A Game of Colours

Chapter 40: Trust

When all else was crumpling around me, Lewis remained resourceful and confident. She has been through much more than she has ever shown me, of that I am certain. I see now that she feels no pride in stealing from those she loves, from hiding from others her entire life, and it is one of the many demons that torment her. Though she wears a proud and intimidated face every day, the one thing she cannot hide from me is her eyes. It is all there--the hurt, the longing, the grief--painted like a brilliant blaze in the angry specks in her eyes, like glowing ambers that have been ignited once more into a fire upon seeing the photograph of her lost love. I wish I could comfort her the way she has comforted me, but I too am broken.

"Thank you."

"For what?" I ask honestly.

"For hearing me out. For letting me explain why I am the way I am. I've kept that bundled up for a long time, and I didn't think anyone else cared to listen," she says hesitantly, "I hope you don't see me differently."

"No," I say, a small smile playing on my lips, "you're still the sassy pain in the ass I know and love."

Her eyes light up upon hearing me say that, and she pulls me up.

"Well, I think we've fulfilled the daily womanly hormone struggle that accompanies our monthly curses, don't you?"

I laugh. "I think so, too."

"Right. Let's go then. Jim's got a mission for us, dudn't 'ee?"

Lewis checks once more to make sure the drawer is locked before leaving the room.

***

We walk up the narrow passageway leading to the secret exit in a comforting silence, each carrying the other's burdens in a powerful partnership we didn't have before.

I swing the port door open, revealing Jim. He's seated at the oak desk, intensely scanning a piece of parchment as the low light from the dying candle flickers against his grey eyes, making them appear almost transparent.

I clear my throat to get his attention, and his eyes widen upon seeing us. He quickly stuffs the parchment into a desk, shutting it with one last glance and locking it before looking back up at us.

"Alice! Lewis! What a lovely surprise--I wasn't expecting you so soon!," he says, his voice slightly higher than usual, "is everything all right between you two?"

"Everything's great," says Lewis honestly, a bright smile still plastered on her face. I see a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and I feel happy for her. Alex's fate is something she's had bundled up for a long time, and I'm honoured she chose to share it with me.

I squint at Jim suspiciously, but draw on a smile of my own.

"So...the mission? We're ready to hear it," I say eagerly.

"Ah, that's good to hear, very good..." he trails off, "please, have a seat."

We both draw up chairs across from Jim, and I focus on the brightly dancing flame, watching it slowly eat away at the wax candle.

"You are both undoubtedly familiar with Preston's significance as a port city for fugitives from the South, yes?" he begins, and we both nod.

"Tonight, a train from Kentucky will be arriving harbouring a young slave who is stowed in one of many barrels of imported beer. It is crucial that he gets out undetected, as he narrowly escaped from his last destination and we need to secure him as soon as we can. Ideas?"

"It's simple," I say confidently, "all we need to do is fill up a wagon of the barrels that are already on the train--make it look like it's our shipment, of course--and ensure that he's in one of them, right? That's how I got out in Tennessee a few years ago, blending in. Jim, you pose as a driver, and Lewis and me will be your helpers."