Chapter 7

"Oh, what a beautiful house!" Madeleine cried.

"That's the chateau, ma petite," Etienne explained. "You know, where the rich people live?" To Sam he said, "We don't get this far from home often, she's never been here."

Once again Sam was struck by the realization that travel was not easy in this era; despite the relatively short distance these people had had no need to come here, especially just to look at a way of life they would never have.

"But the family is in Paris now, no?" Yvonne asked. "This is the, how do you say it? The headquarters of the Australian soldiers."

"That's right," Sam agreed. "They wanted to thank you for all the help you've provided."

"What, for showing hospitality to the soldiers? Passing along some information and finding a few pieces of scrap metal?" she asked.

"It's all more important than you think," Sam replied. "You never know when some seemingly small thing turns out to be vitally important." As I recently found out for myself, he thought.

"We did those things to help, because we wanted to," Etienne said. "Now they have invited us to dine with them to show their appreciation. It is a nice gesture on their part and we are thankful for it."

"Will we be allowed to see the inside of the house?" Madeleine wanted to know.

"There are so many shortages, but there are officers here. Do you think we will dine well?" Yvonne asked. "Not that it matters; it will be exciting just to be there even if they serve cabbage soup!"

"Can I see the aeroplanes?" Denis asked.

Sam took the questions in order. "I'm sure they will give you the grand tour of the chateau, Madeleine. You'll get to see each and every room! Captain Downey didn't tell me what was on the menu, but I'd bet he's told the cook to make something special for you, Yvonne."

"Monsieur Beckett," Madeleine interrupted. "You have passed the house," she said worriedly.

"That's because…" Sam drove the car over the top of a small hill. "Denis – and all of you – are going to get a really close look at the…"

"Aeroplanes!" cried Denis.

Denis jumped out of the car as soon as Sam brought it to a halt. He ran a few steps closer to the planes; then he remembered his manners and stopped, hopping from one foot to the other in his impatience for the others to catch up.

Captain Downey had seen the car arrive and came over to greet them. "Mr. Beckett tells me that you'd like to see our flying machines. If you'll just come this way. Oh, mind the rough ground."

"Denis!" Etienne called to his son. "Stay with us and do not touch the aeroplanes. You wouldn't want to damage them."

Denis sighed but was far too excited to be upset at the restriction. Madeleine stuck her hands firmly into the pockets of her coat lest temptation get the better of her and after a moment Denis copied her move, albeit reluctantly.

The captain led them to a two-seat bi-plane. With Sam acting as translator he explained how they worked and what all the parts were and answered all their questions. Denis was full of them, wanting to know everything; but the other family members were just as enthralled. Sam and George exchanged a look that said this had indeed been the perfect treat.

"Well, now that you've seen the plane, are you ready to have dinner?" George asked. He consulted his watch. "It's a bit early, Cook won't have it ready yet. Perhaps while we wait you'd like to go up in the plane? Just a short hop around the field, because of the petrol you know."

"S'il vous plaît!" Yvonne said excitedly. She blushed a bit at her enthusiasm, but her grin remained in place.

"Mais oui." For once Denis stood stock still, too stunned by his good fortune to do more than answer.

George laughed good-naturedly. "I understand that much French! Who wants to go first?" He pointed to Denis. "Perhaps the young man here?"

Denis' eyes were still sparkling an hour later at dinner. The language barrier kept him from chattering everyone's ears off, which at least allowed him to do justice to the meal. Madeleine had gotten her tour of the chateau and had privately confided to her mother that although it was lovely she wouldn't like to live there because she would have no time to do anything but keep it clean. Yvonne clearly enjoyed the food, though she seemed to feel intimidated by the surroundings and didn't speak much. Reggie and Billy had been invited as well since it was their gun that had been repaired.

Sam again acted as interpreter for a lively discussion of obviously embroidered tales of wartime derring-do and peacetime hunting by the Australians. He couldn't tell if Etienne was taken in by these or not, though the Frenchman clearly thought they were making up the kangaroos.

"Have you no trees there?" Etienne asked. "I don't think I would like to live in such a hot and barren place."

"Oh, I don't know," Sam commented. "It, um, sounds like the land has a rugged beauty all its own."

"Perhaps you can come for a visit when this wretched was is over," Reggie suggested. "We can go walkabout and I'll show you the sights."

Al chose that moment to appear. "Sam, I thought you'd like to know."

"What is it?" Sam asked quietly.

"You go out for a walk – for weeks at a time!" Billy explained. "You go wherever you like and live off the land."

"That German plane just dropped the bomb on Etienne's farm," Al told him.

"When?" asked Sam.

"Just a few seconds ago," Al replied. "But Ziggy says it didn't hit the house; maybe because nobody was home and the lights weren't on. It blew a big hole in a pasture; I didn't wanna look too close, but I think it was full of cows." He scrunched up his face and stuck his tongue out in disgust at what he might have seen. "But, Sam, the house wasn't hit and the family is obviously safe."

"Whenever you want to, Mate," Reggie answered. "You're welcome at my home anytime you'd like to come."

"That's great!" Sam said. He sat up a little straighter and looked around, trying to determine if he felt a Leap coming on. "I don't think I'm going anywhere just yet."

"Neither are we," Billy laughed. "We're all stuck here for awhile. You'll want to go home first and see your own family; but just let us know when you're coming and we'll have a great time."

Al checked the handlink. "Doesn't look like that was what you were here for, Sam. I know you were hoping it was. And before you ask, we still don't have a clue what your mission is!"

"Ah, well, I guess I'll just have to stay here for the time being," Sam answered both at once.

A young man scurried into the dining room and whispered something to the captain. George shook his head with the resignation of accepting bad news. He gestured to catch Sam's attention so Sam could resume his role as translator.

"Etienne, I'm sorry to say that we just received word over the wireless that a bomb has landed somewhere on your farm."

"Mon Dieu!" Etienne exclaimed in disbelief. Yvonne clapped her hand to her mouth in horror at the news.

"We have our very own bomb crater!" Denis cried with the excitement of the young who don't understand the gravity of the situation. "Can we go see it after dinner?"

"The house, was it hit?" asked Etienne. "Or the barn – and oh, what about the animals?"

George conferred briefly with the messenger. "I'm afraid there aren't many details at the moment, but there were no reports of fire so I would think it didn't hit any of the buildings. I understand that you'd like to see for yourselves, but it's dangerous and it's too dark to see any damage."

Madeleine spoke up. "If the animals are injured we must see to them tonight. They shouldn't have to suffer because of the war."

Sam smiled a little sadly. "No, they shouldn't, Madeleine. But I think what Captain Downey is trying to say is that you should stay here tonight for your own safety. You're more important than the animals." To himself he thought Gee, I hope the cows are all right.

George nodded agreement. "That's a good idea, Beckett. Etienne, you and your family will sleep here tonight; I'll send a couple of men with you in the morning to help clean up any damage. I hope it's not too bad. At least you weren't there."

Five pilots immediately offered their rooms, though for a minute it looked like they might start a fist fight over the privilege. George put an end to it by choosing one, muttering something about his room being the least messy.

Sam smiled enigmatically. He knew he was responsible for the family's absence. He still didn't know what GFTW wanted of him on this Leap, but he was glad he'd managed to keep them safe.

Sam had assumed he would go back to his post at Bertangles on Monday morning, but it wasn't to be. George asked him to accompany Etienne back to the farm with two other men. Yvonne and the children had been convinced to stay at the chateau until the extent of the damage could be assessed; Etienne didn't want them to see the destruction if it was bad.

It was bad enough. Al had been right; the house and out-buildings were untouched, but cows had been grazing in that pasture and several of them had been killed or wounded. Some of them had to be shot, and Sam almost couldn't watch though he knew it was for the best. He put his medical skills to use taking care of the ones who could be saved, glad to be able to help. Like Madeleine, he was concerned that the animals suffered as little as possible yet he knew very well that each cow was a monetary investment for Etienne.

Etienne, carrying a rope halter, walked up to where Sam was working. "Is this one ready to go to the barn? I cannot believe you have actually saved it."

Sam inspected the wound he'd just stitched up. "You'll have to take good care of her," he said, patting the cow fondly on the rump. "Keep that wound clean so it doesn't get infected. That won't be easy with a cow!"

"I think that will be a job for Madeleine," Etienne said, smiling slightly. "She will enjoy nursing it back to health. I'm afraid Denis' head is too full of automobiles and aeroplanes to be thinking of chores on the farm."

"I'm sorry about that," Sam said. "I just thought he would enjoy getting a ride."

Etienne waved away Sam's apology. "Pas du tout!" Think nothing of it. Those machines, they will become much more common as he grows to be a man. It is good that he had the chance to be introduced to them."

Sam chuckled. "You never know, you might even use mechanized equipment here on the farm someday."

Etienne considered this. "They would cost a great deal of money. But then they would only need to be 'fed' gasoline when they worked." He gave an expressive Gallic shrug. "We will see. Right now I must see to butchering the cows I have lost; at least the meat will be useful."

Yet again Sam was reminded of the different time period; though there was little difference between their being killed with a bullet or a piece of shrapnel, those animals had lain dead for over half a day. "Uh, what will you do with it? It's already starting to spoil and your family can't possibly use it all."

Etienne smiled enigmatically. "I understand you Americans are fond of beef. Perhaps I can make a deal with the military; I'm sure the soldiers would appreciate a few good meals, and they are so many they would eat it up quickly."

Sam laughed at the man's cunning plan. "I'm sure they would! 'An army travels on its stomach' and all that. But will they pay you a good price?"

"Anything is better than nothing," Etienne replied. "Their loss will make things more difficult, but we are not so easily defeated. I am thankful that it was only cows that we lost; my family was not injured and our home is still there. What more could one ask for in the midst of a war?"

"I'm glad you're all okay, too," Sam told him. "This war will end someday soon, I think, and you'll be able to get on with your lives." He couldn't bear to tell him that another war would break out in barely 20 years' time and that once again his farm would likely be in the middle of it.

"I'm sure you are right," Etienne said. "But for now, I must make the best of things. There is nothing more you can do to help here, Monsieur Beckett. Perhaps you would be so kind as to return to the chateau and speak to Captain Downey about the meat; he will know who can use it. Oh, and I would rather Yvonne and the children not see this sight, so I would appreciate it if they could stay there until evening. We should have it loaded onto wagons and removed by that time."

"I understand, Etienne. I'll give them the message and then I should probably get back to my post. Good luck with everything. I'm not sure if I'll get back here again, so I'll just say adieu."

"Adieu, Monsieur Beckett, et merci bien."