France ride: Eating the land

( If you have not read the prologue, start here ) I was cooking ratatouille while pan-frying white fish in olive oil. The oil made a cheerful crackling sound. The tomatoes smelled wonderful. Then I glanced toward the glass door at the entrance and saw a dog looking in at me. This farmhouse outside Bordeaux had two dogs. Did she want to come inside? I opened the door, and in she came. When I gave…