CHAPTER 65: THE FIREWORKS AND THE STAMPEDE

Andree is stunned by our young philosopher's appearance:
"Who..? Is that you, Albert?"
Gilbert's face turns all red, but since the fireworks started, that could be an optical illusion.
Andree looks away from Gilbert at the night sky which has suddenly been splashed with color, as if the clouds were putting on garish make-up, and she oooohs- Gilbert's half understood monologue has been drowned in the admiring shouts of sixty thousand people. The scaffold is lit up level by level, and when the four dolphins open their mouths to release trumpets of multi-colored flames, the crowd screams with joy. Even Andree's regal face allows herself an expression of pure childish joy, and a devoted Gilbert forgives her all.
It is then that Philip frowns, for he's noticed that while Master Ruggieri's fireworks are meant to ascend, one swirling arrow of sparks has been let loose in a most horizontal manner, directly into the mass of people, like a cannonball.
"That's not supposed to happen..."
Singed people scream, and Philip's alert military gaze is directed towards the scaffold's base, where bundles of spare fireworks are kept- and he sees the authoritative shadow at once, a man who is moving decisively with a torch in his hands, followed by helpful, smaller shadows.
"Something's wrong. Andree, back to the carriage."
"But, the fireworks!"
Philip grabs her by the shoulder: "Listen to me, I think somebody's setting fire to..."
A hurricane of flames suddenly spits out of the scaffold and lashes at the crowd, which, singed and not understanding why, sets off on an stampede.
And with the running comes the crushing.
"Gilbert!" Philip screams. "If you do love her, get Andree OUT OF HERE NOW!" And Philip puts the stunned girl's hands in Gilbert's, and unloosing his sword, starts to fight against the rushing peasants in a patriotic but predictably ineffective attempt to get to the scaffold and stop the shadowy saboteur.
Gilbert is momentarily too thrilled by the touch of Andree's hands to hear the small explosions that are going off all around the Place Louis XV. Zigzagging fireworks are landing on stands and biting at people, people which in their panic have forgotten the "people" aspect of their personalities and are trampling each other like their tails are on fire, which in some cases quite literally are. Children shriek in the upraised arms of the mothers who are trying to save them from being pureed, while their own maternal bodies are caught in the rib-crunching pressure. The off-duty, trouble-emaking French Guard joyfully unsheath swords and swipe at any and all, leaving bloody streaks in the air which the killer fireworks are tinging with blue and green dyes.
Gilbert looks fixedly into Andree's eyes: "I know you don't love me, but at least trust me to get you out of here."
Andree quickly nods. Gilbert presses her against his side, and begins to punch his way out towards a rising monument to a side of the plaza, gaining strengt from the girl's warmth against him. He feels if he can only lift her above the crowd she will not be squished to death, as he himself is starting to be: the random punches and defensive kicks he gives out are more requited than his love ever was. All sorts of villains feel free to break sticks against Gilbert's shoulders and back. He feels nothing- protecting Andree is all, and even when a punch on the back of his head leaves him with blood dripping out of his nose, and everything starts to look double, he doesn't let go: the monument. He. Must. Get Her. There.
"Ooooh, where are you taking that pretty bird?" A French Guard makes his horse rear noisily, the hooves inches away from Gilbert's face. "Why don't you let me get her out of here in my horse? Safely?"
"I don't think so," Gilbert mutters, wiping the blood from his face on his sleeve.
"Oh, I must have made that sound like a question!" The Guard's horse bears down on Gilbert, and the youth sees with horror as a hoof kicks at his arm, he senses his bones gives way, and he lets loose of the girl. The Guard has not finished: the hilt of his sword descens upon Andree's head, and an expression of sheer terror disturbs that beautiful face as the girl falls to the pavement to be crushed by the horse.
Gilbert lets out a furious scream and drags the surprised Guard off the saddle onto the floor, bites at the hand with the sword, and even though every movement feels bone-splintering he pummels down until the Guard is elegible for disability. Should have taken that day off!

Then Gilbert runs to where Andree's body is prostrate and crouches around her. He knows he's going to die right now, because he hears the stomping of tens of thousands of crazy boots getting closer and closer- but dying like this, in the middle of a human stampede, will be worth it if his protecting body can spare Andree even the smallest measure of pain. He looks around him where the ground is already littered with the corpses that have burned or have been booted in all too sensible kidneys, and Gilbert looks at the heaps of the dead and feels less alone that he's felt in a long time.
Then a shadow covers him, and he assumes those dark boots belong to Death, but daring to raise his eyes, follows the boots up to that long black coat then up to the impassive face of-
Oh, COME ON, I think you can guess who's behind this evening's debacle!
"Master Joseph Balsamo! You!"
Balsamo looks down sadly at the boy, the girl, and then directs a look at the roaring zombies approaching. "She looks dead, and it seems you don't have much time either, young Gilbert."
Gilbert says: "But you're a magician, you can save her! Just lift her to that monument behind us!"
Balsamo cocks his head, curious: "You would like me to save her? But what about you?"
"Oh, I never mattered in all this! Please save Mademoiselle de Taverney!"
Balsamo kneels and with a strong arm picks up the limp doll's body.
"WAIT!" says Gilbert. "One last thing." And he grabs the hem of Andree's dress and kisses it. Balsamo rips the dress away: there's a spot of blood where Gilbert has kissed it.
"Friends, to me!" Balsamo screams, and suddenly a dozen or so determined looking men, undisturbed by the surrounding clamor, materialize like demons to form a shield around our magician. Gilbert's capacity for surprise has abandoned him. What can surprise one in Death? He mutters happily:
"I kissed her dress... She's saved. Now, I die."
And he lets go as the trampling wave crashes on him.


THE END!!!

Of Book 1 of The Super Abridged Marie Antoinette Saga: Andree & Gilbert.

I know I know, what a Tease!

Book 2 of the Super Abridged Marie Antoinette Saga coming VERY VERY soon!