Tierno Diagne, who had become a prosperous farmer, decided to get married without delay.
On the evening of the ceremony, he was congratulated by the entire group.
The next day, Salif went to Watch Dal to meet Kheuch Dal and inform him about May.
As it turned out, Kheuch Dal had long noticed the way they looked at each other, and he was not the type to complicate things:
"I know why you're here," said Kheuch Dal. "It's May. You love each other."
"I noticed it too," added the drunkard.
"Don't make things complicated," Kheuch Dal continued. "Ask for her hand, and she'll be yours until death. Just bring your father."
"Thank you," said Salif, smiling—he didn't even need to say more. "I'm going."
"Alright," said Kheuch Dal.
Salif left, smiling.
With the efforts of the young Dal, Watch Dal had almost become a town, with a market and an education center named Dof Dal.
Mous Dal realized that he and his group were the only ones who had lost everything.
Watch Dal was even developing residential areas with beautiful buildings.
Kheuch Dal himself had invested in trade and was doing well.
Mous Dal gathered his group to speak seriously:
"We were wrong from the beginning," he said.
"So what?" Neub Dal replied in his usual harsh tone.
"So what?" Mous Dal repeated, surprised. "We accept reality. We find work. I should have listened to Dof Dal."
"By the way, have you seen those idiots Dramé and Bandi Dal?" Neub Dal asked. "They disappeared like magic."
"No," Mous Dal replied. "But your group is what worries me the most. I don't care about the others. Let them do what they want. But if you don't want to live, at least let others live—if you care about them. Instead, you're leading them toward an inevitable fall."
"Listen to me!" Neub Dal shouted. "Being an attacker is my profession, my faith—do you hear me?"
"You were born crazy, and you'll die insane," Mous Dal said, pointing at him. "I'm trying to tell you we can live a normal life, but you're too stubborn to listen. I'm done with this!"
Laughing, Mous Dal stood up and began to walk away.
He had barely taken a few steps when a gunshot rang out.
A bullet struck him straight in the head.
The sound drew people from all around.
They found the rest of the group beating Neub Dal to death, shouting in rage:
"Murderer!"
"You're evil! We won't let you ruin our lives, Neub Dal!" Mong Dal shouted.
That same evening, Chief Ndour arrived with his police force.
They arrested the remaining members of the group for murder.
"I understand," Ndour said to Kheuch Dal. "I know your story."
"Who informed you?" Kheuch Dal asked.
"What is my training for?" Ndour replied. "Since the incident involving a young girl from Deuk Wolof, I infiltrated your village. Something like that had never happened there—it was unimaginable."
"What will you do?" Kheuch Dal asked.
"What will I do?" Ndour repeated. "Apart from locking up what's left of Mous Dal's group? From now on, we—the police—will personally take care of Watch Dal. It reminds me of Dof Dal."
"You knew him?" Kheuch Dal asked, surprised.
"I have an informant," Ndour said. "And he made me admire Dof Dal."
"We all miss him," Kheuch Dal said.
"I know," Ndour replied. "Now I must go. Oh—and one more thing. Bandi and Dramé Dal… you haven't seen them, have you?"
"No," Kheuch Dal answered.
"They were planning something dangerous," Ndour said.
"That's their nature," Kheuch Dal replied.
"No," Ndour said. "This was different. They wanted to kill Dof Dal."
"What?" Kheuch Dal exclaimed.
"Their mistake was informing my agent," Ndour continued. "I couldn't let that happen. If Dof Dal had been killed in Watch Dal… I didn't even want to imagine the consequences."
"Where are they now?" Kheuch Dal growled.
"Don't worry about that," Ndour said. "My agent drugged their alcohol. That night, we were just outside your town. Around two in the morning, we took them away. They're now serving hard labor."
"Serves them right," Kheuch Dal said.
"Ndour," he added, looking him in the eyes, "thank you."
"Don't thank me," Ndour replied. "Thank Dof Dal—and the people of Deuk Wolof."
Ndour left with his men, escorting the prisoners to the station.
Shortly after, Salif arrived with his father.
They found Kheuch Dal in the public square.
"What brings you here?" Kheuch Dal asked.
"My son," Abdoulaye said, pointing at Salif, "is in love with a young woman named May, who is under your responsibility."
"Yes," Kheuch Dal replied. "I almost thought he lacked the courage to bring you here to ask for her hand. Come tomorrow with the dowry."
"Thank you," said Abdoulaye. "Let's go."
"At least let me walk you out," said Kheuch Dal.
At the police station, Mong Dal saw the drunkard speaking with Ndour.
"Hey, drunkard! What are you doing here?" he shouted.
"You still haven't understood?" the man replied.
"Understood what?" Mong Dal asked.
"When you see Bandi and Dramé Dal, you'll understand better," the drunkard said—this time, he didn't look drunk at all. "Now, not another word."
"Explain it to us!" Mong Dal shouted.
But the drunkard walked away without another word.
On the day of the wedding, Kheuch Dal began to cry.
In truth, he was thinking of Dof Dal.
All the tears he had held back since Dof Dal's death finally poured out.
That night, during the celebration, Tierno Diagne teased the groom:
"So, you've left the ranks of bachelors," he said.
"Indeed," Salif replied.
"You have good taste," Tierno added.
"I love her too much," Salif said.
"It's good that she married you," Tierno said. "Now Dof Dal can rest in peace. And you, Salif—you're truly a good man."
"Thank you," Salif replied.
"No need," Tierno said.
As they enjoyed the food, the village of Deuk Wolof was filled with joy, shared with the people of Watch Dal.
End