Legacy of the Musketeers
Cette longue nouvelle tente d’imaginer une suite à l’épisode du masque de fer du Vicomte de Bragelonne. Un prologue rappelle au lecteur les grands traits de cette histoire, essentiellement le fait qu’Aramis avait tenté en vain de remplacer Louis XIV par son frère jumeau, Philippe. Et ajoute quelques « révélations » au passage : le vrai père de Louis et Philippe n’était autre que d’Artagnan (!), ce dernier et les trois mousquetaires avaient fait une nouvelle tentative contre Louis XIV, réussie cette fois, et Philippe l’avait donc remplacé sur le trône (!!) et dans la bagarre, Louis XIV avait tué d’Artagnan (son père, donc), d’un coup d’épée (!!!).
Aramis, devenu le meilleur soutien de Louis XIV, accumule les actes de trahison tout en jouant les mystérieux et en affirmant agir selon les dernières volontés de d’Artagnan. Il fait arrêter Athos et Porthos, que Louis veut faire exécuter. Mais voilà-t’y pas que d’Artagnan, qui était mort, réapparaît. Il n’était pas tout à fait mort, en fait, et avait bénéficié de soins secrets prodigués par les jésuites. Du coup, les quatre mousquetaires se retrouvent tous ensemble. A quatre, ils massacrent une centaine de gardes personnels de Louis XIV. Grande bagarre durant laquelle d’Artagnan tue sans le vouloir son fils Louis. On est en pleine tragédie grecque avec un retournement conceptuellement fascinant puisque le coup précédent, c’est Louis qui avait tué (presque) son père d’Artagnan. Enfoncé, Œdipe ! Tout est bien qui finit bien, Philippe remonte sur le trône à la place de son frère, tandis que d’Artagnan finit quand même de mourir. Il apparaît que la grande trahison d’Aramis n’était qu’une ruse destinée à faire remonter Louis XIV sur le trône pour mieux l’en faire redescendre définitivement (avec toutes ces montées et ces descentes, il y a de quoi avoir mal au cœur).
Le résumé de l’intrigue se passe de commentaire. Signalons tout de même quelques perles : une partie de l’action se passe dans les innombrables niveaux de catacombes situées sous le château de Versailles (l’auteur pense apparemment que Versailles a été construit sur les restes d’une forteresse antédiluvienne) ; Aramis appelle le roi par son prénom (il le tutoierait sûrement si cela existait en anglais) ; mieux encore, il l’appelle Philippe devant tout le monde (à un moment où c’est Louis qui porte le masque de fer), alors que Philippe est censé être Louis et que l’existence même de Philippe est un secret d’Etat… L’ensemble finit presque par être amusant à condition d’être lu au quatorzième (comme Louis) degré.
Extrait de la quatrième partie D’Artagnan The King drew his sword back, ready to end the life of a Musketeer. “Wait,” cried Aramis. “I beg Your Majesty’s indulgence. Before this execution is carried out, I believe that one other person should be present.” Amongst a hushed silence Louis’ twin, a mask-less Philippe walked calmly into the room. “Him, how did he escape?” Louis fumed. “Not him.” Aramis pointed to the doorway. “Him!” A figure covered by a blood-red drape entered. Swiftly, he threw the red cover aside. No one in the whole of the Council Chamber could believe what they were seeing. No one except Aramis. “D’Artagnan,” Athos cried disbelievingly as he stood up. “Alive?” “Musketeers join me,” D’Artagnan instructed. Without hesitation Aramis, Athos and Porthos left the petrified Louis. They could see a cache of weapons behind D’Artagnan. Athos still stared at D’Artagnan. He looked weak, but it was really him. Snapping out of his trance-like state Louis shrieked, “Council dismissed!” His many advisors and council needed no second bidding. They scurried out faster than was dignified led, of course, by Crope. Louis then allowed himself a smile as he surveyed the scene. Himself and virtually a room full of his Black Guards faced only five figures. After being unbounded, Athos and Porthos quickly armed themselves. Porthos smiled at Aramis. “I never believed you were a traitor.” Aramis nodded gratefully. Athos eyed Porthos sceptically. “We don’t stand a chance D’Artagnan,” Athos said. “There are almost a hundred guards.” “I know. For if we are to die, let it be like this,” said D’Artagnan knowingly. “Musketeers, one last time.” One by one, their swords joined together. “Well guards, what are you waiting for? Kill them – kill them all!” Shock had finally sunk Louis into madness. Facing a black army of swords and guns, the three Musketeers and D’Artagnan roared, “All for one – and one for all!” They charged, with Philippe behind them, impossibly into a barrage of firing muskets. Amazingly, the legends continued. Their swords reaching the enemy. With an astonishing half-turn, D’Artagnan dispatched three guards with one movement. Two guards were being retreated by Aramis’ one sword. A guard behind him, though, was about to slice him. The guard choked and fell. Porthos withdrew his sword. Aramis nodded his thanks before finishing off the two guards facing him. A Black Guard with a surprising level of skill of swordsmanship was driving Athos back – his sword flew from his hand. Sensing victory, the guard was about to drive his sword home. “Ah well,” said Athos, “needs must.” His gloved hand smacked the startled guard in the mouth rendering him unconscious. Four guards suddenly charged D’Artagnan at once. He shot the first one down with his musket; his sword stopped the second. The remaining two carried on their charge towards him. He stepped aside, they ran past him. D’Artagnan turned round to see that Porthos had grabbed both their heads. He slammed them together with an unnerving crack. Through their superior swordsmanship; quick thinking; outrageous manoeuvres and simple good luck, the Musketeers drove the Black Guards back. Even Philippe joined in and felled a few guards. The remaining guards began to panic. Their increasingly desperate counter-measures became even less effective. Some of their numbers fled. Louis knew his Black Guards were almost defeated. His sword held tight in his hand. He could at least have his revenge. D’Artagnan’s sword finished the last of the Black Guards off. He saw the three Musketeers, rubbing their bruises and cuts – but he could tell that they’d never felt better – and, after two long years, smiled. Louis had silently edged nearer to Philippe. Hatred gripped him as he shouted, “Die false King!” His sword spearheading his attack, Louis went for his brother. “No,” cried D’Artagnan. Instinctively, his sword swung round to protect Philippe. The Musketeers turned to look and the scene seemed to unfold in slow-motion. Philippe couldn’t move. D’Artagnan was unable to withdraw his sword. Louis could not halt his charge. D’Artagnan’s sword penetrated deep into his son’s, Louis’ chest.
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