Sat, May 19 2012
On board the train two men were in hiding after the passengers left who were to assist to the governor of the California’ speech of greeting. They had listened from their hide and watched by the small curtained window that they had in the second-class cart they had occupied since leaving New York. “He’s really an annoyance!” one had complained on a low tone in listen the man tell his speech, “I should put a bullet in his mouth just to shut him up.” He had added his gun in hand pointing on the window. The other man sighed in put his hand on the other man’s hand to get the gun low, “Don’t, we need to wait the best moment to act. The president would not be happy if we butcher that one.” The other man sit down his back laid against the wall of the cart, “The president know we never butchered any of our job. It’s the reason he asked us to be here. And to made sure all these big stranger’s ass stay safe.”
“It was not graceful to jump your way into the action without thinking about what you would do first than we always succeed your job!” The other man complained on a low tone in stay to watch by the window in being hidden by the curtain. The other sighs again, “And do you really believe that you get only your invention to thank for those success? My way saved your skin more than once, I remind you.” The other whispered more for him in mockery in stay to watch out on the unloading platform, “Almost get us killed more than once too.” The man looked closely on the window in saw a masked man walk on the platform horseback riding, “What’s that?” he said a bit too aloud and get the other to get up to come see, “That, it’s only the legend to come true, you never heard of black men riding black horses to come save the day? My poor chap you’re really backed up on the time!” The other looked on him with a frown, “Oh! Shut up and watch out!” he said unhappy to be kidding on as the actions had began outside.
The man had climbed down his horse and a sword fight had take place in the middle of the people. “We should go now!” the most hurried to jump on the action of the both said on a frantic low tone. “Not now!” the other whispered to him hoping to keep his friend quiet, as the sword fight was stay up and than things around moved as both of the watchers were to run to next jump on the Colonel and the governor. Next the two men were held in hostage to get the masked man to surrender what worked. “Now we go!” they hurried to go said with a gun in each hand. “No, let’s send the signal first while we see what will happen next.” The other said wanting to wait for the best moment. “Stay to watch and don’t try anything while I send the signal.” He said and next walked for the end of the car and grabbed a fuse in a bag put down on the floor to fire out of an odd gun in the air outside a window on the other side of the car.
Outside Rebecca just as Jules and Passepartout remarked the colored red stream in the sky. That was so much to look like one of the signaling fuses Passepartout would have ready for Rebecca to use while a mission. But that one had not been throw from the air but from the ground to the air. Phileas didn’t remark that since that was behind him. As the shoot of the fuse had almost not made noise and that the soldiers as the governor were to enjoy their victory over Zorro and his helpers for the first time since so long they didn’t all remark the red light in the blue lightly clouded sky what could be see at few miles away on the iron way. A group of uniformed people who had waited for that sign get on their saddles and ride their horse on a gallop for the town.
The lieutenant was to stand behind a kneeling Zorro and to have the man to well placed in front of him he ready his sword to what would be a fatal blow for the masked man. The man on board the train saw that and cried to his friend, “He will kill him! Now I go!” he said and rushed to the end of the car a gun in each hand. The other man followed in agreement, “Yes, now seems to be the best moment.” Rebecca and her friends had just seen the same thing, the lieutenant ready to run the blade through Phileas and had yelled just as some people were to come out of the train ready to shot on the lieutenant if he should go on his act. For his part the lieutenant was more than to want to get his fee for having killed Zorro and he moved the sword as Rebecca yelled, “Phileas!” Just as a gunshot cover her worried call and than Phileas feeling the movement behind him rolled on his side kicking the soldier in the stomach.
All looked for where the gunshot had come from. The lieutenant who had fallen on his knees steadied the man on the ground, and let down the sword as his arm was not keep the hand to hold that with the bullet in and the pain in his stomach took the remainder of his strength. Phileas saw the gunman was to jump down of the footbridge between the both cars with a gun in each hand, as another man was to follow him. Before the second had touch the platform Phileas had gotten his gun, as well as the one of the lieutenant and had pushed and put his feet on the man back forcing him to smell the dust and to keep him quiet. Rebecca, Alejandro as well than Elena get their gun out too as they was to seem more people to work on the same side and with an effect of surprise on the Colonel and his soldiers and that was to improve the checkmate situation.
The unhappy officer, growled under Phileas feet just as the ones who were to keep Passepartout and Jules, “What that mean! Kill them all!” the colonel had yelled, but the first man to had jumped out the car managed to keep the soldiers quiet, and shouted to them in stray to hold his gun. “Sirs, in the name of the president of the United States of America you are ordered to put down your weapons or to hold them against these men. The colonel, the captain and the governor will be but under arrest for a con’ tentative!” he said them as the soldiers looked on ones the others unsure of what do as the man continued, “If you don’t you will be put under arrest for complicity!” The other man had put his gun back in his holster and had address himself to the travelers. “Sorry ladies and gentlemen those men tried to make money with the auctions, but those lands are now to be joined by the United States of America by the proclamation of Mr. Abraham Lincoln and with the help of the Queen Victoria first of England as well than the one of the Queen Isabelle two of Spain.”
The man had said in get an official document out of his pocket. As all had been settled by official wires as quickly as could be possible to between the main interested after the visit of two British secret agents to the American president to avoid seeing another governor and his fellow abuse of his powers and authority. The governor in saw his plot run down in tiny bit tried to save the face, “Ladies, gentlemen, I did nothing as that! These both men lie to you! And why the Queen of Spain would take back her asking me to do that for her majesty and the country. Seriously who are these men to come and broke all, they are on the same side of that outlaw and his accomplice! They are all come to stop the auctions! But not with official backup or real documents signed by the president and the both Queens!” As the travelers had already made their mind to not believe anymore what the governor could say, they all stay stunned when a clarion and horses steps were heard.
The man talking with the travelers turned and looked on the governor Del Torres, “I’m Artemus Gordon and this gentleman is Jim West. For the official backup…” he said the blue uniformed horsemen stopped to the train station to walk on the unloading platform, “I believe the cavalry will do just well. So please, Soldiers, put down your weapons or we will take you just as your officers.” The cavalry troops took place on and around the trains train station. The governor soldiers were out of number as the cavalrymen had ten men in more than them and with the six people-aiming gun on them in add they was seriously to not made the weight. So the soldiers looked all on one the others and next on the really mad Colonel and governor before releasing Jules and Passepartout and put their weapons down.
The both free men stepped fast out of the way and joined Rebecca happy to not have been hurt while Zorro grabbed the lieutenant by his coat collar and forced him up, as some cavalrymen took charge of the governor and the colonel who tried to intimidate those young soldiers but without success they fast found themselves with hands tied behind their back. The captain had been the last one to be retained so he tied something stupid to escape in push between the both cavalrymen and made them fall but found Tornado on his path. Alejandro remarked that and walked closed in manage to made Tornado scare the captain rightly before getting him back to him and because all what the captain had done to him since the time Alejandro used the butt of his gun on the man’ head. When the man fallen unconscious at his feet Alejandro calmed his horse, as Elena smiles to him as her so long know hero.
Phileas ridded himself of his charge in throw that to Jim West, “Thank, Mr. West, Mr. Gordon” He said as the watchers were to breath a bit better but was to stay unsure of their land’ future. Just as the travelers’ gazes were to show their lack of understanding about all what was happen. Some ladies had even fainted under the action. Jim nodded to the masked stranger, “Thank the people who came to talk to the president about what was to occur here. The president made next in such to straighten the situation and in few days all will be better here.” He said smiling. The masked man smiled too, “So I believe you, and if things are not better, Zorro will be back.” He said smiling in seeing Elena and Alejandro smiling and nodding to his word. “Well, for now I believe it the time for me to leave.” He added and climbed up to his horse’ saddle to next move his hat to the travelers, “Ladies and gentlemen I hope the remainder of your stay will be better than your arrival.” He turned Tornado to look on the watchers, “I’m sure your land will not be anymore in danger in the future.” When the colonel of the cavalry walked close he keep his horse quiet and shake the colonel of the cavalry’ hand to thank him their intervention. After a quick salute to his friends he drove tornado to a gallop to the old farm.
As the stranger calling himself Zorro galloped away on his black horse and than the cavalry handle of the governor and his fellows in crime, Artemus talked a bit to the travelers to explain and invited them to walk to the hotel where he would be able to say them more. Jim for his part walked to the pretty redheaded woman wearing an odd and interesting outfit who was to talk with a local couple and the two men, “My ladies, gentlemen.” He said in walk close. Alejandro take out his hand to shake Jim’ hand, “Mr. West, I’m glad you and your friend as well than the cavalry come here to help us to brake the decencies of trouble we were in.” He said in put his good arm around his wife waist. Jim smiles, “It was only our job. The president asked us to act and to made the things to be right after the intervention, it what we did and we will stay to do.” He said in stay to look on Rebecca with charming smiles.
Jules and Passepartout had remarked the man smiles just as Rebecca’ one in answer. But as the cavalry was to leave to the barrack in bring the upper officers of the other army and the governor, they both smiles to Jim in said thank to him and next thanked the other ones having freed them. Jim shakes Rebecca hand, “It was a pleasure to see you and your friends helps even if two of them where hold by the soldiers that way. And… I need to said, than what you wear is really lovely and amazing.” Rebecca giggles to the compliment, “Thank you, Mr. West. Your intervention was really good too and helped all of us. And for my dressing, I would be glad if that could be more comfortable under so much sun and warm.” Jim smiles, “I understand, so we should all go to the hotel as Artemus proposed to the travelers.” Rebecca smiling in agreement as she was badly in need to change clothes.
Later in the day, when all was straitened with the travelers and the citizen about the way the president was to see the future of the California and than everybody had understand, than Rebecca had get a bath and changed her clothes and than Phileas was back from his ride to take back his identity, him and Rebecca had get a conversation with Jim West and Artemus Gordon about their implication in the both men’ participation and secret intelligence detail. After a last handshaking, the four of them parted to talk with other people. Joining Jules, Passepartout, Elena and Alejandro. “So, I suppose you will all leave soon now that all is almost settled.” Elena asked to Rebecca a bit sadly. Rebecca smiled to her new friend, “Yes, we need to report in England and my cousin’ airship is in Washington.” Elena smiles, “An airship, it sound really interesting.” Jules smiles here, “Again more to watch, I assure you.” Phileas smiles too, “We could get Passepartout to go and bring the Aurora here for us, next we could leave for England.”
On his word Rebecca looked on Phileas with a front as she was not pleased with his idea at all and said him an answer before Passepartout could agreed with his too good nature, “That is out of question, Phileas! Passepartout will need two days to get back to Washington and again a more than a full day with the Aurora to come back here! No, no, no, we will not get him to do twice the trip for next get all of us to do the travel back!” Alejandro watched and listened that to next burst to laugh to see Phileas sighs and give Rebecca’ satisfaction in change his own mind to hers, “Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Does you English men have as custom to let your wives wear the trousers as that?” Phileas looked on him in show a moue, as that was not really to please him to get to be kidding on, “We are not… Well… not really… Married…” Alejandro smiles to him in stay really much amused, “That it’s worse! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Your not married with her and you lets her hold you by your tuercas!” Phileas sighs and almost lost his colours in hear Jules ask to Passepartout, “Passepartout, what that means ‘tuercas’?”
When Passepartout began his answer by, “Jules, it means.” Phileas send a warning look to his manservant with a vocal warning, “Passepartout!” But ignoring the warning, as there were a lot of people, Passepartout only made a sign to Jules in show his hand palm to the up and fingers closing to an invisible fruit. Jules shakes his head in chuckling in understanding, “Eh! Eh! Eh! I see!” Alejandro put down his hand on the young man shoulder in stay amused as Phileas looked on them, “It’s always better to a man to get a woman to hold that to him than to do that him self. And one suppose it a part of the tactic. That way she get what she wand and stay happy and on the other hand one get the feeling to get the much in the deal, as to avoid to sleep alone in a cold uncomfortable bed.”
Alejandro smiles and chuckles again, “And you was to said to not be married…” Phileas smiles as Elena looked on Alejandro and said him on a patronizing tone, “Now you done already too much, come on, we need to lets them leave and to go back home. You stay in need of rest, did you forget you were hurt and in need of a recovery.” They all shared for goodbye words and part once again. And in the evening several on the travelers having done the trip to California especially for the auction, some preferred stay a day or so to enjoy the travel and the others as Phileas Fogg and his friends preferred take back the train to Washington to found back the Aurora.
Three days later as they could officially call the mission over, after an other visit to the president Lincoln, they had get the Aurora furnished in food, water and oil as well than with a box send to the train for Fogg by the Murrieta. Passepartout had tried to keep that hide with the luggage until can use that for improve his master’ mood. So the Aurora was to finally flight to the England. The live had take back its routine except for a thing, Passepartout though, that was Phileas Fogg who was to write a report for the queen and not for Sir Jonathan Chatsworth while Rebecca and Passepartout were to entertain Jules who was in fact amused to heard Rebecca tell how her and Donna Elena had get Don Raoul out of jail and four soldiers at his place and heard more about Phileas having agreed to play El Zorro or the fox.
Jules amused looked on Phileas who was sit at the desk to work on the last part of his report, “You hided to me than you was to be a so good actor, Fogg or I should had find you a part longtime ago in one of my play.” Phileas smiles him in get up as he had finish, “Sorry Verne, I lets the actor job to Rebecca, after all she did a such wonderful job as Joan of arc, I would not tarnish a such good performance of our memories.” Jules smiled as Rebecca giggles to heard that, “You know Phileas I believe it’s the first time you made me compliments about that.” Phileas smiles her, “They were owed since too long then.” He said in put his report in front of Jules, “Verne, can you use that for made an other version totally different and wrote that in… Said… Latin?” Jules look on the file with the same expression that Rebecca looked on Phileas after he had asked that. “Phileas, it’s a report, you owe that to her majesty and to Sir Jonathan, surely you cannot…” she stopped too stunned by Phileas asking that.
Jules was just the same way than her, “But… Fogg… It’s your report! Why do you wand another version of that and in Latin? You cannot wand delivery that to the Queen!” Phileas got a mischievous smiles and sit down in front of his friend ignoring Rebecca for the time to do, “That report will be delivered to the Queen, and out of contrariety I kept nothing out not more than I modified the true in that. It’s just that I owe nothing to Chatsworth. He’s not MY boss. My devotion go only and exclusively to my sovereign. So Chatsworth wand a report, he will have one, just not the kind he figure he will have. Please Verne, made that as children tale. It’s good… A children tale… In Latin.” Phileas said amused and smiling as a young boy working to get a bad trick ready, what made Rebecca sighs unpleased and get up to walk to the spiral staircase, “You will all excuse me, it’s late. I will refresh and get to sleep in my bed while you get to work on your joke.”
The men all said her good night and when she was upstairs Jules tried to found if Phileas asking had been to kidding Rebecca or if he was serious about that, “Sir Jonathan will not appease, Fogg, do you really wand I do that for you?” Phileas squeezed his friend shoulder in confirmation, “Chatsworth can well find someone for traduce that or even for read that to him as bed time story, it’s not my concern than he appease or not, Verne. I wand only he understand than I’m not to work for him so I will not fold myself to his asking or order.” He said and he smiled to him, “We have time, I will need that for when the Aurora will be grounded to London. Now, try to sleep.” He said as Passepartout had lower the oil lamps’ flames and was stay to watch on the Aurora’ flight for the night or until one agreed to relieve him. Jules nodded and said good-bye to his friend before settle himself for the night.
Several hours later, Phileas was lay in his bed, running to a side to the other, unable to found his sleep. He hits his pillow once again in sighs, as the sleep was not to wand come anyway, so he get up and put on his dressing grown and slippers for next climb down stairs and relieve Passepartout from his driving quart. Phileas send Passepartout off for the night, as Jules was deeply asleep. --- Surely Rebecca is asleep too. --- The gentleman thoughts while to make sure of the course and that the wind had not modified that when he heard steps behind him in the stairs and a sweet feminine voice to accompany that, “I was come to relieve Passepartout, but I see that you couldn’t sleep neither.” Phileas smiled her in invite her to come to the control room, “No, I couldn’t.” he said in walk to the windows, “I was to miss… To feel… Your presence in the room…” he confessed her while to look outside with his hand on the banister.
Rebecca smiles as he was back to her. “It’s surely to mean something I suppose… I had the same problem.” She said and saw him turn to look on her in the half obscurity of the airship. Phileas smiles, “Yes, I enjoyed to share that berth car with you a last time. Even in know that you was just on the other side of that wall tonight, that was not enough for me.” He said her in walk back to her, “You know, if you was to ask again, I would... say yes.” Rebecca smiles him, “It good to heard, Phileas, but you know, I believe I would not ask again... I understood that... That was the part of... the man... to ask.” Phileas’ smile turned in worry expression as he was bit puzzled and unsure about that anymore, “So... If I was to... ask...” Rebecca smiled to him in bring her hand to straitened his nightshirt’ collar outside the one of the dressing grown, “Well, there is only a way to know the answer Phileas.” She said to invites him to ask.
Phileas takes his courage at two hands, cleared his throat looking for the best way to ask and finally asked her, “Rebecca, do you wand be my wife, for real and for the remain of our live?” Rebecca smiles and locked her arms behind his neck, “Yes, Phileas, I do.” She said and brings him in a kiss. As Phileas giggle after had broken that and kidding in saw the joy in her eyes, “Damn, I will need to ask again in the morning. It was far to be as romantic than your way, while to wear a nightshirt and a robe and without witness. Now, no one we will believe I really asked you.” Rebecca chuckled to his kidding as a sleeping voice talked behind them and she released Phileas and Jules appearing to stand in the room’ entrance. “No... Need… Fogg... I will be witness… Not matter what you wand... I do... Can we goooo back sleeeeep now.... Pleeese…" the young writer said in yawning. Rebecca looked on him, as he was to look so young while to be just awaked in the night. Phileas smiled him, “Yes, Verne, you can and take Rebecca room if you wand. She will not need that anymore.”
Rebecca saw Jules face change and he lifts his hands as to keep the distance between him and them, “No.... No… No… Sincerely, no but thank you to offer, Fogg. I prefer stay here.... I’m not sleepy anymore. I will stay to relieve you on the driving.” He said as Phileas shared a gaze with Rebecca who turned her head to Jules in caught Phileas hand furtively “As you wand, Verne, as you wand.” He said while Rebecca dragged him to the stairs in said, “See you later Jules. Come on… Mon amour… lets go back sleep.” They leaved as Jules shaken his head thinking if those both would not found themselves with a real child really soon.
End
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Writer’ word:
I’m not the owner of the SAJV characters not more than the Zorro ones or the Wild Wild West ones, I used them to the fun and I get no money from their use.
Baldomero is a name that means “courageous”, and of course that was a joke.
Some of the characters names used in the first chapters were real people having lived on that period.
Thank to my friends to have serve me of Betas on that story and to have something helped with some ideas.
End of Chapter Twenty
Chapter 19 | Chapter 20