Luce della notte

A short novel about rebirth and hope situated, in terms of plot, between Fiori sopra l’inferno and Ninfa dormiente. With extraordinary sensitivity, Ilaria Tuti has given to Luce della notte the story of Chiara, a special child who, on her arduous journey, meets the much-loved Teresa Battaglia, who is ready to help her.

Chiara had a dream and got very scared. Sing and count, she told herself in the dream, only the darkness wouldn’t go away. So Chiara let herself be guided through the woods by the invisible light of the night. Only she was very upset by what she found while digging at the roots of the tree. Maybe because it wasn’t really a dream. Perhaps it was the frightening reality. It’s just a few days before Christmas, the day Chiara is going to turn nine. Or rather the night the little girl will turn nine, because it’s been a long time since she has seen daylight.

A big heart is needed to help her little heart to stop trembling. This is why, just a few days after closing a gruelling and dangerous case, as well as discovering something she will have to keep to herself, Teresa Battaglia has no hesitation in getting involved. Perhaps this is because, in spite of everything, there’s still the heart of a child beating inside her. Just as it’s throbbing, in spite of himself, in the young Inspector Marini, since, for all his doubts and incomprehension, he decides to join Inspector Battaglia in what seems like a mad, senseless enquiry. That’s right – how can one even consider investigating a dream? Teresa knows – feels – however, that this frail, frightened and very brave little girl has stumbled on something real, genuine… and dreadful.

The rights for Luce della notte will be transferred to the Oncological Referral Centre in Aviano, for research on Ewing sarcoma.