C'est La France by Tom Carey

m a g a z i n e

T h i s w a v e i s a n i m m i g r a n t t o F r a n c e . I t i s a l u c k y, l u c k y w a v e . To m C a r e y i s a v i s i t o r t o F r a n c e . H e i s a l u c k y, l u cky m an. Thes e are h is images. Th ese are h i s fr i e n d s. This is Franc e.

C’ e st la F ranc e .

Bienvenue vers la France, mes amis. [ W e l c o m e , f r i e n d s , to F r a n c e . ]

Ale x Gr a y reg ard s a Fren ch arch a n d t u n n el .

[ Green . Bl u e . A n d, yes , Gray.]

L es bat eaux et les b창t im en t s.

[Bo ats an d bu i ldi n gs .]

La mer .

[The sea.]

French man Damien Chadouy joins the resistance.

[Pi gs an d do gs .]

A nd Dus t y Pa y ne .

[L ook at m e.]

A lex Gray, wit h a n a udie nc e of un.

[D o y ou c om e h ere o f ten ? ]

[ Bla ck a n d w h i t e . ]

M a n y d ot s b o b . One d o t lobs. It is Mike Morrissey.

[Li ghtn i n g.]

M ic k F a nning ma k e s his own f l a s h.

[ Wh at

do y ou t h in k , c om r a d e ? ]

Mike M orris s e y a nd A l e x G ra y dis c us s S a rt re .

[A perf ect ci rcle.]

Fred Patac c hia c ompl e t e s a F re nc h re vol ut ion.

[T h e re are s to n es .]

[H e is f lyi n g.]

J ordy S mit h.

One good line I heard in France from a friend was: Did he fartface you? Which is when a French waiter sticks his nose up and ignores you. Much like when he smells a fart.

Rent a car when you’re in France and blaze through the round-a-bouts like a b at out of hell . France is your own personal Indy Track.

I can’t remember too much more from that trip. All of the French people were pretty damn cool. A lot has changed in Hossegor since last time I dropped in.

Its very tolerant now.

One good pointer is to tip the bartender a buck or two. He’ll remember you, pour your beers first and be psyched on you.

—Tom carey

[s o m e adv i ce whi le i n f ran ce.]

[D on’ t g o. ]

[I m u st. ]

Joan Du ru tu rn s away, c ol d.

[T h e re wa s no b l u e s k y that day. That’s all I remember.]

Gabe K lin g storms the be a c hhe a d. He g e t s s hot .

[Em pty s pace.]

Ch ippa Wi l s on, driving on th e right s ide .

[You, s ir, are l ate .]

[An d then , o n e day, war cam e.]

[Alo n e in th e ci ty.]

[How d o es it ta s te ? ]

[What?]

[Life.]

M ik e M orris s e y.

[I see t h at y o u l i ke to wat c h . ]

A lex Gray regards a Fren ch a rc h a nd t unne l .

[ Wi l l y o u co m e to t h e l ig h t sh ow ? ]

And y Iro ns l ig hts a sparkler.

[Thi s place i s o lder than the peo p le.]

A le x G ra y, wa it ing f or G odot .

[ P l e a s e b e q u i e t. I h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o s a y. ]

Al e x G ray.

[I resolve, with the help of your holy grace, to make penitence.]

M ik e M orris s e y bows his he a d.

[H ow can yo u m ak e that ar gum en t? ]

Taj Bu rrow ma k e s his c a s e on t he L e f t B a nk .

Ale x Gr a y f o n dl y de pa r t s .

Tom f ol l o w s.

Unt il n e x t time.

B on v o y a ge , Ale x . B on v oya g e , To m C a r e y.

t r a n s lat