Originally published in 2009 by De Arbeiderspers, the Netherlands.

"In this post-apocalyptic satire, security guards Harry and Michel live in the basement of a luxury apartment block, protecting its wealthy denizens. Then over the course of one weekend, all the residents leave the building--except one man on the 29th floor. From the gray, airless confines of their basement headquarters, Harry and Michel continue to make their rounds, with only each other for company. They speculate that the outside world might be at war or plunged into nuclear winter; that they may, in fact, be the last inhabitants in the city. Comforting them through this dark period is the notion that if they are diligent in their duties, "the Organization" will reward them with promotion to an elite cadre of security officers. But what if there were no people on Earth left to guard? And more urgently, if the much-discussed third guard finally arrives, how will he fit into Michel and Harry's quotidian routine of boredom, paranoia, and petty antagonism."--Page [2] of cover.

European Union Prize for Literature, 2010.