The Chocolate War (22 page)

Archie didn’t bother to answer. Brother Jacques probably considered himself a hero for putting out the lights and stopping the fight. As far as Archie was concerned, Jacques had merely spoiled the evening. And Jacques had arrived too late anyway. Renault had already been beaten. Too fast, much too fast. Leave it to that stupid Carter to screw things up. Low blow, for crying out loud.

“What have you got to say for yourself, Costello?” Brother Jacques persisted.

Archie sighed. Bored, really. “Look, Brother, the school wanted the chocolates sold. And we got them sold. This was the payoff, that’s all. A fight. With rules. Fair and square.”

Leon was suddenly there with them, one arm clapped around Jacques’ shoulder.

“I see you have everything under control, Brother Jacques,” he said, heartily.

Jacques turned a cold face toward his fellow
teacher. “I think we barely averted a disaster,” he said. There was rebuke in his voice but a gentle, guarded rebuke, not the hostility he had revealed to Archie. And Archie realized that Leon was still in command, still in the position of power.

“Renault will get the best of care, I assure you,” Leon said. “Boys will be boys, Jacques. They have high spirits. Oh, once in a while they get carried away but it’s good to see all that energy and zeal and enthusiasm.” He turned to Archie and spoke more severely but not really angry. “You really didn’t use your best judgment tonight, Archie. But I realize you did it for the school. For Trinity.”

Brother Jacques stalked away. Archie and Leon watched him go. Archie smiled inside. But he masked his feelings. Leon was on his side. Beautiful. Leon and The Vigils and Archie. What a great year it was going to be.

The ambulance’s siren began to howl in the night.

“SOMEDAY, ARCHIE,” OBIE SAID, a warning in his voice, “someday …”

“Cut it out, Obie. Enough preaching tonight. Brother Jacques already delivered a sermon to me.” Archie chuckled. “But Leon came to the rescue. Good man, that Leon.”

They were sitting in the bleachers, watching some of the guys cleaning up the place. This was where they had first seen Renault that afternoon Archie had selected him for the assignment. The night had grown cold and Obie shivered slightly. He looked at the goal posts. They reminded him of something. He couldn’t remember.

“Leon is a bastard,” Obie said. “I saw him on the hill over there—watching the fight, enjoying the whole thing.”

“I know,” Archie said. “I tipped him off. An anonymous phone call. I figured he would enjoy himself. And I also figured that if he was here and part of the proceedings, he’d also be protection for us if anything went wrong.”

“Someday, Archie, you’ll get yours,” Obie said but the words were automatic. Archie was always one step ahead.

“Look, Obie, I’m going to forget what you did tonight—you and Carter and the black box. What the hell, it was a dramatic moment. And I understand how you felt. My understanding of you and guys like Carter is a marvel to behold.” He had lapsed into his phony way of speaking when he wanted to be fancy or sarcastic.

“Maybe the black box will work the next time, Archie,” Obie said. “Or maybe another kid like Renault will come along.”

Archie didn’t bother to answer. Wishful thinking wasn’t worth answering. He sniffed the air and yawned. “Hey, Obie, what happened to the chocolates?”

“The guys raided the chocolates in the confusion. As far as the money’s concerned, Brian Cochran has it. We’ll have some kind of drawing next week at assembly.”

Archie barely listened. He wasn’t interested. He was hungry. “You sure all the chocolates are gone, Obie?”

“I’m sure, Archie.”

“You got a Hershey or anything?”

“No.”

The lights went off again. Archie and Obie sat there awhile not saying anything and then made their way out of the place in the darkness.