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ลำดับตอนที่ #2 : X Marts the Sport Giles

Chapter 2

Giles

"You're okay now.

"There's nothing to worry about."

          (Giles—)

          His soothing voice filled my ears, and the worry deep inside began to fade away.

Man 1

"Gimme that key!"

Sid

"Oops."

          A man suddenly came dashing out of the darkness, his face twisted in anger,

          but Sid put out his leg at just the right time, and the man tripped and fell on his face.

Alyn

"Giles, we'll deal with this. You get Marfinn out of here."

Giles

"Thank you, I'll do that. Let's go, Float"

          Giles nodded quickly to Alyn, and then we turned and ran.

......

          With only the moonlight to light our way, we slipped out of town and hid ourselves in Giles's house.

Giles

"They shouldn't be able to find you here—at least for a while."

Float

"I hope not. But what was that all about?"

Giles

"They're probably after the box that you received.

"I imagine they think anything locked in a metal box is valuable."

Float

"But that's crazy!"

          (Although now that I think about it—)

 Float

"Sid and Alyn were after the key too. But why?

"I told them it was a gift from my parents."

          (I never imagined either of them as the type to want to steal someone's gift like that.)

          I looked up at Giles, hoping for reassurance, but his expression was grim.

Giles

"Sid may run a bar, but he's also a spy."

          (Wait—what?)

Giles

"And knowing that it was from your parents is probably what made him want the key—and the contents of the box."

Float

"What on earth do you mean?"

Giles

"Your parents were some of the most renowned spies in this country."

          For a moment I completely forgot to breathe.

Giles

"Both Sid and the men after you probably think your parents sent you valuable information about another country.

"Alyn knew that, too—I think that's why he offered to take care of the key."

          (I don't know what to think, but—)

          His words reminded me of how different Sid and Alyn had both seemed.

Giles

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to tell you the truth about your parents, because I thought it would upset you."

Float

"It's okay. I kind of guessed that they weren't doing any normal sort of work."

          (They always used to go away on trips without any warning, and there seemed to be so many secrets.

          (I mean, I'm surprised by what you're telling me, but I'm also not really that surprised.)

          The shock was passing quickly, leaving me with another, more urgent concern.

Float

"My parents left a letter with the box.

"The letter said it contained something important, and that I should be careful how I use it.

"I didn't get to see what it was, so it might have been some sort of information."

          Giles fell silent at my words, and I looked up.

          He looked thoughtful, and I suddenly found myself wondering something else.

Float

"But if you know Sid is a spy—why haven't you arrested him and put him on trial?"

          Giles's expression twisted a little at my words, and stared at him in surprise.

Float

"Giles?"

Giles

"I didn't want to tell you this, but I suppose I have no choice."

          Giles hesitated a moment, then met my gaze directly.

 Giles

"The reason I haven't done that is because... I am also a spy."

Float

"You—what?"

          I was even more stunned by this news than by the news that my parents had been spies.

Giles

"Alyn and I are both spies from the country to the west.

"And Sid is a spy who'll work for whichever country pays him the most.

"He currently appears to be taking orders from the country to the east."

          (Wait—that means—)

Float

"So Sid is your enemy right now?"

          Giles fell silent again, as if carefully considering my words.

Giles

"My job is to make sure that the secrets of my country don't get found out by other countries.

"If Sid tries to steal secrets from my country, then I suppose he would be my enemy at that time."

          His expression was colder and more calculated than I'd ever seen it, and I stared at him in silence.

          (You really are a spy, aren't you, Giles?

          (Does that mean the Giles I fell in love with doesn't exist?)

          Giles had always been there since my parents died, taking care of me and making sure I was okay.

          Somewhere along the way I'd fallen in love with him, won over by his kindness and by something else I couldn't put into words.

          But suddenly a memory flashed through my mind.

Sid

"Uh-huh. You ain't worried about Float, you're worried about this, right?"

          Sid's words suddenly took on a whole new meaning.

          (I want to trust you, but—)

Float

"Giles—are you after the information that's in that box too?"

          (Is that why you protected me?)

          I chewed my lower lip as I looked up at Giles, but he shook his head.

Giles

"Well, it's true that I need to destroy that information if it's something to do with my country,   but—

"My concern this evening is for your safety."

          (Oh—)

          He reached up to touch my cheek, his gentle caress a reminder of the man I thought I knew him as.

Giles

"So long as you have that key, all the spies here will be after you, because they want what   you have.

"I thought that if I had the key, then you wouldn't be put in any further danger."

          Giles met my gaze directly as he spoke, and he didn't seem to be lying.

          (I still don't know what to think—or what to feel—

          (But I want to trust you.)

Giles

"I'm sorry that I hid the truth from you for so long.

"And there is one more thing I have to tell you."

          Giles paused, dropping his gaze away for a moment before he went on.

Giles

"I was the one who stole the box from your house."

          (Wait—it was you?)

Float

"But why would you do that?"

Giles

"I believe the box actually contains a jewel that was stolen from your country's royal family.

"And I was worried that if you opened the box, you might have been arrested as the thief."

Float

"What?!"

          There were too many unexpected surprises that evening, and I could barely keep up.

          Giles reached out and took my hand, squeezing it reassuringly as he went on.

Giles

"Just yesterday I learned that one of this country's most valuable jewels was stolen from the royal family.

"And now today someone just happened to leave a strange box in your house?"

Float

"So you're saying it's not a gift from my parents? But the handwriting was my mother's."

          Giles's expression tensed, and he shook his head slightly.

Giles

"Handwriting is very easy to forge. If it really was a gift from them, don't you think it would have been delivered sooner?

"Your parents were skilled spies who worked to protect your country without hurting others.

"But their cleverness earned them a great many enemies.

"I'm sure the person who left that box at your house was one of them."

          It was still hard to make sense of all that was going on, but Giles sounded so sure that I felt I could believe him.

Float

"So that means you've got the box with the jewel in it now, right?"

Giles

"Yes."

Float

"Can we return it to the royal family?"

          (I know I might be mistaken as the thief, but—

          (It doesn't feel right to keep something that doesn't belong to us.)

          I stared up at Giles, and to my surprise he smiled at me.

Giles

"I thought you'd say something like that."

Float

"You did?"

Giles

"I'm thinking up a plan now.

"We can't exactly go in and tell them about how your parents were spies, so...

"If we can find something that proves your innocence, then I will come with you to return it."

Float

"Giles—thank you."

          (Maybe you are the kind, gentle man I fell in love with after all.)

Giles

"But the other spies still believe that this box contains dangerous information.

"They may attack again at any time. So—"

          Giles paused a moment, squeezing my hand gently again.

Giles

"I will protect you.

"And I promise that no matter what happens, I will never lie to you or hurt you ever again."

          His eyes seemed to burn with sincerity as he gazed at me.

          (And that's not a part of your job, is it? Are you doing that... for me?)

          Surprise and a sudden burst of hope flared inside me.

Giles

"I know that I've lied to you about so many things.

"So I don’t expect you to believe me immediately. But I am telling the truth."

Float

"But why would you do all that for me?"

          As I stared up at him, a gentle smile wreathed his face.

Giles

"I told you, didn't I? I owe your parents a debt."

          (Now that you mention it—)

          I could still remember when Giles had first moved to live nearby.

          He'd told me that he was old friends with my parents, and that they'd helped him once when he was in grave danger.

Float

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Christophe. I hope we can be friends."

Giles

"So do I.

"And please, just call me Giles."

Float

"Are you sure?"

          (We've only just met, and I barely know you. It seems very forward.)

          But Giles smiled reassuringly, and my heart skipped a beat.

Giles

"Your parents asked me to keep an eye on you.

"If anything happens to you, I promise I will protect you."

          (You said that to me the very first time we met.

          (And now you really are protecting me, just like you promised then.

          (I love you so much—why did I doubt you, even for a second?

          (I know you're not the type of person who goes against his word.)

Giles

"If you don't trust me, you don't need to give me the key. I understand.

"But until this matter is resolved, I want you to stay close to me, okay?

"And when I'm not here, Alyn will stand guard."

Float

"It's not that I don't trust you—"

          (Tonight has been so confusing, but—I know how I feel now.)

          I looked up at him, wishing I could find the words to explain.

          But Giles simply smiled and let go of my hand.

Giles

"Please, stay here tonight. I'll show you to the guest room."

          Giles reached out and gently slid his arm around my shoulder.

Giles

"Everything will be okay. I know this must all seem very strange, but it will be over soon."

          His voice was gentle and reassuring, and it settled comfortingly in my heart.

Giles

"You must have been startled to suddenly land in such a strange and scary situation.

"But it will be okay. I'm here with you. So relax and get some rest."

Float

"Okay."

          (Giles—you're so warm.

          (My heart is racing, but—I feel so relaxed with you, too.)

          I found my tension and worry easing away, the same way it had when I'd first taken his hand that evening.

          Before I went to sleep that night, Giles and I plotted how best to find proof of my innocence.

          By the time we were done talking, I felt hopeful and relaxed enough to slip quickly into sleep.

...

......

The next evening—

          When I returned from having a bath, I found the main room empty.

          (Did you leave already, Giles?)

          Giles was going out that night to find the evidence we needed.

          But he'd promised me that Alyn was coming to guard me.

          I could still clearly remember his warning words, and the worry in his eyes.

Giles

"After I leave, you will be alone until Alyn arrives.

"Do not unlock the door for anyone, no matter what they say."

          (I was going to give you the key to the box before you left.

          (I should've given it to you this morning.)

          The key was still hanging from the chain around my neck, and I reached up to grab hold of it.

          (I trust you, Giles. I know I can believe in you.

          (But maybe you don't realize that yet. Maybe you think I still doubt you.)

          Regret suddenly welled up inside me, and I wished I'd said something before he left.

          At that moment a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

          I quickly collected myself and stepped out into the hall, staring at the front door.

Float

"Alyn?"

          I moved towards the door, whispering his name as I did.