Chapter 11
"Father?" Luc was confused.
"Oh, Father Richlieu!" Kristin rushed over to hug the surprised priest. "I am so glad to see you!"
"What is it, Kristin?" the priest asked, bewildered. "What are the two of you doing here?"
"We are looking for Jerome." Luc explained. "I was supposed to meet with him tomorrow, but we ran into some trouble today, and when you weren't around I thought he might be able to help us…"
"Ah…" Father Richlieu smiled. "Then you have been doubly successful, for you have found Jerome."
"We have?" Kristin was confused.
"I am Father Jerome Richlieu." the priest explained. "And I gather you, Luc, are the young man who was sent by my mother?"
"Your mother?" Luc's head was spinning with these strange circumstances.
"Chantal." Father Richlieu replied. "She prefers to live in the Catacombs, rather than under the scrutiny of the Snakeheads. Occasionally she sends those she deems worthy to me, for assistance." The priest studied Luc carefully, then smiled softly before speaking again.
"There are not many whom she considers worthy."
"Then, I am honored." Luc responded.
"So, tell me of this trouble you encountered today." Father Richlieu turned to Kristin.
Quickly, Kristin related the information they had discovered about Luc's identity, as well as the classified nature of the majority of his file. Then she described how her infiltration of the Penal Complex system had been discovered, and their subsequent escape from her apartment, including the role Madame Mincan had played, and how Luc had brought them to L'Oiseau Blanc.
"So, you are taking care of Kristin." Father Richlieu smiled kindly at Luc. "I am pleased to see that my faith in you has not been misplaced. It is even more important now, as I have a task for you."
"A task?" Luc was surprised.
"Surely, by now, a man as intelligent as you are has figured out what I do." Father Richlieu replied, amused. "That is, if Kristin hasn't informed you already."
"You… you are in charge of the resistance, against the Snakeheads?"
"That's rather grandiose." the priest chuckled. "I'm more of a… local coordinator, actually."
"Your influence certainly seems to be more than 'local', Father." Kristin laughed.
"Only to a small extent." Father Richlieu clarified. "There are others like me, within the city, and we co-ordinate with each other from time to time; pooling our resources for the greater good."
"And the 'greater good' you are working for is the defeat of the Snakeheads?" Luc asked.
"Again, you have made more of me than I deserve." the priest replied humbly. "I do not have the ability to achieve so lofty a goal, although I would gladly work toward such a thing, if I could. No, my work, such as it is, simply aims to improve the lives of everyday people, by making the Occupation more bearable for them."
"That is noble work as well, Father." Kristin pointed out.
"And you are the one who inspired me to embark upon this path, Kristin." the priest told her. "The day you walked into Saint Sulpice, lost and frightened; with your pale skin and red hair, you reminded me of my sister's family in Ireland. They were killed in the Snakehead Invasion, but I knew that your presence there, in the cathedral, was a sign. I was unable to help my own family, but I could help others…"
"And I was very grateful for your help." Kristin replied, a tear in her eye.
"You have repaid me many times over, my child." Father Richlieu declared, embracing the young woman. "How many times have you assisted me in my work, making my burden easier to bear?"
"It is not your burden alone, Father." she said gently. "We all bear this burden, but it is one of love."
"I am glad that you feel that way, Kristin." the priest said, patting her hand. Then he turned to regard Luc.
"But the question is, do you wish to help us bear this burden, Luc?"
"I do." Luc nodded emphatically. "I wish to fight against the Snakeheads."
"Well, this is fortuitous, then." Father Richlieu replied. "I had been debating whether or not to assign a certain task to you, but your arrival here today, not to mention the need to get you out of the city, has convinced me that you are the one for whom this is destined."
"Destined?" Luc shook his head. "I think you've got me confused with someone else, Father. I am not a man of destiny."
"Most men of destiny do not know it, at the time." the priest replied sagely. "It is only in hindsight, that we understand what role they play. Regardless, with your military background, I suspect that you are the man for this job."
"What is this task, Father?" Luc asked.
"One of my 'associates', in Monmartre had an operative arrested last week." Father Richlieu explained. "Apparently, this man has been sent to Penal Complex 624-Alpha."
"That's where Luc was held." Kristin pointed out.
"Yes." the priest nodded. "Amazing co-incidence, isn't it? Although not entirely. 624-Alpha is where the Snakeheads send the prisoners who require the most 'supervision', and I'm gathering that this operative, while not important in their eyes, would cause enough of a disturbance to require this level of observation."
"You want me to get him out of there?" Luc asked, astonished.
"That's the general idea, yes." Father Richlieu nodded. "Despite your lack of memory, you do seem to be recalling things when you need to, and your knowledge of that facility would be invaluable in this operation."
Luc's first instinct was to refuse. The thought of returning to the prison he had gone through so much to escape from was unappealing, to say the least. Yet, Father Richlieu had helped him and trusted him, despite the holes in his past. Besides, it was clear that the priest's work related to resisting the Snakehead Occupation, and that was something with which Luc agreed wholeheartedly. If the release of this prisoner was important to the priest, then it was a worthwhile mission for Luc to undertake.
"I will do my best." he nodded in acceptance.
"I knew I could count on you." Father Richlieu smiled.
"I do have one question, however." Luc continued. "After I complete this task… what then? Where do I fit into your… organization?"
"You don't." the priest sighed. Seeing Luc's astonished face, he rushed to explain.
"At least, not here." he said. "I wish you could, but clearly the Snakeheads are now looking for you here. After you finish with this task, you cannot return to Paris."
"No!" Kristin gasped. Luc felt a sudden warmth rush through him at her distress, but it instantly dissipated as he too felt alarm at the thought that he could not come back.
"Where will I go, then?" he asked uncertainly.
"To Corsica." Father Richlieu replied. "There is a large group of resistance there, and they are somewhat more…vigorous… in their reaction to the Snakehead Occupation. I suspect that you could be of great help to them." Luc nodded silently, understanding what the priest was trying to say.
"And I could help too." Kristin declared.
Both men turned to look at the young woman, astonished by her outburst.
"Kristin, Corsica is not a place for you." Father Richlieu attempted to explain. "It is quite dangerous there, and the civilians in that area are fighting…"
"I want to fight too." Kristin interrupted, her manner calm, but firm. "I appreciate everything you have done for me, Father, but I want to do more. I need to do more. It is all well and good to ease others' burdens, but that is not a solution to the problem. I want to work on the solution."
"No."
Luc shook his head, walking over to Kristin and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"You are safer, here, with Father Richlieu." he told her.
"That's not necessarily true." Kristin reminded him. "The Snakeheads likely suspect me, now, and I cannot return to my job or my apartment. But I could be of help to you, with my knowledge of the Spectran computer net. I know how to obtain information, access databases…"
"You don't understand." Luc sighed, leaning forward until his forehead touched hers. "I don't think I could live with myself if you were hurt…"
Kristin placed her palm on Luc's cheek, silencing his words as she communicated her emotions to him through that simple touch.
"I'll be hurt, if you leave without me." she whispered.
The moment between the young couple was broken by an awkward cough. Luc and Kristin turned, startled, only to see a red-faced Father Richlieu smiling at them.
"Well, it seems as if that's settled." the priest noted.