I awoke gasping, feeling tear streaks on my face. My heart was pounding and I fell back against the crate in misery as the heartache of Eponine's death hit me full on once again.
"Enjolras, are you alright old boy?" Grantaire asked me, looking somewhat concerned for once in his life.
"You were calling for her in your sleep." Marius told me.
I nodded, fully understanding what he was referring to. I pushed myself onto my feet and went to meet Courfeyrac as he came down from the barricade. He looked at me with a grim expression on his face. That one look was all it took for me to realize that this dawn would be our last. The barricade would fall.
I turned to my waking troops with a growing sense of defeat. I had led them here to die.
"The people have not stirred. We are abandoned by those who still live in fear. The people have not heard. Yet we will not abandon those who cannot hear. Let us not waste lives. Let all the women and fathers of children go from here."
I watched with solemnity as half of those before me slowly left the barricade, looking at those remaining with guilt and fear in their eyes.
"Enjolras! They're preparing an attack!" Lesgles shouted frantically.
"Men! Take your positions! Protect the barricade!" I ordered, leaping up next to Grantaire.
"Hold! Ready….FIRE!"
Gun shots sounded off once again and the air was filled with the stench of blood and gun powder. I heard a cry next to me and turned to see Joly rapidly attempting to save a man who had been shot in the arm. No! I thought. We're losing!
I jumped down from my place on the wreckage and found Feuilly passing up freshly loaded guns to the other men.
"How do we stand? Feuilly, make your report!"
"We've guns enough but ammunition's short!"
Marius ran up to us.
"I will go into the street! There are bodies all around. Ammunition to be had, lots of bullets to be found!"
"I can't let you go; it's too much of a risk!"
"And the same is true for any man here!"
The old man joined us now.
"Let me go! He's no more than a boy! I am old, I have nothing to fear!"
"You need somebody quicker and I volunteer!"
I turned in horror to see Gavroche scrambling up the barricade.
"NO!" I shouted, racing towards the boy.
"Come back Gavroche! Don't you dare!" Lesgles cried.
"Someone pull him down at once!" Joly ordered.
"Look at me, I'm almost there!"
With that Gavroche slipped over the top of the barricade and dropped to the streets below.
"GAVROCHE!" Grantaire screamed.
"No, Grantaire!"
I grabbed onto him tightly, preventing him from throwing himself over. All we could do was watch in terror as Gavroche went merrily about his work. Oh God, Gavroche…
"'Cause little people know when little people fight, we may look easy pickings, but we've got some bite! AGH!"
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Grantaire screeched as the boy was hit in the shoulder.
"So never kick a dog, because he's just a pup! We'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up!"
I cried out in angst as he was hit again, this time in the stomach. Still, I watched in disbelief as the boy turned defiantly to face the national guard.
"So…you better run for cover…when the pup…grows…"
A gun shot rang out and a scream pierced the air as Gavroche fell to the ground, his bright eyes glazed over. He was dead.
"NOOO!" Grantaire cried out in agony, collapsing into sobs.
Combferre placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as I dropped down on one knee, my head in my hands as I shook in despair. Gavroche….Eponine…..forgive me….
As a voice rang out from the national guard I stood to my feet, anger building up inside me.
"You at the barricade, listen to this! The people of Paris sleep in their beds! You have no chance! No chance at all! Why throw your lives away!"
I turned to my men, a fire taking hold of me.
"Let us die facing our foes! Make them bleed while we can!"
"Make 'em pay through the nose!"
"Make them pay for every man!"
"Let others rise to take our place, until the earth is FREE!" I shouted a final battle cry, racing to the top of the barricade.
As I waved the flag in defiance, I saw only the people I was fighting for, and heard only the beating of the drums. I didn't see the bullets racing towards me, nor did I hear the others screaming my name. I didn't feel the first bullet pierce my skin.
For Gavroche…
Another.
….for Eponine….
The last bullet, I finally saw, coming towards me through the smoke of our guns and the red flag that was waving before me. I felt the searing pain as the bullet pierced my chest and as I fell back I whispered my very last words.
"…Vive la France."
XXXX
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the barricade, which was bathed in a white light. All around me stood Les Amis de l'ABC. Joly, Combferre, Courfeyrac, Grantaire…Gavroche, smiling with his signature grin. From out of the group, my angel stepped forward, holding out her hand to me.
"Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting."
I placed my hand I hers and she smiled with tears in her eyes.
"And remember, the truth that once was spoken. To love another person, is to see the face of God…."
XXX
Do you hear the people sing? They will live again in freedom in the garden of the lord Will you join in our crusade?
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise
They will walk behind the ploughshare
They will put away the sword
The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!
Ahhhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhh
Tomorrow comes!