JК
The Sicilian :: Puzo Mario
Страница: 235 из 278Above them a tiny cloud of yellow and black butterflies circled, then soared up into the infinitely azure sky.
On their third and last day they heard the sound of gunfire far off in the mountains. Justina was alarmed, but Guiliano reassured her. He was always careful throughout their three days together never to give cause for fear. He was never armed, there was not a weapon in sight; he had hidden his guns in the chapel. He never betrayed his wariness, and he had ordered his men to stay out of sight. But shortly after the gunfire Aspanu Pisciotta appeared with a brace of bloody rabbits over his shoulder. He threw them at Justina's feet and said, "Cook these for your husband, it's his favorite dish. And if you ruin them we have twenty more." He smiled at her and as she got busy skinning and cleaning the rabbits, he motioned to Guiliano. The two men went over to a fallen arch of the wall and sat down.
"Well, Turi," Pisciotta said, grinning, "was she worth us risking our lives for?"
Guiliano said quietly, "I'm a happy man. Now tell me about those twenty rabbits you've shot."
"One of Luca's patrols, but in strength," Pisciotta said. "We stopped them at the perimeter. Two armored cars. One of them ran into our minefield and burned as badly as your new wife will burn those rabbits. The other car fired its guns at the rocks and ran home to Montelepre. They will come back in the morning, of course, to find their comrades. In force. I suggest you leave here tonight."
"Justina's father is coming for her at dawn," Guiliano said. "Have you arranged our little meeting?"
"Yes," Pisciotta said.
"After my wife leaves -" Guiliano stuttered over the word "wife" and Pisciotta laughed. Guiliano smiled and continued, "– bring those men to me in the chapel and we will settle the matter." He paused for a moment and said, "Were you surprised when I told you the truth about Ginestra?"
"No," Pisciotta said.
"Will you stay for dinner?" Guiliano asked.
"On the last night of your honeymoon?" Pisciotta shook his head. "You know the proverb: Beware of the cookery of a new bride." The old proverb of course referred to the latent treachery of new friends as partners in crime. What Pisciotta was saying once again was that Guiliano should never have married.
Guiliano smiled. "All this can't last much longer – we have to prepare for a different life. Make sure the perimeter holds tomorrow until we have finished all of our business."
Pisciotta nodded. He glanced over to the campfire where Justina was cooking. "What a beautiful girl she is," he said. "And to think she grew up under our very noses and we never noticed her.
On their third and last day they heard the sound of gunfire far off in the mountains. Justina was alarmed, but Guiliano reassured her. He was always careful throughout their three days together never to give cause for fear. He was never armed, there was not a weapon in sight; he had hidden his guns in the chapel. He never betrayed his wariness, and he had ordered his men to stay out of sight. But shortly after the gunfire Aspanu Pisciotta appeared with a brace of bloody rabbits over his shoulder. He threw them at Justina's feet and said, "Cook these for your husband, it's his favorite dish. And if you ruin them we have twenty more." He smiled at her and as she got busy skinning and cleaning the rabbits, he motioned to Guiliano. The two men went over to a fallen arch of the wall and sat down.
"Well, Turi," Pisciotta said, grinning, "was she worth us risking our lives for?"
Guiliano said quietly, "I'm a happy man. Now tell me about those twenty rabbits you've shot."
"One of Luca's patrols, but in strength," Pisciotta said. "We stopped them at the perimeter. Two armored cars. One of them ran into our minefield and burned as badly as your new wife will burn those rabbits. The other car fired its guns at the rocks and ran home to Montelepre. They will come back in the morning, of course, to find their comrades. In force. I suggest you leave here tonight."
"Justina's father is coming for her at dawn," Guiliano said. "Have you arranged our little meeting?"
"Yes," Pisciotta said.
"After my wife leaves -" Guiliano stuttered over the word "wife" and Pisciotta laughed. Guiliano smiled and continued, "– bring those men to me in the chapel and we will settle the matter." He paused for a moment and said, "Were you surprised when I told you the truth about Ginestra?"
"No," Pisciotta said.
"Will you stay for dinner?" Guiliano asked.
"On the last night of your honeymoon?" Pisciotta shook his head. "You know the proverb: Beware of the cookery of a new bride." The old proverb of course referred to the latent treachery of new friends as partners in crime. What Pisciotta was saying once again was that Guiliano should never have married.
Guiliano smiled. "All this can't last much longer – we have to prepare for a different life. Make sure the perimeter holds tomorrow until we have finished all of our business."
Pisciotta nodded. He glanced over to the campfire where Justina was cooking. "What a beautiful girl she is," he said. "And to think she grew up under our very noses and we never noticed her.