Chapter 7: Vulnerable
With a queasy feeling in my stomach, I followed the Baudelaires across the street to Justice Strauss' home where we planned to conduct our research on law books. It proved very difficult. We weren't lawyers and we had to figure out how Count Olaf could get it before it was too late.
Justice Strauss was surprised by our interest in law books as she came into her library to see us sitting on her reading chairs skimming through books on nuptial law.
"Goodness," Justice Strauss said, "I didn't know you were interested in law. Even I don't like reading those books."
"I like puzzles so I'm interested in law," I said, "I'll need to read them if I want to go into law someday."
"I find them interesting," Violet lied.
"So do I," Klaus said. "I'm interested in a career in law. Me and my sister are interested in every subject."
"Sunny can't possibly be interested. Maybe she'd like to come help me with the gardening."
"Wipi!" Sunny shrieked, and I understood she meant, "I'd much prefer gardening to sitting around watching my siblings and Jane struggle through law books."
"Well, make sure she doesn't eat any dirt," Klaus said as he carried Sunny to Justice Strauss.
"Of course," said Justice Strauss. "We wouldn't want her to be sick for the big performance."
I looked over at Violet and Klaus as they turned to stare at me.
"So, Count Olaf told you about the play…" I said.
"Are you excited?" Violet asked with a slight hesitation as she shuddered.
The judge beamed at us. "Oh yes," she said. "I was my dream to perform onstage since I was young. Count Olaf is making it come true. Aren't you thrilled to be a part of the theater? Isn't he making your dream come true Jane?"
I swallowed and noticed Klaus wearing a sour face out of the corner of my eye.
"Not really," I said because I couldn't force the lie.
"Stage fright happens to everyone," she said. "You'll do great Jane and I can see you sing. Everyone will. You'll move people to tears. What about you Violet?"
"The same as Jane," Violet said.
"It will get better," she said, her eyes bright as she left the library with Sunny in her hands.
"She's stagestruck," Klaus said. "She won't believe that Count Olaf is up to something, no matter what."
"We tried," I said. "She just thinks we have stage fright. He just wants her to think he's a decent person."
"She wouldn't help us anyway," Violet pointed out looking sad. "She's a judge, and she'd just start babbling about in loco parentis like Mr. Poe."
"Are you sure?" I said. "She's a lot sweeter than Mr. Poe. She wouldn't stand for him hitting Klaus. We should tell her."
"What if she tells Count Olaf?" Klaus said, looking sad like Violet. "That's why we've got to find a legal reason to stop the performance," Klaus went on. "Have you found anything in your book yet, Jane? You knew that legal term. There must be other legal terms you know."
"I know we need to look a Nuptial Law," I said. "That's the law book for marital law."
"Nuptial Law," Klaus said out loud. "Yes, that's it Jane. You should be a lawyer. We need to look at marital law."
"But how could he get our money by having us perform in a play?" Violet said. "Maybe Count Olaf isn't up to anything. I'm not interested in performing in his play, but perhaps we're all worked up about nothing. Maybe Count Olaf really is just trying to welcome us into the family."
"How can you say that?" Klaus cried. "He struck me across the face."
"He humiliated me in front of his troupe," I said. "We can't live with him for the rest of our lives. He wants our fortune."
"My eyes are tired from reading these books, Klaus," Violet said, "and they aren't helping us. I'm going to go out and help Justice Strauss in the garden."
Violet left the library leaving Klaus and I alone for the first time. I turned to the Nuptial Law book in front of me and played with the cover, opening and closing it slightly.
"I'm sorry, Jane," Klaus said. "I know Count Olaf is making you uncomfortable by forcing you to be the bride in the play. I wish I could stop it but I can't."
"We just need to keep reading," I said and handed him the book. "I know you can do it. I believe in you. You can stop Count Olaf. We can find a better home."
Klaus stared into my eyes.
"I want to—"
"You there!" came a voice from behind us and we saw the hook-handed man standing in the doorway. I quickly hid the Nuptial Law book under the table between Klaus and I. "Count Olaf sent me to look for you. You are to return to the house immediately."
I looked from Klaus to the hook-handed man and back in fear.
"What are you doing in this musty old room, anyway?" he asked with a croak in his voice. He leaned over us and saw the title of the book sitting on the table: "Inheritance Law and Its Implications?" he said sharply. "Why are you reading that?"
"Why do you think I'm reading it?" Klaus said.
"I'll tell you what I think." He placed a hook on Klaus' shoulder. I stared fearfully at the threatening hook and took Klaus' hand with my free one. "I think you should never be allowed inside this library again, at least until Friday. We don't want little children getting big ideas. Now, where is your sister and that hideous baby?"
"In the garden," Klaus said, and nudged the hook off his shoulder. "Why don't you go and get them?"
He leaned close, inches from Klaus' face. "Listen to me very carefully, little boy," he said. "The only reason Count Olaf hasn't torn you limb from limb is that he hasn't gotten hold of your money. He allows you to live while he works out his plans. But ask yourself this, you little bookworm: What reason will he have to keep you alive after he has your money? What do you think will happen to you then?"
I noticed Klaus shudder and I did as well under his stare.
"Ah-" Klaus choked out. "Ah-"
"We'll get out," I said bravely, "You'll see."
"I see you've got a girlfriend, Klaus," he said. "She won't be for long after Friday when you'll be permanently separated. When the time comes, I believe Count Olaf just might leave you to me. So if I were you, I'd start acting a little nicer."
He rose and aimed his hooks at Klaus allowing the light to reflect off them.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I have to fetch your poor orphan siblings."
Klaus looked terrified as the hook-handed man left and when he was out of sight I quickly passed Klaus the book on nuptial law.
"I'm sorry Klaus," I said. "This book is the only chance we have."
Klaus nodded. "I'm going to save us all. I don't know how but I'm going to try."
"You can't do it alone," I said and held his hand again. "Two is better than one."
I stared at Klaus again and we both leaned forward.
"You'd better be ready to go," the hook-handed man shouted from outside.
We jumped apart and Klaus tucked the book under his shirt. We held hands as the hook-handed man entered with Violet and Sunny and we went ahead so the hook-handed man wouldn't notice the lump in his shirt. Klaus couldn't save us alone. So we would do it together.
Share with me the blankets that you're wrapped in
Because it's cold outside (cold outside)
It's cold outside
Share with me the secrets that you kept in
Because it's cold inside (cold inside)
It's cold inside
And your slow shaking fingertips show
That you're scared like me so
Let's pretend we're alone
And I know you may be scared
And I know we're unprepared
But I don't care
Tell me, tell me
What makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
I was born to tell you I love you
Isn't that a song already? (Isn't that a song already?)
I get a B in originality
And it's true I can't go on without you
Your smile makes me see clearer (your smile makes me see clearer)
If you could only see in the mirror what I see
And your slow shaking fingertips show
That you're scared like me so
Let's pretend we're alone
And I know you may be scared
And I know we're unprepared
But I don't care
Tell me, tell me
What makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
Slow down girl, you're not going anywhere
Just wait around and see
Maybe I'm much more
You never know what lies ahead
I promise I can be anyone, I can be anything
Just because you were hurt doesn't mean you shouldn't bleed
I can be anyone, anything
I promise I can be what you need
I can be what you need
Tell me, tell me
What makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
(Vulnerable, Secondhand Serenade)