The Coming of Fabrizze: A Novel (Black Squirrel Books) Read Online Free PDF Page B

had extra time for lunch,” said Rumbone. “I thought it was a saint’s day. Just a moment, Rossi. Let me ask you something. It’s between the two of us, eh? What time does the work begin here in the morning? Really now. There was a little quarrel among the men.”
    â€œLine them up!” cried Rossi. “This miserable crew! Must I be here every minute? Line up, I say! You there! All of you!”
    Rossi was surrounded.
    â€œDo you know who I am?” he said, in crisp Italian. “I want you to pay attention! Do you know who’s talking to you?”
    â€œIt’s Rossi, eh?” said a voice.
    â€œBe quiet,” said another. “It’s the supervisor.”
    â€œNo talking out of turn!” said Rossi. “Come closer. Look at my right hand! Look here at my right hand! Do you know what’s in it? Think a moment! I want you to think a moment!”
    â€œHe speaks a dialect from the north.”
    â€œNorth of Rome, be sure of it.”
    â€œNo talking!” said Rossi. “Do you know what’s in this hand of mine? You don’t? Let me tell you what’s in it! The fate of every man here! Your whole life is in it! Let me tell you that no man makes a fool of Giuseppe Rossi!”
    â€œNot one word of it do I understand.”
    â€œStand back!” said Rossi. “Why are you closing in like this?”
    â€œHow nervous he is.”
    â€œI told you to line up!” said Rossi. “You call this a line? Never mind, never mind! Get away from me! How you make me sick! All I smell is garlic!”
    â€œThere was something nasty, eh?”
    â€œHow flushed he is.”
    â€œGet away!” said Rossi. “It’s over! Back to work with you!”
    â€œNot even one word.”
    â€œStand back there!” cried Rossi. “Stop pushing!”
    â€œStop that pushing.”
    â€œIt’s the supervisor, eh?”
    Rossi had pushed two men away. They were pushed back from the rear. Rossi pushed again. There was a curse. An argument started. Suddenly the mass of men began to sway and close in. Rossi’s hand went up. He was sucked out of sight. A moment later the crowd came apart. Rossi was down on one knee. He was livid.
    â€œRumbone, Rumbone,” he was saying.
    â€œI’m here,” said Rumbone. “Get up, Rossi.”
    â€œRumbone.”
    â€œStand up, Rossi. It isn’t right. It isn’t right to be seen like this before the men.”
    â€œI’m giving an order,” said Rossi. “I want the name of the man who’ll take charge of these animals. I’m finished with them. This is an order.”
    â€œIt sounds like a threat,” said Rumbone, starting to make his gesture of contempt.
    â€œIf you do that once more, Rumbone, I’ll break your face! Back to work with you!”
    Rossi turned up early the next morning. Like one enthralled he made his way to Rumbone. Rumbone was leaning on a shovel and stroking his chin.
    â€œHard to believe,” he was saying. “Who’d believe it?”
    â€œWhat is it?” said Rossi, tightly. “Now what is it?”
    â€œNothing, Rossi, nothing. Why do you get so excited?”
    â€œWhat’s happening here?” said Rossi, making circles in the air with his cupped hand.
    â€œIt was a surprise,” said Rumbone. “A little surprise.”
    â€œI’ll strangle you on the spot!”
    â€œBut it was nothing at all. One of the men brought wine and a deck of cards to the job. What do you make of it? Wait, Rossi, wait. The time has come.”
    â€œIt’s your time that’s come!”
    â€œListen, listen,” said Rumbone. “One word will solve your problems. I want you to look down the line of men digging there. Watch the first eight of them. They dig in the same rhythm, eh? Why is it? The old man Bassetti sings and sets the pace for them. Watch, Rossi, watch.”
    â€œI’m falling