«The Night of the Gütsch», unpublished novel (episode 10/10)

Here's the sequel to the new novel by Swiss writer André Durussel, published in Le Regard Libre throughout 2024.

The circumstances under which Aimé would finally meet the seminarian Bartimée again at the end of that first year in Lucerne may have been due to chance, just as they had been during his initial journey there. We must, however, pause for a moment and acknowledge that there is often much more than mere chance guiding our destinies, from childhood to the end of our lives. The first of these «reunions»—which would subsequently lead to others and seal a true friendship—took place precisely at the Waldstätterhof on a certain Sunday evening in late October. Seated at a table among a small group of young students—or at least those who appeared to be students—Barti soon spotted Aimé from behind, who, a