This monsieur here is going to England if he can escape the Germans, and from England the children with him are going to America.
In America they will be safe.
There are no Germans there.
Would you like to go with them?'
The boy stood silent.
They explained it to him again.
At last he said in almost unintelligible French:
'In America, what should I work at?'
Howard said: 'For a time you would have to go to school, to learn English and the American way of living.
At school they would teach you to earn your living in some trade.
What do you want to do when you grow up?'
Without any hesitation the boy said: 'I want to kill Germans.'
There was a momentary silence.
Arvers said:
'That is enough about the Germans.
Tell Monsieur here what trade you wish to learn in America, if he should be so kind as to take you there.'
There was a silence.
Nicole came forward.
'Tell us,' she said gently. 'Would you like to grow up with horses?
Or would you rather buy things and sell them for a profit?'
After all, she thought, it would be difficult for him to go against the characteristics of his race.
'Would you rather do that?'
The boy looked up at her.
'I want to learn to shoot with a rifle from a very long way away,' he said, 'because you can do that from the hills when they are on the road.
And I want to learn to throw a knife hard and straight.
That is best in the darkness, in the narrow streets, because it does not make a noise.'
Arvers smiled a little ruefully.
'I am sorry, monsieur,' he said. 'I am afraid he is not making a very good impression.'
The old man said nothing.
Marjan said: 'When do we start?'
Howard hesitated, irresolute.
This lad might be a great embarrassment to them; at the best he could only be described as a prickly customer.
On the other hand, a deep pity for the child lurked in the background of his mind.
'Do you want to come with us?' he asked.
The boy nodded his black head.
'If you come with us, you will have to forget all this about the Germans,' said the old man.
'You will have to go to school and learn your lessons, and play baseball, and go fishing, like other boys.'
The lad said gravely: 'I could not kill a German for another two or three years because I am not strong enough.
Not unless I could catch one asleep and drive a pitchfork into his belly as he slept, and even then he might reach out before he died and overcome me.
But in America I could learn everything, and come back when I am fifteen years old, and big and strong.'
Howard said gently: 'There are other things to learn in America besides that.'
The boy said: 'I know there is a great deal to learn, monsieur.
One thing, you should always go for the young women - not the men.
If you get the young women, then they cannot spawn, and before long there will be no more Germans.'
'That is enough,' said Arvers sharply.
'Go back to kitchen and stay there till I call you.'
The boy left the room.
The horse-dealer turned to Nicole.
'I am desolated that he should have said such things,' he said.
The girl said: 'He has suffered a great deal.