Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

© 2006

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Twenty-Five – Traveling, Part Two

We take our leave of the train and Christine wrapped within the confines of her large dark cloak draws not even a passing glance. I notice a bench on the side of the ticket office and lead her there.

"Here this seems a good place. It is public and I will not be far away. And best of all, the ticket clerk cannot see you from here. Please sit. I shall not be long."

She holds the front of the cloak closed and settles onto the bench. I walk around the corner of the ticket office and find the ticket window open. I walk up, purchase two tickets for the next train to Rennes via Le Mans and return to Christine.

"We have what we need. Unfortunately, we have to wait a little while. It should be leaving in an hour. That's a long wait on these benches but not long enough for us to run any errands. However, I would like to send a telegram ahead to Rennes and arrange a carriage to take us to Montmuran. The office is just outside and around the corner. I would prefer not to leave you here. Are you up for a short walk?"

"Really, Erik, I feel fine. Come let us order a carriage. I have never sent a telegraph before. I have heard people say that it is so expensive that the news in a telegraph is usually bad."

I cannot stop myself from chuckling. We casually walk through the station.

"The message you receive is called a telegram. The machine is called a telegraph."

"I am not very sophisticated, am I? Just a poor, ignorant little soubrette soprano." She sighs prettily and bats her eyelashes daintily. She looks sixteen again.

"Humph! One of the greatest coloratura sopranos ever to take the stage."

"Hardly, but thank you."

"Really, Madame, you underestimate yourself. It was a crime when you withdrew from the opera."

"Please let us not speak of that. At least not here."

"Very well. So, what should we talk about?"

Let us just walk silently. I enjoy your company. I always have." She smiles at me. "Even when you were in a mood. We do not need to speak unless we desire it."

I hold open the door for her and she passes through. I walk out and she links her arm through mine as I reach her side. She is correct. We walk in amiable silence to the telegraph office. Here, too, I conduct our business quickly. We exit the office and as soon as I close the door behind us, I explain to her that when we reach Le Mans there will be a telegram waiting for us there that will confirm my arrangements.

She nods and we continue our return to the station. We consult our tickets and find the platform for the train to Le Mans. The platform is nearly empty at this hour of the morning, so we easily find a place to sit. Christine leans her head against my shoulder and I place my arm around her. Soon, she sags against me in sleep. I smile.

The journey to Le Mans was uneventful. We boarded the train. I had purchased a private sleeper compartment. These were a new luxury and most expensive, but I felt that Christine's condition made it a necessity. I am not familiar with the intricacies of pregnancy, but I had an uneasy feeling that traveling at almost seven months was not the wisest of decisions. Unfortunately, her situation and mine (for that matter) left us no choice.

The telegram awaiting us in Le Mans proved Christine's informer wrong as it confirmed a carriage would be ready and waiting for our arrival at the station in Rennes. We changed trains without incident and arrived in Rennes at dusk.

As promised the carriage met us at the station and we transferred our meager possessions to the enclosed conveyance. I assisted Christine into the carriage and then spoke with the driver. He told me that if there were no problems on the road, we should make Montmuran by breakfast tomorrow morning. I provided the good gentleman with a monetary incentive to have us arrive both safely and on time in the form of 50 francs now and 50 francs on our arrival. The gentleman seemed impressed and immediately went to the carriage, opened the door for me and gently closed it behind me.

Other than the occasional rough patch in the road, this leg of our journey too proved quick and uneventful.