Chapter 7: Midnight Ride
Penelope
The night was darkness, the air was cold, and I felt shivers riding up and down my spine. Buford, Baljeet, Doofenshmirtz, Perry, and I had the plan in mind. Now, it just needed to be set in motion. The plan required quickness of hands, cleverness of mind, and swiftness of feet. If we faltered, well, I needn't say what would happen then.
"Excuse me, may I have a word with you?" asked Perry of the guard. When the guard came close, Perry grabbed his leg and pulled hard to knock him over. The guard fell and Buford delivered a blow to the guard's head. Doofenshmirtz's quick fingers went for the guard's keys. We were soon out of the cell, but far from freedom.
Other guards in the hall had been alerted to the situation from the noise. They were on us in a moment. Buford went through them like a battering ram and Perry and I used fighting that had more finesse to escape their clutches. We ran through the halls until we reached a balcony overlooking the court yard. Carriages were riding away and the jump down was not a small one. We quickly made a chain: Doofenshmirtz held onto Buford who held onto Baljeet who held onto Perry who held onto me. I grabbed the railing on the top of one of the carriages more toward the front. As the horses moved the carriage farther, we each made our way onto the carriage by simply letting it pull us down.
I quirked an eyebrow at Perry, but he merely scowled. He took out the driver and took his place. Buford chucked Baljeet into one of the side windows of the carriage before coming in through the other door. He took out its occupants and tossed them out. Doofenshmirtz took a spot next to Perry and, fearing I might fall off, I went inside the carriage.
As soon as we cleared the gates, the carriage was quick in speeding up. Other carriage drivers had noticed what had happened and were quickly in pursuit. The ride jostled us around as the roads grew rougher and the ride ever faster.
I looked out the window and saw the carriages in the distance pursuing us. There were probably three of them. It had turned from an escape plan for future's betterment to a run by wanted fugitives. Fugitives… yes, that's what we are now. I pulled back into the carriage, letting the revelation hit me.
I don't know how or when, but the pursuit had ended and the carriages no longer followed us. I didn't doubt, however, that we would soon be on the run again. Perry pulled the carriage to a stop inside of a large building in the country, possibly a barn. I heard many sounds of fellow animals and realized it to be a stable.
The door to the carriage opened and Perry stood there with a fiercer scowl than before. He directed this glare in my direction and I immediately felt every good feeling from the escape drain from me. It wasn't until Doofenshmirtz interrupted this that the situation cooled down.
"Well, now what?" he asked.
"Well, even though the plan of escape was planned well enough, we are going to have to do a good amount of trekking on foot. We may have to walk for many miles before they lose our trail," said Perry. "You, unlike I, didn't consider the aftermath." He directed this to me rather pointedly and I felt, in that moment, that I'd rather be a turtle so that I could withdraw into a shell and hide my shame.
It was then that we went on the run. For most of the night, we went across the countryside, through many rivers, and finally, wound up back in London. We looked no better than any other beggars or street urchins to be found in the highways and by-ways. It was dawn by the time we reached a small flat. Perry reached underneath a barrel, retrieved a key, and used it on a lock leading to a pantry in the flat. He opened the door and we all went inside. Doofenshmirtz struck a match and lit a candle.
When the light crossed the walls, we found ourselves surrounded by many pictures and news clippings on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Red string attached itself at multiple points to various pictures and articles. On the web's edge were many boxes filled with food and there were a few barrels of wine.
"No time to be picky," said Perry as he popped open a jar of preserved vegetables. He opened more jars and handed them to the humans in our group. He opened another jar, this one had holes in its top, and it was revealed to be grubs. Despite the knowledge of a platypus's natural diet, I still shivered at the idea of eating grubs.
Perry handed me the open jar of grubs and said, "Here."
"Why?" I asked.
"I will need you alive. My future plans would become strained at your passing," he replied.
"How comforting." I snatched the jar away from him as he opened one for himself. "So, who is the confederate that lives in this household?"
"My governess and her family."
"And… they would be?"
"They call themselves the Hearthside Girls." There was suddenly a sound of many young feet coming down the stairs and a bunch of young girls tackled Perry in hugs.
"Perry! Mr. King! You're back!" they all cried for joy.
"Yes, I have returned," he replied. More footsteps were heard coming down and we were greeted by an older woman who walked with a crutch.
"Well, well, well, Mr. King. It has been a while since you have crossed our door," she said.
"My absence could not be helped," said Perry.
"Give whatever excuse you like. What matters now is that you have returned and that you may stay under our roof as long as you like," said the old woman.
"I thank you, dear ladies, for your kindness," said Perry. The young girls giggled and went up the stairs before the old woman nodded to us to follow her upstairs.
"That would explain the ready supply of food," I said.
Perry gave me a heated glance and said, "If you even think of betraying these kind souls, it shall mean the noose for them. They may sometimes keep criminals like Heinz and me, but they also care for the poor and less fortunate… which is what the crown will say they are doing, but in fact are not."
"That would depend greatly upon how you think they are helping or hindering the poor," I said.
"What of the workhouses? What of the prisons? What of the sickness, squalor, and despair that everyday crowds the London streets? When the fog is not upon the city, I smell naught but the smell of those dying and decaying under maltreatment. Here, in this house, the women care for the sick, feed the hungry, and house those who would otherwise be on the street. It is no crime to help those who will not be helped otherwise," said Perry.
"Do you dislike me, Mr. King?" I asked.
"I dislike any who stand for what the crown stands for."
"Whatever happened to your patriotism to your country?"
"I love England. I love this kingdom. I think the people here are a good folk, but I cannot stand the people who rule over them. It is the crown, that crown that has become sullied with the blood of its people and others that I dislike. You just so happen to stand with them… so, perhaps I do dislike you."
I felt my anger heat up then and before I could stop myself, I said, "Well, perhaps I was wrong about you, Perry, for who could ever like a poor, thieving wretch such as yourself?"
"I believe, Miss Australis, that your answer to your own question would be answered here." He tossed me a book. I opened it to discover it was a Bible and tears ran down my face in shame.
I forced the book into his hands and said, "Do not speak to me ever again. If you even look my way, I will cut your eyes out. I care for you as any good woman should for a man in your status, but I do not like you…" Under my breath, I added, "Not anymore." I went upstairs and left Perry alone with his partner.
That's it for now. I think we're a little ways off from them liking each other. Let's see what happens as the story goes on. Oh, there's a poll on my profile and I would appreciate it if a few of you would make between one and three choices for what idea you want me to work on next. Please keep reading and reviewing, because I think we have a while to go. Thanks! :)