The first five chapters of Forgotten Fire take place in the Armenian village of Bitlis, during the early 1900's. Bitlis is a province located within Turkey. The main characters are Vahan Kenderian and his family. Vahan is a twelve year old boy who comes from one of the wealthiest Armenian families. He is a carefree young man who has his every need taken care. Vahan lives with his mother, father, grandmother, his brothers, Sisak, Tavel, and Diran, his sisters, Oskina, Armenouhi, and his uncle Mumphre. Every ones life is wonderful in the Kenderian household until one day when two gendarmes arrive at the door. The two army officers said that they need Mr. Kenderian for official business and escorted him away. The family is not worried at first, but weeks go by and he does not return. The family then suspects he has been killed. After this horrify incident Vahan begins to notice that the tension between Turkish and Armenian people is mounting. He hears gunshots and sees massive groups of Armenians being taken away by gendarmes. The family is now aware that there is a war in progress. Things at the Kenderian household get worse when Uncle Mumphre is taken away. Several days later he returns looking worn out and frightened. Mumphre warns the women that they should wear poison around their necks and drink it when there is any sing of trouble. The next day uncle Mumphre disappeared. A week later a group of gendarmes arrived at the house. This time the entire family was called out into the yard. After being interrogated Tavel and Diran were taken away and shot as Vahan and his family looked on in horror. A week later the gendarmes were back but this time the rest of the family was told to leave their home. Vahan, his mother, grandmother, two sisters, and brother were escorted away at gun point to an unknown destination.
             I believe that an Armenian massacre is taking place. Th
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