July 1915

Ever since Joséphine had been living up on the pastures, life had seemed free of all expectation and fear. Time was now her friend. She felt sustained by the land around her and also by the thought that she would see the man again and love him without constraint. Love is not rational; it’s an irresistible madness. This man for her was Ulysses returned from his voyage, Noah liberated from his pact with God; he was the freest man on earth. However, love is never simple, and although it was true that they were both all alone in the world, lost in their kingdom of infinite possibilities, it was also true that Wolfgang lived on the other side of the hills and to reach him there was no direct road or path. It would take nearly two hours on horseback, and she might get lost or injured.

It was a perfect day. Since morning the sun had dominated the sky, without a cloud in sight. The ewes, which had been grazing since daybreak, were already sated by midday so, when the sun reached its zenith, they had felt the heat coming and returned to shelter under the trees. Now they idled at the edge of the forest in the shade and would not be moving from there. Nearby was the little stream which filled the drinking trough with delicious fresh water. The sheep would definitely be staying where they were until sunset. The dogs, also in the shade, were calm and vigilant. Peace reigned.

Joséphine could count on several hours to herself, so she saddled her horse and hurried him along the intermittent paths. In spite of the heat, she made him gallop as soon as the path was visible. The animal did not like galloping as the sun beat down; she could feel he was nervous and hot between her legs, his coat already covered in foamy sweat, a sign that he was baulking, but she drove him on even where it was wooded. The more she advanced the more their way seemed to be barred by branches, and every thorn appeared to want to catch at her, but she refused to see this as a sign. Yet as she approached the lion tamer’s property, a guilty premonition seized her and did hold her back. After all, she did not know the man very well. And, worse, he was a threat and a danger, first because he was German, a deserter admittedly, but still an enemy, and secondly because he was a man hard-hearted enough to live all alone on this accursed plot and ferocious enough to subjugate and tame wild animals. Then she thought of all the women toiling down in the valley, bent double in the sun, and very quickly she dismissed any guilty thoughts.