Loser's Corner by Antonin Varenne

Author:Antonin Varenne [Varenne, Antonin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / International Mystery & Crime
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2015-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

August is drawing to a close. Verini gloomily celebrates his first year in Algeria. He has asked for leave. In the other branches of the armed forces, soldiers are entitled to a one-week furlough during their military service. At the D.O.P., no-one is granted a week’s leave. Besides, it is not as though Verini wants to go back to France. Perret gives him three days and he tells his mates he is planning to go to Oran with Adila. Casta decides to apply for a furlough too, hoping to pay for a whore and go along for the ride with Verini. Sylvain is starting to resemble Colona; alcohol has left its mark on the young man’s face; his moods and his behaviour have become worrying. It is something Verini and Philippe talk about from time to time, but what right have they to stop him drinking himself blind on cheap rum? They keep an eye out for him, try to steer him clear of the problems alcoholism is bound to create sooner or later. But that night they drink a toast, grateful for what little they have.

Casta is nodding off. Philippe throws him a lifeline.

“I gonna hit the sack. You coming, Sylvain, or you gonna sleep there?”

Verini sits on his own, sipping a beer and gazing up at the stars. Ahmed creeps up to him and whispers.

“Can I talk to you?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Please. Not talk so loud.”

Ahmed keeps glancing behind him, towards the Algerians’ barn.

“It is problem. I am not happy and I am afraid.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“This thing, it is happening in the Arab barn.”

“What? What’s happening in the barn?”

“Pascal, I no want nobody die. Here we can wait until the war it is over, this I think. We do not make war here, you understand? I no want nobody die, but I do not know what I must do. I do not know, you understand?”

“What the fuck is going on? Who’s going to die?”

“I know Rachid, he is your friend, Pascal, but Rachid, he want to start the war here. This is true, I swear it, and I do not like to betray my brothers, but I want no war. I want no war.”

“What the hell are you on about?”

“For days and days Rachid, he talk to all the Arabs, he watch me because he know I friends with you the French. I try to say before, but I can not. I no want nobody die. You are my friend, Pascal, yes? You understand what I say?”

“No. No, I don’t fucking understand. What does Rachid want to do?”

“He make the others afraid, he is the leader now. He turn them against you, now they want to attack at night, to cut everyone’s throats, take all the guns and go to join the maquis. This is what he want to do, Rachid, and the others, they say yes. This they will do soon, this week they say. And I do not know what I must do because

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