Early that morning, Jacques, who had been unable to sleep all night, sprang off his camp bed with a kip-up the instant the reveille sounded. He dressed quickly and dashed out of the communal tent amid the other militiamen's rowdy cries.
Jacques and the other militiamen were now living on the open ground in the center of Bolas Fortress. The kitchen was inside the fortress, and the militiamen had to line up to get in for breakfast.
For most of the militiamen, today was a good day. Prince Chris had specifically ordered that they would have no training or work assignments outside today, so the morning offered them a rare chance to relax.
While the other militiamen discussed where to go for fun, or what nice things to buy at the supply store inside the fortress to take home to their wives, Jacques set down his bowl and headed straight for the fortress gate.
Quite a few people had already gathered outside. They were all clustered around a noticeboard displaying the exam results, with a large sheet covered in names already posted on it.
Many militiamen crowded around to join in the excitement. Although they knew few Chinese characters, one would say a bit and another would read a character, and then they would piece it all together to work out what a word meant, deciphering the characters with a peasant's shrewdness.
The militiamen read with great relish, cheering whenever they finished a sentence. It made them feel that they, too, had become educated men.
Jacques tried to squeeze through, but he could not budge the grown men, who were much older and stronger than he was.
After he struggled for a long time, however, one burly fellow in front finally turned around in irritation, raising a fist to punch