their faces ashen looking. On their way out, and much to my surprise, they all

shook my hand­ as if that night during which we hadn't exchanged as much as a

single word had somehow brought us closer together.

 

I was tired. The caretaker took me to his room and I was able to clean up a

little. I had some more coffee and milk, which was very good. When I went

outside, the sun was up. Above the hills that separate Marengo from the sea, the

sky was streaked with red. And the wind coming over the hills brought the smell

of salt with it. It was going to be a beautiful day. It had been a long time

since I'd been out in the country, and I could feel how much I'd enjoy going for

a walk if it hadn't been for Maman.

 

But I waited in the courtyard, under a plane tree. I breathed in the smell of

fresh earth and I wasn't sleepy anymore. I thought of the other guys at the

office. They'd be getting up to go to work about this time : for me that was

always the most difficult time of day. I thought about those things a little

more, but I was distracted by the sound of a bell ringing inside the buildings.

There was some commotion behind the windows, then everything quieted down again.

The sun was now a little higher in the sky: it was starting to warm my feet. The

caretaker came across the courtyard and told me that the director was asking for

me. I went to his office. He had me signa number of documents. I noticed that he

was dressed in black with pin-striped trousers. He picked up the telephone and

turned to me. "The undertaker's men arrived a few minutes ago. I'm going to ask

them to seal the casket. Before I do, would you like to see your mother one last

time?" I said no. He gave the order into the telephone, lowering his voice: