"Edouard." Felix said, breaking the relative silence that had come over the partisans. Seated in various places around the front room of the old farm house, the Partisans had been acting much like the Americans. They kept to themselves, speaking in hushed tones. Thomas and Edouard had been talking, and Thomas was practicing his French, with mixed results. 

"Sir?" The Frenchman turned to face his leader, and raised an eyebrow. 

"You and Thomas go talk to some of the Americans, figure out the food situation." Felix ordered, not looking up from the map. Edouard sighed, standing up. Thomas followed suit. "Oh, and try to be friendly. They seem divided enough as it is. We don't need them angry at us, too."

"You're ordering us to make friends?" Thomas asked.

"Essentially."

[hr]

After some deliberation, Edouard and Thomas approached the two Americans handling MRE's. 

"Hello!" Edouard said, almost painfully genial and approachable. Thomas wondered if Felix had ever considered espionage. Edouard would make a good spy. "My name is Edouard, and my compatriot here is Thomas." Thomas nodded.

"Hello." He said, simply. He looked at the Americans. The massive black man, and the considerably smaller woman. An odd pair, to be certain. "Are you two in charge of food?"

"Right. Our leader, Felix, was wondering if you might be able to get us some food." Edouard explained. Thomas noticed that Edouard's accent almost vanished when he spoke. "Or, if not, we were wondering if you knew anyone who could."