Bell for Adano, A - John Hersey [13]
Zito said: “How is the tone?”
The Major said: “That would depend on the replica, Zito. We could get one with good tone, I think.”
Zito said: “I do not like that about the crack. A bell should not crack just because it is old. Our bell was seven hundred years old, but it had no crack. I doubt if America is that old, to say nothing of your bell.”
Major Joppolo said: “Perhaps it cracked because we rang it so hard to announce our liberty.”
Zito said: “I do not think the people of Adano want any liberty that has a crack in it. No, they would not like that business of the crack. Maybe you could get us a Liberty Bell without a crack.”
The Major said: “But without a crack it wouldn’t be a Liberty Bell. That is the way the real Liberty Bell is, Zito
Zito said: “Then Adano will not want your Liberty Bell. Adano would not like to have a crack, I am sure.” Major Joppolo said: “Then that’s out.” And he thought some more.
In this time Father Pensovecchio finished the war litany and looked nervously at the door, but the Mister Major still did not come. He beckoned to the senior acolyte and whispered in his ear. “Send out the little Ludovico and tell him to look for the American Major and bring him here. Do this for Sant’ Angelo and tell him to hurry.”
The Priest then began the supplication: “Propitius esto, parce nobis, Domine. Propitius esto, exaudi nos, Domine.” Father Pensovecchio mentioned the sins, nervously watching the door, and the people chanted the responses, turning their heads between responses.
“Ab ira tua,” said the priest.
“Libera nos, Domine,” said the people.
“A subitanea et improvisa morte,” said the priest, fearing the non-appearance of Major Joppolo much more than sudden and unexpected death.
“Libera nos, Domine,” said the people, twisting and turning.
“A spiritu fornicationis,” said the priest, not even thinking of the Monsignor, as he usually did at this point.
“Libera nos, Domine,” said the people, peeking at the door.
The senior acolyte drew the small acolyte named Ludovico aside and took him out into the vestry and told him to do what the priest had said. Little Ludovico, not having been outside the Church at seventeen minutes past seven on a Sunday morning for most of the years he could remember, rushed out into the sunlight without thinking to ask where the American Major would be found, or, for that matter, who the American Major was, and why there was an American Major in the town, and whether there was any connection between the loud bangs one had heard for several days and the presence of the American Major.
So little Ludovico sat down on the steps of the Church of Sant’ Angelo in the sun and wondered about these things.
In his office Major Joppolo said: “They took the bell away on the fourteenth of June. That is a month less two days. That is not so much time. Considering how things are done in our Army, perhaps not much has been done with the bell. Where was it sent, Zito?”
Zito said: “To the provincial government at the town of Vicinamare.”
Major Joppolo said: “Perhaps it got no farther. Perhaps the bell is still sitting in its crate in Vicinamare.” Zito grew exicted: “Do you think that is possible?” he asked.
The Major said: “It is possible. We must find out”
And he took a piece of foolscap from his brief case and began a letter:
“To: Lt. Col. R. N. Sartorius, C.A.O., Vicinamare, Prov. of Vicinamare.
“FROM: Major V. Joppolo, C.A.O., Adano, Prov. of Vicinamare.
“RE: Bell belonging to town of Adano.
“Undersigned would very much appreciate your initiating investigation of records of provincial government of Vicinamare to see if you can trace...”
The service in the Church of Sant’ Angelo was taking a most unusual course. Having completed the supplication, Father Pensovecchio started reciting the Litany of Saint Joseph. It was the longest litany he could think of offhand, and he repeated the words without any sense of their meaning.
“Joseph,