Chapter 17: Seeing you

I am taken to the front gates. The solider spoke no other words to me.

The base was surrounded by many small buildings, the town had obviously been deserted due to the lack of people but it was also untouched. This was now only an area associated with the base.

The area was indeed beautiful, located in rocky hillsides, lots of greenery and plants, a drastic change in scenery from where I had once been.

I walked for about 30 minutes till I’d reached the top of a hill overlooking the small town. The landscape on the other side was very rugged, many vineyards and olive groves were scattered around. I didn’t think it such a bad idea to walk the rest of the way having such a tranquil view to take in.

Before walking I decided to take a quick sketch and take in the moment of peace and quiet.

The walk would take approximately 2 hours so I didn’t have far to go. I walked along a dirt path that gradually turned into a sort of hike, a small lake below one valley of hills got me filling in more of my my sketch book, the writings becoming more hopeful again.

I only had about 20 minutes more to go so I decided now was a good time to call Carlos in hopes he would pick up. “Hello?” Carlos says on the other end of the line, “Carlos? Is that you?” I reply, “Flo?! Where are you? What are you doing? Marcel is going out of his mind trying to find you?” Carlos voice raises in panic, “calm down Carlo I’m fine! I’m on my way over to you actually, I’ve only got about 20 more minutes of walking to go” I say casually, feeling quite proud of myself for making it this far in my own, “walking?! Are you crazy?! I told you not to come here, it’s dangerous! Look meet me outside the base gates in about 30 minutes in Entrevennes.” Carlos snaps back, he doesn’t sound too pleased which made me feel a bit disappointed.

I walked the rest of the way making sure not to stop and sketch so to make it in time. Entrevennes was probably the most beautiful little village I’d ever seen, surrounded by lavender fields, not many houses or buildings but each and every one of them quaint and cozy. There were people still in this village, not many but the shops were still open to locals meaning I could finally get something to eat.

The base was outside of the town, they had set it up in a field and fenced it off with barb wired fences.

As I walked closer to the entrance, I spotted Carlos waiting for me. “Carlo!!” I cheerfully waved over to him, he waked his hands signalling to be quiet, but once i was actually face to face with him he clamped his arms tight around me nestling his face into my neck, my arms automatically cling to him, we stood there in silence for about 2 minuets just enjoying each others embrace.

“I missed you” I break the silence, Carlo pulls back from the hug, “I missed you too and I was worried I’d never see you again but Flo… this is so dangerous, what if you got caught up in another attack, I couldn’t live with myself if I found out you were dead. That was the whole reason I let Marcel take you away to somewhere safe.” Carlo went on, I didn’t know how to reply, I just wanted to see him and be near him, knowing he was training to go into war and fight was painful but the unknown of him possibly never to return again was hell and I just couldn’t live like that.

“I don’t want to go back Carlo, I won’t” I say with determination, Carlo rubs his face looking defeated, “I can’t say anything that will change your mind anyway” he was right, nothing could sway me away from him. “Look I don’t have long and we don’t have much access to our phones while training so if we meet every evening at 10pm over by that barn then we can fully catch up and think of a plan” Carlo point over in the distance at a storage barn placed at the edge of one of the lavender fields. I nod my head and Carlo once again surprises me with a lustful deep kiss that melted me into the ground. He turns and leaves as quick as he did when I left him in Rome.

The day was getting on and there wasn’t much time before nightfall, perhaps sleeping in that barn that Carlo pointed out was my best bet for tonight, I could think about where else to stay tomorrow, for now I think it’s best I find somewhere to get some food. I walk down the path entering the village. The base I think had made the local slightly nervous as I’m sure on a normal day without war, they would look much more relaxed and joyous. I came across a bakery selling breads and pastries. “Um parler anglais?” I managed to croak out with embarrassment, which meant “speak English?” That was about all I had learnt on my travels, I start to think that I should really put a bit more effort into the language of the places I visit, it definitely would have come in handy about now.

The man behind the counter shook his head so I just pointed to a baguette of bread and a packet of cheese from a nearby refrigerator, the took the items and said “trois euros” thankfully I did learn my numbers up to 10 in French so I understood that much. I got my card out and the man shook his head and said “Paiement en espèces uniquement, nous n'acceptons pas les cartes bancaires dans cette ville.” He waved a note to indicate they only do cash, thankfully I had a few notes in my wallet that Marcel had given me in Italy but I don’t think it was enough to last me much longer, maybe a few days of so but I’d really have to cut down and be resourceful. I paid the man and thanked him but was called back in before I’d left the shop “Vous comptez rester longtemps ?” I didn’t understand a word he said and I think he could tell by the confusion on my face so he pointed downwards then stretched his hands out indicating here and long, I put both my hands up to show that I wasn’t sure how long so he put his hands up to tell me to wait, we went through a door round the back of the bakery and came back in with an elderly woman, her hair going slightly white but she still held youth and Beaty in her face and appearance, the man spoke to here for a little in French then the woman ahhhd as if to understand “hello I am Nora, this is Francis my husband, we own this bakery. My husband was wanting to ask if you’ll be here long and if you are then do you have a place to stay?” Nora explains slowly so I could understand through her accent.