Bell for Adano, A - John Hersey [9]
Cacopardo said: “You are kind.”
Craxi said: “I thank you, Mister Major, and I kiss your hand.”
Major Joppolo said: “You what?”
Cacopardo the historian said: “He meant no offense. It is an old custom here. Once the important people make us kiss their hands, and later when the actual kissing became too much of a bother, it became the habit merely to mention the kissing, as if it had been done.”
Craxi said: “I meant no offense, Mister Major. I am anti-Fascist.”
Major Joppolo said: “It appears that everyone in this town is anti-Fascist. Well, we will see about the bell. Now I wish to speak alone with the priest. Zito, you may stay. You are my usher. Giuseppe, you may stay. You are my interpreter.”
Craxi said: “Mister Major, the telegram.”
Major Joppolo said: “I will try to send it.”
Craxi mentioned the kissing again, and turned to go. When the others had gone, Major Joppolo said to Father Pensovecchio: “Father, I wish to tell you that the Americans want to bring only good to this town. As in every nation, there are some bad men in America. It is possible that some Americans who come here will do bad things. If they do, I can assure you that most of the Americans will be just as ashamed of those things as you are annoyed by them.”
Father Pensovecchio said: “I think we will understand weakness in your men just as we try to understand it in our own.”
Major Joppolo said: “Thank you. Father, I have been told that you are the best priest in Adano.”
The priest said with quite honest modesty: “I am here to do my duty.”
Major Joppolo said: “Therefore I should like to ask a favor of you. You must feel perfectly free to refuse me if you wish. I should like to ask you to say a few words before your mass tomorrow morning about the Americans. I shall leave it to you to say what you wish, if you will merely add that there are certain proclamations which the Americans have posted which ought to be read
Father Pensovecchio said: “That I can easily do.” Major Joppolo said: “I myself am a Catholic. If you will have me, I should like to attend your mass.”
The priest said: “It will be a pleasure to have you.” Major Joppolo was glad that he did not say it would be an honor.
Major Joppolo said: “I shall see you tomorrow then.” Father Pensovecchio said, just to make sure: “At the Church of Sane Angelo. It is by the Piazza of that name. At seven in the morning. Until then, son
When the priest had left, Giuseppe said in his brand of English: “You doing okay, a boss. All you got a do now is fix a food.”
“Yes,” said Major Joppolo, “food. We’ll go to the bakeries. But first, do you have a crier here?”
Giuseppe said to Zito in Italian: “What is the name of the crier? Did he run into the hills with the others?”
Zito said: “No, he is here. Mercurio Salvatore. He is here. Only, Mister Major, he does not always say exactly what you tell him to say. He will say the general meaning of what you wish, but he will change it some. Even if you write it down, he will change it some.”
Major Joppolo said: “Will you get him, please, Zito? I want to send him out to tell the people to read the proclamations. “
Zito went. Major Joppolo said to Giuseppe: “We will go to the bakeries, then we will post the proclamations.” Giuseppe said: “Okay, a boss.”
Major Joppolo looked down at his desk and saw Craxi’s telegram. He undid the safety pin and unfolded the paper and read:
“To Franklin D. Roosevelt, Capitol Building, Washington D.C. Fremente di gioia per la lbertá da molto tempo attesa the i vostri valorosi soldati anno dato alla città d’Adano stop vi prego accettare i sentimenti sinceri della mia gratitudine e riconoscenza. Antifascista Giovanni Craxi fu Pietro.”
“Giuseppe,” the Major said, “let’s see