“…If we’re where we think we are, there are no two people better equipped than Rosie and Jo! Are there?”
“ Rosie! Rosie…where the hell are you?” Jo was sure she had seen Rosie running this way. She glanced around and her gaze fell upon a large wrought iron gate. It seemed familiar to Jo but she knew she had never seen it before. She didn’t even know where she was. Movement on the other side of the gate convinced her that this was where Rosie had run. Maybe the young man lived on the other side. Or if not, it had seemed familiar to her; maybe it had seemed familiar to Rosie too. She tried to open it but noticed a large chain locking it. Jo stood and debated climbing over the gate, it didn’t look that high and she didn’t fancy standing out on the street alone. She took a deep breath and started to climb up the gate. She had just reached the top when,
A frown creased Rosie’s forehead as she stood in the middle of the street, looking first one way and then another. There was no sign of the young man, who she was sure she knew, and now Jo had also vanished.
The atmosphere in the Café Musain had turned into an almost party atmosphere as more and more students had flooded into the small room. At the table in the corner, the three newcomers were being introduced to those who were planning to lead an insurrection against the government.
PART FOUR
“ You there! Stop what you’re doing!! Climb down at once!!”
Jo froze as a loud voice boomed in her ears. She cursed under her breath as she slowly climbed down. Her heart was beginning to pound loudly in her ears. Since they had arrived here she’d had nothing but problems. They’d lost Mark, Lucy and Jenny and now Rosie had done a runner leaving her alone. And now it sounded as if she was in even more trouble. She reached the bottom and was about to turn around when she felt something press into her back.
“ Look, if you’re going to rob me, rob me. Just take whatever you can find and go!” she said.
“ How dare you call me a criminal!” the voice boomed again, and Jo felt whatever it was press even harder into her back.
“ I’m sorry! I’m sorry!! It was my immediate reaction. I didn’t mean to offend…” Jo sighed, “ I’m just lost and a little scared I guess.” She felt the pressure ease slightly.
“ Why were you climbing over the gate?”
“ I was looking for my friend…”
“ Your accomplice don’t you mean!” the pressure returned to her back and Jo cried out a little.
“ Hey!” she tried to turn around but a hand firmly grasped her shoulder, stopping her.
“ You were trying to rob this house…no matter, you can give your story at the jail.”
“ Jail?!” Jo’s anger started to rise up inside her, she knocked the hand off her shoulder and span around. “ Now you listen to me, I’m no thief and I don’t care whether you believe me or not!” There was very little light on the street so she couldn’t make out the identity of her ‘attacker’. He was very tall and obviously powerful, he blocked her way completely. There was no way she could just run out of this one. Jo decided reasoning would probably be her most effective plan. “ I don’t even know where I am, so why would I rob a house?! More to the point, do I look as if I’m dressed to go breaking into people’s houses?” He stepped back slightly,
“ It does seem a little strange, I must admit. Your accent is definitely not from here, but we do get many vagrants here!”
“ Oh so I can’t insult you but you can call me what you like! What on earth gives you the right…?!” Jo yelled, forgetting herself. She quickly felt something pressed up against her neck and she swallowed nervously.
“ My duty’s to the law! You have no rights…” came the booming reply. There was something in his voice that registered as familiar in her brain. Very familiar in fact. Suddenly everything made sense. Jo knew exactly where she was and the stranger was no longer unknown to her. She gasped,
“ Inspector Javert!”
“ Great!” she muttered to herself as she started to wander slowly along. Dusk had fallen and now the sky was dark, she had to admit she was beginning to feel a little afraid. Movement in an alleyway next to her, made her jump and break into a run. She shrieked as she hit someone and fell to the floor. She looked up, her eyes wide in fear and saw a tall man looking down at her. He quickly bent down and held out his hand,
“ I didn’t see you there, forgive me,” he said as he pulled her to her feet. Rosie thought those words were familiar, in fact she knew they were. She looked up into the concerned face of someone she had never met before but knew instantly.
“ Oh….thank you. But you…you have nothing to apologise for, it was I who wasn’t looking where I was going,” Rosie’s mouth was all at once dry and she knew her cheeks were beginning to pink as she realised her hand was still in his.
“ But you are unharmed…?” his concern continued and Rosie smiled. It was the young man from the square.
“ I’m fine, honestly I am,” she had put it off long enough, she had to know for certain who he was. Even though inside she was sure she knew his name. “ In fact, I’m glad I ran into you, you see I’m lost. I got separated from the rest of my party. Could you help me?”
“ Of course, where is it you wish to go?”
“ I…I…don’t know, I’m not sure where I left my friends or where they would have gone. Is there a café near here or a place where they might have gone?”
“ Well, you came from the direction of the Place Saint-Michel, I would say they’ve probably gone to the café Musain.”
“ Oh Thank you,” Rosie beamed, “ Could you direct me there?”
“ I was on my way there myself, permit me to escort you there?” Rosie nodded and he offered his arm. She smiled and took it and they started to walk down the street. He stopped suddenly and looked at her, “ How rude of me! I have not introduced myself…my name is Marius Pontmercy,” he bowed slightly and Rosie’s smile grew wider.
“ And mine’s Rosie,” Marius smiled back and they carried on. As they walked Rosie wished Jo had been there to hear what he had said, she would have loved it!
“ So you were orphaned?” Jenny’s eyes were full of compassion as she chatted to one of the students.
“ Yes, both my mother and father died when I was young,” explained Feuilly. Jenny was amazed by this young man. He had taught himself to read and write in a process he called “self-liberation”. Now the focus of his attentions seemed to be the liberation of the world. In a word, Jenny greatly admired this young student. He was no where near as attractive as she had first found Enjolras to be, but Feuilly was far warmer and affectionate than the student leader had appeared. Enjolras knew what he believed in and this left little room for the feelings of others. Jenny found out quickly that dashing he may be but she preferred the company of Feuilly. A fact obvious to the others. Since his arrival at their table, she had spoken to no one else.
Lucy was talking at great length to another student who called himself Jehan. Jean Prouvaire, as was his true title, was a most soft-hearted student. He was a poet and he and Lucy were getting on like a house on fire. They discussed poetry and social questions with great fervour. Lucy had to admit she found his gentleness surprising. The impressive figure that Enjolras was, she had found to be anything but gentle. Jean spoke with a bowed head, he talked gently, smiled self-consciously, blushed for no reason at all and Lucy found his extremely shy, awkward demeanour wonderful. However, despite his obvious compassion, he was no less fearless about the fate that lay ahead, in the form of their planned insurrection. In the mean time, Mark had been having a whale of a time chatting to their host Grantaire, Here was a sceptic amongst the hot-blooded, passionate students. He had learned much during his time in Paris, he was in the midst of telling Mark where to find the best coffee or the best billiard room.
“ Now if it’s a meal you are seeking, as with everything, various places have their specialities. For excellent chicken go to Mere Saguet’s. And there’s a particularly fine white wine at the Barriere du Combat.” He had explained. He knew the best places for everything, besides being a boxer, gymnast and dancer, he was a great drinker into the bargain. But, sceptic that he was, he had one fanatical devotion, not for an idea, a creed, an art or a science. His devotion was for one man – Enjolras. It was as if he was drawn to something he lacked. The anarchic questioner of all beliefs had attached himself to the most absolute of all that circle of believers. He found his opposite in the chaste, attractive, upright student. In comparison, Grantaire was astonishingly ugly but his good humour and friendly attitude allowed him to fit in amongst the followers of Enjolras. His mind could do without faith, but his heart could not do without friendship.
And so their evening had gone, enjoying themselves. Drinking both the atmosphere and the alcohol readily served up by Grantaire, they had spared hardly any thought towards those missing from their party. In fact, they had almost forgotten about Jo and Rosie. That was until the door was flung open and a cheer arose. Joly, a very bright and eager student of medicine leapt to his feet.
“ At last M’sieur Pontmercy! You grace us with your presence!” The student Courfeyrac quickly went over to the young man in the doorway and they embraced emphatically.
“ So my friend, you have joined us at last!”
“ Marius! You’re late!” Enjolras’ words echoed through the room. Mark, Jenny and Lucy looked up suddenly. They had been so engrossed in their conversations that they hadn’t noticed the young man’s entrance. But the mention of his name broke their thoughts and they shot to their feet. Courfeyrac had taken Marius’ arm and was beginning to pull him into the café when he noticed a young girl hovering in the doorway.
“ Bonsoir, Mademoiselle,” he turned, a wicked glint in his eye, “ Now why don’t you introduce you friend? Marius!”
“ Oh…” Marius let out a huge sigh as he went back to the doorway and offered his hand to the young girl. He helped her down the steps just inside the door and then turned to the students, who were all staring intently at him. “ This, is Mademoiselle Rosie…” He stopped and glanced down at her, “ I do not know the rest of your name…” he laughed.
“ We do!” came the shout from the far side of the room. Rosie smiled broadly as she dashed over to her friends. Marius followed her and introduced himself to Mark, Lucy and Jenny. He was about to join them again when Enjolras’ voice stilled the air.
“ Well,” Jenny leaned back in her chair, “ What have you been up to?”
“ I might ask you the same thing!” grinned Rosie, “ Was that who I think it was? Was that…?”
“ Enjolras? Yes. He’s impressive isn’t he!” Jenny smiled back. The friends laughed amongst themselves and discussed what had happened since they were split up.
“ Any when he offered me his hand and said ‘I didn’t see you there, forgive me’ I nearly burst out laughing,” Rosie explained, “ It was just like in the musical, only he said it…instead of singing it!”
“ And I doubt there were any violins in the background either!” Lucy joked.
“ Jo would have gone barmy if she’d heard him…” Rosie stopped, “ Where…where is Jo?”
“ We thought she was with you,” Mark’s voice was calm but his face became flushed.
“ No, we got separated. I assumed she came back to find you,” Rosie’s voice went very quiet.
“ Well she didn’t!” Lucy swallowed nervously.
“ So where is she?!” Jenny stood up and began to pace around the table. “ I dread to think what trouble that mouth of hers has gotten her into!”
BACK TO PART TWO
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