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

orange grove, but the vision was so powerful that he called out again.
    â€œAnswer me, grandfather, is it you?”
    As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, Amed again made out the shed’s walls, and the tools lined up on makeshift shelves. The sun from the skylight made the scythes glimmer, along with the pruning shears and the ends of the shovels and saws. Amed glanced around him. The vision had vanished for good. He breathed deeply and placed the belt around his waist. His muscles tensed. He took a few hesitant steps.
    â€œNow I’m a real soldier.”
    Â 
    Crouched behind a bush in the garden, Aziz saw his father leave the shed without Amed and go back to work in the orange grove. He wasn’t surprised at his father’s choice. He waited for Amed to follow him out, but in vain. After a long while, Aziz decided to go and join Amed in the shed. Slowly, he opened the big door a crack.
    â€œAmed, what are you doing?”
    His brother didn’t reply, so he stepped inside.
    â€œI know you’re there. Answer me.”
    â€œDon’t come in.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œLeave me alone.”
    Aziz advanced, slowly making out his brother’s silhouette in the half light.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œDon’t come near me.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIt’s dangerous.”
    Aziz froze. He heard his brother breathing noisily.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    â€œI can’t move.”
    â€œAre you sick?”
    â€œLeave.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI’m wearing the belt and if I move . . .”
    â€œYou’re ridiculous!”
    â€œEverything will blow up. Go away!”
    â€œI’m going to get Father,” said Aziz, frightened.
    â€œYou believed me? You’re stupid,” Amed shouted with a laugh, running at his brother so fast that he knocked him to the ground. “You’re really stupid. The belt has no detonator!”
    Aziz grabbed his brother’s legs, and threw him to the ground in turn. The two fought wildly.
    â€œI’ll kill you!”
    â€œGive me the belt, I’m the one who should go!”
    â€œI’m the one Father chose, I’m the one who has to go.”
    â€œI want to try it, take it off!”
    â€œNever!”
    Aziz hit his brother in the face. Amed stood up, dizzied. He took hold of a long scythe leaning against a wall.
    â€œCome near and I’ll carve you into little pieces.”
    â€œTry!”
    â€œI’m serious, Aziz.”
    The two brothers eyed each other without moving, each listening to the other’s shallow breathing. They were still merely children. Something had changed, as if the darkness had imposed on their young bodies a density and a gravitas only an adult body could bear.
    â€œI’m afraid to die, Aziz.”
    Amed put down the scythe. His brother went to him.
    â€œI know. I’ll go.”
    â€œYou can’t.”
    â€œI will go, Amed.”
    â€œWe can’t disobey Father.”
    â€œI’ll take your place. Father won’t know.”
    â€œHe’ll notice.”
    â€œNo. Believe me. Take it off,” begged Aziz.
    Amed hesitated, then removed the belt with an abrupt gesture. Aziz took it and went to the back of the shed, to where the sunbeam from the skylight almost touched the ground. In the dancing light he scrutinized the object that would slaughter his people’s enemies and usher him into paradise. He was fascinated. The belt was made up of a dozen small cylindrical compartments filled with explosives.
    Amed came to join him. “Do you think the dead can come back?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œI think I saw Grandfather a while ago.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œThere,” said Amed, pointing to a spot in front of them.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œIt was his face. He disappeared right away.”
    â€œYou saw a ghost.”
    â€œWhen you die, maybe you’ll come back