Chapter 05

A birth, a birthday, a strange dream

Months have passed since Charles' departure, more than eight, less than nine.

That's why CHarlotte didn't expect, that night of full moon, to fell the pain in her belly.

- Oh no, it's too early! Mandingo, stop playing the King of the island and go find Camilla! Hurry, I will need your help!

Mandingo runs away, while Charlotte walks back and forth between contractions.

- Quiiiiiick Mandingo, gooo! - Charlotte screams. It's happening too fast, too. She's really scared, the other time it tooks her hours to have Camilla, now it feels like the baby is about to come out ini minutes.

The children come back in less than five minutes, just in time to see Charlotte give birth among atrocious pain, to a little baby girl, as the full moon rises over the ocean.

- Go get some clean towel. Baby girl, you look so like your father. What will be your name, my little dughter? Do you like the name Luna? It means "Moon" in italian, I think it suits you, you are born with a full moon rising.

Yes, Luna.

She cuddles Luna  a bit, breastfeeds her, then she puts the baby in the cradle.

- I really don't feel good. It was too quick, too painful. I need to rest. Maybe tomorrow I'll be better.

Charlotte goes to bed, and the two children, Mandingo and Camilla, go to sleep as well.

At one point of the night, Mandingo hears some noises from the other room. He gets up, and finds a woman eating the leftovers in the kitchen.

- Who are you?! - asks Mandingo

The woman stays silent. She exits the house, opens a colourful umbrella, and takes the dish with her. Then she stops and look back at Mandingo, staring.

Mandingo follows her to the exterior toilet.

He tries to talk to her, telling her name, trying to point out at the big moon tonight, but the woman remains quiet.

Then, suddenly, she starts to play a strange musical instrument. Mandingo feels like something exploding from inside of him.

And he grows up.

And I mean he grows up, a lot, everywhere.

The woman talks for the first time. He doesn't understand her words, but he can understand the meaning. It's all so strange.

The strange woman takes him inside the toilet,

and they have sex. And....

And?

The next morning, Mandingo awakens in his bedroll, wet. 

He can't remeber the rest of the.. dream? 

Was it really a dream? He can't tell. 

The only sure thing is that now he's a teenager.