Javert, or the Dissection of a Heart

by KarterHelena

Javert's heart is stone, that is something he knows to be true. It was so, until he makes the promise that he will look after the child of a dying woman. It is the beginning of the collapse of what Javert had always regarded as true.

23. Chapter 22 Farewell

Chapter 22 Farewell

The dawn had just appeared and a thick fog was covering the horizon. Standing in that cold and in that darkness, stood four gray silhouettes. There was the large silhouette of a horse, and next to it there was a man who, because of the hat he wore, looked like a giant. The other figure standing in front of him was that of a woman with a shawl on her head, looking like nun. And finally, the smallest of these mysterious silhouettes was that of a child. These forms in the fog, side by side, looked like the relief of a mountain on the horizon.

But we all know to whom belonged those roughly described silhouettes. Javert, by leaving as soon as possible, was hoping to be in Paris by the end of the morning. They had two hours' journey ahead of them, not to mention that on horseback it was probably going to be longer.

"Goodbye, Cosette." Anicette's soft voice was covered by the morning singing of birds.

"Goodbye, madam," replied the child before turning to our giant. He bent over, lifted the child up and put her on the horse. He was getting ready to get on the horse too, when he felt Anicette's hand on his forearm.

"Inspector, you are always welcome here. »

Javert turned and stared at her, unsure of how he should react. Anicette was staring at him. What did he saw in her look? Something, a remnant of a not-so-distant past and a woman. In the eyes of that woman, once again, he was searching, searching for what? An idea, a memory, something. But in those blue and deep pupils, it was him he saw, the horrible reflection. That awful tingling on his cheeks, like that time Fantine looked at him, took over again. There was in Anicette's eyes the same flame, almost extinguished, almost already cold, a look that begged and shouted at the same time to the whole world that she was fighting and would continue to fight again but still begging and asking for somewhat he could not give. Those eyes that were looking at him this morning were Fantine's eyes.

"Why are you staying here?" asked Javert.

"For Matthias," replied Anicette promptly.

"You'd do anything for your son, hmm. » There was a shadow of irony in his voice. He shook his head weakly, then he greeted Anicette and got on the horse. "You remind me of someone" Javert threw, looking down at her, "farewell madam."