Child of Freedom

Chapter 14- Secrets Revealed

I sat down in Henri's parlor with Erik beside me. I held Erik's hand in mine. Henri sat down across from us and folded his arms across his chest. He leaned in his seat.

He directed his gaze to me. "So," he began. "I kept my part of the bargain, now you must keep yours."

Erik turned to me. "What is he talking about?" He asked.

I turned to him and looked at him sheepishly. "I told him that I would tell him about my little secret if he helped you."

"I wish you had told me before you went ahead and promised him this," he said.

"That was a little difficult with you in jail," I replied, smiling slightly. He smiled in return.

"I suppose you're right," he said.

I turned to Henri. "Yes, I promised to tell you my secret," I confirmed. "But you must first promise not tell anyone else this."

"Of course," he replied. "You have my word."

"Well," I began, and let out a breath of air. "I am from the future." Henri stared at me for a moment. Then he began to laugh. "What's so funny?" I asked. "Is it that unbelievable?"

He shook his head. He roared laughter and threw his head back. When he had collected himself, he replied, "I'm sorry. I obviously offended you. But, you know, it's not every day one meets someone from the future." He smiled.

I smiled back, and continued with my story, explaining how I had come to be in the 19th century and why. When I was finished, he just leaned back in his chair and thoughtfully stroked his chin.

"So that's why you said that," he mused aloud. Then he leaned forward in his chair. "May I see the time machine?" He asked.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," I said nervously.

"If you let me see it, then I will explain myself to you. And finish explaining what M. Didier was trying to tell you before you kicked him and ran off." He smiled.

"I think I already know what he was trying to say," I told him, crossing my arms over my chest. "And I know that you and him are both members of The Servants."

"Wherever did you get that idea?" Henri asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well," I said. "When M. Didier was talking about The Servants, he said 'we'."

"That's because he was one of them. He's not anymore. M. Didier was one of the Chosen outcasts. He was thrown out as a child. Sometimes he still acts as though he's one of them. I don't know why. It's not like they're the nicest people to be around." He smiled. "Anyway, do we have a deal?"

I turned to Erik for help. He shook his head. "I can't make this decision for you," he said. "You have to make it yourself."

I turned to Henri and nodded. "Alright," I said. "I'll show it to you. But I warn you not to press any of the buttons. You could wind up eating lunch with the mastodons."

"What's a mastodon?" He asked.

"It's a prehistoric animal," I replied. "Trust me, you don't want to meet one."

"I'll take your word for it." He smiled.

I lifted up my sleeve and pulled out a bracelet. At least, it looked like a bracelet. It was really the time machine. Cautiously, I handed it to Henri, who gently took it and looked at it.

He tilted it and looked at it from all angles. At one point, he even pulled out a magnifying glass and looked at it. Finally, he handed it back to me.

"Fascinating," he said. "I can't find a single dent in the metal."

"That's because it's covered with a white fabric," I said. I don't remember the combination to make it larger, or to remove the fabric." I slid the machine onto my wrist and tucked it underneath the sleeve.

"Now that I've let you look at it," I continued. "You have to explain what M. Didier was saying, and explain yourself."

"Well, Henri began. "M. Didier was trying to scare you into giving back Lynaea, but you didn't let him finish." He leaned back in his seat.

"And you?" I prodded.

"I am a humble man- with an extensive amount of money at his fingertips- who has been trying desperately for some time now to thwart the reign of someone that I hope you never have to meet."

"Why's that?" Erik asked.

"Because," Henri said. "He is greedy and evil to the core."

"Who is he?" I asked.

"He never gives anyone his real name," Henri said. "He goes by the alias of The Chieftain." He paused. "He is the leader of The Servants. He pretends to be a priest, but he is really is out to get the people's money. You see," Henri leaned for forward. "Each week, he says that God told him to collect a tithe from the people."

"What's so bad about that?" Erik asked. "All churches do that."

"But here's the thing," Henri said, raising a finger for emphasis. "He can't actually hear God, he just pretends to. And the money that the people give him is much more than ten percent. It's more like seventy-five percent. This makes the people very poor. As well, the people have no government benefits, so they pay for everything out of their own pockets."

"But that's not fair," I said.

"You're right, it's not," Henri agreed. "But, at the moment, there's nothing we can do about it." He shook his head. "And the worst part about it is, that The Chieftain keeps all of the money for himself. He continues to tell the people that God is saving the money for when they really need it, but they really need it now. They always have. He tells them that there are people in the community that are worse off than they are, but that's only because they started out poor, and he still demanded money from them."

"So what can we do about it?" I asked.

"I have sent spies to infiltrate the area, but they all disappeared within a week. I think that The Chieftain had them killed. Either that, or he pretended that God was displeased with them, and "sacrificed" them."

"Ew," I commented.

"So what are you going to do now?" Erik asked.

"I'm not sure," Henri said. "The man treats this like a game. I wonder if perhaps I can get him to see reason." He leaned back and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe if I offer him some of my own money," he muttered.

I sat there and though for a minute. "Did you say that he treats it like a game?" I asked.

"Yes," Henri replied.

"Then why don't we make it a game?" I said.

"What are proposing?" Erik asked, turning to me.

"What if one of us challenged him to a game?" I said. "If one of us one, he would give the people their money back and allow himself to be arrested for his crimes. If he wins, then one of us has to pay the price and becomes his prisoner."

"It's a good plan," Henri mused. "But it has a fatal flaw."

"What's that?" I asked.

"What if we lose?" He asked, looking up at me.

"Then the one who played the game has to become his prisoner, and all attempt s to stop his operation will be stopped." I replied.

"And you're willing to risk your freedom?" He asked.

"Yes," I said.

"No," Erik said at the same time.

"Erik," I said. "This is my decision. You can't make this choice for me." I looked at him seriously.

He took my face in both his hands. "I don't want to lose you," he said.

I took his hands in mine. "You won't," I replied. "Because I will win." Slowly, Erik nodded. I gave him a quick peck on the left cheek. The right side of his face was again covered by a mask.

"Then it's settled," Henri said. "We will challenge him to a game. The only question remains as to what game?" He looked from me to Erik. Neither of us said anything.

"Uh," Erik began. "Rock, Paper, Scissors?" He suggested.

A/N: I hope you liked that. Wait until you read what happens next. Review, please, and tell me what you think.