Someone must have warned the Sons of Liberty, thought Johnny. That was the only possible explanation. While he had lain unconscious, Macintosh’s friends had arrived just in the nick of time and rescued him, and Andre hadn’t bothered to return for him, disgusted with him, thinking that he was a coward when he had only been thinking of protecting her. That must have been what happened. And by now, she would have told them all what happened and they would all think he was a coward, ready to run away and let a fellow patriot die rather than risk going to his aid. And there was no way he would be able to explain it to them, no way that they would ever understand. They had been outnumbered. There were only two of them. How could they have hoped to stand against all those men alone? How could he have knowingly led a girl into such danger? A girl he loved. No. they would never understand, but he had to explain it to them somehow. He had to explain to Andre. He couldn’t bear having them think he was a coward. Especially Andre.
He started walking away from the Common. He felt the Liberty medallion in his pocket. They would probably take it away from him now. He wanted to cry, but he simply couldn’t. There were no tears in him. He just felt empty and hollow inside. And utterly, inconsolably miserable.
He headed south down Summer Street, his shoulders hunched, his hands jammed deep into his pockets. He wasn’t sure where he was going. The streets were dark and silent. Before long, it would be morning and Johnny didn’t want to see the sun. He didn’t want anyone to see him. He simply wanted to run away somewhere and hide. But he couldn’t run away. He couldn’t hide. There was something that he had to do.
He took his hands out of his pockets and pressed them up against his temples as he walked. His head hurt. He couldn’t think straight. He passed Bishop’s Avenue and kept on walking straight, unconsciously picking up his pace. The pain in his head was getting worse. All he ever wanted to do was help and he had only made things worse. Mr. Revere had trusted him and he had let him down. Andre would never forgive him. And as for Mr. Adams, who had paid him the highest compliment by personally giving him the Liberty medallion, saying, “Your role in this is especially important, Jonathan. It is absolutely vital.”
Absolutely vital. There was some
thing he had to do that was absolutely vital. Johnny was running now, still clutching at his head. He ran past Cow Lane, still heading south on Summer Street, past South Street, toward the docks. He turned left on Purchase Street and kept on running… then he suddenly stopped. He waited to catch his breath. The pain in his head was gone now. The breeze coming in off the sea felt fresh and cool on his face. He was standing in front of Samuel Adams’ house. He went up to the door and tried it. It was locked.
Still staring at the door, he reached inside his coat and too out a laser pistol. He aimed it at the door…
“ Stop where you are!” someone called out. “ Don’t move!”
Slowly. Johnny turned around. Several men stood spread out in the street behind him, pointing weapons at him.
“Drop the gun!”
Johnny continued to hold onto the laser. He stared at the armed men with confusion.
“Johnny, put down the gun.” He squinted at the dark, shadowy forms. “Andre?”
“Yes, Johnny, it’s me. Put the gun down, Johnny. Please.”
His mouth felt dry. He moistened his lips. His head had started to hurt again.
“There is-there is something that I have to do…” he said.
Andre came toward him. “Please, Johnny. Put the gun down. You don’t want to hurt me. do you?”
“Hurt you? N-No. I–I would never..” He started to breathe heavily. The pain in his head grew worse. “I must do… something …”
Lucas suddenly appeared standing close behind him. Andre shook her head slightly and Lucas hesitated. The boy’s finger was right on the firing stud. If he didn’t grab it quickly enough…
“I’ll help you, Johnny,” she said, slowly moving closer and keeping her voice very steady. “We’ll do it together, okay? But you must give me the gun.”
“You-you hit me…”
“Yes, Johnny, I know.” Closer, “I’m sorry: Closer still.
Lucas gritted his teeth and made ready to grab for the gun. Andre kept her gaze locked with Johnny’s.
“I was only.. pounding in his temples now.
“I know, Johnny,” Andre said “I understand. You meant well. I only wanted to apologize. Won’t you please give me the gun and we can talk?”
Lucas tensed. Johnny’s hand had started to shake. Andre was so close. if he grabbed for the gun and the kid tightened his finger…
“Please. Give me the gun, Johnny. You don’t want to hurt me.”
“No,” he said, his voice breaking. I… I love you.”
Andre reached out for the gun and Lucas felt his heart in his mouth. Her lingers closed around the barrel gently and she took it from him.
“ I‘m… sorry… “ Johnny said and Lucas let his breath out in a long sigh of relief. Andre handed him the laser pistol.
Johnny put his hands up to his face and started sobbing. Andre took him in her arms.