The Madonna of the Atlas

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Non, je ne regrette rien. Rating: K Time: Season five and elsewhen.

They were led into a large chamber filled with people. Castle recognized the Governor-General, a plump, red faced, jolly looking admiral named Goddard. In spite of his cheery looks, Castle had heard that he was an absolute tyrant when he'd commanded the French Mediterranean Fleet in the Great War. Surrounding Admiral Goddard was a host of generals and admirals, few of which Castle recognized. Beside them were the serried ranks of the Catholic Church, all in black except for one gorgeously robed Cardinal, all in red. Next were a group of elderly men in what was doubtlessly their Sunday best. Castle thought they looked like some kind of professors. There were a scattering of prosperous looking men and women and a very large contingent of the press.

Admiral Goddard spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, members of the clergy, honored guests and members of the press, we are here today on a historic occasion. The first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, commissioned a small statue of the Madonna and Jesus in about 320 AD which was given to the Pope by the hand of the great Emperor. When the Visigoth's sacked Rome in 410 AD, the statue was sent of St. Augustine of Hippo, now the city of Annaba here in Algeria for safekeeping. There it remained until the Muslims overran North Africa at the start of the eighth century. The statue was taken to a small Christian community and monastery on the Atlas Mountains and became known as the Madonna of the Atlas. Between then and the arrival of the French in 1831, Christians ceased to exist in North Africa and the Madonna was lost." Goddard walked to a table where something had been covered with a white cloth. He pulled the cloth off, revealing the statue that Castle, Beckett and Smith had found. "But now the Madonna of the Atlas is here, thanks to the bravery of Captain Richard Castle of the First Regiment of Foreign Cavalry, and his brave men." Goddard then launched into a description of Castle's patrol that sounded more like a major battle of the Great War than what had actually occurred.

Castle whispered in Beckett's ear. "I don't recall the two of us standing back to back fighting off a horde of scimitar armed Arabs with our cavalry sabers. In fact, I don't recall we had sabers with us."

She whispered back. "Jobert had to write the report of the patrol as you were in the hospital."

"He had some help, I'm guessing?"

"I did have to jog his memory a few times." She admitted.

"This is what you call jogging?"

"If you had written the report it would have been so boring no one would have read it. This, on the other hand, will make a great book."

Goddard interrupted the conversation and gestured to Castle. "Come forward, please, Captain."

He marched forward and saluted Admiral Goddard.

"Captain Castle, for your services to France you are hereby promoted to the rank of Major and made an Officer of the Legion of Honor." Goddard kissed Castle on both cheeks. Then Kate Beckett appeared by his side, removing his old rank badges and putting on the new ones. Her kiss was far more satisfying. The press thought so as well, as Kate was asked to kiss him again for the cameras. She did.

Jobert was promoted to full Lieutenant, and became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Chernoff was promoted to Sous-Lieutenant and was also made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Smith, who Castle thought made an effort to keep his face away from the priests became an Adjutant-Chef and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Kate Beckett was not promoted, being a civilian, but she was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

There were innumerable questions by the press, which Castle answered briefly. Kate provided much more colorful and detailed answers. Castle thought they'd never get rid of the press.

But, eventually all of the guests were gone and Castle and Beckett were drinking champagne.

"I see your hand in this, Miss Beckett." He said with a smile, tapping his new rank badges.

She shrugged. "I merely suggested to General Gerard that it would be appropriate to reward the men most responsible for the recovery of a major Christian artifact."

"And he immediately saw a way to get his son-in-law promoted to a commissioned officer status."

Kate laughed. "I think that everyone got what they deserved."

They were interrupted by General Gerard. "Major, you and your officers won't be going back to your squadron. They want you in Paris. The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Minister of War, the Minister of Culture, and many more, wish to meet you. In fact, the Prime Minister has already announced that you'll all be promoted once you reach Paris." He winked at Castle. "We may have forgotten to mention about today's promotions." Gerard then looked at Kate. "However, Major, I think you have already been rewarded with far more than the Republic of France can give you."

Castle had no idea of what to make of that, but Kate put her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder.

As they left, Castle took Beckett's hand. "What do we do now?"

"First, lunch, I believe. Then we'll go to my hotel. You need to tell me the complete story of why you enlisted in France and not England. You know I can tell when you're lying or not telling the whole truth, Rick. And we'll go to bed. Not necessarily in that order."

Three weeks later, Lieutenant Colonel Castle woke up in a suite of the Hotel George V in Paris. Jobert and Chernoff were now captains and Smith a Sous-Lieutenant. Goddard had apparently been very generous with promotions to other members of Castle's squadron. Even Giamatti had been promoted to caporal. He had at once gone off to celebrate, gotten beastly drunk, struck an NCO and was reduced back to Private by the next day.

Castle looked down on the beautiful, naked Kate Beckett, who was still asleep. He wondered how long this affair would last. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met. She was also courageous, intelligent, compassionate, funny, erotic, talented, complex and confusing. However, she was a rich and famous American, and he was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Foreign Legion. He thought it might last for three more months. Six more at the maximum.

Years later when General Castle had retired after another World War, he told his beautiful wife of his prediction that long-ago day in Paris.

She laughed, a sound that he dearly loved. "Castle, I knew I was yours the moment I rode out of Fort Zinderneuf and saw you. All I had to do was convince you that you were mine as well."

"You knew the moment you saw me?" He asked, somewhat suspicious.

"The universe demanded that we be together always."

They looked at each other and said in unison, "Always."

The End

"What do you think?" He asked Beckett.

"You named the main characters after us?"

He shrugged. "It's just a story outline. I'll change the names and add more details. I might go all the way back to 320AD and have the Emperor Constantine commission that great sculptor Gaius Julius Castellus to sculpt the Madonna.

"With the help of his talented wife, Katus Beckettus?" She teased.

"Of course. And he'll be constantly harassed Ginus Cowanus who'll be demanding he work harder."

Kate laughed. "Poor Castellus. Some things never change."

Castle thought for a moment. "I'll probably just leave in in the 1920s."

"I do like the ending. Always."

He nodded. "Always."

Author's note: The Rif tribe does exist in Morocco and in the early to mid-1920s the Rif Republic gave Spain and France all they could handle.

The attack of the sheep is based on a real incident. In Vietnam, a friend's platoon on a night ambush was "attacked" by a herd of feral pigs with predictable results. You can read another fictional account of that in The Last, Lost Warrior, by Tom A. Preece, available on Amazon.

While there are occasional real people, places and events mentioned in my story, it is entirely fictional.

When I was quite young, I saw the 1939 film of P.C. Wren's classic of the Foreign Legion, Beau Geste. I have since seen remakes of Beau Geste but like the 1939 one the best. I have also tracked down a few of Wren's books about the Legion Etranger and have read tales of Legionnaires from Mexico to Tonkin. And so the gallant Richard Castle has, fictionally, joined the Legion.

Yes, I am still working on Lord and Lady Castle in Renaissance Italy, but up next is After Flowers for Your Grave. Just as soon as I finish it.