Extracts

“Dark Retreat"

Gaby returned to the parking lot. He neglects to go back to the room to retrieve his Sig Pro from the travel bag. Nothing indicates to him that he will need it. He consults the map. A dozen kilometers separate it from the village of Sacey. From there it can penetrate into the reserve around the Ferrier ford. If he is to believe Madame Lebrun's indications, the observation post is very close there. As soon as you leave Pontorson, the countryside unfolds the astonishing flatness of its opal-colored lawns and its freshly plowed fields. The horizon is barely broken by the undulating mass of a flock of sheep or by the round tower of a mill stirring the humid air with its large blades. Beyond lies the marsh. It is made up of a vast open meadow, subject to flooding, drained by numerous canals which allow the management of water levels. On the edge of the Couesnon, it is surrounded by a few hedges and curtains of poplars. The places are not deserted. The reserve is widely frequented by seabirds due to the proximity of the bay of Mont Saint-Michel and in winter by numerous web-footed birds, Mallards, Whistlers, Pintails, and Teals. In spring, the area is covered with water, which attracts myriads of migratory birds. The White Stork nests in the surrounding area. The marsh serves as his food storage. In its shallow waters, it finds all kinds of succulent dishes, pike fry in profusion, tree frogs and dragonflies which crisscross the bouquets of irises and clumps of cattails with their graceful flight. In the summer, its lush grass, despite droughts, allows it to maintain its use as collective grazing where various animals such as cattle, horses and geese coexist. It is also visited by several hundred tourists.

The cursed gold of Forcalquier

Tired from the road, he then left his two partners alone to go and rest. While Tahar undertook research on the internet, Lilou, still dizzy from the pleasure of the discovery, decided to take a dip in the swimming pool.

Left alone, the mentalist tried to synthesize the data of the problem. Two mysterious child murders, anti-globalization families, an old city in deep Provence, a Celtic cross and a Chilean fascist. What relationship could there be between all these elements? There were definitely links. He already saw one.

Until now, no one had been concerned about the existence of Longo Mai in the surrounding area. This libertarian-inspired association, founded in the 1970s on the principles of the Anarchist International, campaigned for the reception of migrants. At the fall of the Allende government, it received a good number of Chilean political refugees. His support for the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo remained relevant today. As Lilou pointed out, sixteen years later, after Pinochet's departure, we witnessed a second exodus, albeit less massive.

The latest arrivals could have hidden themselves in the cohort of the first. For their French hosts, it was not easy to differentiate the wheat from the chaff, the socialist activist from the nationalist activist.

As for the Celtic cross, if it had been adopted by the Far Right, we should not forget that it was also, in its Occitan version, the emblem of the independence movements. There we found all the material of this endless battle of light against darkness, just on the edge of two worlds, at the improbable moment when the glow of dawn merged with the fires of sunset.

He was lost in his thoughts when he saw Lilou return, her hair with rebellious curls dripping with fine droplets and her face lit up by a childish smile. He was delighted to see her happy and relaxed. It was surprising after the tragedy she had experienced. Tahar admired this power of resilience specific to martyred peoples. Outside, nocturnal insects crackled in the darkness. It was time to go to bed. The next day promised to be exciting and he wanted to be in good shape to fully appreciate it