The Communist by Guido Morselli

Author:Guido Morselli
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781681370798
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2017-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

9

THE TIBER valley was already white, but snow continued to come down sideways, thickly, and the train slowed. Ferranini closed the window again. He was half frozen. He could feel the cold in his bones as if he’d been tossed out there in the middle of the snowy countryside.

The heel of one of those suede shoes was tapping against the seat.

“You understand, Ferranini?.”

“Ah, yes. Now, yes.”

“You asked who’s dealing with your case. You were thinking of some committee, perhaps. Maybe even the Disciplinary Committee. We’re not at that point, have no fear. Your case is in a fluid state, but care must be taken that it does not change form, if you see what I mean. I believe that’s another reason I was asked to intervene, to avoid the appearance of a disciplinary proceeding. Don’t you think?”

Ferranini nodded, passive.

“Now let’s hear your reply. Speak.”

The door opened and someone cautiously placed a bag on the seat.

“Sorry. Not here,” Fanny said promptly.

“There’s not a seat in the entire train!”

“I’m sorry,” she said and tried to close the door.

The man, small and bearded, resisted. “I’m a rail-company engineer on leave.”

“This compartment is reserved for members of parliament. Read the sign.”

Bag and beard disappeared. Fanny smiled again.

“You say nothing, Ferranini, and I respect your silence. In any case, through my humble intervention, you’re being sent an invitation. To reflect. And if I may, I will add some advice of my own: reflect. Now I’m done,” she said, resting her hand lightly on his knee for a moment. “I’m done. My unofficial role ends here. But listen to me further, because now I’ll speak to you in another fashion. As a friend. May I?”

“Go ahead.”

“You live alone, I’m told. Lord, what misery!”

“What?.”

“That blast of heat from the radiator, can’t you feel it? You have no family, no relatives, no friends. You’re alone. Unattached, one of the few in parliament. Do you know how many unmarried deputies there are in all the parties?”

There were seventeen. Less than four percent.

She aimed him a maternal, admonitory look.

“Be strong, Ferranini, protect yourself from certain disreputable temptations. Choose the purer path of the sentiments. You are still young, and life can offer you affection that is peaceful, gratifying, reassuring. Bountiful.”

Et cetera. She went on talking although Ferranini hadn’t been listening for some time. And when she got off the train at Arezzo, he didn’t move or change position. He stayed in his corner, hands crossed behind his neck. Not a thought in his head.

Then someone came in and sat where Filippetto had been sitting, took out sandwiches and a thermos, and began to eat and drink. It was the man with the beard. There were some people, Ferranini thought, for whom freedom came as naturally as that.

It was his first conscious thought.

He was numb. He got up, stretched, and pulled a book out of his briefcase. He started to read where the book fell open: “The communist organization of society will transform the relations between the sexes into a purely

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