Read Chapter 19: Election Week

Claire's land investigation appeared ten days before the municipal election.

Vautrin called it “a politically timed attack on renewal.” His main opponent, school principal Hélène Vidal, called for an independent audit. Maret called his lawyer.

Saint-Aurèle called everyone else.

At the market, people argued beside the olives. In the bar, supporters accused Claire of destroying investment. Parents debated whether club corruption mattered more than jobs. Someone spray-painted TRAÎTRES on the Gazette shutters. Someone else washed it off before sunrise.

Marc tried to keep the team away from politics.

Politics came to training anyway.

A local television crew asked Yannis whether he supported Vautrin. Baptiste's uncle was running on Vidal's list. One reserve forward's father threatened to stop attending if Claire “kept attacking the town.”

Marc banned media from the training ground.

“Dictator,” Claire said.

“Efficient government.”

On Friday, investigators arrested Serge Kovač near Montpellier.

The news broke nationally.

Authorities alleged blackmail, unlawful betting activity, laundering, and attempts to manipulate sporting events across several regional competitions. Saint-Aurèle was only one part of the inquiry.

Maret was questioned but not arrested.

Lucas called Marc.

“Is it over?”

“No.”

“Feels like it.”

“That's because you've been waiting for a face to disappear. The system's bigger.”

Lucas was quiet.

“They say I may be charged.”

Marc had expected it.

“For participation?”

“Yes. Lawyer says cooperation matters.”

“You knew that.”

“Knowing isn't the same when someone says prison.”

Marc closed his eyes.

“I'll come over.”

“No. Stay with the team.”

Sunday's match determined whether Saint-Aurèle reached the promotion playoff.

They needed one league point.

The opponent, Sète Maritime, needed a win.

Rain had turned the pitch into a field of brown water. The crowd exceeded two thousand, nearly a quarter of the town.

At halftime Saint-Aurèle trailed 13-0.

Yannis sat with mud on his face.

Marc looked around the room.

“You don't need to save Saint-Aurèle,” he said.

Nobody moved.

“You don't need to save the club. You don't need to prove Claire's right, Vautrin's wrong, Lucas guilty, or yourselves clean. You need one half of rugby.”

He pointed toward the door.

“Forty minutes is small enough to be honest.”

They went out.

Sète scored first: 16-0.

Then Saint-Aurèle began to move.

Penalty. 16-3.

Try from a maul. 16-10.

Another penalty. 16-13.

With two minutes left, Sète kicked long. Yannis caught it inside his twenty-two.

A draw would secure the league point if Saint-Aurèle scored a penalty. The safe play was touch, territory, pressure.

Yannis ran.

Marc almost screamed.

Then the young ten stepped one defender, passed to Léo, looped around, received again, and kicked cross-field toward Mathieu.

Mathieu caught the ball on the bounce and scored in the corner.

18-16.

The conversion was from the same left touchline where Marc had spent months correcting Yannis's plant foot.

Yannis placed the tee.

The whistle went in the crowd.

He kicked.

Straight through.

20-16.

Full time.

Promotion playoff.

Yannis did not celebrate immediately. He turned toward Marc and pointed at his left foot.

Marc laughed so hard his knee hurt.

That night Vautrin lost the mayoral election by 183 votes.

Saint-Aurèle celebrated twice and mourned twice, depending on the street.

Nothing was solved.

Everything had changed.