Otages

**Extrait**

Les jours qui suivirent cette m emorable mousse au chocolat furent
interminables : j'attendais le vendredi 8 mai ou l'ancien ministre, Roger
Blanchard, devait me remettre mon premier prix. Et puis, il y eut ce jeudi 7
mai !…
Je n'oublierai jamais cette journee ! D'abord parce que c'etait la veille de
mon triomphe. Ensuite, a cause de cette etrange impression que j'ai eprouvee
quand je suis sorti du college.
J'ai senti qu'il se passait quelque chose de bizarre, comme si le decor avait
change demaniere imperceptible. Ce n'etait sans doute qu'unminuscule
detail,mais j'avais la vague certitude que ce detail etait essentiel, vital
meme.

The days which followed thatmemorable chocolatemousse were interminable - I
couldn't wait for Friday 8thMay when the former minister, Roger Blanchard, was
to award me with my first prize. And then there was Thursday 7th May!...
I'll never forget that day! Firstly, because it was the day before my triumph
was to take place and next, because of the strange feeling I had on coming out
of school.
I could sense something bizarre was going on, as if someone had imperceptibly
moved the scenery around. It was probably just a tiny detail but I had the
vague conviction that this detail was essential, even crucial.