The city is enveloped in profound silence. Ils passent près d'ancien cinéma en ruines, qui a gardé intacte son enseigne datant du protectorat français, comme une relique qui n'intéresse plus personne. Arrive at the top of the casbah, long before the wall of the ancient palace and arrive at the tombeaux phéniciens on the falaise. Ils s'assoient et contemplent la mer d'encre, sombre et calme. Au loin, de names petites lumières clignotent sur la côte espagnole. Plusieurs phares jalonent le détroit, balisant theintense traffic maritime entre l'Europe et l'Afrique qui se densifie jour après jour, dans une valse de porte-conteneurs et cargos qui transportent autant de richesses sur leurs ponts que de misère au fond de leurs cales.
This gives you the chance to embarquer clandestinement in these poids of Lourds des Mers viendront alimenter the traffic clandestin de travailleurs à bas prix de l'agriculture intensive Andalouse. D'autres essaieront de remonter vers le nord, s'ils arrivent à franchir les barrières douanières, and découvriront l'eldorado européen. There are chances for the traversée in the inverse sense, accompagnés for the police of the frontiers, and nothing more than a recommencer in the force essay on the new destination.
— Tu vois ces lumières, là-bas ? demande-t-il à Awa qui s'est accroupi à côté de lui.
— C'est l'Europe, c'est là où je vais.
Les grands yeux verts d'Awa scintillent de reflets lumineux qu'il observe avec émerveillement, comme s'il était aux portes du paradis.
— Oui, c'est Gibraltar et l'Espagne en face. C'est tout pres d'ici.
François Parrot, Un winter à Tangier (Bouquins, 2023)
The city is still shrouded in profound silence. They pass an old, dilapidated cinema, its sign dating back to the French protectorate unchanged, like a relic no one cares about anymore. Reaching the top of the Kasbah, they walk along the wall of the old palace and pause before the Phoenician tombs at the edge of the cliffs. They sit down and gaze at the inky sea, dark and calm. In the distance, many small lights twinkle along the Spanish coast. Several lighthouses line the strait, marking the intense maritime traffic between Europe and Africa, which grows more congested daily in a waltz of container ships and freighters carrying as much wealth on their decks as misery in their holds.
Those fortunate enough to stow away on these ocean giants will fuel the illegal trade in cheap labor for Andalusian agriculture. Others will attempt to reach the north, if they manage to cross customs, and discover the European Eldorado. The less fortunate will make the crossing in reverse, escorted by border police, and will have to start all over again, trying to steer their fate to the next level.
"Do you see the lights over there?" he asks Awa, who has crouched down next to him.
"This is Europe, that's where I want to go."
In Awa's large green eyes, reflections of light glitter, which he gazes at in wonder, as if he were standing at the gateway to paradise.
"Yes, that's Gibraltar, and Spain is opposite. It's very close." 1
This article is written in German and can be found at https://rentree.de. Automatic translations into English and French are available. English, French.
Notes- "There is this man, wandering through the winter of Tangier, the winter of his tormented life. There is also this child, trying to survive in a toxic world. And all around, the world, unjust and violent, and life, which, despite everything, continues to fight. Hope, attempting a breakout. Between reality and fiction, the end of an era." (Translation of the publisher's announcement.)>>>
