Devil’s Paradise - Youssef RZOUGA (popular e readers .txt) 📗

To X. Something
I have borrowed Saint Exupéry’s dedication “I ask the indulgence of the children who may read this book for dedicating it to an unpleasant grown-up. I have a serious reason: he is the best enemy I have in the world. I have another reason: this unpleasant grown-up can all burn, even books about children. I have a third reason: he lives in Babel where he is hungry and thirsty. He needs to be denounced all over the country. If all these reasons are not enough, I will dedicate the book to the child from whom this unpleasant grown-up. All unpleasant grown-ups were once children — although few of them remember it. And so I correct my dedication:
To X. Something
when he was a little boy”

CHAPTER -1

Salem leaves the shade.
Uncle Sami plays the piano.
Samara laughs do re mi fa … do me a favour Salem, come and dance!

I can hear her laughing.
She’s still just a child. Samara laughs non-stop. There isn’t enough air in here. She lets out a cry but where does this noise come from?
Her face changed. The words stuck in her throat.
Salem smiled oddly.
– What’s wrong?
– I feel awkward in his presence. What’s his name?
– Sami Something…!
All I ask for is to be left alone. It’s getting dark. Ear-splitting sounds. What’s all that noise.
She talks to herself – he has the instinct for games! He spoils himself. I hate him.
I shook her hand –everybody knows him. He likes background noise while he’s working. By the way, have you read this book? As I was saying: “the bottom line is that he is not suited for the job, but…”.You, of all people, Samara, should understand. He is but a strange individual, a unicorn, a wolf in a sheep’s clothing! Uncle Sami will stop at nothing. There’s something about him I don’t like
– Don’t say another word, please!
It promises to be hot. These plants don’t like fire.
“See you soon,” she said.
– Ok Samara! Close the door after you!
CHAPTER-2

The next day… but where’s Samara?
She’s in the upper-floor. I know, Ufo, but why does she take so long? It upsets me to see her in a heart-rending state.
A climate of insecurity has taken hold of the country, since this morning. It’s terribly hot.
Samara hasn’t arrived yet. Where can she be? Let me tell you, dear Ufo, I’m afraid when she’s late like that. She’s not the sort to be late. There’s something wrong somewhere.
– Knock knock! Open the door Samara, that’s me!
She’s not in her room. A tomblike silence.
There’s no sign of life in the house. Sadness pervades in this house.
It seems stupid to me to wait any longer without doing anything.
– But what’s happening?
I like her. I like this little princess of Babel. People like her. She’s not only noted for her beauty but she’s also so kind. She’s intelligent and beautiful.
She’s very advanced for her age. But Uncle Sami, as for him, he is a bad singer. He’s the one behind it all.
– Are you serious? Ufo said.
– I think so.
Is Samira around?
There were posters on the walls but there was no one around. No one except Sami and a sandstorm around the Hanging Gardens of Babel.
Time seemed to have frozen. Once again, my head is spinning.
– Whose gloves are these?
CHAPTER-3

The explosion was heard right across the city.
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The sun sets early.
CHAPTER-4

What a day!
My friends, I don’t see them any more. We’re being followed, Ufo!
It’s the calm before the storm.
Ok! A bit of sport is relaxing. Time bomb. Acid rain. A veil of smoke. The trees are shedding their leaves.
Uncle Sami can apologize as much as he likes, but I won’t forgive him. This is where we go our separate ways. I don’t take orders from you, Uncle Sami! I know he’s strange but to say he’s mad…
(Salem and Samara, they promised each other they would never part, but…)
“To come back to Babel, is the very least you can do for her,” said Ufo. “It’s now or never. She will assume effective control of the planet.”
– You’re right, Ufo! Babel, that’s where I live, “I’m very happy in Babel!” Samara herself told me so. I miss her, but which way did she go? That’s what we call a labyrinth, a film full of meaningful silences.
The only interesting thing in this film is the fall of the Statue of Sugar.
I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr Know-it-all, but you should think of others! For me, to become a president of the republic or an emperor! .... Do re mi! .... is but amateurish work!
Uncle Sami, to what lengths will he go? He, too, plays hide-and-seek in the name of the law.
Have you heard the news Salem?
“Pollution is expected to increase from now on,” said Ufo.
– One move and I’ll shoot I’m the one who makes the decisions! It’s easy to criticize, isn’t it? I can swim. But where did you come out from?
He’s got a red nose. His stout figure shields an inbred.
– Really? Ok! I don’t mean to criticize, but... I’m sorry! Backwards! Too bad, Mr Know-it-all! Come on, everybody out!
Goodbye. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you: do re mi! But there’s a button missing from your jacket
The wall hides obscures our view.
Mr. Know-it-all, full of oneself, he thinks he knows everything.
To go down in history or to become a legend, you just have to press on the nose.
Goodbye Mr. Know-it-all, goodbye Uncle Sami! They both don’t know what they’re doing, It’s like the blind leading the blind. They can’t stand each other any more. They’re both almost dead.
I’m on chapter 5. How far are from the end? It’s 1001 kilometres away.
Very good! This route takes us away from the town centre.
Ufo laughs:
– Listen carefully! Who is coming with us?
All flowers, girls and boys, nodded and said “Oh, yes!”
The butterfly nodded and smiled
The donkey began to bray: ok!
The cat began to mew: ok!
The horse began to neigh: ok!
The duck began to quack: ok!
The stag began to bell: ok!
The dog began to bark: ok!
The elephant began to trumpet: ok!
The frog began to croak: ok!
The lioness began to roar: ok!
The swallow began to twitter: ok!
The wolf began to howl: ok
The sheep began to bleat: ok!
The bird began to sing: ok!
The hen began to cluck: ok!
The snake began to hiss: ok!
The cow began to moo: moo! Ok!
The devil only began to cry: and what about me, forgotten me? Well, I’m not saying no, but…
Be it for the interested people or the fighting cocks, they all shelter behind the Statue of Liberty, not far from the Triumphal Arch.
CHAPTER-5

Outside, there is nothing. It’s full of fighting cocks. It’s … a carnival mask! A starless sky! City in arms. The movie is supposed to be very good but the movie is inappropriate for children in their age, there’s too much violence in it.
The others are way behind something of life or death. Such is life!
Cause for dispute: the post-Gorbatchev era or when I’m gone, I don’t care what happens! Nonsense is the absolute truth.
If I were them, I’d be careful, but…
There are various possible solutions, but…
I’ve got billions of things to do, but…
I came as fast as I could, but… it’s beyond me.
I don’t like myself in this jacket.
Everywhere you look there is poverty.
Suppose we change the subject?
“Never!” he exclaimed. There’s always something to keep you busy.
Outside,a walled up town, under pain of death. The essential points are buried in too many details. The vase is overflowing. The countryside flashed past with an endless stream of trooping soldiers. To play with fire. A call to arms.
A few metres away, on every street corner, thousands of children die. People of all ages
are dropping like flies. War crimes. The law of the jungle. The collective unconsciousness. I feel so depressed...
They can’t help wrangling with one another. Can any of them speak “Love” and only “LOVE”?
There are a few pages missing. There’s a missing button from my jacket. I hate myself in this jacket.
CHAPTER-6

The soldiers destroyed everything in their path.
I stuffed myself with so much food that I felt sick . I can’t keep my food down, today.
What’s to drink ?
Take that cup! Fruit cocktail or Molotov cocktail?
You’re joking or what? It’s no time to joke, dear friend Elephant!
I’d prefer tea, a bit of fresh water, or just go for another cup of tea! It’s a thirst-quenching drink.
Open the window, please! I’d like a good breath of fresh air.
– There’s quite an art to shun death!
Uncle Sami, oh! He just carries out orders but he thinks only of himself. He’s got an oil slick of his own, somewhere you’ve never been before.
Neither has Mr Know-it-all.
I know what I’m talking about.
Uncle Sami! He and his fellows, will cause my death
I can understand their grandfather but not them, to play the hero but how far? That’s strange!
The Gulf War, this phoney war, I’ve never seen the like of it. That’s that!
CHAPTER-7

I can see him coming. That Travolta haircut makes his face look round. He’s looking for someone to play with. Mr Know-it-all is well placed to play with.
– Here he is.
– Who?
– After all, his name means nothing to me. Uncle Sami, he’s but a passenger like the others. By the way, to be a cowboy as he is, it’s his absolute right. Anyone commit a mistake but to stab to death a bird that sings ,in the town centre, quite openly and publicly, it's unforgivable!
Some late news: things started happening quickly…
I can see him coming. International anthem. He raised his glass and everyone did the same.
Men and women. Everyone’s going to do the washing-up, and you’re no exception.
The witnesses all bear each other out.
They have similar interests.
Just imagine him with children! A highly cultured man like him. Waxwork.
- One moment His Majesty! Don’t use people’s towels, it’s not hygienic.
From what I can see Uncle Sami, treats everybody the same regardless of race or colour. Ha! Ha!
But he can’t stand being contradicted.
He has a mass of friends but he’s not being himself today. Move along now, there’s nothing to see!
But who threw this shoe? Whose is it? I saw Uncle Sami with my own eyes. I saw him fall like Baghdad and running to get out of.
A deadly silence. Curtain!
At the gateway to the desert, a palm tree fell. Flying Shoes.
CHAPTER-8

Day follows day and you never know what to expect.
The sun’s breaking trough the clouds. Another flag undulates, shamelessly, right in the middle of the city.
Once upon a time there was a tsunami! DO RE MI!
Once upon a time there was a cowboy named Sami Something …
Once upon a time there was Mr Know-it-all named Salem Something
But if you had to do it again… said Ufo!
A smile flickers over his lips.
From now on, it’s me. Ufo, the unicorn of this planet, I am and I will