Chapter Seventeen

A Shameful Past

All eyes strayed instantly to Gale. Their guide looked as though he wanted the ground to swallow him where he stood.

"I speak no lie," Mr. Morton continued. "I'm guessing he must have not told you."

"He…didn't," Gene admitted.

"I've known about this guy for years," said Mr. Morton, "ever since I first started keeping tabs on those bigots. He was one of the first and most dedicated members SANG ever had. He rose through the ranks like hot air, became chief of propaganda. He churned out posters and pamphlets like confetti, tried to make 'arcade' the new N-word. That slime is one of the most hateful slugs ever to belch forth from hell itself. I've been trying to find him ever since my friends and I crashed their headquarters. He got clean away then…but now I have him."

"Anyone can change," said Gale, looking Mr. Morton full in the face.

"Indeed," Mr. Morton replied. "But what have you done to demonstrate your precious repentance? Nothing, that's what!" He turned to the others.

"I know this guy," he said. "He's a double-talking scoundrel. Don't trust him."

"He does have one point," said Ralph. "People can change. And besides, if all he did was write blurbs-"

"Hah!" Mr. Morton snapped his fingers. "Have you even read his work? It's abominable! It's hate-filled nonsense. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. He personally led missions to shut down arcades. He murdered. He recruited. And when they went off to attack Litwak's, you know what that creep did? He laughed. He laughed at the very thought of your deaths."

"Is this true?" Calhoun asked Gale.

"All of it," said Gale, not looking her in the eye.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"You needed help," said Gale. "Don't say you didn't. But would you have taken my help if you'd known my past?"

"No," said Calhoun. "No, I wouldn't have."

"You see?" said Gale, finally meeting the sergeant's gaze. "You would have told me to get lost, and wouldn't have even made it this far. You might never have seen your husband again."

Calhoun was silent.

"I was pretty evil, it's true," said Gale. "But that's not what I am anymore. SANG's defeat at your arcade's hands shook my whole world. I'm not who I was."

Mr. Morton snorted. "Huh. The way I see it, anyone who recommends Mr. Ainsworth to SANG as enthusiastically as you did is as close to irredeemable as it gets."

Vanellope felt as though she were going to vomit. The revelations had been shocking so far, but this last one was like a knife to the heart. She stared at Gale, a look of horror and revulsion on her features. "You…you sent him…after us?"

Gale sighed. "I sought him out first and then told the council about him. Portia chose to hire him."

Calhoun turned to Felix. "I've heard enough," she said. "Let's go." Turning to Mr. Morton, she said: "thanks for helping my husband."

"You're perfectly welcome," Mr. Morton replied. "I gave him a map of this part of the web so he could find his way home. You and your friends can use that. I'll make sure the iron wolves don't exceed their prerogative again by attacking you."

Calhoun gave a nod of farewell and turned towards the door. Felix followed her, sparing a pained glance at Gale as he did so.

Vanellope hadn't moved. She was still rooted to the spot, staring at Gale.

"Come on, Vanellope," said Ralph. "We'd better go."

"He's not worth it," Gene added.

Vanellope didn't reply.

"Give her a minute or two," said Mr. Morton. "This seems especially painful for her."

"It is," said Gene. "She was Ainsworth's main target."

"Oh developers preserve us," said Mr. Morton. "I can only imagine what he did."

Vanellope still hadn't moved.

"Come on," she heard Ralph say again.

"Give me a minute…" she said quietly.

"Gene and I will be right outside the door," said Ralph. "But come quickly. We can't stay here. We've got to get back to the arcade."

Vanellope was dimly aware of the sound of Ralph and Gene passing through the door, but her mind was elsewhere.

He chose Ainsworth. He picked that monster to attack us, knowing what he'd do.

The memories returned again- the sneering visage, the shock and pain of the knife wound, the threats. She recalled every agony of solitary confinement, saw the kart she had built with Ralph melting into ash before her eyes once again.

"Vanellope," she heard a voice say. She blinked. It was Gale.

"Vanellope," Gale repeated. "Listen to me."

Vanellope blinked again. "What?"

"I told you that when I had finished helping you and your friends, I could ask some people I'd wounded for their forgiveness. I know now that four of them won't grant it. But maybe the fifth will. So I ask you now: please forgive me."

Vanellope remained silent.

"One little phrase. A nod, a gesture, anything to show you can forgive me. Then you need never see me again."

"Don't listen to that creep," said Mr. Morton. "I've seen his 'sincerity' before. It's all an act."

"Please," said Gale, ignoring Mr. Morton. "I've only been waiting for this for three months, but it feels like a lifetime. Just one word, one gesture- any sign you wish."

Vanellope clenched her fists tightly. A deep shudder passed through her entire body.

"Please," Gale said once more. "I'm begging you."

Vanellope shuddered once again. A cold feeling emerged in the pit of her stomach, radiating outwards until even her very limbs were trembling. Tears filled her eyes.

Abruptly, she spun about and hurried out of the room.