Chapter twenty
1363 Words
Fifteen days later.....
After another painful and terrible night, although not as bad as the previous ones, Ndeye, who was experiencing more and more sensations and emotions that were foreign and frightening to some, took advantage of Moha's absence from her side when she woke up to go and see Bassiratou (his mother). She explained her situation to Bassiratou, bringing tears to her eyes. Nevertheless, she pulled herself together and took her to the library of the house where she gave her a book to read, not the most common one of course, but a book she had received from her father and was hiding in it. The book, which was a diary that he had told her he had received from his mother, was explained in detail, almost if not all the different human feelings and emotions, exactly what Ndeye needed, and as soon as she was alone she sat down in a corner of the library to start reading it, a dictionary beside her.
Moha returned from his training session with the warriors an hour later and, having seen no trace of Ndeye, who had taken to sticking to her mother like a baby kangaroo, set out to find her. And if at first he was convinced that she had hidden somewhere to be alone for a while, after a little more than half an hour looking for her, he started to panic and lost control of Aras. The latter, on the other hand, using his developed sense of smell, was somewhat unable to find her exactly, her smell being present in several rooms, which reinforced Moha's worries. So it was with mixed relief and surprise that he went to her when he found her sitting quietly in a corner of the library reading. Concentrating on her reading, she did not even feel him approaching. It was only when she saw his shadow over her head that she realized it, only to be startled and find herself facing him, the book she was reading behind her back.
_ So what are you reading? Moha asked, glancing behind her.
_ Nothing, in particular, replied Ndeye.
_ Oh, yeah! Why don't you want me to see it?
_ For nothing.
_ Really? I don't think so.
_ It's true though.
_ Okay. I'll just drop it.
_ Whew!
_ Dad! What are you doing here? Moha asked, acting like this one he was facing him.
Ndeye, who had her back to him, hurriedly turned around and dropped the book, which he immediately grabbed. Ndeye, for her part, immediately realized that she had fallen for his plan and began to try to snatch the book from his hands.
_ Give me the book back!
_ Only if you calm down and let me have a look at it, Moha replied quietly.
_ I... No! Give me back!
_ No!
_ Please!
So Moha pretended to want to hand over the book before lifting it as high as he could, putting it out of her reach, and turning to read.
_ So! What do we have here? Moha exclaimed loudly to taunt her.
_ Give me the book back! Ndeye said at once.
_ The lexicon of feelings and emotions. An interesting book.
Immediately he noticed that Ndeye's screaming, beating, and pleading had stopped and turned to see her hiding her face with both hands in embarrassment.
_ Hey, beautiful, look at me! he asked her, gently.
_ I... You're going to make fun of me! Ndeye replied.
_ I promise you I won't!
_ Promise?
_ Yes.
She then lowered her hands and began to fiddle with them, giving Moha such a pretty sight that he couldn't help but want her very much. He began to move slowly towards her, his eyes slightly darkened by the desire he felt and over which he had no control. Ndeye, who did not understand what was going on, called out to him but, as if disconnected from reality, he did not answer her. Lost, she instinctively backed up until she hit the sofa behind her, losing her balance and falling on it. Moha took the opportunity to put one hand on the armrest and the other near her head, trapping her.
As Ndeye became more and more confused and upset, he tried to put his mind at ease and kissed her, but was interrupted when his face came within inches of hers.
_ I... I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you need to come to your office right away, said Mahmoud, whom they hadn't heard enter.
_ What's going on? Moha asked him as he came to his senses and moved away from Ndeye.
_ You'll know if you follow me.
_ Excuse us, Luna. We'll be right back.
_ What's so important that you don't need me?
_ It's not that your presence isn't wanted, Luna. It's just that I think it would be better if you refrained from attending this interview.
_ Interview with whom?
_ I... I..,
_ You can talk, Mahmoud.
_ It's Aziz who has just returned from Senegal and is waiting for you in the office.
Without waiting or even hesitating, Moha and Ndeye got up in perfect sync to go to Moha's office. On the way, Moha, who was feeling guilty about the scene earlier, apologized to Ndeye who, fortunately for him, passed the buck. When they arrived at the office, they found Aziz there as Mahmoud had told them, and Moha ran to him to hug him.
_ Aziz! he exclaimed.
_ Aaah! You're... hurting me! Aziz exclaimed, clearly hurt.
_ I'm just so happy to see you again. You don't know how worried I was about not hearing from you for so long
_ So was I. I keep telling you, though, that I'm hard to get rid of. It is not for nothing that I am the best of your warriors.
_ For sure!
_ Hello Luna.
_ Hello Aziz, she replied.
_ You seem to be doing much better. I'm glad to see it.
_ I wouldn't say the same about you. Are you sure you are all right?
_ Yes, Luna.
_ Really?
_ You have nothing to worry about, believe me.
_ On the contrary, considering your posture and difficulty moving.
_ I... How do you know?
_ So it's decided. When this interview is over, you're going to have Ma'Fatou take care of you first.
_ As you wish, Luna.
_ Let's sit down now! Moha interjected.
_ Now you have our full attention, Aziz.
_ Good! During this trip, we learned that many of those who are supposed to be missing have fled to seek refuge in the border countries and even further afield in countries such as Benin, Niger, and others.
_ Their thirst for life and freedom far exceeds, as far as I can see, all our expectations. We have underestimated them.
_ Is Coumba one of them? Tell me!
_ I'm sorry, but no.
_ And the others? You did say that those you mentioned are only a good part, not all.
_ Among the others, some have been missing since the day of the intervention, including Coumba. Others then gradually disappeared until they reached a rather worrying figure.
_ It's strange! Very strange!
_ Tell me that I am not the only one who thinks that all these disappearances are not harmless!
_ Don't worry, you're not the only one.
_ I think so too, especially with the attack we suffered yesterday. That's why I've decided to return to Senegal with some of my men to stay there for an indefinite period until this mystery is solved.
_ But...
_ Don't worry, Luna. I have no family here, after all, so no one will miss me or give me a reason to return.
_ That's not true. You have Moha, me, and the whole pack itself. Therefore, you undeniably have a reason to come back to us safe and sound no matter what happens.
_ I promise to come back no matter how long it takes me to find the missing ones for you Luna and Alpha supreme.
- Writer
