GUESTS OF THE GRANDE ARMEE
1811,Black Forest, Confederation of the Rhine
It was no mystery why this part of the countryside had been
christened the Black Forest.The abnormally dark leaves and
bark tree were nearly impossible to see in night.Even though
a bright moon peeked out from clouds like a shy child,no one could be certain what was lurking in the thick woods.
A chill lingered in the air like a veil spread across the trees.
It was a remote and mature forests;roots sank as deep into the
ground as branches reached high into the sky.Had it not been
for a modest path winding through the terrain the forest would
have seemed completely untouched and unseen by human eyes.
A dark carriage pulled by four strong horses shot through the forest like a cannonball.A pair of swinging lanterns illuminated the path ahead and made the carriage resemble an
enormous creature glowing eyes.Two french soldiers of Napaleon's Grande Armee rode beside the carriage.Black cloaks
covered the soldier's colorful uniforms so they could travel in secrecy-the world was never to know what their agenda was
tonight.Soon the carriage arrived at the edge of Rhine river,
dangerously close to the border of the ever-growing French
Empire.A large camp was being set up,with dozens of pointed
beige tents pitched every moment by hundreds of French soldiers.
The two soldiers following the carriage dismounted their
horses and opened the carriage doors.They yanked two men out from inside.The men's hands were tied behind their backs and they had black sacks over their heads.They grunted and yelled muffled messages-both men had been gagged as well.
The soldiers pushed the men to the center of the camp and into the largest tent.Even with their faces covered,the bound men could tell it was very bright inside the tent and they felt a soft rug beneath their feet.The soldiers forced the men into the two wooden chairs farther inside.
"F'ai amen'e les freres "they heard one of the soldiers say behind them."Merci,Capitaine," another voice said in front of them."Le generale sera bientot la."
