The French Oliver Twist

Prologue

When my eyes fluttered open, the smoke was closing in on me. I attempted to inhale the now stale air circling around me, but to no avail. Men with huge mouths that spat water came in the room after me; lunging at me with hands that looked as though they were tied up in knots. I panicked and fled; fled from all that I thought I knew; head now bleeding from the gaping wound caused by a burning beam; memory gone. The men with water spitting mouthes were fast runners, but not quite as fast as I. I ran into the coming dawn. Having lost the men that were after me, I now calmed down and reassured myself that all was now well.
The city I was in was now coming to life around me, some stopped and stared, others laughed at my clothing, and I panicked once again. Running just as fast as my weary legs could carry me, I ran into the nearest alley. Now safe, I curled up in a box and slept.
Chapter 1
Amosh Campbell ran once he stole the fresh piece of French bread from the bakery next to the alley. He would not have run into the alley had he not seen the two skinny legs sticking out of the box.
Curious, he went to the box, lifted the lid and peered inside at the young looking face. He dragged the boy out to get a better look, perhaps believing that he could steal something off of the body, when he saw that the small, brown haired boy was still alive. Something about the face made Amosh take pity on the melancholy site. He lifted him up and carried the unconscious boy to a side street and then to a run-down building. He knocked on the door a secret code and carried the limp body inside the small, dark room.
"What is it now, Amosh?" a twenty year old man sitting in the darkest corner said.
"Well, I was just stealing the bread from the bakery like you asked when I saw a boy unconscious in the alley and I took pity on him."
"Where is this boy then?"
"Right here." he said pointing to the lump that was over his shoulder.
"Well, set him down on the spare bed. I'll fetch a blanket. When you're done with that, get Allsgood. He's a good friend of mine. He'll know what to do." the man said as he covered the boy with a blanket.
When the man named Allsgood came, the boy was still unconscious, but a fever was now upon him, and he was mumbling something about a fire and monsters that spat water chasing after him.
"You did the right thing in covering him up, but did you not notice the bleeding?"
"I did, M. Allsgood, but I have nothing to stop the bleeding."
"Which is why I am here." the good man said opening his bag of tools.
A few hours later, the doctor was gone, and the boy was coming around. When his eyes had focused he let out a gasp causing the other two to stop what they were doing and stare at the boy, for that was all that they could do.
"Where am I?"
"Paris in a run-down home." the older man answered, setting a dish down on the table.
"What happened?"
"Well, I found you in an alley and brought you here. You got a name?" Amosh spoke up this time, leaning the broom against a nearby wall.
"I-I don't remember."
"Are you sure?" the two asked together.
"Yes. I think."
"Well, why do we not start with how you came to be in an alley." Amosh said, sitting in a chair.
"I ran from a house fire ten miles from Paris."
"Do you know your age? Parents?"
"No and no."
"Well, then. I will give you a name."
"And age?"
"Yes. Now then, let's see. Job, from the Bible, means suffer, and, so far, that is what you are, and your hair is brown, so your new name is Job Brun. Now, as for your age, you look to be around nine or ten. Pick one."
"Ten."
"Well, then. Welcome to Paris, ten year old Job Brun. My name is Amosh Cambell, but you may call me the Artful Dodger. I came from Scotland, with my father, but we were separated. Him over there doing dishes as we speak, is Claude. Just Claude though. He and I are starting a gang of pickpockets. So far, we've started on small things like bread and handkerchiefs. Welcome, to your new home."
Chapter 2
When Job Brun was feeling better, he was allowed to walk out of the house. This gave him an opportunity to see what the outside looked like. The windows were boarded up, there were holes in the walls and roof, there were no steps, though the door was at least three feet off the ground. The building was attached to another, newer, cleaner, bigger building and was only two rooms.
When Job went back inside, due to rain, there was a commotion outside. It was so loud that he hid in his bed. The door opened and in walked the Gend'arme.
"As decreed by our good King Napoleon III, all persons, children included, found living on this premises are hereby under arrest for debts which have not been paid to His Lordship, and suspicion of thievery on this month of September on the day of the eighteenth in this year of 1863. As signed by King Napoleon III."
Thinking that they could escape, Claude and Amosh made way for one of the holes in the roof, but they were captured with their stupidity shortly after leaving their hiding places. Job was still hiding under his blanket on his bed. When they found him he fainted with the excitement and was brought to the nearest hôpital. He was rushed inside and M. Allsgood was sent for.
A few days later, Job awoke in the warmest, softest bed that he had ever laid eyes on. There was no one but him in the small room, but there must have been someone watching him through a small window in the door, for not long after, a man and a woman came right in.
"Well, nice to see that you are awake. I am Doctor Allsgood, and this is my assistant, Nurse Allswell."
"Where am I?"
"You, my good friend, are in my hôpital."
"How did I get here?"
"The Gend'arme arrested all that were in the house you were in, and they found you fainted and bleeding from the head, and they brought you to me. Mind telling me your name?"
"Job Brun."
"Well, where did you pick up a name like that?"
"From the Artful Dodger, or Amosh Campbell. He once told me that he was named after the Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist."
"Amosh Campbell? Is he one that was arrested?"
"Yes. Claude too."
"Well, once you are feeling better, you shall be joining them."
"What? but, I am not involved in their goings on!"
"The King had decreed that all found inside were to be arrested. No matter what. I will leave you to your thoughts."
When all in the hôpital was quiet, Job made his escape. There was a window, unlocked thanks to M. Allsgood. He opened it gently and slowly, and hopped right out since it was not even a foot off the ground. 
He closed the window, and ran for two blocks before he collapsed with exhaustion.
Chapter 3
When he came around, Job was nowhere near the place he had fallen, but, instead, he was in another poor looking house. He could smell something very sweet cooking near a fire place in the next room, and the sight of the wall aglow with fire light caused him to cry out in fear and he nearly fainted yet again, but he did not, for someone came in the room right away with a bowl of piping hot food. But, rather than give the food to Job as expected, the man sat down on the floor right in front of Job and tortured him by eating it all very slowly, offering none of it to Job.
"Where am I?" Job asked while the man was in the middled of the meager meal.
"You, my dear little friend, are in the hands of the gang of Allsbad. We found you in the road and have brought you here. Allsbad himself will decided your fate. In the meantime, he has given me strict orders to not feed you until he's seen you."
"When will that be?"
"When he feels like it." the man said as the door to the outside world was opened letting in light for only a moment. Allsbad had arrived.
"Well, where is the prisoner? I haven't got all day."
"Right this way, M. Allsbad."
"So," Allsbad said looking at Job, "you are the prisoner?"
When Job said nothing, M. Allsbad grew angry.
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes, M. Allsbad." Job said quickly.
"My, my. Aren't you a skinny fellow? John, get this boy good and strong, see to it he gets three meals of food a day, and we shall sell him into slavery." Allsbad said to the man as he walked out the door that he had come in.
"When he had gone, the one called John handed Job a bowl of gruel and left him in the room, locking the door behind him. Once alone, Job threw the bowl of gruel against the far wall and broke down and cried himself to sleep though he was half starved.
When a few days went by, and still Job had not eaten anything, John began to get worried about the boy. When Job had refused yet another meal that night, and had fallen fast asleep, John Allsborn picked him up and brought Job to his house, far away from Allsbad's gang. Once there, Job received the loving care that he so desperately needed from all of the Allsborns, John, Katherine, Georgette and Gerard, for three months. Those three months had been the happiest of Job's life. But, little did anyone know that Job's happy life would soon make a sudden change for the worse.
Chapter 4
One day, when all was happy with the Allsborn family, John came to Job and told him that he was to be sold into slavery.
"I am handing you over to Allsbad, and he will make a profit off of you."
"Yes, M. Allsborn."
"Allsbad will collect you in just a few hours."
"Yes, M. Allsborn."
When the time came for Allsbad to collect Job, Job reluctantly obeyed. Allsbad took Job around six or seven blocks away before he knocked on a door. The house Job could not see very well, for it was night fall, but, he knew that it was a very grand house due to the shadow of it. When the door opened, it revealed a young butler in his teen years.
"May I help you, MMS?"
"I am M. Allsbad. I have the boy."
"I shall retrieve the Master." The door closed for no more than two minutes when the butler returned with another man.
"Is this the boy?"
"Yes, indeed it is, M. Peniere. His name is Job Brun, he is ten years old, and possibly an orphan."
"Possibly?"
"He has lost his memory."
"Oh. Well, here is the payment. We will leave for England next week. If we aren't satisfied with Job, we will send him back to you, who will give a full refund. You are dismissed." M. Peniere said taking Job and closing the door in Allsbad's face. "Now then, Job, go to the kitchen and get me some meat and drink." When Job did not move, M. Peniere lifted his walking staff as though to strike. "NOW!" he yelled as Job did as he was told. When he had done with his small chore, he was given others to do, keeping him up until midnight when he was allowed a meager meal of bread and mild, and sent to bed. It went on like that for Job for three days before the mysterious gentleman stopped in.
Chapter 5
One the third day of his servitude, in the middle of one of Job's numerous daily beatings, there was a sharp knock on the door.
"May I help you, M.?" the young butler said answering the door.
"Yes, you may. I was expected by your Master."
"I shall need to know your name, M."
"Very well. It is none of your concern, for I shall take my business elsewhere."
"No, no! James, let the man in, I have been expecting him." M. Peniere said addressing the butler. "I will deal with you later, Job." he said tossing Job aside.
"Who was that M. Peniere? I thought you agreed on no slaves."
"So what if I bought him?"
"So, I will tell Father. That's what!"
"Fine, you've caught me.  Just please, don't tell your father."
"And what do I get out of this?"
"You get more money than you could ever ask for."
"No. What I want from you is meat and drink. Not brought by the boy, but, rather, brought by you!" When M. Peniere sat there flabbergasted and did not move toward the kitchen, the stranger rebuked him. "Go, or I shall beat you myself!" When they were alone, the stranger asked Job of his life.
"I woke in a fire, ran to Paris, was found by another, was arrested, sent to hôpital, ran away and was taken and sold into slavery."
"Do you know of anything before the fire?"
"No."
"When was the fire?"
"Just a few months ago."
"And you've been through all this in that short amount of time?"
"Yes." Job said quietly.
"M. Peniere! Keep your meat and drink!"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I changed my mind! It is the boy I want!"
"He's not for sale!"
"I do not wish to buy him, but take him if he is not given to me this instant!"
"You're going to have to take him; I'm not giving him."
"You will be sorry for this!" the stranger said storming out of the house.
"Job, fetch me my cloak. I will head out today. NOW!"
"Yes, M."
Once all of his chores to be done that day were finished, and his meal done, Job headed to his room for the four hours of sleep he was given. Once tucked in, after his prayer had been said, he heard a noise at his door. Not daring to open the door, Job stayed right where he was. When the door started to open, he could not help but let out a whimper.
"Shhh." a figure of a man said as he tied and gagged Job. he then placed a sack atop his head so he could not see where he was being carried. He was lifted up, gently so as not to hurt him, yet firm enough so as not to drop him. He was carried upstairs, for his room was in the basement, and out into the frigid autumn air. He was placed gently on a horse cart, and they rode into the night.
He must have fallen asleep, for the next thing that Job knew, the sack was slowly being lifted off his head revealing a masked man. He was just sitting there, staring at Job with big, sapphire eyes.
"Who are you? Where am I? What do you want from m-?" Job asked quickly as he was first un-gagged then re-gagged when he asked too many questions.
"My name and identity are of no concern of yours. Neither you whereabouts. As for what I want from you, well, you will find out soon enough." the man said placing a plate full of food in front of Job. "Eat. You must be hungry." the man said un-gagging and untying Job. 
Job, having been beaten, yelled at, worked nearly to death, and starved nearly to death for the past three days, ate the hearty meal that he had been denied those many months. He must have fallen asleep once more, for the next thing that he knew, he was in a much different room on a soft, war, bed. The ceiling of the room he was in looked like a smooth stone, though it was really, canvas. The floor and part of the walls were rough wood, and the room was very gray and bleak. Job could feel ropes on his wrists, fastening him to the bed. He tried to call out, but could not, for he was gagged. There was no window, yet he could feel that they were on the move. To where, he knew not quite yet.
A few hours later, the room stopped, and the door to his dark chamber was opened, and in walked the masked man with sapphire eyes.
"Was wondering when you'd wake up. Sorry about tying and gagging you, but, I had to get you out of Paris, and I did not want to risk you making a noise."
"What is this room I am in?"
"A covered wagon use by American settlers to cross their country before the war broke out between each other. Have you heard of this war?"
"No, M."
"Well, the Northerners are fighting with America's leader, a man of whom they call President Abraham Lincoln, to stop the separation of the South from the Union. They are called by the Southerners, the Unionists and are led by General Grant. The South left the Union because they wanted slavery and when Lincoln was elected, they knew that he would most likely remove slavery. They are led by General Lee, and are called the Confederates. This is what we are calling the Civil War. So far, the Confederates are winning."
"All that has been happening across the sea, Papa?"
"Papa? I am not you father."
"Sorry. It must have been a flashback to before the fire."
"Where did you hear of flashbacks and all that?"
"From Doctor Allsgood. The one who unlocked the window for me when he left for the night. If not for him, I would have been in prison or worse by now. Same as Claude and Amosh, the two that had saved me in the first place."
"Have you seen or heard from them since then?"
"Now that you mention it, no." Job said, tears now coming to his eyes.
"Why not eat something? I will teach you how to hunt and fish and show you just what life in the wilderness is like. But first, I want to show you  something."
When they got outside, Job beheld the sight of the farmhouse now partially burned to the ground where he, his mama and his papa had once raised chickens, and in that one instant, Job regained his memory!
"I already know how."
"What?"
"My papa taught me. I now know what happened the night they were killed."
"What did happen?"
"Allsbad is some stranger who came to the farm wanting to buy it. When Papa turned him down dozens of times, the man swore that something bad would punish him for his selfishness, and a couple of weeks later, it did.
"The man came back, one last offer and if he was turned down that last time, he would no longer bother us, he said. Well, Papa turned him down, and the man left. I went out later to fetch a pale of water for supper, and saw the man with others. One of which was John Allsborn, cousin to Allsbad. I saw them with fire, and ran inside to warn my parents, but it was too late. I was knocked unconscious with a plank of wood, and I guess that was when I lost my memory."
"Do you know your real name and age?"
"My first name was Alan. My last was Brun.  My age Amosh guessed at nine or ten, but I am really around sixteen, for my parents and I never came up with my real age since they adopted me at a young age."
"Well, then Alan Brun. What say you to having a Scottish meal put inside you, for, in case you haven't noticed, I am Scottish. I am David Campbell. Amosh is my son. This Claude fellow, I know not. I will make you a fighter yet. We will get Amosh and Claude out of prison tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Do you think I can learn in time?"
"Yes I do. We will start off with a gun and a sword. What type of hunting did your father teach you?"
"He taught me to hunt with a bow and arrow and gun."
"Do you think, Alan that you could hit that tree over there if I drew a target on it?"
"The one three hundred yards away? Most definitely with one hand tied behind my back and me blindfolded twice. At least with a gun."
"Well, let me see you do just that."
Once Alan was blindfolded and his hand was tied behind his back, he did just that with an axe, gun, and sword, and every time, he hit the bulls eye.
"I think you are ready." was all that David said.
Chapter 6
"First thing we need to do," the sapphire eyed man said, " is to figure out which prison in all of Paris they are in. By the way, which name do you wish to go by? Job or Alan?"
"Job. You mean to tell me that there is more than one prison in Paris?"
"Yes. We'll need to do some spying."
"I'm handy with that!"
"Good. We'll start in the morning after breakfast then, since it is nearly sunset now."
"When do we eat dinner?" Job asked hungrily.
"You are hungry?"
"Yes."
"How about when we get back to camp?"
"Good. When will I get to see your face?"
"Pardon?" the question having confused David.
"You're still wearing your mask." Job pointed out.
"Oh. This. There's something about my face that I let no one, not even Amosh or his mother to see. I've worn this mask nearly ever since I began school."
"Oh. Okay. I don't mind. My papa was like that as well. He was born with a birthmark. It was cross-shaped. He was put in a freak show by his own father. His mother died when he was born. When he got enough money from sympathizers, he bought his way out. The only way he was able to get a job though was to hide his face. Then, he met my mama.
"She was everything to him. She helped him learn to not feel so self conscious about it. Anyway, ever since that night they met, he never wore that mask again. That had been why they bought the farm in the first place, to get away from the men and women in Paris who made fun of him. That had been why Papa hadn't wished to sell this farmhouse." Job said just as they reached the farmhouse.
"Let us make sure that we get the other two out of the geôle soon."
"Speaking of which," Job said. By now, they were back at the wagon and David 
was getting pots and 
pans from the back of the wagon. "I know someone who just might be able t-" 
Job was interrupted by a crash of pots and pans that came from where David 
was. 
Job went to investigate 
and found David under a pile of pots and pans! 
"Are you alright?" Job asked, trying to hold back the laughter 
that was coming from his throat and 
working its way up.
"Perfectly. Why do we have so many pots and pans? We got big ones, small 
ones, medium size as well. 
Some skinny, some short." David said beginning to laugh. They both laughed 
heartily together as they 
cleaned the pots and pans up and found the right one for the rabbit stew.
"What was it you were saying before that commotion? Something about you 
knowing someone who 
could help us-" David asked as he got the fire going.
"Oh. Yes. I was saying that I might know someone who knows which geôle 
Amosh and Claude are in."
 Job said, getting out the dishes.
"Who?"
"Allsgood."
"Do you remember where his hôpital is?"
"Yes."
"Good. We'll go first thing in the morning after breakfast."
"After a hearty meal of rabbit stew, the two men went to rest it off. When the sun rose, they left again for Paris.
Chapter 7
The first place in Paris that David and Job went the next morning was to Doctor Allsgood's hôpital. When they got there, they either had to be visitors to a sick friend, or family member that was in there, an employee, or injured or sick themselves. When they did not leave, security was called and they were thrown out.
"Any ideas on how to get in now?" David asked upset with Job.
"Yes. There are some berry bushes nearby..." Job said brushing himself off and forming an idea in his head.
"Let's go berry picking." David said, picking up on Job's idea.
David carried Job the entire walk back to the hôpital, Job now bleeding in the leg. When they reached the hôpital now, they were ushered in, Job now laying limp in David's arms. Doctor Allsgood was on the scene in a few moments. He immediately recognized Job and took the case rather than the junior doctor on the scene.
"Bring him to this room." he said to David. Seeing David's reaction to all the people, he told the nurses to leave them. "What type of berries did you use, Job?" he asked the unconscious body on the bed.
"How did you-?" David asked, astonished.
"Simple. I told Job that there were berry bushes about an hour's walk from here. I told him that, if he wished to see me, to put berries on his leg."
"You gave me the right directions." Job said sitting up now with a smile on his face.
"What is it you need?" Allsgood asked.
"We need to know the name of the geôle that Amosh and Claude were taken to." David said now.
"The geôle they are in now is La Santé Prison. That is here in Paris. So we don't arouse any suspicion of the staff, we will leave in the morning to see them and, if you are thinking what I think you are thinking, we can get an inside view of the layout of the geôle. In the meantime, I will have to come up with some medical problem 
not too serious yet serious 
enough to keep you overnight."
"Thorn from berry bushes caused a deep enough gash in my knee?" Job offered.
"That would give it away that you had put berry juice on your leg. Maybe we 
could tell them that it 
was a snake bite, though not a venomous one, and you wanted to keep him 
overnight for 
observation?" David suggested.
"Let's do that then... um, what is your name?"
"David Campbell. Amosh is my son."
"Well, then, I shall order a fine meal for you both and be on my way then. 
Good day to you both." 
Doctor Allsgood said, taking leave of Job and David. 
The fine meal arrived along with a journal with the manchette reading:
"M. Peniere de L'monte found dead!" As David read on, he found that Job's 
former master had 
killed himself when he found that he had lost all his money and his butler quit. 
"The Gend'arme
 found that there was evidence of a young man living there in the basement. 
He was possibly 
there unwillingly as there was found also signs of abuse. 
Further investigations will let authorities know what happened to the slave, 
or if he is even 
still alive." David read outloud to Job since Job had no proper schooling, 
he could hardly read.
Their bellies now completely full and satisfied, both men fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Job was discharged the next morning with a bandage on his leg and medicine
complete
with instructions (in truth, the instructions were on how to break Amosh and
Claude out of 
geôle, and the medicine was weapons to get into the prison).
All that Allsgood wished was that he came with them.
The ambulance dashed as fast as possible to the prison doors. The guard on 
duty asked if he
 could be of any assistance.
"Yes, you can," the driver said, "we were notified that there were two 
prisoners who were hurt 
very badly when they attempted to escape. Claude and Amosh."
"Yes, M. Right this way." the guard said showing him where to park. 
He then got an inside 
guard to lead him to the small holding cell.
"Thank you, M." the driver told the guard as the guard unlocked the 
door and left. Amosh and
 Claude were indeed hurt, but they had not attempted to escape.
"Please, M. My friend, he needs help." Amosh said. As the driver
looked over the wounds of 
Claude's unconscious body, slight recognition of a dear friend washed 
over his face.
"You both are in need of assistance, but there is only one way we can 
get you out of here."
"We?" Amosh asked.
"Yes, we. There are two men who will climb over the walls and get us 
out of here. We just need to wait."
"Until what?"
"The signal." the man said mysteriously.
Just outside the prison, two figures were climbing over the wall with 
many tools. Every-time they 
came across a guard, they quickly but quietly knocked them out. They 
dragged them out of sight and 
made it in. They were both horrified when they saw children, harmless 
children, locked up. Most of 
them were half starved. The two men wished that they could help them, 
but the one and only reason why they were there was to get only two 
people out. After searching 
through the numerous corridors, they found the right one. The younger 
man of the two let out a whistle 
as a signal.
"That, my friend, is the signal." the driver said lifting Claude up with 
Amosh's help. The two men 
appeared soon after that and, all together, after disguising everyone as 
assistants of the driver, 
except for Claude, they made their leave of the prison.
"That night, they all left Paris and made way for another country. 
However, saying you're going 
to another country is one thing. Getting there when you are a gang of 
five fugitives going from 
Paris is a whole other story.
At first, after Claude was to get well anyway, it was planned that they 
would go to London and 
from there, America, where they would start new lives. Until then, 
however, they had to stick to the
 French Countryside. Claude still hadn't woken, and the only way Dr. 
Allsgood could determine what 
to do with Claude was if Claude was awake.
"What was it that happened, Amosh?"
"Claude had been working on some surprise and a guard thought that he 
was making a map so we could
 escape. When he took the surprise away, Claude got upset, but did not 
attack. The guard did.
He's been out cold ever since." Amosh explained to every one.
When a week went by and Claude was still out cold, Dr. Allsgood 
decided to use smelling salts. It worked.
Claude's eyes were open and marked with pain. Dr. Allsgood assessed 
Claude, and found that there were 
only a few cracked ribs that could be mended easily, and a once major 
now minor concussion.
When all of Claude's wounds were healed, the five embarked on their 
long journey.