beyond the dunes howls

Albert Q's son was initially adopted by a governess in the Arab quarter. But it didn't last: she too had just died, mauled by wolves, while the child was found unharmed playing with cubs near her. No one wanted the child. Luckily, Gertrude the witch was willing to adopt her ex-master's son, and moved to the Quaswars' house where no one would come near her, even after independence when most of the French left. When she died, he was 10 years old and his parents had named him Alain.