The Fête At Coqueville

In a narrow cleft of rock on the Atlantic coast lies Coqueville, a tiny fishing hamlet where white‑sand beaches meet craggy cliffs. The houses cling to the slope like shells, their red roofs and blue chimneys marking a community cut off from the world except for the daily boat trips to Grandport. Most residents earn their living hauling fish to the trading house of Dufeu, now run by the widow and her brusque clerk Mouchel, the only link between the secluded village and the outside market.

The village is divided by a bitter, generations‑long feud between two founding lineages. The original Mahé families, proud of their ancient roots, clash with the newer Floches, whose vigor and ambition have turned them into the dominant force. Old grudges surface in heated arguments, rivalries between families like the Fouasse and Tupain, and whispered threats that the stronger will eventually push the weaker out. As the annual fête approaches, the fragile peace hangs in the balance, promising a tense celebration that could reshape the community.