FINALLYI Chapter Thirteen!
Sorry for the delay, I would never abandon this story :) I've just been so busy since well last week was my birthday and then I had SATs and tomorrow I have an AP English test sooo yeah. Also I wanted to take more time with this chapter since it's sort of the last one of ASOUE and it's a little bittersweet that this part of my fic is ending.
Anyways...ENJOY! :)
Chapter Thirteen: Never Say Never
The sound of waves crashing against the shore resonated in my ears. The salty aroma wafted in my nose, and I breathed in a sigh of pure delight. Soft, warm sand lay beneath me like an enormous blanket and the sun's rays were beating hot air against my skin. The breeze was subtle and cool against my neck, playing with a few strands of my hair. I probably could have lain on this remote beach for eternity—full of happiness and full of a sense of peace. No one could touch me here. No one could hurt me. All the pain I had ever suffered seemed to cease.
"Jamie," a voice seemed to whisper to me as if carried by the wind.
My eyes shot open at the soft voice. I had to squint in the bright sunlight and rubbed my eyes until they adjusted to the brightness.
"Jamie," the voice whispered again. "Jamie!"
I looked up in curiosity and discovered a woman standing not too far away. She wore a dress as white as the sand beneath her feet. As I looked down, I noticed I wore an identical dress. The woman's hair was the same color as mine—long, flowing, and beautiful. I met her gaze, finding myself staring into eyes as blue as the sky—eyes not too different from my own.
Not too far behind the woman was a man with light brown hair and hazel-brown eyes. He came over to put his arm around the woman and they gazed at me expectantly. Like a ton of bricks, it hit me. My heart skipped a beat and I stared in awe at the pair standing before me. Could this be real? Could it really be…?
I sat up, rubbing my eyes again and blinking over and over again. They were still there.
"Jamie," the woman said, coming over to kneel beside me as the man came to stand just behind her. They never let go of each other's hands, and I could see, as they looked at each other, the love reflected in their lovely eyes. "We found you."
I reached out my hands tentatively, gently touching my mother's cheek. Her hand closed over mine. They were really there—real, living, breathing people. I could touch them and they didn't disappear.
"We have been looking everywhere for you…" the man trailed off. "Don't you recognize us?"
I nodded, speechless.
"You're my mom," I managed after a moment. "And you're my dad."
As my mother gazed at me, her eyes were filling with tears, and then, she took my face in her soft, warm hands. I gazed back into her blue eyes. They both were smiling brilliantly, causing my heart to soar.
Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore and I launched myself into my mother's arms. My father leaned down, his arms wrapping around both my mother and I. I found myself begin to weep. At first, I tried to make myself stop crying—it would ruin the moment. But then, my mother placed a hand gently on the back of my head, and my parents crooned softly to me that everything was okay and that I was safe. And then, it did not matter. Their words were enough to make it all okay. It was true. I was safe, and the happiest I've ever been. I absorbed everything about them—their smell, their faces, their smiles…The only people that were missing were Esmé, Jacques, Faith, and the Baudelaires, of course. But at the moment, this would due. I thought of my five year old self and how I had imagined the moment I would see my parents again. I never wanted it to end.
"Oh, Jamie," my mother said, her voice echoing her grief. "We've missed you so much."
"I've been waiting for you to come all my life," I said through a sob, "and now you're finally here."
"We have always been at your side," my father said. "Even at the darkest times."
I pulled away slightly as he spoke. Looking from my mother to my father in concern.
"What happened to you?" I said. "What happened to our family? Why is everyone dead?"
"Shh," my mother said, putting a hand on my head. "Don't fret, sweetheart. Sometimes in life you lose people and it's hard to make sense of it sometimes. But you have to know that they're at peace and watching over you as well. Besides, you still have family left."
"The Baudelaires," I said with a nod. "But I still don't understand. What happened to you? Who did this to our family? Why did you abandon me so many years ago?"
"It doesn't matter what happened to us," my father said. "I know you may not understand why we left you, but we've always done our best to protect you. There are some secrets too terrible for anyone to know. If we told you, you would be in danger."
"Was it another fire?" I asked almost in a whisper, remembering that day my mother had run to me screaming my name. I recalled looking behind her to see something vibrant and orange as if it was some kind of fiery monster. "I remember there was a fire. And mother, you were calling for me."
My mother's face contorted with an expression of pain as she remembered that day, but in an instant the emotion was gone.
"Your father is right, darling," my mother said, "There are some things that you are much too young to bear."
"I don't care about the consequences," I said, "I want to know who did this. I want to know who was responsible for breaking my heart. I want to know why you never came back for me! Why did you leave me? Do you understand all the hell I've been through my entire life? I want to know why every year at Parents' Day; I stood at the bottom of the Entrance stairs just scanning the sea of children reuniting with their parents to see if I could find mine! I waited for you, but you never came! It's not fair. It's just not fair!" I lowered my head into my hands and began to sob again.
My father gently pulled my head close to him so I could sob into his chest. I felt my mother's arms around me.
"Shh," my mother crooned again.
I pulled away to look up at them apologetically. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling guilty about my outburst. "I know it's not your fault. It's just been so hard to live everyday without you. It makes me angry knowing that someone is responsible for all the misery we've endured."
"We know, dear," my mother said. "But we can't afford to put your life in danger."
"I'm already in danger," I said. "I've made some terrible mistakes because of it."
My parents nodded. "It's difficult to make the right choices when everyone around you does wrong," my father said, "But that's what separates the good from the bad. Courage to do the right thing. I know you have it in you, Jamie. You've already proven that to us."
"I'm not brave," I said, "You should be disappointed with me after all the horrible things I did. I know I am. I tried to push Madame Lulu into that lion pit. I became one of Count Olaf's henchpeople. I killed a man."
My mother placed a hand on my head. "I've seen my fair share of noble people and villainous people. You are not one of them, Jamie. Don't focus on the bad things you've done. You have more good in you than you know. And that good will far outweigh the mistakes you make. I've made mistakes too, sweetheart. But you're better than I ever was. Even without our care, you've grown into a beautiful, brave young girl. We're far from disappointed in you. We love you Jamie."
I looked from my mother to my father, with tears welling in my eyes. They weren't ashamed of me or anything. My mother leaned down to kiss my forehead gently and brushed away my tears with her thumb. I smiled as my heart filled with warmth. They truly did care about me. They loved me. And that's more than I could have wished for.
"Well all I care about is being with you," I said, "As long as we're together as a family then I'll be safe and happier than I've ever been. I love you too."
My parents glanced at each other briefly, looking sad suddenly.
"What's wrong?" I asked with a frown. I couldn't stand seeing them look so sad. I wanted to do something to make them happy again.
"Come with us, darling," my mother said gently, "There's something we need to show you."
My mother held out her hand and I took it, eagerly.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Come," my father insisted, placing a hand on my back to gently push me along.
They led me down the beach. It was pretty much deserted. I walked with them around a slight bend in the beach. And then, I saw them—the Baudelaires. They were huddled together, gazing down at a body. I couldn't identify it at first. Sunny was holding a basket full of apples. They must have been able to dilute the Medusoid Mycellium in their own bodies. I looked to the sea where I spotted the raft in which Kit Snicket still lay. Also at sea were the islanders who were pushing the outrigger farther into the flooding coastal shelf. Ishmael was sitting on his throne, watching the Baudelaires. The islanders were still coughing, all except Ishmael. I glanced to the right where Count Olaf was leaning against a tree and I could hear his constant cackling, his cackles turning into coughs. The sight of Count Olaf and the Baudelaires, made me glance worriedly up at my parents, afraid that they would disappear. With relief, I found that they were still at my side. As I looked around at all the chaos, I realized that I wasn't afraid anymore of what would become of us. Now that my parents were here, I knew the Baudelaires would be all right. We would all be safe. "Baudelaires!" I called, hurrying towards them, not letting go of my parents. "You won't believe who I found!"
But they didn't look up. Klaus knelt beside the body and as I drew closer, I gasped. The body was mine. I was lying on the sandy beach, while the Baudelaires stood, gazing down at me in despair. It was clear that the four of us were cured of the Medusoid Mycellium, however, I was yet to regain consciousness.
Klaus reached for my wrist, feeling for my pulse and he glanced up at his sisters in horror.
"Her pulse is racing," he said, tears falling from his eyes. "She can't die. We have to do something."
He looked up at Violet. Tears were streaming down her face. She knelt beside Klaus putting one hand on his shoulder and her other hand on my forehead, gently.
Sunny walked to sit beside my head.
"Jawaku," she said sadly, which meant, "Please wake up, Jane. We need you."
"I'm right here," I called to her. "Baudelaires, it's me, Jane!"
Still, they did not respond as if they could not hear me.
I turned desperately to my parents. "Why can't they hear me?"
My mother and father glanced at each other, and then, gazed sadly from me to my body.
"Your friend is right," my father said, sadly. "You don't have much longer to live."
"What happened?" I asked.
"You saved your friends," my mother said. "When you retrieved the apples from the tree. But you fainted from suffocation before your friends could give you the antidote. Right now, you're in a state between life and death."
As my mother spoke, I watched as Klaus took an apple from the basket and did the best he could to feed it to me.
"Wake up, Jane," he said, tears falling from those soft brown eyes. "I'm sorry, Jane. Please. I can't lose you. I promised you that I wouldn't let you die."
I stepped towards Klaus, reaching out to touch his shoulder, hoping he would turn and smile at the sight of me. He didn't even flinch.
"Oh, Klaus," I said, feeling tears forming in my own eyes. "It's okay. Don't cry."
I wished there was something I could do. I hated seeing Klaus like this.
"Why are you showing me this?" I asked, turning to my parents.
My parents were looking at each other. My mother turned away and I noticed she was crying.
"You can't stay with us, Jamie, dear," my father said.
"What?" I said, in surprise.
My mother turned back towards me. A tear was rolling down her cheek. "It's true, darling," she said. "You have to go back."
"Go back?" I said in fear. I felt fresh tears forming in my own eyes. "I can't go back. I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you. I want to stay here."
"We wish you could stay with us," my father said. "But you're not ready to leave this earth, yet, sweetheart. There are things still left for you to do."
"Why should I return?" I said. "There's nothing there for me, except pain and loneliness."
"What about your friends, dear?" my mother said, gesturing to the Baudelaires, who were huddled around my body, weeping. "They still need you. They love you very much. You mustn't forget about them."
"I don't want to leave them alone," I said, "But I don't want to go back there, either. It's too hard."
I could see more tears glistening in my mother's eyes and she patted the top of my head. "I know, sweetheart," she said, "It's hard for us too. I don't want you to go. But you still have a long life ahead of you. I don't want you to lose that."
"Neither of us want you to go," my father said as he placed a comforting hand on my mother's shoulder. "But we have to be strong."
"It's not fair," I sobbed, "I don't want to lose you. I just found you."
"I know, honey," my mother said, a tear fell from her cheek, splattering on my nose. "But it's just for now. We'll be together again someday, I promise."
"You've got to stay strong," my father said. "Can you be strong for us, Jamie?"
I looked from my mother, who was still crying softly, to my father, whose eyes had welled up with tears. To me, they were the bravest people I knew. I wanted to be just like them. All of those things Olaf and Ishmael revealed about my mother still didn't waver my opinion of her, especially now. She didn't seem like a murderer at all. Of course, I didn't know as much about my father, since Esmé and Olaf never talked about him, except to say that they didn't like him. Seeing him in person, made me see what a wonderful person he was.
"I can't," I said. "I want to be brave, I do. But I can't be. I don't know how."
"You're already brave," my father said. "Bravery is the measure of the kindness in your heart and your integrity. With that spirit, comes courage."
"I'm still afraid," I said. "I don't know how I'll do it alone."
"You won't be alone," my mother said. "You have the Baudelaires. And we'll be beside you the entire time. We've always been with you, sweetheart."
I glanced back and forth between them again. Then, at once, they embraced me and I held on tight to them. I breathed in their sweet scent and memorized their faces. I knew they were right. I had to be brave for them.
I nodded. "Okay," I said. "I can try to be brave."
"When something is lost," my father said, "you might find it in again in unexpected places."
My mother nodded and she pulled out a small blue flower similar to the one Jacques had given me. I realized I must have lost my own flower, perhaps in the storm. She placed it in my palm. "Whenever you feel lost," she said, "when you see this flower, I hope it will remind you that we're with you and you'll find your strength once more."
"Thank you," I said.
"Why don't we sing you a song before you have to go?" my mother suggested.
"I'd like that," I said, with an eager nod.
At that, my father stooped to pick me up, holding me like a baby. My mother came to crouch beside us and we huddled together.
Finally, my mother gently laid a hand on my forehead as she prepared to sing:
"Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust what they can't explain
I know we're different but deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know?
We need each other
To have, to hold.
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on,
Now and forever more…
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always…"
As the song came to an end, I found myself beginning to close my eyes and I knew that if I gave into it, I would find myself back on the beach again. I felt a pang of fear in my chest. But then my mother placed her hand over my heart.
"We love you very much Jamie," my mother said, "Never forget that."
I felt a strange feeling of air whooshing into my mouth and into my lungs. And then, my body took over, my lungs pumping air into my airway. My fingers felt for the flower and I was relieved to find it still in my hands. My eyes fluttered open and I gasped internally at the sad brown eyes that stared into mine.
"Jane," Klaus whispered, incredulously. "You're alive. I thought you were dead and I'd never get to see you again." A tear rolled down his cheek.
I gave him a weary smile as I sat up slowly, leaning my face close to his, as I whispered, "Never say never, Klaus." And then, I closed the distance, planting a kiss on his lips. Butterflies swarmed my stomach and joy raced through my veins, reaching down to my toes as they curled in delight. My heart was racing.
"Klaus," I said softly when I pulled away, smiling at his bewildered expression. I could feel my heart speed up even more as I realized what I was about to say. "I want everything you want. "
Klaus' brown eyes widened in surprise and he stared at me for a moment, as if he didn't believe what he was hearing.
"Jane," he said, "you don't have to out of guilt or…"
"No," I said. "I said that because I honestly want to be with you. We've waited long enough." I took his hand and squeezed it gently to let him know I meant it. He got to his feet, pulling me up with him. I stumbled a bit, but he steadied me.
"So you're not mad anymore?" Klaus asked tentatively, letting go of my hand.
"I'm willing to forgive you for your mistakes," I said. "if you'll forgive me for mine."
Klaus nodded. "I forgive you, Jane," he said. We shared brilliant smiles as we took each other's hands again, gazing into each other's eyes. I leaned my face close to his, our noses brushing as we beamed at each other. My heart soared as we kissed once again.
"Jane!" a voice called in relief. "You're okay!" Klaus and I broke apart, as we looked towards the coastal shelf. Violet, who had called to me, and Sunny were out in the coastal shelf near the raft of books. Sunny was perched on Violet's shoulders, holding the basket of apples.
"What's going on?" I asked. "Where are the islanders?"
"They're leaving," he said, squinting out at the horizon. Then I saw it, the islanders had climbed aboard the outrigger and it was on its way out to sea. They were leaving the safety of their island behind. "Violet and Sunny went to go give them some apples and convince them to stay."
"We should go help," I said, putting the flower away in my pocket before hurrying towards the coastal shelf with Klaus, but I hesitated when I noticed how deep the water had gotten. I turned to Klaus in fear. "I don't know if this is a good idea. I don't know how to swim."
"I do," Klaus said, "And I'll hold on to you so you don't drown."
I nodded, remembering my parents telling me to be brave. Klaus and I waded into the water. He didn't let go of me like he promised and we both reached Violet and Sunny in one piece.
"Stop!" Violet cried, when we were close enough to be heard. "We've discovered a way to dilute the poison!"
"Baudelaires! Jamie!" came the faint cry of Kit high atop the library raft. "Thank goodness you're here! I think I'm going into labor!"
I frowned. That couldn't be good. How were we going to help her give birth? I wasn't a doctor. Especially since she was on top of the library raft.
"We'll help you," Violet promised, "but we need to get these apples to the islanders."
"They won't take them!" Kit said. "I tried to tell them how the poison could be diluted, but they insist on leaving!"
"No one's forcing them," said Ishmael calmly. "I merely suggested that the island was no longer a safe place, and that we should set sail for another one."
"You, Jamie, and the Baudelaires are the ones who got us into this mess," came the drowsy voice of Mr. Pitcairn, thick with fungus and coconut cordial, "but Ishmael is going to get us out."
"This island used to be a safe place," said Professor Fletcher, "far from the treachery of the world. But since you've arrived it's become dangerous and complicated."
"That's not our fault," Klaus said, as we moved closer and closer to the outrigger as the water continued to rise. "You can't live far from the treachery of the world, because eventually the treachery will wash up on your shores."
"Exactly," said Alonso, who yawned. "You washed up and spoiled the island forever."
"So we're leaving it to you," said Ariel, who coughed violently. "You can have this dangerous place. We're going to sail to safety."
"Safe here!" Sunny cried, holding up an apple.
"You've poisoned us enough," said Erewhon, and the islanders wheezed in agreement "We don't want to hear any more of your treacherous ideas."
"Our ideas," I said, "It was your idea to mutiny in the first place."
"Jane's right," Violet said. "I thought you didn't want to take
Ishmael's suggestions."
"That was before the Medusoid Mycelium arrived," Finn said hoarsely.
"He's been here the longest, so he knows how to keep us safe. At his suggestion, we all drank quite a bit of cordial while he figured out the root of the trouble." She paused to catch her breath as the sinister fungus continued to grow. "And the root of the trouble, Baudelaires and Jamie, is you."
"What are you talking about?" I said, "You're the ones manipulated us into helping you with the mutiny. I warned you that it was a terrible idea. And then, you set Olaf free when you knew he was dangerous."
"Yes," Finn said, "but you're the ones who were lying about the Medusoid Mycelium being on the island."
By now we had reached the outrigger, and we looked up at Ishmael, who raised his eyebrows and stared back at us. "Why are you doing this?" Klaus asked the facilitator. "You know we're not the root of the problem."
"In medias res!" Sunny cried.
"Sunny's right," Violet said. "The Medusoid Mycelium was around before we were born, and our parents prepared for its arrival by adding horseradish to the roots of the apple tree."
My eyes widened. My parents and the Baudelaires parents had unknowingly saved our lives. This made me smile slightly as I remembered how it felt to be with my parents. Even if it was for a short time. I knew then, that I had to do the right thing and use our parents' gift to save another life.
"If they don't eat these bitter apples," I pleaded, "they'll come to a bitter end. Tell the islanders the whole story, Ishmael, so they can save themselves."
"The whole story?" Ishmael said, and leaned down from his chair so he could talk to the us without the others hearing. "If I told the islanders the whole story, I wouldn't be keeping them safe from the world's terrible secrets. They almost learned the whole story this morning, and began to mutiny over breakfast. If they knew all these island's secrets there'd be a schism in no time at all."
"Better a schism than a death," Violet said.
Ishmael shook his head, and fingered the wild strands of his woolly beard. "No one is going to die," he said. "This outrigger can take us to a beach near Lousy Lane, where we can travel to a horseradish factory."
"You don't have time for such a long voyage," Klaus said.
"I think we do," Ishmael said. "Even without a compass, I think I can get us to a safe place."
"You need a moral compass," Violet said. "The spores of the Medusoid
Mycelium can kill within the hour. The entire colony could be poisoned, and even if you make it to shore, the fungus could spread to anyone you meet. You're not keeping anyone safe. You're endangering the whole world, just to keep a few of your secrets. That's not parenting! That's horrid and wrong!"
"I guess it depends on how you look at it," Ishmael said. "Good-bye,
Baudelaires and Jamie." He sat up straight and called out to the wheezing islanders.
"I suggest you start rowing," he said, and the colonists reached their arms into the water and began to paddle the outrigger away from the children. We hung on to the side of the boat, there was still something we had to do.
"Friday!" I cried. "Wait!"
"Take apple!" Sunny cried.
"Don't succumb to peer pressure," Violet begged.
Friday turned to face the us, and the Baudelaires and I could see she was terribly frightened. Klaus quickly grabbed an apple from the stockpot, and the young girl leaned out of the boat to touch his hand.
"You need to take one," I cried. "You need to trust us."
"I'm sorry to leave you behind, Baudelaires and Jamie," she said, "but I must go with my family. I've already lost my father, and I couldn't stand to lose anyone else."
"But your father isn't–" I started to say, but Mrs. Caliban gave me a terrible look and pulled her daughter away from the edge of the outrigger.
"Don't rock the boat," she said. "Come here and drink your cordial."
"Your mother is right, Friday," Ishmael said firmly. "You should respect your parent's wishes. It's more than the Baudelaires and Jamie ever did."
"We are respecting our parents' wishes," Violet said, hoisting the apples as high as she could. "They didn't want to shelter us from the world's treacheries. They wanted us to survive them."
"They want us to be brave," I added, "and to do the right thing."
Ishmael put his hand on the stockpot of apples. "What do either of your parents know," he asked, "about surviving?" and with one firm, cruel gesture the old man pushed against the stockpot, and the outrigger moved out of our grasp. We tried to move closer but the water was rising too far. The stockpot tipped, and Sunny gave a small shriek and climbed down to Violet's shoulders as several apples from the pot dropped into the water with a splash. At the sound of the splash, I was reminded of the apple core that Ishmael had dropped, and realized why the facilitator was so calm in the face of the deadly fungus, and why his voice was the only one of the islanders' that wasn't clogged with stalks and caps.
"We have to go after them," Violet said. "We may be their only chance!"
"We can't go after them," Klaus said, still holding the apple. "We have to help Kit."
"Split up," Sunny said, staring after the departing outrigger.
Klaus shook his head. "All of us need to stay if we're going to help Kit give birth." He was gazing at the islanders. I followed his gaze and listened to the wheezing and coughing coming from the boat fashioned from wild grasses and the limbs of trees.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. "They made their decision," I said.
"Kontiki," Sunny said. She meant something along the lines of, "There's no way they'll survive the journey."
After a moment, we hurried to the library raft, and lifted Sunny and the stockpot to the top of the raft where Kit lay, so the Sunny could hold the wheezing woman's gloved hand and the bitter apples could dilute the poison inside her as Violet, Klaus, and I pushed the raft back toward shore.
"Have an apple," Sunny offered, but Kit shook her head.
"I can't," she said.
"But you've been poisoned," Violet said. "You must have caught a spore or two from the islanders as they floated by."
"The apples will harm the baby," Kit said. "There's something in the hybrid that's bad for people who haven't been born yet. That's why your mother never tasted one of her own bitter apples. She was pregnant with you, Violet." One of Kit's gloved hands drifted down over the top of the raft and patted Violet's hair. "I hope I'm half as good a mother as yours was, Violet," she said.
"You will be," I said.
"I don't know," Kit said. "I was supposed to help you, Baudelaires, on that day when you finally reached Briny Beach. I wanted nothing more than to take you away in my taxi to someplace safe. Instead, I threw you into a world of treachery at the Hotel Denouement. And I wanted nothing more than to rescue Jamie from Olaf's clutches and reunite you with your friends, the Quagmires and Melissa Sampson. Instead, I left them behind." She uttered a wheezy sigh, and fell silent.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to imagine what strange events would have brought these books to these shores.
"I failed you," Kit said sadly, and coughed. "Quigley managed to reach the self-sustaining hot air mobile home, just as I hoped he would, and helped his siblings and Hector catch the treacherous eagles in an enormous net, while I met Captain Widdershins and his stepchildren. Melissa met up with us shortly after she made sure the freed recruits were safe."
"Fernald and Fiona?" Violet said. "But they betrayed him and us."
"The captain had forgiven the failures of those he had loved," Kit said, "as I hope you will forgive mine, children. We made a desperate attempt to repair the Queequeg and reach the Quagmires as their aerial battle continued, and arrived just in time to see the balloons of the self-sustaining hot air mobile home pop under the cruel beaks of the escaping eagles. They tumbled down to the surface of the sea, and crashed into the Queequeg. In moments we were all castaways, treading water in the midst of all the items that survived the wreck." She was silent for a moment. "Fiona was so desperate to reach you, Klaus," she said. "She wanted you to forgive her as well."
"Did she–" Klaus started and then, glanced at me tentatively. "I mean, what happened next?"
"I don't know," Kit admitted. "From the depths of the sea a mysterious figure approached–almost like a question mark, rising out of the water."
"We saw that on a radar screen," Violet remembered. "Captain Widdershins refused to tell us what it was."
"My brother used to call it 'The Great Unknown,'" Kit said, clasping her belly as the baby kicked violently. "I was terrified, children. Quickly I fashioned a Vaporetto of Favorite Detritus, as I'd been trained to do."
"What's that?" Sunny asked.
"It's an Italian term for 'boat,'" Kit said. "It was one of many Italian phrases Monty taught me. A Vaporetto of Favorite Detritus is a way of saving yourself and your favorite things at the same time. I gathered all the books in reach that I enjoyed, tossing the boring ones into the sea, but everyone else wanted to take their chances with the great unknown. I begged the others to climb aboard as the question mark approached, but only Ink managed to reach me. The others ... " Her voice trailed off, and for a moment Kit did nothing but wheeze. "In an instant they were gone–either swallowed up or rescued by that mysterious thing."
"You don't know what happened to them?" I asked.
Kit shook her head. "All I heard," she said, "was one of the Quagmires calling Violet's name."
Sunny looked into the face of the distraught woman. "Quigley," she asked, "or Duncan?"
"I don't know," Kit said again. "I'm sorry, children. I failed you. You succeeded in your noble errands at the Hotel Denouement, and saved
Dewey and the others, but I don't know if we'll ever see the Quagmires and their companions again. I hope you will forgive my failures, and when I see Dewey again I hope he will forgive me, too."
We looked at one another sadly, realizing it was time at last to tell Kit Snicket the whole story, as she had told us.
"We'll forgive your failures," Violet said, "if you'll forgive ours."
"We failed you, too," I said. "I failed you from the start…I was there when Jacques was killed. Olaf did it. And I couldn't save him…"
"And we had to burn down the Hotel Denouement," Klaus added, "and we don't know if anyone escaped to safety."
"Count Olaf wanted me to shoot down one of the V.F.D. crows," I said, "And I let Esmé do it for me. And then, he tried to make me shoot a person—Dewey. I didn't want to and I lowered the gun. But something went wrong…Dewey is dead…" As I finished speaking, we all burst into tears. We weren't crying over something terrible that has happened, but for all of the terrible things that have happened to us and to everyone we knew and didn't know.
Sunny held Kit, and Violet, Klaus, and I held onto each other, and for a minute we did nothing but weep, letting our tears run down our faces and into the sea. I cried for all of the people I lost. I cried for Dewey Denouement, and for the Quagmire triplets, and for Melissa Sampson, and for Jacques Snicket, and for Esmé Squalor, and for Faith Murray, and even for Fiona, and for all of our guardians, recruits, and friends. I cried for the filthy feeling I felt whenever I was reminded of the bald man or the man with a beard but no hair. I cried for all of my failures and for the times people failed me. I cried for my ability to forgive those who failed me and for all of the treacheries I had endured. I cried for the world, and I cried for my parents. I had spent a lifetime waiting for them to come for me, but now I knew for sure that they were gone forever. Even though Kit Snicket had not brought news of my parents, her story of the Great Unknown made me see at last that the people who had written all those chapters in A Series of Unfortunate Events were gone forever into the great unknown, and that the Baudelaires and I would be orphans forever, too.
"Stop," Kit said finally, through her fading tears. "Stop pushing the raft. I
cannot go on."
"We have to go on," Violet said.
"We're almost at the beach," Klaus said.
"The shelf is flooding," Sunny said.
"Don't give up hope," I said.
"Let it flood," Kit said. "I can't do it, children. I've lost too many people–my parents, my true love, and my brothers."
I frowned. "Both your brothers?" I asked.
Kit nodded sadly.
"But Lemony is alive," I said, "I saw him not too long ago at the Hotel Denouement. He's the one who helped me find my way again and choose a path of good."
Kit smiled wearily. "I hope he's doing well," she said, "but even so, it's much too hard for me to bear it. I don't know how Lemony bears it half the time."
"You're not the only one who's lost everything," I said, "My entire family is deceased. I barely know who I am. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel, Kit." "Listen, I saw them—my parents. I was so thrilled to see them that I nearly forgot about our dreadful circumstances. They told me that I was dying and that I needed to go back—to keep on living. At first I didn't want to leave them because I was afraid of all the treacheries in the world. But my parents pointed out that I still had something to live for." I looked at the Baudelaires who gave me sad smiles. "The Baudelaires—they're my new family." Then, I looked at Klaus. "I knew I had to come back—for them."
"I'm glad you did, Jamie," Kit said, "but I'm not sure that there's any thing left for me in this world."
I noticed Violet reaching into her pocket, and she retrieved the ornate ring, emblazoned with the initial R.
"Sometimes the things you've lost can be found again in unexpected places," Violet said, and held the ring up for Kit to see. The distraught woman removed her gloves, and held the ring in her bare and trembling hand.
"This isn't mine," she said. "It belonged to your mother."
"Before it belonged to our mother," Klaus said, "it belonged to you."
"Its history began before we were born," Kit said, "and it should continue after we die. Give it to my child, Baudelaires and you as well Jamie. Let my child be part of my history, even if the baby is an orphan, and all alone in the world."
"The baby will not be alone," Violet said fiercely. "If you die, Kit, we will raise this child as our own."
"Me too," I said. "I won't let her grow up like I did. I'll make sure she knows how wonderful her mother and father were. I promise you I'll never abandon her."
"Thank you," Kit said quietly and reached out to place her hand over mine in gratitude. "I could not ask for better. Name the baby after one of your parents, children. The custom of my family is to name a baby for someone who has died."
"Ours too," Sunny said.
I frowned. I wasn't sure if that was my family's custom or not, although I was named after my deceased aunt, Faith Murray.
"Our families have always been close," Kit said, "even if we had to stay apart from one another—your family as well, Jamie. Now, finally, we are all together, as if we are one family."
"Then let us help you," Sunny said, and with a weepy, wheezy nod, Kit
Snicket let the us push her Vaporetto of Favorite Detritus off the coastal shelf and onto the shores of the island, just as the outrigger disappeared on the horizon. I gazed at the islanders for the last time and then at the cube of books, and tried to imagine how we could get Kit to a safe place so we could help her give birth to her child.
"Can you lower yourself down?" Violet asked.
Kit shook her head. "It hurts," she said, her voice thick with the poisonous fungus.
"We can carry her," Klaus said, but Kit shook her head again.
"I'm too heavy," she said weakly. "I could fall from your grasp and hurt the baby."
"We can invent a way to get you to the shore," Violet said.
"Yes," Klaus said. "We'll just run to the arboretum to find what we need."
"No time," Sunny said, and Kit nodded in agreement.
"The baby's coming quickly," she said. "Find someone to help you."
"But who?" I asked. "We're alone."
But then I remembered that there was in fact someone else here. Count Olaf, of course was still hanging out by the tree.
I started towards the villain and the Baudelaires followed. Sunny brought the stockpot along with us and in a few moments we reached Count Olaf as he coughed and wheezed.
"Hello, orphans," he said, his voice even wheezier and rougher from the spreading poison of the Medusoid Mycelium. Esmé's dress had fallen away from his skinny body, and he was in his regular clothes, with one hand holding a seashell of cordial. "Are you here to bow before the King of Olaf-Land?"
"We don't have time for your nonsense," I said. "Olaf-Land is not happening."
"We need your help," Violet said.
Count Olaf's eyebrow raised, and he gave the children an astonished glare. "You need my help?" he asked. "What happened to all those island fools?"
"They abandoned us," Klaus said.
I nodded sadly.
Olaf wheezed horridly, and it took me a moment to realize he was laughing.
"How do you like them apples?" he sputtered. "Though I'm not surprised that Blondie was abandoned yet again."
"We'll give you apples," Sunny said, gesturing to the stockpot, "if you help."
"I don't want fruit," Olaf snarled. "I want the fortunes your parents left behind."
"Well they certainly aren't here," I said, "None of us may ever see a penny of those fortunes."
"Even if it were here," Klaus said, "you might not live to enjoy it."
"Mcguffin," Sunny said, which meant, "Your scheming means nothing in this place."
Count Olaf raised the seashell to his lips, and we could see that he was trembling. "Then maybe I'll just stay here," he said hoarsely. "I've lost too much to go on–my parents, my true love, my henchfolk, well except for you, Blondie, an enormous amount of money I didn't earn, even the boat with my name on it."
"We've lost almost everything too," I said.
Violet knelt on the sand, and grabbed the villain's shoulders with both hands. "We have to go on," she said. "Do one good thing in your life,
Olaf."
"I've done lots of good things in my life," he snarled. "I once took in three orphans, I promised Blondie I would spare her life, I helped Abigail get what she wanted, and I've been considered for several prestigious theatrical awards."
Klaus knelt down beside Violet, and stared into the villain's shiny eyes. "You're the one who made us orphans in the first place," he said
Olaf closed his eyes for a moment, and then stared slowly at the four of us in turn.
"Is that what you think?" he said finally.
"We know it," Sunny said.
"I was there that day," I said as I knelt down beside Violet and Klaus, "and I saw your car driving away from their street."
"That proves nothing," Olaf said.
"Also, what happened to my parents is still a mystery to me," I continued, ignoring his dismissal, "but I can't help but suspect you were responsible for the fire that might have killed my parents—or at least my mother."
"You don't know anything," Count Olaf scoffed. "You four children are the same as when I first laid eyes on you. You think you can triumph in this world with nothing more than a keen mind, a pile of books, the occasional gourmet meal, and a musical talent and strange abilities." He poured one last gulp of cordial into his poisoned mouth before throwing the seashell into the sand. "You're just like your parents," he said.
"You're right," I said, "I'm exactly like my parents. And that's why I'm going to help you do the right thing. Also it's because of my parents that I had the courage to save your life before. If it weren't for me you might have died on impact. Maybe my musical talents can't help me all the time, but I still have my courage and integrity."
"Courage?" he said with a wheezy laugh. "Integrity? And how have those qualities helped you? Jacques Snicket is still dead and Esmé abandoned you. You're just as weak as you were that day I locked you in that empty room."
I frowned, trying not to let his cruel words get to me. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was interrupted as Kit Snicket moaned from on top of the raft. I felt inside my pocket and took out the flower, hoping to find my strength again.
"You have to help Kit," Violet said. "The baby is arriving."
"Here," I said as I took an apple from the stockpot to hold it out to him, "Our parents invented these and saved our lives. And now we're going to save yours once again."
Count Olaf scoffed. "What do I care?" he said, "I've never liked the Snickets anyways."
"Because I saved your life," I said, "You owe me. And besides, it's the right thing to do. I know that deep down, there's some good in you. It's never too late to achieve redemption for your failings." I showed him the flower. "This to me represents my mother's redemption. Esmé told me my mother chose a better path in the end. Maybe you can too."
Count Olaf stared at the flower in my hands with wide and shiny eyes, and then he glanced at me for a second. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.
Kit moaned again.
"Please," I said.
He scowled, but snatched the apple from my hand and took a savage bite. He chewed the apple, and we listened as his wheezing subsided and our parents' invention diluted the Medusoid Mycelium. He took another bite, and another, and then, with a horrible groan, the villain rose to his feet and moved down the slope, wading into the waters of the flooding coastal shelf. In a swift gesture, he lifted Kit from the raft and carried her onto the shores of the island. Our distraught friend's eyes were closed, and as we hurried over to her we weren't sure whether she was still alive or not. Count Olaf laid her carefully down on the white sands of the beach, and I sighed in relief when I saw her chest heaving with breath.
The villain straightened up and then frowned at us. "Are you happy?" he said. "I don't like to be in debt to anyone. Have I achieved this redemption thing yet?"
"You're a wicked man," Kit said. "Do you think one kind act will redeem your failings?"
The villain uttered a deep sigh. "I haven't apologized," he said, looking first at Kit and then at the Baudelaires and I. Kit reached out and touched Olaf's ankle, right on the tattoo of an eye that had haunted me since I had first laid eyes on it. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny looked at the tattoo, remembering all of the times it had been disguised and all the times it had been revealed, and I thought of all the other places I had seen it. I thought about how within the eye were three initials, V.F.D, and I thought about all of the sinister mysteries surrounding the organization, and my family's involvement. It seemed that these eyes were watching us, though I still could not figure out whether the symbol represented something good, bad, or both. The whole story of these eyes might be a mystery to us for our entire lives.
"'The night has a thousand eyes,'" Kit said hoarsely as she lifted her head to face the villain. '"And the day but one; yet the light of the bright world dies with the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, and the heart but one: yet the light of a whole life dies when love is done.'"
Count Olaf frowned at Kit "You're not the only one who can recite the words of our associates," he said, and then gazed out at the sea. The sun was beginning to set as the afternoon came to an end and soon our safe island would be covered in darkness. '"Man hands on misery to man,'" the villain said. "'It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can. And don't have any kids yourself,'" he finished, with a short, sharp laugh.
At that moment, Kit moaned in pain, her throat thick with fungus, and she clutched her heaving belly. We hurried to help her. Sunny stayed at Kit's side to comfort her and support her back. Kit Snicket's labor was very difficult and it felt like we were moving in the wrong direction, which caused us much grief. At one point, Klaus and I had to rush over to the arboretum to get some supplies. Olaf didn't help much. At one point he turned away in disgust to gaze out at the sea again. Clearly he had no interest in participating in helping a woman give birth. I helped as best as I could, and although our knowledge on labor was limited, we managed to successfully deliver a baby girl. Violet passed the baby girl to me and I immediately brought her over to Kit. Her hour was almost up, but I wanted her to have the chance to meet her daughter before she passed away.
"It's a girl," I said to Kit, and I felt tears form in my eyes as I spoke. "Isn't she beautiful?"
Kit was getting weaker but I managed to place the baby in her arms. Kit's newborn daughter's eyes opened as she was placed in her mother's arms. Her crying calmed down slightly. "She is," Kit managed.
"Little Beatrice Snicket," I said.
"Actually," Klaus said, "It's Beatrice Abigail Snicket."
I beamed up at him in approval, happy to know that Kit's baby could carry on my mother's name.
Kit touched my arm and leaned close to whisper so only I could hear. "There's something you need to know, only you. You're mother had another child. But like you, the child has disappeared."
"You mean," I said, in disbelief. "I may have a brother or a sister?"
Kit nodded. "I'm not sure where the child is, but I hope someday you'll meet," she said. "Everyone deserves to know who their family is."
"Thank you," I said.
At that moment, the baby began to cry again, and then, Kit started to murmur something to the baby that made her crying settle into whimpers. I realized it was a song. And not just any song:
Here, where the world is quiet;
Here, where all trouble seems
Dead winds' and spent waves' riot
In doubtful dreams of dreams;
I watch the green field growing
For reaping folk and sowing,
For harvest-time and mowing,
A sleepy world of streams.
I am tired of tears and laughter,
And men that laugh and weep;
Of what may come hereafter
For men that sow to reap:
I am weary of days and hours,
Blown buds of barren flowers,
Desires and dreams and powers
And everything but sleep.
Here life has death for neighbour,
And far from eye or ear
Wan waves and wet winds labour,
Weak ships and spirits steer;
They drive adrift, and whither
They wot not who make thither;
But no such winds blow hither,
And no such things grow here.
No growth of moor or coppice,
No heather-flower or vine,
But bloomless buds of poppies,
Green grapes of Proserpine,
Pale beds of blowing rushes
Where no leaf blooms or blushes
Save this whereout she crushes
For dead men deadly wine.
Pale, without name or number,
In fruitless fields of corn,
They bow themselves and slumber
All night till light is born;
And like a soul belated,
In hell and heaven unmated,
By cloud and mist abated
Comes out of darkness morn.
Though one were strong as seven,
He too with death shall dwell,
Nor wake with wings in heaven,
Nor weep for pains in hell;
Though one were fair as roses,
His beauty clouds and closes;
And well though love reposes,
In the end it is not well."
Kit broke off to wheeze some more and I could tell she couldn't go on singing anymore. Suddenly, I was reminded of that fateful day when Jacques Snicket died. I thought about how I had finished singing that song when he died. I knew then that I had to finish Kit's song as well.
"Pale, beyond porch and portal,
Crowned with calm leaves, she stands
Who gathers all things mortal
With cold immortal hands;
Her languid lips are sweeter
Than love's who fears to greet her
To men that mix and meet her
From many times and lands."
Kit smiled at me gratefully and gave her daughter a final kiss goodbye, before I took her back in my arms. Sunny took Kit's hand again and then I continued to sing:
"She waits for each and other,
She waits for all men born;
Forgets the earth her mother,
The life of fruits and corn;
And spring and seed and swallow
Take wing for her and follow
Where summer song rings hollow
And flowers are put to scorn.
There go the loves that wither,
The old loves with wearier wings;
And all dead years draw thither,
And all disastrous things;
Dead dreams of days forsaken,
Blind buds that snows have shaken,
Wild leaves that winds have taken,
Red strays of ruined springs.
We are not sure of sorrow,
And joy was never sure;
To-day will die to-morrow;
Time stoops to no man's lure;
And love, grown faint and fretful,
With lips but half regretful
Sighs, and with eyes forgetful
Weeps that no loves endure.
From too much love of living,
From hope and fear set free,
We thank with brief thanksgiving
Whatever gods may be
That no life lives for ever;
That dead men rise up never;
That even the weariest river
Winds somewhere safe to sea.
Then star nor sun shall waken,
Nor any change of light:
Nor sound of waters shaken,
Nor any sound or sight:
Nor wintry leaves nor vernal,
Nor days nor things diurnal;
Only the sleep eternal
In an eternal night."
As the song ended, Kit's eyes took on a glossy look and it was then that I knew she had left us. When I stared into her eyes, all I could see was Jacques' glossy eyes. Kit's daughter began to sniffle and then, let out a cry once more. Hearing Kit's baby crying was too much for me to stand and I shook with great heaving sobs. Violet gently took the baby from my arms so I wouldn't startle it and Klaus put his arm around me. I cried on his shoulder and soon the Baudelaires were sobbing too. We huddled together the way we had many times before—as if we were one family.
And for the last time for the ASOUE part fic...REVIEW!
Now this isn't techincally 'the end'/ the last chapter of The Frenzied Fate so there's no new story yet. So keep following this story to find out what will become of Jamie and the Baudelaires. And yes, unfortunately, Count Olaf is still alive.