Love and War in the Apennines by Eric Newby

Author:Eric Newby [Eric Newby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007508181
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Encounter with a Member of the Master Race

After I had been nearly a week at the Pian del Sotto I had still received no news from Wanda or the doctor; but on the Saturday evening the two girls went down to the village and when they returned about seven o’clock, Dolores drew from under her sweater, warm, and slightly damp, an unstamped letter addressed to a Signora Enrica, in what I immediately recognised as Wanda’s impatient handwriting which always seemed to me a too slow method of communication to keep pace with her thoughts.

The letter was written in Italian and although it purported to be addressed to a Signora it was really for me.

‘Mia cara Enrica,’ it began and I experienced a feeling of intense happiness at being addressed in this way which, although it was not more than ‘My dear Enrica,’ in English, sounded much more affectionate: ‘I have sad news of your two old friends. They are no longer with us and my mother cries continually.’ (For a terrible moment I thought that they had both been executed; but the next sentence made it clear that they hadn’t.) ‘They are now in the city and neither of them can get about as they were both accustomed to do in the past. Giorgio, the one who used to take you for rides in his motor car, has developed an illness, but you know what he is like, very imaginative. As a result of this he has left the uncomfortable lodgings, which he didn’t like at all, and which he shared with your other friend, Bruno, who doesn’t find them comfortable either, and now Giorgio has gone to have a check-up which could result in his having an operation, although I very much doubt if he will submit to it. In my opinion he will leave the place whenever he wants to.’

Reading this I assumed that the doctor had been able to feign some complaint which required surgical treatment and had managed to have himself transferred to a hospital from which he planned to escape.

‘Bruno is in a far worse situation, although his health gives no cause for alarm at present. But I will get him out of it,’ Wanda wrote with menace, which boded no good for whoever had her father locked up. ‘As you know it is all the fault of that stupid; but as soon as I have overcome this problem I will try to come and see you.’

‘It is a pity,’ she went on, ‘that the little excursions which we always used to talk about are impossible at this moment. I advise you not to go too far, unaccompanied, at your advanced age, as these cooler, autumn days can be very treacherous, especially where you live. It is getting very late in the season to think of travelling to warmer parts which, every day, become more difficult to get to. I know that you have an impetuous nature, but do take notice of what I say to you and believe me to be your sincere, and loving, friend.

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