The Count of Monte-Christo
Chapter IV
Terry arrived on the coast far from Chateau d'If and he was so happy. He started running and screaming of joy, all alone.
- Thank you priest! He said looking at the Chateau d'If from afar.
He ran and screamed of joy alone. He was laughing, he fell on a band of pirates… who were being the wise guys…The boss looked at Terry and said:
- I'm guessing you just escaped from Chateau d'if… What are we going to do with you? I'm a pirate and a thief. We're here to burry one of my men who wanted to steal from us, but the others are saying to let him go… but I can't do that, otherwise, I'm going to lose my authority… that's why you're the providence today…
- How is that? Asked Terry
- You have to fight to death with the thief and the winner saves his life. Charlie, you're lucky… if you win, you can take Charlie's place, if Charlie wins, I will give him another chance…
Charlie, the thief was tied up on the beach.
- What if I win? Asked Terry and I don't want to be a thief?
- Well, we slit your throat and it's over…
- Then, I want to try to kill your Charlie, said Terry
- All right, said the boss, Charlie is the best knife fighter I know…
- Maybe you should go out more…, said Terry smiling
Charlie was untied to fight with Terry… Terry who was trained by the priest, was now very skilled and he was able to out fight Charlie very fast. He whispered to him:
- Shut your mouth and let me talk…
Terry talked to the boss of the pirates and said:
- I'm letting him live, you had your spectacle and you get two men, skilled with knives in your gang… , said Terry
- Very well, said the boss, welcome to the gang!
Charlie told Terry.
- I swear on the head of my family, that I'm your man forever!
- I know, said Terry smiling
Three months later… Terry was on the beach in Marseilles with the pirates… The boss and the gang came to pay him and said:
- I don't know what happened to you, but you're free to go now! Do what you have to do…
- All right, said Terry, thanks for everything…
Terry took his dear friend Charlie and they went off the boat in Marseilles… He got a wage of memories submerging him… Everything was so far, how long as it been already? How many years? He looked at the boating company which now belonged to Danglars, the mate… The Andrew company was no more… Terry turned to Charlie and he said:
- Find us a bark a boat, for our shopping. I have people to see… Find something we'll be able to manage on our own…
- All right, said Charlie
Terry went to look for Mr. Andrew… A young girl opened the door…
- I would like to see Mr. Andrew, please, said Terry
- It's late, sir… my grandfather is about to go to sleep…
- If you tell him, that I want to speak about Terrence Grandchester, he will see me…
- All right. Please wait for me here…
The young girl closed the door. She came back a few moments later…
- My grandfather is going to see you…
- Thank you, said Terry coming in…
He arrived in the living room where there was a chimney and he saw Mr. Andrew sitting in front of it… Terry wanted to run to him and hug him, but… he was now wearing a beard and he didn't look like he did before. He didn't look like the young man who became captain all those years ago… Mr. Andre stood up to shake his hand.
- Good evening young man. You want to talk about Terrence Grandchester?
- Yes. Do you know where his family is? Asked Terry
- Well, I know his father retired in his village, after he got arrested to get away for the shame of treason…
- Oh, said Terry, what about his mother?
- Eleonor, is still an actress across the country… She takes care of Richard, the best way she can… Terrence was their only son, his arrest had broken them…
- He had a… f… fiancée…, said Terry
- Candy? Well, a month after Terrence's arrest…
- A month?
- Yes, she married Daniel Leagan.
Terry felt like they were ripping his heart out. Candy married Daniel? His wife got married? Her memory had given him hope during his incarceration and she married the fake friend who betrayed him?
- She was told that Terrence was dead, she turned to Daniel to get consoled… And she married him! They moved to Paris. He inherited his father's title… So now the count and the countess Leagan are living the good life in Paris!
Terry didn't reply. His heart was broken… the woman he loved, his wife!
- Thank you for the information… and how did you lose your company?
- Well, after Terrence's arrest, I had to associate with Danglars so I wouldn't lose the company. Only in the long run, he took my company away…
- Maybe your chance is about to turn soon, said Terry standing up. I'm going to go. I'm going to look for Terrence's father and tell him about his son…
- Thank you for you visit, young man, said Mr. Andrew warmly, sorry I don't have better news . Vilefort has also moved to Paris…
- No, you told me what I needed to know. Terrence Grandchester is dead!
He took a bag with money and put it on the table in the living room, before he left. Mr. Andrew was stunned. Terrence left the house…
Terry went to find Charlie after leaving the Andrew house…
- Boss! I found a small boat at a good price! You'd be proud of me!
But Terry wasn't listening. He continued his way, distraught…
- BOSS! Said Charlie following him, wait for me!
Terry and Charlie took the boat and they went looking for the treasure of Monte-Christo… They followed the priest's instructions… to the Monte-Christo island, it was full of caves filled with precious rocks underwater… Terry followed the priest's map, without a lot of conviction at first… But the priest had been his good fortune, he had taught him how to read and write, he had instructed him science… That treasure really existed, he was sure of it… After looking in the underground caves, Terry digged and he finally ended up finding the famous treasure of Monte-Christo…It was trunks and trunks full of gold pieces… Charlie and him brought back the trunks on the little boat… Charlie was full of joy, he was kissing the trunks… He went to see Terry who was sitting on a rock…
- BOSS, the boat is full! There's at least 8 more trunks! We will need to come back…
Terry wasn't reacting.
- Boss, do you get it? You're the richest man I've never met! Whatever problems you have, they are solved! What do you want to buy? You can afford it now!
Terry looked at him seriously and he replied:
- Revenge…
- Revenge? All right! Who do you want to get revenge from?
- Danglars, Vilefort, Daniel and Candy…
- All right. Let's kill all those people and then we have fun with the money…
- No, said Terry, we're going to study them, find out their habits first…
- Why not simply kill them? I can do it for you! I'm going to go to Paris and kill them and come back at the end of the week so that we could spend the rest of the money. It's the perfect plan!
- Death is too good for them… they have to suffer like I've suffered. They have to see their world ripped from them like mine was and lose everything…
- You will need a more powerful name to do all that…
Terry took the treasure mal and he looked at it and he said:
- Then I will become a count. Said Terry throwing the card in the fire…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Charlie was Terry's hand man… They went together to Paris to prepare his revenge… They had to find a castle worthy of a count… worthy of the rich count of Monte-Christo… Charlie, very well dressed went to see the owner of a very big castle and property to buy it…
- I would like to buy your property, he told the owner
- What? Said the man, get out of my property before I send my dogs on you!
Charlie didn't reply and he went to open the back of the carriage which was full of gold pieces and precious rocks… The man sold his castle and his property to the count of Monte-Christo…
Now he had a castle and properties, They hired the staff and invited the high society in Paris to introduce himself… He also invited the Count Leagan and his wife Candice…
Everybody RSVP to the invitation, because everybody was curious to meet the new Count of Monte-Christo… Nothing was spared, there was food everywhere, lots of it and drinks too… The guests were all dressed up and they had a lot of fun and they couldn't wait to meet the famous count of Monte-Christo… When the moment finally arrived, there was some music playing and fireworks to announce the arrival of the guest of honour.
Charlie approached the guests, on the top of a little hill on the property to say:
- Ladies and gentleman! Let me introduce you to the guest of honour, the Count of Monte-Christo!
There was fireworks and hot air balloon coming down… The guests were just amazed…
Four lackeys came out of the hot air balloon to introduce the count…
Two other lackeys who were on the grounds, approached them open the hot air balloon door and let the prince out. The latter came out and walked to the crowd and he looked at the guests from where he was, on the top of the hill and he simply said:
- Good evening.
And he turned around and walked towards his castle. All the women who were present thought he was very handsome… Terry had shaved a little and cut his long hair. It would've been impossible to recognize him… especially when they thought he was dead.
He came back out to speak to his guests and socialise with them. He talked to Vilefort and his wife. When he walked away, Vilefort wife asked him:
- What do we know about him?
- Not much, said Vilefort
Meanwhile, Terry was talking to Charlie.
- The Count Leagan is not here, said Terry
- He had a morning appointment he couldn't miss today… a duel… he was sleeping with vicount's wife, said Charlie
- He's cheating on Candy, said Terry, the bastard!
But Candy was married, too bad for her… tough break…
The festivities at the Count of Monte-Christo's continued… Terry and Charlie continued their investigations, quietly.
He had sent Charlie, his hand man to take care of his parents. The bought them a castle in Scotland and hired some staff to take care of their comfort… He bought a theatre for his mother so she could enjoy her acting job as much as she wanted without worrying about money. When Eleonor inquired about the theatre, she learned that the Count of Monte-Christo was making them a present for the good cause… He wasn't able to help his own parents, so he was helping other people's parent , so he said.
oOoOoOoOoOo
The Count Daniel Leagan had woken up at dawn to fight in duel with a sword and since he was very skilled, he was able to kill his adversary very easily. He went back home and he found Candy wearing a robe on top of the stairs of their manor…
- You're up early today, my darling, he said, looking at Candy
- The viscount of Condé is dead? Asked Candy
- Unless his heart is on the other side where my sword pierced him, I'm afraid he's dead…
- My he rest in peace, said Candy sadly
- Well, he widow is ruined now…
- I know about all your affairs, you know that?
- I'm sorry your humiliated like that my darling. But I'm a man and it's my style of life… Paris and I equals infidelity and since there's no need to hide it, I don't even bother hiding it anymore…
Candy shook her head. Her nightmare had started ever since Terry got arrested… She was unhappy in her marriage…