The soldiers came toward them, chains in hand.
Just then, a frightened cry came from inside:
"Don't take her! I'll go with you."
The conscription officer snorted.
"I told you, farmers are the slyest lot. There's a man in the house, and you actually tried to tell me there wasn't."
But his expression eased, and he said with delight:
"I thought I'd only get a cook to fill my quota. Turns out I can get someone to hold a blade."
Inside the house.
The old man looked at his son, his lips trembling as he patted Goff on the shoulder.
He looked at Daisy, then at her swollen belly.
In the end, he would not live to see the day his grandchild was born.
His eyes reddened. He stepped back and bowed to everyone in the room.
The retired Circus acrobat offered them his most heartfelt gesture of respect.
The old man never said a word, yet it seemed he had said everything.
Son, protect this home.
Thank you all for looking after me along the way.
Goodbye!
He straightened, turned around, and walked outside.
Seeing the scrawny old man, the conscription officer couldn't help grumbling:
"An old geezer? Fine, he'll do. Chain him up!"
A soldier looped the chain around his neck and shoved him forward.
"Dear!" A heart-wrenching cry rang out behind him. It was his wife, the love of his life.
He tried desperately to turn his head, only to be knocked to the ground by a riding whip.
The old woman tried to rush over like someone possessed, but the soldiers stopped her.
The old man climbed to his feet and shouted:
"Go back! Go back!"
We won't meet again in this life.
In the next, let's be husband and wife again.
A chain led