Pierre walked at a brisk pace to try and catch up with Justine, who had started running like a madwoman toward our group. But in reality, I wasn't in such a hurry to rejoin them; pretending in front of people can quickly become exhausting, even suffocating over time… Perhaps I should savor this brief moment of tranquility in silence, just for myself.
Pierre stopped walking, then quietly resumed his path toward his group.
There were so many problems to resolve — already regarding the alliances, or even for the sequence of events to come… Everything must be prepared so as not to be caught off guard by destiny pivoting against us. The hazards of life are the most dangerous things; they can stem from anything or even anyone, and the worst part is when someone drives a knife into your back and you realize that, in the end, it was your original allies.
As for the alliance problem, Maxime must have settled the question of his alliances, or at least a good part of that problem… I don't know why, but I feel that he did it… and if he didn't, I will have to settle it fairly quickly.
Regarding the other problems, they are not yet in the present; they are still in the future, but we must already begin to reflect upon them. Tonight, when we are truly alone, just among ourselves, we will discuss it. For now, let us just reflect on the present.
"Time… everything is just a question of time. Our life is a sequence of choices that will fulfill itself with time; your marriage will endure through time, or a friendship will be able to last, for everything is but a question that traces back to time. We are slaves to time as we are to its master; we take paths that are more or less long, and the longer they are, the more time they will take. And who wants to waste their time doing exhausting work? No one. So we take shorter, easier paths; we slide upon the hedonism of this short time… but one day we wake up and we will realize all our mistakes, and we will regret, more or less, the longer path. Our very existence revolves around the absurd; we fight for useless things, we stake our lives for a few crumbs of time. 'They say that time is a source of wealth,' but that is false: it is power. The more power we have, the more we can hope to find our path, that small meaning of life that still keeps us alive… Power is absolute, just like time. Time is an anchor that pierces our heart and fetters our movements throughout our life. Master or slave, everything is but a name. Power allows us to rise, to transcend the social and ethical norms of this world, but time catches up with us, try as we might… Ultimately, everything is but time."
Pierre raised his head toward the sky, cleared of clouds; he looked into the distance at the moon, which was still present in the sky at around that hour. He thought back to what he had been telling himself; he believed it, yet at the same time did not want to accept it. In a low whisper, he said:
— Time is nothing but a sermon of a world filled with injustice. One only needs to bypass rules, such as morality, to rise — so why not bypass time? If we manage to do it with social norms, why not do it with physical laws like time? To rise like birds toward the heavens, to transcend all these laws that serve as our chains, to finally achieve our own freedom! That is why they always cost me more time.
The time for reverie was almost over… at least for a time.
I walked the very last few steps to catch sight of our entire group; they were mostly all together, gathered around Justine, who seemed to be listening while talking frantically about her anxieties… Léonie was glued to her heels, like a dog that had lost its master. They all seemed more or less quite content, almost joyful. … I walked down the slope to rejoin them. What made them so joyful or tranquil? Even Justine now seemed less panicked. What had they been told?
A few steps away from them, Justine turned around to look at me, along with the other members of the group.
— It's fine, Pierre. They found the solution to our problems!
— Really? And who came up with the idea then? And besides, what is the solution to our famous problem? Furthermore, aren't you going to introduce your friend to the other members?
— Don't worry about Léonie, Pierre. I just introduced her this very second. Justine was smiling, Léonie nestled in her arms.
My gaze immediately fell upon the group; they looked at me with faces calmed and soothed by this famous solution. Victoria spoke up; she looked as though she wanted to say something silly, judging by the way her gaze was fixed on Yvonne, with that smile at the corners of her lips turned up by a fairly recent laugh. Yvonne seemed quite embarrassed; she looked like she wanted to say something but said nothing, simply staring back at her insistently. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and Azaka seemed to be holding back a definite laugh given the situation.
Yvonne looked at me, ready to speak to avoid any misunderstanding, but at the last moment Victoria beat her to it:
— Our solution is quite simple; it relies on our friends. Yvonne, here, has a lot of friends, but she seems to believe that having no one is completely mundane, and, in her great kindness, she gave us her magical advice — even though she isn't the one who found the solution. It is simply hilarious to see her floundering to try and make us feel quite miserable, hehehe.
— But… that's not true, I didn't mean it like that… I just wanted to tell you that it's not that big of a deal, you know… to… to not have any friends… No, no, I just wanted to…
She was as red as a peony; she seemed to want to set the record straight but couldn't manage to make herself understood. At least, according to her — everyone else had understood but didn't want to tell her. Instead, they laughed at having witnessed such an endearing spectacle.
I did not laugh at this spectacle. I have never really found people funny; rather idiotic, even laughable in my eyes. But well, what can one do? I have always preferred being alone rather than being with people like them. I watched them laugh, and a sensation of emptiness washed over me. Watching them was like sinking into the mud without ever being able to move, nor ever being able to call out to them for help.
This sight was unbearable to me, just like the gaze of Maxime, who was observing me without saying a word. His smile was the same as it had been a few minutes ago with Didier, but I could see in his eyes the same suffering as in mine. This solitude… being socially and personally isolated, being invisible to the eyes of the world. I could talk about it for a long time, but I must move on.
I cut through the laughter of the others with my reflection. My gaze was detached; I looked at Yvonne out of the corner of my eye… but I looked into the distance to prevent her from feeling too much of the weight of my gaze, which was trying, as best as it could, to analyze her:
— So, who found this famous solution? Hearing Victoria, I believe I have already found the key to this solution, but I still do not know the one who found the door. Far be it from me to doubt Yvonne and her skills, but I feel that someone does not want to show themselves — even though they are the little star of our group.
Azaka laughed, then began to point at Ousmane and Maxime.
— I hope you aren't cross-examining us here? In any case, the one who came up with the first version is Ousmane. He's the one who proposed the basic idea… but then it was Maxime who really…
Maxime cut her off mid-answer and looked at Yvonne and the others: — I only came up with the final idea… and even that idea doesn't completely come from me, but from Ousmane. So well, I'm not really sure I actually contributed. It's rather Yvonne who managed to find the solution to all our problems. We should even congratulate her for managing to find a solution for our team.
They all looked at Yvonne in agreement. Azaka grabbed Yvonne's hand to raise it in the air, showing everyone the victor of this riddle. But I quickly understood the situation: Maxime had found the answer but hadn't said it, and had let Yvonne find the rest. He simply didn't want to be at the center of attention.
Still just as bizarre as he is manipulative. Why make someone out to be our so-called "heroine" when in reality you gave her everything so she would find all the answers on her own? But why? What did you gain by putting her forward like that?
Maxime watched Azaka raising Yvonne's hand. They were all there applauding, but Maxime, beneath his applause, looked at her with a fixed, almost morbid smile.
While looking at her, he thought:
"To measure a person's worth, one must sometimes push them to their absolute limit — just as with saints, one must sometimes beat them within an inch of death for enlightenment to arrive, as well as sainthood. It is the only true way to test their real worth. Or else, it is to give them absolute power. When we finally obtain the freedom to act outside the boundaries of law and ethics, we can sometimes see our true self — a double of ourselves but with our real face, a monster or a mere 'doppelgänger' to our own eyes, but to others, our real us. When a man faces the fear of death, his morality is put to the test, as are the choices that have determined his entire miserable life. That which he was born for… his true nature as an ogre or a lamb… then becomes clear based on the choices he made and where it led him in the end."
At this thought, Maxime narrowed his eyes. His mind was as calm as the flow of a river. His soul was striking his heart through the blows of his perseverance for his future actions… He was happy, happy to be alive at this exact moment.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and this Pandora's door will be opened to you.
He pivoted his eyes and saw Pierre watching him insistently. A small surge of joy felt its way inside him, like a child who has stolen sweets with utter impudence right before everyone's eyes: "You can look for me, my little man, but you will never find me — neither me, nor my deepest intentions. I will always be one step ahead of you. I am your shadow, as well as your most faithful confidant; I will be your Virgil throughout your very own adventure, only to betray you later by driving my blade into your yearning heart. When you find a problematic piece of information about me, or even something against my person, it will be because I slipped it to you during the darkest night of your sleep — just as Satan did with the first humans on earth, or like Mephisto who slipped certain elements to Faust. You can look for me, Pierre, but you will never stop me, and you will never understand me."
Maxime stared at him for a few seconds more, then went back to watching the group once again.
"What do you want to see, Maxime? Or rather, what do you want to see in her? Why test her capabilities like that?" Pierre thought, while watching Maxime applaud Yvonne.
— But why, Maxime, do you step back like that? Without you, we might not even have found the solution, so I refuse to let you exclude yourself for nothing, understood! Yvonne looked at Maxime with a dazed expression; she simply did not understand why he did not want to be recognized for his true worth.
— Don't worry about simple details, my little Yvon, Azaka said suddenly, while cuddling her. She looked at Maxime with a certain indifference in her gaze. — If he doesn't want to be recognized, that's his own problem. There's nothing wrong with it; we know what he's capable of, and that's the main thing, isn't it?
— Yes, you're probably right… but I would still like it if someone's work wasn't stolen by their neighbor simply because they are more social. It's true that I found the outcome to this problem, but I wouldn't want to forget Ousmane or Maxime, who brought their deep knowledge to this problem.
— You are too humble, my little Yvon, Azaka said, squeezing her in her arms. — It's all well and good to give all your nuts to the others, but sometimes you have to accept them — otherwise, who would recognize your achievements? And besides, you should trust yourself more: look, when you have confidence, you manage to find solutions. So be yourself, and be happy!
She lowered her head with a bit of sadness for not having put the truth more forward. But well, she began to smile again, while talking to Victoria and Azaka with that smile that made her a subject of such admiring gazes.
Now that I was looking at her — how were Victoria and she so close? Even Azaka said nothing; she was talking, she was laughing among them, since when? And even since when did Yvonne have friends? I had chosen them first because I knew she had no one — neither friend, nor relative, near or far — but now she has friends!? Am I the one going crazy, or has the world changed for a brief moment?
— So the problem is settled? And when are you going to see our famous allies? I said, a bit hurried to get this answer from Yvonne regarding the sequence of events.
— Each thing in its own time, Pierre, Victoria said, looking at him. — For now, let's enjoy our solution before perhaps confronting a wall.
I walked to the bench to rest — from standing so much. And besides, in what way is waiting a good solution? Truly, they are incorrigible.
— So what do we do now? Do we talk about the future? Do we introduce ourselves personally? We must have a few minutes left before we are called back, so let's take this opportunity to say a few words to each other — what do you say? Charlie looked at them with an inquiring air, his glasses slipping down a bit on his nose. Victoria was a bit bewildered to see him serious and not like the madman he was a few minutes earlier. But her bewildered look disappeared quickly enough to give way to satisfaction.
— He's not wrong — why not do it now? Léonie said, a bit embarrassed; all eyes were fixed on her. — I was only saying it just like that.
— Why not, so I'll start: my name is Yvonne…
— No, stop right there! I said suddenly. — The idea is very laudable, but this is not the right time to do it. Other groups can listen to our conversation… and I would simply like to avoid any type of problem. If you agree, let us do this tonight, sheltered from indiscreet eyes.
— Why are you panicking? And even, why do all the men panic all the time!? We really have to do everything, us women, Azaka remarked, stepping toward Pierre. — For now, each group is discussing among themselves, so for the most part, no one is sending spies… And even if they do, we just have to break both their legs to ensure their silence.
— No, he's right; we cannot trust the others under certain conditions, especially with the events that just took place. Victoria looked at Azaka, then at the rest of the group. — Personally, I agree to wait until tonight to continue talking about rather confidential things. I would like to avoid us having to use certain means to defend our entire group, even if those means require us to get our hands dirty.
— Look, we really have to do everything ourselves here! Pull yourselves together — we aren't going to guide you eternally!
— You say that now, Azaka, but you only talk behind Yvonne's back. And would you be capable, yourself, of breaking or killing someone? Personally, I doubt it. Aside from talking, you haven't done anything. Confronting others like Pierre, Maxime, or the rest of us — you're rather strong at that — but you haven't accomplished anything for the group so far, unlike the leader and Justine who went over there. And that's already something, unlike you who haven't done anything yet! Charlie looked her in the eyes. Azaka turned red with anger, tinged with another feeling, but she stood up and began to approach Charlie dangerously.
— You, I was starting to like you well enough, but now you're starting to annoy me, you little shit!! When I catch you, Charlie, you won't be putting on your circus anymore!
Yvonne and Victoria stood up to stop Azaka from landing one on Charlie. Ousmane, as well as Victor, began to hold Charlie back by the collar to pull him from Azaka's clutches.
Three of us were observing the scene without saying a word: myself, Maxime, and Léonie. Maxime was standing there watching them silently, he seemed detached from it all… unlike Léonie, who looked as though she had tears in her eyes.
For my part, I couldn't have cared less about all of this — whether they argued or not was none of my business. But I liked seeing them argue, tear each other apart, simply because two points of view had diverged; it simply proved that we ourselves were incapable of trusting one another.
Yvonne, while holding Azaka back: — Stop it, Azaka!!! You are embarrassing us by acting like this — why are you getting so worked up over so little, in the end?
— But… look!! She pointed her finger at Charlie, who was being pulled backward to keep him from getting roughed up. Her eyes searched for approval from Yvonne, but she found none. — Shit…
I stepped forward into the middle of the group — that way, all the attention was directed to me, and by the same token, the tensions might calm down. At least, I hoped so; otherwise, others might perhaps target us because of our inability to properly love one another among ourselves.
— Calm down… We can all see that pressure has built up among us, but we must absolutely not start being violent toward each other — otherwise, who will we trust? For now, the problem is not to know who will be capable or not of killing someone, nor to know who is the bravest between a man or a woman… The essential thing for now is to be united!
Everyone began to calm down, but the tension was still present. We looked at each other more or less, but no one said anything — it is rather better that way. A distorted noise began to echo through the loudspeakers, a sort of music.
At this strange melody, everyone began to gather toward the platform where everyone was already assembled. All those fanatics were there; Doctor Dupont already had the microphone in hand and was waiting for us for the next sequence of events.
— Let's take advantage of this moment to calm down, understood. After all of this, we will discuss it… and seriously this time!
Voici la traduction de cette scène, qui marque un tournant psychologique majeur. On y assiste à la perte d'innocence d'Yvonne et à la naissance d'un pacte secret, sombre et pragmatique entre les filles, le tout sous le regard invisible de Léonie.
J'ai veillé à conserver la tension dramatique, le contraste entre la candeur habituelle d'Yvonne et sa froideur soudaine, ainsi que le mystère final autour de l'objet reçu.
Moving forward, Yvonne stopped Azaka, who was walking. Victoria and Léonie were also beside them, listening to them. As for the boys, most of them were still in the same place, talking among themselves.
— Why did you do that, Azaka? Why all this fuss? I know you well enough to say that you're hiding something from me, aren't you?!
— Of course I am — I was doing something: I was testing them. I still don't trust them. Look at how it degenerated in the end, just over a remark. In this kind of situation, you have to stay strong, optimistic, and not defeatist like Charlie, or start questioning what is right or wrong. I'm also starting to mistrust Victor; he gives off something bizarre — he seems like a psychopath or something of the sort, I don't know... And as for the last three, they are strange.
Yvonne looked at her seriously, but she didn't seem to understand just yet.
— But why? I don't understand...
— They are all shady; they are all preparing a plan or something of the sort. Maxime, beneath his smiles, is nothing but a false face hiding much darker intentions. Pierre... I'm sure he is ready to betray us or use us the very first instant he can. How do you expect me to feel reassured in this kind of place, Yvonne? You are the only one I trust enough... Even though I've just discovered my beautiful Victoria, in the end, I can still only count on the three of you.
Léonie said nothing; she listened in silence. She was behind those three, who were speaking with a certain energy. The further they advanced, the more she realized the gulf that separated them, between her and them. A new feeling grew inside her like a flower.
Yvonne wanted to say something, but refrained and preferred to listen to Victoria, who was beginning to speak.
— It might be true that we have to mistrust them, Victoria said while walking by their side. — But they are part of our team, so they won't be able to betray us for now, under penalty of having to find a new male or female comrade in an express hurry. Personally, I'm more inclined to trust them while keeping an eye on them, and if they wander off or try something, we kick them out, or something of the sort.
Yvonne seemed to recover a small smile at the sight of a rather good plan, but Azaka scratched her head with that still-pensive air.
— But they won't accept being kicked out, Azaka pointed out. — So we'll have to find a more effective solution...
A voice made itself heard; it was not very loud and was getting lost in the noises of the other groups heading toward the next events, but at that moment, it was understandable despite all the racket.
— Kill...
— What did you say?! Azaka said, stopping.
— We must kill them if they cause problems. The idea is a bit crazy, but when Victoria spoke of killing a bit earlier — before all those arguments, when Victoria and Pierre hadn't returned yet —, you had said: "We can do the thing first." It seemed like a radical solution to me. But if that's all that's left, then why not. In any case, sooner or later, we won't have a choice anymore… but if we do it, I want it to happen in a non-cruel way.
Azaka and Victoria looked at each other without saying a word. Yvonne resumed without leaving time for the other two to say anything whatsoever.
— I surely know what you're telling yourself, Azaka, but no, I'm serious. You know it well, I love to help, but I have a limit like everyone else... and here, I think we will perhaps have to forget — or at least move past — matters of morality. But there you go, I would still like to avoid bloodbaths as much as possible.
Victoria added with a little doubt in her voice: — Yes, surely, but what if we go too far? Our reflections are good... but what if we are wrong?
Azaka looked into the distance, toward the platform where Doctor Dupont was preparing himself, then looked at them with a magnificent smile.
— Then we will commit an injustice, but it doesn't matter... The boy who died over there, near the tree where a few nuns are still lingering, made a mistake — or was pushed to his limit by someone so that he would make that mistake. And so we could tell ourselves… but there you go, in our present case, we are doing a favor to our little group of three, understood!
— Well said! Victoria replied, raising her arms in the air.
— Helping to perhaps deceive… I don't like that very much, but let's move past it. If we survive, then perhaps that will diminish our future faults, Yvonne retorted.
— Yes, it certainly will, Azaka said, looking at her.
The silence between them lasted for a few seconds, then Azaka broke the ice with a question that had been running through her mind for a little while.
— I have one last thing to tell you. A few days ago, I received a strange… even mysterious object. Did you receive something, or am I the only one?
— So, you got something too!? Victoria replied, completely shocked.
— And you, Yvonne? Both girls said, while looking at Yvonne insistently.
— Just like you girls, I have something… but for my part, it's really quite strange.
Azaka looked behind her to see if the boys were close. Given their luck, they were truly lagging behind; Victor was a bit ahead, but turned back around as if he had forgotten something.
— Right, follow me, I know a place where we will properly hear those damn megalomaniacs, without being bothered by all this background noise — while talking about this, of course.
Voici la traduction de ce duel psychologique et philosophique d'une grande intensité entre Pierre et Maxime. Le texte confirme leur statut de meurtriers et approfondit leur vision nihiliste et machiavélique du monde, avec une confrontation directe autour du secret qu'ils partagent (la mort de Didier, qualifié de martyr/saint) et du mythe de Sisyphe.
J'ai veillé à restituer la tension glaciale, l'ironie mordante de Maxime, et la paranoïa de plus en plus lourde de Pierre.
I watched them leave, the girls, toward the next area. They followed them with their eyes, more or less. Victor was also leaving; Ousmane was quite far from me, about ten paces away — he was praying.
— Your advice is highly interesting! Maxime said in a mocking tone. — "The essential thing for now is to be united!" — how beautifully turned your phrase is. But did you tell them the truth about Didier…? No, you still haven't done it, just like with Justine. You lie all the time — does it ever happen to you to tell the truth, my dear friend?
— That's for you to tell me, maestro. You yourself are a liar, a vicious manipulator. Making someone out to be a "hero" is something you know how to do well — but when it comes to trying to conceal your treacherous nature, you don't handle it very well. What did it bring you to make her your so-called heroine? Giving her a role in one of your much greater plans, Maxime? Pierre said, looking at Maxime with questioning eyes. — And supposedly, why didn't you put on the same act with me when we were with Didier in front of the members of our group? After all, you call me a monster, even a liar — but you are one too!
— You mustn't take it so to heart, my dear friend. I said it, but I didn't really mean it. To kill or be killed is an undeniable rule in nature — so you will forgive me this slight regard against you, of course.
He was speaking, but purposely avoiding the question I had asked him.
— And then all these questions… wouldn't you just want to watch without asking anything? You yourself are preparing certain things. Look: why talk at night, when we could have very well done it earlier? You see clearly that I understand your disguised intentions — don't look at me like that. Do you think I truly see nothing? Once night falls, you would have gradually begun to cautiously manipulate them, because certain people still suspect you. But it would have worked, because at night people are less distrustful than during the day.
Maxime looked at me with that air of superiority. My gaze was fixed, but the corners of my lips were turned up — an unpleasant smile emerged from them. Seeing such a smile, Maxime continued to speak, this time with more spirit.
— Besides, Pierre, why not tell me everything? I witnessed a premeditated murder — so you can trust me; we still share a unique secret together… Well, I think I'll stop talking to you about that, given the lightning bolts you are throwing at me with your eyes. But still — we killed a martyr or a saint together. That boy seemed pure, almost white, unlike us. You may find that absurd, even completely laughable, but to me it is very important. Look: only our vision of the world matters in our own eyes. Even if we choose the wrong path, we won't even listen to the others — who, themselves, won't even have mistaken their way. It is very selfish of us, what can you expect, we are like that.
— Could you shorten your almost fantastical story? Come to the facts — stop beating around the bush. Would you mind? We don't have all day, so hurry the story along a bit, Pierre retorted, completely annoyed.
— I'm getting to it, don't be impatient. So yes, here it is: we believe in nothing — neither in God, nor in anything. We move forward lurking in the shadows, ready to kill the first person to see our true face… Isn't it laughable, the one who twists and turns in the open air before everyone's eyes! We alone will subsist — we were destined in advance to take power, or else to be betrayed by one of our own.
Saying this, he looked at me for a few seconds, then continued:
— We could, we alone — the most intelligent ones — rally the others and ride on the backs of the fools to traverse all of this. But no, you were against me, and I know not why. Meanwhile, all your actions tend to destroy everything: both the ethics of society with its morality, but furthermore you try to destroy the plans of others along with you. And philosophizing about everything will yield nothing — in the sequence of events, power alone is real. But you must know that… Instead, you act like that fool Sisyphus carrying his stone — just like you with your "dreams." All of this is nothing but absurd, but the worst part is that you try to find your existence through your choices, when you believe in nothing.
— How does that concern you, Maxime? I lead my life as I see fit, and it is not someone like you who is going to make me change my objective. And stop with your completely deranged and baseless suppositions.
— But I am saying this for you, my dear comrade. You say that I say baseless things — that is false, and you know it very well. And it deeply hurts my feelings that my dear friend no longer wants anything to do with me. Furthermore, I believed we both had a characteristic in common: that of both being murderers, long before we entered here into this orphanage. I was so impatient to meet this boy who believed in the nonsense of this life. But there you go, you hate me because I played a joke on you, perhaps in bad taste, when we were with Didier. But I admire you for that — you mistrust everyone, and it is truly very admirable… But you should lower some of your illusions that you take for reality, under penalty of losing yourself. You see how kind I am — I am even giving you important advice.
— What a vile manipulator you are! You won't catch me like that, with your so-called sweet words. I see you, Maxime, as you truly are, and it is not a pretty sight. Go back to where you came from, and leave me far away from your sly plans.
Maxime gave a radiant smile; he waved his hand at me and left. My gaze was dark. What did he want from me? I must truly mistrust him.
Voici la traduction fidèle de ce dernier passage du chapitre. J'ai veillé à restituer la transition psychologique entre la réflexion philosophico-théologique d'Ousmane sur le bonheur et le refoulement, l'état de choc de Charlie, et la paranoïa finale de Pierre qui commence à assembler les pièces du puzzle concernant les mystérieux objets.
Looking to the side, I saw Charlie…
Charlie was the last one, sitting on the ground, but he was speaking in a low voice. I couldn't manage to understand what he was saying, but his gaze was fixed… I looked at Ousmane, who simply shrugged his shoulders at the sight of Charlie on the ground.
Ousmane, while shrugging his shoulders, said to me: — For all those who think they are not happy believe they are unhappy, when in reality they are happy; they simply do not know it or do not realize it. Charlie must be in the grip of certain troubles or traumas that he repressed within himself during his youth. Try to calm him down, Pierre — I am going to do the same with Victor, who has just noticed Charlie's absence.
After speaking, he walked away from me and Charlie to go rejoin Victor, who was about ten paces away. I approached Charlie while lowering myself to his height, to better speak to him.
— Is everything alright, Charlie? Were you saying something? I said in a questioning tone. But he did not look at me; he was staring, a few paces away from him, at something or someone. — Charlie? Wake up — we have to go!!
— Y… Yes, yes, sorry — I didn't see. Damn, I'm too lost in my thoughts. Sorry again, Pierre.
Bizarre… truly bizarre.
— Don't worry about me, but rather about yourself…
— Thank you… don't worry about me, Pierre. I'm fine… just a bit shaken by all these events.
He stood up, disoriented, and left to rejoin Ousmane and Victor, who were waiting for him about ten paces away. I am perhaps beginning to believe that he, too, possesses a magic object or artifact… and perhaps even that everyone possesses one.
Do you have a magic object, Charlie? And if so, are you on my side or on that of my enemy, Charlie? Tonight, I should perhaps broach the question.
"What must I know, my good God? Is he telling me the whole truth, or simply a fragment of this truth that has remained hidden for so long in his burning heart… Falsehood or truth are two notions far too complicated to gauge if no one ever says anything. What must I know? Kill him? Or simply ask him that most fateful question: 'Do you also have a magic artifact?' Will he be afraid of me, or simply afraid that I might know his secret? But if that is the case, Victor must know it too… How can I trust them? If that is indeed the case… No, trust is a highly coveted resource, but it is not real. It represents the sky in its grandeur and the earth in all its breadth, but at the same time, it represents that door sealed by a key invisible to our own eyes. Faith and purity alone can open it… but trust does not exist. Therefore, these secrets will be forever stolen from me, I will be blind to this absolute truth — and this door will be closed to me, just like paradise. Killing and being alone is a solution in many respects; it has already served me once… Why not… No, I need them as much as I would wish to be alone. I love them as I hate myself; I would wish to destroy them as I would wish to save them… Why so many questions, my good God, that you make me ask!?"
Truly… the things one must do for one's team…
Pierre looked at the backs of his comrades who were advancing toward what lay ahead; he raised his head to look at the sky for a few seconds, then, in silence, walked to rejoin them.
End of this episode.
Thank you for reading.