children. The opening of the novel introduces the grim scenario of a battalion of Parisian soldiers searching the dangerous Bois de la Saudraie in May 1793, amid the devastating consequences of the ongoing civil war. As the battalion navigates the eerie, flower-laden woods filled with signs of past violence, they encounter Michelle Fléchard, a terrified woman hiding with her three children. The soldiers, initially on high alert for foes, are met with a moral conflict when they realize the vulnerability of the woman and her children, then their sergeant chooses compassion over violence. This dramatic opening sets the stage for the ensuing exploration of humanity amid the brutality of war, underscoring the moral complexities faced by individuals during this turbulent period. (This is an automatically generated summary.)