Discover Cleaning, the unpublished short story by Nathan Devers

Whether left, right or centrist, populist or techno, politicians had never succeeded in stemming the proliferation of rodents in major French cities.

The finding was clear: the population of Norway rats, also called "sewer rats" or "scumbags", had exceeded 20 million in France.

Strengthened by this omnipresence, the critters began to take their ease.

We saw them constantly rummaging through the garbage cans.

Walked in the footsteps of pedestrians.

Scared the children.

Biting dogs on a leash.

Everywhere was a cesspool of shrill squeaks, brown and black swarms, howls caused by the sight of those oblong ungrateful viper-like tails.

The rats had become full-fledged inhabitants of our beautiful country.

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From year to year, this theme imposed itself in the public debate.

According to opinion studies, the French no longer wanted to be pounded into their ears with the same questions...

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