Baccano! - Volume 15 - Chapter 6

EPILOGUE B

The Memoirs of Jean-Pierre Accardo

And so my story comes to an end.

What happened to Monica and Huey after that? I do not know, and doubtless it would be boorish to tell.

I have committed many crimes. That is a vital fact. Because of my choice to write that play, my choice to pursue glory with incomplete information, a portion of the blame for the creation of the Mask Makers lies with me.

I am also to blame for engendering the feud between the House of Dormentaire and Lotto Valentino. The following year was defined by the struggle between the two, but that tale is not mine to tell.

After all I have told you, I still committed one additional crime.

In an act of defiance…I revised that play one final time.

Despite the House of Dormentaire’s orders to stop and attempts to exert pressure on me, I had it performed at the theater in Lotto Valentino.

I had modified the final scene.

At the end, the witch’s son, the founder of the Mask Makers, stabbed my version of Monica and killed her, letting her burn along with the ship. He had feared she would let the secret of their magic slip to someone else.

I wrote the scene and had it performed.

To those who knew, the witch’s son was clearly Huey Laforet. By writing this scene, I deceived the public into believing Monica had died.

I deliberately incorporated a lie into my work and tricked the world. This was both my final crime, and my atonement.

However, this truth must not be revealed yet.

Until the time of my own death at the very earliest, I had to deceive people into believing Monica had died at Huey’s hands. Then she could live as someone else, somewhere far away.

Now that you have read this tale to its conclusion, I have a request for you.

I will not ask you to make this truth known throughout the world. I would be grateful for your assistance in clearing the name of Huey Laforet, but I will not compel you. Perhaps his name has already vanished from history in your time.

I simply wanted someone to know the truth. I wanted you, at least, to know.

I’ve taken up much of your time. It is high time I set down my pen.

My reader, my witness to this self-indulgent confession, I do not mind if you forget me.

I only want you to remember one thing. Monica Campanella was saved by Huey Laforet, and that is the truth.

That, and that alone, I hope you will keep in your memory.

With gratitude,

With my utmost thanks,

Jean-Pierre Accardo

Having read the entire document, the young man slowly set the sheaf of parchment down on the table.

Was that whole story true? He didn’t know.

What had happened to the power of immortality described at the beginning? The youth no longer cared.

He had become acquainted with the character of his ancestor, and he was touched knowing the character of the Accardo line had been handed down all the way to him.

Having read all this, what did he think of it?

Had it brought about a change of heart?

He wasn’t sure; he simply decided to pray.

The town of Lotto Valentino might have transformed in many ways, but the sun above him was one thing that was still the same. The young man looked up at it, squinting, and offered up a small prayer.

At least— At the very least, I want to believe Monica and Huey managed to live happy lives.

The man sent his prayer through the sun, toward the past, hoping to make it come true.

The sun makes no promises, and even today, it shines down over Lotto Valentino.

From the far past to the distant future, radiant and bright…

The End

Why could you not have left well enough alone?