SCENE TWENTY FOUR The cellars at Isle d' Tresor the same day
Working from a verbal list of suggestions Ani and Micah gave them, the already paired brothers from both Companies split into three teams for their task. As agreed, one third kept Watch together, hoping no one else would note their diminished numbers on that detail. Another third spread out through the top floor of the old mansion, following Ani's idea that the Ls would be fascinated by the many rooms in the mostly unused east wing and the attic. But Ani led the last group, down from the attic, through the kitchen, the pantries and the cellars, divided by numerous weight-bearing walls, into long ignored, narrow rooms and darkened, cobwebbed passageways. A long two and three quarters of an hour passed while their search went on, each unit somberly reporting back their lack of findings. Then Scout, and Tin Man, both brothers bending down to look into what Ani said was a kind of sub-basement and storm cellar, called to the other searchers in paired stage-whispers.
"There they are! I saw "em stirrin', right over there!" Scout called out. "We found "em, YJ! Get the rest of the teams on down here!"
"Dang, we almost went right past "em!" Tin Man added. "Cour, get on over here with that lantern, will you?"
Jaimey and Courier arrived in the blink of an eye, with Ani and Micah, and a good many of the other searchers right behind. "Where?" Jaimey demanded.
"They're all right back there, YJ." Scout answered and pointed. 'look, they've curled up tight as newborn kittens back against the farthest wall of this cellar."
"Great Glory!" Courier exclaimed, trying to keep his voice down, somewhat. 'they're hiding back there, curled up in a pile in the farthest corner, the same way they always did while we were stuck in that pesthouse, before Mac, Temus and the rest of "em showed up! They're all bunched up, even sound asleep, as if they still needed to keep out of the drafts and the wet, and away from the scurvy creeps that passed for guards up there."
"You're right. Good work, good scoutin', boys." Jaimey acknowledged. "Now, soft-foot it, troops, and head on over. Let's not get our L brothers jumping as high as they are tall by our clompin 'round them. Umm… sorry, Missus Ani, you ain't gonna fright them none, didn't mean t'say you would."
"No, of course not, mon cher." Antoinette answered, and knelt to address her own son. 'micah Diego, we must be very quiet now, while les Petites are awaking. Something has alarmed them, and we would not add to that, oui?"
"Oui, maman." Micah nodded, wide eyed already as he watched the brothers interact.
"Mebbee it'd be best if we keep shut a while, YJ," Travis Lee suggested, 'so th' Ls don't get th' idea we're some of them danged guards from that rotten place up in Bal'mr."
"That's a good plan, as far as it goes, Trav." Jaimey agreed. "But we still have to take care we don't spook "em more."
"Hey, YJ, I know we already took the roll. But with a good third of the fellas keepin' Watch in place of the Ls right now, shouldn't we do something to make sure we're all… singing from the same page while we figure all this out? The last thing we need now we found them, is for some one of the fellas to say just the wrong thing, or make the wrongest move." Preacher added.
'Somethin' like that, Preacher, but not exactly. Fellas, listen up" Jaimey said, an alternate idea vividly coming to live in his eyes. " I'm just going to signal all y"all on the QT, while we take up the flanks and roll up the center to make it secure for the Littles again. Brothers, when I give you the pass-sign, not a sound out of y"all, just give a thumbs up, a high sign or a wave, mebbee. Then fall out of marchin' column proper, step out and flank the Littles. And like I already said, soft-foot it, leave room for D Company to take their spots, and for the love of G-d, don't step on their toes!"
Now, with the ease of long practice, each Witness and Defender made their way across the cellar, and settled into place sitting or standing behind, beside or in front of each Littler in the far corner. At first, there was little reaction among those "youngest' brothers. But gradually, some of them began to stir, to look up, to reach for and snuggle close to their protectors, while some only managed to lean against their brothers, and a few gave almost no sign of knowing anyone was there at all. Without a word spoken, the Witnesses returned the open affection of the more active, more aware tykes, and encouraged whatever response they could get from the more diffident little boys.
Some of the youths pulled lengths of string from their pockets with which they quickly held their brother's attention, playing "cat's cradle". Others quietly offered the children a piece of cornbread or a more rare bite of sour candy, tempting those small boys to give an even more rare smile. And the youths who sat with the most frightened, most timid children in the younger set only waited, as always, for those little boys to pick up the cues they needed to know they weren't alone in the big, dark place. Still the youths said nothing more aloud, and the smaller boys remained silent too, the more active ones glancing around themselves and their brothers worriedly, the more withdrawn ones seeming to just barely emerge again. Their hands were busy though, as Antoinette and Micah entered the cellar proper, signing and finger-spelling to each other, and to the small ones.
Ani and her son watched, fascinated, as this flanking maneuver got under way. They stopped beside a rough divider, made of old packing crates and barrels, and kept as quiet as any mother can keep an active little boy.
'silence, mon coeur," Ani admonished Micah, when he began to wriggle, as they waited and they watched. 'remember, mon petite, we do not wish to frighten these little ones more. They are very dear to us, just as their brother, Torry is. And they have been very brave for such a long while, now, Micah Diego, just as you were mon si brave petit fils, when you had a fever, this autumn, not long before your Papa came home, do you not recall?"
"Oui, maman." Micah whispered back. 'micah Diego remembers that mucho. Micah Diego's be-brave got so sleepy, then. Did Torry's Littles petits freres be-brave get also so much sleepy, now?"
"Yes, that's what I believe, cheri. And I think your Papa and our friends believe that, too. Don't you, mes cher gentilhommes? " Ani nodded, holding up her lantern, as she heard footsteps. Then she smiled, seeing her husband climbing into the cellar, with help from Jacques, who then turned around and lent a hand to Jim, coming up just behind them.
"I do, I do indeed. But what is all this sub rosa searching about, m'ijo?" Miguel quietly asked his son, with a broad wink and a wide, bright grin. "Why was I not invited to go spelunking for our Littlers with you and your cher maman? And how well you did without me, for here they are."
"Mes Torry et Jacques amis, you should no be bring Papa down here as now. Maman told Micah Diego he was with too many worry all night with no being sleepying. This is tres much mal, tres, tres much mal." Micah first scolded the two agents, somberly shaking his head.
"I know, Micah, and I'm sorry." Jim said, just as seriously, reaching for the little boy. "But you see, I know the reason the Littles came to hide down here. I … well, something happened yesterday evening that scared them, a lot. And it was my fault. I need to apologize to them, and make things right, if I can. So I've been worried all night myself, and so has Jacques and of course, that worried your Papa. So, when all us grown folks thought about it for a bit, we realized that this is your home and so you would know JUST where to look for my … my little brothers. And you did, you did real well. And so maybe you should scold me, and not your father."
"No, Papa is a grown person, Torry, all grown. So he really knows better. And he's a very, very smart Doctor-person, almost as very smart as maman." Micah protested and turned to frown even more grimly at Miguel. "You were too many no sleepy-ing, Papa. Et you were with too many worry. Et our Jaim-ee did said we must come find the Littlers-Petits as quick as quick." Micah explained bluntly, with a near identical grin. "You stay up too many when you shouldn't. Maman says Micah Diego gets wore-out-and very much sick with achy-fevres, when I'm too many staying up and no sleepying. You must not also get very much sick, Papa! You must go be now asleep!"
"Well, your maman is extremely wise, Micah Diego. And she's often right about what makes one wore out with achy fevres." Miguel agreed. 'so I shall certainly go be asleep, just as soon as I make sure the small Torrys are also not too wore out, or too many no sleepying. They remain under my care, you see. And a doctor cannot simply go and nap a nap, m'ijo, while his patients need him. Est ce que t' n' comprends pas ceci, mon cher fils?"
"Non, j'l comprend bien, Papa. You may then stay down here a little while more. Only a little while, s'il t'plait. Then you must have to be come back to the upstairs and I must have to be read you a sleepying times story, Papa." Micah nodded emphatically.
"Well, that would be most gratifying and I'm sure, very helpful in advancing the cause of my napping." Miguel grinned. "Now, let's see how we can help Torry and his brothers. Are you going to approach them at once, my friend or wait and see what the Witnesss and Defenders can come up with?"
"Well, I'm not sure." Jim admitted, frowning and shrugging. "It was me, after all, who caused them this fright. In fact, in a lot of ways I'm the one who caused them to be locked in that … nightmarish place, what'd Artemus call it? That nightmare circus up in Baltimore? So I'm hardly in good standing with the Watch, or at least I don't think I should be! V Company supposedly 'took the reins', as some of the older brothers call it, around the time the War started. So we were, allegedly, in control… when the most recent part of the whole lousy fracas began. So, how do I go to my brothers now? And what do I say? "Hey, I decided to finally, finally defy our Tormentor?"
And fellows, I have to tell you --for about a half a minute there, finally doing just that felt so fine! Only then I realized, only then I remembered what Remy threatened. And I remembered that he got through to you, to my oldest brothers, who've done so much, who've fought so hard, and who've been stuck in this fracas the longest… And I remembered that you were so worn down by then, so wearied out and so plain exhausted you couldn't fight off his lies, not any longer. And now here I am. And now, I have to help you understand just how much of a damnable lie that really was. Now I have to tell you… Remy made damn sure that one of the very worst days in our whole, entire lives would happen to you, all over again. Now I have to tell you the truth, that our …" Jim stopped, pressing one hand across the lower part of his face, covering his mouth, because this truth was surely the hardest he'd ever known.
"Mon Enfant, j'mescuse, mais, I do not agree with your assignment of blame in this case." Jacques quietly responded, putting one hand on Jim's shoulder, while Ani drew Micah and Miguel to one side. "You never chose what befell you, something over three years ago, Jim. You most certainly did not decide to be so viciously harmed as a very small child. And you assuredly did not order our team to investigate the murders of former Confederates in and around Washington which began this phase of the nightmare, j" crois, anymore than you chose the time or the place or the means by which any one you cared for ever died. And to come back to the point of this discussion, you did not lie to your juene freres about your pere. So, you are once more, perhaps taking too much on? That, my friend, that IS a deeply engrained character flaw of yours, a serious failing indeed, one you should work to amend, non? And in the meantime, let your brothers continue doing their duty, as they have already done so well, so far, n'cest pas?"
"Non, et oui." Jim answered succinctly, frowning tautly, but not arguing further. "Where's Artie?"
"Ah, for once he listened to his own instincts and common sense, and when those failed, to the rest of us. Artemus then agreed it would be better he not confuse les Petits more, by making an appearance just now, in the role of your late father."
"Yeah, figure that." Jim nodded. "Alright, you're saying I should stand back now, and let my brothers fix the problem I caused for them? Jacques you know me pretty well by this time. So do you have any idea how much I hate that suggestion, and how much more I hate that you're likely to be right?"
"A very annoying trait on my part, oui." Jacques chuckled. "On the other hand, mon enfant, when I am in the role of your docteur and theirs, better I should be right more often than otherwise, non? Now, try to think of it this way: clearly the searchers came down here with some plan for easing the fears of the ones they sought. And clearly they've had much the same task to perform numerous times before now.
You were explaining the protocols you and your brothers follow to Ani and myself, just the other day, Jim. You know the reasons better than any of us, j"crois, for the way they cling to, they insist on those procedures and as Miguel put it, the algorithms that extend out from the ways in which the Watch operates. You said, 'the Companies' always do what works. We do what's kept us alive and … until just lately, fairly safe. It's pretty much that simple, well, if having forty six brothers could allow for anything being simple. So, I would have to guess that you know almost exactly what the Witnesses and Defenders are going to do in this, or any other given situation…"
"So, if that's so, and … as a matter of fact, it is, why am I still so worried about what happens next?" Jim asked. 'that's simple too, mon docteur ami. As far as I can remember, and my memory's been getting better lately, I've never been the person who terrified my oldest brothers so badly that they hid from me! So, I don't know the algorithm in this case. I don't know it, at all. What if they don't trust me now, Jacques? What if they can't?"
"C'est impossible, mon enfant." Jacques insisted, once more setting one strong, squared off hand on each of Jim's shoulders. "You have spent your lifetime protecting them, mon ami, as much as they have done for you. And this I learned from THEM. You kept them more than "fairly safe" during the War, when it would hardly have done for a 'schoolhouse full of small boys' to be in the heat of battle, non? You have indeed, held the reins, held the Companies entirely safe from a world that would be hard pressed to comprehend their existence. If that were not the case a great many people would have supposed something was "up" with my friend James West. If you had not carried out your duties to your brothers, mon ami, literally shielding their existence from that … excreable personne… surely he would have found the means to imprison you, some time ago."
"Or if not Remy, surely someone else would have done it. Someone else would have decided ol' Jim here wasn't just mercurial by nature. Yeah, I knew, we knew there was always a chance of that. We just didn't know it could go from being the off chance to being damn all real. Well, there's Jaimey and there's Courier right with him. I should go… " Jim exhaled sharply. "I have to go talk to them… that's assuming they are talking to me!"
"That's gonna have to wait, Oldest." Courier growled, striding over to Jim. "We've got damage control running down here, now. You don't want to make it worse. You really don't want to do that. I think! Course, that's a bit hard to say these days, when it's always you an' V Company making things harder, 'stead of easier on the Watch!"
"I already said I know this disaster is on my own head, Courier. But hold on a minute. What are you really saying here? Are you saying you don't want me set things right with the Ls, or even try to? Is that what you're telling me, now, Cour?" Jim demanded, frowning tautly. "You'd rather I stay on the outs with our oldest brothers, cause then they'll have to pay more attention to D Company, right? So, is that what you're hoping for out of this last debacle?"
"Since when did D Company EVER want, or need or hope for attention from ANYBODY, Oldest?" Courier protested. "You're kinda mixed up there, aren't you? Yeah, you're mixed up six ways from Sunday! V Company's made up of the great babies amongst us, after all! And what do babies do, cause they hardly know any better? They get into one kinda trouble after another, after another, so all the grown folks PURELY HAVE TO pay them heed!
"Cour, stop it!" Jaimey hissed, frowning darkly as he joined his younger brothers. 'the last thing the Ls need from us right now is another wrangle! And before you think I'm taking your side here, Oldest, don't. You were being pretty danged brave t'other day, yeah, congrats on that. You made a breakthrough when we really needed one. But you were being pretty danged thoughtless, and not a little selfish, at the same time, cause you lost your temper. And those fools deserved it. But we all know what happens when your temper goes up and your common sense goes right out the window with it, don't we?
So now, you want to make things right with the Ls? And that's no more than I'd expect any of the Companies to say. But, what I say, bein' voted in Captain for the Witnesses, and being W Company has Watch right now, is it's not up to you how this gets put to rights, if it can be. An' it's not up to Courier, and it's not even up to me. It's up to THEM. It has to be that way, and all y"all know that. An' there's one more thing…"
"There's ALWAYS one more thing, YJ, what's it THIS time?" Courier demanded.
"This: all three of the younger Companies are at fault here, not just V and not just Oldest, either. So we might just as well admit it."
"And just how do you figure THAT?" The Defender protested.
"Easy. We ALL let the Ls go on thinking Dad was still alive, after the Original Bastard made them believe that damn-all lie. Or at least I didn't hear any one from D, or V Companies arguing the point! And even though none of us was gonna argue for a second, when it came down to Temus getting the Ls outa that corner of hell by taking on the part, it's been, what… more than a month now since we all got safe away. And none of us has so much as suggested he should let that go. None of us has so much as offered to wean the Ls slow and easy off that lie. And so here we are, and there they are and it's the Ls payin' the price, again. Now, if that's alright with you, Cour, maybe YOU should be the one to explain to our oldest brothers, who've always borne the brunt of all our troubles, just why it is they got pummeled, again!"
"No, Jaimey, like I already said, that's my job." Jim insisted.
"No, James m' boy, as Jacques was just about to explain, it's mine." Artie said, standing up at the back of the cellar, with dozens of the Ls holding onto his sleeves, his arms, his coat tails, his legs and his hands.
"Artemus!" Jim frowned darkly in the direction of his partner's deep, warm voice. "I thought Jacques just told me you were staying out of this!"
"Nope. Jacques told you that I wasn't about to come down here in the role of your father. That show has closed once and for all. I'm here as… myself, the one who lied to these little boys, by claiming to be their Poppa, knowing none of them could see that I'm not Stephen West." Artie sighed.
'so, I'm the one who had to set this right. And I think I'm making some progress here. We were just at the point of coming to look for you, when the invasion started. So, the rest of you can stay or go up and have brunch or something. And James, I know you're staying, so that last didn't include you. But Micah, why don't you come over and meet the Ls, they're more than ready to get to know you, now."
"Can Micah Dieg… May Micah Diego go and make meeting with Torry's Brothers Ls, maman? May I go right away?" The little boy pleaded, grasping Ani's hands.
"Mais oui, mon coeur." Antoinette agreed and let her son rush off to where Artemus stood, still surrounded by boys more or leSshis size and age, in appearance.
"Ani, excuse me, they really want to meet you, too." Artemus amended, gesturing to Micah's mother to join them. 'they're already calling you their Ani-momma. I think your gingerbread, hot cocoa, and bouillebaise have been a tremendous hit with the "younger set'."
"Bien sur." Ani laughed and quietly joined her son. 'm'sieur Jaimee, you will introduce us, s'il t'plait?"
"Yes, ma"am." Jaimey nodded. 'right, Okay, L Company, which of you are awake now? Oh, all of you, I should have guessed. Well, we have two folks for you to meet, two friends. These are Missus Doc Ani, Doc Miguel's missus, an' their Little Micah Diego. Now, no, y"all don't have to talk up right away. Just hold out your paws and nod polite like. All y"all know how to do that.
Missus Doc, Missus Ani, I'm fraid they're like to natter your ears plumb off, the ones that'll talk up, that is. And the ones that won't, they'll likely shake your arm loose. An' a good number of the Ls hardly ever talk, some of "em not at at all. But they've got that finger spelling down pat, that we all learned from Mac. So, fair warning, okay?"
"J'suis enchantez d' faire votre connaisance, messieurs." Ani said curtseying to the crowd of boys.
"Maman says she's very much happied to know you." Micah duly translated, bowing his curly head.
"Alright. L Company, alongside your W Company brovvers fall in, front and center, now." Jaimey requested. "Each of you, c'mon up and smile at the pretty lady and shake hands with Micah, too. Oh, sorry, BB, you wanted to say somethin' too, didn't you?"
"Fanks u." The small, light redhaired, wide grey eyed brother nodded very solemnly, considering he appeared to be less than two years of age. "Alls us'ns Ehls, now be 'tan up an be like rolls wens us'ns guddes' Jaimey be sayin yous name!"
" Thanks you, Babyboy, you're head of th' line, like always, and here I am, Jaimey brovver's right here with you, like always, too. And Littlest, your Emrys W-brovver is right here with you, come on and open those sleepy green eyes a minute, there y" go. Littler, you've got your Witness W-brovver with you, don't be so standoffish now. These are our friends, just like they're Oldest' friends, that's right. Annie's there, your Preacher W-brovver's got a good grip on your hand, and you're not skeered a bit, not with ol' Preach right there. We all know that. Shinin' tar, c'mon for a little bit, and meet our friends, they're helpin us all, so much. Yeah, now see, your Tidewater W-brovver's he's right behind you, see?" Jaimey paused as a group of eight brothers, four from L Company, Littlest, a carrot-haired tyke with a sunny grin, Littler, a plump, dark chestnut haired tiny boy, Annie's, a light golden towhead with bright blue eyes, and Shinin' tar, a young toddler with short reddish brown hair and a grey gaze, and four from W Company, took their place in front of him, like soldiers at a review.
" Okay, don' be skeered, See"krit, c'mon now, your Boy-W-brovver's got you righ there with him, that's it, smile your pretty little smile. Now, Watchfu", you've got your 12th of 45 W brovver right there, can you just maybe come and nod "hullo" to Missus Ani and Micah? There y" go! Okay, Fin lookin', here y" are. and right beside you's your Wounded brovver, no he's alright, that happened a long time ago. Ain't you just livin up to your name this mornin', you look real pretty, Little. Noddin', c'mon on over, there y"go. An' your Colonel brovver's right behind… Noddin… hold on, now. You can play hide and seek after supper, with him and Micah, how'd that be?" Jaimey asked as eight more brothers stepped into line, L Company represented by Seekrit, a child who looked to be almost four, with clear blue eyes and shining straw colored hair, Watchfu" a tyke who seemed to be three years old, with sandy brown hair and wide hazel eyes, Fin' lookin', another golden blond child, and Noddin' a sturdy toddler with pale blond hair down to his collar and sleepy blue-grey eyes
"Now, C'ntraree, now, don't be like that. Everything's okay now. The skeeredys are all gone. Honest. And here's your Diehard brovver, brave as all get out, here tappin' your little shoulder, see? Alright, Towhead, Tow, here you are, but your hairs standing up like a haystack upside down! Oh, it's okay, you were already playin' with your Matchless brovver… Yeah, we think he's better than just that, too. An' Fassest, you're the quickest one of all… ain't you? But no worries, your Steadfast brovver keeps up with you just fine mos' the time. Steady, where th… oh, there y" are. Alright, Huggin, Huggin Torry, don't cry, Little… there, right there next to y" is your Bedwyr brovver, ready to get some of your hugs, just any time. An' I bet Micah Diego here would take some, too." Jaimey paused and nodded as another two groups of four took their places. The Ls in this doubled-quad were Contraree, a dark haired worried looking tyke with dark hazel eyes like Jemmy's, Towhead, a child who seemed to be two and frowned warily with deepset grey-green eyes, out from under a headful of pale golden hair, Fassest, a strawberry blond toddler with bright green eyes, who rushed to hide behind his W Company brother, and Huggin', a smiling child with unruly sandy hair and blue eyes that turned towards each of the grown folks in turn as if choosing which one he'd hug first.
"Now, Rand, Rand Little, c'mon and show these nice folks your nice manners, yeah, just like you taught your Footracer brovver right here, an' he's finally got "em down pat. Then here y" come, Prinslin, no, these are really nice, good people, Little. These are Doc Miguel's family. So you ain't gotta be skeered a bit, especially with your good Pony brovver, runnin' right beside you.
Now, Wis'fu, Wis, there y" are, peepin out from behind your Adamech Avishai brovver's legs. AA, do I have to read out your whole enormous long name to get your attention? That's better. An' Wis' it's okay now. You don't have to go wishin'-away anymore at all. These are our good friends, honest. So give "em a little hullo, won't you? And No cryin', see how nice our friends are, to come lookin' for all y"all with us? Yeah, so you can smile just a tiny bit at "em can't you? Sure you can, here's your Cadet brovver, all ready the way he always is, to wipe your little nose." Jaimey grinned, watching the fourth group of eight brothers step up together. The L Company brothers in this doubled quad were Rand, a sunny strawberry blond child with bright hazel eyes, Prinslin, a copper redhead with wary grey eyes, Wis'fu, a dark haired boy with poignant hope shining in his wide blue eyes, and Nocryin, a dark haired tyke with heart breakingly doleful green eyes,
"Alright, Torry Hidin', come on out and see our friends here, yeah, it's alright. We don't none of us have to go hidin' anymore. And you've got your Darnay brovver, who don't look it, but can be as brave as a whole regiment, you know. Okay, have I got this right? Yeah, Hushin' Torry, here you are, Little. And nope, your Missing brovver is right behind you, Miss… could y" maybe sing out for him? Yeah, that's it. Don't none of us have to go Missing anymore, either.
Wondrin', Wondrin' Torry, there y" are, Little. Okay, can you hold off your game of twenty questions with your Foursquare brovver just long enough to say hullo to Missus Ani an' Micah Little? An' Four, could you stop standing there like you're spoiling for a brawl? These are our friends! Thanks. Now, Bedien, Bee, c'mon, you know you've been wantin' to say hullo to Micah and his momma a while now. You don't gotta be worried, Little, not when your Effective brovver's holdin' your other hand. That's th' way!"
Jaimey paused again, glancing at Micah who looked as if he'd explode with curiosity and delight. The Ls who stepped up now were Hidin, a thin framed child with golden blond hair and sharp hazel eyes, Hushin, a very young toddler with light red hair and bright blue eyes, Wondrin', another towhead with curious grey eyes, and Bedien, a still scrawny copper penny haired boy of three, with wide green eyes.
"And Pocket, you're cute as a bug's ear today, and you know it, doncha? Yeah, c'mon, that's it, and bring your lazy Caballero brovver along with you. Hey, Cabi, we're waitin' on you, shake out those cobwebs, okay? Alright, special Little, here y" are, chatterin' away already with your Four, lookin' bright as a copper penny. Now, it's okay, SL, it's fine, here's your Schoolboy brovver standing right in line with you now. There's that grin!
And where's… there y" are, P'tectin Torry, brave as bears, ain't y" now? And there's your brovver, Mon Enfant, with his nose in another journal, or is that a poem book, Mon? Next up, that's you, Dreamin'. Here y" go, here's Missus Doc Ani and Micah Little, c'mon an' smile friendly at "em. That's it, bring your Refugee brovver on up to the line with you. Good job, Ref, he's not even duckin his head. That's fine, Dreamin', that's it… You can smile real nice. Naw, she ain't gonna mind a bit that you're missin' a tooth there, right in front." Once more Jaimey stopped, mostly to draw a deep breath and wink at Ani. The row of brothers grew again, to include Pocket, a young toddler with wide hazel eyes and dark brown fuzz on his head, special Little, a curly redhaired child of three, with lively grey-blue eyes, Ptectin', another light-redheaded boy with an independent lift to his chin that was very familiar to everyone looking on, and Dreamin', a dark haired tyke with smiling light brown eyes.
"Alright, up now is our Saddest Little, Missus Ani, who only smiles when Temus or his JimmyR brovver's around. JR, you're workin on that, we know. You're both doin' fine these days, lots better in fact. Now, here's another of our oldest Ls, Missus Doc, here's the one who called himself Nobotherin'. He'd set back all the time and hardly say a thing, if it weren't for his Gallant brovver there. Good work on that, Gally. Okay, we're getting down the roll pretty well this mornin', one more in this batch…
Horsy's Torry. Horsy's, hey, c'mon Little. We all know you'd rather keep on gallopin' round down here, like as if you had that stick pony Jimmy made us, a long while ago. And I'd bet your Telemachos brovver will make you one, real soon now, won't you, Telly? So, c'mon, Horsy's dismount now and bow to our friends, like a real swell. Great. Here comes our Natterin' Torry, hey, Little, you've got your Torry-brovver right alongside. So we know you're feelin brave enough to meet folks. Ain't these nice people?" Jaimey encouraged the next doubled quad to come forward, including Saddest, a curly headed pale blond with mournful grey eyes, Nobotherin, an anxious faced blond tyke with wide blue eyes, Horsy's, a chestnut-redheaded boy with cheerful green-grey eyes, and Natterin', another strawberry blond, with curiosity shining in his blue eyes.
"Alright, where's Torry Fourahalf? Oh, I see you, Little Four, it's okay, c'mon over, here y"go. These are Doc M's family, Little Four, and they're here to help you feel at home. That's right you bring your Horatio brovver with you, he makes you feel safer, we know. Good job, now here's Torry all fi" nows, right behind Little Four. All, you're lookin' like you feel better this mornin'. That's good. Yeah, you've got your Orphan brovver, right there, keepin' at your side. Figure we're all orphans now, ain't we? Yeah.
Alright, here's one of our bravest Ls, ever, Genrls FraanciSsMari in, here y" are. You're not skeered a bit are you, GFM, especially when your Partisan brovver's next to you. Parti, that's fine, you got him to grin. Now, here's our Torry Shad'o, he's real good, the best of the Ls at hidin' from all of us, in fact. But you don't haveta hide here, not now, Shaddy. This is a good, real safe, comfy place. And you've got your Baronet brovver keepin' his eye on you, y"know. Bari, Shaddy, show Missus Ani how nice you can bow. There's the way." Stepping up with their brothers now were four more Ls, Fourahalf, a curly haired strawberry blond with a confident, typically Westian grin in his clear hazel eyes, all fi" nows a shyly smiling sandy haired child with bright green eyes, Genrl Francis Marion, a toddler with shaggy red brown hair and laughing grey-blue eyes, and Shad'o, a dark haired boy of four with wide hazel eyes that seemed to want to take in everything around him, despite their blindness.
"Next up is our Notelldis Torry. And we figure you already figured how he came to take that name. He don't say a word out loud, never has. We figure the cute little tyke either can't speak or just doesn't figure he needs to a bit. C'mon, NTD, here y"go, bring your Emissary brovver right up with you now. You can show Missus Ani and Micah how good you've got that finger spellin' workin these days. And there's Dutafu", yeah, here y" come, Du. You're lookin' real nice, all natty today to meet our friends. Nope, we know you ain't skeered, you've got your Cavalry brovver right with you now. Cav, hey, Cav, snap to! That's better, bro.
Okay, here comes another of our real quiet Ls, here y"are Nohearin' Torry. Hey, c'mon and let Micah see how fine you do those finger letters. Yeah, that's right, Little, you and your Brutus brovver have got that goin' fine. Now, Torry Runnin', we all know how quick you can be. But just hold on a sec or two, alright? Missus Ani and Micah Little came down to see you and say hullo, same as the rest. Now, don't be shy, Runnin, you've got your Black sheep brovver, which we all know he ain't, he's right there half a step behind you, like always. He won't let you fall down while you're racin' about." Now another doubled quad of brothers took their place, the Ls among them being Notelldis, a bright redhaired boy, with wide, clear brown-hazel eyes, Dutafu, an auburn haired child with watchful green eyes, Nohearin', a bright blue eyed boy with a mop of chestnut hair, and Runnin, a brown haired tyke of four with smiling grey eyes.
"And Foal, that's right, Little, show the pretty lady here and Micah Little how nice you can bow, see you even taught your Prince of the Welsh Marches there beside you, how t' do it better than b"fore. Alright, alright now, Yowlin', don't get worked up, you ain't gotta start in right now. You ain't gotta be so skeered anymore. We're all here. And we're all just fine, now. Now, just look here, here's your Innocent W-brovver with his arm 'round your shoulders. Everything's gonna come out fine.
Next up, is you, M'hundry, and we all are, "bout now, so we'll get some chow real soon, promise. You hold onto your AWOL-W brovver, hold onta that fella real good, he's doin' fine, but we know he'd like to take off for home just anytime. Here we go, fellas, real close to finishin' the roll, Torry Wrigglin, come on over, Little, there y" are. That's right, you're takin' hold of your Dad W-brovver, just right. You're real good at getting him to laugh now and then." The L Company brothers taking their places now were Foal, a long haired towheaded tyke with bright green eyes full of cautious hope, Yowlin, a sandy haired child of three with wide, still scared grey eyes, M'hundry, a sturdy boy who seemed about four years old, with dark chestnut hair and searching wide blue eyes, and Wrigglin', a tiny redhaired toddler with smiling hazel eyes.
"And here y" are, Sojer, lookin' just fine this mornin' too, all natty-like. Sojer, you know we've been holdin' off meetin Micah Little and his momma, Missus Doc Ani, but here they are, so c'mon up with your Galahad W-brovver and give "em that smart little salute you do, or just a big ol' grin, that's fine. Alright next up is you, Torry Skeered, but we all know you're plenty brave, come on up and smile at our friends, Little. They're real glad to see L Company is doin' okay. That's right, you bring your Gascon W-brovver right with you and let him do some that Frenchy talkin' with Missus Ani. That's fine.
Now there y" are, Genrls Torry, marchin' right up. Y"know, you're braver than most of the rest of the younger three Companies rolled into one. And you've got your Alexander W-brovver right there, so he can learn all the ropes." Jaimey grinned, as six more brothers stepped up. The First Company -L brothers in this doubled trio were Sojer, another golden blond child with warm grey eyes, who stood remarkably straight and strong, considering he seemed to be no more than four, Skeered, a blued eyed towheaded tyke who kept so close to his W-Company brother he seemed to have grown there, and Genrls Torry, a sandy haired. green eyed boy with a brave demeanor they'd already seen affecting all his younger siblings more than once.
"Just three more t' go, boys. Fine job, all y"all, I'd say. Torry Noseein', y"all just keep your Travis W-brovver's hand, and help each other on over. Here y"go. You look to be in the pink again and that's fine. Notalkinup Torry, here y" go, that's really good how you're learnin' your Attache W-brovver to finger spell. He's doin' real well. And on the tag end we've just got you steppin into the line, Torry Whisperin'. You're feeling better today, too. I can tell. There's your Scout W-brovver, listenin' close so you don't need to worry about bein' quiet-like. Here's Missus Ani and Micah Little, real glad to see all y"all."
Six more, the last in the group now stepped up, the Ls in this last batch being Noseein', a dark haired tyke who was trying to smile, all the more poignant to the lookers on because his wide green-hazel eyes were wholly blind, Notalkinup, a dark sandy haired boy who stood pressed against his Witness-brother, finger spelling and only once or twice peering towards the group with bright brown eyes, and Whisperin', a round faced tyke with thick sandy blond hair and wide blue eyes. 'missus Ani ma"am, Micah Little," Jaimey said, turning back to the young mother and her son. 'that's all of us. That's how we shape up these days, Ws and Ls together."
"Ehls Com'nee, yous be dissmiss all nows." Babyboy added. And in the next instant Micah and Antoinette, Miguel, and Jacques were inundated by the eldest of Jim's brother-selves, and happily enduring dozens and scores of hugs and giggles, shy, boyish kisses and day bright grins.
"Thanks, Jaimey," Jim now nodded in the direction of the Witness in his own quad. "And thanks, BB. Thanks all of you Ls, that was very smartly done. But now it's my turn to speak up here. So if I can humbly ask for your attention, this won't take very long at all, I'd have to guess."
"Ol'est, yous no gots ask Ehls fer dat." the child called Babyboy Torry instructed his brother firmly, crossing his chubby arms across his chest. "Wees give it enny times. Iz some much of wut Ehls does fer us'ns V-brovvers. Yous did be knowin dat, yes, Ol'est?"
"I used to know for absolute fact a lot of things I'm not as sure of anymore, BB." Jim answered, shaking his head. "And one of the things I'm not sure of at all is just…" Jim sighed, and reluctantly went on. "why you all have already given me so much to this point, when I've fallen down on the job so often. I mean just ask Courier when I ever did anything to watch out for him in all this time? Just ask Jaimey when I ever made it easier for him to speak for the quad, instead of opening my big mouth? Just ask yourself, BB, when I ever made it easier for you to keep me out of trouble? The answer's the same, all around, and you know it. I never have.
And then, just when I thought I was getting ready to take the reins back into my hands… I did the worst harm anyone but the Original Bastard in all this ever did you, twice! I panicked, when I saw Liesl struggling with that Army Colt that day in Baltimore. So, I couldn't think straight, so, I couldn't stop her from sending off the explosion that blinded all of my oldest brothers at once! And just when you should have felt safer than you have in years now, I let loose with … his name, the one person's name that would terrify you more than any other.
I know you can't, and I know you wouldn't do this if you could. But if it were humanly possible, right now I'd be telling you to banish me and find yourself a much, much better brother. But you won't do that, Sir. As I said you wouldn't do that, even if you could. However, I feel obliged to add that according to every element of the Watch' structure, V Company was envisioned, was purposed to take over the reins, to take the point, to stand as the shield-wall for all our older brother-Companies, when it became clear the late War was about to start. And we did that, for a little while, BB. But we failed, Sir. We failed our Brothers many, many times, in the one duty at which they never failed us, even once.
So what I wanted to tell all y'all is just this, Sir: If you will once more entrust V Company with their sworn duty to the Watch, we will hold the reins with all our strength, and all our will and all our hearts, against all comers. We will take back the Watch and keep it as it should have been kept all this time, more than a dozen years, now, firmly in our hands and safeguard it with our lives against any and all enemies. And that's what I came down here to say, and … 'm terribly, terribly sorry. That's all I wanted to tell all y"all. I'm … I'm just gonna go upstairs now and … "
"Ol'est yous stop ri" nows!" "BB" ordered, his reedy child's voice nevertheless full of command authority. And it worked. Jim froze where he stood, taking on the stiff pose of a soldier called to attention on the parade ground. "Yous lissen guddesn' nows, and no be talkinup till mees tells yous. Yous be march over heres an' keeps all quiyat till mees tells yous be ansirr."
Jim nodded and without another word, obeyed his oldest brother, as if he'd done so all his life. Artie watched in no little awe, knowing how badly his partner usually took to accepting unwanted orders.
"Dats bedder." Babyboy nodded as Jim once more took up a stiff backed, shoulders squared position in front of the child. "Yous gots too many much of takin' on stuffs yous no gots to, Ol'est. Yous allus be done dat. An yous be many much of rongs bout dat, allus. But mos'ly fer dem gud reesins, mos'ly. On'y, more times nows… wees Ehls a'most be thinkin' yous no unnerstan wut Ehls "posedta be done, what Ws "poseta be done, what Ds posedta be done, an pecially no unnerstan wut Vs posedta be done. But you does be knowd dat, yes, Ol'est Torry?"
"Yes, Sir." Jim nodded.
"Yous nows be telld us'ns what Us'ns Guddes' Watch be fer doin, an' how it be doin dat, so wees knows yous unnerstan' dat, Ol'est." Babyboy commanded.
"Yes, Sir. L Company, First Company watches for V Company, V Company, Fourth Company watches for D Company, D Company, Third Company watches for W Company, and W Company, Second Company watches for L Company. Only in the most extreme emergency situations or conditions will this order of the Watch be altered in any particulars. Therefore under most circumstances there will be no change in the responsibilties as designated for each Company and each brother.
The Watch rotation therefore operates as follows: Ls hand the Watch over to Ws, Ws hand the Watch over to Ds, Ds hand the Watch over to Vs, and Vs hand the Watch over to Ls. In that way, no Company of the Four, also called the Watch, is ever left unguarded or handed the Watch when they've just come off the line. That rotation protects all quads equally and does not allow any one Company, much less one individual brother to bear the burden of protecting an entire Company, much less safeguarding the whole, entire command, for a period longer than one quarter of any given day, Sir." Jim recited and fell silent, still at full attention.
"Dat's bedder, toos. Yous be now a"eez, Ol'est." the child ordered and Jim immediately went from attention to parade-rest, head still up, gaze rigidly forward, chin out but his hands folded behind his back. "Yous now tell Ani-momma, Micah Little, Mee-gel, Temus Poppa an' Jacs-dokker wut dat means fer peepuls no be in us'ns Com'nees."
"All due respect, Sir, I don't believe any further explanation is called for, just at present." Jim demurred. "It's fairly clear that our friends understand the Watch as well as any one of us do…"
"Then yous b'leivin' somfing all wrong, Ol'est Torry!" The child concluded sternly. "An yous now be teld us'ns guddes' frens jus' like wees be orderin' yous."
Jim sighed and swallowed hard but obediently turned back in the general direction of the onlookers. 'that means L Company believes I'm not responsible for any more of the Companies than the members of my quad. That means my elders in the Watch believe I'm only responsible for them when V Company has the Watch. L Company, together with W Company when they came along determined pretty early on that the Watch would never work if they didn't set up very strict protocols and procedures. So, according to those protocols, I wasn't on duty the other day, when I … broke the injunction … So I'm not held responsible for the way L Company instinctively reacted."
"An'?" the child asked, clearly waiting for Jim to complete his response as ordered.
"And BB wants me to acknowledge that I've … fairly often taken responsibility for events and actions which did not properly belong to me as a member of the Watch. And he's right. Which all y"all already know perfectly well." Jim finished, frowning tautly.
"Oh, good for you, James!" Artie chuckled. " That was well said, now let's all get some breakfast…"
"Temus-Poppa, plees be waited." Babyboy called out. "Wees wantad say somfin fer yous, plees nows."
"The Ls want to say something to you, Artie." Jim pretended to translate.
"Umm, alright, BB, what was it you wanted to say?" Artemus asked, suddenly a bit unnerved.
"Wees wantad be sayd fanks u, very many, many, many much!" L Company chorused.
"Yous did be fibbed, but yous did be fibbed fer makin' us'ns brovvers all be sayf from dat bad, awful, skeeredy place!" Babyboy continued as the Ls crowded around both Artie and Jim, hugging and giggling.
"Yous no wantad hurtin' us'ns, Temus-Poppa. Wees did be knowd dat, allus. Same fer us'ns Guddes' Ol''y yous did be no havin brovvers to take parts of bad fings fer yous. Wees veriest, veriest many much sorried yous no gots brovvers, Temus-Poppa."
Artie clapped Jim on one shoulder and Jacques on the other and shook his head. "BB, I have brothers, two of "em are standing right here beside me. Then there's Mac and Jeremy, Frank and … well, yeah, Ori, and Jemmy, for that matter. After all we've gone through together, if the lot of us aren't brothers, I don't know who could ever call themselves that. Now I don't know that Miguel and Ani would necessarily care to be included…"
"We'd be delighted, mon cher frere." Ani answered, while Miguel simply inclined his head towards Artie. "Gentilhommes, the hour is long past when I would ask Cook to present l' petite dejeuner. But I would be glad to offer you une nouvelle Americain la clientcle. J"crois que s'appelle a la fourchette, ou la brunch, oui?"
"Precisement, ma plus cher reine du tout les coeurs." Miguel agreed and held out his arm to Ani, like a born to the manor country squire.
" 'm hundry!" the L Company member of that name declared, getting everyone's attention and a warm chuckle all around as the whole troupe headed back upstairs.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW