Chapter Four
Klaus was anxious.
Just like his elder sister, he was worried about the verdict of the council. As much as he wanted to play a part in finding his mother and younger sister, he had no idea what V.F.D. would do with him while the search continued, or what he would do when the organisation decided to take action. He just hoped that life would take a turn for the better, using a phrase which here means "Beatrice and Sunny would be rescued, and the Baudelaire family would have a happy reunion."
Violet's thoughts mirrored those of her younger brother, as she hoped that the assortment of people gathered at the table would help her in every way possible. There were twenty-two of the forty-eight council members present, which meant that including the three children, twenty-five people were at the table; twelve down each side, and Kit Snicket at one end, organising the meeting. Violet sat between her father and Klaus at the opposite end of the table to Kit, with Arlo sitting on the far side of Klaus.
Unfortunately, I must say that while the Baudelaire siblings sat at the table waiting for the meeting to start, they were yet to feel welcomed into the organisation. Although a few kind members smiled at the two children, who were feeling unusually shy that afternoon, others stared at them, as one often does when encountering a new, unfamiliar person in a familiar place. A few, however, simply appeared to be standoffish, a word which is used here to describe how they showed no interest in the Baudelaires whatsoever. Of course, having not received any introduction to these people, Violet and Klaus did not expect an overly friendly welcome, and they were relieved when Kit Snicket spoke up to begin the meeting.
"Fellow volunteers," she said grandly, attracting the attention of everyone in the room. "A meeting has been called today due to the arrival of Arlo Thursday and the Baudelaire siblings from the Verdant Valley." This caused Violet to blush as all the heads in the room turned to face her, making her feel even more shy. "They were travelling with my brother Jacques," Kit continued, "when their helicopter was shot down by Firestarters near their base at the edge of the Mortmains." This sent murmurs around the table as images of the attack sprung up in the minds of the volunteers around the table, and painful memories of the attack sprung up in the minds of the children.
"What happened to Jacques?" asked one volunteer, who was concerned to for Kit's brother.
"He survived," she replied sadly, "but he is missing. Luckily, the Snicket File is still in his possession." This revelation seemed to cheer many of the volunteers in the room. Violet and Klaus didn't know what the Snicket File exactly was, but they knew that it was important to the volunteers. They presumed that it had something to do with the Snicket family, and that it contained important information about their past that couldn't be allowed to fall into the hands of the opposing side of the V.F.D. schism, the Firestarters.
"What happened to the children?" a short, chubby man asked indirectly.
However, both Violet and Klaus found themselves to be even more shy when all the heads turned their way once again, and instead Kit Snicket answered the man's question.
"To the best of my knowledge," Kit replied. "They were captured by members of the fire-starting side, and taken to their base, where they were interrogated by the man with a beard but no hair." This caused more gasps around the table, and many volunteers looked at the Baudelaires once more, their faces full of pity. "Along with Arlo, the Baudelaires managed to escape his clutches, and find their way to us without Jacques."
Kit finished explaining the situation to the other council members, all of whom seemed to be at least thirty-five years old, and Violet, Klaus and Arlo knew that the story hadn't been entirely truthful, but had been close enough to convey the situation to the other members of V.F.D.
"They've shown tremendous belief in our cause in their actions," one elderly woman said. "They should receive citations for bravery."
"Hear, hear," said another, which was a way of showing agreement.
The Baudelaires felt honoured by the words of the council, but they didn't want citations for bravery, which are really nothing more than a slip of paper saying that you have shown courage or bravery in a certain situation, and have no real worth. What the Baudelaires wanted was for their family to be reunited.
"We appreciate your kindness," Violet said politely, overcoming her shyness. "But can we concentrate on the task at hand? It's Sunny and my mother that need attention, not us."
"Well said, Violet," another man agreed, who Arlo recognised as Dewey Denouement's identical brother, Frank. He only knew this as Dewey was sat with Kit Snicket at the other end of the table, his hand in hers.
"Well, I believe we may have a lead on this case," Kit said, using a phrase that implied that vital evidence had come to light. "Klaus has learned of the location of Beatrice and Sunny Baudelaire." This knowledge caused murmurs and raised eyebrows around the table, and eventually everyone's gaze was averted to Klaus, who took the opportunity to speak up.
"The bearded man said that they were being kept at Bladeridge Castle," he said helpfully, which again caused murmurs around the table. "However, I have no idea where that is. I've never even heard of it," he admitted sadly.
"I have," chirped up the chubby, red-faced man. "I don't live far from it. It must be thirty miles from our horseradish factory on Lousy Lane."
"Excellent!" said another important-looking man, who none of the children recognised. "Should we dispatch agents to the area?"
"Yes!" Klaus said eagerly, pleased that action was being taken. "Can't we send someone to kidnap them back?" he asked, although almost immediately he knew that he had said the wrong thing.
"We shouldn't rush in, Baudelaire," another woman said, who Arlo knew as Olivia Caliban.
"That's right," another agreed. "We should only engage in violence as a last resort. It is a villainous thing to do." This caused the hearts of both Baudelaire siblings to sink, as they realised that it would be near impossible to break into a castle and retrieve their two relatives without violence. A peaceful approach would take more time.
"I suggest that we send a reconaissance team," said Kit decisively, using a fancy word for "spies". "Then we will know what we are up against."
"Yes, yes, that sounds like a plan," agreed Dewey, who had been silent until that point.
"I'll arrange for diLustro and her apprentice to take a look at it," another elderly man said. "She'll know what to do."
"Good idea," Kit agreed. "Now children, seeing as we have a plan of action ready, please feel free to leave the meeting. We have other matters left to discuss." Neither Violet, Klaus nor Arlo left the table. The volunteers' plan was better than nothing, but none of the children were happy with it. They thought that it would take too long. It was flawed. But they didn't say so when Kit Snicket indirectly asked them to leave. Instead, they had another important matter on their minds.
"Where do we go to?" Violet asked worriedly, causing Kit to frown for a minute until she understood Violet's question.
"I trust that you and your brother want to become volunteers?" she asked Violet.
"Of course," Violet replied. "But we know little of the organisation."
"That doesn't matter," Kit said. "All neophytes - trainee volunteers - have to go through standard V.F.D. training, which you will complete in the following weeks and months, while us adults find a way to get your mother and sister back." Violet didn't add that she hoped her family would be found in days not months as Kit continued. "The first stage of training is usually completed between the ages of eight and twelve. I'm sure that the course will be completed quickly, due to your age." This time, Klaus tried to mention that he was only twelve years old himself, but Kit continued once more. "Training consists of learning many core skills, such as disguise training and the like, and also one area of your interest. I'll leave it up to you to decide that at a later date," she said to the Baudelaires, before turning to Arlo.
"I assume that you have completed the first stage of V.F.D. training, Thursday?" Kit asked him.
"Yes," Arlo replied bluntly, speaking out for the first time in the meeting. His father, a V.F.D. member himself, had trained Arlo in the basic skills at home in the Verdant Valley.
"What was your specialised area?" Kit asked formally.
"Applied physics," Arlo answered calmly. "More specifically, fluid dynamics and the laws of flight."
"I take if that you passed your courses?"
"Of course," Arlo said, wearing his trademark cocky smile.
"Then you shall move onto the second stage of V.F.D. training," Kit Snicket concluded. "Dewey, please escort these children to the training area."
Without saying a word, Dewey Denouement stood up from the table and led the three children away from the council hall towards their new lives as volunteers.