The Time Sphere

by A. E. Albert

  Billy looked at Dickens with a smirk. “So you guys do have people trying to bring in food and stuff?”

  “Young man, the British came here in order to instigate a rebellion between the Huguenots and the French king. We may have gotten food and supplies in the past from the British, but that was in order to gain the city’s cooperation. La Rochelle has no true allies, for both sides are willing to sacrifice us for their own political gain.”

  “Dear, they are trying,” said Madeleine with a hopeful smile.

  “Trying! Delegates from the town went begging to the king to spare us. He was about to grant their wish when they thought once again the British could save us. They turned their backs on the king and the British navy attempted to break through the blockade, but they have failed! Now you have seen the king’s fury and the cannons fall upon the city as our punishment,” her husband passionately replied.

  Madeleine put her hand on Maurice’s cheek and in a low and excited voice she said, “Maurice, I have heard whispers of a cease fire among the townsfolk. It is said that the British are going into negotiations with the French over our surrender.”

  “What? Like the last time? I doubt the king will even believe them, but I pray he does. This siege has lasted for over a year. It is now the year 1628 and we cannot live through much more,” he stated wearily, not allowing himself to hope.

  “When is this supposed to happen?” asked Dickens, with urgency in his voice.

  “I heard within the next few days. A small group representing the town will meet with a British contingent and discuss our surrender to the French,” Madeleine replied, as she stared at the older man in front of her. “Why? Do you have something to do with this?”

  “No, my lady, we are but wanderers who have strayed down the wrong path,” Dickens cryptically replied.

  “I do not understand how you have come to be here and why?” The woman’s suspicious tone was returning.

  “I cannot say, but I will tell your family this. The siege is going to end soon. Please trust me. Allow me and my wards to stay here and we will be gone in a few days.”

  Madeleine looked to her husband. “I, I, do not see how that will be possible. There is no food…” the woman stammered, unable to finish, just gazing at Dickens and shaking her head.

  Dickens rose from the table and went to retrieve his large overcoat. As he sat back down, he pulled out six apples and placed them on the table. “Will this be payment enough?”

  Madeleine’s eyes widened and said nothing as she took the bounty and walked quickly to her small makeshift kitchen.

  Maurice let out a loud belly laugh. “Well, I guess that means you can stay!”

  The tiny group settled in for the night in one of the empty bedrooms on the second floor of the Merriot’s home. Dickens, Billy and Jeanie made beds out of old grain sacks, piled high on top of each other. Madeleine gave them thin course blankets for the night.

  As he lay on the hard wooden floor, Billy stared out into the black, his mind going over the day’s events. He understood that glint in Dickens eyes well enough by now and knew that the wily old man knew something he wasn’t sharing with him and Jeanie. It had been a long and tiring day, but Billy knew he wasn’t going to get to sleep without any answers.

  He twisted his body to face Dickens and put his head in his hand, which he propped up with his elbow. “Ok, Dickens, so what are we doing here? I know you’ve figured something out,” Billy whispered loudly in an accusatory tone.

  “What do you mean?” mumbled the old man. His eyes were closed and he was obviously trying to go to sleep.

  “What do you mean what do I mean? I saw that look in your eyes upstairs. You know something. So if we’re meant to be here like the other places, I want to know why!”

  “Me too, Dickens; this place scares me,” Jeanie added in a small voice.

  “This time it’s just going to take longer to figure things out, that’s all,” he replied in a sleepy voice.

  Dickens lack of concern was the tip of the iceberg for Billy. “I think we need to just leave. Actually, right now!”

  Billy threw his covers back and stood up. Dickens response was to turn on his side and resume trying to get some sleep.

  Billy gazed down at him with disbelief. “I don’t believe you. We’re in the middle of two armies fighting over the town we happen to be in.” Silence was Dickens only reaction. “This is crazy, Dickens! What about me and Jeanie? Don’t you care what happens to us?”

  Dickens sat up and eyed the enraged young man before him, his white hair sticking up. “Yes, I care, Mr. Townsend! I see you have learned nothing of patience and faith. That skirmish today is not going to repeat itself. We have come here at the end of the siege and have been presented with a golden opportunity to leave with the town delegates when they discuss the terms of surrender. I would say that events are working in our favor and yet you persist in your defiance. You said it yourself Billy, perhaps our interference in the streams is the natural order of time. So stop whining and let the next few days unfold themselves!”

  With a huff Dickens lay back down. He turned to his side and threw his blankets over his head. Billy just stood there staring at the ornery little man. After a moment, he laid himself back down. Dickens was already snoring beside him.

  It was the unknown that frightened Billy. For the first time, they had no idea why they were in a place and with no one to help them get home. He turned to look at Jeanie who was breathing softly in her sleep.

  Billy’s whole life up to this point had been one misadventure after the other in the realms of the unknown. He closed his eyes. Faith had saved them in Pisa, he thought. Quietly, he decided to purpose himself and choose to once again blindly trust and follow this road that had been laid out before him.

  Chapter 30

  The next morning, everyone partook of a meager breakfast consisting of the tough leather soup and small slices of apple. Billy noticed Madeleine repeatedly giving her guests questionable stares, apparently still curious about their abrupt arrival in La Rochelle. Maurice, on the other hand, was so visibly elated watching his two children feast on authentic food, he couldn’t have cared less where the strangers came from.

  As Madeleine was tidying their small eating space and Maurice jostled his laughing children on his knees, Billy, Dickens and Jeanie set out to into the town of La Rochelle in search of answers.

  As they made their way through the streets, Billy noticed, for the first time, garbage littering the stone roads and the gutters. They were also getting much more attention from the townspeople than yesterday. Billy guessed it had more to do with their full and healthy faces than their sudden appearance into the fold.

  Dickens approached several of the townsfolk inquiring who the mayor was. Many just ignored his questions and rudely stared at him. Finally, it was discovered that the mayor was a man by the name of Jean Guiton. After getting directions to his home, they discreetly made their way there.

  As the trio stood in front of the house, Jeanie shook her head and said, “Wait, we can’t just walk in there. Look how Madeleine treated us. They’ll probably arrest us or something.”

  “Hmmm, you may be right, Jeanie,” said Dickens stopping to think. “Not to worry, I have an idea.” Dickens then boldly approached the front door and knocked loudly.

  Suddenly the door opened, revealing a tall, dark haired man standing at the threshold. His brown eyes widened in alarm, darting to each of the strangers before him. “Who are you?” he asked in an apprehensive voice.

  Dickens gave the man a sweeping bow. “Good day to you, sir, allow me to introduce myself. I am Monsieur Dickens and these are my two companions, Billy and Jeanie.”

  A scowl etched itself across the man’s features. “How have you come to be here? You sound British. Did they send you? We are not supposed to meet with you until dawn tomorrow at the front gate of the wall.”

  “We discreetly entered the walls. We were hoping to plan a meeting with the Fre
nch on the morrow. May we please speak with Mayor Guiton?”

  Dickens genteel manner was having no luck with the suspicious Frenchman. “Mayor Guiton is busy with real concerns, like saving the people of this town or what is left of them. I am his advisor, Bernarde Lapierre, and I do not see why he would speak to the likes of you, especially now that the king has all but won!” His voice was filled with anger and disgust.

  “Now, go back to where you came from. There is nothing to further plan. We will surrender tomorrow and the king shall have La Rochelle. I wish for no further dealings with your country.” The man then slammed the door in their faces.

  Dickens turned from the door with a smile upon his face and he walked down the front steps.

  “What are you smiling about? That guy was rude!” Billy hotly whispered, still staring at the firmly closed door behind them.

  “Perhaps, but he also gave us the information we needed.” Billy and Jeanie gave Dickens perplexed stares. “We now know when the delegates are meeting the British soldiers and where we’re going to rendezvous with them.”

  “Oh right! Then we just walk out of here with them. Ya, they’ll probably give us their horses to use too!” Billy replied sarcastically.

  Dickens rolled his eyes. “Very funny, Billy. They think I’m a British mediator, and will most likely allow us to leave with them.”

  “But what happens when we get there and the British see we’re not one of them,” countered Billy.

  “They might think we’re spies or something,” added Jeanie.

  “We’re just going to have risk it, aren’t we.” Dickens smiled as he began walking away.

  However, as the group began their trek back to the Merriot’s, a crowd had gathered at the end of the short street. The masses stood still and just stared at the travelers. Their previous tired and dead expressions were now replaced with rage. As the mob began to move closer, Billy, Jeanie and Dickens instinctively moved slowly backward.

  “What? Did you think my kind reception would be the only one you would receive in our fair city?”

  Billy whipped his head around in the direction of the sneering voice. There stood Bernarde Lapierre, a smirk upon is gaunt face. His features rapidly contorted themselves into a mask of suspicion. “Who are you really?”

  Dickens continued to watch the crowd, but only spoke to Bernarde. “Does it matter? We’re not citizens of La Rochelle,” he said in a tight and strained voice.

  “No, you are not! So why are you here?”

  For the first time, Billy saw Dickens at a loss for words. As his mind frantically tried to figure a way out of this one, a voice erupted from the crowd. “That girl gave my son an apple!” she yelled. Well, you’d think she’d at least be grateful, Billy thought.

  “But we don’t have anything!” yelled Jeanie, as she clutched Dickens’ arm.

  At hearing these words, the mob began to again creep forward. Billy noticed some people holding wooden beams or poker sticks as weapons. He wondered if they could make a run for it. They could probably out run them, but what about Maurice’s family? They would only lead the mob there.

  Bernarde snickered at the woman’s accusation. “You thought you could bring your meaty bones in here and get away with it? I shall enjoy watching one from your land get what is coming to them.”

  “Oh, the British were good enough when they could help you!” yelled Billy. He had enough of the bitter man’s remarks.

  “I have long since learned that no one is on our side. Now we will dispense some justice for the loss of our loved ones.”

  As Dickens held out his cane, warding off the delirious townspeople, he yelled to them, “Wait! We have come with news!”

  “News! We keep hearing of ‘news’, but nothing comes of it!” replied a masculine voice from within the mob.

  “No, we have come bearing good news. The siege is going to end in a matter of days,” announced Dickens.

  “How do you know this?” another citizen called out.

  “Listen to my voice! I am not one of you! You have never seen me before! Do you actually think we would come here without reason?” beseeched Dickens, causing a murmur to move throughout the crowd.

  “Please, the siege will end when the British enters into negotiations. You all have endured great pain and loss. Do not add blood on your hands so near the end.” He then added with sincerity, “If we had anything to give you, we would.”

  “Ya, I ate a bowl of shoe soup today!” yelled Billy, only to receive a stern look from Dickens that said he wasn’t helping.

  “Our food is no longer in our possession. If you hurt us, it will be for naught. Your children have died because of this siege. Do you wish to see more die?” he implored, gesturing to Billy and Jeanie.

  At Dickens last words, Billy could see a change in their eyes. They began to lower their weapons, their expressions of violence deflating. As the crowd began to disperse, the travelers quickly stole down a narrow lane in the opposite direction. Billy turned back to look at Bernarde, only to find his cold and black gaze meeting his.

  After dinner that evening, the group sat around the heating stove. Maurice entertained everyone with stories of French folklore and songs. Even Madeleine laughed and participated in the frivolity. The couple had not questioned the travelers since the previous evening. Madeleine seemed to know, on some level, that their guests’ business was not to be discussed. Billy was just glad to know that these kind people’s struggles were near the end.

  As he watched little Gabrielle bounce on Jeanie’s lap, his thoughts wandered to Sandy and Joe from Pine St. They used every means they had to give him and the other boys the best life they could. He couldn’t count how many times he complained about having to eat fruit every day or follow strict healthy meal plans. The truth was, prior to his travels, he didn’t know what it was like to feel real hunger. His house was used and worn, but it was also warm and comfortable.

  He began to feel more than a little guilty watching this family eat something as simple as apples and feel like they had just eaten a feast. Billy didn’t think his stomach would ever recover from eating the tough leather soup, but he did know that he would be more appreciative for what he had from now on.

  Chapter 31

  The next morning, the group thanked Maurice and his family for their generous hospitality. They set out into the early dawn to meet with the delegates at the gate in the town wall. As the sun peeked over the horizon, Billy could see a small band of men on horseback approaching. A tall man wearing a large brimmed hat stopped before them.

  “Why are you still here?” Bernarde demanded in a flat tone.

  Dickens just smiled congenially up at the rude man. “We thought to accompany you, and I did not want my British comrades to think you less than hospitable to us,” he said with a cunning smile.

  Bernarde narrowed his eyes at the old man. “Then you had better stay close to us, for I am looking forward to your reunification with them,” he replied with his own crafty smile.

  He gave Dickens a dark glare as he continued on through the gate, with Dickens, Billy and Jeanie quickly following on foot.

  As they walked down the stone path, the group could see the large French army camp spread endlessly outward. There were soldiers everywhere. Many were polishing their swords or pistols. Flags of every size were waving in the wind and a multitude of tents dotted the fields. Billy also noticed richly colored tents spaced throughout the encampment. Many of the men looked up to casually observe the delegates from La Rochelle.

  As they made their way through the military camp, Billy could see that the majority of the cavalry wore brown leather jackets with white sashes around their waists. But otherwise, the men wore common clothing. Some soldiers wore wide brimmed hats and others a steel cap upon their head, with a long sword and a pistol at their side. The higher ranking soldiers were garbed in rich clothing of quality, with only a white sash to indicate their official rank.

  “Where are their uniform
s and why aren’t there any knights here?” Billy whispered to Dickens, as he avidly observed their surroundings.

  “Traditional military uniforms did not exist until the middle of the 17th century and knighthood died out with the invention of the pistol. The value of a knight was in his training and it does not require as much skill to point and shoot a gun,” Dickens said, as he abruptly pulled Jeanie and Billy away from the La Rochelle delegates.

  A loud shout rose above the din of the army. “Stop them!”

  Billy turned to look and could see Bernarde atop his horse, pointing in their direction. He was surrounded by men wearing blue sashes around their waists. Great! Billy thought, they were obviously the British delegates. Bernarde now knew that he, Jeanie and Dickens weren't one of them.

  “Come on!” yelled Billy, as he led the three of them away from Bernarde.

  The trio ran for their lives through the crowd as they were chased by the British soldiers. The French army just looked at them with curiosity as they rushed past. Some even laughed as they watched two children and an old man outrun their pursuers.

  “What are we going to do?” yelled Jeanie. “We can’t outrun them forever?”

  Billy turned to look behind and saw a soldier was only a few feet away. Suddenly, the soldier fell over, his face sliding through the mud. This caused the two soldiers who were hot on his heels to trip over him, also landing in the muck. A nearby French soldier, holding a large pole with a curved blade at its end, was looking down and smiling at the fallen men. Thanks buddy! Billy thought.

  This bought the travelers a few precious seconds to get lost in the throng of the army. Billy looked behind and could see more blue sashed men scanning the multitudes looking for them. As Billy said a short prayer, his gaze was met by none other than Bernarde Lapierre.