"You're not African anymore, you're a Legionnaire now." So says Master Sergeant Galoup, who makes his beliefs about being in the French Foreign Legion very clear: it entails absolute devotion to one's superiors and priority of duty. And yet, for some reason, he seems disturbed by Legionnaire Gilles Sentain, one of the soldiers stationed with him in Djibouti. There's no reason for Galoup to hate Sentain. The other soldiers adore him, as does the Commandant Forestier. But Galoup accuses Sentain of being subversive. He's constantly trying to warn Forestier about him, but Forestier won't listen. Part of it is that Galoup is being unreasonable. Part of it is that Forestier just isn't very interested. Forestier lacks Galoup's fervor for the Legion, and never seems to exercise his authority. Galoup keeps everything in perfect order. Forestier lies back and doesn't do much of anything. The soldiers swim and dance...
"We are in the world, not against it." - Ursula K. Le Guin