Jeffrey drops the curtain.
"I really think that is Charles Dauphin. You remember what that man in the inn said about Charles and how he was doubting he could be king?"
"Well, we have a green light now. He will be king."
"Yeah, but I still don't know why the omni dropped us here. For some reason I think it was important and I can't figure out what. I don't think it was for your back." Jeffrey knits his brow.
"Thanks. You want to go see a coronation?"
"Sure!"
Bogg has to smile at Jeffrey's child like delight.
"Okay, you set the dials and we're off."
-oOo-
Reims, July 17, 1429.
"I liked it better when you dropped us on a bed, kid." With the aid of a nearby wall Bogg scrambles up. He should have stayed on the bed. What were the chances someone would have walked in? Even then, plenty of time to omni out once the curtain started moving because someone was trying to pull through. He leans against the wall. It's his own fault too. From now on no more heroics. Girls that dress up like men and get themselves into trouble are on their own. See, corporal punishment really works to teach people a lesson. He grimaces, cynicism. The kid learned it from no stranger.
Jeffrey gives him the omni and he clips in on his waist band.
"Where to now?"
"To the cathedral." Jeffrey leads the way, nearly bouncing with enthusiasm. It's not often Bogg suggests an outing like this. Usually he has to beg him for it. "Kings of France were crowned in the Notre Dame of Reims. I imagine it will be quite spectacular, with real knights and stuff. And we'll get to see Joan again. She'll be there, of course; she made it happen."
A quartet of armed men passes them in the street.
"Guards to make sure there are no irregularities, riots and such. Until recently Reims was supportive of the duke of Burgundy, who had an allegiance with the English. Might still be a few of them about."
"Well, they seem to be doing a good job. It's very quiet in the streets."
"What did you expect? Rows upon rows of people in the streets waving little French flags?"
Bogg shrugs. Flags he hadn't expected, but he at least thought there would be some people out in the streets as excited as Jeffrey to see some real knights.
They reach the impressive cathedral and enter it through the door on the right. Inside nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. Whereas things should be out of the ordinary: it's not every day a king is crowned.
"Bogg, I think we have a red light."
"You think there is a red light?"
"Well, I didn't really check it. I just sort of glanced the omni to see if date and place where right. I mean, we had a green light in Chinon. What could have gone wrong between then and now?" Jeffrey starts to get an embarrassed look on his face. He feels he has made a mistake. It's not often that he does.
"You'd be surprised at how much could go wrong." Bogg flicks open the omni to reveal a red light.
"Now what? I really thought we had it cracked." Jeffrey throws his arms in the air in frustration. "What is this supposed to mean? Charles did give Joan an army? She didn't manage to lift the siege of Orléans? What? What?"
Jeffrey slips into a nearby pew and rests his face in his hands to think. Bogg sits down next to him.
"You know, this would be a lot easier if the omni not only told us something is wrong, but also what is wrong. In stead of letting us stalk around for the cause of the red light like a couple of headless chickens."
Bogg considers the image of the both of them without heads. "It also would have been easier if I still had my guidebook."
"You don't need your guidebook, Bogg, you have me."
"True."
Jeffrey leans back and crosses his arms. He kicks the pew in front of him. So far this mission has been very frustrating. He has done nothing concerning the red light with Jules Verne; the red light on the ship sorted itself out; and with Joan his input wasn't really needed either 'cause pretty soon the voices in her head took over. Well, those visions slipped up somewhere, 'cause Joan isn't here now. That's some kind of consolation. But it is meager. He kicks the pew again. Why is there a red light? Why? Why? Why? He kicks the pew to the rhythm of asking why. He feels Bogg's hand on his knee. He looks up at him. Bogg says nothing, but Jeffrey answers him anyway.
"It's frustrating."
"Sure, but kicking wood till your toes are sore isn't gonna help."
Jeffrey shrugs.
"So what should have happened since we left Joan?"
"Well, she should have gone to Baudricourt like we told her. He gave her an escort to the Dauphin, who gave her an army. Then she lifted the siege of Orléans. I think we should work our way back from there. Find out if the siege was lifted; if Joan was there to lift it; if there actually was a siege to begin with."
"Wouldn't that have made things easier for Joan if there hadn't been a siege?"
"Probably."
"Right, I think we should start asking a few questions here and there." Bogg gets up. "See who it is we need to pay another visit."
"That's it!" Jeffrey jumps up. "Pay another visit."
Bogg looks puzzled.
"The first time Joan went to Baudricourt he laughed at her and sent her back home. She went back to him a few months later and then he gave her an escort to the Dauphin. That's it! Joan didn't make her second visit. We have to go to her and tell her to go to Baudricourt again."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. December 1428, that's where we need to go."
"If you say so."
Bogg sets the dials of the omni. Jeffrey puts his hand and his friend's arm. This new insight has brought a great big smile to his face. Bogg clicks the button of the omni, and they're off flying through space and time.
-oOo-
They land in the garden where they last talked to Joan. There's a thin layer of snow on the ground and tree branches.
"You're not thinking of another snowball fight, are you?" Bogg eyes Jeffrey.
"Of course not." Jeffrey is dusting off the snow powder. "We have to find Joan and tell her to go back to Baudricourt."
There is a disturbance at the house. The back door is thrown open and a young woman runs into the garden.
"You're back!" she shouts.
"Joan!" She's grown up quite nicely, Bogg notices. Too bad she is the Maiden. Bogg scolds himself for that thought. "Joan, why didn't you go to the Baudricourt like we told you?" He takes her hands in his.
"I did. I did go to see him. But he laughed at me. He said he should box my ears for leaving home without my father's permission. Then he sent me back. And my father. He doesn't say it, but I know I have embarrassed him. He hasn't said a word to me since I got back. I'm sorry, Saint Michael, I've let you down." Joan lowers her head.
"Joan," Bogg says in a soft voice. He puts his hand lightly against her face. She looks up at him. "Joan, we wouldn't be back here if we didn't still believe in you."
"Yes, Saint Michael," Joan replies quietly, "but I just don't know what to do anymore."
"Joan, walk with me, will you." Jeffrey beckons her. They walk into the garden together. "We've told you about your assignment, and we've tried to give you encouragement, but I think it hasn't been enough."
"You and Saint Michael have always been very kind to me, er, angel."
"Oh, you can call me Jeffrey."
"Jeffrey. You have been always very kind to me. And Saint Catharine and Saint Margaret were also very encouraging. I know I've let you all down. I'm very sorry."
"We believed in you, Joan. We still believe in you. You are the Maiden. You will give the French throne back to its rightful king. We believe in you. You just have to believe in yourself too."
"I want to, but I can't. I can't leave my home without my father's permission. He won't give that permission, and Baudricourt will just send me back again."
"God, our father in heaven, has given you permission to leave your home. You must go back to Baudricourt and demand of him an escort to the Dauphin in Chinon." Two thoughts come together in Jeffrey's mind. He continues, "Charles Dauphin asked God for a sign in a prayer he made on November first. You are that sign. The Dauphin asked if he was the rightful king of France. He is, and you are the sign from God that is going to tell him that. Ask him for an army to lift the siege of Orléans. If he asks you any questions, tell him God has heard his prayers and sent you. But you have to believe in yourself you can do this. We believe in you, Joan. Do you believe in you too?"
"But it is such a large task."
"We believe you can do this. Do you believe you can do this?"
Joan hesitantly nods her head.
"More convincing. Joan, do you believe in yourself?"
"Yes, I believe in myself."
"Louder."
"Yes, I believe in myself." Jeffrey stirs up the passion in Joan. "I believe in me," she calls out.
"You are the Maiden."
"I am the Maiden!" Joan echoes.
"You will get the escort to Chinon."
"I will get the escort to Chinon!"
"You will lead the army."
"I will lead the army!" Joan clenches her fist combatively.
"You will lift the siege of Orléans."
"I will lift the siege of Orléans!"
"You are the Maiden. A sign from God to the Dauphin."
"I am the Maiden!" She looks at Jeffrey and smiles at him. "I am sent by God."
"Very good. Yes, you are."
Bogg looks at the scene with curiosity. He shakes his head to it. He takes the omni and checks it. The light turns from red to green. Whatever it is Jeffrey's doing it is working. He puts his thumb up to him.
Jeffrey puts his hand on Joan's head to give her his blessing. Then he sends her back to the house to get ready for another trip to de Baudricourt. Joan nods, crosses herself and runs back to the house. Jeffrey turns to Bogg with a big smile on his face.
"I once saw a motivational speaker on TV. It seemed to work then," he replies to his friend's questioning face.
"It sure did the trick here." Bogg shows him the green light.
"Can we go to the coronation for real now? You did promise."
"I did no such thing. I just asked if you liked to go see one. Never said I would take you to one." He watches the quick turn to sadness in his friend's face. "All right, then, just this once." He sets the dials as Jeffrey cheers up again.
-oOo-
Reims, France, July 17, 1429.
From a higher vantage point Jeffrey and Bogg look down at the proceedings in the cathedral. It is even more impressive than Jeffrey had imagined. The knights, their banners. To the left by the choir Jeffrey has spotted Joan. She is beaming with pride as if it is her own son that is receiving the ointment, blessing and crown from the archbishop of Reims. Jeffrey waves at her. She gives a small nod in greeting and then returns her attention to the ceremony. Jeffrey sighs.
"Are you okay, kid?"
"Yeah. Just a bit sad. I kinda started to like Joan, and we helped her along to an early death."
Bogg says nothing. I told you so seems inappropriate. And everything he can think of sounds like I told you so. He squeezes Jeffrey's shoulder. "Let's go somewhere else," he finally says.
Jeffrey nods in reply.
THE END
-oOo-
Disclaimer: Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones were created by James D. Parriott. Jules Verne, Joan of Arc and Charles Dauphin came from history. Edmund is based on all those girls that did dress up as men to sail with the VOC.
A/N: Thank you for reading my story. Leave a review to tell me what you think of it.