Death Brings Gold. Nicola Rocca
Romeo paused, noticing that the interest in the eyes of his anonymous client was growing. People may have said these were not the kinds of things youâd discuss with anyone, but at this stage he had nothing left to hide. Heâd made his mistakes and had paid for his errors. That life belonged to his past. But it would always be his life and he could recount it to anyone he wanted to, any time he felt like it.
âI met him in jail,â he continued. âWe got caught within days of each other. And we ended up in the same prison. He was a really tough guy. With a knack for business, you know what I mean? For a certain type of business. But in jail he wasnât popular with the other inmates. One night, he was raped by four of them. Someone joked about it saying that they made his arsehole as big as the window of Milan Cathedral.â
The newsagent stopped, proud of the laughter he elicited in the client.
Then, Romeoâs voice became serious again.
âHe had probably mentioned names that he should have kept secret. And jail, as everyone knows is like a big community. Inside everyone knows everything about everyone. To survive you should see and hear as little as possible. You need to plug up your mouth and your ears ⦠to avoid having your arsehole plugged by someone else.â
He granted himself a satisfied little laugh, that his new friend echoed immediately.
âI remember that we became very closeâ he continued, âeven though outside we had been rivals. He made me a proposition to do business together, once we were out of jail.â
âAnd did you start a.. farm business?â the client said ironically.
âAh, thatâs a good one! No, I called it quits with everything. I mean, I continued selling newspapers, but without special supplements.â
Another pause. And another laugh.
âAnd what about the guy? What happened to him?â asked the client.
He was really interested, thought Romeo. Good, an enjoyable night.
âI believe Giuliano carried on with his dealings. After a couple of years he even ended up on the front page.â
âOn the front page?â
âYes, he had been assaulted by a group of unknown individuals, according to the journalistâs report. They assaulted him in the middle of the night and beat him to a pulp.â
âDid they kill him?â
âNo, for Godâs sake! He has a thick skin!â stated Romeo, enthusiastically. Then, getting darker, he continued. âBut they ruined him. Apparently they cut off his hand, or his foot. Now I canât remember exactly. The point is, after jail I have never seen him again. Maybe itâs better. Otherwise now I too could have also be without one of theseâ he concluded merrily, showing his hands.
***
It was just a matter of seconds. The mixed race young manâs silhouette materialised on the stairs.
âYou must be the new arrival, right?â Beatrice was quicker than her friend.
The young man answered with a smile.
âYouâll like living here,â Luigia continued. â itâs a safe place.â
They waited until he reached the landing area, then Beatrice started talking again, without letting up.
âLet us give you some advice.â She was saying this in a low voice, almost whispering. âBecause here even walls have ears.â
The young man looked perplexed.
âIf you need anything, do not hesitate to ask,â Luigia added. âAnything.â
The young man nodded, as his eyes darted towards the flight of stairs. Beatrice noticed he was in a hurry. She decided she could not let him go upstairs. At least not until she had informed him of the buildingâs quirkiest people.
âYes, Luigia is right. If you need any favour, please ask us,â she said, indicating with a wave herself and her friend. âOn the other hand, if you have certain needs to fulfil⦠Well, in that case you should go up a couple of floors. Mrs Pina, despite her age, is still very activeâ¦â
âTrue,â Luigia confirmed. âWhen her husband finds out something, you can hear them shouting from here. Even the buildingâs walls shake.â
The young man gave a hint of a smile. Then his hands clutched nervously at his trousers, as if he was thinking up an excuse to get away from these two crazy old women.
Luigia noticed it.
âYes, what Beatrice is saying is completely true. Mrs Pina is getting it on with that really weird guy, the one with a hand and a foot missing â¦â
âThatâs rightâ the other woman confirmed. âSee, Mrs Pina is a lot older than him. But, you know, thereâs many a good tune played on an old fiddle â¦â
âBesides, she was already doing that when she was young, good tunes,â Luigia remarked. âThey say that Pina, when she was twenty, was always up for it. I donât know if I make myself clear.â
âYes, but nowâ Beatrice continued, âat seventy years old behaving like a tart ⦠and with that guy ⦠Giulianoâ.
âWell, at least theyâve found each other. Because heâs not a saint either, eh. Think that up until some years ago he was constantly in and out of prison. Him and his strange dealings...â
âYes, who knows what he gets up to in that flat.â
âAh, Beatrice, he canât do much now, eh⦠with only one foot and one hand â¦â
Luigia stopped. She realised that sentence had stirred some kind of curiosity in the young man. Beatrice realised it too.
âEh, yes ehâ¦â the latter jumped in. âProbably someone didnât like his dealings. One time they really beat him up. They cut his hand and his foot off â¦â
âYes, Yes, cut off for realâ Luigia repeated. âCut off. Thwack!â she finished, mimicking the movement of a machete.
The young manâs eyes widened, nodding. Then, a shy smile appeared on his lips.
âNow to home. Tired. Much work.â
âOf course!â Beatrice exclaimed. âMy friend always has a tendency to drag things out. Please forgive her, sheâs of a certain age.â
Luigia gave her a crooked eye. Then she spoke to the young man again.
âI just wanted to put this young lad on his guard. So now he knows who he can trust. And with whom he needs to be careful.â
âIndeed, indeedâ Beatrice took the opportunity to continue the conversation. âIn this building you need to be wary twenty four hours a day, you never know what your neighbour has in store for you. There are some odd types of people aroundâ¦â
âAnd then they gossip, and gossip. Ah, scandalmongers!â
âSee, one timeâ¦â
âSorry. I have to go now,â the young man interrupted her, taking two steps towards the next flight of stairs.
âOf course!â Beatrice again. âPoor thing, you must be tired after a day at work.â Then she said to her friend: âLuigia, let him go, this handsome lad must get some rest. He will have another opportunity to talk to us some other