Kéraban-Le-Têtu, Volume II

The tale opens on the mist‑laden Black Sea coast, where the Dutch explorer Van Mitten arrives in the bustling port of Poti, only to learn that his stubborn uncle, the mercurial Kéraban, has already set off for the Turco‑Russian frontier. Faced with a lack of comfortable transport and a ticking schedule, Van Mitten watches the locals scramble for makeshift carts while his companion Ahmet decides to ride horseback across a tangled landscape of marshes, forts and noisy frog choruses. Their correspondence with loved ones back home adds a tender undercurrent to the frantic preparations.

As evening settles, Van Mitten wanders the town’s narrow streets, comparing the cramped, mud‑splattered streets to his dreams of grand voyages. The atmosphere crackles with anticipation, hinting at the logistical challenges and cultural encounters that will test the travelers’ resolve long before the story reaches any dramatic twists.