Chapter 71

The three of them walked into the tent that served as the armory.

"How about it? Something else, isn't it?"

Jennifer threw open a large wooden crate, and inside, long guns lay packed in rows.

Christine picked one up, turning it this way and that, striking different poses as he began to examine it with a hawk's eye.

"I like it. These are the muskets the enemy used in the last war, converted to flintlock. It's made them much lighter, and the rate of fire's a good deal faster."

Adele's face turned puzzled.

"Why are you showing me this? Don't tell me—"

"Bring that one over."

"That one... you mean it?"

Jennifer asked, sounding surprised.

"Mm."

A moment later, Jennifer came back with a small wooden box. Inside, when he opened it, was a small, elegant gun, its silver body etched with graceful carving.

"This is a newly developed pistol.…