Read Online The Orange Grove by Larry Tremblay - Free Book Online Page A

shed. Soulayed asked Zahed to hand the belt to the expert, who gave it a quick examination. Satisfied, he showed Amed a little plastic-coated box that he pulled from his bag. The expert asked Amed if he knew what it was.
    â€œNo, I don’t know,” Amed replied timidly.
    â€œIt’s a detonator. You understand?” the expert asked, looking into Amed’s eyes.
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œWhen the moment comes, you just have to press here.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œYou understand?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMay God bless you!”
    The expert attached the little box to the belt with a yellow wire.
    â€œThere’s a second wire. Look at it carefully. It’s red. Do you see it?”
    â€œYes, I see it.”
    â€œThat one, we’ll attach later.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Amed. I’ll take care of that,” added Soulayed, who was standing behind him. “I’ll do it just before you go up the mountain.”
    Soulayed said a few words to Zahed that Amed didn’t understand. He then left the shed and came back a minute later, holding a camera.
    â€œTake off your shirt,” the expert instructed Amed, who obeyed, taken aback by his stern tone.
    Then the expert held the belt out.
    â€œHere, put it on.”
    â€œWhy?” Amed asked nervously.
    â€œFor the photo,” Soulayed explained. “Go and stand near the wall. Hold yourself straight. Turn toward the light. That’s it. Don’t lower your head.”
    Blinded and dizzy, Amed began to tremble.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” shouted Soulayed. “Look at us! Think of our enemies! Think of what they did to your grandparents!”
    Amed couldn’t think of anything. He wanted to vomit.
    â€œLift your head and open your eyes! Look at your father! Don’t dishonor him!”
    Soulayed took a photo, then a second one.
    â€œThink of Paradise.”
    Amed forced himself to smile, holding back his tears.
    â€œBe happy, be blessed, you have been chosen by God.”
    Soulayed took one last photo.
    â€œPut your shirt back on. Your parents will be proud of you when they see your photo with the belt.”
    Zahed took his son’s hand: “The moment has come to say farewell to your mother and brother.”
    They left the shed. Tamara was waiting with Aziz on the threshold of the house. Aziz had around his hand a handkerchief stainedwith blood. He quickly explained to his father that he’d just hurt himself, cutting oranges.
    â€œSay good-bye to your brother,” Zahed said to him.
    â€œNot right away.” Aziz ran back into the house and returned with a little tray on which stood a large glass.
    â€œLook at what your brother has prepared for you,” said Tamara in a hesitant voice.
    â€œHere, drink, that way you’ll leave with the taste in your mouth of the best our land produces,” added Aziz.
    Aziz approached his brother and let the glass fall on him. The little accident had been devised by the twins some days before. As Amed had told his mother everything in advance, Tamara knew what was going to happen. As planned, she slapped Aziz for his clumsiness. The expert began to laugh. Soulayed silenced him. He carefully removed Amed’s soiled shirt to see if the belt had come in contact with the orange juice. The expert explained that there wasn’t any problem: “Water, juice, or blood, it doesn’t make anydifference, you still have to make contact with the detonator.”
    â€œI know,” said Soulayed, irritated. “You don’t have to remind me.”
    â€œGo and change,” Tamara said to Amed.
    â€œI’m going with him,” Aziz added at once.
    The two brothers swiftly went up to their room. They took off their clothes. Aziz helped his brother free himself of the belt.
    â€œWhat’s all this business about the contact?”
    â€œIt’s for the detonator. Look, Aziz, it’s like a little box. The