Christian halted, frantically searching for the boy. He'd lost him. How was
he meant to follow... a sweet melody was heard across the wind, the boy was
whistling the tune again! He hurtled down a nearby alley. Where was it
coming from? He made himself slow down; his footsteps and the sound of his
breathing were overpowering the music. He walked quickly now down the
cobblestone streets; the illusive whistler always ahead of him meandered
aimlessly along. Occasionally Christian, completely unaware of where the
boy was leading him followed willingly, he was convinced that Satine was
behind this. He was amused at how well the boy managed to stay out of
sight. He must have had practice thought Christian, all this time on the
streets it would be very useful to disappear when you feel like it...
"HOW MUCH IS SHE PAYING YOU?" he shouted out not really expecting a reply. He heard the boy giggle he thought, well the whistling had been suspended for the moment so he stopped in the middle of the road.
"AREN'T YOU BORED OF BEING CHASED YET?" he shouted,
"WHERE ARE WE GOING ANYWAY?"
Christian turned not sure where his little orphan friend was. People on the streets looked at him strangely, he blushed, embarrassed, he must have looked like a raving lunatic. He met their questioning looks with a nervous smile and turned away. There before him stood the boy, sniggering at his own cleverness. Christian ran up to him frightened that if he didn't the boy would take off again. The boy stood where he was grinning; he handed Christian a letter and disappeared. Christian was too puffed to chase after him again instead he called out "WHAT NO CHARGE THIS TIME? COS I"VE GOT 2 FRANCS HERE TO SPARE!" He thought it might tempt the boy into revealing more about all the letters and codes but he was nowhere to be seen.
Panting Christian sat down at a nearby café and ordered an ice water. Once it arrived and he had quenched his thirst he concentrated on reading the letter still firmly clenched in his hand. The envelope opened easily with the help of a butter knife and Christian saw that the letter was written on faded old parchment. The meticulous handwriting danced across the page before his eyes and he began to read...
Christian,
You have been invited to The Gypsy Queen's birthday party, please accept this train ticket to Romania as a gift-but don't forget to bring one yourself! It would be an honor to see you there. The Gypsy Queen has heard great things about your work and would be delighted to hear about any up coming ideas you may have. You will find us in the Wilting Forest in the South of Romania Please arrive no later than the 12th of April.
Yours sincerely Her Majesty the Gypsy Queen's Associate Ramon D'Argent
Christian unfolded a second piece of paper to reveal a one way train ticket to Romania. Should he go? These gypsy folk were famed to be murderers and thieves but yet he cared neither for his life nor the few possessions that he owned so really he had nothing to lose. He took one last look at France and hopped onto the next train that arrived.
"HOW MUCH IS SHE PAYING YOU?" he shouted out not really expecting a reply. He heard the boy giggle he thought, well the whistling had been suspended for the moment so he stopped in the middle of the road.
"AREN'T YOU BORED OF BEING CHASED YET?" he shouted,
"WHERE ARE WE GOING ANYWAY?"
Christian turned not sure where his little orphan friend was. People on the streets looked at him strangely, he blushed, embarrassed, he must have looked like a raving lunatic. He met their questioning looks with a nervous smile and turned away. There before him stood the boy, sniggering at his own cleverness. Christian ran up to him frightened that if he didn't the boy would take off again. The boy stood where he was grinning; he handed Christian a letter and disappeared. Christian was too puffed to chase after him again instead he called out "WHAT NO CHARGE THIS TIME? COS I"VE GOT 2 FRANCS HERE TO SPARE!" He thought it might tempt the boy into revealing more about all the letters and codes but he was nowhere to be seen.
Panting Christian sat down at a nearby café and ordered an ice water. Once it arrived and he had quenched his thirst he concentrated on reading the letter still firmly clenched in his hand. The envelope opened easily with the help of a butter knife and Christian saw that the letter was written on faded old parchment. The meticulous handwriting danced across the page before his eyes and he began to read...
Christian,
You have been invited to The Gypsy Queen's birthday party, please accept this train ticket to Romania as a gift-but don't forget to bring one yourself! It would be an honor to see you there. The Gypsy Queen has heard great things about your work and would be delighted to hear about any up coming ideas you may have. You will find us in the Wilting Forest in the South of Romania Please arrive no later than the 12th of April.
Yours sincerely Her Majesty the Gypsy Queen's Associate Ramon D'Argent
Christian unfolded a second piece of paper to reveal a one way train ticket to Romania. Should he go? These gypsy folk were famed to be murderers and thieves but yet he cared neither for his life nor the few possessions that he owned so really he had nothing to lose. He took one last look at France and hopped onto the next train that arrived.