Chapter 2 -In which the reader finds himself/herself climbing along an icy slope and onto a slippery ledge-

The candelabra hit the ice once more, and Violet hoisted herself up onto the peek

noiselessly, Quigley following close behind. She stood up, brushing the ice from her

clothing but quickly laid down once more, pulling Quigley down with her. She put a

warning finger onto his lips and he didn't question this rude action. Count Olaf was

standing just a few yards away, his back turned to them. They strained their ears to

hear what he and his associates were saying.

"We really ought to get a hotel room," whined Esme Squalor, the Baudelaire's

sibling's former guardian. "It's freezing out here, and this baby can't even prepare us a

good meal. Honestly, when I joined you in the criminal business, Olaf, I expected a

more luxurious life."

"Now, let's not bicker and argue about such trivial manners," soothed Colette, a contortionist. "Yes. We have much more important issues to take care of, and once my other

associates arrive, we will burn down the last safest place and gather the fortune this

little baby-" Olaf paused to kick Sunny. "-will reap for us. Then my dear, Esme, we can

own a mansion, whatever you desire," he continued.

"Even caviar?" Esme whimpered in a very un-Esmeish way.

"Yes. But now, we have more important matters on hand..." Olaf was

interrupted by a gurgle from Sunny. "Sib!" she cried.

"And can we...ah...dispose of the baby once this is all over, Olaf?" Esme

implored. "There she goes again, mumbling in this stupid language of hers that no one understands.

"Stupid!" Sunny muttered to herself, which most likely meant something along the

lines of "I can't believe I nearly gave away Violet, my oldest sibling, and that strange

boy she is with!" While the round-about conversation was taking place, Quigley and

Violet crept toward the car and silently climbed in, taking care not to touch the car

seats, as they were very old and creaked noisily. They lay on the floor near the

steering wheel, and began to formulate plans. Life is like a school cafeteria which can be

rather enjoyable at times but also unpleasant at other times and where you often are

served rather mysterious and surprising lunches you don't like. Well, the two rescuers

were given one of those lunches when Olaf announced...

"I'm going to get some provisions from the car so we can eat a bit and then get

on with business." Quigley and Violet's eyes opened wide. Oops.