After Maya's revelation, Eden turned around and asked her:
— Why didn't you tell me earlier?
And Maya replied:
— I tried to tell you several times, but I just couldn't…
Eden took Mr. Salamano's object out of his pocket, stared at the item which was still glowing in bright pink, and said while throwing it into the water:
— Mr. Salamano was right, this thing really doesn't work…
Then he turned to Maya and said:
— About what you have, are you okay? Can you handle it?
Maya answered:
— Yes, I'm fine… thank you for asking.
Eden then said:
— Okay, now we have to leave before it gets too late.
Maya tried to comfort him:
— Ed… Eden…
But Eden, smiling, replied:
— No, leave it… it's going to be fine.
They got into the boat, but as they left, nobody spoke. The silence was icy. When leaving the cave, they found Malick standing at the entrance.
Malick said:
— What were you two doing in the cave?
Eden looked away and Maya replied:
— No, it's not what you think…
Malick frowned and said:
— What do you mean, it's not what I think? You were both there… well dressed, smelling good… and you even have a rose in your hand. What is this, if not that you two were…
Maya:
— No!
Malick, smiling:
— You were visiting the cave.
Maya:
— Huh?
Malick:
— Do you have another explanation?
Maya:
— Yes… yes, that's it. We were visiting the cave.
Malick then took Eden's hand to leave and said:
— Come on. Since tomorrow is the big Selection, we're going to celebrate the others' departure today. Even if it's not sure they'll be chosen… And besides, Marilyn asked to see you.
As they left, Malick put his arm on Eden's shoulder and added:
— You look tense… you're not like usual. Did you get rejected or something? What's wrong?
Eden replied:
— No, nothing… it's just fatigue. But aren't you taking part in the big Selection? I thought you were old enough…
Malick:
— No, my father told me not to participate. Even though I'd like to, so I could help my dear Maya even more.
Eden and Malick then went to the party. There, they met Malick's father, Marilyn, and his brother. After introducing Eden to his father, Malick slipped away to let them get to know each other better.
Eden sat down and asked Malick's father:
— Mr. Albert, can you tell me why there's this big ball of light in the sky? And why it never goes out? It's really different from the clouds that never move outside the dome.
Malick's father replied:
— Ah yes, that's right, you're not from here, my boy… Okay, I'll tell you everything.
— That luminous ball is called the sun. It belongs to the ancient era, before the Calamities. It is materialized by the king's power. It has many qualities… it helps us a lot, like for agriculture or even, for some, tanning.
— But why doesn't it go out here? That, I don't know. It goes around the dome and at night, like now, it gives us a beautiful sunset, followed by its reappearance shortly after.
Eden said:
— Thank you, I understand better now.
Mr. Albert added:
— Are you okay, my boy? From the look of you, you seem a little lost… just like your question.
Eden replied:
— Oh, nothing… I'm fine.
And in his head, Eden thought:
"Someone stole my clothes when I was on my way to meet Maya… I tried to catch him, but he knew the area better than me. How am I going to handle this now…"
Albert looked at Eden and said:
— From the way you're sitting and your face, there must be something wrong. With all my experience, I know that a "I'm fine" said like that always hides something. Come on, tell me… Because the best way to solve a problem is first to talk about it with those you love.
Eden replied:
— Well… has it ever happened to you to fall in love with someone at first sight? To desire them with just one glance? For you, that person becomes the one you love, and no one could separate you… except that person herself, of course.
Albert said:
— Oh, I see… a broken heart.
— As big as the world may be, all its inhabitants have had a broken heart about someone or something, my boy.
— But the secret to overcome all that, what would it be, according to you?
Eden replied:
— It would be… it would just be to know that we're not meant for it at all.
Albert retorted:
— Well, no… Never!
— You're wrong. The real secret is to always persevere and keep a good mood. Because if one grain of rice is missing from your meal, it doesn't stop you from enjoying the rest. The most important thing is not to dwell on what we've lost, but to live the present moment and pray for what we wish to obtain.
Eden said:
— I see… Thank you very much for the advice. Thanks also to you, because without you and your upbringing, I wouldn't have met Malick.
Mr. Albert laughed and replied:
— Thanks to you too. Without you, I might not have seen my son again. So a big thank you… and in my language: shkran. Now, you're young, so enjoy and have fun, it's a party!
Marilyn then sat down next to Eden and handed him a glass of alcohol as a sign of fraternity. But just as Eden was about to take it, a drunk man pushed him and the glass fell. Marilyn stood up with a nasty look. Everyone thought he was going to hit the man, but instead he burst out laughing. The party resumed immediately in laughter.
Mr. Salamano told a story that scared everyone. And each time Eden wanted to take a sip of alcohol, either he was pushed or someone else drank in his place.
Deeply engaged in the party, Malick came to him and said:
— Eden, can you come for a minute?
Eden:
— Come on, Malick… can't it wait until I finish talking with the guests?
But since Malick insisted, Eden followed him. They went to his house, the one Eden had left in the morning.
When they arrived, Malick said to Eden:
— You know, Eden, I kind of envy you.
Eden:
— What do you mean, Malick? Are you kidding? I envy you! You have a house, a father, and a beautiful woman who loves you… What more could you ask for, except to live the good life?
Malick:
— Yes, it's true I have all that… but I envy you because you have great adventure stories to tell, you get along well with others… and also, seeing you, you probably make all the girls you meet fall for you.
— But if I called you, it's not to say this.
Eden:
— Okay, I'm listening. But you're worrying me now…
Malick continued:
— If I called you, it's because I have blind trust in you. It's only been a short time since we met, but in so little time, you've become the only and best friend I've ever had. The reason I called you was just to tell you that…
— I WANT YOU TO IMPREGNATE MY FIANCÉE.
— Because me, I'm incapable… Without forcing you, of course.
Eden was speechless at Malick's words.
Malick added:
— I see… don't worry. Just head to the bedroom, you'll understand.
And Malick left, leaving Eden alone in front of the house. Still stunned, Eden opened the door and entered. Everything was clean, fragrant. He went straight upstairs.
With every step, his heart beat faster. His vision blurred, he was dizzy, but he kept moving. In front of the bedroom, petals covered the floor, two candles burned, and light filtered through the half-open door.
Eden silently approached. The closer he got, the heavier his body felt. But he found the strength to reach out, put his hand on the handle, and thought:
"Why am I doing this…? I'm not that kind of guy. Even if he asked me… Then why do I have feelings for his fiancée?"
"Something tells me that all the answers are in this room…"
Eden opened the door. He found Maya, well dressed, making the bed.
She said:
— Oh, you're here… Malick already told you. You came. So make yourself at home. If you're ready, we can start.
Eden shouted:
— What kind of game is this for you?! Am I just that kind of person in your eyes?! What did I do to you to make you put me through this?!
Maya turned, tears in her eyes, and said:
— Sorry to tell you, but it's already painful enough, so don't add more. Let me finish the bed… and after, you can tell me anything you want.
But as she tried to turn away, Eden pulled her against him and held her tight.
— I'm sorry to put you through this… sorry, it's all my fault.
In his arms, Maya let her tears fall. Eden lifted her coat and kissed her. She said to him:
— I'd rather we go on the bed.
Eden replied:
— All right. But first, I want you to take off what you have on your head. Because to me, you're much more beautiful without it.
She nodded, removed what she was wearing, and they went onto the bed.
After their affair, Eden, sitting on the bed, asked:
— Can you tell me more about what you have? Since I'm a doctor, maybe I can see if I can help you.
Maya replied:
— Ah… to tell you everything, it's not because of my illness that I lost my hair. Here, in our society, work is very important. Gaining clientele is the hardest part. So they created a belonging gene: this gene allows others to know what you do, and depending on that, you gain clientele faster.
— But for me, this mandatory gene was torture. They engraved it in my hair. Even when I stopped, the looks, the words, the harassment continued. So, tired of it, I decided to remove my hair myself. It was madness… but at least, everything changed. It was much later that I discovered I had this illness.
— But don't worry, it's nothing serious, and it's not contagious.
Eden chuckled softly and replied:
— Oh, that's nothing. I already knew. Well… I'll leave you now.
He got up and was about to leave the room.
Maya then said:
— Eden… thank you.
He finally left and rejoined Malick, his father, Marilyn, and his brother at the bar. Eden sat next to Malick, who said to him:
— Thank you so much, my brother.
Eden replied:
— Now, we wait…
And Malick said:
— Now, we just wait for the results, which shouldn't take long to arrive.
And after a few minutes, Maya came with the results, which turned out positive.
Then he shouted in the bar:
— Drinks for everyone here!
Even the people who were outside came running in, jumping into his arms and saying:
— We were here too, so share the beer! It's great news!
Months passed, and one day, guards came and said:
— The Great Selection is about to begin!
— The Great Selection is about to begin!
— All the names that will be called must follow us.
— Junior!
— Jean!
— Marco!
— Esmel!
— Moustapha!
— Moussa!
— Edmond!
As the names were being called, Marilyn was afraid her name wouldn't be announced. But finally, the one calling declared:
— Marilyn!
Then he received another sheet and said:
— And one last person, a last-minute candidate… Malick!
All the selected shouted with joy as they left. But Malick's father was devastated. He came out and asked:
— Are you sure you didn't make a mistake with Malick's name?
And they replied:
— No, the name was even given by the Great Chief himself. It's rare to see that, being supported personally by the Great Chief.
Then Malick came out and said to his father:
— Don't worry, I'll work hard to take care of you, Dad. Besides, I'll soon have a child.
The selected were taken to the residence to be presentable before the king. All the other inhabitants came out and went to the place of the ceremony.
Even Eden arrived there. Marilyn, Malick, and the others were dressed differently, their eyes blindfolded, standing still in front of a white fountain encrusted with diamonds. A path led straight to the palace, and all the inhabitants surrounded them. In front of them, a large opening led into the palace.
The Great Chief came out and shouted:
— Let the Great Selection begin!
Everyone knelt, forehead to the ground. Even Eden, who was in the front.
The king arrived, carried inside a large cube by guards and accompanied by ladies. Before them stood the Great Chief.
Eden, crouched down, thought:
— This king is really cool… But why can't anyone see him? I really want to see him… No, no, no, Eden!
— But we only live once… and I'm suffocating, crouched like this!
So Eden slightly turned his head toward a person beside him. He noticed she was wearing a large earring. Through it, he tried to see what was happening. He caught sight of the guards protecting the king, smelled the perfume of the villa ladies, and thought they were the ones escorting the king.
When he tried to look at the king, he only saw a white fabric covering him. Strangely, no silhouette appeared behind it. But one of the villa guards noticed Eden, who immediately turned his gaze away.
Then the Great Chief began:
— Chiefs of my city, chiefs of families, chiefs brothers, and chiefs sisters… Welcome to the Great Selection!
And all the inhabitants answered in unison:
— Welcome!
From his spot, Eden felt someone staring at him. He turned his head and saw that it was the person with the earring… who was none other than the thief of his clothes! Worse, he was wearing Eden's outfit. Their eyes met, and Eden thought:
"Filthy clothes thief…"
The guard approached them. Eden and the thief looked away. But in his head, the guard thought:
"Oh… really, I need to go so badly… I must have eaten too many beans before coming here. If I let go, it will be the end of the world!"
"But wait… isn't that the one we're looking for?"
"He's wearing the clothes… but the other one has the face of the wanted person… Ho ho, what do I do? It's too hard to find the right one…"
Then he remembered the Great Chief's words:
"Right… to find him, just look for the clothes you saw on him the first time. If he ended up in the villa, it means he's not very smart. So listen carefully: find the person wearing those clothes, and nothing else, you idiot!"
So the guard thought:
"Ha ha ha… at least with this capture, Father will praise me!"
He stood before Eden and the thief, then grabbed the latter. The thief protested:
— Hey, what the…
The guard used a martial arts hold and knocked him out. Other guards lifted him. Proud, the guard gave a victory sign to his father, who was still giving his speech. His father gestured for him to take the man to his quarters. Happy, the guard smiled as he left.
Arriving at the palace, he said to the other guards:
— Put him in the royal cells.
One asked:
— And you, where are you going?
He replied:
— Don't worry about me, little brother… because I'm going to save the world!
Another, holding the thief, added with a chuckle:
— Don't worry about him, he's just going to shit like a savage. But I'd give anything to see his face when he finds out there's no more toilet paper!
Meanwhile, at the selection site, the Great Chief cleared his throat and said:
— So, as I was saying… These candidates have all stood out from the others. They are righteous, brave, and exemplary. In one word, they possess all the qualities we dream of for one day standing in their place. But as they say: nothing is ever lost! If you weren't selected this year, you may be next year. So pay attention, for the king will now designate the great chosen ones.
The king raised his arm and pointed at a candidate. The Great Chief announced:
— Let the first selected step forward!
The candidate advanced.
— Now, the second selected!
But the king extended his arm, moved it toward the candidates… and nothing. He signaled that it was over. Then he left, escorted by his guards, the villa ladies, and the chosen candidate.
The Great Chief, shocked, declared:
— Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Selection is now over!
All the inhabitants stood up.
The Great Chief continued:
— This is a first: only one candidate has been chosen. His name is none other than Malick. We hope he will be worthy of this favor. But you, the other candidates, are not undeserving! The king, in his greatest kindness, offers you these gifts as a sign of gratitude: meat at will and, for this day, the Water of Purity, the most blessed in the world. Its qualities are such that it can even heal from death itself.
Eden found these words interesting. While everyone else was helping themselves, he went to the fountain, observed the water, then went home. There, he found Maya and asked her:
— Where is Mr. Albert?
She answered:
— Mr. Albert is upstairs. He's lying down. I think he's taking the news badly, but with some time, he'll get used to it.
Eden said:
— You wouldn't know where I could find a mask? I didn't find any at the market.
Maya answered:
— They don't sell them anymore, but Mr. Crok should have some. If you want, I can go with you to his place.
— Okay.
When they arrived at Mr. Crok's, he was an old man with a white beard, sitting at a big desk, typing something. He said:
— Hi, youngsters! I found the method to work faster and harder, to never run out of money again!
Eden replied:
— Okay, I see.
Mr. Crok exclaimed:
— You know what? The method is… I'll give you a hint: never rest, never eat, never stop, and above all… never see your loved ones again! Ha ha ha!
Eden said:
— And with all that, are you happy?
— Happy? Happy is for the people you see outside. Me, in exactly 73 years, 12 hours, 45 minutes, and 23 seconds… 24… 25… I will live by the king's side. And then, yes, I'll be happy.
Eden asked:
— But are you sure you'll make it?
Mr. Crok answered:
— Of course! I sacrificed 60 years of my life, so I'll make it. Now, take what you need and go, I have work to do.
As they left, Eden said to Maya:
— You told me Mr. Albert was resting…
— Okay. Well, I think you should do the same, with your condition.
He was about to leave when Maya said:
— Don't worry about me. But you, where are you going?
Eden replied:
— Me, I'm going to investigate the king's palace.
Arriving in front of the palace, he saw guards. He pulled out the ticket, which was glowing, and said:
— I'm glad I took the ticket back from my clothes when the thief was being taken away… But now, how do I get in? I have my mask, like he said, but looking at this palace… it's more guarded than any prison.
Suddenly, a glowing orb came out of the ticket and floated before him. Shocked, Eden said to the guards:
— Hey, hi! Do you also see this weird glowing ball?
The two guards looked at each other. One signaled to the other that Eden was crazy.
— Get lost, bum!
— Yeah, get lost, or you'll end up in prison!
Eden thought:
"At this rate, there's no reasoning with them… and I don't think they even see this floating light."
The light then moved toward a place, and Eden followed it. The guards, seeing him leave, said to each other:
— What did I tell you? He's completely nuts!
Eden followed the glowing orb to a small, charming white house. There, the orb disappeared. Strangely, at this place, it was nighttime. Two guards different from the others stood in front. They wore elegant suits.
Eden discreetly put on his mask, stepped forward, and one of them said in a charming voice:
— Good evening, sir, and welcome.