Two Little Soldiers
Guy de Maupassant
Every Sunday, as soon as they were free, the little soldiers would go for a walk. They turned
to the right on leaving the barracks, crossed Courbevoie with rapid strides, as though on a
forced march; then, as the houses grew scarcer, they slowed down and followed the dusty
road which leads to Bezons.
They were small and thin, lost in their ill-fitting capes, too large and too long, whose
sleeves covered their hands; their ample red trousers fell in folds around their ankles. Under
the high, stiff shako one could just barely perceive two thin, hollow-cheeked Breton faces,
with their calm, naive blue eyes. They never spoke during their journey, going straight
before them, the same idea in each one's mind taking the place of conversation. For at the
entrance of the little forest of Champioux they had found a spot which reminded them of
home, and they did not feel happy anywhere else.
At the crossing of the Colombes and Chatou roads, when they arrived under the trees, they
would take off their heavy, oppressive headgear and wipe their foreheads.
They always stopped for a while on the bridge at Bezons, and looked at the Seine. They
stood there several minutes, bending over the railing, watching the white sails, which
perhaps reminded them of their home, and of the fishing smacks leaving for the open.
As soon as they had crossed the Seine, they would purchase provisions at the delicatessen,
the baker's, and the wine merchant's. A piece of bologna, four cents' worth of bread, and a
quart of wine, made up the luncheon which they carried away, wrapped up in their
handkerchiefs. But as soon as they were out of the village their gait would slacken and they
would begin to talk.
Before them was a plain with a few clumps of trees, which led to the woods, a little forest
which seemed to remind them of that other forest at Kermarivan. The wheat and oat fields
bordered on the narrow path, and Jean Kerderen said each time to Luc Le Ganidec:
"It's just like home, just like Plounivon."
"Yes, it's just like home."
And they went on, side by side, their minds full of dim memories of home. They saw the
fields, the hedges, the forests, and beaches.
Each time they stopped near a large stone on the edge of the private estate, because it
reminded them of the dolmen of Locneuven.
As soon as they reached the first clump of trees, Luc Le Ganidec would cut off a small
stick, and, whittling it slowly, would walk on, thinking of the folks at home.
Jean Kerderen carried the provisions.