An Englishwoman's adventures in the German lines

A young English traveler finds herself stranded in a quiet Belgian village just as the First World War erupts. She meets the resilient locals—Madame Job, her baker son heading to the forts, the lively Lepouse family, and the weary postmaster—who gather on a terrace to share news and worry in equal measure. Their conversations reveal a community on the brink, coping with disrupted travel, scarce supplies, and the looming presence of German forces just a day’s march away.

As the village prepares for the inevitable advance, the narrator witnesses the frantic activity of soldiers, cyclists, and civilians all converging on the crossroads. The ordinary rhythms of daily life—mail deliveries, horse‑shoeing, and even a game of skittles—are suddenly overlaid with the tension of impending conflict. Through her eyes, listeners get a vivid portrait of wartime Belgium, where ordinary people confront extraordinary circumstances with quiet determination and a touch of humor.