Between two thieves

In a remote Alpine village, an elderly paralytic reclines in a light invalid chair, his snow‑white hair spilling from a black velvet cap as he watches the sunset over the glittering Blau See. From a nearby shelter a fragile Blériot‑type monoplane takes off, its tinny engine humming over the water, and the old man marvels at the promise of flight—both as a weapon of war and, more hopeful, as a rescue craft for wounded soldiers. His enthusiastic monologue, filled with vivid exclamations, reveals a mind still sharp enough to imagine a future where aircraft become soaring ambulances.

His companion, a gentle Sister of Charity, listens patiently, aware that the tranquil scene masks deeper currents of change. As the plane disappears into the horizon, the village’s quiet routine is subtly disturbed, hinting at the arrival of strangers whose motives may intersect with the old man’s fervent ideas. Listeners are drawn into a tale where technology, idealism, and hidden agendas converge in the shadow of the towering Alps.