Later that night Alain woke up covered in sweat. He lost all control, fought with his sheets, ran like a blind man with outstretched arms, to and fro in his room. He didn’t even hear the key turn in the lock. It was the only remedy his grandfather could use against the first round of a Grand Mal attack. Keep the room locked. Don’t go inside when you only hear groaning or rhythmic noises from the boy’s head tapping against the wall. Be quick to come in and to help him breathe if you hear him scream like a pig being slaughtered.
Alain’s body arched up from the floor. A mortal fear compressed the air in his lungs. He shuddered and foamed at the mouth, made a drum roll with hands and feet on the wooden floor.
The epileptic attack ended about half an hour later. Completely worn out, Alain slu
