Chapter 9
Vincent was anxious and nervous as they entered the tunnel and shook the snow from their clothes and hair. Over six months had passed. What would he find Below? Had there been many changes during his absence? How was Father? Would the children remember him? He escorted Catherine into a passageway and explained to her what he was doing when he opened a gate and activated a lever to open a steel door. They stepped inside and Vincent closed the gate and the door slid back in place with a clang. He'd forgotten that sound and how muffled it could be in the tunnels. Catherine's grip tightened in his and he looked down at her with concern.
"Please, don't be afraid," he said.
"I'm not afraid, Vincent, when I'm with you." She smiled up at him.
They walked further into the tunnel world, and Vincent gave Catherine insights into life Below as they walked along. After a while Vincent stopped and looked worried.
"What's wrong?" inquired Catherine.
"Something. I'm not sure," said Vincent. "It's too quiet; no one's talking on the pipes."
They hurried on. Vincent's concern grew as each new tunnel remained silent. Rounding the next bend they collided with someone, who tumbled to the floor and landed with a grunt. The man looked up as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Vincent." The little man cried out as he regained his feet and looked from Vincent to Catherine in disbelief.
"Pascal," cried Vincent. "It is wonderful to see you."
"Vincent," repeated Pascal as he shook his head. "We searched for so long. We thought you were dead."
"I may have ended up that way if Catherine hadn't rescued me," said Vincent. "Catherine, this is Pascal, the master of our pipe chamber."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Pascal." Catherine extended her hand and gave Pascal's hand a brief shake.
A wide-eyed Pascal turned back to Vincent and asked, "What happened?"
"It's a long story Pascal. Come with me to Father so I can tell it just once."
"Good idea."
"Pascal," asked Vincent, still concerned. "What's wrong? Why is it so quiet?"
"It's Winterfest tonight," Pascal informed him.
"Winterfest!" exclaimed Vincent. "That explains it."
"It has been so terrible without you, Vincent. Everyone has been so sad, so lost," explained Pascal. "Father decided Winterfest should proceed, to start to heal our community."
"So, everyone is in the Great Hall?"
"Yes. I just checked the pipes for the last time," said Pascal. "I'm headed down myself. I can't believe this, everyone will be overjoyed. It'll be the best Winterfest ever."
Vincent saw a range of emotions cross Pascal's face and finally tears welled in the little man's earnest eyes, as if Vincent's return had broken the dam of grief he'd welled inside for months. The two men moved together and hugged with such unashamed love and relief.
"It's so good to have you back." Pascal sniffed, pulling away to dry his eyes on his sleeve.
"It is wonderful to be back," confirmed Vincent, blinking away his own heartfelt tears.
"Come on," suggested Pascal. "Let's go down to the Great Hall."
Vincent took Catherine's hand again and, as they made their way deeper and further into the world Below, Vincent explained to Catherine the concept of "Winterfest." How and why it had started? How all their Helpers from Above were invited to celebrate each year, sharing food and drink, music and dancing. How it was bigger than Christmas to them as it crossed the boundaries of the religious holidays celebrated Above. It was truly their unique way to give thanks and cherish each and every person.
….
The three latecomers slipped into the darkness of the Great Hall. Pascal started to walk forward but was stopped by Vincent's hand upon his arm.
"A moment, please, Pascal," whispered Vincent.
Vincent rested back against the wall, momentarily overcome. He tried to calm his emotions. Catherine's hand still rested in his—a talisman, protecting him. His eyes met hers through the gloom and a moment of true understanding passed between them that filled Vincent with hope. In the dark, Father's voice commenced the opening ceremony. It sounded strong, yet sad in Vincent's ears.
"The world above us is cold and gray; summer, a distant memory. Our world too has known its winters, so each year we begin this feast in darkness, as our world began in darkness."
Father touched his candle to Mary's, Mary to Winslow's.
"This world has sheltered many who have sought refuge from the city above. It was once a place of despair and dark places where men reached for knives and rocks and worse at the sound of other men's voices."
Winslow lit Mouse's candle, then Mouse touched Jamie's in turn. At another table the children were lighting their candles also, a living tradition, supervised by Rebecca.
"At last a few people learned to put aside their fear. And we began to trust each other, to help each other. Each of us grew stronger - those who took the help and those who gave it. One year, on the coldest night, a baby—Vincent—entered this world. His differences challenged us and helped to unite us into the family we are today."
Jamie to Sebastian, to William, Brooke, Kanin, Olivia, Peter, on and on, the hall glowed with the light of a hundred candles.
"Vincent—my son—is lost to us and this loss has been—unbearable. His voice was always the truest and Vincent would want us to remember that we are all part of one another: one family, one community. Sometimes we forget this, and so we meet here each year to give thanks to those who have helped us, and this year to celebrate the life of Vincent and to remember ..."
Vincent stepped forward with Catherine into the circle of his family and completed the last line of the ceremony.
"… Even the greatest darkness is nothing, so long as we share the light."
For a moment there was a complete and stunned silence. Then the flickering chandeliers were hoisted aloft and the gathering erupted.
"Vincent ... here ... can't believe it … you're back ... thought you were dead ... good to see you ... missed you." Everyone spoke at once and encircled Vincent and Catherine. The crowd parted momentarily as Father drew near. He leaned heavily on his stick and tears streamed down his face.
He reached out to Vincent. "My son, my son," he cried. "I dreamed of this day, tried to believe it would happen."
Vincent let go of Catherine and the two men held each other with such shared joy and love. They drew back to look at each other and then hugged once more and wept unashamed tears of relief.
"It's been hard, Father," admitted Vincent, "but I'm home now."
Mary caught Vincent's eye and he pulled her in, to join the hug. They buried their heads together and cried and laughed at the same time.
For the next few minutes everyone was close as they all hugged him, touched him, reassured themselves that he was real—their Vincent, returned.
Vincent looked around to locate Catherine and was distressed to see she'd been pushed to the back of the group that had formed around him.
"Please, everyone, there is someone very special to me I want you to meet." He pushed through his family and friends and taking Catherine's hand, drew her forward. "This is Catherine," he introduced her. "I owe my life to her. She risked much to bring me home."
Father limped closer to Catherine. "Thank you my dear for what you have done." He reached out and took her hand in his. "How can we ever repay you?"
"There is no repayment necessary. Vincent saved my life first." Catherine gave Father's hand a firm shake.
"Cathy Chandler is that you?" A distinguished looking gentleman moved forward. The crowd parted for him and he caught Catherine up in a hug.
"Peter," cried Catherine, stunned to see her family friend Dr Peter Alcott in this unusual setting. "I don't believe it." They gave each other another hug.
Father looked across at his son, and a look of anguish entered his eyes. "What happened to you?"
Vincent lowered his head, took Catherine's hand in his for added strength and spoke. "That night I went Above—it seems a lifetime ago ..." he began. He told them of explosions and capture, of hurt and escape. He glossed over months of hardship and despair until the day that hope returned, the day he met Catherine and how it led to freedom and home.
The gathering remained completely silent as Vincent told his story and when he'd finished they started to discuss amongst themselves all they had heard and how wonderful it was to have Vincent back home.
"Wherever you've been, you've not been eating enough," concluded William. "You're nothing but skin and bones."
"I must admit to craving your cooking, William," responded Vincent.
"Would you like to eat first, Vincent," asked Mary, ever the caregiver, "or would Catherine and you like a bath and a change of clothes."
"Thank you Mary," said Vincent. "I am hungry, but clean clothes would make the food taste even better."
"Please, everyone, we won't be long, but don't wait," said Vincent, and then to Catherine. "Would you like to freshen up?"
"That sounds wonderful."
Mary accompanied Vincent and Catherine to the level of the accommodation chambers and leaving Vincent at his chamber escorted Catherine to a guest room and helped her with clean clothing and a visit to the female bathing chamber.
