'I know it does, Buona Parte. I've been following your progress closely.' He smiled.'I suppose you saw me simply as a teacher.That I am, but I have other interests and I'm keen to promote ability, in whatever social cla.s.s I find it.You might be surprised to know that there are some aristocrats who feel as you do about this situation.'

Naploeon's eyebrows rose. 'Really? I've yet to meet them.'

'Oh, you shouldn't judge France by this inst.i.tution. It is, after all, merely an inst.i.tution. If you want to encounter the great minds of the age you must go to Paris.'

'You think I could achieve something, sir?' Napoleon felt his heart lighten. For the first time since he arrived at Brienne he felt as though he was being taken seriously. He felt as if the potential he had been aware of in himself was at last being recognised.

Father Dupuy nodded. 'I believe so. To be honest, I thought you were a precocious little swine when you arrived at Brienne, but now I know you well enough to realise that you have a first-rate mind. Despite your poor performance in most of my subjects.'

Napoleon laughed. It was true.While he had mastered French, albeit without eliminating his Corsican accent, he was only mediocre at Latin, and abysmal at German - a language that to his ear sounded like someone gargling and spitting gravel. 'I'm sorry, sir. I will try harder.'

'So you should. Fluency in a range of languages is a vital skill. Sometimes more is lost in translation than meaning.'

Napoleon nodded. He thought he understood the point. Perhaps not. The solution was obvious - at some point men would have to be compelled to speak the same language.

'Anyway, Buona Parte, your grasp of history is excellent and you're something of a prodigy at mathematics. But, I must confess, your most impressive attribute is your force of personality. Of course, it is also your greatest flaw. You'd do well to remember that.'

Napoleon frowned. He had not considered himself to be strong-willed. It had not occurred to him to see it in those terms. Rather, he had always been surprised by the feeble-mindedness he found in others. The failure of his peers to grasp a mathematical principle he had put down to laziness or a measure of wilful stupidity so typical of these aristocrats. Equally, he had understood that those people he could browbeat into bowing to his will, did so out of a weakness of character. The idea that he was innately better than others amused him for a moment, before it began to win a measure of conviction in his mind. Maybe he was superior to some people . . . to most people. It was an attractive proposition and one that implicitly justified the soundness of his views over those of others.

'What do you intend to do with your life?' asked Father Dupuy. 'After you leave Brienne.'

'I haven't decided, sir. My father thought I might join the army.'

'Then you will still need to win a place at the Royal Military School of Paris.'

Napoleon looked at him eagerly. 'When's the earliest I can apply to the military school, sir?'

Father Dupuy pursed his lips in thought. 'The school's inspector makes his a.s.sessments in autumn for the next year's intake. Fifteen is the minimum age for admission. That gives you less than two years from now. I doubt you'd be ready by then.'

'I will be, sir. I give you my word.'

'Good. Until then, you must tolerate these aristocrats. You must learn that what you lack in money, you make up for in other riches. You have a potential that no amount of money can buy, Buona Parte.' He leaned across the table and punched the boy lightly on the chest. 'Now, go outside, and enjoy yourself. I don't know about you, but I find there's something about snow that refreshes my soul and makes me feel twice as strong and half as old. So, go on!'

'Yes, sir.' Napoleon pushed back his chair and stood up. Stuffing his father's crumpled letter into his pocket he made for the door. Then he paused, looked back at Father Dupuy and smiled gratefully. 'Thank you, sir.'

'Napoleon, one thing.'

'Sir?'

'If you see Alexander de Fontaine out there, make sure you throw a s...o...b..ll at him for me.'

Napoleon laughed. 'You can count on it!'

Chapter 24.

The snow lay thick on the ground but already the tracks of hundreds of boys had crisscrossed the courtyard. Napoleon wound his scarf around his neck and stuffed the ends into the top of his greatcoat. He pulled on his mittens before striding across towards the boys who were playing in the field beyond, small dark figures on a white and black landscape. As he got closer he could see that a few had gathered in one corner of the field to throw s...o...b..a.l.l.s at each other and their shrill shouts of excitement were deadened by the snow.

'Hey! Napoleon!'

He saw Louis de Bourrienne beckoning to him from the fringes of the s...o...b..ll fight. Napoleon made his way over towards his friend, the snow crunching softly beneath his boots. The boys in the corner of the field had stopped the fight and now gathered in a circle. The strident voice of Alexander called on them to be quiet as Napoleon reached his friend and nodded a quick greeting.

'What's going on?'

'Alexander wants to organise things. Make a proper battle of this.'

'He wants a battle, does he?' Napoleon mused and edged his way into the crowd until he was standing at the front where none of the taller boys could block his view.There, in an open s.p.a.ce in the middle of the group, stood the commanding figure of Alexander de Fontaine.

'We'll have two sides. One either end of the field. Let's give ourselves until the college clock strikes twelve to prepare defences and then the battle begins.'

'How will we know when it's over?' someone asked.

Alexander thought about it for a moment. 'We should have banners.The winner is the first to capture the other side's banner.' He glanced round and reached towards one of the nearest boys. 'Your scarf. Give it to me.'

'But, Alexander, it's cold. I need it.'

'I said give it to me.' He held out his hand. 'Now.'

The other boy quickly unravelled his yellow scarf and handed it to Alexander. The latter smiled. 'Fine. Now we need one more . . .' His eyes swept round, and stopped on Napoleon. 'Yours. Red is a good colour. I'll have yours.'

'Very well,' Napoleon said. 'Here. On the condition that we are not on the same side.'

Alexander laughed. 'If you think for a moment that I'd fight alongside a Corsican peasant then you're a bigger fool than I thought you were. Of course we'll be on opposite sides. In fact, I'm going to make you general of your side. I'll lead the others.'

Napoleon shrugged. 'Naturally.'

Alexander counted heads and then picked his friends and most of the bigger boys and left the rest to Napoleon. He stepped closer to his enemy and grinned. 'Until noon, Corsican. Then, battle commences and there'll be no mercy.'

'I didn't expect any,' Napoleon replied quietly. 'Nor should you.'

'Brave words. Let's see if you can live up to them.' Alexander shoved the yellow scarf into Napoleon's hands and turned to his followers. 'Come on! Over there!'

As they walked off Napoleon smiled and then faced his own side. There were nearly fifty of them gathered about him. He noted at once the uncertain expression in most of their faces. Some of the boys clearly resented being placed under his command and he realised that he must move quickly to establish his authority.

'Defences. We'll need good defences. Start rolling snow boulders at once. Bring them to the corner of the field. That's where we'll place our fortifications. To work!' Most of them moved off but a few stood and stared back at him in sullen disobedience. Napoleon's eyes flashed angrily as he thrust out his arm. 'Move!'

As they turned away and bent to their task, Napoleon breathed a sigh of relief, then looked for his friend.'Louis! Over here. Help me make the ammunition.'

The two worked quickly, packing the snow together in tight spheres, which they placed along the wall Napoleon had chosen for their base. As the first of his side struggled towards the corner of the field, shoving their snow boulders, Napoleon left Louis to continue making s...o...b..a.l.l.s while he directed the construction of the defences.

The first line of defence was an arc laid across the corner of the field. In front of that Napoleon left a gap and then had his side construct two further lines of snow boulders, broken by two narrow gaps leading into the open s.p.a.ce in front of the first wall. As soon as the foundations were laid, more boulders were placed on top and the joints filled in with loose snow, patted down to provide a firm, even surface. Snapping a long, nearly straight branch from one of the trees overhanging the wall, Napoleon knotted the end of the yellow scarf around one end and planted the banner behind the first wall so that it rose high above.

'They'll see that easily enough,' Louis pointed out.

'That's the general idea,' his friend replied quietly. 'Should be hard for them to resist.'

Napoleon glanced up at the college clock tower. 'Quarter of an hour left.We're nearly ready. Just a few more snow boulders to put in place and then I'll give the orders to our men.'

'Men?' Louis looked at him with an amused expression. 'Taking this a bit seriously, aren't you? It's just a game.'

'Game?' Napoleon pursed his lips. 'That's true. But isn't the point of a game that you should try your best to win?'

'I thought the point of a game was to have fun,' Louis rebuked him mildly.

Napoleon flashed him a smile. 'The fun is in the winning. Now get back to work on those s...o...b..a.l.l.s. I want more reserves piled up inside the walls. Come on, Louis.There's not much time.'

As the other boys put the finishing touches to the defences, Napoleon retired behind the first wall and started to make his own special cache of s...o...b..a.l.l.s. Glancing round to ensure that he was not being observed, he picked small loose chunks of masonry from the walls and packed snow tightly about them before arranging them in a line at the foot of the wall just in front of the banner. When he had finished Napoleon hurried round to the clear ground in the middle of his defences, took a deep breath and called his side to him.

He had a rough idea of the tactics he wanted to apply to the coming battle, and as he spoke, he became aware that the other boys, even the ones who had seemed willing to challenge his authority earlier, were listening to him intently and nodding their agreement to his schemes. Inside, Napoleon felt himself swelling with pride and at the same time there was a huge delight at the pleasure of being in command, of exercising his will over others. When he had finished he folded his arms.'You know your orders. Wait for the signals, carry them out precisely and the day is ours. We'll give Alexander de Fontaine a hiding he won't forget in a hurry!'

At that, someone cheered and the cry was taken up by the rest of the boys surrounding the small thin figure in their midst. For an instant Napoleon was tempted to let his joy show, but now that he was a leader he must control his emotions. He must present a mask of composure. So he merely nodded, let them have a moment of shrill cheering, before he raised his arms to quieten them, and then yelled, 'To your positions!'

As the clock struck twelve a brief silence fell across the field. Even those who were not taking part turned to watch proceedings. A handful of the teachers who had seen the boys constructing their fortifications ventured out to witness the event. From the far end of the field a shrill challenge carried across the open ground towards Napoleon. He smiled grimly, then cupped his hands and shouted out his first order.

'Skirmishers!'

A small party of boys, picked for their speed, advanced through the narrow gaps in the outer wall.The swiftest of them carried the banner Napoleon had thrust into his hands as the last peal of bells rang out. They spread out across the field and advanced towards Alexander's side, clutching a handful of s...o...b..a.l.l.s to their chests. As Napoleon examined the other side's defences he shook his head at the simplicity of his enemy. Alexander had done little more than erect a round rampart with one main entrance. Over the wall Napoleon could make out the tiny black heads of Alexander's team. Beyond the wall he could see the thin red line of his scarf tied to the end of a stick, being waved to and fro. Hardly a formidable defence, and a pointless one, as it happened, since Napoleon had no intention, of letting the smaller and weaker boys of his side attempt an a.s.sault. Standing on tiptoe, hands braced on the top of the inner wall, he craned his neck to follow the progress of the skirmishers.

They advanced steadily across the field, the yellow banner some distance to the rear of the line.As they closed on Alexander's fortifications the first s...o...b..a.l.l.s arced up from the enemy's defences and fell harmlessly several paces short of their targets. The skirmishers moved closer, hefting their own s...o...b..a.l.l.s in preparation to lob them over the wall. Still, it seemed, the other side had not the range to hit Napoleon's line. Then Alexander sprang his trap.

A sudden flurry of s...o...b..a.l.l.s rained down on the skirmishers who had successfully been lured into striking distance. But Napoleon had antic.i.p.ated such an obvious trick and could not help smiling. With a dull roar, the other team came pouring out of the distant fortification and sprinted across the snow towards Napoleon's skirmishers. But the latter were already turning and running away, fleeing back towards their own base. As they ran, some stopped to throw their remaining s...o...b..a.l.l.s quickly before turning and sprinting for cover. Others simply dropped their s...o...b..a.l.l.s and fled.The boy with the banner played his part like a professional, running from his pursuers just fast enough to stay ahead, but not so fast that they didn't charge on in the blind hope of capturing the yellow banner and winning the battle at a stroke.

'Here they come!' Napoleon called out. 'Stand to!'

The boys on his team reached for s...o...b..a.l.l.s and raised their throwing arms.The first of the skirmishers were already hurrying through the gaps in the wall, racing across to the ends of the first line of defences and forming up on either side of Napoleon and Louis. The banner carrier was the last to enter and immediately took up position behind Napoleon where he raised the banner high above his head and waved it slowly from side to side to taunt Alexander's team.

Beyond the outer wall a dense ma.s.s of boys had drawn up short of the wall and were throwing s...o...b..a.l.l.s at the defenders. As Napoleon had instructed, the defenders started to lob s...o...b..a.l.l.s back, but in a slower and less deliberate fashion that only excited a roar of triumph and contempt from Alexander's followers. Napoleon's sharp eyes quickly picked out their leader as Alexander forced his way to the front and raised the red banner he grasped in one hand. He pointed at the yellow scarf inside the walls of snow, screaming at his boys to charge home and seize it.

With a shrill cry, they ran forward, heading for the two gaps in the outer wall.They surged through and ran into the s.p.a.ce behind the wall where they came up against the first wall Napoleon had constructed.

'Hit 'em!' Napoleon shouted, momentarily forgetting himself in the excitement now that the battle was reaching its climax. 'Fire! Fire at them!'

On either side, his companions let loose a hail of s...o...b..a.l.l.s and cried out in delight at each impact. As more of the opposing team pressed into the open s.p.a.ce and compacted the ranks of those in front they presented an unmissable target and s...o...b..a.l.l.s crashed into them from all sides at point-blank range. A number of the braver boys did not shelter their faces and tried to hit the boys bobbing up from the walls around them. Napoleon took a breath and peered over the wall. He saw that almost all of Alexander's side was now between his walls and opened his mouth to shout the next order. At once white powdery crystal exploded off his cheek and the numbing impact momentarily shocked him into silence.

Then, drawing a sharp breath, he called out above the shrill din of the s...o...b..ll fight, 'Boulders, now!'

The boys who had been waiting for the order thrust their shoulders against the large snow boulders that had been positioned either side of the gaps and now rolled them forward to close the gaps and trap the other side between the two walls. Now Alexander and his friends were caught, with no way out and what little snow lay on the slushy ground underfoot was unsuitable for using as ammunition to hurl back at their tormentors.

Beside Napoleon, Louis was laughing with delight as he threw s...o...b..ll after s...o...b..ll into the faces of the other side. Napoleon spared him a glance, and saw that his attention was riveted on the action beyond the wall. Bending down, he scooped up several of his special s...o...b..a.l.l.s and, cradling them against his chest, he selected one and looked for Alexander. The other leader was looking about him in dismay, forearm raised above his head. Napoleon took aim and threw.With a muttered curse he saw the s...o...b..ll strike the head of a boy behind Alexander and there was a sharp cry of pain as the concealed stone gashed his temple. Napoleon s.n.a.t.c.hed up the next, took aim and threw.This time he scored a direct hit and the s...o...b..ll shattered on the bridge of Alexander's nose. With a cry that Napoleon heard clearly, Alexander slumped down out of sight, his hands clasped to his face. The red scarf dropped into the crowd at his side. At once Napoleon unleashed the rest of his cache, striking and injuring two more boys before he ran out. The screams and cries of those who had been hurt caused the other side to lose heart and they turned and ran, kicking a path through the snow boulders so that they could escape.

Hurrying across the field from the direction of the college buildings came the teachers, alarmed by the shrieks of agony from inside Napoleon's fortifications.

It was clear the fight was over, and Napoleon clambered over the snow wall, carrying away a chunk of it as he tumbled on to the ground on the far side. He scrambled to his feet, then ran over to where Alexander was sitting on his knees, one hand clasped to his nose as bright red blood dripped on to the slush in front of him. His other hand groped for the slender shaft of sapling on which he had tied the red scarf.

'Oh, no you don't!' Napoleon jumped to his side and stamped his boot down on Alexander's fingers. 'That's mine!'

As Alexander s.n.a.t.c.hed his fingers back, Napoleon took up the banner and clutched it tightly to his side. All around him he could hear the cheers of his companions and it was a moment before the full glory of victory washed over him and he was swept along with the joy of winning. He glanced down at Alexander and saw him staring up with undiluted hatred burning in his eyes. All the teasing and the torment that he had suffered at the hands of this young aristocrat dissolved as he looked down at his beaten foe with contempt.

'My victory, I think.'

'I'll get you back, Corsican. It was you who threw the rock at me.'

'Prove it.' Napoleon took the banner, pressed the b.u.t.t against Alexander's stomach and thrust him back into the slush. Napoleon raised the b.u.t.t up again and took aim at his enemy's face, but before he could strike his arm was seized.

'Stop!' Louis hissed in his ear.'What do you think you're doing?'

'Vae victis,' Napoleon sneered down at Alexander.'Let go of my arm. He's had this coming to him.'

'No! He's had enough, Napoleon. It's only a game, remember. And you've won. That's all that matters. Now it's over.'

'It's not over,' Napoleon snapped. 'You think this makes up for all that he's done to me?'

Louis frowned. 'Don't do it, Napoleon. Besides, it's too late. Look.'

Louis pointed towards the field and Napoleon saw that a handful of the more nimble teachers were already picking their way across the outer wall. As they clambered into the enclosed s.p.a.ce and saw the score of dazed boys and the handful of bloodied victims of Napoleon's special missiles they looked horrified, and then angry.

'What's going on here?'The director's voice carried across the walls. Moments later he stood, gasping from his exertions, his face wreathed in the short-lived tendrils of his rapidly exhaled breath. 'Who is responsible for this bloodbath? Was it you, Buona Parte?'

'Me, sir?' Napoleon shook his head and gestured to Alexander still lying in the mud, winded. 'It was de Fontaine's idea, sir. Ask him.'

The director looked at Napoleon suspiciously for an instant before he transferred his gaze to Alexander. 'Is this true?'

Alexander propped himself up. He was aware of the other boys cl.u.s.tered around him, close enough to hear every word he spoke to the director. There was no choice. He had to admit to the truth. 'Yes, sir.'

'I see. Then you have only yourself to blame for this . . . carnage. You are gated for the rest of term, and denied special privileges.' The director straightened up and indicated the other injured boys.'The rest of you, get these boys to the sanatorium, as fast as you can.'

Chapter 25.

In the months that followed, Napoleon was no longer picked on by Alexander and his friends. He was still regarded as a social inferior by most of the fee-paying sons of aristocrats, but their sn.o.bbishness was tempered by a grudging respect for his victory on the field. Indeed, the victory was so comprehensive that Napoleon was asked to recount it in front of his cla.s.s by Father Dupuy and it was used as an example in their consideration of ancient siege-craft. Naturally, Alexander suggested a few refinements of his own, to the scarcely concealed contempt of Napoleon who comprehensively demolished his rival's contribution to the debate.

Now that he was no longer being bullied Napoleon was free to concentrate on his education and his teachers were pleased by the improvement in his att.i.tude as well as his performance. All the time Napoleon kept his focus on the coming a.s.sessment for a place at the Royal Military School of Paris. He studied the curriculum of the school and revised the appropriate subjects thoroughly. Conscious of his small size, he made efforts to exercise more.With his brilliant but p.r.i.c.kly nature he seemed to burn nervous energy, which worked against gaining weight and he was constantly frustrated by his small stature.

As the 1784 autumn a.s.sessment drew closer, Napoleon spent long hours in the stuffy heat of the library, reading and memorising as much as he could. He was always mindful of Father Dupuy's advice that for those outside of the aristocracy, the only route to achievement was through the Military School of Paris. The sooner he received his pa.s.sing-out certificate, and a commission in the service of the French Crown, the sooner he could build a meaningful career for himself.