From left to right: Prune and Grisón
A Hole in the Fence (French: Un trou dans le grillage) is a science-fiction children book written by French author François Sautereau in 1979. Artist Mario Rabassi provided illustrations for the story.
Grisón is a twelve-year-old orphan boy who lives in Courquetaines, a quaint and completely ordinary French village... or it would be but for the Forbidden Zone which spreads beyond the Epnoi Forest, a restricted and mysterious area whose borders are relentlessly guarded by police patrols.
Nobody knows what lies on the Zone, but Grisón and his friends are determined to discover the truth, if only to satisfy their teenager curiosity; unfortunately, every attempt ends up with them being caught and sent back home by brigadier Beauras and his men.
During one failed attempt, Grisón escapes from the guards thanks to the help of a mysterious but nice shepherd called Basile. Basile encourages Grisón to keep investigating...but being more careful about it, since the brigadier is getting sick of his and his friends' antics. And he piques Grisón's curiosity by hinting that some people in Courquetaines have discovered the Zone's secret, but they are not letting on.
And deciphering the Zone's secrets is key to finding out why his mother never came back for him after leaving him in the care of his foster parents.
Tropes:
- 20 Minutes into the Future: This 1979 story imagines a near future where French society has become so divided over enviromental concerns that one side chose to seclude themselves into a restricted zone where they could lead a rural way of life in a clean, mostly machine-free environment. Meanwhile, the remaining population built larger, shinier and more polluted cities, using technology which would not look out of place in the twenty-first century.
- Amplified Animal Aptitude: Grisón's adoptive parents' rooster is supposed to be a completely normal fowl. However, rather than crowing loudly at daybreak because of his biological rhythm, he seems to consider it his duty to awaken his owners at dawn, and gets terribly upset when he fails to stir Grisón up (which happens routinely).
- As You Know: As telling Grisón how he was adopted, his adoptive mother Flammèche explains that Albert talked her into taking him in, before adding: "As you know, Albert is my father."
- Batman Gambit: During a party, two shepherds called Basile and Sammy tell the main characters the story of "The Bridge of the Old Women". Intrigued, Grisón decides to visit the ruins of La Margelle -where, according to the legend, there might be buried treasure- the next morning, and he finds Basile waiting for him. The shepherd explains he needed to have a private talk with Grisón, and he knew Grisón would want to explore the place after hearing the legend. When Grisón mumbles he could have come another day -or never-, Basile replies everyone knows he cannot wait. Grisón admits it is a fair assessment.
- Blatant Lies: When brigadier Beauras catches Grisón trying to sneak into the Epnoi Forest, the kid claims he was only gathering strawberries. Beauras replies that both know that nobody told him to go to a restricted zone to gather strawberries in winter.Brigadier Beauras: "Nobody, nobody, my boy, has ever told you to come here to pick strawberries. It is not true."
Grisón: "No, sir, but I got lost..."
Brigadier Beauras: "It's serious to get lost in the forbidden zone."
Grisón: "I didn't do it on purpose, sir."
Brigadier Beauras: "'Didn't you do it on purpose?"' The nerve of it. That is not a good excuse. First of all, there are no strawberries to be found around here. Especially in winter."
Grisón: "It's spring, sir."
Brigadier Beauras: "Yes, I know. Since this morning." - The City vs. the Country: Grisón and Prune leave Courquetaines and travel to Metropolis to meet their biological mother. After spending some weeks in the big city, both kids declare the big city is...alright, they reckon, but it is not home, and they really want to return to their peaceful town. Saura is more than delighted to go back with them since she always hated the city life.
- Cock-a-Doodle Dawn: Played for laughs when Grisón wakes up with the cock's song, shocking and delighting his parents' rooster because Grisón NEVER gets up early in the morning and his laziness was damaging the poor birds' self-image.
- Color-Coded Castes: In Metropolis, the color of your clothes denotes your social status. Servants wear dark suits. Middle class people wear somewhat brighter clothes. Senior civil servants and official wear light colors. And bright-white one-piece suits are reserved for the Governor's family.
- Country Mouse: Twelve-year-old Grisón and Prune leave Courquetaines and travel to Metropolis to meet their biological mother, quickly finding themselves out of place when they arrive in the big city. They initially have headaches because they are used to breathe cleaner air, and they are overwhelmed by the giant buildings, giant parkings, elevators (they had never seen one until then), weird synthetic food, similar words with different meanings, unfamiliar appliances, strangely-shaped furniture... After two weeks they are surprised to be able to make their way to a stadium to watch a sports event and go back home without getting lost.
- Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: Saura left her baby kids in the care of adoptive families because she did not want them to grow up in Metropolis' super-populated and super-polluted environment. Saura intended to return for them when they reached school age, but she was presumed dead in an earthquake two years later. And she then spent one decade fighting over moving to Courquetaines with her children with her own father, the Metropolis' governor, who does not like the idea of his daughter becoming a farmer and living off the land.
- Disappeared Dad: Grisón and Prune's father was killed in an earthquake when they were about two years old.
- Do Wrong, Right: When Brigadier Beauras catches Grisón trying to sneak -clumsily and badly- into the Forbidden Zone once again, the man grumbles about the town's kids sucking at stealth, and even more insultingly, believing they are crawling around and hiding themselves well.
- Don't Go in the Woods: The Epnoi Forest has been designated as a Forbidden Zone for generations, and its edges are relentlessly watched by patrol guards who stop intruders from entering and discovering what lies within the wood.
- Exact Words: When Delphine declares Grisón cannot be her boyfriend since she does not even talk to him, her sister Coco replies, "Of course you are not talking to him right now; he is away from the town".
- Family Eye Resemblance: Delphine notes that Grisón looks like Prune because they have the same grey eyes. Later, Grisón has to see his missing mother's picture, and notes she has Prune's same grey eyes. Shortly later, it is revealed that both kids are siblings.
- Forbidden Fruit: Nobody knows what lies beyond the Epnoi Forest, but the kids from Courquetaines are obsessed with sneaking past the guards, going into the restricted area and finding out. After catching Grisón once again, brigadier Beauras sarcastically remarks that neither of those kids would even think of walking near the forest if it was not forbidden.
- Foreshadowing: Flammèche and Antoine invite Prune to their foster son Grisón's birthday party, even though she is not one of his closest friends; and given that both farmers finally intend to tell Grisón about her biological's mother, the presence of Prune (who did not even knew Grisón was adopted like her) at such a personal time seems really out of place. Several chapters later, it is revealed that Prune is Grisón's sister.
- Forgot Their Own Birthday: Subverted. On returning home, Grisón notices eight extra plates set at the table, and asks who is coming to dinner. His adoptive mother asks whether he has forgotten today is an important day. Since Grisón does not seem to have a clue, Flammèche reminds him that it is his birthday. However, it is revealed that Grisón was just playing dumb and knew what day it was.
- Former Teen Rebel: Forty-year-old brigadier Beauras is tasked with keeping people out of the Forbidden Zone, including nosy kids who try to sneak into the area. Back when he was a teenager, though, Beauras often tried -but always failed- to sneak into the Zone. He is quite aware of the irony.
- Future Food Is Artificial: When Grisón and Prune arrive in Metropolis and go to a restaurant, they are served something looking like chocolate bars which they are told is an omelet, and a porridge which is supposed to be chicken with rice. They soon figure out all food in the super-advanced city is like this: differently-flavored, synthetic porridge and tablets.
- The Great Fire: A huge fire breaks out in Epnoi Forest and begins spreading from the Forbidden Zone towards the farmlands. Although volunteers arrive to help out, the firefighting is hampered because police and soldiers have to keep people from going into the Zone. Suddenly and mysteriously, the fire is put out by a huge stream of fire-fighting foam shot from far away. When Grisón and his friend Raclot hear about the catastrophe, both of them find interesting the fact that the fire started in and was extinguished from the Forbidden Zone.
- Happily Adopted: When Grisón and his sister meet their mother, and Saura asks how they were treated by their respective adoptive families, Grisón states Antoine and Flammèche were good adoptive parents, and Prune also insists that Marguerite Rousselot took care well of her.
- He Knows Too Much: Subverted. When Basile reveals that some people discovered the secret of the Forbidden Zone, Grisón asks warily what happened to them. When Basile answers "Absolutely nothing", Grisón becomes flummoxed and asks why nobody explains why the Zone is forbidden so everybody knows why they should stay away. Rather than answering, Basile encourages Grisón to keep investigating...but without making questions. Making questions is a bad idea.
- The Legend of Chekhov: The legend of "The Bridge of the Old Women" and the gold of the Criarde River which Basile and Sammy tell the kids turns out to be true, and it is the explanation for Basile being secretly wealthy despite being just a shepherd: his parents found the gold when they built the fence forty years before.
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: The reason why people know nothing of or refuse to talk about the Forbidden Zone beyond of Courquetaines is that a part of the country's population decided to abandon their cities, seclude themselves in the High Country and live like farmers in a restored and healthy environment forty years ago. So, a high fence was built, and both parties agreed to never talk again about the fights, arguments and strife which led to that situation.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Prune is not told that she is also going into the Forbidden Zone together with Grisón to meet her mother because she is his sister until she has been literally dragged into the Zone because Basile believed she would not be able to keep quiet about it.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: The shepherd Basile reveals to Grisón that Prune is his sister right before the mission to cross the Forbidden Zone. When Grisón finally tells Prune, the young and shocked girl can only repeat "You're my brother" over and again.
- Meaningful Name: "Gris" is French for "Grey". Grisón's grey eyes are one of his most distinctive features, which he shares with his mother and his sister.
- Mistaken for Romance: When Basile tells Raclot is becoming jealous of Grisón and Prune's relationship, Grisón gets surprised because he has never thought of Prune in a romantic way. Later, Grisón makes sure that his own girlfriend Delphine knows she has absolutely no reason to be jealous of Prune.
- "Not So Different" Remark: During a private conversation, though, brigadier Beauras and his men agree that, even though they are getting sick of catching the town's kids trying to trespass into the Zone, Grisón and his schoolmates are just regular, nosy kids who cannot stop themselves from getting into mischief and pulling off the same kind of stunts which Beauras did when he was twelve.
- Official Couple: After several teasing hints, main character Grisón and Delphine get together off-panel. Raclot and Prune, though, hook up after the party at the Bastille Day.
- Parental Substitute: Grisón was adopted by Flammèche and Antoine, one couple of farmers living outside of Courquetaines. His sister Prune was adopted by the Rousselots.
- Punch-Clock Villain: The cops stopping the main characters from sneaking into the forest bordering the Forbidden Zone are only doing their jobs; they would not even care about people going to the place if their livelihoods were not depending on keeping them out. This is shown when brigadier Beauras sees Basile and Rafistole openly walking into the Zone...and he gives a friendly greeting. Since he has just been promoted, Beauras happily declares he no longer cares about people going in and out of there.
- Rebellious Princess: Saura is daughter of the man who has been the governor of Metropolis for forty years, and as far she is concerned, her privileged position means she cannot live her own life. She has been bickering with her father for years because he will not let her move out of the city and live a simple life, and he is still bitter about Saura marrying a man of the High Country against his wishes.
- Relative Error: Variant. Grisón becomes shocked when he finds out that his friend Raclot thinks Grison is hanging with Prune a bit too much, since he has never regarded Raclot's girlfriend as more than a friend. Later, after finding out that they are siblings, Grisón and Prune make sure to tell their respective love interests why no romantic relationship will ever happen between them.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: Flammèche explains Grisón that his biological mother asked her to take care of her baby for some few years; but she never came back for Grisón because she died in the earthquake which shook the city of La Morlaye two years later. Later, Basile reveals Grisón that his mother is alive, and mystified, the boy asks why his adoptive parents lied to him. Basile replies he was not lied to: it's difficult to identify and locate all dead and missing persons in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Still later, his mother explains it was her husband who died in the earthquake.
- The Reveal:
- The Forbidden Zone hides a giant fence which separates the region of Courquetaines from the rest of the country. Forty years ago, the quarrels over environmental issues led the nature lovers to claim the area and restore its natural environment after throwing out whoever was not willing to live in a town. They then built a high fence around the region to keep themselves inside and the rest out, and the High Country was born. In the aftermath, both parties agreed to never talk about the past again, for which the areas bordering the fence became restricted.
- Grisón's biological mother is alive and has been fighting to reunite with her children during years. Wait, children? Yes, it turns out that Grisón's schoolmate Prune is his sister.
- Rich Boredom: Saura's father, who has been the Metropolis' governor for four decades, lives in a lavish penthouse, which he deems "as boring as any paradise".
- Separated at Birth: Grisón and Prune turn out to be siblings. On the same night that she left baby Grisón in Flammèche's care, Saura visited Marguerite Rousselot and asked her to take care of her baby daughter for some few years.
- Separated by a Common Language: Shortly after arriving in Metropolis, Grisón and Prune discover that same words hold different meanings. For example, a car is not a horse-drawn carriage but an automobile.
- She Is Not My Girlfriend: Delphine denies that she has some boyfriend, let alone Grisón, when her little sister Coco teases her about it...as desperately trying to hide a love letter penned by said not-boyfriend.
- Single-Season Country: Because of the high atmospheric pollution, Metropolis is locked in an endless Autumn. The weather is always mild, tress are usually leafless...
- Stealth Hi/Bye: As debriefing Grisón on the mission to cross the Forbidden Zone, Basile adds that Grisón must take Prune with him because she is his sister. Grisón is letting it sink in when it occurs to him ask whether Basile has also prepared clothes and identity papers for her. Grisón then realizes that Basile sneaked out while he was distracted.
- Supporting Leader: Raclot is the leader of the band of children who intend to sneak into the Zone. He is the one who comes up with plans and strategies, and who takes responsibility when their attempts fail. However, the story follows his friend and eventual second-in-command Grisón.
- Taking the Heat: Played for laughs. Grison's friends are whispering at each other in class when the group's leader Raclot tells them to lower their voices. Ironically, that statement is overheard by their teacher, who demands to know who is talking in class instead of paying attention. Jocrisse immediately stands up and voluntarily takes the blame to spare Raclot from punishment.
- Tell Me About My Father: Grisón used to ask his foster mother Flammèche about his parents growing up, but she always asked him to be patient for a little longer. Flammèche finally tells him in the night of his twelfth birthday how she met his mother and agreed to raise him.
- Title Drop: When Basile tells he can get Grisón through the barrier bordering the Forbidden Zone, Grisón asks whether there is a hole in the fence.Basile: "Normally yes, it would be impossible. But I have everything I need here."
Grisón: "Are you going to make a hole in the fence?"
Basile: ""There's already a hole in the fence. I am one of the few that know about it."
Grisón: (murmuring) "A hole in the fence…"'' - Unwitting Pawn: Even though Brigadier Beauras is the chief of the police squad tasked with keep people out of the Zone, he is getting sick of watching over who-knows-what only because his superiors said so. One day, Beauras spots Grisón trying to (badly) crawl into the Zone, and he is about to drag him out of the shrubbery when he comes to a realization: He cannot run the risk of getting fired by snooping around, but the kid is risking barely anything. So, Beauras allows Grisón to sneak into the area, catches him when he is sneaking out, and lets him go with a scolding and a warning after subtly getting answers out of him.
- The Wall Around the World: When Grisón manages to crawl into the Forbidden Zone, he discovers a several-meter-high fence stretching out as far the eye can see, and beyond the wall a huge city. When Grisón and Prune manage to break through the fence, they ask their mother because their city is walled up. Surprised, she reveals that it is the region around Courquetaines and other villages which was fenced off by their inhabitants, who wanted to make a live off the land instead of inhabiting over-populated and over-polluted cities.
- We Need a Distraction: So that Basile can lead Grisón and Prune into the Forbidden Zone, their friends approach the edge of the area and begin making noise, shaking trees, hiding and crawling around in very unsubtle ways until they have completely drawn the guards' attention.
- Where the Hell Is Springfield?: The action is set somewhere in rural France. However, the exact location of Courquetaines and Metropolis is never stated. Although a commune named Courquetaine is located in north-central France, there is no city called Metropolis situated within walking distance from that village...or anywhere in France, for that matter. Further complicating matters, a 2014 law (passed forty years after the book's publication) allows any group of communes to become a larger administrative division called a métropole.
- With Catlike Tread: Grisón and his friends are always caught by the guards because they absolutely suck at sneaking around. They are noisy and impatient, shake bushes and grass as crawling around clumsily, and as Beauras annoyedly notes, they do not even notice their butts are showing above the grass when they try to sneak past him.
