The view from this dominating position is really exquisite!
In front of me are the heights of the Meuse, to the left is Longeau valley, with the village of Eparges in the bottom and the hills of Montgirmont, Eparges and Hûres which rise on the other side.
The hills this morning assume the unforeseen aspect of Mediterranean imagery, red and blue, a land of silence, as if one would find Samos and Ephesus close by.
I arrive at a machine-gunner's post—the man is alone, his comrade must be only a few steps away from him. He is crying!
He was seated on the ground, his chin in his knees. Unshaven, unkempt, he had such a pitiable face that I sat down at his side——
He was visibly embarrassed and annoyed at having been taken by surprise with his eyes full of tears.
"Good morning, mon vieux!"
"Good morning, lieutenant——"
"How damned cold it is this morning."