The Flood

Louis Roubien, a septuagenarian farmer, basks in the prosperity of his sprawling family estate along the Garonne. He recounts a bustling household filled with siblings, children, grandchildren and even great‑grandchildren, each gathered around a hearty table where laughter and the clatter of spoons echo the abundance of their harvest. The narrative paints a vivid portrait of rural life at its zenith: flourishing fields, thriving vines, a newborn calf, and the simple joys of communal meals and shared stories.

Amid this golden moment, the farm prepares for a series of upcoming weddings, most notably the betrothal of Veronique to the strong‑handed Gaspard, a celebrated local youth. As the family surveys their thriving lands and looks forward to celebrations, a subtle tension brews beneath the surface, hinting that the river’s floodplain may hold more than just fertile soil. Listeners are invited to step into this richly detailed world, feeling the warmth of kinship while sensing the first stirrings of trouble that could test the Roubien’s hard‑won happiness.