand by Roland. "Look who's coming." Roland patted Javert on the shoulder, he started to shrug him off but something in Gaspar's voice made him look up. The sun had broken through the clouds and he could see ahead of him and what he saw made his heart sing with joy. He saw Richelleen rushing toward him, whole and unharmed a smile on her face and mane of black hair streaming out behind her. He ran to her, his eyes brimming with unshed tears that burned and threatened to spill down his cheeks. The battle was done and they had been victorious. With a great shout of triumph he swept his wife into the circle of his arms, locking her into a tight embrace. He sought her mouth with his and her lips were soft and pliant beneath his hard demanding kiss. Her body firm and taut fit perfectly against his hardness as he pulled her closer. He might have had her then and there, might have forgotten his duty to God and county and might have forgotten that there were still prisoners to round up and civilians to take care of if Andre hadn't shown up from God knows where and slapped him hard on the back and crowed loud enough for everyone to hear. "Not bad for an old man, not bad at all."

to be continued.......

© 1997 Rose Carr

Contact the author: Rosematuse@aol.com

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