A soldier named Berry finds himself lost in a desolate landscape during wartime. After abandoning his broken-down car, he wanders through a silent, ravaged town, eventually discovering a small group of survivors: an old woman, a priest, and a meek man. They reside in what was once a vibrant community, now reduced to ruins. Despite the destruction, the old woman maintains a semblance of normalcy, creating paper toys and caring for the others. Berry learns that the town is St. Aubyn, a place marked by tragedy, particularly the massacre of children by a German officer named Von Eichensau. The priest reveals that they are sheltering a prisoner, the very officer responsible for the horrors inflicted upon the town. This man, now broken and mad, refuses to leave the confines of the room where he hides, haunted by the memories of the children he killed. As Berry grapples with the reality of the situation, he becomes increasingly aware of the emotional weight carried by the survivors. They have chosen to remain in the town, not out of obligation, but as a means of confronting their past and preserving the memory of the lost children. The old woman’s act of making toys symbolizes a connection to the innocence that was destroyed. Tension escalates when Berry, believing he is in danger, prepares to confront the prisoner. However, he learns that the man is not a threat; rather, he is a tragic figure trapped by his own guilt. The priest explains that the prisoner cannot escape the ghosts of his past, as he is haunted by the faces of the children he murdered. In the end, Berry leaves St. Aubyn, carrying with him a small paper windmill made by the old woman. He plants it in the ground as a tribute to the lost children, signifying a promise to remember them. The story explores themes of guilt, memory, and the haunting nature of war, illustrating how the past continues to shape the lives of those who survive its horrors.
By Marjorie Pickthall · First published 1913 · Genre: War Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction