Three Roads


He stood at a place where three roads met. Three roads, he thought, for three men. He made a first, ages old, standing against the sun so that it made the gold dust in his hair glow. He played his pipes softly for the sun, waiting for the other two.

The boy came blithely, and had his arms wrapped about him, and he looked beautiful and holy as an angel in his happiness. "There is Love," Florian told himself. He recognised the boy as the one Ami whose name he knew:

Love was played by Jehan.

"That is two of three," Florian murmured. "Hello, poet."

"Enjolras!" Jehan startled.

He startled again as the sound of cursing came down the third street. Another beautiful boy, but this one angry, this one with a knife in his sleeve. Florian nodded.

"There is Fury, and I am Age. Three men for three roads."

Montparnasse glared at them both, and went back into the city. Jehan looked up at Florian with his sweet, innocent face, worried. Then he told both the sky and Florian, 'Elaine', making it treasured, and he too was gone.

And then there was only Age, standing alone and playing pipes.


Chapter Five.
Back to Chapter Three.