War and Peace Volume 1 Book 2 Chapter 6

In which the Russian army retreats deliberately across rivers, guarded by vigilant commanders inspecting their positions beneath skies shifting between rain and sunlight, while conversation and quiet moments amongst officers momentarily soften the tension of the looming conflict. The quiet before the storm is marked by the measured roar of artillery and the steady advance of troops, all observed with a mixture of anxious anticipation and disciplined resolve.