Marylee MacDonald

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The Grand Prix

In 1767, King Louis XV sent Alexandre-Jean Noël, a 15-year-old artist, on an expedition led by the famous astronomer Chappe d'Auteroche. The destination was Cabo San Lucas in Baja California; their goal was to study the Transit of Venus, a celestial event that would allow astronomers to calculate earth's distance from the sun. After walking across Mexico and a dicey crossing of the Sea of Cortez, the party landed. The nearby village was under quarantine. The natives were dying. Soon, the Europeans took sick. Chappe died. Only Noël and two others returned to Paris, but Noël's life was irrevocably changed.

The survivors of the epidemic limp behind the burial pallet on which Chappe's body lies.
Leading the honor guard is the Spanish naval astronomer Medina. Next comes Pauly, the King's geographer and Chappe's second. He's leaning on his staff because he's still extremely sick. Next, comes Chappe's servant, unnamed in the records. All three carry lanterns. With a hand over his heart, Alexandre-Jean Noël, the artist who drew the picture, brings up the rear.

The Grand Prix (novel excerpt)