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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jan 31, 2012 14:41:32 GMT -5
I hope no one minds a double post. I started reading Chapter Six late this morning, but had to stop for a bit after my back started killing me. Anyway, this was every bit as enjoyable to read as the preceding chapter. It was lovely to see the return of Desmond, and to know he's safe and sound, if not a little banged up. It was nice to meet Audrey again, too. The reunion between Violet and Augusten was so heartfelt, and could not have occurred at a more opportune moment. ^^ I am more curious now than ever to know the identity of the raven-haired duo, now that it's become apparent that the son's appearance has stirred within Violet a familiarity. I got the impression that he recognized her as well. And just who is the mysterious stranger in the bed next to Desmond's? I need to know! RIGHT NOW! LOL. What a beautiful line this is, and how perfectly it suits the situation between the estranged father and his daughter. Even if a reunion between the Ethereal Express and Ultima is doomed to remain no more than an unfulfilled wish, I hope that Desmond and Cindry's luck proves stronger. *Edit* Chapter Six is on the previous page.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jan 31, 2012 16:23:14 GMT -5
@emmz: Thank you for the comment, Emmz. Chapter Seven will be up soon.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 1, 2012 15:16:12 GMT -5
Chapter Seven Train stations are always busy places, no matter the size of them. They obey tight schedules and are no place for fooling around lest one might fall into the train tracks and meet a tragic end, like this man that I needed to interview, who was shoved to his death by a villain whose name I dare not write at the moment. The Timber train station was fairly small, and aside from the greenish cobblestones the place was made of, it was very reminiscent of the train station Violet and Klaus Baudelaire had arrived at in Paltryville. The town was certainly small, that much was true, but they saw that for such a small town Timber was very active at night. ‘This town’s economy mostly surrounds wood. They also carve and sculpt wood here. I think I’ve even sold a few Timber woodworks back at the Bazaar some time or other.’ Said Augusten Burton, the friend who accompanied the Baudelaires on their stroll as they watched the movement at the station. So far, nothing unusual had happened, but it had been only five minutes since they had left the train. They saw burly, soot-covered men resupply the train’s tender with coal and water, while the machinist helped them. Other Ethereal Express passengers had also opted to get out of the train for a while, as the Baudelaires could see. The Ethereal Express was long, and the Baudelaire elders examined it’s exterior as they walked by it, one car after the other emblazoned with the signs of the western zodiac. Handymen ran around carrying boxes and crates, barrels and pieces of emerald wood, loading cargo into the Aries car. They were about to turn back when they noticed just who was also watching the loading of cargo from upclose. This time, Esmé had doned a even more absurd dress. It was a white version of her storm dress from before, only this one looked more like a blizzard – a word which here means ‘snow storm’ - complete with with an overcoat trimmed with white feathers all plucked from exotic, endangered birds, as well as a large white hat with the same feathers. Esmé was talking to one of the train’s crew members, signing a couple of forms. The men were loading a particularly heavy crate onto the Aries car, and had to move several other crates to make room for it, and there was much movement and confusion at the station. Violet, Klaus and Augusten approached stealthily, taking advantage of the fact that behind Esmé and the man she was talking to there was a large ammount of crates which provided a secure hiding place for a flanneur. While the three youngster volunteers sat casually on one of the crates trying to look innocent and unsuspecting, one of Timber’s train station workers approached Esmé Squalor and the man beside her. Apparently he was a guide of some sort. ‘…Travelling north on the Ethereal Express, eh? My, what a train.’ Said the station worker. ‘ Yes.’ Esmé’s voice sounded impatient, as if she was nervous about something. Considering her previous demeanor in the Sagittarius car, it didn’t surprise the Baudelaires. ‘How far from here is Despair Bay?’ Esmé Squalor asked the man. ‘Well, Despair Bay and the bridge are a few good miles past Narshe, ma’am.’ The man said. ‘Narshe? Where is that? Some backwater town like this one?’ Esmé asked, in her traditional condescending manner. ‘I don’t know about backwater, ma’am. Narshe is a mining town, you see. Charming place, if a bit cold.’ The man replied. ‘Ultima is colder.’ The train crew member contested. ‘Well, Ultima is still a ways way from here.’ The train station worker said. ‘Are you bound to Ultima, by any chance?’ ‘Not really.’ Esmé replied. ‘Oh…Where, then?’ The man asked. ‘Listen, I have better things to do than reveal my travelling plans to some hick town train station worker.’ Esmé walked away, towards the train’s Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car, like Violet suspected she would. The train crew was running around making routine maintenance procedures between the cars, and the train was being delayed because of it, it seemed. The starry passageways between the cars, much like a convertible’s roof, were folded now, and they could see the thirteen – not counting coffin car, tender and locomotive – cars well separated, while the workers made their repairs. It had been a long journey, and like the train station guide had said, Ultima was still a ways way, which meant that there was still a lot of railroad to cover between Timber and their final destination. It is my duty to inform you, dear reader, that while several passengers of the Ethereal Express did manage to arrive at Ultima – some unscathed, others, not so much – not all of them could make it, for many reasons, which will soon become clear to you. By now you must have realized that a horrible disaster was in store for that train and it’s passengers, staff and crew, and you are right. Of course, given the circumstances, it could have been much worse. ‘We should get back inside the train. It’s nearly time to leave.’ Augusten pointed out, examining his wrist watch. ‘Yes. Let’s go.’ Augusten offered Violet his arm, she was too polite to refuse him, and the two went back inside the train with Klaus in tow. Most new passengers were boarding the train now, they noticed. Soon the new passengers would gather in the Capricorn car to mingle with the older ones, and Violet and Klaus would be there to act again as flanneurs. The inside of the Ethereal Express was at it’s busiest with members of staff and crew alike running around in their affairs, transporting minor pieces of cargo to the Aries car, as well as running errands and making preparations. Violet and Klaus returned to their cabin, even invinting Augusten in. Violet opened up her suitcase to sort out her clothes. Her suitcase contained the sugarbowl and other important items, including the fire flower, the mysterious letter the Baudelaires received, as well as other things that they gathered during their journeys. ‘So, is that the infamous sugarbowl?’ Augusten asked. ‘Yes.’ Violet replied. ‘Strange how such small objects can cause such trouble.’ Augusten sat besides Violet. ‘I seem to recall a certain someone’s rubber duck caused a lot of trouble as well.’ Violet commented, with a smile on her face. Back in Burton’s Bazaar, Augusten had used a rubber duck to lure out villains, but his plan never quite succeeded. ‘That was Desmond’s idea. The man remains a prankster even through these dark times.’ Violet recalled how playful and immature Desmond Fulfillment had seemed to her at first glance. Maybe it was his way of dealing with the unfortunate events of his life. I personally know Desmond, and I know exactly what happened to him, but Violet Baudelaire didn’t. She had not known Desmond for long, like many allies before him. She was thinking on it, when Augusten did something that caught Violet completely off guard. The last time Violet had a similar experience was while she and a boy named Quigley Quagmire were climbing Mt. Fraught in an attempt to rescue Sunny from Count Olaf’s thralldom. It was the only time, as well, as Violet and Quigley did not have much time together after that, unfortunate as they both were. The moment ended as suddenly as it began, with Augusten recoiling, embarrassed after what he’d done. ‘I-I’m sorry.’ He said. ‘I presumed too much. I just couldn’t…Stop myself.’ He rose from the bed. ‘Klaus told me about Quigley Quagmire back at Burton Bazaar. I know you still care too much about him, Violet. I wouldn’t want to force it by any means, but perhaps you should consider that I could be just as good for you too, if you’ll have me.’ ‘Augusten…I don’t know what to think.’ Violet said. ‘ After.’ Augusten said. ‘What?’ Violet was still a bit stunned. ‘After this whole train journey…After we arrive in Ultima. We can talk about it. I won’t try anything again or force you. But promise me you’ll think about it. Promise me you’ll consider it, Violet. I…I care about you.’ Augusten said, blushing. He was also clearly embarrassed. ‘Forgive me, I’m not so good at romance. But ever since I’ve met you at the Bazaar, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.’ He smiled and removed his glasses, revealing his grey eyes. ‘You deserve to be happy Violet. And I want to make you happy, more than anything in the world.’ Augusten smiled, and left the Baudelaires’ cabin, leaving a stunned Violet to herself.
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Post by Dante on Feb 1, 2012 15:38:21 GMT -5
I've just realised that Quigley hasn't turned up yet, and there's not much time left for him to do so, if he plans to. That could be uncomfortable... and exciting. As are the impending events on the train, which I think I can detect, but then again maybe we're being led astray? That's one of the features of his foreshadowing-heavy form Snicket never really used - seeming to lead us one way whilst actually planning something else. Of course, you can't tell us if you're doing that, Tiago... so I won't ask. Oh, one more thing: I like how the feathers on Esmé's dress were specifically from endangered birds. That little detail is just right, and it would've been wrong if it had been left out.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 1, 2012 17:35:06 GMT -5
Chapter Eight Violet Baudelaire was still a bit dizzy when she left her cabin in the Cancer car. She and Klaus had changed into their capricorn car uniforms: clothes of indigo and a purple coloration, with matching gloves and hats. When the elder Baudelaires stepped out of their cabin, Emma Squalor was there, along with Sherry Ann, Dante and Hermes, the 667er’s. Emma and Sherry Ann held Sunny and Beatrice, while Dante and Hermes discussed something. ‘Oh, Baudelaires. We were waiting for you.’ Emma said. ‘Belate.’ Uttered the little Beatrice, which Sunny translated as: ‘You’re both late!’ ‘Sorry. Violet had some…Personal matters to attend to.’ Klaus answered. Violet blushed deeply. ‘It’s okay, Violet. You don’t have to beat yourself up about this. I know you like him too.’ Klaus whispered to his elder sister. ‘Just shut up about it, please.’ Violet begged. She was not used to this sort of unrulyness from Klaus. It was a rare thing for the Baudelaires to bicker between themselves, but siblings will be siblings, even the most unfortunate ones. I should know. I had a sister once. ‘Oh, I understand. If you need anything, Violet, be sure to ask me.’ Emma said, with a smile. ‘Now let’s go to the Capricorn car to sort out these new passengers, shall we?’ Saying this, the 667er’s led the way out of the Cancer car, and the Baudelaires followed. Passing through the Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius car, the lot of them arrived at the Capricorn car. It was decorated with antique furniture, an antique wallpaper of a rich purple hue, and several paintings of goats decorated the walls. The place was filled to the brim with people. It was a lounge bar of sorts, and several waiters and waitresses catered to the passengers. Sookie was one of them, and she was quick to wave at them. ‘Let’s spread out and see if we can spot anyone familiar.’ Dante said, and the 667er’s spread out, while Klaus and Violet picked up trays of drinks to cater to the passengers working as flanneurs. Working their way through the crowd, the Baudelaires soon noticed Esmé Squalor being pestered by Geraldine Julienne. ‘Oh, Esmé, I have to talk to you! Please!’ Esmé ignored Geraldine’s pleas and moved about the room, impatient as ever. She had changed into a luxurious nightgown with a dead foxskin boa tossed over her shoulder. ‘Oh, stop it! I’ve had enough of you, pestering me!’ Esmé snapped her fingers and Natalie Finch materialized between her and Geraldine. ‘Esmé would like to be alone for now, miss. It would be best if you left her, now.’ Natalie said. ‘Oh, alright. I woudn’t want to bother her. It was strictly Punctilio business, mind you. I meant to ask her if she ever intends on resuming her activities at the office. The editors are inquiring if she wants to continue to write for our paper.’ As a message pidgeon, Natalie told Esmé what Geraldine Julienne had said, even though the two were standing less than two feet from each other and spoke different languages. ‘Natalie, darling, tell this one I have no intention of ever returning to that dusty office and I could care less about that stupid newspaper. I have better things in my future, do tell her that. Now I have to go grab myself a drink, sweetie.’ Esmé left Natalie and disappeared through the crowd while Klaus and Violet catered to other passengers nearby. ‘Oh…’ Geraldine said, disappointed, when Natalie told her. ‘That’s shame. Excuse me, I need to leave now.’ Geraldine Julienne disappeared before you could say the word evanescence which here means ‘spontaneous disappearance’. Natalie was left alone, the Baudelaires did not fail to notice, as Nathan, her brother, was still absent. Without Nathan, Natalie didn’t seem nearly as much threatening as she did before. She seemed sad and lonely, and that, she was. ‘Would you fancy a drink, miss?’ Klaus asked, disguising his voice as best as he could, offering Natalie one of the drinks, an idea that ocurred to him just there and then. ‘Oh, yes, thank you.’ Natalie took one of the drinks and sat down in one of the antique lounge chaise longues that were spread throughout the capricorn car. Natalie took a long gulp from the drink. I have to say that the drink was a strong one, because soon Natalie seemed very sleepy. Klaus quickly sat beside her. ‘You look lonely. Where is your brother?’ Klaus asked. ‘What are you doing?’ Violet whispered to her brother. He shushed her, and turned back to Natalie. ‘My brother?’ Natalie asked. ‘He’s with him again, who else. Hic.’ Natalie had the hiccups. ‘ Him who, might I ask?’ Klaus tested, again. ‘Well, wi- hic- with Felix again of course.’ ‘And what about the are rest of them? Carmelita and Cindry? Is there anyone else?’ Klaus asked. ‘Um…Who are you again?’ Natalie ‘No one. Excuse me.’ Klaus disappeared from Natalie’s side, and soon, Esmé was there. Violet turned around so she wouldn’t be recognized. ‘Natalie, darling, you wouldn’t believe who I just saw. The Casanovas! Will you believe me if I say they’re here?’ Esmé said to Natalie. ‘I’ve had the good sense to avoid them, but if I stay here with you they might not see me.’ It had been a while since the Baudelaire orphans escaped Casanova Casino, the wretched luxurious casino of the Casanova family, a family of the italian V.F.D. but the Baudelaires still remembered how vicious the Casanovas were, and how brutally Felix Casanova murdered his father. The notion of having them aboard the Ethereal Express was not a happy one, that much was certain. The train, I’m sad to say, was already overflowing with villainy, yet it wasn’t even full, as several passengers had left the train at previous stations. Violet left Esmé and Natalie sitting on that chaise longue and seeked out her brother, and found him at the bar getting a new tray loaded with drinks. ‘The Casanovas? Here?’ Klaus asked as he picked up his tray of drinks. ‘That’s worrisome, no doubt.’ Violet agreed. ‘But then again, the only Casanova we should worry about is Felix. Who is nowhere to be seen, and that is even more worrisome.’ ‘Oh I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Violet. If you put two and two together, you might realize we’ve seen Felix already, just not as himself.’ Klaus replied. ‘You do remember his moniker?’ Klaus asked, using a word which here means ‘alias’ which in turn means ‘codename’. ‘ Il Camaleonte. The Chameleon.’ Violet uttered. Felix Casanova was a master of disguise, and had used this skill to perform several unfathomable acts of villainy, some of which not even in this story. ‘We’ll discuss it later. For now, let’s just do our job.’ Klaus said. The elder Baudelaire then catered to other passengers, and the whole party neared it’s end. While they were working, the Baudelaires failed to notice a group of four new passengers had left the Capricorn car together by way of the Sagittarius car. Soon, they were dismissed, and they decided to pay Desmond Fulfillment a visit to talk of their recent findings, unaware that fate had reserved for them a most fortuitous reunion. ‘Desmond, it’s us.’ Violet Baudelaire warned as she and Klaus entered the infirmary in the Scorpio car, after the party. They approached Desmond’s bed, and found a group of four people standing beside him. It took them a while to recognize the four of them, but when they did, they were very surprised. ‘H-How?!’ Was all Violet could bring herself to say, while Klaus was too surprised to even say anything. ‘It’s been a while, Baudelaires.’ Said the woman. And she was right. It was a long time ago that Violet and Klaus Baudelaire had seen Victoria and Ferdinand Fulfillment, but there they were, alive and whole, after so long. ‘A while, indeed.’ Said one of the other two new passengers, who the Baudelaires had missed so dearly. Lars Gabriel was there, hand in hand with Charles Boreas. They all looked the same, yet they were all so different. Victoria had dyed her hair black, and Ferdinand wore a thick handsome beard where he’d always kept a clean shave. Lars still had the distinctive scar on his face, but didn’t wear his trademark knit hat, and looked entirely different without it, his long hair now going salt-and-pepper. Charles looked unchanged, if only slightly thinner, but with the same kind face the Baudelaires admired. Klaus and Violet hugged each of them in turn, looking forward to hearing what had happened to them, and happy to have been reunited with those people. Ferdinand and Victoria had been their bosses, eccentric as any Fulfillment, but they were kind, and knowing they were alive was a welcome change for the Baudelaires. Meanwhile, reuniting with Lars and Charles was a great relief for the Baudelaires. Elizabeth Anwhistle had told them Lars and Charles were alive, yet they still worried, as both of them had performed great sacrifice to lure peril out of the Baudelaire’s way. It was a sweet reunion, an unexpected one, and one of the rare moments in which the Baudelaires could forget just how unfortunate they really were.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 1, 2012 18:53:14 GMT -5
Chapter Nine The best part – or, one of the best parts - about reuniting with a long lost friend is catching up on what has been going on in your friends’ life while they catch up with whatever has been going on in yours. This is specially true of friends you considered dead or missing, due to their not calling or writing to say how they are doing. In my line of work, if a friend does not contact you to tell you they are alive it’s because they’re probably not. If you’re a volunteer - and I hope, for your sake, that you are not - you will know what I am talking about. Lars and Charles told the Baudelaires about they were badly injured when they fell into the ocean with their parachutes. Falling from such heights into the water is not a painless experience, even if you have parachutes. ‘We were rescued by the kindly owner of the Briny Breezes Pub. She nursed us back to health, and eventually Charles and I returned to Anwhistle Aquatics, where we helped with the reconstruction of the station.’ Lars had told them. ‘Elizabeth was there, all banged up herself, but she still ordered everyone around.’ Lars smiled. He was Elizabeth Anwhistle’s most loyal friend and admirer, and it saddened him to hear about the events at the House of Red Leaves. ‘She’s alive. She can’t be dead. No, not that one. Elizabeth Anwhistle wouldn’t die that easily, that I know.’ That being said, Lars sat into a corner, looking into a picture of Elizabeth he always kept with himself, with Charles at his side, comforting the best he could. Then it was time to talk to Victoria and Ferdinand Fulfillment. ‘We didn’t die in that burning shack. When Esmé had Foreman Ferguson lock us there she had no idea, but there was a hidden corridor that began under that shack, and which led to a secret campsite in the Finite Forest, or what’s left of it.’ Victoria Fulfillment told the Baudelaires. ‘We escaped through that underground corridor, and made our way out of Paltryville with the help of a friend. He advised us to stay under the radar until he could contact our brother, but Desmond was out of the city then.’ Ferdinand said. ‘We couldn’t go back to the city, it was too dangerous. So with our friend’s help we moved around from place to place. Damocles Dock, the hinterlands, Tedia…We even hid ourselves in the Mortmain Mountains for a while.’ Victoria said. ‘After the dust settled we decided to move to Leamonde, to wait for an opportunity to reunite with Desmond and Cindry. We received word that Desmond would be aboard this train, and we thought it was time we were with our brother again.’ Sunny was on Victoria’s lap, and Beatrice, on Ferdinand’s. The 667er’s had returned with the younger Baudelaires. Audrey was changing some of Desmond’s bandages, and Violet and Klaus were able to catch up with the returned volunteers. ‘We wish we could have helped you, Baudelaires.’ Victoria told them. ‘We had to keep moving. They sent pursuers to find us. Everywhere we went eventually, those two would show up. Even in the Mortmain Mountains.’ Ferdinand said. ‘Who were they?’ Klaus asked. ‘A girl with triangular glasses and a man with hooks for hands.’ Victoria answered. ‘Until we reached Leamonde, they had been on pursuing us. After that, they never showed up again. I figure they couldn’t find Leamond on the map.’ Ferdinand said, convinced. ‘Don’t be a fool, Ferdinand.’ Desmond said a couple of beds away. ‘Those two had it in themselves to kill both of you. They were ordered to do so. If they had not been caught by Esmé, you could be dead.’ ‘What? I will not believe Fiona Widdershins would sink that low.’ Klaus said out loud. ‘Well, Klaus, she and Fernald have been attempting to do whatever they can to ensure that Captain Widdershins is released from his prison. He won’t be, but they wouldn’t know.’ Desmond replied. ‘Still…Fiona couldn’t kill anyone. Maybe Fernald, but not Fiona. Not her.’ Klaus still clung to the Fiona that he had nearly loved once, even if she had become an entirely different person. Not that Klaus knew then, but he would soon learn. ‘But why were they after you in the first place?’ Violet asked the Fulfillment siblings. It just did not make sense to her. Why would Fiona and Fernald chase Victoria and Ferdinand Fulfillment? Fiona and Fernald’s true goal was clear: to release their father. But who wanted Ferdinand and Victoria dead? ‘Us Fulfillments…A lot of people seem to want us dead nowadays.’ Desmond sat on his bed, so that Audrey could change his bandages more properly. ‘I have a feeling you’ll come to understand just why that is so very soon, Baudelaires. Sooner than you think. But I can’t tell you exactly, as I haven’t confirmed my suspicion. I may joke and kid around most of the time, but when it comes down to stuff like this, I like to confirm my suspicions first. I’m not a strike-first-ask-questions-later sort of man.’ Desmond said. ‘I understand. Still, it would be easier if would just tell us for once.’ Violet told him. ‘I know it would.’ Desmond said in a tone that suggested the conversation was over. He was being pretty adamant abount not opening up about his suspicions, and I must say, with good reason. ‘Why don’t Victoria and Ferdinand tell us then?’ Klaus asked. ‘I can’t speak for my brother, Klaus.’ Victoria told him. ‘Neithen can I. Like he said, you’ll understand, and very soon. We all have reason to suspect this train will never arrive at Ultima, like most think it will.’ ‘What?’ Violet did not see it coming, neither did Klaus, or any of the 667er’s. ‘What do you mean?’ Emma Squalor asked. Desmond looked at her. ‘We have reason to believe the train is loaded with explosives.’ The 667er’s were all very shocked, they weren’t expecting it at all. The Baudelaires were not so surprised. ‘We must do something about it then. We must get rid of the explosives.’ Violet rose from her seat. ‘Where do you believe the explosives are?’ She was already tying her hair up with her ribbon in her characteristic manner when Desmond stood, against all medical advice. ‘Whoa whoa whoa, Violet. This isn’t a case of inventing anything to save yourself or your siblings’ lives. These are explosives we are talking about. You maybe the cleverest young inventor I’ve ever heard of, but you’re not a bomb squad member. You could get yourself killed, or blow up the whole train.’ Violet stopped dead on her tracks. Desmond was right. Violet knew one or two things about bombs, and Klaus had read about explosives when he was interested in how explosions in action films were produced, but none of their skills could help them in dismantling a bomb. Bombs are tricky, dangerous mechanisms built for one reason only: to explode. For this, bomb engineers always came up with new exciting ways to trap any potential bomb dismantler. ‘What should we do then? Wait until this train blows up and die?’ Violet asked bitterly. ‘No. Like I’ve said, it’s only a suspicion.’ Desmond replied. ‘We are going to the Aries car. I believe there we will find answers to the question of there being explosives on this train. We still have some time before the Ethereal Express makes it’s last stop at Narshe, on the way to Ultima. We have until then to sort out this situation or get off the train.’ Desmond then turned to the other volunteers in the room. The 667er’s, Audrey, Lars, Charles, Victoria, and Ferdinand watched Desmond nervously. ‘We have until Narshe to rescue Cindry, sort out the bomb situation, and decide whether or not we get off the train. Whoever decides to get off the train will be able to do so. We won’t hold it against you.’ ‘But after we leave Narshe, whoever stays aboard the train will face the consequences. The train may or may not have explosives, and we may or may not arrive in Ultima, but I will not leave this train without my daughter.’ Desmond sat back on his bed. ‘Of that, my friends, you can all be certain.’
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Post by Dante on Feb 2, 2012 6:15:52 GMT -5
Read: Can't be certain...
Well, Tiago, you were certainly on a roll yesterday. I'm glad to have caught these two new chapters; things seem to be wrapping up a little bit, although only prior to being blown wide open again, no doubt. With every question answered, another is asked. I look forward to the next chapters.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 3, 2012 5:03:26 GMT -5
Chapter Ten Things had changed drastically aboard the Ethereal Express at least to those privy to V.F.D. affairs. The possibility of a bomb aboard the train was a bomb in itself. The volunteers were all gathered in the Scorpio car, brainstorming a plan with Desmond as it’s mastermind. Emma Squalor, Sherry Ann, Dante and Hermes had brought several supplies, and using the map of the Ethereal Express Violet had found, they tried to figure out the next course of action. ‘A recent addition was made to the cargo hold in the Aries car.’ Desmond said. ‘Violet, Klaus and Augusten claim to have seen Esmé Squalor talking to the crew member responsible for the loading of cargo. They couldn’t overhear much, as they arrived too late for that, but at least we know that she has something to do with that crate. We fear it might be the explosives.’ Desmond examined the map of the Ethereal Express. ‘We have to send someone in the Aries car to figure out what’s inside the crate, then.’ Ferdinand said. ‘Don’t rush it. It might be a trap.’ Was Victoria’s warning. ‘The Aries car itself may be guarded by paid-off crew men. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were.’ Said Emma Squalor. ‘If anyone should go check on the Aries car, I volunteer.’ Lars Gabriel said, stepping ahead. ‘We should hurry. Every minute brings us closer to Narshe.’ Augusten said. ‘That’s true. Has everyone considered the possibility of getting off the Ethereal Express?’ Desmond asked out loud. There was a moment of silence. Of course they had all considered, if only for a second, the possibility of getting off the train before they found out if there were explosives abord it the bad way. It could be read on all of their faces, but none of the volunteers dared speak. The Baudelaires, for an instance, would have given anything to just continue on journey to Ultima, but they couldn’t. None of them could. ‘Very well.’ Desmond said. ‘I want to go with Lars.’ Violet Baudelaire said, surprising everyone. ‘I’m not a bomb squad member, yet I might be able to help somehow. Please, Desmond.’ Desmond looked at Violet worryingly. He was clearly not pleased with the idea. ‘I can’t stop you, Violet. But as it happens, you might be right. Go with Lars, but be careful. Meanwhile, we will attempt to break into the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car to find Cindry, if she is in there. The younger ones will stay here. Augusten, you look out for any suspicious movement, and stay here with Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice.’ Desmond stood up despite his internal injuries, with the help of a walking cane. Audrey stood beside him, to support him. ‘We meet back here in the Scorpio car once we’re all done. If we find Cindry, we all get off at the next station and from there we’ll rent sleds and make way to Ultima and before you know it, we’ll all be safe. Godspeed, volunteers. The world is quiet here.’ Every volunteer in the room repeated those words, almost as a mantra – a word which here means a ‘chant’ to help them in their tasks – and each of them left the Scorpio car. The last ones to leave were Lars and Violet. Lars was putting on his coat, helped by Charles. Violet was excited, nervous and anxious at the same time. She did not know what to expect. Augusten came up to Violet. ‘You be careful, alright?’ Violet did not have the heart to outright reject his advances, but neither could she ignore them. Quigley was but a memory now. Yet she resisted the idea of giving up on him. But Augusten was there. It was all Violet could do but to let him hug her tightly. ‘I will be.’ She said. Violet turned to Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice. ‘I will be back in no time, I promise. In the meantime, promise me you’ll obey Augusten in my stead. If anything happens, don’t go around looking for me. I will come and find you.’ It did not please Violet at all to leave any of her siblings even for a moment. The promise she’d made to her parents to look after her younger siblings, and the promise she’d made to Kit Snicket were very important to her, yet fate had a way of pushing Violet to endanger herself and her siblings once more. ‘I’ll look after Sunny and Beatrice.’ Klaus told his sister. ‘You just make sure to return to us.’ Violet Baudelaire followed Lars Gabriel outside the Scorpio car, and when they stepped out, they noticed two things. First, the starry sky patterned covers that connected the thirteen cars of the Ethereal Express had been removed completely. The spaces between cars were now open, and the wind that blew as the train went was freezing. The second thing they noticed is that dawn was upon them. The sun rose in the east, coloring the sky in rich hues of gold, red and pink. The forest had strayed away from the railroad, and the train was going north on a vast plain of grassy hills. They were very far north now, as the Ethereal Express was a very fast train. Looking up at the sky, Violet felt something cold land on her cheek. A snowflake, and it melted with Violet’s heat, running down her face as a tear. More and more snowflakes floated by, and Violet Baudelaire was reminded of the last time she had seen snow. ‘What is it, Violet?’ Lars Gabriel asked as he rolled a scarf around his neck and put on his tradmark knit hat. ‘Nothing. This snow…It just brought back some memories.’ ‘Snow brings me back memories too.’ Lars replied. Lars was half-norwegian, and had lived a good deal of his life in Norway, a country in northern Europe. ‘It’s still autumn, but we’re so far north that winter seems to be arriving earlier. Now let’s go check out this Aries car. I want to see this crate for myself.’ Lars and Violet went in the Sagittarius car, and made their way across the many cars that separated them from the Aries car. But just as Lars and Violet reached the Gemini car, they were prevented from going any further. Because when they went inside the Gemini car, they witnessed a most interesting scene. ‘Well, well, well.’ Esmé Squalor said as she circled the two people sitting in a black and white couch in the middle of the hall. The Gemini car was like that, divided into two by a monochromatic, symmetric scheme. Half of the place was black, and half of it was white. The furniture on the black side was white weirwood, and the furniture on the white side was ebony, or possibly, boggly tree. Everything intersecting the black and white areas was black and white, only white in the black half of the room and black in the white half of the room. Mirrors with fancy wooden frames decorated the walls instead of paintings, and curtains of black and white velvet like those of a clothing store changing room hid the entrance doorways. It was a most peculiar room as it took the entire car, much like the Sagittarius and Capricorn cars. ‘Clever of you to book passage on the train under such an alias, but my friend here is a master of disguise, as you will recall.’ Esmé said to the two people sitting on the couch in the middle of the room. ‘If you thought you could escape discipline, you are even bigger fools than I presumed.’ Esmé wore a black and white dress as she circled the couch the duo was sitting on in the middle of the room.’ ‘It can’t be…’ Violet whimpered as she realized who were the two people sitting in the couch. The last time she had seen one of them, she was in similar predicaments – a word which here means ‘troubling circumstances’ – but the other one was nowhere to be found. ‘So, Winona D. Fiershids. Did you really think you could escape their judgement for very long?’ Esmé asked Fiona Widdershins, sitting in front of her. ‘We did everything they asked. We maimed. We killed. We caused the earthquakes they wanted. And still they won’t release our father! How long do we have to work for them? I can’t stand it anymore.’ Fiona bursted out crying. ‘Now don’t cry, Triangle Eyes. You’ll get your seawater tears on those triangular glasses of yours. That is not in.’ Esmé was delighted to see Fiona crumble. ‘Esmé. You can intervene with them on our behalf. Just give us our father.’ Fernald said. ‘What is so special about that old seawolf that you want him so?’ Esmé Squalor asked, every word covered in disdain. ‘And I can’t do a thing to help the both of you. More importantly, why would I go against them for you? Are you mad?’ Esmé asked. ‘Fernald, you were nothing to me back then and you are nothing still. Another insignificant mistake I made back when I was with Olaf.’ Peeking through a space in the curtain, Violet saw Natalie Finch had finally reunited with her brother Nathan, yet they were not even holding hands in their characteristic way. Instead, Nathan was much closer to Felix Casanova, and Carmelita Spats was sitting on an armchair in the white half of the room, looking as if she was terminally bored. ‘Your beloved seawolf of a father is right where he belongs. Along with many others, who dared defy them. You’ll be joining him soon enough, I can tell you that.’ Esmé told them. ‘What? After all we’ve done? You can’t be serious!’ Fernald protested. Violet and Lars heard the clinking noise of his hugs rubbing together. Fernald was tied up, or chained, to that couch, and so was Fiona beside him. ‘Oh, we’re dead serious, Fernald.’ Felix Casanova spoke. Beside Violet, Lars Gabriel was visibly enraged. In the past, Lars had a romance with Felix, and it ended when Felix’s father attempted to kill Lars and they watched in terror as the Great Unknown appeared and swallowed Felix into the deep. Even now seeing, or speaking of Felix left Lars with the most visceral reactions. But Lars was very good at controlling himself, and being with Charles had only improved him. Violet put her hand on Lars’ shoulder for comfort. ‘Your father is now working in the Great Gaol, shoveling coal into burning furnaces. A well deserved punishment for his treason.’ Felix said. ‘Fernald, you might be made to join him. Your sister on the other hand, might become handmaid to our female boss if she works hard enough. A girl has already achieved that honor!’ ‘I figure she’ll be replaced soon enough, no doubt.’ Fiona said. ‘Or aren’t you taking once Cindry Fulfillment to them, at their request?’ Esmé froze, and so did Felix. ‘It took me a while to figure out why that girl is so important, but oh, I know now. I should have figured it out earlier. Why would they send us to eliminate the girl’s father, uncle and aunt if not because she is…’ ‘Shut up!’ Esmé shouted. ‘Shut up about it! I will not have you speak of this! You are merely a catspaw, a henchgirl, and a failed one at that! You can’t possibly understand what Cindry is supposed to do, and you can’t possibly understand how!’ Esmé was now very aggravated. ‘Carmelita, Natalie, gag them. I will hear no more of their jibber jabber.’ Carmelita and Natalie promptly gagged both Fernald and Fiona with scarves. ‘Felix, I want you to later place them in the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car. I want you to keep a close eye on these two. Also, is Cindry alright?’ ‘The girl is sound asleep in her cabin at our car. Good idea of you to have those prison bars installed. She did try to break out but I put her out with a trancquilizer dart.’ Felix said. ‘Like a little zoo animal. Tee-hee!’ Carmelita Spats shouted. Ignoring Carmelita, Esmé turned to Felix. ‘That’s very good. We must ensure she arrives unharmed, and we’d have no alternative but to harm her if she would try to escape again! Oh, how in it would be!’ Esmé laughed in her characteristic devilish manner. ‘But alas, we can’t punish the girl for what they put us through, not if we don’t want to end up shoveling coal as well.’ ‘Darling, they wouldn’t dream of having us shoveling coal. They are in your debt, for bringing them Cindry. By extension, we are all in your debt, Esmé, and you are in our debt, and they are also in our debt as well.’ Felix said. Esmé frowned at the idea of being in debt with her cohorts, though. ‘I wouldn’t say I owe you anything Felix. Don’t be foolish.’ Esmé said, caressing Felix’s face. ‘Did you hear?’ Esmé whirled away from Felix before he could do or say anything. ‘Your brother and sisters are aboard the train.’ Felix’s face might as well have been sculpted in marble, because he showed no reaction. ‘What of it? They are no longer my family. My family is you, beautiful Esmé, and lovely Nathan, and sweet Natalie.’ The look on Natalie’s face was of sheer disgust, but Nathan looked at Felix with admiration. Carmelita eyed Felix eagerly, but he didn’t mention her, and she quickly became grumpy. Esmé wasn’t too thrilled either, as she was disgusted by the very word family. ‘Well, if everything goes well, you can have our employers to have your brother and sisters shoveling coal as well.’ Esmé suggested. ‘Carlo can spend the rest of his days in the furnaces, and Carlotta would serve us better as combustible, but Caterina must not be harmed. She is the only one of them that is worthy of being called my sister.’ Felix’s callousness and sheer evil had disgusted Lars too much for him to stay; he left the Gemini car, and Violet had no choice but to follow him. ‘I can’t believe I once loved that man.’ Lars said as he and Violet made way to the Scorpio car. She did not know what to say, and stayed silent. When they opened the doors to the Scorpio car, they found Klaus, Sunny and Beatrice asleep while Augusten organized some papers. One of the curtains was closed, the same that hid the bed where the shrouded man had been before. ‘Oh, that man, he came back. Needed to change his bandages, and Audrey is helping him.’ Soon Audrey opened up the curtain, and the man was there, with his white hood keeping the upper half of his face a secret. The burn scars were visible, and Violet did her best to not stare. ‘Audrey, is he well?’ Violet asked Audrey as she walked by carrying the load of used bandages. ‘Well, he will be, eventually. I’ve given him some sleeping medicine, and something for the pain. That poor man suffered grievous burns, you see. He still suffers, and yet he does not complain. I remember the burn patients at the Asylum, after the fire. They couldn’t be moved to another hospital, and had to be treated there.’ After knowing the man to be asleep, Violet could finally tell Augusten and Klaus – who she had woken up – to tell what she and Lars had seen in the Gemini car. ‘Great Gaol?’ Klaus asked. ‘What on earth is that?’ Violet shrugged. ‘I don’t know. But apparently that’s where Captain Widdershins is being kept. I think it means the Great Gaol is another name for the Great Unknown.’ ‘Fitting.’ Augusten said, straightening his dark glasse, of a purple coloration. Violet noticed he had painted his nails purple as well. ‘ Gaol is the same as prison. I guess the Great Unknown can be considered a prison.’ Violet was not so sure. ‘If it is a prison, it’s a bad one, to have let the likes of Felix Casanova to break free.’ After that, no one said another word about it. All that was left was to wait for Desmond Fulfillment’s return, along with his brother and sister. The 667er’s were nowhere to be seen as well, so they Baudelaires assumed they must have joined Desmond in his attempt to break into the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car. Violet would have gone after them to inform them that Cindry was being kept there, but Lars convinced her otherwise. If Desmond and the rest broke into the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car they would find Cindry anyway. The minutes passed, and soon, Margot appeared, coming from the Sagittarius car. ‘We arrive at Narshe in twenty minutes. Where is everyone else?’ She asked as Desmond, Victoria, Ferdinand and the 667er’s were still absent. ‘Yes. Where are they?’
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Post by Dante on Feb 3, 2012 6:08:09 GMT -5
You've done a fantastic job injecting a sense of mystery into scenes like this, Tiago. I've no idea where this is going. It feels faintly like something supernatural is about to irrupt, which was the sense I started to get with the sugar bowl in canon. There isn't much left for this story; our heroes don't have much time left, either. Also, it suddenly occurred to me to link the thirteenth sign to the Great Unknown:
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 3, 2012 7:46:30 GMT -5
Chapter Eleven ‘That can’t be!’ Margot was very distressed to hear of Desmond’s plan. ‘Why wasn’t I told of this? This is madness! We don’t know what traps were laid in this train!’ Margot paced around nervously in the aisle of the Scorpio car. She removed a pack of cigarrettes, nervously, from her pocket and a lighter. Lighting up a cigarrette, she started chain-smoking them. ‘Calm down, Margot. Desmond is a sensible man when he has to be.’ Audrey said, trying to get Margot to stop overreacting. ‘I trust him. You should trust him as well.’ ‘I’m sorry, Audrey, but Desmond was always a bit of a flake, ever since training school. You didn’t know him then, but I did. He made the worst decisions and got terrible grades in Strategy and Planning class. Before you know it, he’ll get us all killed!’ Audrey then did something very unlike her; a slap across Margot’s face, knocking the cigarrette off Margot’s lips. ‘Don’t ever say another bad word about Desmond again. He’s had to suffer more hardship in his life than mine and yours lives put together. Don’t you dare disrespect him, Margot.’ Margot was very disturbed, and couldn’t say anything for a long time after that. The Baudelaires had little comfort to offer her. They greatly admired Desmond Fulfillment, despite his sometimes too playful demeanor, and his daughter Cindry was a dear friend, and Klaus’ beloved, despite her obsession with breaking dishes, which had seemed to wane lately. ‘We’re not far from Narshe now.’ Lars Gabriel said, looking out the window. ‘I can already see the smoke from the chimneys and the mines. We don’t have much time left.’ Lars put on his knit hat and rolled his scarf around his neck. ‘I’m going after Desmond.’ ‘Well, I’m going with you as well.’ Charles said, rising from his seat. Charles had never been the bravest of men before, but he had certainly gotten braver since being with Lars and jumping off a zeppelin with him. It was then that the 667er’s appeared. Dante, Sherry Ann, Hermes and Emma Squalor came in through the door. ‘Where is Desmond? What happened at the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car?’ were the questions that Violet, Augusten, Klaus, Sunny, Beatrice, Audrey and Margot threw at them. ‘He stayed behind. He found Cindry.’ Emma Squalor told them. ‘Ferdinand and Victoria are trying to help him get her out.’ ‘We have to go help them, then.’ Klaus said. ‘No, they told us to stay here in case Esmé Squalor and her cohorts come this way. They’ve relocated to the Gemini car for the time being, but I expect they’ll be moving back into the Ophiuchus car once we hit Narshe.’ Dante said. ‘Also, we’re getting off the train at Narshe, if that’s alright. We’ll try to go to Ultima later.’ ‘That’s alright I guess.’ Audrey said. ‘The 667er’s are not trained for circumstances like this. It’s only right for them to leave the train before whatever disaster is reserved to us happens. I do wish it wouldn’t have come to this, but there’s not much I can do.’ ‘We would like to stay. But we won’t be able to help other volunteers through our line of work if we stay on the train.’ Emma Squalor said. The 667er’s were researchers, scholars, volunteers who stayed behind the stage, assembling documents, sending letters and such. Their job was not at the frontlines, like the rest. ‘We have to go to our cabins to prepare. We’ll be getting off the train after that.’ Dante told them. After the Baudelaires had said their goodbyes, the 667e’rs left the Scorpio car to their respective cabins in the Virgo and Leo cars. After they left, the conversation resumed. ‘After Narshe it’s a quick journey to the Despair Bay Bridge.’ Augusten said, looking at the map. ‘ Baie Desesperée, it is called in the local language. After that, it’s a still a long journey to Ultima. If anything should happen, I would expect it to be then.’ ‘I’ve been to Despair Bay before.’ Lars said. ‘Elizabeth took me with her there once, on her submarine, the Davy Jones.’ ‘Look, we’re very near Narshe now. We should best prepare.’ Sherry Ann said as she looked out the window. The snow was falling constantly now, and all notion of autumn seemed to be gone prematurely from those lands. ‘Winter is coming early this year.’ Augusten Burton said. In the distance, Narshe was a city stuck between two mountainsides, and it crept up the mountain inside that crevice. Several houses had been built on the stony walls of the mountain and a network of walkways had been raised to support it all. The chimneys of the houses and the mines let out clouds of steam and smoke. It seemed a harsh place to live in, making the volunteers wonder how harsher was Ultima in comparison. It had been described as a lovely wintry town and as a safe haven, but the overall oppressive and cold atmosphere was too foreboding. ‘I hope you all packed for this weather. It’s going to be really cold soon.’ Margot said, breaking her silence. No one responded to her comment, as it seemed that Margot was talking more to herself than to anyone else. ‘Margot, where are your brothers?’ Audrey Addams asked. ‘Oh, didn’t you hear?’ Margot said. ‘They left the train, back in Timber. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn’t listen.’ ‘Did they know…’ Audrey needed not to finish her sentence, and Margot needed not answer. She only looked at the other volunteers, and they knew. ‘Well. Your brothers will get their comeuppance soon enough.’ Desmond Fulfillment said as he walked in, surprising them all. Victoria and Ferdinand were behind them. ‘Me and my siblings here found Cindry. But we couldn’t remove her from the Ophiuchus car.’ Desmond told them. ‘Margot’s brothers were helping Esmé Squalor all along, weren’t they, Margot?’ The question was too unexpected, at least by some. ‘They sure played their parts well.’ Desmond said. He sat down, defeated. The train whistle was heard; the Ethereal Express was slowing; outside they could see the people of the Narshe train station. ‘I don’t understand. What is happening?’ Charles asked. ‘What is happening…’ A too familiar voice was heard. On the opposite end of the room, Esmé Squalor and her cohorts could be seen, entering the Scorpio car. ‘Is this.’ Esmé and each of her cohorts all raised guns at the volunteers, and the Baudelaires’ journey aboard the Ethereal Express took another turn for the worse.
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Post by Dante on Feb 3, 2012 8:40:15 GMT -5
Actual guns and not harpoon guns or something silly like that? Wow, this just got serious. And there are only two chapters left! I like your description of Narshe; it's good that you've put some thought into all the stops on the way to help build a picture of the area. That's something that would've interested us back when we were trying to draw maps of the canon areas. Do you have a map of the geography of your series, Tiago?
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 3, 2012 8:43:37 GMT -5
@dante: Thank you for the much apreciated praise and comments, Dante. Well, I have a map of the ASoUE/YASoUE world (I am no longer able to separate the two, YASoUE has become my head canon as far as ASoUE is concerned), but I don't have a finished, artsy version of it scanned. It's mostly just a bunch of sketches which I have yet to turn into something worth showing anyone. XD But it will happen.
Also, I'm about to post Chapter Twelve and Chapter Thirteen. You might want to check them out.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 3, 2012 8:45:50 GMT -5
Chapter Twelve Soon after all the volunteers had been made to install themselves in the Ophiuchus car, while the Ethereal Express remained at the Narshe train station, their belongings were also searched, and it’s my sad duty to tell you, dear reader, that it didn’t take our villains long to find what they were looking for. Violet, Klaus, Sunny, Beatrice, Desmond, Victoria, Ferdinand, Audrey, Augusten, Lars, Charles, and Margot had to watch in disgust as Felix Casanova opened Violet Baudelaires’ suitcase and watch as the most devilish smile appeared on his face. ‘Esmé, darling.’ Felix said as he grabbed the sugarbowl. ‘I found you a present!’ He said, putting the sugarbowl into Esmé’s hands. Esmé had changed into a new dress, this one a red monstrosity decorated with a pattern of spiderwebs weaved with black onyx. Esmé’s own hair was a tangled mess, much like a cobweb, and worst of all, scattered throughout her clothes were toy spiders, which were very reallistic, unfortunately making the little Beatrice cry. Only a villainess like Esmé would have worn such a revolting dress. ‘Thank you, darling.’ Esmé caressed the sugarbowl with red-nailed hands – which in turn were also decorated with black spiderweb patterns – rejoicing in the moment of her triumph. ‘How sweet. I weaved a web and caught thirteen insects.’ She said, refering to the volunteers. They were all trapped, tied in silvery ropes to fancy chairs in the Ultra Deluxe V.I.P. car, which was the Ophiuchus car of the Ethereal Express. The ropes were very much like spiderweb, and all of the volunteers did really feel like insects, caught in the web of a hungry evil spider queen, with minor devil spider spawn to feast upon them. The Ethereal Express’s whistle was heard, and the train began it’s departure from Narshe. It’s my unfortunate duty to inform you that that was the last time anyone saw that train – whole, at least – and that a great disaster was in it’s immediate future. As the train slowly began to move, Esmé paraded in front of all the volunteers laughing and whirling and prancing around with the sugarbowl in her hands. It was her way of flaunting her victory to them. ‘ Finally. I’ve accomplished my mission. I have the bowl, the girl, and the father to boot. Boy, won’t she be pleased.’ Esmé said directing herself at Felix but looking at Desmond. She put the bowl in Felix’s hands and then sat on Desmond’s lap. His hands were tied and he was gagged, like everyone else, so he couldn’t say a word. Esmé ran her arms around Desmond’s neck in what could be interpreted as a hug, but was more of a provocation. Esmé planted a kiss on Desmond’s cheek, leaving a dark red lipstick imprint of her lips on him. ‘Oh, Dezzy. Don’t be like that. You must miss her, don’t you? She doesn’t miss you, of course, but why would anyone?’ Upon hearing this, Audrey stirred in her chair, enraged. ‘Oh, you would, wouln’t you?’ Esmé moved her attention to Audrey. ‘Lonely Doctor Audrey in her loony bin taking care of the loonies. My, what a pathetic excuse for a woman you are. Desmond here could use a real woman like me, couldn’t he? Of course, that being said, I’m way too much for him.’ Esmé cackled. She was enjoying herself, that much was true. Audrey would have jumped at Esmé if she could. ‘And here we have my former employers, back when I was Laverne. Ferdinand and Victoria. Brother and sister. Idiot and idioter.’ Esmé said. ‘I should have made sure you both died in that shack, but Felix here forgot to tell me there was a hatch to a damn secret corridor in that stupid shack.’ Esmé eyed Felix furiously. ‘It wasn’t my fault.’ Felix said in an uncharacteristic vulnerable manner. ‘But of course it was your fault. Our employers were specific: all the Fulfillments were to be killed. Of course, eventually, I learned that they didn’t die in that fire and I had Triangle Eyes and Hooky go after them.’ Fiona and Fernald said nothing, as they were standing between Carmelita Spats, the Finch siblings and Felix. They were not tied down anymore, and apparently had struck a deal of some sort with Esmé, because she had readmitted them into her service. Fiona dared not look at the Baudelaires, eyeing the floor. Fernald, on the other hand, watched Esmé’s every movement with a mix of anger and fascination on his expression. The child cohorts of Esmé, Carmelita and the Finches, were notably aprehensive about the whole situation. They were so because they knew exactly what was going to happen very soon to the Ethereal Express, and with good reason. ‘But how would I know they would hide in Leamonde of all places? Well, it doesn’t matter. It all worked out in the end.’ Esmé then turned her attention to Lars Gabriel. ‘Oh, Felix. Aren’t you glad we caught his one? Having him here must bring back some memories!’ Esmé said to Felix. ‘When we find Elizabeth’s burnt corpse I’ll send you a piece to keep for a memento, alright?’ Lars stirred on his chair. He would have struck Esmé he was so enraged. ‘And in time, we’ll finish Anwhistle Aquatics too, once and for all.’ Esmé then looked at Charles. ‘Oh, this one. The Boreas sisters sure did put up a fight, didn’t they? Your lovely cousins. Little good did it do them.’ Esmé moved her wheel of torture, and turned her attention to Augusten Burton. ‘Oh, Augusten. How said you must be for your grandmother. Well, worry not. If our employers have any sense they’ll have you meet her in no time.’ She then looked at Margot. ‘And this one. All this time planning this voyage only to have her brothers betray all of you. They had the good sense to see just how much power we’ll soon be commanding, and they realized it’s pointless to fight. With this, we will rule the world.’ Esmé lifted the sugarbowl almost in adoration, her eyes glinting with malice. ‘And last but not least. My dear, dear Baudelaires.’ Esmé said in a tone which left no doubt as to whether or not the Baudelaires were dear to her. ‘If you’d kept yourselves out of my way like I’ve said, you might even have been spared. You might not even have been on this train. But no, let’s stop Esmé and her evil schemes. Let’s keep her from doing her job. Let’s be a constant jagged rock inside her shoes cutting at her feet. Let’s pester her, annoy her, persecute her.’ Esmé said with increading anger. ‘I’ve warned you multiple times, but no, you wouldn’t listen to reason. You and your honor. Your mother had honor too and it didn’t stop her from stealing everything from me when she had the chance.’ If the Baudelaires didn’t know any better they would have thought Esmé was about to cry. The Ethereal Express now wasn’t that much further from Despair Bay, which was a grim, foggy place where a bridge crossed a deep gorge that led straight into the ocean down below, which was deep, dark and cold. Despair Bay was not named lightly. By now you must have guessed, dear reader, if you know how unfortunate the Baudelaires’ tales are, that the imminent disaster is not very far away. But for now, let us concentrate on the events inside the Ophiuchus car. Because it won’t be long now, and the Baudelaire’s journey was at it’s end. Chapter Thirteen When they had entered, hands tied and gagged, the Baudelaire orphans expected to see Cindry somewhere, bound and gagged as well, but the reality of it was that much more dreadful. Cindry was floating inside a container, in he midst of a bubbling greenish blue liquid, dressed in a strange body suit very similar to the ones that Fiona and Fernald had on back a Jupiter Island. Her blonde hair shimmered in the water – was it water? There was no way of knowing – and she breathed through a strange series of tubes connected to a mask-like object on her face. The container in which Cindry floated was atop a white metallic structure connected to a computer of sorts. The strange symbol of question mark-and-eye was printed on the front, and the word ‘STASIS’ could be read under it. It was dreadful, and the Baudelaires were horrified to see their friend like that, like a fish in a tank. ‘Beatrice was my sister.’ Esmé admitted. ‘We loved each other deeply. She was all I had in the world. And yet she betrayed me…’ Esmé held her hands close to her chest. The Baudelaires watched, divided between amazement and bewilderment as Esmé began to cry, her mascara beginning to run down her face. ‘Yes. She stole everything. She stole the sugarbowl. She even stole your father from me.’ ‘Yes. Bertrand was mine first.’ Esmé Squalor said to the Baudelaires, who were frozen to their seats. ‘If everything had gone as it should have…If the others hadn’t been so stubborn, if they had seen the power we could all have…Your father and I could have still been together.’ ‘My name should be Esmé Gigi Geniveve Baudelaire. I deserved it. I should have been your mother! Not her!’ Esmé shouted at Violet, Klaus and Sunny. Not little Beatrice, as she was not really a Baudelaire in the strictest sense. ‘But that’s alright. Now I shall have power. The power to rule the world.’ Esmé then looked at Felix. ‘Is it time?’ She asked. Felix Casanova looked out the window. The Ethereal Express was now approaching the Despair Bay Bridge. ‘Yes.’ ‘You better brace yourselves. Things are about to get… wet.’ Saying this, Esmé approached the fireplace. She opened the clock that sit above it, and everyone saw a big red button. Esmé pushed it, and a series of things happened. The Ethereal Express was a very fast train. It wasn’t called an Express for nothing. With only three stops in it’s schedule, and it’s powerful locomotive, the train was very much able to go from the city to Ultima in a day. If the world was a good place, and if the Baudelaires were not so unfortunate, they might have been able to enjoy their journey north, as the train was very comfortable, even if it was too excessive with it’s luxury. If the world was a better place, then the Despair Bay Bridge wouldn’t have exploded like did minutes before the Ethereal Express began crossing it. The bridge fell burning into the deep, dark waters of the bay below. A similar thing was happening with the Express; the connection between the Ophiuchus car exploded, breaking that car free from the rest of the train. Similar bombs had been placed between every other car of the train, and they all exploded. The train derailed, and several cars exploded and burned, but not the front of the train. The Ophiuchus car, the coffin car, the tender and the locomotive followed the train’s course as if nothing was happening. I will never know what happened to most of the passengers of that train, except for those who did survive. I will never know what it must have been like for the Baudelaires, even though I did learn what happened, the things Esmé said and all. I will never know what went through their heads, but as the front cars of the Ethereal Express train plummeted from the high cliffs of Despair Bay into the ocean, and as the car fell, several of the volunteers kept inside could see an enormous shadow appear in the ocean below. That shadow was in the shape of a question mark. When the cars and the locomotive finally hit the water, the world became a cold, grim, heavy darkness, and the Baudelaires thought they would never see the light again. As the Ethereal Express sunk into the darkness, it sunk into an even deeper sort of darkness, and for what seemed like an eternity, ther was only darkness in the world for the unfortunate Baudelaire orphans. But even in their utter misfortune, I do have to remind you, my dear reader, that this is not the last we have seen of them. Not by a long shot.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 3, 2012 8:48:16 GMT -5
EXTRA If you have read The Tragic Train, I hereby grant you the title of
Perilous Passenger
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Post by Dante on Feb 3, 2012 13:29:56 GMT -5
I don't normally capitalise exclamations, but I'm tempted to in this instance, because wow. That was a lot more intense than I was expecting. What a way to travel - blow up a train, fall in the ocean in a sealed car, and get eaten by a submarine. I was wondering if there'd be some supernatural involvement, but maybe I should've turned my thoughts in the direction of technology, judging by Cindry's imprisonment. What on Earth is her secret? Does she even know it herself? Nice touch, though, with the thirteen captives; I should've thought to count them... and I'd like to see that map sometime, too. Onwards, to TRR!
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