«The return, episode 5

Le Regard Libre N° 85 - Elliot Mazzella

Each month, Le Regard Libre publishes young Swiss author Elliot Mazzella's novel Le retour, in the form of fifteen episodes. A return to fiction in these pages, a return to the old tradition of the serial novel.

Barely back in his native village, where he thought he'd be welcomed as a hero, Joseph stays with the widow Agathe until the village decides his fate: should he be sent back to where he came from as a stranger, or should he be given time to prove that he really is the Joseph everyone in the village knew? The day after his return, Joseph is invited to take part in the daily chores. This is his first test.

The night is drawing to a close. Joseph looks down at his feet and the dust they are kicking up. He laughs, thinking back to this morning's jokes; if he'd been in their shoes, he'd have done the same. He looks up at the sky. The