The Mountain by Massimo Donati & Brigid Maher

Author:Massimo Donati & Brigid Maher [Donati, Massimo & Maher, Brigid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2020-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

5

The large, grey, square industrial office building looked the same as it always had. Three storeys of windows wrapped around it in transparent rows, while the main entrance with the central stairwell, and at the top the big glass and steel door, made it resemble an embassy more than a publishing house.

‘The company has changed a lot over the years.’

‘From the outside it looks just as I remember it.’

They were going up the entry stairs when some timid applause broke out, a few employees clapping loudly and others following, less convinced, as though embarrassed by the awkward initiative. Roberto nodded at them and entered the building.

‘Molteni. Pleased to meet you. I’m the CEO.’

The man had a firm handshake and an imposing presence, yet there was a natural reserve about him which, along with his simplicity of manner, announced him from the outset as exactly who he was: a good person.

The others were directors of the two divisions of the publishing house. The only woman was the executive PA, Signora Alma Butti. She had the condescending manner of the person who, regardless of her official duties, is actually in charge.

They sat down in a nondescript little meeting room. The PA spoke first. She set out the current state of play at Beltrami Publishing, listing for each imprint, with a certain emphasis, the most prominent writers and a few of the most notable works in their catalogue.

She sat down; nobody applauded. They all remained silent for a few icy seconds, until the CEO spoke. He was brief and did not mince words.

The firm was going bankrupt.

Within a month they would need to stop paying salaries.

‘While your father was alive we could get credit, but now…’

A damp pallor had appeared on his face, beading his forehead and cheeks with moisture. He pulled out a handkerchief to gently dab himself dry.

‘All right. Thank you. Now I’d like to continue my tour.’

Butti stayed on to accompany Roberto and Ciprini.

They went down one corridor after another. The employees lined up on either side, smiling, almost always standing, ready to introduce themselves, to shake hands. The older ones approached and, composed, offered Roberto their condolences.

Afterwards, Roberto asked to visit the printing works.

Beltrami Publishing was perhaps unique in that it had always had an entire floor dedicated to printing and binding. This was because for Carlo, and before that his father, quality publishing also included the production side of things, binding books well and printing them with care. Beltrami books needed to be made to last.

‘If you don’t mind, Roberto, I’ll just pop upstairs for a moment to deal with something in administration. I’ll see you out the front when you’ve finished your tour,’ said Ciprini, before slipping away.

In the printing department there was the same machinery that had been in place at the start of the 1980s, when his father used to take him there to show him the marvels of his realm. The web-fed presses appeared to be supplemented by stratifications from different eras—the heavy metal

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