Atomised

by Michel Houellebecq

Human beings who have worked – worked hard – all their lives with no other motive than their love and devotion; who have literally given their lives for others, out of love and devotion. Human beings who have no sense of having made any sacrifice; who cannot imagine any other way of life than giving their lives for others – out of love and devotion. In general, such human beings are invariably women.

‘When I look at the moonlight on the water,’ said Bruno, ‘it’s clear to me we have nothing – absolutely nothing to do with this world.’

Another of their games was to cut the antennae off snails with their round-ended children’s scissors. All of the snail’s sensory awareness comes from its antennae, crowned by the eyes. Without them, the snail is reduced to a pulpous mass, suffering and bewildered.