Chapter XVIII
Epilogue
A new beginning
One week later...
London, England.
It is a gray, fresh day. The people are using dark coats; some of them are just using scarves. They are walking by, some of them talking about personal experiences, others are gossiping, and a few are looking at the ground while walking.
Tintin, who is wearing his trademark coat, Snowy, and Captain Haddock are approaching a cemetery.
-Lad, can you tell me what are we doing here?- Haddock wondered
-I'm searching for someone.- He replied
-Who is it, Tintin?- the sailor asked
As they continue their way, Tintin finally manages to spot the cemetery's keeper.
-Wait here, Captain.- Tintin said.- Come on, boy!- he said to Snowy.
The reporter and his dog leave the Captain, who is now looking at his surroundings. He sighs and admires some of the marble statues near a few graves. Suddenly, he spots two people approaching a grave near a tree. He sees the male is leaving a flower in it. When he gets closer, he recognizes them better: Commissioners Mitch Skinner and Dana Anderson.
-Good morning, Commissioners.- The Captain said
Both commissioners turn their heads.
-Good Morning, Captain Haddock.- Dana said
-Visiting someone?- the sailor asks
-Yes.- The male commissioner replied.- Someone I lost a week ago.-
The Captain glances at the headstone's inscription:
Harold James Doppler
"A friend who died too young"
-Harold Doppler?- Haddock wondered
-He was like an annoying little brother for me.- Skinner sighed.- When I phoned his mother, she thought Harold was calling.- he paused for a moment.- She sounded very excited. Then I told her it was me, and she started to ask for her son.- he paused again.- After I told her he died, the excitement turned into an incessant cry.- he sighed again.- I also added he died as a hero... and that he helped a lot with the Ying-Yang Boys case and discovered corruption in the station. If it wasn't for him, Tintin would have died, and the drugs would have arrived to the Americas.-
-You tracked the drugs?- The Captain asked.-How?-
-We alerted our American contacts.- Dana said.- They sent us a message telling the drugs have been seized earlier morning.-
-You did a good job, guys.- The Captain congratulated them.- And I'm sorry Harold died for you.-
-He's remembered as a hero in Interpol.- the female commissioner said.- His death wasn't in vain.-
-Gérémi Bonilla always flaunted, like he was untouchable or a god.- the male commissioner said.- With taking his own life, he prevented us from ever catching him. I don't care why he did it, or why he killed his allies. I'm just glad he did.-
-Retarded, but poetic.- Commissioner Anderson said.- One pest less.-
-There's something I want to ask... but...- the Captain said
-What is it, Captain?- Dana wondered
-The lieutenant.- The Captain continued.- Was she a...?-
-Yes.- Skinner nodded.- Lt. Bertotti turned out to be a corrupt.-
-Captain! It's time!- Tintin called from a grave sort of far from there
-I have to go, guys. See you until the next time.- The Captain said as he left the commissioners
-Take care, Captain!- Commissioner Skinner said
The Captain finally arrives where Tintin is. He also sees the keeper and a few employees are digging.
-What are they doing?- the sailor asked
-You'll see, Captain.- the reporter replied
Once the men finished, they remove the cement plate, and reveal there's a dark-green-coloured coffin. Two of them enter to the giant hole and start to tie ropes. After they finish, they leave and help their workmates to raise the coffin.
They manage to put the coffin behind the hole. They open it, to reveal a corpse.
-We'll be around in case you need us, Mr. Tintin.- one of them said
-Thank you.- the reporter said.
-Just be careful, staying near a corpse for a long time can be dangerous for your health.- another said
-It'll be quick.- Tintin replied.- I just need a few minutes.-
-Okay.- one of them said
The men walk away, leaving the reporter, dog, and sailor alone. Because of his curiosity, the Captain glances at the gravestone and realizes its Remy's. He looks at Tintin again and sees he's removing his coat, and from it, the black book. The sailor then realizes why Tintin wanted to go to London's cemetery.
-Lad, I thought you were not going to do this.- the Captain said
-Relax, Captain.- Tintin said as he looked to the book one more time.- I think it's the best.-
-Do you think...-
-I don't believe that. I told them about the situation and then they agreed to let me do this.-
-Tintin...-
-Think it again, Captain. It's better for us to return this book to its original owner. What if it lands on gangster hands? Were you aware this contains all the information about evading the police? Creating fake documents? It even has tips about killing people without leaving evidence... and no. My father was not a murderer.-
-You must postpone this...-
-I already memorized a few things that might help me in the future, so I think it's time to give it back.-
The Captain nodded.
Tintin then turned to the corpse, and smiled a bit.
-Thanks for all, father.- Tintin said as he placed, carefully, the book under Remy's hands (or what remains of those).- Thanks for being there for me when I needed you. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what could have happened to the people we saved. I promise I will follow you, eventually.-
Tintin closes the coffin and makes a signal to call the graveyard personnel to proceed to bury the coffin again.
Once they finish, they leave.
The reporter is still staring at the grave and smiles again. A tear leaves his eyes and falls to the ground.
It starts to turn foggy now.
-Lad, I think it's time to go.- The Captain said.
-Give me a minute, Captain.- Tintin said.- Snowy and I will be with you later.-
-Okay, boy.- he replied.- I'll be in the Antique Shop if you need me.- he said
The Captain leaves.
Tintin keeps staring to Remy's grave and pets Snowy.
-I wish he was still alive, Snowy.- Tintin said.- We could have get along.-
-I loved how he treated me when we were in Paris.- Snowy 'said'.- It was like he knew what I wanted. Oh! And his arms were soft! Oh! And it was like he was reading my mind! Did you inherit that from him, Tintin? Did you?-
A couple of minutes later, Tintin stands and leaves. He senses there's someone watching him and turns to see Remy and Germaine. They're smiling proudly to their son.
-Thank you.- a smiling Tintin says under his breathe
The couple, still smiling, look to each other and then to their son. Holding hands, they turn back and walk away into the whiteness. Tintin watches them go and a few tears start to form in his eyes. His parents were becoming less distinct the further they walk, until, finally, they disappear from the reporter's sight, thus, departing to the afterlife, together.
The lad cleans his eyes and Snowy starts to wonder what he is looking at.
-Hey, what are you looking for?- the dog wondered.- Is it a bone? Did you saw a ghost or something?-
-Come on, boy!- Tintin said to his dog.- Let's go with the Captain. It's time to go.-
The reporter leaves and the dog follows him.
-Tintin, seriously!- Snowy insisted.- What did you saw back there! I want to know!-
-xxx-
20 years later...
10:35 a.m.
Brussel's airport. A brown-haired seven-year-old boy is walking, holding his hand with his mother, who's also holding her hand with a ten-year-old girl with reddish hair. Both kids are wearing scout uniforms and the boy seems to be sad. Captain Haddock is with them. He looks aged: his hair is turning gray, he looks a bit fat, and a few spots have appeared on his face. He notes the little boy's expression and approaches the mother.
-Martine, your son seems to be depressed.- the Captain said
Martine Vandezande, now Martine van Kuifje, turns to see her son.
-Take Fanny with you, Captain.- she said.- I'll talk with him.-
The Captain nodded and he took the girl with him.
-Is everything okay?- Fanny asked
-Your brother's a little sad, that's all.- The Captain replied
Meanwhile, Martine lowers until she is face-to-face with the boy. His eyes are just like his father's.
-Remy, is everything all right?- she asked.- Is something bugging you?-
-What if dad just arrives and leaves like the last time?- he replied
-He won't, sweetie. He promised to spend the rest of the month with us. He said he'll compensate it.-
-Really?-
-Really.- She nodded. – Come on. Dad will arrive soon.-
Both leave to where the Captain and Fanny are.
-Is he better?- Haddock asked
-Yes, Captain.- she replied.- Better than ever.-
-Mom! Uncle Archie! Look!- Fanny exclaimed at the same time she pointed to a plane.- The plane's arriving!-
-I wish Snowball was here to see this.- Remy said excited
The plane finally arrived. After a few minutes, the passengers start to leave the airplane. Martine and the Captain, like the kids, were trying to spot the man they are waiting for. Finally, after a while, a 43-year-old red-haired man, with a small quiff, discrete glasses, and wearing a blue-coloured Russian attire with a red scarf, is seen entering to the building, with a dark-green suitcase.
-Dad!- both children exclaim in unison an leave to hug their father.
-Fanny! Remy! - Tintin lowered to hug his children.- I'm so happy to see you again!-
-Mom and Uncle Haddock are also here!- Remy said.- I missed you a lot, dad!- he said as he tried not to cry.
-Remy...- his father said.- I'll stay with all of you the rest of the month, and perhaps the next one.- he said as he took his red scarf and put it in his son's neck.
-Kids, next time try not to run that fast.- The Captain said as he approached alongside Martine.- I'm not that agile anymore.-
-Captain, always being that modest?- Tintin joked
-Oh, lad.- the old sailor replied.- I missed you a lot.-
Tintin stands up and hugs the Captain first, then his wife.
-They were wondering when you were going to return.- she said.- And if you were going to tell them your adventures as bedtime stories.-
Tintin giggles at this and kisses her. He then turns to his children.
-Come on, kids.- he said.- It's time to go.-
Everybody starts to leave the airport.
-So, how was Russia?- Remy asked
-It was fine. But I don't think I'll ever go back again.- Tintin replied.
The End
-xxx-
A/N: I hope you liked this!
And no, the kids don't have a quiff (that would be horrible!). And Snowball is Snowy's replacement (he died of old age, duh).
This is the end of the trilogy I started almost a year ago. The only fanfic pending is "The Beginnings of a Young Reporter". Once I finish it, I'll officially retire from writing for the Tintin universe. I have dreams. I mentioned earlier I have a series I want to write. Perhaps it'll get published, and you might remember me. The official name of it is "Cambridge & Radcliffe". It'll consist of five books. Some of the elements and characters I used in the Tintin fanfics are based off plots I have for my series.
Harriet and Benedict (the main characters) had a cameo in this fanfic (Ben's the man who changes his name to Roger Wright in the USA and Harriet's Detective (Pepper) Cambridge. Pepper is Harriet's second name). Couldn't resist adding them.
Blablabla. I really thought I was never going to end this fanfic. But I want to thank you guys because of your patience and because you followed my fics from the early beginning (The Circle of Paris). I knew I said I was going to rewrite "Tintin in Mexico", but now I'm not sure. Admit it, the fanfic sucked (and I'm losing reviewers).
There's a trivia chapter coming up soon!
If you want to check my Tintin fanart, either go to my deviantART (Sesshoumaru62) or add me on FB ( .35). Once I accept you, you'll be able to watch my stuff.
If there was something OOC, please tell me so I can fix it!
If I have grammatical mistakes please tell me (and where are they xD)!
Until the next time, dude(tte)s!