I come to fight. Or at least, to listen.

chapter 5

Chapter 5

~Reversal~

Night fell quickly on les Amis. Evelyn had spent the entire light hours sanitizing table-tops and preparing various medical instruments. This was perfect for her, until she started looking at things twice. She arranged the jars of medical supplies on the bar. Re-did her french braid a few times. Re-categorized and counted the supplies. Joly came up to check on her around seven o'clock. He approved of her organization.

"So do you have any medical experience?" Joly asked. It came more out of politeness than actual curiosity. He expected a woman living in the slums to have absolutely none.

"Yes, monsieur. I actually own quite a few textbooks about medical science. Of course, I lack in experience, but I have the technique in my mind."

Joly was shocked. He looked up at her in disbelief. Evelyn noticed it.

"No, really monsieur. Just let me show you. I can stitch the first injury that comes in." Evelyn was dead set about this. This was her chance. Joly saw her expression and complied. Evelyn's heart did a little dance.

...

Night had fallen when the man returned back from his mission. Enjolras was reclining on an upturned table near the top of the barricade when Courfeyrac alerted Enjolras of his arrival. Enjolras signaled to him from the top of the barricade to enter through the side. The man told him, "The danger is real, we will need all our cunning to bring them to heel." Enjolras felt the Ami's confidence wavering, he reassured them, "Have faith. If we know what their movements are we'll spoil their game. There are ways that our people can fight. We shall overcome their power."

The man informed them "I have overheard their plans, there will be no attack tonight. They intend to starve us out before they start a proper fight, concentrate their force, hit us when it's light."

Little Gavroche cut him off "Liar! Good evening, dear inspector. Lovely evening, my dear. I know this man, my friends, his name's Inspector Javert! So don't believe a word he says 'cause none of it's true. This only goes to show what little people can do." Gavroche's announcement sent the Ami's into rage. Some tackled him, others pointed guns at his face.

Evelyn poked her head out the window to see the commotion.

Enjolras filled with anxiety when he realized what he'd done. Enjolras shook the thought from his head. Javert couldn't have gathered much from the short time he'd spent behind the barricade, anyways. Instead he used the obstacle to further fuel his fire. He calmed himself and regained his inner composure.

"Bravo, little Gavroche, you're the top of the class!" praised Courfeyrac.

"So what are we going to do about this snake in the grass?" Feuilly chimed in.

"Take this man and throw him in the tavern in there. The people will decide you're fate, Inspector Javert," Enjolras ruled.

"Shoot me now or shoot me later," Javert spat. Two men held one arm each, holding him back, "Every schoolboy to his sport. Death to each and every traitor! I renounce your people's court." Les Amis dragged him inside to the first floor of the Cafe. But Javert threw the man off each arm and punched Enjolras square in the mouth. Enjolras reeled back and Combeferre caught him. Enjolras steadied himself and gave Combeferre a thank-you nod. He lip felt fat, but he ignored it for the time being. Enjolras grabbed a the butt of a pistol and whapped Javert in the head with it, knocking him unconscious.

...

Evelyn rushed down the stairs to see what the source of the commotion was on the first floor. From what she gathered, the man who Enjolras had sent to get the enemy plans was a traitor. She came down after the brawl, and one of the Amis was pressing his forehead with his hand, blood seeping out between the fingers. Evelyn didn't even skip a beat. She rushed to the young man and started walking him to the stairs. On her way, she saw Enjolras a foot away bleeding rather profusely from the lower lip and doing nothing about it. "Enjolras!" she gained his attention, "you know your lip is bleeding right?"