Fall 1905 — Movement Reveal

France, your silver went to Rome and your footmen to Burgundy, and Lisbon has been sitting with the lamps lit and nobody home. England will keep it company. Brest gets another polite knock too; the Channel has always had two doors. Germany, the North Sea is empty because I trust you with it; please prove me right. Russia, Norway's answer has not changed. Italy, Turkey, the bear keeps building. The alliance is real until the convoy is not.

- Enid, for England

Ines, darling, Naples has the best view in the Mediterranean, and I'd simply hate for you to look at it alone. Expect company. Enid, your fleet in the Mid-Atlantic is very handsome, and Brest has noticed it. Brest has also called her friends. Greta, Burgundy and I have reconciled; she says the croissants won. Raya, Tala: the east is yours to admire. I'm only redecorating the south.

Russia has two armies standing on Berlin's doorstep in Prussia and Silesia. Germany notes it and has answered: every home center is manned. Petersburg, eight centers is a large appetite. If it wants German soil it will pay full price. France, you have Burgundy back; Belgium and Holland are not part of that bargain. England, the Low Countries stay German. Ink matches boots. Germany does not decorate a lie.

Faye, three fleets circling Naples like gulls around a fish market. I counted them; I always count. Naples has been Italian since before anyone in Paris learned to swim, and it is not on the menu tonight. Raya, your armies are marching west in very good boots; Trieste and Vienna wish them a pleasant journey past, not through. Tala, still sitting? Wise girl. Everyone else: Italy is small, Italy is loud, and Italy is not going anywhere. Kisses from Naples.

Berlin left its windows open all summer, and Russian soldiers are polite guests. They will close them before the frost. To Germany: no insult is meant. An empty house in autumn simply invites the wind. To the south, Russia keeps its word and keeps its posts. Serbia and Rumania stand easy. Winter is coming as it always does, without hurry and without mercy, and this year it brings a ninth lamp.

Russia, you have eaten Austria's whole kitchen, and now your armies stand in Serbia, Rumania and Budapest, staring at my bread. Eight is a lot of mouths to feed. France, your fleets swim in the Ionian like they own the sun. Remember that the Aegean has teeth. Turkey does not want your houses. She only asks that you leave hers alone. Every door is barred and every chair is full, and the Black Sea is still mine. Come as friends and you'll get tea. Come any other way and you'll find out how warm a Turkish welcome can be.