Collage 542

"The city itself, meanwhile, was empty. There was almost no one in the streets. The gates and shops were all locked; here and there around the post-houses, solitary shouts or drunken singing could be heard. No one drove through the streets, and the footsteps of pedestrians were rarely heard."

Sometimes as I drive or bike around Boston, I notice the "evacuation route" signs and wonder why an evacuation would be called and that would be like. Probably the same chaos that is described in this scene. That is frightening to contemplate.

I used maps of Paris here. The black and red lines represent the frenzy of the inhabitants of Moscow, attempting to make their escape from their fallen city. -- Lola 

Lola Baltzell
from page 339-340, volume 2 of original text
collage, ink
made 6/3/11
Pevear/Volokhonksy translation page 876-878