Mines

Chapter Six

     "So... we would need uniforms." Laf whispers.
     "Where would we get them?" Herc asks.
     "Laundry. Maybe when one of us has laundry duty." I say.
     "We'd need to get the right size though." Alex reminds us. For once, being on lockdown has benefited us. It's been about a week since the riot happened, and yes, everyone is still starving but we don't have our minds on food. We might be able to get out of here, and this requires careful planning. Which is why it's lucky we can devote hours on end to planning.
     "When will we even get out of lockdown? I mean, we don't get assigned tasks until we're back to our normal schedule." Herc adds.
     "Are you sure you want to be the one to write the letter?" Laf asks, for about the millionth time.
     "For the last time, yes! I'm not changing my mind." Herc says exasperatedly. I know where Laf's concern is coming from, but I have to agree with Herc. It can get annoying after awhile. 
     "Don't worry. Herc'll be fine. He's tough." I say to Laf, trying, and, possibly failing to reassure him. He doesn't answer which leads me to believe I failed miserably. It's weird trying to reassure Lafayette, because he's normally the one trying to reassure us. I've never really picked up tricks on how to properly do it.
"And you'll be the backup in case he gets caught." Alex tells Laf.
"Moi?" Laf asks. "Why?"
"It's less likely for someone to remember you from three years ago." Alex says.
"I suppose... but I rather not do it, because that would mean Herc got caught!" Laf says.
    "Well, it's always good to have a back up plan if... if..." Alex's voice trails off, and at first I think it's because he sees someone listening to us because he's gazing beyond the bars of our cell, but after a few moments I see he's thinking.
     "What's wrong?" Laf wonders.
     "Oh my god, I've been stupid." Alex whispers.
     "What? Why?" Herc exclaims.
     "Charles Lee..." Alex says, more to himself then us.
     "What?" I shout. "You know that trash bag?" Everyone turns to stare at me, including Alex who still seems to be thinking. I feel my face getting hot. "Well... it's just... when I met Lee I didn't like him very much."
     "Understatement." Herc and Laf say together, and I glare at both of them.
     "You should hear him going off about Lee when he's in a bad mood." Herc says to the confused Alex.
     "Oui, he always says-" Laf starts, but I cut him off.
     "Nothing that's important right!" I shout. "Why did you say his name Alex?"
     "He escaped from here, three years ago, around the time you were captured, Lafayette. I don't know how he did it, because whenever I asked he wouldn't tell me." Alex says quickly.
     "How do you know?" Herc asks, and I realizes that he has a tendency to become suspicious of what Alex says, which can only mean he doesn't fully trust our new ally.
     "For rebels who are carefully tracking enemies, don't you think we'd notice if there was a breakout? More importantly if the man himself actually came to join our cause?" Alex retorts.
     "He's not lying, mon amie. There was an escape. All the guards were speaking about it when I came." Laf says to Herc.
     "Anyway, we should ask how he did it in our letter, then we won't have to wait for Washington to come and break us out." Alex continues.
     "Will he tell us? I mean, you just said he didn't all those times you asked." Laf points out.
     "For sure. First of all, he needs to help us, or Washington will kick him out of the movement. Secondly, he should want to help us anyway. For someone as important as me." Alex tells us.
     "Just because your Washington's right hand man? Isn't he jealous of you?" I say.
     "Well, yes, I assume he is, but I'm important to the cause of defeating the British! And after I have spent time here, when I get out, I'll be able to provide Washington with information of the layout!" he says this excitedly. "What at successful storming we'll have!"
     "We'll be with you when you do!" Laf says, jumping up and standing beside Alex. "I too want to fight the British."

"Lee... do you mind if I ask you a question?" Washington asks hesitantly to Charles Lee.
"Sure sir. I don't know if I'll answer it though." Lee responds. Washington didn't reply at once, he just continued walking through the forest with his ally, Charles Lee. The pine needles they walked on crunched underfoot, and the dead trees were prepared for the coming winter. Since the British attacked them three weeks ago, George had moved their rebel base father up the mountain, safe from the oncoming avalanches and the British troops. The had set camp near the base on the other side of where their old fortress used to be. Washington's generals advised against having their new base so close to their old one, but he hadn't had time to take their concerns into heart. So many had been injured during their escape, and it was foolish to try and move them further then they could go.
"I was just wondering, if you could tell me how you escaped from the British." Washington continues.
"Sorry sir, but I rather not answer that." Lee says, and silence fell between the two men again.
"It's for Hamilton's sake. If you have any information we could use, you need to tell us."
"I understand your concern, but private information can be concealed in the story. It's personal sir. I'll still assist you in anyway I can." Behind a tree, Peggy Schuyler listens to the conversation between the two men. Being female, she's rarely allowed in serious discussions. But sometimes when no one was looking, or thinking of her (which was quite often), Peggy would listen, and she would hear things she wasn't suppose to. Today's overheard conversation interested her quite a bit, for Lee was hiding something he didn't want her to hear. She had always known he was hiding something, but she didn't know what and why. It was time to change that.