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Show 6-5 "Now, this is a world atlas. Lots of maps." But he was looking at the picture book. "Europe. In pictures." "This is a new book from the library. I had to bring a note from home. They don't let children take out the expensive books. I opened the heavy cover and smoothed the title page. We balanced it between us on our knees. The sun reflected off the glossy pages and made it hard to read. I lifted It a bit so the words were in shadow. "A look at the wonders of Europe in photographs!" I read the subtitle and turned to the Table of Contents. As my finger ran down the lists of countries, he reached out with one bandaged hand and tapped clumsily on the section titled "France". "Let's see that." "Ok." I checked the page number and then carefully opened the book to the section, about midway through the book. "Were you there? In France? During the war?" He nodded as I glanced up at him. I couldn't see his eyes, only the rippled skin around his mouth and nose. "I think France must be beautiful. All those castles and churches. Bigger than our church, do you think?" He didn*t answer. He motioned with his hand for me to turn the page. Beautiful pictures of cities circled with ancient walls, of stone churches with steeples pointing into skies, palaces of white marble. "Isn't it grand?" "I don't remember that," he whispered. "Only mud. And burned trees." I looked at the church and its tiny village on the page before us. "No people. The church was bombed out. I don't remember . . ." |