Trafika Europe 14 - Italian Piazza

Frank Iodice

parents might be referred to. That period ended with her departure after the smi l ing Bengalese attacked her, the Bengalese who was now cut in two, a negative destiny that he’d brought upon himself when he agreed to work for Morel: perhaps Morel was surrounded by an aura of unfortunate events that would soon involve al l of us. When Morel cal led her, a rapid exchange of looks with her aunt prepared her to contain her emotion and answer with a distracted “hel lo”—the hel lo of the hairdresser who gives herself a quick trim between one shampoo and the next—without knowing that, for Morel , the comparison with the shampoo girl might be the most exciting imaginable. Evoking chi ldhoods, stimulating memories of shops, Mel i said “Hel lo” and, without further excuses, entered into the operation conceived by this trickster, who was as elegant as he was intriguing. “We’re looking for something that we can’t do without for the final phase,” Morel explained without naming the fake bi l ls or the machinery. “In the meantime we can get together so I can explain a couple of other detai ls to you.” “I’m free and Mi lan doesn’t inspire me to take long walks outdoors,” Mel i said. “Okay, tomorrow then, at lunch.” “Better in the afternoon, I never eat lunch, I’d run

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