Flags flapping, gun carriage chattering and gunpowder smell were floating in the air. The general was conducting with his eyes the both armies tensely form the high hill. The powers were almost equal. The weather was clear, the terrene – flat, there were no clogs that could be used strategically form any of both sides. At the distance, on the other eminence the general could see the opposing commander-in-chief’s camp. They had known each other for a long time, they had led not one or two heavy battles in which the victory was flying from a camp to a camp. He knew his long-standing enemy’s strategy very well but he knew also that his enemy knew his own tactics as well. They were completely equivalent in their art and they had turned into two old fellows full of respect but with no mercy to each other during the long war. “Hi, pal, here, we are meeting again. You have your chances but don’t think I will go down easily”, he welcomed the general who was staring beyond the field in his mind and as if he was feeling that the opposing commander-in-chief was welcoming him too with a tiny smile, tense with excitement before the coming battle.
His eyes glided again along his lined up velites, the dragoons on both flanks, the feathers of the grenadiers, staying by their cannons, the guards of the second line. He had chosen the classic strategy with the central strike in which he would to unleash his full might. He decided that there was nothing more to wait for. He reached his arm ahead and the bugle signal spread above the field, the drum rumble led the infantry ahead, followed by the guards and opening space for cavalry expand.
The general was monitoring the rival lines movement – they tried to avoid the collision – tensely. They opened the flanks and brought ahead the artillery brigade. The general kept the attack to the middle of the enemy army and threw the cavalry into attack when the enemy threw the whole infantry ahead and the lines met in a heavy impact. A whole mess happened along the wide field; powder smoke was spread above the field. The general was monitoring closely the movement of each unit from the highland. When he noticed a gap in the enemy’s army, he used it immediately by breaking enemy’s resistance. The battle was his from now on but he did not let his attention weaken.
An hour later, his zeal was awarded by the view of the retreating and fragmented rival army.
“This time luck was by your side, Tony!”
“Come on, it was not luck but a natural result!” – Tony stroked his belly satisfied.
“A pattern, no way! If I hadn’t let you take my rook with that bishop, you would have realized what a natural result was but it isn’t my day today” – Daniel stretched, scratched his stubble and called out to the café:
“Ilya, bring us two mastic-brandies!” – and then added silently. – “The deal is a deal but next two will be your treat, you have to know it.”
“One more game?”
“Sure!” – Daniel answered and they put the chess pieces on the board.
Flags flapping, gun carriage chattering and gunpowder smell were floating in the air again...
His eyes glided again along his lined up velites, the dragoons on both flanks, the feathers of the grenadiers, staying by their cannons, the guards of the second line. He had chosen the classic strategy with the central strike in which he would to unleash his full might. He decided that there was nothing more to wait for. He reached his arm ahead and the bugle signal spread above the field, the drum rumble led the infantry ahead, followed by the guards and opening space for cavalry expand.
The general was monitoring the rival lines movement – they tried to avoid the collision – tensely. They opened the flanks and brought ahead the artillery brigade. The general kept the attack to the middle of the enemy army and threw the cavalry into attack when the enemy threw the whole infantry ahead and the lines met in a heavy impact. A whole mess happened along the wide field; powder smoke was spread above the field. The general was monitoring closely the movement of each unit from the highland. When he noticed a gap in the enemy’s army, he used it immediately by breaking enemy’s resistance. The battle was his from now on but he did not let his attention weaken.
An hour later, his zeal was awarded by the view of the retreating and fragmented rival army.
“This time luck was by your side, Tony!”
“Come on, it was not luck but a natural result!” – Tony stroked his belly satisfied.
“A pattern, no way! If I hadn’t let you take my rook with that bishop, you would have realized what a natural result was but it isn’t my day today” – Daniel stretched, scratched his stubble and called out to the café:
“Ilya, bring us two mastic-brandies!” – and then added silently. – “The deal is a deal but next two will be your treat, you have to know it.”
“One more game?”
“Sure!” – Daniel answered and they put the chess pieces on the board.
Flags flapping, gun carriage chattering and gunpowder smell were floating in the air again...
~~~~~~~~~
Translated by: Vessislava Savova
Translated by: Vessislava Savova
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