Consequences by Philippe Djian

Author:Philippe Djian
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781451607604
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The alcohol attracted the students, and Richard had promised them the bar would be well stocked—just as he’d assured the teaching body that the food would be good and their not being there unforgivable.

Generally, any department head organizing a party definitely wouldn’t be snubbed, but this was even less the case when the president himself was making the trip with his wife and drinking your champagne and wolfing down your mixed grill. Richard’s backyard was fairly full. The fellow had the advantage of good spring weather, and his barbecue was roaring—at least the guy knew how to cook sausages and chicken breasts.

It was nice out, and the women were wearing sandals. Marc and Marianne made their appearance just as Richard was putting on a new batch of kebabs.

“It’s great having you, Marc, and your sister. Hope you know that. Hope there’s no misunderstanding here.”

“No, everything’s cool. What do you suggest? Not too much fat, if possible.”

“I’ve got what you need. Taste this.”

“Really?”

“Come on over, Marc. I want to tell you something. Can I confide in you?”

“No, Richard, I’d rather not. I’d rather you say it right out. I don’t want to keep a secret from anybody. It’s nothing personal. I don’t want the responsibility. I sleepwalk. Ask Marianne. I talk while I’m asleep. I walk around talking. It’s as simple as that. When it comes to anything confidential, old buddy, I’m not the one to go to. I’m not worth a rat’s ass when it comes to confidences.”

Behind them, several professors were getting a laugh at the sight of a handful of little kids they’d brought and who were grinningly confronting one another with water pistols. Richard smiled, turned over a few ribs.

“Marc, I just wanted to say that I appreciate your coming. You know, I’m aware of the efforts you make. I can put myself in your place. I never had a sister, but I try to put myself in your place.”

“How nice of you. Comforting. Anyway, your little party’s a big success. You wouldn’t happen to have any English mustard, would you?”

A half-dozen students who’d been more or less ordered to come to the party were busy going from one group to another, serving and keeping an eye on those children who’d been given free rein, making sure they weren’t going to wreck the inside of the house, turn on the gas, get locked in a closet, or start a fire. Richard knew how to take advantage of his position and hadn’t had any problem finding a workforce. Including Annie Eggbaum. Marc didn’t notice her until the moment he was pinned against her between two tables as the two of them were passing from opposite directions. For a second they were stuck together.

“Well, Annie, of all people!” he said, keeping his hands in sight.

She gave him a dark look.

A little later, as he was extricating himself from a group who wanted to go all the way to the European Parliament over the issue of the right of Muslim

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