Murder in Monte Carlo by Michael Sheridan

Author:Michael Sheridan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Poolbeg Press
Published: 2011-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

CAMP DE LA TRANSPORTATION

The unreality of their arrival evaporated with the reality of the destination. Those words in the title spoke the truth of it. This was not a holiday camp, it was not a place of joy. It was a place of punishment. After filing through into the large yard behind the gates, they were addressed by the Commandant of the Penitentiary of St Laurent. It was clearly a speech that had been given many times before and would be again. And again.

Even the tiny minority who might have been unaware of the reputation of this penal establishment would in time reflect on the true meaning of the speech. Nonetheless, at the time it did not seem disingenuous.

“You must behave yourselves, first and foremost, or suffer the consequences. If you follow the regulations and do not cause trouble you may well qualify for a pardon. That is a fact of life in this colony that is given. Its founders had the hope that for you all there would be something positive and productive and that you would contribute in time to the creation of a good society with economic benefits for the inhabitants and your homeland.

I urge you to cast off the iniquities of the life that you have left behind and look forward to rehabilitation and a better future. I am not going to suggest that your time here will be easy, after all there are very good reasons that each one of you has as part of your sentence to join us here. But believe me that if you adapt willingly to the rules of the administration you will be rewarded in a very positive way. Life is not all bad here unless you choose it to be. There are guards here, there are workers in the local community here, that formerly shared your situation. They have thrived, have a satisfactory and productive existence and there is no reason why you cannot be part of this positive process.

We have our responsibilities but so have you. Let us share them in peace.

There are some among you who will wish to escape but I warn those of this disposition that there are formidable obstacles in the way of such temptation. We are no fools here and realise from experience that such is, was and always will be the desire among, in particular, some of the young convicts. It may seem a natural inclination but it is a dangerous one.

Let me warn you that those who attempt to run away from the tasks allotted to them will be shot on sight by the guards. But beyond that is the jungle and the sea containing their own natural guards. And the bullet compared to their realities will seem merciful by comparison. I do not wish to emphasise these dangers, all or any that take them on will find out soon enough.

But allow me to emphasise that in the event that some want to take this route, the sea contains sharks and the river piranha, both of whom will strip a human bare of every last inch of flesh from the body.

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