Danaël was the first to jump through the red ring, the boy disappearing before Dod's eyes, who followed in his turn.
Danaël felt his flesh disintegrate, his body melting into a thousand pieces at an astonishing speed, the particles of his body being transported to the other side of the city.
Gradually, he lost speed, and his body began to reform around the fantasia in a smoke screen. Danaël found himself thrown out of the ring before landing face-first against a nearby wall to great fanfare.
A second later, his friend was thrown out of the ring and landed delicately, rolling over as he hit the ground. Danaël groaned and grabbed his face in pain.
"I hate these fucking turbo-transporters!" He exclaimed.
Dod smiled and held out his hand.
"Are you done playing the clown, Dan?"
"I swear, you'll have to explain to me how you manage to land so well every time."
Danaël took Dod's hand and struggled to his feet. The central tavern was just a few yards from where they had landed.
Danaël, still grimacing with pain, followed in Dod's footsteps as he strided along. At a height of one hundred sixty-five centimeters, Danaël sometimes found it hard to keep up with his friend, who towered over him by some fifteen centimeters.
The central tavern ran the length of the street opposite Dod and Danaël. The two boys could hear the sounds of conversation, cutlery rubbing plates, and carefree laughter from several yards away.
With small steps, they approached the front entrance. Dod looked around before whispering in Danaël's direction, "Let's go to the back; the carts are probably over there."
Danaël nodded, and they resumed their walk, still taking small steps. Dod stopped abruptly; the two boys were now in the corner of the facade, on the right. A few centimeters from Dod's head was an open window with a small balcony.
The two boys stuck to the wall, trying to make as little noise as possible. A man approached the balcony and lit a cigar with a fantastic crystal.
Dod motioned to Danaël to remain silent, and the two boys crouched down and continued towards the back of the tavern. The angle of the balcony prevented the man from seeing the two boys from where he stood.