Sapphire III: Chapter 2

2. A Frosty Farewell

February 5th, 1989

After a few months of trying to patch up his relationship with Rachel, Elodie returned to Philadelphia for a few days in the middle of winter in 1989.  For the few glorious days they had together, he did his best to spend as much time with her as possible.  She demonstrated to him all sorts of contortion poses, and in return he showed to her the sights of Philadelphia and around the Eastern Seaboard.  All this time, Alec was curious about what Elodie had gone through in the past.  He had never found the time to sit down and ask her.  However, everything changed one frosty evening in February.

Alec and Elodie came out of a subway station in the city and into the chilly twilights above.  Elodie led her man along the Independence Mall until they came to a park bench, where she bade him to sit down.  Once they were seated, Alec wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter.  "Elodie, my dear, I'd like to ask you something," he told her, looking deeply into her eyes.

Elodie thought she already knew what Alec had in mind.  "Oh--!" she gasped.  "Do you want me to marry you?  I'm sorry, it's just that I wanted to... we've only been seeing each other for three months -- not even -- and I --"

Alec softly put a finger to Elodie's quivering raspberry lips.  "No.  Not at all.  Nothing like that.  ...Not yet anyway.  I only wanted to ask about your past."  He took a second to organize his questions once Elodie finally got quiet, and then asked, "Now, you say you were in the circus.  How did you come across that job?"

Elodie sighed.  "...Suffice it to say, there's a reason why I've kept my past hidden from you for so long.  But now, I shall tell you."

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"It was the summer of 1960.  School had just let out for the summer, and I was looking forward to attending a circus camp to hone my skills.  It wasn't easy for me to get this chance.  See, my parents were proud of my talents, don't get me wrong, but they weren't exactly supportive of my dream either."

"What could you mean?" Alec pondered out loud.  "I mean, what you do is fantastic; why would your parents not want you to follow your dream?"

Elodie sighed.  "First, let me explain.  I grew up well, in a vineyard chateau outside of Marseille, you know, on the Mediterranean coast.  And I guess my parents wanted me to carry on the family wine business."  She sighed again as she continued her story.  "So anyway, I dashed home, taking time only to walk along the railing along the harbor in Marseille -- on my hands.  Oh, the applause I got from the onlookers!  But anyway, I went back home by bus, only to discover that police had surrounded the house.  One policeman stood on the lookout, trying to keep suspicious-looking people away.  I came up to him and politely asked, 'Excusez-moi, Monsieur Policeman, what are you doing here?'

"'Bonjour.  Are you Elodie Duchamp?'

"'Oui... oh, am I in trouble?'

"'Not at all, Mademoiselle, but I'm afraid I have some sad news,' he said, kneeling down to my eye level.  Trying to find the right words to say, he stalled, then put his hand on my shoulder and said, '...Both of your parents have been killed this morning.'

"The news stunned me and left me speechless for a moment, until I timidly asked, 'Oh... but Monsieur Policeman, how did it happen?'

"The policeman walked with me into the house as he explained, 'To be honest, we don't know.  No injuries have been found on either body, and we haven't found any signs of poison, strangling, or illness.  Even more perplexing, there are no signs of forced entry into the house!  But, I'm afraid your parents are gone now, Mademoiselle.'

"All this time, I could not believe my ears.  As the tears started to come to my eyes, all I could ask was, 'Then... how did... they...'  I was so sad that I couldn't even finish my question.  I just buried my head in my hands and ran upstairs, bawling all the way.  The policeman shouted, 'Mademoiselle, I -- wait!' and ran up to follow me.  He found me in my room, the door wide open.  I was crying loudly, my face buried in my pillow.  Trying to console me, the policeman put on a friendly air as he stroked my shoulders and jested, 'Mademoiselle, won't you come up for air?'

"I finally pushed my head up, but could not yet stop crying.  While I was trying to stop, the policeman looked around my room, searching for something to start a conversation with.  One of the walls in my room was almost completely covered in posters about the circus.  Many of them were of Pierre Dupont, a popular and very handsome fifteen-year-old trapeze artist from the Cirque du Fantaisie -- in English, the Circus of Fantasy.  The policeman took a moment to decide on a question, and then asked, 'Now that your parents are gone, you'll need somebody to take care of you.  I was thinking, would you like to live with the circus?'

"Upon hearing those words, my head immediately snapped up to look at the policeman.  Practically speechless, I replied, '...Oui, Monsieur --'

"He put up a hand to stop me.  'Call me David, s'il vous plait.  And I can get you into whichever circus you please.'

"The sorrow fled from me more and more quickly.  'Do you think you could get me into the Cirque du Fantaisie?' I requested, pointing at the posters of Pierre Dupont.

"'But of course, Mademoiselle.  Now, do you have any talents that you would like to perform in the circus?'

"I sprang up from my bed, feeling joyous like never before, as though my parents had never died.  'Absolutely, Officer David!  Would you like to see what I can do?'

"'I would be delighted, Mademoiselle.'

"'Merci!  My name is Elodie, by the way,' I corrected as I disappeared into my closet to change into a leotard.  In the closet, I could hear Officer David telling me, 'Excusez-moi, Madem -- I mean, Elodie.  I just forgot.'

"Soon afterwards, I walked out of the closet, wearing a white leotard that I had worn to many a gymnastics class.  Officer David observed me with unyielding fascination as I displayed an array of cartwheels, handstands, splits, and more.  For my finale, I walked up to the foot of my bed, turned around and bent backwards until my head touched the bed.  Then, supporting myself with my hands, I pushed my feet up off the floor and placed them on either side of my head.  (This is known as a 'chest-stand', as you can imagine, Alec.)  Announcing, 'And now for my pièce de résistance!' I let my feet move off the bed and my legs dangle off the side.  My back was bent in a near-perfect hairpin, but I smiled, showing no evidence of pain.

"I stayed in the pose for a little while as Officer David applauded me and exclaimed, 'That act was beautiful, Elodie!  With talent like that, you'll get into the circus, no problem!  I shall make it my mission to see that you are accepted into the Cirque du Fantaisie!'"

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Alec hung onto every word of Elodie's story.  As soon as she paused her narrative, he put a hand on her shoulder and told her, "That was the most moving tale I have ever heard.  I'd cry, but... my tears might freeze up."  He shivered as they shared a silent laugh.  "If it makes you feel any better, I lost my father, too.  It's just that...  I don't think I'm ready to tell you about that."  In reality, Alec didn't want to talk about Delta Defense Alliance and the war of the psychics.  In his business, one must always acknowledge the possibility that even one's closest friends could be enemy spies.  "Ah, but you look like you weren't finished with your story.  Would you care to go on?"

"Yes, thank you."

"So... how did the circus audition go?"

"Well, Officer David drove me to the office of Cirque du Fantaisie.  The first person we met there was the ringmaster.  She had blinding red hair and seemed like a tough, motherly figure.  David told her about our plans, but she was against letting me join."

"Oh, how come?"

"She said I was too young!  She didn't want anybody under the age of sixteen to perform.  However, David convinced her to at least watch the demonstration that I would put on for the manager."

"The manager?"

"Oui.  Now, the manager was balding, bespectacled, but much -- I say again, much -- nicer than the ringmaster.  I did the same routine for him that I did for Officer David, except I did the finale with a chair.  I almost fell backwards on it, but other than that, the whole routine went perfectly."

Alec was brimming with anticipation.  "Did you get the part?"

"Let me explain.  The manager loved me, and the ringmaster also admitted that I had talent, but she would still not let me join because I was only twelve.  But then David explained my situation to both of them -- how I was an orphan and what-not.  The ringmaster and manager discussed with one another for a moment, and then the manager asked me, 'Mademoiselle -- what did you say your name was?'"

"'Elodie... Elodie Duchamp,' I timidly replied, fearing for the worst."

"'Mademoiselle Duchamp, let me just say that your case is a really touching one.  I would be honored to let you live in out dormitories.  And although I cannot let you perform on stage until you are of age, you may train in our facilities to your heart's content.'

"The instant he finished speaking, every feeling bottled up inside me came out in a burst of sheer joy as I did a back flip and nearly crashed into the wall.  'That energy should serve you well as a performer, Elodie!' laughed Officer David.  'Adieu, mademoiselle, and good luck.'  With that, he left the manager's office, and what had started out as the saddest moment of my life suddenly became the happiest."

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Once Elodie had again finished narrating, Alec congratulated her.  "Elodie, I am so proud of you for making it into the circus!  But, you said you left, right?  How come?"

"A number of reasons, actually.  One, I was replaced by a Mongolian girl.  She was younger and fresher than me at the time, and I must admit, Mongolia has the best contortionists in the world."

"I've noticed.  They all seem to come from Communist nations.  I wonder why...  Sorry to interrupt; did you say there were other reasons you left?"

"Yes.  By the time I was fired from the circus, my grandfather died, and I was the last surviving heir to my family's vineyard.  It was a successful business, so I managed to live a good life, even if it wouldn't let me live my true dream...  Eventually, I started wondering about my parents' deaths again, so I hired a private investigator who worked on the case before.  As it turns out, it was Officer David, you know, I told you about him before!"

"And did you two find anything?"

"You'll find this hard to believe, Alec, but... they were killed by psychics.  That explains why there were no physical signs of murder the body."

"Call me crazy, but I believe you.  My work actually involves psychics.  In fact..."  Alec decided that Elodie had earned his trust as he got out his identification card.  "I think it's time I told you, I work for the Delta Defense Alliance, a multi-national intelligence force.  Have you ever heard of them?"

"Oui.  Officer -- I'm sorry, he's not an officer anymore -- David has heard a word or two about you at Interpol."

"Interpol?  Then he's on our side!"

"Yes, perhaps...  Listen, Alec, there's another reason why I came back to Philadelphia.  You see, I have to tell you..."  For a moment, Elodie could not find the right words to say.  "I must be leaving for France soon.  I'm sorry."

"Oh!  What's the occasion?"

"I'm planning a comeback tour and I must start training for it."

"So that's why I saw you in the gym before!"

"That's correct.  In fact, after we met, I toured with a circus in America.  That's actually the only reason I came to here in the first place.  Unfortunately, it wasn't very popular, and we closed down sooner than expected.  But it wasn't all bad!  I got to meet you, Alec!  You are such a sweet guy...  I am going to miss you in France."  With that, Elodie sealed her closing remarks with a kiss on Alec's cheeks.  He returned the favor, and before long the two were engaged in a deep kiss with each other.  As they embraced, flakes of snow fell from the maroon, overcast sky above.  Elodie ended their embrace and said, "I pray we will meet again.  Au revoir, Monsieur Langley."

Alec stood silently as Elodie disappeared into the twilight.  He was too overcome with emotion to do anything but start to cry.  Elodie could have been the one, the lover who could replace Ivanka as his soul mate, and now she was gone.  Perhaps he just had no chance for true love.

Or...  Alec considered his options.  Hopefully, Rachel had forgotten all about the incident at the tennis courts from three months back...