The Quagmires

A Change of Plans

He had found them.
Quigley had found his siblings. After searching for over half a year, he had finally found them.

Hector had sent an SOS message to all VFD telegrams. Quigley, who had bumped into Kit Snicket on his journey to the Last Safe Place, read the message when it was sent to Kit. He was over the moon, no, over the universe with excitement. Even with all this happy news---which was something that was rare in Quigley's life---he still felt a looming sense of sorrow. His journey to aid his siblings would mean straying from the original plan which was to meet the Baudelaires again at the last safe place.

He was torn between the two but he knew the obvious right choice was to save his siblings, but it didn't make being reunited with the Baudelaires any less tempting. He was looking forward to seeing a certain inventor who he much admired.

He made his choice.

"Kit, I've thought it over, and I know I must find my siblings. I shall have to leave at this moment. My siblings' situation seems urgent."

"I understand, Quigley. I would give the world to see my siblings again too." Kit sighed as she drove, eyes on the road. "But what about the mission?"

"I can only hope that you will take the Baudelaires to finish without me?" Quigley said, with a pleading face.

"Of course, I will. I will drop you off at the nearest trolley."

"Thank you, I wonder if the Baudelaires received and deciphered my telegram to them by now. If they have they should arrive by tomorrow."

Kit glances at Quigley through the rear view mirror and read his expression.

"I know the Baudelaires will more than understand your situation." Kit reassured.

Quigley gave her a thankful nod.

"Well, this is it then." Kit parked the car. "Goodbye, Quigley. If all goes well we might meet again at The Last Safe Place."

"Yes. Kit, thank you. For everything. Will you be okay?"

"Of course I will. Now go, the trolley will get here in a few minutes. I must go. I have a few more errands to run before the plan can begin."

Quigley got out of the car and waved at Kit. She nodded at his direction before speeding off.

Quigley turned to sit at the benches waiting for the trolley. He felt Deja Vu as he thought about all the trolleys he had rode to find his siblings. This would be the last one.

The trolley arrived in no time and people spilled out. He got in and sat in a window seat so he could pass the time by looking out. He watched as the landscape turned from green fields to snow. He could see the familiar sight of the Mortmain Mountains. He would have to return their once more.

The train made a stop at the foot of the mountain. It was Quigley's stop, and so he filed out into the icy air. He suddenly remembered his last visit there.

The horrible memories of the snow scouts being kidnapped, and him unable to have helped them filled his mind. This past year he had been trying to be a hero, but in that moment he realized that, though he tried, he had not succeeded.

But all unhappy memories were washed away by the no longer frozen waterfall. He remembered a treasured moment he shared upon it with the eldest Baudelaire and blushed.

'I have to hurry' Quigley reminded himself. And with that he trudged on.

The climb was wearisome, and he was also carrying quite a load. His excitement at the prospect of meeting his siblings made the climb feel less harrowing. He was just bubbling with hyperactivity.

Once he was at the top he stopped and panted. Only now did he realize how exhausted the climb had left him. He was not sure when, but he was informed that the Self Sustaining Hot Air Mobile Home would be close enough to the mountain for a rescuer to come up. He was lucky, though.

As the sun began to set he could make out something like a red cloud. Quigley knew exactly what it was, and he jumped for joy. They were really coming but he couldn't believe that something wasn't going to go wrong before he had the chance to see his siblings.

The Self sustaining hot air mobile home was right above him and a ladder dropped down to his feet.

Quigley climbed.

He no longer felt the weight of his load as a burden. He only felt streaming hot tears run down his cold cheeks, as he saw two familiar faces at the top of the ladder.