At nine in the evening, the furious banging on the door startled Sapina, who was buried in his studies.
The fifty-something Old Sapina frowned as he opened the door, just as neighbor Mabelde burst in, shouting loudly:
"Roman! Roman, Kevin's not breathing! Please save him!"
Sapina's heart jolted; instinctively, he wanted to look for Teacher Viedon—who lived in the village church—but suddenly remembered today was "match day," and the teacher had gone back to Reims; he wouldn't return until the morning after next.
Sapina hurried out from the back room, finding Mabelde drenched in sweat, her son Kevin slung on her back.
He moved the lamp closer and saw the child's eyes rolling upwards, his face turning purple, completely unresponsive.
He took the child and asked Mabelde, "What happened?"
"He sneaked an olive tonight, and then just like this... Please, do something, I'm begging you!"
