“ Drink with me my friends!” he yelled as the students poured out of the room. A cheer arose as glasses were distributed. Jo leaned over to Mark and grinned,
The evening passed at a gentle pace, with students coming and going, conversation never ending between the newcomers and their new found friends. It was a few hours before the friends realised something that had been staring them in the face since they arrived.
PART SIX
“ I can’t think who that is!”
“ How the hell do we get back?” Jo asked, her eyebrows raised.
“ Back through the red, swirly, cloudy thing I guess,” suggested Lucy.
“ Well thank you Lucy for that extremely precise, scientific response!” laughed Jo.
“ We know that but where is the..the…the red thing?!” Rosie swallowed a large mouthful of wine, generously poured out by Grantaire. The others shrugged and looked at each other.
“ To be honest…” Jenny looked up, “ Are we in any rush to leave?” The others followed her gaze to see Feuilly stood talking to Marius on the other side of the café. Jo opened her mouth to speak but Mark held up his hand to stop her.
“ I’m sure I can’t think why you’ve said that Jenny…but it’s true, I’m in hurry to go!” He raised his glass to them and drank a couple of mouthfuls.
“ Well there’s only one problem I can think of…” mumbled Rosie, “ We’re in June right…that means they’ll be building the barricade soon,”
“ So…?” wondered Lucy.
“ So, they’ll be expecting us to go along and we all know what happens at the barricade don’t we…” Rosie’s words suddenly rang true as they looked around at the students around them. Feuilly, Grantaire, Enjolras, Jean and the others would all be dead once the barricade was built. Jo nodded silently and then a look of fear covered her face.
“ Oh god…” she gasped. The others were confused but nonetheless curious as to what Jo had thought.
“ What? What is it?!” Jenny urged.
“ Well…if they build the barricade soon that means two things are going to happen. Firstly Javert will be here soon. You know, as a spy!” The others sat back and digested what Jo had said, “ The other problem is…” before they could discuss it further the door flew open and two figures flew through it. One was a small boy, he ran straight over to Grantaire and they began to talk animatedly. The other person to enter was a young girl of about sixteen. She was very thin and tall, her eyes searched the crowds and lit up when they fell upon Marius. She dashed over, and without ceremony, flung herself onto his back, giggling like a small child. He turned around and put her back on the ground, she stepped closer to him and smiled sweetly.
“ Do you know, Monsieur Marius, that you’re a very handsome boy? I like the way you grow your hair…” she smiled and he blushed.
“ Oh you do tease ‘Ponine!” Marius laughed loudly, “ But you know you shouldn’t be in here! You’re no student…”
“ But Monsieur Marius, I have news for you…” she spoke animatedly using her face and hands. Marius rolled his dark eyes and taking her elbow began to lead her towards the door.
“ You know who that is don’t you…” breathed Rosie, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“ Come, we’ll talk outside…” Marius began but as they reached the doors, the little boy began to shout at the top of his voice.
“ Listen! Listen everybody!” everyone turned to face the small boy, stood on a table. “ General Larmarque is dead!” A hush fell over the café, the news hit the students with the force of a tidal wave. Enjolras was the first to break the silence.
“ Come my friends, we must decide how to use this information to our advantage!” the students followed Enjolras through to the other room. Marius broke away from Éponine and tried to follow but she ran after him and grabbed at his hand.
“ Wait M’sieur, I have to tell you…”
“ I won’t be long ‘Ponine, you can tell me later!” he pinched her nose before disappearing through the door. The little boy ran after them but she grabbed at his shirt pulling him back.
“ Gavroche, where do you think you’re going?” he pulled himself free and turned to face her.
“ Sorry sis, you can’t come! No girls allowed!” Gavroche grinned before following the last of the students through the door. Éponine kicked the floor before going to sit by the fire. Rosie was about to go dashing over to strike up conversation with the young girl when the door flew open and a smartly dressed man came down the steps. A cloak billowing out behind him, a mask covering half of his face.
“ Sorry to bother you all,” he explained, “ But I’m looking for…a…a…friend of mine. She’s tall, brunette, quite skittish, very high pitched...have you seen her?” The friends shrugged,
“ Sorry, we’ll keep our eyes open though!” smiled Jo.
“ A thousand thankyous my friends!” he bowed emphatically and swept out of the door. Mumbling something about music and the night.
“ Why do I get the feeling we knew him…?” Jenny pondered.
“ He did seem familiar,” Lucy agreed.
“ Wasn’t that the…?” Mark started.
“ Phantom of the Opera!” finished Rosie and Jo. A look of astonishment passed over their faces.
“ But…how…?” Jenny was very confused.
“ Well…” began Jo, “ I think that thing we came through was a kind of link to the world of the musicals!” The others rolled their eyes and Jo frowned slightly. “ Well how do you explain everything then?!”
Silence followed. They knew Jo was right, hard to believe but right.
“ It would explain why the only places and people we have met have been places in shows…” Jenny admitted.
“ So, that red-swirly thing was a kind of gateway into the musicals?” Mark repeated to himself.
“ I guess so…” nodded Lucy. Rosie got to her feet and started to walk over to Éponine. Jo caught hold of her elbow stopping her.
“ And where are you going?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
“ To go and talk to her of course,”
“ Oh I’m sure she’d love that!” Jenny scoffed.
“ You what?” Rosie frowned.
“ She’s in love with Marius, isn’t she…” started Mark.
“ And Monsieur Marius is now in love with you!” grinned Lucy as Rosie’s cheeks pinked.
“ So how do you think she’s going to appreciate your going over to have a chat?!” Jo laughed loudly as Rosie paused then sat back down again.
“ I suppose so…” she sighed. Their gaze went to the door once more as it opened to show a tall man dressed as the students were, with a red, white and blue sash tied around his waist. He was well over six foot tall and had long hair tied back in a ponytail. His eyes, pale green in colour, flashed around the room as entered. Jo leapt to her feet as his eyes met hers, she quickly walked over to him and they began to talk.
“ Now why can she go and talk to a complete stranger but I can’t talk to ‘Ponine?!” Rosie moaned, Jenny laughed slightly.
“ Call yourself a Les Mis fan…you mean you don’t know who that is?!” Jenny poked her friend in the side as Lucy and Mark giggled. Rosie turned back to the stranger talking to Jo and after a few seconds, her mouth fell open.
“ Oh my god…it’s…it’s…Javert!”
“ NO really?!” smiled Lucy, “ It looks like she’s bringing him over here to remember…we don’t know him,” she finished just as Jo arrived at the table. Followed closely they all noticed by Javert, whose hand clasped hers behind her back.
“ J…I mean, Phillipe this is Rosie, Jenny, Lucy and Mark.” Jo pointed each of them out and they smiled. He gave a little bow and smiled back.
“ I am very pleased to meet you all,” he pulled out a chair and joined them. An uneasy break in the conversation followed,
“ So…Phillipe…I gather you saved Jo’s life earlier,” smiled Jenny, he frowned slightly.
“ Oh no! It was Jo who saved me. If it had not been for her, I would not be here…” he turned to Jo and looked into her eyes. Jo smiled back and, realising everyone’s attention was focused on them, coughed slightly.
“ So what brings you here?” Mark asked, even though they all knew the answer.
“ Erm…I….er…” Javert stammered, “ I came to join the students in their rebellion.” Before they could continue the door at the back of the room opened once more and the room was once again flooded with students. Enjolras was the last through, he quickly climbed up onto a table and the room fell silent.
“ My friends, the death of Lamarque is the sign we await. On his funeral day they will honour his name. It’s a rallying cry that will reach every ear! In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame. They will see that the day of salvation is near, the time is here! Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer, let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts. But a jubilant shout, they will come one and all. They will come when we call!” he voice was loud and full of passion. (And to those friends sat in the corner, his words were not totally unfamiliar…) A cheer arose from the students at the end of his speech. Enjolras jumped down from the table and began to talk animatedly to Courfeyrac and Joly. Grantaire and Marius returned to the table of friends and Javert introduced himself as a volunteer to the cause. Grantaire thrust a glass of wine into his hand and dashed off to tell Enjolras. Meanwhile Marius had sat down next to Rosie and they had started to talk amongst themselves. Suddenly Éponine was at the table pulling at Marius’ sleeve.
“ M’sieur…m’sieur…you must listen to me!” She pleaded, Marius turned around and removed her hand from his sleeve.
“ Ponine!” he scolded, “ What is it that’s so important?”
“ I can’t tell you here, it’s about that girl you saw in the gardens. I need to tell you by yourself…” Éponine threw a cold glance at Rosie, a look not missed by Marius.
“ Oh that. You can tell me here, these are some new friends…this is Jo, Phillipe, Jenny, Lucy, Mark and this…this is Rosie.” Rosie smiled at the young girl but it was not returned. “ Anyway, ‘Ponine, did you hear Enjolras, we’re going to build a barricade. Tomorrow, isn’t it wonderful?!” Marius smiled broadly at Éponine and then at Rosie.
“ Marius…come here and bring your new friend with you!” shouted Enjolras across the room. Jo knew he meant Javert. As he rose to his feet, Jo quickly took his hand and squeezed it, he shot her a brief but brilliant smile before following Marius over to Enjolras.
“ So, you’re a friend of Monsieur Marius’ are you?” Éponine shot angrily at Rosie.
“ Yes, we all are. We met him earlier today…” started Rosie. Sensing an impending problem, Jo stepped in.
“ I don’t think we were properly introduced before…” Jo held out her hand to the ragged girl. “ I’m Jo…” Éponine paused before gingerly taking Jo’s hand.
“ Pleased to meet you Mam’selle…I am Éponine Thénardier.” Jo smiled broadly at her and was relieved to see it returned.
“ I’m happy to meet you, and don’t bother with all that Mam’selle stuff either!” Jo laughed, quickly followed by the others. Éponine looked at them all smiled and her smile broadened when it fell on Mark. Jenny bit her lip as she leaned over to Jo and whispered,
“ Uh oh! Mark had better watch out!” Jo tried to stop herself from giggling and whispered back.
” Well hopefully now she’ll leave Rosie and Marius alone!” They giggled quietly between themselves as they noticed Mark becoming increasingly nervous as Éponine continued to stare at him.
“ It is late, you should go home my friends. We will meet in the morning at the rue de Villette!” announced Enjolras. “ Sleep well my friends!” Lucy and Jenny left with Feuilly and Jean Prouvaire. Marius nervously asked Rosie to accompany him and Courfeyrac back to the house where they lived, she blushed and they waved goodbye to the others. Javert and Jo vanished and Mark settled down for a night of “intellectual” discussion with Grantaire. (One should point out that Éponine decided that she wouldn’t be missed at home and would rather stay at the café. Mark was thrilled…)
Outside the Café Musain, Javert and Jo had just started to walk across the square when a figure leapt out from the shadows. His attire was strange to say the least, he was dressed in a loincloth and what appeared to be a golden tea cloth over his head. Javert quickly whipped out his night stick (oh matron!)
“ Who are you?” he demanded of the scantily clad stranger.
“ I am Joseph…” was the answer.
“ Pharoh’s number two…” mumbled Jo under her breath.
“ Yes…I need help…someone has stolen my precious golden cup…”
“ Do you have a description of the perpatraitor?” Began Javert, Jo rolled her eyes.
“ Ok, Phillipe, I’m only going to say this once…Leave it! And Joseph, why don’t you go inside this café and ask to borrow a shirt…or…something!” Javert stuck out his bottom lip as he put his night stick away. Joseph bowed and disappeared inside the café. Jo laughed and taking Javert’s arm, she began to lead him across the square. She giggled when she saw he was still pouting. “ Don’t sulk…!”
“ I’m not!” he shrugged and smiled.
“ So…where are we going?” Jo yawned.
“ The woman who does my washing has a spare room, you can stay with her tonight…” Javert explained, he glanced down just in tome to see Jo sigh exasperated. “ What? You can’t stay with me…I’m a police inspector, what would people say…!?”
“ Woah there fella!” Jo pulled away from him and stood with her hands on her hips. “ Before you go getting the wrong idea, I was merely sighing because you’re nothing like I expected you…I mean a police inspector to be…” Javert visibly squirmed and Jo saw a distinct red colouring appear on his cheeks.
“ I’m sorry Jo…I…”
“ Just don’t explain…” laughed Jo as they started walking again. They hadn’t gone more than s few feet when a scream came from one of the alleyways and a man ran out. Quickly followed by a distressed young lady.
“ Help I’ve been robbed. There’s the thief. Stop him! Stop him!!” she screeched. Javert looked at the quickly vanishing robber, then at Jo and then at the robber again.
“ I should really…but you…I…”
“ Go on!” Jo urged. “ I’ll go back to the café and I’ll see you at the barricade!” she smiled and without thinking (yeah right!) pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him gently on the lips. He stood in shock for a moment before smiling and running quickly after the thief. Jo sighed again and walked over to the distressed woman. Who actually turned out to be a girl not much older than Jo was. “ Are you alright?” The girl looked at Jo and smiled weakly.
“ I suppose so…he didn’t hurt me he stole my bag. I am lost though and my father will be getting nervous.”
“ Look, I’m not exactly sure of my bearings myself but if you tell me where you’re from…maybe I can help…” The girl looked nervously as Jo, “ Oh and I’m Jo,” she held out her hand.
“ I’m Cosette…” she took Jo’s hand, whose mouth fell open, “ I live on the rue Plumet…” she continued.
“ Oh, I think I remember, I mean know where that is…” Jo smiled and they started to walk down the street that Jo had chased Rosie down earlier that day. Soon they reached the big iron gates where Jo had met Javert. Cosette smiled broadly,
“ Yes this is it…this is the rue plumet…”
“ But how did you know that this was her home…” came a voice through the darkness.
“ I don’t know…just a lucky guess…” Jo started before turning in shock at the strange voice. A man emerged from the gates, he seemed familiar and Jo recognised him instantly.
“ Papa, I got lost and this young lady helped me find my way home.” Cosette was getting giddier by the moment.
“ Yes my dear, go inside. Toussaint has your dinner ready,” the man said.
“ Yes Papa. Thankyou Jo, I hope you find your way home safely,” Cosette beamed before going through the gates. Jo waved at her before she vanished into the night. Jo looked back at the man who was regarding her cautiously.
“ Thankyou for returning Cosette to me…” he started but Jo held up her hand,
“ No trouble, glad I could be of service M’sieur.” Jo curtseyed and turned to leave.
“ I have only one question…” the man asked, “ How did you know where she lived?” Jo turned back and smiled.
“ You’re good man…but even if I told you…I doubt you would believe me…”
“ Please…” The man’s old eyes looked into hers,
“ I…I knew where she lived the same way I know who you are. I knew she lived at 55 rue Plumet in the same way I know that you are Jean Valjean…” Valjean’s face became pale and his eyes wide in fear. “ Do not fear, I will tell no one what I know…” Valjean looked into Jo’s eyes as if he was searching for something.
“ You…you were here…this afternoon…I saw you…”
“ Oh…that…I wasn’t trying to break into your house…honest I wasn’t…” Jo pleaded,
“ Javert found you…didn’t he…” Valjean continued, his face looking thoughtfully at her.
“ Yes…yes he did…but I swear…he knows nothing of you or Cosette and…well…he won’t either…” Jo smiled and after a moments thought Valjean smiled back.
“ I don’t know how or why you came here or how you know who I am…but thankyou…” Valjean raised an eyebrow slightly, “ Are you sure you cannot tell me how you knew…” Jo laughed lightly,
“ Like I said…I doubt you would believe me. I hardly believe it myself! But I can tell you…I’m very pleased I got to meet you!” Jo smiled again and started to walk away. She had not got far away from the gates when someone grabbed her arm. “ Oh no this again….HELP!” she tried to scream but a hand went over her mouth. She felt herself being pulled away from the gates and into the street. The hand was removed and someone stepped in front of her.
“ Jo! What are you doing here?” Javert asked sternly. Jo hit him playfully on the arm.
“ You’ve really go to learn to stop doing that!” she took his arm and they started to walk away. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw that Valjean had gone back through the gates and was no where to be seen.
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