Intruders

The winter had been particularly harsh

Snow had fallen abundantly
People had had the greatest difficulty to move
There had been many castaways of road

Many had found refuge Homestay

Links were forged
For some it was a blessing
They were no longer alone

For others this had been painful

Because of castaways who believed they had all rights
And had taken literally the famous
Make yourself at home

Then winter had been replaced in only one night by summer

Snows had melted
The castaways of road had set out again
With the promise they would return snatched by their hosts with overflow of
loneliness

Or hoping no more to see them again for those who had suffered
Lack of good manners of their guests
The winds had been favourable to activate the articulated wings of the
hovercrafts
And allow their passengers to slide towards their respective destinations

Despite roads where huge puddles were causing geysers of iridescent droplets
While from the roof of the houses slipped the last patches of snow which
bursted
On the ground into thousand crystals tranformed quickly by the violet sun into
water
The walls creaked as if they were going to collapse

All this was usual to the inhabitants of the region and they took offense hardly
The bearers of monthly news passed again on their slider
With their rigid and crosslinked veils adorned with heraldic signs of empire
Armed with megaphone to announce the last political decisions made in the
capital

Or the actions of this or that great warlord or this or that great magus or
magician
Like of course the events of the inhabitants of the township
Marriages deaths, weddings of wind or vitrified stone,
Medals and other rewards allotted to its citizens or citizens more deserving

Rarely did they mention a news item

And each time on decision of the central government of the empire
 Whose official doctrine was that there were no more crimes
Thanks to its policy of repression prevention

When a news item was revealed it was for its civic and educational value
To show that no one could break the law without having to bear the painful
consequences
The tortures suffered by the criminal or the offender were carefully describe
Since ears torn till hands and feet cut while passing by any other part of the
anatomy

Moreover parchment rollers were distributed

With the description of the life of the criminal or delinquent until his crime or
offence
Its lawsuit its judgment the execution of the sentence
Illustrated with its engraved portrait so that no one ignores it

One understands thus better the climate of security and serenity which reigned
in the empire
Contrary to the feeling of insecurity and anguish of the past
Before the great flood of fire which had set ablaze the sky
And had destroyed quantum civilization without one knowing very well what it
consisted

It's this climate of security that can explain the events that we will attempt to
report
That the investigation could not reconstitute satisfactorily
That we can only imagine
From some clues and incomplete testimony

Involving in all likelihood

Lego Antonus citizen of fifth caste of the empire
Caste of which the scaly skin was one of physical features
And other civic , prohibition of travel outside of their designated to them
constituency

Civic constraint not too heavy when they knew

Those imposed on the sixth and seventh caste
Respectively that of the mathematicians and the technicians
Forced to wear continuously

For the former, hobbles to toe in leather

For the latter, hobbles fitted with little bells
To move in the restricted part of the township allocated to them
Of course more limited in passing from one to another

As for the outcastes physicists

They had in addition to the hobbles with little bells
A wooden yoke which made them the slaves of those
Who were willing to release their hands for they eat or for any other activity

Presumably this morning, Lego Antonus by opening the windows of his room,
Found in the already vibrant and dusty air of early summer
 Two unknown or maybe three that seemed to walk towards his house ,
Since they had taken the trail leading to it which left the road of Svervotaur to
Admopaur

There was since this road to his farm a distance of two miles
Lego Antonus had thus had time to proceed to a rapid toilet to get dressed
When he had heard knocking on his door
He had opened and had found himself in the presence of two or three unknown
above-mentioned

Greetings made, the two strangers,

We will choose this version with two strangers, had declined their behalf
For convenience, we will resume the names given by the official chronicles of
the empire:
Nepomus Valetudinus lanky and tall, Rarus Antelectus small all in roundness

It's Rarus Antelectus who had spoken in all likelihood,

Since some evidence suggests that
His companion was deaf and perhaps mute
Népomus Valetudinus confining himself with nodding his head with a wide-
brimmed hat

As the agents of the empire were alone allowed to wear

He would have announced in substance
That they were the agents sent by the Service of the Walls Roofs and
Foundations of Empire,
To inspect the house of Lego Antonus

You may have noticed that the winter was unusually harsh, would he have
added
The snowfalls very abundant,
A Snow, as you know, even grayer than in previous years and even
More fraught with all kinds of particles

The structures of the houses of the farms have been thus overloaded
A great number of public buildings but also of private houses have already
collapsed
As you probably didn't ignore it since the bearers of monthly news of Empire
Were given the task of communicating this to the people

Lego Antonus remarked that he was not aware

Both officers appeared surprised
Even distressed
How was it possible ?

An event so grave would not yet been broadcasted in the country !

Unless the wind rendered inaudible the news Lego Antonus said
Unlikely, because the megaphones of news bearers
Are designed to mulch this drawback

Perhaps distracted was I

Or held behind my farm by some work
 You know that this hazard is expected and as nobody may ignore the news
All precautions are taken by news bearers, had to argue Rarus Antelectus

And that as long as they did not receive a sign that their news were heard they
reiterate them
Yet I assure you I don't remember to have received such an information
Odd strange odd strange usual incantation of the agents of the empire before a
problem
I hope that I did not put myself in contravention of the law

Nay dear citizen

So here is the decision of the central government that I am reading
« Since it was brought to our attention
That unusually abundant and heavy snowfalls this winter

Have already caused the collapse of several houses and public buildings
Ordain that in addition to the ritual human sacrifices of the last born children
Agents of the Walls Roofs and Foundations Service
Conduct thorough investigations on the structures of houses and public
buildings

That a completness inventory », please note dear sir, « completeness, should

be drawn
Obligation will be made to occupants based on the findings of the inventory
To undertake all necessary building work
Our Agents of the Walls Roofs and Foundations Service

Will be welcomed in the best possible way

Housing and meals will be provided to them
The costs incurred will be sent to the administration of the Treasury
Who will conduct the reimbursement »

Here is, dear sir we are your agents to inspect the structures of your home
Without calling into question your mission
Do you have an official order
This is what in all likelihood would have asked Lego Antonus

You mean a rogatory commission

Yes I think that's what I ask you
Since we are warned against all kinds of crooks
Who pose as agents of the government of the empire

No problem sir had to respond Antelectus Rarus

Who turning to Nepomus Valetudinus probably asked to him
If he had in his pockets the aforementioned document and present it,
And this one, if not deaf, mute, likely obeyed

While excavating feverishly in his pockets

To extirpate a very crumpled parchment roll
That he clumsily tried to smooth
And, his useless operation of smoothing finished, tend to Lego Antonus
 Who supposedly took his glasses in his pocket,
We can not ignore that as a citizen of the fifth category of empire,
He was presbyope and authorized to use such a prosthesis.
Once equipped with hereunto he had undertaken to decipher the aforesaid one

Unfortunately the official document was compiled in the language of the

administration,
Only by itself understood,
As it should be for any administration worthy of this name
Excuse me Sirs but I do not understand the language of it

Had to bring himself to admit Lego Antonus,

With this embarrassment of every citizen of the lower classes
That have not made the effort to learn it, since the law did not require it,
Despite the advice given to them by the government to learn it

Naturally since this rogatory commission is written in administrative language,

Has undoubtedly reassured this one, Rarus Antelectus.
In this case, Sirs, please excuse me once again,
But I could not let you proceed with your investigation, owed continue Lego
Antonus

Would you have something to hide us dear Mr Antonus ?

No, I do not think so, include my mistrust.
Few consistent with the climate of security
That our government knew to create in the empire

Would you criticize his policy by any chance? has probably asked, suspicious,
Rarus Antelectus.
No, certainly not, what are you looking for ? you worry me !
But no, no, sir Antonus, don't worry,
We'll show our cards of official agents of the Service of Roofs Walls etc …

Nepomus, show him your card !

Again, Nepomus Valetudinus plunged his hands into his pockets that seemed
bottomless
As he put time in extracting the card too all crumpled.
And while he was speaking in the language of deaf-mutes

Rarus Antelectus translated his words

Excuse me, my wife washed my jacket with my card
He handed his wholy faded card to Lego Antonus
It was difficult to decipher anything on hereunto

It is a document a bit, how to say, faded, commented this one.

You think, said Nepomus still in his language of dumb man translated by his
colleague.
I assure you, it's me, there, look ! you can read Nepomus Valetudinus
And lower agent of second class here he pointed an endless index to an
illegible scribbling

Perhaps to divert attention from this inconclusive document Rarus Antelectus

 intervened
Too bad I can't do as Nepomus and show you my card, but it got taken over and
I have not yet received the new one.
In this case, gentlemen, excuse me, but I can not accede to your request

Both agents have seemed very distressed

Lego Antonus felt obliged to clarify
Consider what happened to Mr. K.
As a member of the fifth caste of the empire he was a scholar

One case if I may quite particular has apparently noticed Rarus Antelectus
Which dates back to quantum civilization
Which we know very little about
Except the prevailing insecurity because of the pervasiveness of arborescent
machines

Which led to disaster the return to barbarism to anthropohagie

Of which thankfully we got rid thanks to our wizards and witches
And the prohibition to use any wheel
Any cogwheel

Nevertheless think Sirs that he died the throat cut in a career!

Nothing is less sure dear Mr Antonus
Recent lucky finds in the aforementioned career showed that there was no
remainder no trace
Of an any execution

Moreover we have only one written testimony

Of this news of which there remain to us only six pages
Of a certain Kafka insurance agent
Who would have reported another history quite as incredible

Which we have Kept this time a score of pages often incomplete

You want to speak undoubtedly of the extracts of this text entitled " the
métamorphosis"
Recently exhumed in the prohibited area of the former Central Europe would
have specified
Lego Antonus with his all erudition as a member of the lower classes of the
empire

Where it would matter precisely of an insurance employee turned into a

cockroach,
Though the experts he continued are not agreed whether
It was a cockroach a roach
Or more evasively an any vermin or just a bug

You can imagine the likelihood of this fact said Rarus Antelectus
An insurance employee transformed overnight from a human being into an
insect
Indeed it's pretty unlikely agreed Lego Antonus
So the second testimony of this K. arrested tried convicted and executed
without further ado
 In a career, Mr. Antonus note, in a career is nothing plausible
As it is implausible that we should not be
What we say
We are

Admit that even shortly

I would receive my new card
And a translation of the official document
We have not found it useful to

Because we thought that the announcement was made at the general

population
Of this decision by our esteemed government
Which admit it the only concern is the safety of its dear citizens
Lego Antonus was forced to recognize it

He therefore allowed to enter the two agents in his house

In the living room they settled in the only two chairs
While Lego Antonus in front of them
Sat on a chair with hands on knees back straight

There was a silence Lego Antonus cleared his throat and asked where their
luggage was
It's Rarus Antelectus who replied they had none since they should to live
Homestay
Who had an obligation to provide housing and food
But also all that is necessary for a citizen in the life of every day

Don't worry as I have already indicated

Once completed our expertise you can send to Central Administration
The statement of expenses incurred which will be refunded
Of course we will have to sign this statement to authenticate it

Lego antonus relaxed not that he was stingy

But he always had doubts about the identity of his guests and he seemed so
strange to him
Not to have heard the official announcement of the government decision
Nevertheless he accomodated according to any appearence with attention their
requests

For example what he foresaw for their rest ?

He probably said he had a guest bedroom on the first mezzanine
Can you take us there ? Rarus Antelectus reportedly asked
Which would have done Lego Antonus

The two agents found the room a bit small and dark
Lego Antonus stated that the direction North would ensure to them a sunny
morning
They asked where his room was
They climbed on the first floor where it stood
 It had their appear larger and clearer as they demanded that Lego cede it to
them
He would have only to sleep into the spare bedroom
With the dual advantage as they begin the inspection of the house through the
roof
To be closer to do this and not having to disturb him

Lego Antonus was grieved but dared not protest

The inspection would last at most a few days
Again he dared not ask the agents for the duration thereof
Could it take there some trinkets and toteracunéifoms of him and his wife ?

Needless exclaimed Antelectus Rarus

Lego Antonus apparently inquired about the reason for this refusal
What was answered to him that they did not want to impose an overly intrusive
presence
And compel him to change his everyday setting

Especially since during part of the day you'll be able to enter almost freely
Rarus Antelectus added and that we will begin our inspection immediately
While you will prepare the meal of midday.
To me there is no problem

I can eat everything

But preferably pumpkin cucumber carrot and as accompaniment
As I badly digest the meat of rat cat or rabbit I would prefer dog or bat if
possible in stew
For Nepomus Valetudinus it's not the same way

Here is a list of what he can't eat it and he handed to Lego Antonus

Twenty parchment sheets
When he had read them Lego Antonus appeared perplexe
And admitted his dismay at such a long list of forbidden culinary

How could he do ?
That he doesn't care made him understand Nepomus Valetudinus by Rarus
Antelectus interposed.
At first he would be satisfied to eat snake eggs and snails
Of which he knew that Lego Antonus was breeder

Certainly he should be organized quickly so he can quickly eat other foods

Otherwise he might get sick of some deficiency
Lego was somewhat reassured although this will decrease even his small
farmer incomes and
Force him to resume the culture of poissenlit of persiflome gentomine and
cerfume

What he did what the witnesses confirmed in the carried out survey of the
years later
On which we rely to narrate these facts.
As for the inspection it has being extremely meticulous
Since it was not finished after one year
 We have a draft of the state of the roof found by chance almost intact
This one was apparently based on these initial findings in an acceptable state
of stability
For walls and foundations were no documents found
At most a neighbor of Lego Antonus would have reported his anxious
appearance

He would have met him who was returning from his fields of culture after a long
workday
Mechanically he would have asked him how he was
Lego would have responded that he was concerned
Because his house had suffered from the severe winter

That it threatened ruin according to experts

He had not dared ask who were these experts
Nor further details
That Lego Antonus had taken care not to provide

After the fourth year the repeated questions of their host that we can well
imagine
The two agents had obviously advised the latter to be patient
Their expertise progressed as it should
They would soon send him a first inventory

Meanwhile Lego Antonus should leave his spare bedroom on the mezzanine
To fit into the small building adjacent to the house.
As he pointed out that there were no amenities
Since he was a closet where he used to pile his tools

Both agents replied that by staying longer in this room of his house
They no longer guarantee his safety
Since it was a priority for the government of the empire
Ensure the safety of its citizens be they of the fifth category

They would be in the painful duty to compel him

Since they were mandated
But they too did not they risk their lives according obviously had to ask Lego
Antonus
Admittedly but it was their duty to continue their work even at the peril of their
lives

He was not without being unaware of the great number of the agents who
Each year passed from life to demise in the exercise of their mission
On behalf of these unfortunate he had to bow to their demands
Otherwise they would be forced to punish him

He must have known that from now on at the slightest resistance they would
be forced to get tough
And take the measures dictated by law
Namely the amputation of his little finger
Then the other fingers before coming to the nose the ears and to the other
 members

This time he would escape a punishment if final

It would be torn off to him only the nails of his left hand
What was immediately executed
In the suffering that one can imagine

Of course Lego Antonus didn't dispute about it anymore

And henceforth took care not to vex his guests
It did not however it seems since we have several indications that
After several months or years Lego Antonus became one-handed man

The fact is it seems well that agents guaranteed to Lego Antonus

That the inspection would be completed shortly
It should continue to be patient
Since they were doing their utmost to end the inventory of fixtures

Meanwhile he had had to leave the lean-to which he occupied

And dig behind the house in the adjoining field
A pit large enough
So that he can occupy it as comfortably as possible

Without doubt he had scored some reluctance to comply

Since we find him ass bowl
Moving in a cart actuated by a small sail
Made from an old chest that he had had permission to use

Apparently he did not seem to complain about his fate

To the rare people he met by far in far
And wondered why for several months
He had occupied this pit instead of staying in his house

Given his disability they did not dare question him about it
Of as much as he avoided to unburden on his daily life
Therefore the changes observed by his neighbors remained to them
Enigmatic

Maybe (they were beginning to suspect) he was suffering from this terrible
disease
Which had caused carnage at the beginning of the empire
After the disappearance of the civilization of the arborescent machines ?
In this case it was best to stay away

Nevertheless they marveled at his ability to maneuver his gliding mini-cart

Since this mysterious disease had still progressed over the months
He had lost his members were these reduced in the state of the stump and
was no longer that a
Trunk

He used his jaw to move by means of ropes

What had enabled some monthly news carriers to see
He had no tongue !
 How to contact a human trunk moreover without no tongue to speak ?

Fortunately in the empire being next door meant

Living at least ten miles from each other
What had the merit to avoid any promiscuity
So the spread of any contagious disease

That certainly now in the vicinity they were sure

Lego Antonus had contracted and which had reduced him to nothing more than
This disabled person
Unable to move only in this gliding mini-cart which began to rust out

Which he could not restore

Which therefore prevented him to go now until the road of Svervotaur in
Admopaur
Then they had learned that members of his distant family had moved into his
house
To help him

One of them was apparently silent or in any case few speaking

From that day that is to say the day his parents arrived
They had not seen Lego Antonus
Just normal seemed it

Because now he had loved ones who could meet all his needs
He was not obliged to run the roads in his dilapidated gliding mini-cart
Which could be seen rotting in the ditch that ran along the path
Then they learned the sad news of his death by his beloved parents

However for some time investigators of the empire were on a dark matter
Which put all administrative services in an uproar
Especially that of Wall roofs and Foundations
A very serious matter because it tended to discredit the services of state !

It was suspected that a number of people

Benefiting difficulties of communication and transport in the empire
Since it was necessary to have to move favorable winds
Which sometimes were made to wait for several days weeks or months

Had killed employees of the Central Government

Usurped their identity and had benefitted from this
To settle among the inhabitants
To live at their expense

They had sometimes been sympathetic

At the point they had become like family members
What had made all easier identification
Other times they had proof the inflexible zeal of the agents of the empire

Not hesitating to use different penalties for recalcitrant citizens

That had made even more difficult to identify them
In the case of Rarus Antelectus and Nepomus Valetudinus
 The investigation of the central government had not revealed anything
conclusive though

As for the large number of years spent in the inspection, it was common
practice !
Especially if the employees were shown a zeal to their credit
As for the penalties imposed on Lego Antonus no certainty
Except that they were legal !

On the other hand, according to the neighbors Lego Antonus

Would have been reached of this disease which had made devastations during
centuries
Caused by the big bang which had reduced in ashes the age of the arborescent
machines
And which precisely was characterized by dieback of the members their rot

Need for slicing them

If one wanted to avoid a nearest death
With altogether valid results
Since the life expectancy could be prolonged at least several years

Why Rarus Antelectus and Nepomus Valetudinus

Had they posed for parents Antonus Lego ?
Of course they had shown simply for reasons of safety !
They were not about to stir up the population

About a citizen as recalcitrant

Nor to disclose in addition his terrible disease
Whose had not reported cases since decades !
The direction of the central government granted a discharge to the two agents

Until investigators discovered by chance that

The true Nepomus Valetudinus was neither deaf nor dumb
Unlike evidence collected by previous investigators
It was too late to stop them

They had found death

In the collapse of the house of Lego Antonus
Of which they had neglected to carry out all repairs necessary
Because of their incompetence

Although there was no certainty as to their guilt

That is to say if they really had impersonated
Agents Nepomus Valetudinus and Rarus Antelectus
As in the empire, doubt benefited not the accused but the charge

The judge magus in load of the investigation decided to apply the sorrow
envisaged
By the code of the empire for a crime as serious as the usurpation of identity
Of agent of the central administration namely the skinning and crucifixion
upside down
As the two bodies were buried recently they were exhumed
 It was possible to skin and nail them to the wooden cross
Provided to this office for the moral elevation of the citizens of the country
They installed the so-called cross at the crossroads of Svervotaur Admopaur
Merchemaur
Which of crossroads of three roads became the crossroads of skinned dead