Flight

That day, Fantine and Sister Simplice moved their sewing work to little Cosette's bedside when the latter had fallen asleep after the doctor's visit. The nun sewed steadily, stopping only to attend to the occasional requests of other patients. However, the mother was more distracted, looking up now and then to watch her daughter when the latter was asleep, or talk to her when she was awake. All in all, they were undisturbed in the day's work.

It was about suppertime when someone knocked on the infirmary door. "Found some bread and cheese," Gilles said as he tiptoed in. His hair was matted with sweat and his jacket had new stains.

Fantine looked up from the pillowcase she was hemming. "Thank you so much, Gilles," she murmured as the boy set down the bag he had with him.

Sister Simplice bustled back in, carrying a letter. "So we shall have a sort of picnic here, I see," she said primly. "There are biscuits for you both."

Cosette sat up in bed, taking care not to jostle her arm, which had been set in a sling. "Oh, where?"

"In the kitchen, but we'll have them later," Sister Simplice said.

Cosette nodded patiently. "I left all my things at home. What can I do?"

"You won't need them, you're only here for one evening aren't you?" Gilles said.

"I'll at least get some fresh clothes," Fantine said, getting up. "I'll be fine, so just stay and have your dinner."

"Please stay Maman!" Cosette begged, tugging on Fantine's skirt with her left hand.

"Besides, it's night out," Gilles blurted out.

Fantine smiled resignedly as she sat back down. She helped Gilles divide the bread and cheese while Sister Simplice brought out several bowls of soup. After this simple repast, Fantine brought six biscuits, three for each child, while Sister Simplice went to her prayers.

Gilles wolfed down his biscuits while Cosette ate hers more daintily. "What about you Maman?" the little girl asked, offering the last biscuit to Fantine.

Fantine shook her head. "Sister Simplice made the biscuits for you."

Confused, Cosette continued munching her food. Fantine sighed as she ruffled the little girl's hair.

The next morning, just as Fantine was waking up, she heard what sounded like a commotion outside the infirmary. "What time is it already?" she asked Gilles, who was passing by.

"Past nine-thirty, Madame Fantine, but there's been news!" the boy said fearfully. He glanced at the busy street then at Fantine. "Monsieur Madeleine has been arrested."

Fantine's hand flew to her mouth. "Him? Are you sure? What for?"

"They say he was a former convict by the name of Valjean," Gilles said in disbelief.

"That cannot be!"

"They are bringing him to the superior court for highway robbery."

"How now?"

"That's what everyone has been saying…"

Fantine bit her lip and dabbed at her eyes. "There has to be a mistake. But even if there isn't…he's a good man, Gilles. There ought to be an explanation!"

Gilles crossed his arms. "The people outside do not believe so."

Fantine muttered something under her breath as she went to where Sister Simplice was writing pensively by the window. "Is it true, Sister?"

The nun looked up with reddened eyes. "I am afraid so. God have mercy on him, and on us…" she murmured before breaking into tears. She pointed to the people talking outside in whispers but complemented with gestures. "Not even a day, and they are already cursing him!"

Evening finally found Fantine eager to simply shut her eyes. She sank down in a chair and buried her face in her hands. She heard a footstep in front of her, and she looked up.

"Monsieur Mayor!" she gasped incredulously. She found she could not comment on the change that had worked on him; his hair was perfectly white now, but his countenance was not that of the weighed down man who had left the town. Strangely, he was wearing a torn smock instead of his usual clothing.

"You are here early," Jean Valjean said. It was then that he noticed Cosette on a hospital bed, and Gilles dozing on a nearby camp bed. "Or rather, what happened?"

Briefly, Fantine related the events of the previous day. "But that is no matter, not now. I heard what happened, Monsieur."

Valjean sighed heavily. "You…all of you here…no, I'd better leave now before you all are in trouble on my account."

"Trouble? What?" Cosette cried, only then waking up.

"You're leaving, and why?" Fantine asked Valjean. She looked him in the eye determinedly, though she could not completely still the fear welling up within her. "Monsieur, I beg you, for all the good things you have done for me, let me help you."

At these words, M. Madeleine's face was troubled. "No, Fantine. It cannot be so; this is a matter of the law. I have to leave."

"Where will you go?"

"I do not know."

Sister Simplice crossed herself. "If he has to leave, Fantine…" she began before biting back the words.

"Then I will go with him," Fantine finished.

"What?" Valjean said, bewildered at the young woman's words.

"I will go with you, Monsieur. Cosette and Gilles will come as well. What do we have left here?" Fantine said quickly. She noticed that Gilles was already awake, and like Cosette, was listening in intently.

Valjean's face was a mixture of shock mixed with admiration. "Do you know what you are asking?"

Fantine had meant to say 'no', till a strange plan entered her mind. Wild as it was, she knew it would have to spill from her lips soon enough. "To Paris, Monsieur. Back from where I came," she said.

"To Paris. That is far enough," Valjean said reflectively.

"From there, Monsieur, you can go anywhere," Sister Simplice said wryly.

As if sensing trouble, Cosette and Gilles were already on their feet. "To Paris, Monsieur Mayor, Madame Fantine? What for?" Gilles asked.

Sister Simplice gave them an agonized glance before meeting Valjean's gaze. She nodded firmly as if resigned to the scene unfolding before her. "Go with God, all of you," she said just before someone harshly rapped on the infirmary door.

At this singular sound, Fantine scooped up her daughter while Valjean opened a door leading to the back of the infirmary. Gilles pocketed a few bandages before Fantine signaled for him to go to the back door.

Fantine stopped only to catch Sister Simplice's eye. "You have been so kind to me, Sister," she said.

"Only as I should have," Sister Simplice said as another rap sounded on the door. "Go now, Fantine!"

"The three of you first. It is better that way," Valjean instructed. The back of the infirmary opened out into a small yard. Only a fence separated the yard from the now darkened street. Gilles, who had gone to the head of the party, had little problem jumping this barrier. Fantine handed Cosette to him before climbing over herself. In her haste, she tore the hem of her skirt. Valjean silently followed after them.

Once the four of them were outside, Cosette looked around. "Where?"

"We will have to walk a long way," Valjean said warily. "Does it hurt you to walk, Cosette?"

The little girl shook her head. "No, Monsieur."

Fantine bit her lip as she saw a shadow near the building. "The other way!" she breathed, grasping Cosette's hand. The fugitives fled into the more shadowed part of the street, going a few paces before Gilles tapped Valjean's shoulder.

"Now this way," the boy said in an undertone. In this fashion, he led them through some labyrinthine roads stretching from the north to the edge of the southern side before looping back to the north. Fantine found that more often than not, she could not see what she was stepping on; her only guides were the sounds of Valjean and Gilles shuffling or pacing ahead of her. She picked up Cosette to keep the girl from tripping over the unseen perils of the street.

Before she knew it however, the only things before them were the wide plains and the woods. The drowsy, murmuring city was now behind them, dim save for the few pinpricks of candlelight in the windows. "Not now, not yet," Valjean said when he noticed Fantine hesitating. "They might be looking this far as well."

Cosette stirred restlessly. "Maman!" she murmured, pointing to something in the distance. Fantine turned and saw the tell-tale shapes of men headed in their general direction.

"Quickly!" Gilles whispered, leading them to the forbidding woods nearby. Fantine swallowed hard and grasped Cosette's hand. The little girl grasped back with clammy fingers as they followed Valjean deeper into the darkness.