International Olympic Committee and the Tin Plague

Most of the France chose to return to France by sea, but one France was going to Saint Petersburg with the Russia. This France was Victor Treville. He had now left the Ministry of Truth and become a member of the newly formed France French Olympic Committee, a non-governmental organization. However, there were rumors that he was still actually receiving a special allowance from the Ministry of Truth.

This time, Victor will travel around Europe with the Olympic flame, both to escort the torch and to promote the Olympic spirit. As arranged by the French Olympic Committee, he will contact media outlets in various regions to encourage the establishment of their own Olympic Committees, ultimately bringing together "the Olympic Committees of the civilized world to form an organization that transcends national boundaries, beliefs, and races, pursuing the great unity of all humankind— the International Olympic Committee."

Victor's first task was to go to Russia and persuade His Majesty the Tsar and other important nobles to agree to the proposal and allow them to establish a non-governmental "Russian Olympic Committee".

The Russia prepared a four-wheeled carriage for Victor, but Victor said that considering the road conditions in the area, he felt he would prefer to ride a horse.

The Russia naturally wouldn't object to their guest's small request. So Bagration had his adjutant give his horse to Victor, who then rode in Victor's place to "guard the fire." He himself carried the torch and rode forward with Victor.

Victor mounted his horse. He had received some equestrian training when he was young and had a good foundation. He had also received rigorous training in Toulon and other places, so Victor's horsemanship was quite good. His crisp and clean mounting action drew cheers from the Russia cavalry officers surrounding him.

Victor knew that these people were mostly young nobles. It was clear that they were very interested in things like the "Olympic flame."

Compared to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy is actually more accepting of Greece mythology. In fact, the image of God in their religious paintings is basically copied from the Greece depiction of Zeus. Therefore, religiously, they have no resistance to it, and many even believe that this event was God's will.

Victor urged his horse forward, galloping alongside Bagration. Bagration turned to look at Victor and chuckled, "Your riding is quite good!"

"General, your riding skills are quite good too. I've signed up for the Olympic Games show jumping competition. I wonder if you'd be interested in coming to Paris and competing against me?"

"Ah, I really want to, but those uncivilized heretics have been causing trouble again lately. I'm afraid I can't leave. Hmm, I have a friend who signed up for this program; his riding skills are far superior to mine. He's in Moscow, and the Olympic torch relay will pass through Moscow. I happen to have a letter; could you please take it with you?"

"I am honored, General," Victor replied.

But he immediately followed up with, "General, His Majesty the Tsar of your country has agreed to Olympic Truce during the Olympic Games, in accordance with ancient customary law..."

"Ah, yes, that's no problem. We Russia never go back on our word once we've agreed. We're not those untrustworthy infidels," Bagration laughed. "But we still have to be wary of those infidels. You know, they may look like humans, but their hearts are bloodthirsty beasts. They don't know what keeping a promise means. We won't launch an attack, at least not during the Olympic Games. But we have to be careful."

"General," Victor smiled, "You know what? On my way here, those Turkey said similar things to what you just said countless times. They just felt you wouldn't keep your promises. They said you've broken agreements with them more than once or twice."

"This is utter slander!" Bagration retorted immediately and without hesitation. "What they say is as false as their claim that Jesus was just an ordinary prophet!"

Although the France Catholicism and the Russia Eastern Orthodoxy differ greatly in doctrine (in fact, the "Catholicism" practiced by the France today is quite different from the Catholicism of any other country; many years ago—and the Holy See wouldn't have dared to call them heretics either), they are remarkably united in acknowledging the divinity of Jesus. Therefore, Bagration's statement is indeed very persuasive; at least, the France will no longer dwell on this issue.

Sure enough, Victor immediately changed the subject and started talking about the weather in northern Russia.

"I've heard that it gets incredibly cold in Moscow during winter, and if you go outside without a hat, you can rub your ears off after just a short while—is it really that cold?"

"Who told you this?" Bagration frowned slightly. "Moscow is cold, but not to this extent. Well, many of the cavalrymen with us are Moscow, and do you see any of them missing an ear? But compared to warm Paris, Moscow winters are indeed very cold, well—for example, did you mention the 'tin plague'?"

"The kind that Aristotle mentioned?" Victor asked.

"Ah, Commissioner Treville, you are truly learned! Yes, that's it. A couple of years ago, someone brought me a pewter jug from Europe —you know, it's quite cold here in Russia, so men often like to have a drink or two—one winter, I was taking this jug with me on a sled, and then, guess what happened halfway there?"

"What's wrong?" Victor asked.

"The tin wine jug bulged up on its own, and then the originally silvery-white jug started to turn gray. Soon, these gray spots expanded, and finally, my entire tin wine jug turned into a pile of ash. It's said that this kind of problem only occurs in very cold places?"

"Huh? Is that so?" Victor said. "The buttons on my coat are made of tin. Won't they turn to dust by the time we get to Moscow?"

"Ah, no, no. It's summer now, and Moscow summers aren't cold. In fact, summer is almost the best time to Moscow."

"So it seems that if I were to travel to Moscow in winter, I couldn't wear clothes with tin buttons. Otherwise, without buttons, I'd definitely freeze to death," Victor laughed.

The two men rode their horses at full gallop, chatting as they went. By the time they reached Bagration's camp, they were already addressing each other as "you."