-1New Ending
Yaron Adar
As Carton approached La Guillotine, a fresh look burst across his face. A face of misery, of understanding what was to happen, and a realization of what was to be lost. "Citizens" cried Carton in a voice of beggars and dread, "Alas, it is not me you wish to dispatch! I am strange to the Evremonde clan and do not belong here! Release me lest you punish an innocent Englishman." A murmur rippled across the red sea of shock, followed by mostly disagreement and perhaps a few of recognition of foreign features. "No, he is Evremonde, descendent of those who imposed cruel hardships upon our brethren!" cried a ravenous Vengeance, "Off with his head!". "My dear citizeness" retorted Carton, "Though your eyes cannot know it, I am Sidney Carton, an Englishman. The man you seek has run through your fingers naught more than an hour or so ago." But the red ocean had become deaf to all but the cry of the Vengeance and quickly rose against the protesting man. Swept off his feet by revolutionary waters, Carton was laid upon the block. As the blood-stained sword descended upon yet another innocent head, another woman, broken by cowardice and a failed trust, fainted and fell to the ground. As she was unable to move herself to her sharp doom, she was carried by the goaler and was laid on the block like an animal to be butchered.
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Four people, one unconscious, riding across France to a brighter day, ridden with fear at every stop and delay. Every wheel stuck in the mud was a chance to be caught by the enemy they were trying to escape. Every checkpoint contained a soldier to question, prod, and inspect their reasons for flight. On one particular stop, which followed a particularly long delay, another carriage riding along the same path as the group of four came along. Stopping a few feet ahead of the first vehicle, out stepped five patriots with grim looks. "Is Sydney Carton here?" asked one. After exchanging a nervous look with Dr. Manette, Jarvis Lorry answered, "Yes, here. He has unfortunately suffered a fainting spell is at the moment unconscious". "Actually" said another patriot with a grin, "We should have said Charles Evremonde, eh Mr. Lorry?". Mr. Lorry, being a man of business and not used to conversing with authorities, paused a moment to settle his thoughts before answering, "I am sure he is not. This is Sydney Carton. What is the meaning of this inquiry?". Now in a full smile, the patriot replied "Wouldn't you believe that Mr. Carton has given you up? Upon inspection of his face, severed from his body as it was, it was found that while a clever switch, it was not perfect enough." Mr. Lorry, Mr. Manette, Mr. and Mrs. Darnay were all loaded into the patriots' carriage, destined back to the city they were escaping not two hours ago.
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They spoke from that day that a traitor was executed. For the people it was Charles Evremonde, his family finally punished for its treachery. For the prisoners not yet executed, it was Sidney Carton. The man who once stood for hope and held their hearts in his hand, and who turned out to break a girls heart and crush their dreams of a brighter afterlife. A lesser crowd also spoke of four who almost escaped the surging ocean but were pulled back at the last moments. Had they made it, perhaps they would have thought of that Carton as a hero. A doctor would have been spared a tortured recession; a mother would have been left to nurture a child happily with her saved husband; and a banker, who was revered by all who knew him, would have gone on merrily with his business of 60 years. All betrayed by one cowardly man. A man banished to the farthest reaches of hell for his actions.