The Periodic Table

P r i m o L e v i

Tran sl ated from the Ital i an by

Raymond Rosenthal

SCHOCKEN BOOKS

NEW YORK

English translation copyright 19 84 by Schocken Books Inc. All rights reserved under International and #onventions. &e ' (ork. )istributed by an!A"erican #opyright

ublished in the $nited States by Schocke n Books Inc. % antheon Books% a division o* +ando"

,ouse% Inc. % &e' (ork. -riginally published in Italy as Il Sistema Periodico by .iulio Einaudi editore % s.p.a.%/urin % Italian te 0t copyright 1912 by .iulio Einaudi editore% s.p.a. -riginally published in hardcover by Schocken Books in 1 984 . 3ibrary o* #ongress #ataloging!in! ublication )ata 3evi% ri" o /he periodic table /ranslation o*4 Il siste"a periodico. I. /itle . 54816. E8S2 1 7 198 4 ISB& 9 ! 8 9 2 6 ! 1 9 4 1 ! 2 :anu*actured in the $nite d States o* A"erica ;<9 2 = 19 18 11 1> 8248.91 4 84!242 7

CONTENTS

Argon ,ydrogen ?inc Iron otassiu" &ickel 3ead :ercury hosphorus .old #eriu" #hro"iu" Sul*ur /itaniu" Arsenic &itrogen /in $raniu" Silver @anadiu" #arbon

6 24 32 40 53 64 82 99 2 30 42 50 63 68 !2 !8 8! 94 203 2 4 22!

Ibergekumene tsores iz gut tsu dertsejlin. Troubles overcome are good to tell. A(iddish roverb

T h e P e r i o d i c Table

ARGON
/here are the so!called inert gases in the air 'e breathe. /hey bear curious .reek na"es o* erudite derivation 'hich "ean Bthe &e'%C Bthe ,idden%C Bthe Inactive%C and Bthe Alien.C /hey are indeed so inert% so satis*ied 'ith their condition% that they do not inter*ere in any che"ical reaction% do not co"bine 'ith any other ele"ent% and *or precisely this reason have gone undetected *or centuries. As late as 19>6 a diligent che"ist a*ter long and ingenious e**orts succeeded in *orcing the Alien D0enonE to co"bine *leetingly 'ith e0tre"ely avid and lively *luorine% and the *eat see"ed so e0traordinary that he 'as given a &obel priFe. /hey are also called the noble gasesAand here thereGs roo" *or discussion as to 'hether all noble gases are really inert and all inert gases are noble. And% *inally% they are

also called rare gases% even though one o* the"% argon Dthe InactiveE% is present in the air in the considerable proportion o* 1 percent% that is% t'enty or thirty ti"es "ore abundant than carbon dio0ide% 'ithout 'hich there 'ould not be a trace o* li*e on this planet. /he little that I kno' about "y ancestors presents "any si"ilarities to these gases. &ot all o* the" 'ere "aterially inert% *or that 'as not granted the". -n the contrary% they 'er e A o r had to beA Huit e active% in order to earn a living and because o* a reigning "orality that held that Bhe 'ho does not 'ork shall not eat.C But there is no doubt that they 'ere inert in their inner spirits% inclined to disinterested speculation% 'itty discourses% elegant% sophisticated% and gratuitous discussion. It can hardly be by chance that all the deeds attributed to the"% though Huite various% have in co""on a touch o* the static% an attitude o* digni*ied abstention% o* voluntary Dor acceptedE relegation to the "argins o* the great river o* li*e. &oble% inert% and rare4 their history is Huite poor 'hen co"pared to that o* other illustrious Ie'ish co""unities in Italy and Europe. It appears that they arrived in ied"ont about 1299% *ro" Spain by 'ay o* rovence% as see"s proven by certain typical topony"ic surna"es% such as Bedarida!BJdarrides% :o"igliano!:ont"Jlian% Segre Dthis is a tributary o* the Ebro 'hich *lo's past 3Jrida in northeastern SpainE% KoL!Koi0% #avaglion!#availlon% :igliau!:illauM the na"e o* the to'n 3unel near the "outh o* the +hNne bet'een :ontpellier and &O"es 'as translated into the ,ebre' yarea"h DB"oonC M l#na in ItalianE% and *ro" this derived the Ie'ish! ied"ontese surna"e Iarach. +ePected or given a less than 'ar" 'elco"e in /urin% they settled in various agricultural localities in southern ied"ont% introducing there the technology o* "aking silk% though 'ithout ever getting beyond% even in their "ost *lourishing periods% the status o* an e0tre"ely tiny "inority. /hey 'ere never "uch loved or "uch hatedM stories o* unusual persecutions have not been handed do'n. &evertheless% a 'all o* suspicion% o* unde*ined hostility and "ockery% "ust have kept the" substantially separated *ro" the rest o* the population% even several decades a*ter the e"ancipation o* 1848 and the conseHuent *lo' into the cities% i* 'hat "y *ather told "e o* his childhood in Bene @agienna

is true. ,is conte"poraries% he said% on co"ing out o* school used to "ock hi" 'ithout "alice% greeting hi" 'ith the corner o* their Packets gathered in their *ists to rese"ble a donkeyGs ear and chanting% B igGs ear% donkeyGs ear% give <e" to the Ie' thatGs here.C /he allusion to the ear is arbitrary% and the gesture 'as originally the sacrilegious parody o* the greeting that pious Ie's 'ould e0change in synagogue 'hen called up to read the /orah% sho'ing each other the he" o* the prayer sha'l 'hose tassels% "inutely prescribed by ritual as to nu"ber% length% and *or"% are replete 'ith "ystical and religious signi*icance. But by no' those kids 'ere una'are o* the origin o* their gesture. I re"e"ber here% in passing% that the vili*ication o* the prayer sha'l is as old as anti!Se"itis"A*ro" those sha'ls% taken *ro" deportees% the SS 'ould "ake under'ear 'hich then 'as distributed to the Ie's i"prisoned in the La$er% As is al'ays the case% the rePection 'as "utual. /he "inority erected a sy""etrical barrier against all o* #hristianity &$o'im( narelim( ).entiles%C the Buncircu"cisedCE% reproducing on a provincial scale and against a paci*ically bucolic background the epic and Biblical situation o* the chosen people. /his *unda"ental dislocation *ed the good!natured 'it o* our uncles D barbe in the dialect o* ied"ontE and our aunts Dma$ne% also in the dialectE4 'ise% tobacco!s"elling patriarchs and do"estic household Hueens% 'ho 'ould still proudly describe the"selves as Bthe people o* Israel.C As *or this ter" Buncle%C it is appropriate here to 'arn the reader i""ediately that it "ust be understood in a very broad sense. It is the custo" a"ong us to call any old relation uncle% even i* he is a distant relation% and since all or al"ost all o* the old persons in the co""unity are in the long run relations% the result is that the nu"ber o* uncles is very large. And then in the case o* the uncles and aunts 'ho reach an e0tre"ely old age Da *reHuent event4 'e are a long!lived people% since the ti"e o*

&oahE% the attribute barba DBuncleCE % or% respectively% ma$na DBauntCE tends gradually to "erge 'ith the na"e% and% 'ith the concurrence o* ingenious di"inutives and an unsuspected ied"ontese dialect% phonetic analogy bet'een ,ebre' and the

beco"e *i0ed in co"ple0% strange!sounding appellations% 'hich are handed do'n unchanged *ro" generation to generation along 'ith the events% "e"ories% and sayings o* those 'ho had borne the" *or "any long years. /hus ca"e into e0istence BarbaiQtN D$ncle EliPahE% BarbasachRn D$ncle IsaacE% :agnaiJta DAunt :ariaE% Barba"NisRn D$ncle :oses% about 'ho" it is said that he had the Huack pull his t'o lo'er incisors so as to hold the ste" o* his pipe "ore co"*ortablyE% Barbas"elRn D$ncle Sa"uelE% o +iver :agnavigaia DAunt Abigail% 'ho as a bride had entered SaluFFo "ounted on a 'hite "ule% co"ing up the ice!covered *ro" #ar"agnolaE% :agna*NriSa DAunt ?epora% *ro" the ,ebre' Tsi**ora 'hich "eans B birdC4 a splendid na"eE. $ncle Iacob "ust have belonged to an even re"oter period. ,e had been to England to purchase cloth and so B 'ore a checked suitCM his brother Barbapartin D$ncle Bonaparte% a na"e still co""on a"ong the Ie's% in "e"ory o* the *irst ephe"eral e"ancipation besto'ed by &apoleonE% had *allen *ro" his rank as uncle because the 3ord% blessed be ,e% had given hi" so unbearable a 'i*e that he had had hi"sel* baptiFed% beca"e a "onk% and le*t to 'ork as a "issionary in #hina% so as to be as *ar a'ay *ro" her as possible. .rand"other Bi"ba 'as very beauti*ul% 'ore a boa o* ostrich *eathers% and 'as a baroness. She and her entire *a"ily had been "ade barons by &apoleon% because they had lent hi" "oney &man+d,% BarbabarNnRn D$ncle AaronE 'as tall% robust% and had radical ideasM he had run a'ay *ro" Kossano to /urin and had 'orked at "any trades. ,e had been signed up by the #arignano /heater as an e0tra in -on .arlos and had 'ritten to his *a"ily to co"e *or the opening. $ncle &athan and Aunt Allegra ca"e and sat in the galleryM 'hen the curtain 'ent up and Aunt Allegra sa' her son ar"ed like a hilistine% she shouted at the

top o* her lungs4 BAaron% 'hat are you doingT ut that s'ord do'nTC Barba"iclRn 'as si"pleM in AcHui he 'as respected and protected because the si"ple are the children o* .od and no one should call the" *ools. But they called hi" Bturkey planterC since the ti"e a rashan Dan unbelieverE had "ade a *ool o* hi" by leading hi" to believe that turkeys D bibini, are so'ed like peach trees% by planting the *eathers in *urro's% and that then they gro' on the branches. In any event% the turkey had a curiously i"portant place in this 'itty% "ild% and orderly *a"ily 'orld% perhaps because% being presu"ptuous% clu"sy% and 'rath*ul% it e0presses the opposite Hualities and lends itsel* to being an obPect o* ridiculeM or perhaps% "ore si"ply% because at its e0pense a *a"ous% se"i!ritual turkey "eatball 'as con*ected at Kor e0a"ple% $ncle assover. aci*ico also raised a turkey!hen and had

beco"e very attached to her. Across the 'ay *ro" hi" lived Signor 3attes% 'ho 'as a "usician. /he turkey clucked and disturbed Signor 3attesM he begged $ncle Signora /urkey keep Huiet. B $ncle .abriele 'as a rabbi and there*ore he 'as kno'n as Barba :orJno% that is% B$ncle -ur /eacher.C -ld and nearly blind% he 'ould return on *oot% under the blaFing sun% *ro" @erFuolo to SaluFFo. ,e sa' a cart co"e by% stopped it% and asked *or a rideM but then% 'hile talking to the driver% it gradually da'ned on hi" that this 'as a hearse% 'hich 'as carrying a dead #hristian to the ce"etery4 an abo"inable thing% since% as it is 'ritten in EFekiel 44462% a priest 'ho touches a dead "an% or even si"ply enters the roo" in 'hich a dead person is lying% is conta"inated and i"pure *or seven days. ,e leaped to his *eet and cried4 B IG" traveling 'ith a *e$art/( 'ith a dead 'o"anT )river% stop the cartTC .nNr .rassiadiN and .nNr #NlN"bN 'ere t'o *riendly ene"ies 'ho% according to the legend% had lived *ro" ti"e i""e"orial *ace to *ace on the t'o sides o* an alley'ay in the to'n o* :oncalvo. .nNr .rassiadiN 'as a :ason and very aci*ico to silence his turkey. :y uncle replied% B(our orders 'ill be carried outM

rich. ,e 'as a bit asha"ed o* being a Ie' and had "arried a $oy/( that is% a #hristian% 'ith blond hair so long it touched the ground% 'ho cuckolded hi". /his $oy/( although really a $oy/( 'as called :agna Ausilia% 'hich indicates a certain degree o* acceptance on the part o* the epigonesM she 'as the daughter o* a sea captain 'ho had presented .nNr .rassiadiN 'ith a large% varicolored parrot 'hich ca"e *ro" .uyana and 'ould say in 3atin% BUno' thysel*.C .nNr #NlN"bN 'as poor and a :aFFinian. Vhen the parrot arrived he bought a cro' 'ithout a *eather on its back and taught it to speak. Vhen the parrot croaked% B0osce te i*s#m(1 the cro' ans'ered% BVise up. B But as *or $ncle .abrieleGs *e$arta( .nNr .rassiadiNGs $oy/( &ona Bi"baGs man+d( and the havert/ o* 'hich 'e 'ill speak% an e0planation is reHuired. 2avert/ is a ,ebre' 'ord% crippled in both its *or" and "eaning and Huite suggestive. Actually it is an arbitrary *e"inine *or" o* haver( 'hich eHuals Bco"panionC and "eans B "aid%C but it contains the accessory notion o* a 'o"an o* lo' e0traction and o* di**erent custo"s and belie*s that one is *orced to harbor under oneGs roo*M by inclination a havert/ is not very clean and is ill!"annered% and by de*inition she is "alevolently curious about the custo"s and conversations o* the "asters o* the house% so "uch so as to *orce the" to use a particular Pargon in her presence% to 'hich% besides all the others "entioned above% the ter" havert/ itsel* obviously belongs. /his Pargon has no' al"ost disappearedM a *e' generations back it still nu"bered a *e' hundred 'ords and locutions% consisting *or the "ost part o* ,ebre' roots 'ith ied"ontese endings and to be in*lections. Even a hasty e0a"ination points to its dissi"ulative and underground *unction% a cra*ty language "eant e"ployed 'hen speaking about $oyim in the presence o* $oyim3 or also% to reply boldly 'ith insults and curses that are not to be understood% against the regi"e o* restriction and oppression 'hich they Dthe $oyimE had established. Its historical interest is "eager% since it 'as never spoken by "ore than a *e' thousand peopleM but its hu"an interest is

great% as are all languages on the *rontier and in transition. In *act it contains an ad"irable co"ic *orce% 'hich springs *ro" the contrast bet'een the te0ture o* the discourse% 'hich is the rugged% sober% and laconic ied"ontese dialect% never 'ritten e0cept on a bet% and the ,ebre' inlay% snatched *ro" the language o* the *athers% sacred and sole"n% geologic% polished s"ooth by the "illennia like the bed o* a glacier. But this contrast re*lects another% the essential con*lict o* the Iudais" o* the )iaspora% scattered a"ong the .entiles% that is% the $oyim( torn bet'een their divine vocation and the daily "isery o* e0istenceM and still another% even "ore general% 'hich is inherent in the hu"an condition% since "an is a centaur% a tangle o* *lesh and "ind% divine inspiration and dust. /he Ie'ish people% a*ter the dispersion% have lived this con*lict *or a long ti"e and dolorously% and have dra'n *ro" it% side by side 'ith its 'isdo"% also its laughter% 'hich in *act is "issing in the Bible and the rophets. It pervades (iddish% and% 'ithin its "odest li"its% it also pervades the biFarre speech o* our *athers o* this earth%W 'hich I 'ant to set do'n here be*ore it disappears4 a skeptical% good!natured speech% 'hich only to a careless e0a"ination could appear blasphe"ous% 'hereas it is rich 'ith an a**ectionate and digni*ied inti"acy 'ith .odA&NssgnNr DB- ur 3ordCE% Adonai EloenX DB raise be the 3ordCE% #adQss BarNkhu DB)ear 3ordCE. Its hu"iliated roots are evident. Kor e0a"ple% there are "issing% because useless% 'ords *or B sun%C B"an%C and Bcity %C 'hile 'ords are present *or Bnight%C Bto hide%C B" on ey%C Bprison%C Bdrea"C Dthe last% though% used al"ost e0clusively in the locution bahalom( ) in a drea"%C to be added Pokingly to an a**ir"ation% and to be understood by oneGs interlocutor% and by hi" alone% as its contraryE% Bto steal%C B to hang%C and suchlike. Besides this% there e0ist a good nu"ber o* disparaging 'ords% used so"eti"es to Pudge persons but "ore typically e"ployed% *or e0a"ple% bet'een 'i*e and husband in *ront o* a #hristian
W/his is an allusion to the #hristian prayer that begins% B- ur Kather% 'ho art in heaven. B

shopkeeperGs counter 'hen uncertain about the purchase. Ve "ention4 n sar+d( the royal plural% no longer understood as such% o* the ,ebre' tsara% 'hich "eans B "is*ortuneC and is used to describe a piece o* goods or a person o* scant valueM there also e0ists its grace*ul di"inutive% sar4d5nn( and at the sa"e ti"e I 'ould not 'ant *orgotten the *erocious linkage sar4d e senssa man6d used by the "arriage broker Dmarosav, to describe ugly girls 'ithout do'riesM hasir#d( an abstract collective *ro" hasir( 'hich "eans B pigC and there*ore is "ore or less eHuivalent to B*ilth% piggishness.C It should be noted that the sound B uC DKrenchE does not e0ist in ,ebre'M instead there is the ending Bu tC D'ith the Italian BuC E % 'hich serves to coin abstract ter"s D*or e0a"ple% mal"h#t( )kingdo"CE% but it lacks the strongly disparaging connotation it had in Pargon usage. Another use% typical and obvious% o* these and si"ilar ter"s 'as in the store% bet'een the o'ner and the clerks and against the custo"ers. In the ied"ont o* the last century the trade in cloth 'as o*ten in Ie'ish hands% and *ro" it 'as born a kind o* specialiFed sub!Pargon 'hich% trans"itted by the clerks beco"e o'ners in their turn% and not necessarily Ie's% has spread to "any stores in the *ield and still lives% spoken by people 'ho are Huite surprised i* by chance they happen to *ind out that they are using ,ebre' 'ords. So"e% *or e0a"ple% still use the e0pression na vesta a "inim to describe a polka!dot dress4 no'% "inim are lice% the third o* the ten scourges o* Egypt% enu"erated and chanted in the ritual o* the Ie'ish assover. /here is also a rather large assort"ent o* not very decent ter"s% to be used not only 'ith their real "eaning in *ront o* children but also instead o* curses% in 'hich case% co"pared to the corresponding Italian and ied"ontese ter"s% they o**er% besides

the already "entioned advantage o* not being under! stood% also that o* relieving the heart 'ithout abrading the "outh. #ertainly "ore interesting *or the student o* custo"s are the *e' ter"s that allude to things pertaining to the #atholic *aith. In this case% the originally ,ebraic *or" is corrupted "uch "ore

pro*oundly% and this *or t'o reasons4 in the *irst place% secrecy 'as rigorously necessary here because their co"prehension by .entiles could have entailed the danger o* being charged 'ith sacrilegeM in the second place% the distortion in this case acHuires the precise ai" o* denying% obliterating the sacral content o* the 'ord% and thus divesting it o* all supernatural virtue. Kor the sa"e reason% in all languages the )evil is na"ed 'ith "any appellations o* an allusive and euphe"istic character% 'hich "ake it possible to re*er to hi" 'ithout p r o * * e r i n g his na"e. /he church D#atholicE 'as called t4nev/( a 'ord 'hose origins I have not been able to reconstruct% and 'hich probably takes *ro" ,ebre' only its soundM 'hile the synagogue% 'ith proud "odesty% 'as si"ply called the scola DBschoolCE% the place 'here one learns and is brought up. In a parallel instance% the rabbi is not described 'ith the 'ord rabbi or rabben# DBour rabbiCE but as mor7n4 DBour teacherCE % or "ba"h/m DBthe 'ise "anCE . In *act in BschoolC one is not a**licted by the hate*ul "haltr8m o* the .entiles4 "haltr8m( or "hantr8m( is the ritual and bigotry o* the #atholics% intolerable because polytheistic and above all because s'ar"ing 'ith i"ages DB/hou shalt have no other gods be*ore "eM /hou shalt not "ake unto thee any graven i"age . . . and shalt not bo' do'n thysel* to the"%C E0odus 6947E and there*ore idolatrous. Kor this ter" too% steeped in e0ecration% the origin is obscure% al"ost certainly not ,ebraicM but in other Ie'ish!Italian Pargons there is the adPective "halto( in the sense precisely o* B bigotC and used chie*ly to describe the #hristian 'orshiper o* i"ages. 9:iss; is the :adonna Dsi"ply% that is% Bthe 'o"anCE. #o"! pletely cryptic and indecipherableAand that 'as to be *ore! seenAis the ter" <do( 'ith 'hich% 'hen it 'as absolutely unavoidable% one alluded to #hrist% lo'ering oneGs voice and looking around 'ith circu"spectionM it is best to speak o* #hrist as little as possible because the "yth o* the .od!killing people dies hard. :any other ter"s 'ere dra'n e0actly as is *ro" the ritual and the holy books% 'hich Ie's born in the last century read

"ore or less *luently in the original ,ebre'% and "ore o*ten than not understood% at least partiallyM but% in Pargon usage% they tended to de*or" or arbitrarily enlarge the se"antic area. Kro" the root shaf+"h% 'hich is eHuivalent to BpourC and appears in sal" 19 DB our out /hy 'rath upon the heathen that have not recogniFed /hee% and upon the kingdo"s that have not invoked /hy na"eCE% our ancient "others have taken the ho"ely e0! pression f7 sef"h( that is% Bto "ake se'o"h(1 'ith 'hich one described 'ith delicacy the vo"it o* in*ants. Kro" r8a"h( plural r#"h+d( 'hich "eans B breath%C illustrious ter" that can be read in the dark and ad"irable second verse o* .enesis DB/he 'ind o* the 3ord breathed upon the *ace o* the 'atersCE 'as taken tir7 =n r8a"h( )"ake a 'ind%C in its diverse physiological signi*icances% 'here one catches a gli"pse o* the Biblical inti"acy o* the #hosen eople 'ith its #reator. As an e0a"ple o* practical o4 application% there has been handed do'n the saying o* Aunt +egina% seated 'ith $ncle )avid in the #a*J Klorio on @ia B-avidin( bat la carta( c>as sento nen le r#"h+d?1 DB)avid% thu"p your cane% so they donGt hear your 'indsTCE% 'hich attests to a conPugal relationship o* a**ectionate inti"acy. As *or the cane% it 'as at that ti"e a sy"bol o* social status% Pust as traveling *irst class on the railroad can be today. :y *ather% *or e0a"ple% o'ned t'o canes% a ba"boo cane *or 'eekdays% and another o* "alacca 'ith a silver!plated handle *or Sunday. ,e did not use the cane to lean on Dhe had no need *or thatE% but rather to t'irl Povially in the air and to shoo insolent dogs *ro" his path4 in short% as a scepter to distinguish hi" *ro" the vulgar cro'd. @ara"h/ is the benediction a pious Ie' is e0pected to pronounce "ore than a hundred ti"es a day% and he does so 'ith pro*ound Poy% since by doing so he carries on a thousand!year!old dialogue 'ith the Eternal% 'ho in every bara"h/ is praised and thanked *or ,is gi*ts. .rand*ather 3eonin 'as "y great! grand*ather. ,e lived at #asale :on*errato and had *lat *eetM the alley in *ront o* his house 'as paved 'ith cobblestones% and he su**ered 'hen he 'alked on it. -ne "orning he ca"e out o* his

house and *ound the alley paved 'ith *lagstones% and he e0! clai"ed *ro" the depths o* his heart% B>0 abra"ha a coi $oyim c>a I>an fait i losi?1 DBA blessing on those unbelievers 'ho "ade these paving stonesTCE. As a curse% ho'ever% there 'as the curious linkage med/ mesh4n/( 'hich literally "eans Bstrange deathC but actually is an i"itation o* the ied"ontese assident( that is% in plain Italian% B"ay he drop dead.C /o the sa"e .randpa 3eonin is attributed the ine0plicable i"precation B .>ai ta"eissa =na med/ mesh4n/ faita a *araA#a1 DB:ay he have an accident shaped like an u"brellaCE. &or could I *orget BarbaricN% close in space and ti"e% so "uch so that he Pust "issed Donly by a single generationE being "y uncle in the strict sense o* the 'ord. -* hi" I preserve a personal and thus articulated and co"ple0 "e"ory. &ot fi$7 dans #ne attit#de( like that o* the "ythical characters I have "entioned up until no'. /he co"parison to inert gases 'ith 'hich these pages start *its BarbaricN like a glove. ,e had studied "edicine and had beco"e a good doctor% but he did not like the 'orld. /hat is% he liked "en% and especially 'o"en% the "eado's% the skyM but not hard 'ork% the racket "ade by 'agons% the intrigues *or the sake o* a career% the hustling *or oneGs daily bread% co""it"ents% schedules% and due datesM nothing in short o* all that characteriFed the *everish li*e o* the to'n o* #asale :on*errato in 1899. ,e 'ould have liked to escape% but he 'as too laFy to do so. ,is *riends and a 'o"an 'ho loved hi"% and 'ho" he tolerated 'ith distracted benevo! lence% persuaded hi" to take the test *or the position o* shipGs doctor aboard a transatlantic stea"er. ,e 'on the co"petition easily% "ade a single voyage *ro" .enoa to &e' (ork% and on his return to .enoa handed in his resignation because in A"erica B there 'as too "uch noise.C A*ter that he settled in /urin. ,e had several 'o"en% all o* 'ho" 'anted to redee" and "arry hi"% but he regarded both "atri"ony and an eHuipped o**ice and the regular e0ercise o* his pro*ession as too "uch o* a co""it"ent. Around about

1979 he 'as a ti"id little old "an% shriveled and neglected% *right*ully nearsightedM he lived 'ith a big% vulgar $oy/( *ro" 'ho" he tried at intervals and *eebly to *ree hi"sel*% and 'ho" he described *ro" ti"e to ti"e as <na s4ti/ DBa nutCE% <na hamort/ DBa donkeyCE% and < na $ran beem/ DBa great beastCE% but 'ithout acri"ony and indeed 'ith a vein o* ine0plicable tenderness. /his $oy/ even 'anted to have hi" samd/ )ba*tiBed1 &literally( )destroyed1,C a thing he had al'ays re*used to do% not out o* religious conviction but out o* indi**erence and a lack o* initiative. BarbaricN had no less than t'elve brothers and sisters% 'ho described his co"panion 'ith the ironic and cruel na"e o* :agna :or*ina DAunt :orphineE4 ironic because the 'o"an% poor thing% being a $oy/ and childless could not be a ma$na e0cept in an e0tre"ely li"ited sense% and indeed the ter" ma$na 'as to be understood as its e0act opposite% a non :ma$na( so"eone e0cluded and cut o** *ro" the *a"ilyM and cruel because it contained a probably *alse and at any rate pitiless allusion to a certain e0ploitation on her part o* BarbaricNGs prescription blanks. /he t'o o* the" lived in a *ilthy and chaotic attic roo" on Borgo @anchiglia. :y uncle 'as a *ine doctor% *ull o* hu"an 'isdo" and diagnostic intuition% but he spent the entire day stretched out on his cot reading books and old ne'spapers4 he 'as an attentive reader% eclectic and untiring% 'ith a long "e"ory% although "yopia *orced hi" to hold the print three inches *ro" his eyeglasses% 'hich 'ere as thick as the botto" o* a beer glass. ,e only got up 'hen a patient sent *or hi"% 'hich o*ten happened because he al"ost never asked to be paidM his patients 'ere the poor people on the outskirts o* to'n% *ro" 'ho" he 'ould accept as reco"pense a hal*!doFen eggs% or so"e lettuce *ro" the garden% or even a pair o* 'orn!out shoes. ,e visited his patients on *oot because he did not have the "oney *or the streetcarM 'hen on the street he caught a di" vie'% through the "ist o* his "yopia% o* a girl% he 'ent straight up to her and to her surprise e0a"ined her care*ully% circling

*ro" a *oot a'ay. ,e ate al"ost nothing% and in a general 'ay he had no needsM he died at over ninety% 'ith discretion and dignity. 3ike BarbaricN in her rePection o* the 'orld 'as .rand"other Kina% one o* the *our sisters 'ho" everyone called Kina4 this *irst na"e singularity 'as o'ed to the *act that the *our girls had been sent successively to the sa"e 'et nurse in Bra 'hose na"e 'as )el*ina and 'ho called all her B nurslingsC by that na"e. .rand"other Kina lived at #ar"agnola% in an apart"ent on the second *loor% and did splendid crochet 'ork. At eighty!si0 she had a slight indisposition% a caodana( as ladies used to have in those days and today "ysteriously no longer do4 *ro" then on% *or t'enty yearsAthat is% until her deathAshe never le*t her roo"M on the Sabbath% *ro" her little terrace over*lo'ing 'ith geraniu"s% *ragile and pale% she 'aved her hand to the people 'ho ca"e out o* the scola DBsynagogueCE. But she "ust have been Huite di**erent in her youth% i* 'hat is told about her is true4 na"ely% that her husband having brought to the house as a guest the +abbi o* :oncalvo% an erudite and illustrious "an% she had served hi"% 'ithout his kno'ing% a pork cutlet% since there 'as nothing else in the pantry. ,er brother Barbara*lRn D+aphaelE% 'ho be*ore his pro"otion to Barba 'as kno'n as I fie#l d> Doise =d .elin DBthe son o* the :oses o* #elinCE% no' at a "ature age and very rich because o* the "oney earned *ro" ar"y supplies had *allen in love 'ith the very beauti*ul )olce @alabrega *ro" .assinoM he did not dare declare hi"sel*% 'rote her love letters that he never "ailed% and then 'rote i"passioned replies to hi"sel*. :archRn% too% an e0!uncle% had an unhappy love. ,e beca"e ena"ored o* Susanna D'hich "eans B lilyB in ,ebre'E% a brisk% pious 'o"an% the depository o* a century!old recipe *or the con*ection o* goose sausageM these sausages are "ade by using the neck o* the bird itsel* as a casing% and as a result in the 3assQn Acodesh Dthe Bholy tongue%C that is% in the Pargon 'e are discussingE% "ore than three synony"s *or Bnec kC have survived. /he *irst% mahan7( is neuter and has a technical%

generic useM the second% savar% is used only in "etaphors% as Bat breakneck speedCM and the third% "hanEc( e0tre"ely allusive and suggestive% re*ers to the neck as a vital passage% 'hich can be obstructed% occluded% or severedM and it is used in i"precations% such as B "ay it stick in your neckC M "hanich7sse "eans B to hang onesel*.C In any event% :archRn 'as SusannaGs clerk and assistantM both in the "ysterious kitchen!'orkshop and in the store% on 'hose shelves 'ere pro"iscuously placed sausages% holy *urnishings% a"ulets% and prayer books. Susanna turned hi" do'n and :archRn got his abo"inable revenge by selling the recipe *or the sausage to a $oy% -ne "ust think that this $oy did not appreciate its value% since a*ter SusannaGs death D'hich took place in a legendary pastE it has no longer been possible to *ind in co""erce goose sausage 'orthy o* the na"e and tradition. Because o* this conte"ptible retaliation% $ncle :archRn lost his right to be called an uncle. +e"otest o* all% portentously inert% 'rapped in a thick shroud o* legend and the incredible% *ossiliFed in his Huality as an uncle% 'as Barbabra"Rn o* #hieri% the uncle o* "y "aternal grand"other. Vhen still young he 'as already rich% having bought *ro" the aristocrats o* the place nu"erous *ar"s bet'een #hieri and the Asti regionM relying on the inheritance they 'ould receive *ro" hi"% his relations sHuandered their 'ealth on banHuets% balls% and trips to aris. &o' it happened that his "other% Aunt :ilca Dthe 5ueenE *ell sick% and a*ter "uch argu"ent 'ith her husband 'as led to agree to hire a havert/( that is% a "aid% 'hich she had *latly re*used to do until then4 in *act% Huite prescient% she did not 'ant 'o"en around the house. unctually% Barbabra"Rn 'as overco"e 'ith love *or this havert/( probably the *irst *e"ale less than saintly 'ho" he had an opportunity to get close to. ,er na"e has not been handed do'n% but instead a *e' attributes. She 'as opulent and beauti*ul and possessed splendid "hlavi+d DBbreastsCE4 the ter" is unkno'n in classic ,ebre'% 'here% ho'ever% "hal/v "eans B"ilk.C E She 'as o* course a $oy/( 'as insolent% and did not kno' ho' to read or 'riteM but

she 'as an e0cellent cook. She 'as a peasant% <na *onalt/( and 'ent bare*oot in the house. But this is e0actly 'hat "y uncle *ell in love 'ith4 her ankles% her straight*or'ard speech% and the dishes she cooked. ,e did not say anything to the girl but told his *ather and "other that he intended to "arry herM his parents 'ent 'ild 'ith rage and "y uncle took to his bed. ,e stayed there *or t'enty!t'o years. As to 'hat $ncle Bra"Rn did during those years% there are divergent accounts. /here is no doubt that *or a good part he slept and ga"bled the" a'ayM it is kno'n *or certain that he 'ent to pot econo"ically because Bhe did not clip the couponsC o* the treasury bonds% and because he had entrusted the ad"in! istration o* the *ar"s to a mamser DBbastardCE% 'ho had sold the" *or a song to a *ront "an o* hisM in line 'ith Aunt :ilcaGs pre"onition% "y uncle thus dragged the 'hole *a"ily into ruin% and to this day they be'ail the conseHuences. It is also said that he read and studied and that% considered at last kno'ledgeable and Pust% received at his bedside delegations o* #hieri notables and settled disputesM it is also said that the path to that sa"e bed 'as not unkno'n to that sa"e havert/( and that at least during the *irst years "y uncleGs voluntary seclusion 'as interrupted by nocturnal sorties to go and play billiards in the ca*J belo'. But at any rate he stayed in bed *or al"ost a Huarter o* a century% and 'hen Aunt :ilca and $ncle Solo"on died he "arried a $oy/ and took her into his bed de*initively% because he 'as by no' so 'eak that his legs no longer held hi" up. ,e died poor but rich in years and *a"e and in the peace o* the spirit in 1887. Susanna o* the goose sausage 'as the cousin o* .rand"other :alia% "y paternal grand"other% 'ho survives in the *igure o* an overdressed% tiny va"p in so"e studio poses e0ecuted around 1819% and as a 'rinkled% short!te"pered% slovenly% and *abulously dea* old lady in "y "ost distant childhood "e"ories. Still today% ine0plicably% the highest shelves o* the closets give us back her precious relics% sha'ls o* black lace e"broidered 'ith iridescent spangles% noble silk e"broideries% a "arten *ur "u**

"angled by *our generations o* "oths% "assive silver table'are engraved 'ith her initials4 as though% a*ter al"ost *i*ty years% her restless spirit still visited our house. In her youth she 'as kno'n as Bthe heartbreakerCM she 'as le*t a 'ido' very early and the ru"or spread that "y grand! *ather had killed hi"sel* in desperation over her in*idelities. She raised alone three boys in a Spartan "anner and "ade the" studyM but at an advanced age she gave in and "arried an old #hristian doctor% a "aPestic% taciturn% bearded "an% and *ro" then on inclined to stinginess and oddity% although in youth she had been regally prodigal% as beauti*ul% "uch loved 'o"en usually are. Vith the passing o* the years she cut hersel* o** co"pletely *ro" any *a"ily a**ections D'hich in any case she "ust never have *elt very deeplyE. She lived 'ith the doctor on @ia o% in a gloo"y% dark apart"ent% barely 'ar"ed in 'inter by Pust a s"all Kranklin stove% and she no longer thre' out anything% because everything "ight eventually co"e in handy4 not even the cheese rinds or the *oil on chocolates% 'ith 'hich she "ade silver balls to be sent to "issions to B *ree a little black boy.C she attended the scola on @ia erhaps out o* a *ear o* "aking a "istake in her de*initive choice% on alternate days ius the Ki*th and the parish church o* SantG -ttavio% and it appears that she 'ould even go sacrilegiously to con*ession. She died past eighty in 1968% 'atched over by a chorus o* unke"pt neighbors% all dressed in black and% like her% hal* de"ented% led by a 'itch 'hose na"e 'as :ada"e Scili"berg. Even though tor"ented by her renal occlusion% "y grand"other kept a sharp eye on Scili"berg until her last breath *or *ear she "ight *ind the mafte"h DBkeyC E hidden under the "attress and carry o** the man+d DB"oneyCE and the hafassim DBPe'elsCE % all o* 'hich turned out to be *ake. At her death% her sons and daughters!in!la' spent 'eeks% *illed 'ith dis"ay and disgust% picking through the "ountains o* household debris 'ith 'hich the apart"ent over*lo'ed. .rand! "other :alia had indiscri"inately saved e0Huisite obPects and revolting garbage. Kro" severe carved 'alnut closets issued

ar"ies o* bedbugs daFFled by the light% and then linen sheets never used% and other sheets patched and threadbare% 'orn so thin as to be transparent% curtains% and reversible da"ask bedspreadsM a collection o* stu**ed hu""ingbirds 'hich as soon as touched *ell into dustM in the cellar lay hundreds o* bottles o* precious 'ines 'hich had turned into vinegar. /hey *ound eight overcoats belonging to the doctor% brand ne'% stu**ed 'ith "othballs% and the only one she had allo'ed hi" to use% all patches and darnings% its collar slick 'ith grease and a :asonic e"ble" hidden in its pocket. I re"e"ber al"ost nothing about her% 'ho" "y *ather called :a"an Dalso in the third personE and loved to describe% 'ith his eager taste *or the biFarre% slightly te"pered by a veil o* *ilial piety. Every Sunday "orning "y *ather took "e on *oot in a visit to .rand"other :alia4 'e 'alked slo'ly do'n @ia o% and he stopped to caress all the cats% sni** at all the tru**les% and lea* through all the secondhand books. :y *ather 'as l>in$e$n7 DBthe engineerCE% 'ith his pockets al'ays bulging 'ith books and kno'n to all the pork butchers because he checked 'ith his logarith"ic ruler the "ultiplication *or the prosciutto purchase. &ot that he purchased this last ite" 'ith a care*ree heart4 superstitious rather than religious% he *elt ill at ease at breaking the "asher#t rules% but he liked prosciutto so "uch that% *aced by the te"ptation o* a shop 'indo'% he yielded every ti"e% sighing% cursing under his breath% and 'atching "e out o* the corner o* his eye% as i* he *eared "y Pudg"ent or hoped *or "y co"plicity. Vhen 'e arrived at the tenebrous landing o* the apart"ent on @ia o% "y *ather rang the bell% and 'hen "y grand"other ca"e to open the door he 'ould shout in her ear4 B,eGs at the head o* his classTC :y grand"other 'ould let us in 'ith visible reluctance and guide us through a string o* dusty% uninhabited roo"s% one o* 'hich% studded 'ith sinister instru"ents% 'as the doctorGs se"i!abandoned o**ice. -ne hardly ever sa' the doc! tor% nor did I certainly 'ant to see hi"% ever since the day on 'hich I had surprised "y *ather telling "y "other that% 'hen

they brought hi" sta""ering children to be treated% he 'ould cut the *illet o* skin under the tongue 'ith his scissors. Vhen 'e got to the good living roo"% "y grand"other 'ould dig out o* so"e recess the bo0 o* chocolates% al'ays the sa"e bo0% and o**er "e one. /he chocolate 'as 'or"!eaten% and 'ith great e"barrass"ent I 'ould Huickly hide it a'ay in "y pocket.

HY

ROGEN

It 'as Ianuary. Enrico ca"e to call *or "e right a*ter dinner4 his brother had gone up into the "ountains and had le*t hi" the keys to the laboratory. I dressed in a *lash and Poined hi" on the street. )uring the 'alk I learned that his brother had not really le*t hi" the keys4 this 'as si"ply a co"pendious *or"ulation% a euphe"is"% the sort o* thing you said to so"eone ready to understand. ,is brother% contrary to his habit% had not hidden the keys% nor had he taken the" 'ith hi"M 'hatGs "ore% he had *orgotten to repeat to Enrico the prohibition against appropriating these sa"e keys% and the punish"ent threatened should Enrico disobey. /o put it bluntly% there 'ere the keys% a*ter

"onths o* 'aitingM Enrico and I 'ere deter"ined not to pass up the opportunity. Ve 'ere si0teen% and I 'as *ascinated 'ith Enrico. ,e 'as not very active% and his scholastic output 'as pretty "eager% but he had virtues that distinguished hi" *ro" all the other "e"bers o* the class% and he did things that nobody else did. ,e possessed a cal"% stubborn courage% a precocious capacity to sense his o'n *uture and to give it 'eight and shape. ,e turned his back Dbut 'ithout conte"ptE on our inter"inable discussions% no' latonic% no' )ar'inian% later still BergsonianM he 'as not vulgar% he did not boast o* his virile attributes or his skill at sports% he never lied. ,e kne' his li"itations% but 'e never heard hi" say Das 'e all told each other% 'ith the idea o* currying co"*ort% or blo'ing o** stea"E4 B(ou kno'% I really think IG" an idiot.C ,e had a slo'% *oot!slogging i"agination4 he lived on drea"s like all o* us% but his drea"s 'ere sensibleM they 'ere obtuse% possible% contiguous to reality% not ro"antic% not cos"ic. ,e did not e0perience "y tor"ented oscillation bet'een the heaven Do* a scholastic or sports success% a ne' *riendship% a rudi"entary and *leeting loveE and the hell Do* a *ailing grade% a re"orse% a brutal revelation o* an in*eriority 'hich each ti"e see"ed eternal% de*initiveE. ,is goals 'ere al'ays attainable. ,e drea"ed o* pro"otion and studied 'ith patience things that did not interest hi". ,e 'anted a "icroscope and sold his racing bike to get it. ,e 'anted to be a pole vaulter and 'ent to the gy" every evening *or a year 'ithout "aking a *uss about it% breaking any bones% or tearing a liga"ent% until he reached the "ark o* 7.2 "eters he had set hi"sel*% and then stopped. 3ater he 'anted a certain 'o"an and he got herM he 'anted the "oney to live Huietly and obtained it a*ter ten years o* boring% prosaic 'ork. Ve had no doubts4 'e 'ould be che"ists% but our e0pecta! tions and hopes 'ere Huite di**erent. Enrico asked che"istry% Huite reasonably% *or the tools to earn his living and have a secure li*e. I asked *or so"ething entirely di**erentM *or "e

che"istry represented an inde*inite cloud o* *uture potentialities 'hich enveloped "y li*e to co"e in black volutes torn by *iery *lashes% like those 'hich had hidden :ount Sinai. 3ike :oses% *ro" that cloud I e0pected "y la'% the principle o* order in "e% around "e% and in the 'orld. I 'as *ed up 'ith books% 'hich I still continued to gulp do'n 'ith indiscreet voracity% and searched *or another key to the highest truths4 there "ust be a key% and I 'as certain that% o'ing to so"e "onstrous conspiracy to "y detri"ent and the 'orldGs% I 'ould not get it in school. In school they loaded "e 'ith tons o* notions 'hich I diligently digested% but 'hich did not 'ar" the blood in "y veins. I 'ould 'atch the buds s'ell in spring% the "ica glint in the granite% "y o'n hands% and I 'ould say to "ysel*4 BI 'ill understand this% too% I 'ill understand everything% but not the 'ay they 'ant "e to. I 'ill *ind a shortcut% I 'ill "ake a lock!pick% I 'ill push open the doors.C It 'as enervating% nauseating% to listen to lectures on the proble" o* being and kno'ing% 'hen everything around us 'as a "ystery pressing to be revealed4 the old 'ood o* the benches% the sunGs sphere beyond the 'indo'panes and the roo*s% the vain *light o* the pappus do'n in the Iune air. Vould all the philosophers and all the ar"ies o* the 'orld be able to construct this little *lyY &o% nor even understand it4 this 'as a sha"e and an abo"ination% another road "ust be *ound. Ve 'ould be che"ists% Enrico and I. Ve 'ould dredge the bo'els o* the "ystery 'ith our strength% our talent4 'e 'ould grab roteus by the throat% cut short his inconclusive "eta"orphoses *ro" *orce hi" to speak. /his being our progra"% 'e could not a**ord to 'aste any opportunities. EnricoGs brother% a "ysterious and choleric per! sonage% about 'ho" Enrico did not like to talk% 'as a che"istry student% and he had installed a laboratory at the rear o* a courtyard% in a curious% narro'% t'isting alley'ay 'hich branched o** iaFFa della #rocetta and stood out in the obsessive lato to Augustine% *ro" Augustine to

/ho"as% *ro" /ho"as to ,egel% *ro" ,egel to #roce. Ve 'ould

/urinese geo"etry like a rudi"entary organ trapped in the evolved structure o* a "a""alian. /he laboratory 'as also rudi"entary4 not in the sense o* an atavistic vestige but in that o* e0tre"e poverty. /here 'as a tiled 'orkbench% very *e' glass receptacles% about t'enty *lasks 'ith reagents% "uch dust and cob'ebs% little light% and great cold. -n our 'ay 'e had discussed 'hat 'e 'ere going to do no' that 'e had B gained access to the laboratory%C but our ideas 'ere con*used. It see"ed to us an embarras de richesses( and it 'as instead a di**erent e"barrass"ent% deeper and "ore essential4 an e"bar! rass"ent tied to an ancient atrophy o* ours% o* our *a"ily% o* our caste. Vhat 'ere 'e able to do 'ith our handsY &othing% or al"ost nothing. /he 'o"en% yesAour "others and grand! "others had lively% agile hands% they kne' ho' to se' and cook% so"e even played the piano% painted 'ith 'atercolors% e"broidered% braided their hair. But 'e% and our *athersY -ur hands 'ere at once coarse and 'eak% regressive% insensi! tive4 the least trained part o* our bodies. ,aving gone through the *irst *unda"ental e0periences o* play% they had learned to 'rite% and that 'as all. /hey kne' the convulsive grip around the branches o* a tree% 'hich 'e loved to cli"b out o* a natural desire and also DEnrico and IE out o* a groping ho"age and return to the origins o* the speciesM but they 'ere un*a"iliar 'ith the sole"n% balanced 'eight o* the ha""er% the concentrated po'er o* a blade% too cautiously *orbidden us% the 'ise te0ture o* 'ood% the si"ilar and diverse pliability o* iron% lead% and copper. I* "an is a "aker% 'e 'ere not "en4 'e kne' this and su**ered *ro" it. /he glass in the laboratory enchanted and inti"idated us. .lass *or us 'as that 'hich one "ust not touch because it breaks% and yet% at a "ore inti"ate contact% revealed itsel* to be a substance di**erent *ro" all others% sui generis% *ull o* "ystery and caprice. It is si"ilar in this to 'ater% 'hich also has no kindred *or"s4 but 'ater is bound to "an% indeed to li*e% by a long!lasting *a"iliarity% by a relationship o* "ulti*arious necessity%

due to 'hich its uniHueness is hidden beneath the crust o* habit. .lass% ho'ever% is the 'ork o* "an and has a "ore recent history. It 'as our *irst victi"% or% better% our *irst adversary. In the #rocetta laboratory there 'as the usual lab glass% in various dia"eters and long and short sections% all covered 'ith dust4 'e lit the Bunsen burner and set to 'ork. /o bend the tube 'as easy. All you had to do 'as hold the section o* tube steady over the *la"e4 a*ter a certain ti"e the *la"e turned yello' and si"ultaneously the glass beca"e 'eakly lu"inous. At this point the tube could be bent4 the curve obtained 'as *ar *ro" per*ect% but in substance so"ething took place% you could create a ne'% arbitrary shapeM a potentiality beca"e act. VasnGt this 'hat Aristotle "eantY &o'% a tube o* copper or lead can also be bent% but 'e soon *ound out that the red!hot tube o* glass possessed a uniHue virtue4 'hen it had beco"e pliable% you could% by Huickly pulling on the t'o cold ends% pull it into very thin *ila"ents% indeed uni"aginably thin% so thin that it 'as dra'n up'ards by the current o* hot air that rose *ro" the *la"e. /hin and *le0ible% like silk. So then silk and cotton too% i* obtainable in a "assive *or"% could be as in*le0ible as glassY Enrico told "e that in his grand*atherGs to'n the *isher"en take silk'or"s% 'hen they are already big and ready to *or" the pupa and% blind and clu"sy% try to cra'l up on the branchesM they grab the"% break the" in t'o 'ith their *ingers% and pulling on the t'o stu"ps obtain a thread o* silk% thick and coarse% 'hich they then use as a *ishing line. /his *act% 'hich I had no hesitation in believing% see"ed to "e both abo"inable and *ascinating4 abo"inable because o* the cruel "anner o* that death% and the *utile use o* a natural portentM *ascinating because o* the straight*or'ard and audacious act o* ingenuity it presupposed on the part o* its "ythical inventor. /he glass tube could also be blo'n upM but this 'as "uch "ore di**icult. (ou could close one end o* a s"all tube4 then blo'ing hard *ro" the other end a bubble *or"ed% very beauti!

*ul to look at and al"ost per*ectly spherical but 'ith absurdly thin 'alls. Even the slightest pu** o* breath in e0cess and the 'alls took on the iridescence o* a soap bubble% and this 'as a certain sign o* death4 the bubble burst 'ith a sharp little snap and its *rag"ents 'ere scattered over the *loor 'ith the tenuous rustle o* eggshells. In so"e sense it 'as a Pust punish"entM glass is glass% and it should not be e0pected to si"ulate the behavior o* soapy 'ater. I* one *orced the ter"s a bit% one could even see an Aesopian lesson in the event. A*ter an hourGs struggle 'ith the glass% 'e 'ere tired and hu"iliated. Ve both had in*la"ed% dry eyes *ro" looking too long at the red!hot glass% *roFen *eet% and *ingers covered 'ith burns. Besides% 'orking 'ith glass is not che"istry4 'e 'ere in the laboratory 'ith another goal. -ur goal 'as to see 'ith our eyes% to provoke 'ith our hands% at least one o* the pheno"ena 'hich 'ere described so o**handedly in our che"istry te0tbook. -ne could% *or e0a"ple% prepare nitrous o0ide% 'hich in Sestini and Kunaro 'as still described 'ith the not very proper and unserious ter" o* laughing gas. Vould it really be productive o* laughterY &itrous o0ide is prepared by cautiously heating a""oniu" nitrate. /he latter did not e0ist in the labM instead there 'as a""onia and nitric acid. Ve "i0ed the"% unable to "ake any preli"inary calculations until 'e had a neutral lit"us reaction% as a result o* 'hich the "i0ture heated up greatly and e"itted an abundance o* 'hite s"okeM then 'e decided to bring it to a boil to eli"inate the 'ater. In a short ti"e the lab 'as *illed 'ith a choking *og% 'hich 'as not at all laughableM 'e broke o** our atte"pt% luckily *or us% because 'e did not kno' 'hat can happen 'hen this e0plosive salt is heated less than cautiously. It 'as neither si"ple nor very a"using. I looked around and sa' in a corner an ordinary dry battery. ,ere is so"ething 'e could do4 the electrolysis o* 'ater. It 'as an e0peri"ent 'ith a guaranteed result% 'hich I had already e0ecuted several ti"es at ho"e. Enrico 'ould not be disappointed.

I put so"e 'ater in a beaker% dissolved a pinch o* salt in it% turned t'o e"pty Pa" Pars upside do'n in the beakerM then *ound t'o rubber!coated copper 'ires% attached the" to the batteryGs poles% and *itted the 'ire ends into the Pa" Pars. A "inuscule procession o* air bubbles rose *ro" the 'ire ends4 indeed% observing the" closely you could see that *ro" the cathode about t'ice as "uch gas 'as being liberated as *ro" the anode. I 'rote the 'ell!kno'n eHuation on the blackboard% and e0plained to Enrico that 'hat 'as 'ritten there 'as actually taking place. Enrico didnGt see" too convinced% but by no' it 'as dark and 'e 'ere hal* *roFenM 'e 'ashed our hands% bought so"e slices o* chestnut pudding and 'ent ho"e% leaving the electrolysis to continue on its o'n. /he ne0t day 'e still had access. In pliant obseHuiousness to theory% the cathode Par 'as al"ost *ull o* gasM the anode Par 'as hal* *ull4 I brought this to EnricoGs attention% giving "ysel* as "uch i"portance as I could% and trying to a'aken the suspicion that% I 'onGt say electrolysis% but its application as the o* de*inite proportions% 'as "y con*ir"ation o* the la'

invention% the *ruit o* patient e0peri"ents conducted secretly in "y roo". But Enrico 'as in a bad "ood and doubted everything. B V ho says that itGs actually hydrogen and o0ygenYC he said to "e rudely. BAnd 'hat i* thereGs chlorineY )idnGt you put in saltYC /he obPection struck "e as insulting4 ,o' did Enrico dare to doubt "y state"entY I 'as the theoretician% only I4 he% although the proprietor o* the lab Dto a certain degree% and then only at second handE% indeed% precisely because he 'as in a position to boast o* other Hualities% should have abstained *ro" criticis". B&o' 'e shall see%C I said4 I care*ully li*ted the cathode Par and% holding it 'ith its open end do'n% lit a "atch and brought it close. /here 'as an e0plosion% s"all but sharp and angry% the Par burst into splinters Dluckily% I 'as holding it level 'ith "y chest and not higherE% and there re"ained in "y hand% as a sarcastic sy"bol% the glass ring o* the botto". Ve le*t% discussing 'hat had occurred. :y legs 'ere shaking a bitM

I e0perienced retrospective *ear and at the sa"e ti"e a kind o* *oolish pride% at having con*ir"ed a hypothesis and having unleashed a *orce o* nature. It 'as indeed hydrogen% there*ore4 the sa"e ele"ent that burns in the sun and stars% and *ro" 'hose condensation the universes are *or"ed in eternal silence.

! " N C
Kor *ive "onths 'e had attended% packed together like sardines and *ull o* reverence% ro*essor .Gs classes in .eneral and Inorganic #he"istry% carrying a'ay *ro" the" varied sensations% but all o* the" e0citing and ne'. &o% .Gs che"istry 'as not the "otor!*orce o* the $niverse% nor the key to the /ruth4 . 'as a skeptical% ironic old "an% the ene"y o* all *or"s o* rhetoric D*or this reason% and only *or this% he 'as an anti!KascistE% intelligent% obstinate% and Huick!'itted 'ith a sad sort o* 'it. ,is students handed do'n stories o* his e0a"inations con! ducted 'ith *erocious coldness and ostentatious prePudice4 his *avorite victi"s 'ere 'o"en in general% and then nuns% priests% and all those 'ho appeared be*ore hi" B dressed like soldiers.C

-n his account 'ere 'hispered "urky legends o* "aniacal stinginess in running the #he"ical Institute and his personal laboratory4 that he conserved in the base"ents innu"erable bo0es o* used "atches% 'hich he *orbade the beadles to thro' a'ayM and that the "ysterious "inarets o* the Institute itsel*% 'hich even no' con*er on that section o* the #orso :assi"o dGAFeglio a PePune tone o* *ake e0oticis"% had been built at his bidding% in his re"ote youth% in order to celebrate there each year a *oul and secret orgy o* salvage. )uring it all the past yearGs rags and *ilter papers 'ere burnt% and he personally analyFed the ashes 'ith beggarly patience to e0tract *ro" the" all the valuable ele"ents Dand perhaps even less valuableE in a kind o* ritual palingenesis 'hich only #aselli% his *aith*ul technician!beadle% 'as authoriFed to attend. It 'as also said that he had spent his entire acade"ic career de"olishing a certain theory o* stereo! che"istry% not 'ith e0peri"ents but 'ith publications. /he e0peri"ents 'ere per*or"ed by so"eone else% his great rival% in so"e unkno'n part o* the 'orldM as he proceeded% the reports appeared in the 2elvetica .hemica 9cta( and ro*essor apart one by one. I could not s'ear to the authenticity o* these ru"ors4 but in *act% 'hen he ca"e into the laboratory *or reparations% no Bunsen burner 'as even lo' enough% so it 'as prudent to turn it o** co"pletelyM actually% he "ade the students prepare silver nitrate *ro" the *ive!lire coins taken *ro" their o'n pockets% and chloride o* nickel *ro" the t'enty!cent pieces 'ith the *lying naked ladyM and in truth% the only ti"e I 'as ad"itted to his study% I *ound 'ritten on the blackboard in a *ine script4 B)onGt give "e a *uneral% neither dead nor alive.C I liked . I liked the sober rigor o* his classesM I 'as a"used by the disdain*ul ostentation 'ith 'hich at the e0a"s he e0hibited% instead o* the prescribed Kascist shirt% a co"ic black bib no bigger than the pal" o* a hand% 'hich at each o* his brusHue "ove"ents 'ould pop out bet'een his PacketGs lapels. I valued his t'o te0tbooks% clear to the point o* obsession% concise% saturated 'ith his surly conte"pt *or hu"anity in . tore the"

general and *or laFy and *oolish students in particular4 *or all students 'ere% by de*inition% laFy and *oolishM anyone 'ho by rare good luck "anaged to prove that he 'as not beca"e his peer and 'as honored by a laconic and precious sentence o* praise. &o' the *ive "onths o* an0ious 'aiting had passed4 *ro" a"ong us eighty *resh"en had been selected the t'enty least laFy and *oolishA*ourteen boys and si0 girlsAand the reparation laboratory opened its doors to us. &one o* us had a precise idea o* 'hat 'as at stake4 I think that it 'as his invention% a "odern and technical version o* the initiation rituals o* savages% in 'hich each o* his subPects 'as abruptly torn a'ay *ro" book and school bench and transplanted a"id eye!s"arting *u"es% hand! scorching acids% and practical events that do not Pibe 'ith the theories. I certainly do not 'ant to dispute the use*ulness% indeed the necessity o* this initiation4 but in the brutality 'ith 'hich it 'as carried out it 'as easy to see .Gs spite*ul talent% his vocation *or hierarchical distances and the hu"iliation o* us% his *lock. In su"4 not a 'ord% spoken or 'ritten% 'as spent by hi" as viaticu"% to encourage us along the road 'e had chosen% to point out the dangers and pit*alls% and to co""unicate to us the tricks o* the trade. I have o*ten thought that deep do'n . 'as a savage% a hunterM so"eone 'ho goes hunting si"ply has to take along a gun% in *act a bo' and arro'% and go into the 'oods4 success or *ailure are purely up to hi". ick up and go% 'hen the ti"e co"es the haruspices and augurs no longer count% theory is useless and you learn along the 'ay% the e0periences o* others are useless% the essential is to "eet the challenge. ,e 'ho is 'orthy 'insM he 'ho has 'eak eyes% ar"s% or instincts turns back and changes his trade4 o* the eighty students I "entioned% thirty changed their trade in their second year and another t'enty later on. /hat laboratory 'as tidy and clean. Ve stayed in it *ive hours a day% *ro" t'o oGclock to seven oGclock4 at the entrance% an assistant assigned to each student a preparation% then each o* us 'ent to the supply roo"% 'here the hirsute #aselli handed out

the ra' "aterial% *oreign or do"estic4 a chunk o* "arble to this *ello'% ten gra"s o* bro"ine to the ne0t% a bit o* boric acid to another% a hand*ul o* clay to yet another. #aselli 'ould entrust these reliHuiae to us 'ith an undisguised air o* suspicion4 this 'as the bread o* science% .Gs bread% and *inally it 'as also the stu** that he ad"inisteredM 'ho kno's 'hat i"proper use 'e pro*ane and unskilled persons 'ould "ake o* itY #aselli loved . 'ith a bitter% pole"ical love. Apparently he had been *aith*ul to hi" *or *orty yearsM he 'as his shado'% his earthbound incarnation% and% like all those 'ho per*or" vicarial *unctions% he 'as an interesting hu"an speci"en4 like those% I "ean to say% 'ho represent Authority 'ithout possessing any o* their o'n% such as% *or e0a"ple% sacristans% "useu" guides% beadles% nurses% the Byoung "e nC 'orking *or la'yers and notaries% and sales"en. /hese people% to a greater or lesser degree% tend to trans*use the hu"an substance o* their chie* into their o'n "old% as occurs 'ith pseudo"orphic crystals4 so"eti"es they su**er *ro" it% o*ten they enPoy it% and they possess t'o distinct patterns o* behavior% depending on 'hether they act on their o'n or Bin the e0ercise o* their *unction.C It o*ten happens that the personality o* their chie* invades the" so co"pletely as to disturb their nor"al hu"an contacts and so they re"ain celibate4 celibacy is in *act prescribed and accepted in the "onastic state% 'hich entails precisely the pro0i"ity and subPection to the highest authority. #aselli 'as a "odest% taciturn "an% in 'hose sad but proud eyes could be read4 A he is a great scientist% and as his B*a"ulusC I also a" a little greatM A I % though hu"ble% kno' things that he does not kno'M AI kno' hi" better than he kno's hi"sel*M I *oresee his actsM AI have po'er over hi"M I de*end and protect hi"M AI can say bad things about hi" because I love hi"M that is not granted to youM A h is principles are right% but he applies the" la0ly% and Bonce upon a ti"e it 'as not like this. B I* I 'erenGt here . . . and

in *act% #aselli ran the Institute 'ith a parsi"ony and hatred o* novelty even greater than .Gs. /he *irst day it 'as "y *ate to be assigned the preparation o* Finc sul*ate4 it should not have been too di**icultM it 'as a "atter o* "aking an ele"entary stoichio"etric calculation and attacking the Finc particles 'ith previously diluted sul*uric acid4 concentrate% crystalliFe% dry 'ith the pu"p% 'ash and recrystal! liFe. ?inc% ?inck% Finco4 they "ake tubs out o* it *or laundry% it is not an ele"ent 'hich says "uch to the i"agination% it is gray and its salts are colorless% it is not to0ic% nor does it produce striking chro"atic reactionsM in short% it is a boring "etal. It has been kno'n to hu"anity *or t'o or three centuries% so it is not a veteran covered 'ith glory like copper% nor even one o* those ne'ly "inted ele"ents 'hich are still surrounded 'ith the gla"our o* their discovery. #aselli handed "e "y FincM I returned to the bench and prepared to 'ork4 I *elt curious% shy% and vaguely annoyed% as 'hen you reach thirteen and "ust go to the te"ple to recite in ,ebre' the Bar :itFvah prayer be*ore the rabbiM the "o"ent% desired and so"e'hat *eared% had co"e. /he hour o* the appoint"ent 'ith :atter% the SpiritGs great antagonist% had struck4 hyle( 'hich% strangely% can be *ound e"bal"ed in the endings o* alkyl radicals4 "ethyl% butyl% etc. /here 'as no need to get *ro" #aselli the other ra' "aterial% the partner o* Finc% that is% sul*uric acid4 it 'as there in abundance in every corner. #oncentrated% o* course4 and you had to dilute it 'ith 'aterM but 'atch outT it is 'ritten in all the treatises% one "ust operate in reverse% that is% pour the acid in the 'ater and not the other 'ay around% other'ise that innocuous!looking oil is prone to 'ild rages4 this is kno'n even to the kids in liceo% /hen you put the Finc in the diluted acid. /he course notes contained a detail 'hich at *irst reading had escaped "e% na"ely% that the so tender and delicate Finc% so yielding to acid 'hich gulps it do'n in a single "outh*ul% behaves% ho'ever% in a very di**erent *ashion 'hen it is very pure4 then it obstinately resists the attack. -ne could dra' *ro"

this t'o con*licting philosophical conclusions4 the praise o* purity% 'hich protects *ro" evil like a coat o* "ailM the praise o* i"purity% 'hich gives rise to changes% in other 'ords% to li*e. I discarded the *irst% disgustingly "oralistic% and I lingered to consider the second% 'hich I *ound "ore congenial. In order *or the 'heel to turn% *or li*e to be lived% i"purities are needed% and the i"purities o* i"purities in the soil% too% as is kno'n% i* it is to be *ertile. )issension% diversity% the grain o* salt and "ustard are needed4 Kascis" does not 'ant the"% *orbids the"% and thatGs 'hy youGre not a KascistM it 'ants everybody to be the sa"e% and you are not. But i""aculate virtue does not e0ist either% or i* it e0ists it is detestable. So take the solution o* copper sul*ate 'hich is in the shel* o* reagents% add a drop o* it to your sul*uric acid% and youGll see the reaction begin4 the Finc 'akes up% it is covered 'ith a 'hite *ur o* hydrogen bubbles% and there 'e are% the enchant"ent has taken place% you can leave it to its *ate and take a stroll around the lab and see 'hatGs ne' and 'hat the others are doing. /he others are doing various things4 so"e are 'orking intently% perhaps 'histling to give the"selves a nonchalant air% each one behind his particle o* hyle3 others are roa"ing about or gaFing out the 'indo's at @alentino ark% by no' entirely greenM still others are s"oking and chatting in the corners. In one corner there 'as a hood% and +ita sat in *ront o* it. I 'ent over to her and realiFed 'ith *leeting pleasure that she 'as cooking "y sa"e dish4 'ith pleasure% I say% because *or so"e ti"e no' I had been hanging around +ita% "entally preparing brilliant conversational openings% and then at the decisive "o"ent I did not dare co"e out 'ith the" and put it o** to the ne0t day. I did not dare because o* "y deep!rooted shyness and lack o* con*idence% and also because +ita discouraged all contact% it 'as hard to understand 'hy. She 'as very thin% pale% sad% and sure o* hersel*4 she got through the e0a"s 'ith good "arks% but 'ithout the genuine appetite that I *elt *or the things she had to study. She 'as nobodyGs *riend% no one kne' anything about her% she said very little% and *or all these reasons

she attracted "eM I tried to sit ne0t to her in class and she did not take "e into her con*idence% and I *elt *rustrated and challenged. In *act I 'as desperate% and surely not *or the *irst ti"eM actually at that period I thought "ysel* conde"ned to a perpetual "asculine solitude% denied a 'o"anGs s"ile *orever% 'hich I nevertheless needed as "uch as air. It 'as Huite clear that on that day I 'as being presented 'ith an opportunity that should not be 'asted4 at that "o"ent bet'een +ita and "ysel* there 'as a bridge% a s"all Finc bridge% *ragile but negotiableM co"e on no'% take the *irst step. BuFFing around +ita% I beca"e a'are o* a second *ortunate circu"stance4 a *a"iliar book Packet% yello'ish 'ith a red border% stuck out o* the girlGs bagM the i"age 'as a raven 'ith a book in its beak. /he titleY (ou could read only I# and /AI&% but thatGs all I needed4 it 'as "y sustenance during those "onths% the ti"eless story o* ,ans #astorp in enchanted e0ile on the "agic "ountain. I asked +ita about it% on tenterhooks to hear her opinion% as i* I had 'ritten the book4 and soon enough I had to realiFe that she 'as reading the novel in an entirely di**erent 'ay. As a novel% in *act4 she 'as very interested in *inding out e0actly ho' *ar ,ans 'ould go 'ith :ada"e #hauchat% and "ercilessly skipped the *ascinating D*or "eE political% the Ie'ish Iesuit &aphtha. &ever "ind4 actually% itGs ground *or debate. It could even beco"e an essential and *unda"ental discussion% because I too a" Ie'ish% and she is not4 I a" the i"purity that "akes the Finc react% I a" the grain o* salt or "ustard. I"purity% certainly% since Pust during those "onths the publication o* the "agaFine -efense of the Face had begun% and there 'as "uch talk about purity% and I had begun to be proud o* being i"pure. In truth% until precisely those "onths it had not "eant "uch to "e that I 'as a Ie'4 'ithin "ysel*% and in "y contacts 'ith "y #hristian *riends% I had al'ays considered "y origin as an al"ost negli! gible but curious *act% a s"all a"using ano"aly% like having a crooked nose or *recklesM a Ie' is so"ebody 'ho at #hrist"as theological% and "etaphysical discussions bet'een the hu"anist Sette"brini and

does not have a tree% 'ho should not eat sala"i but eats it all the sa"e% 'ho has learned a bit o* ,ebre' at thirteen and then has *orgotten it. According to the above!"entioned "agaFine% a Ie' is stingy and cunningM but I 'as not particularly stingy or cunning% nor had "y *ather been. So there 'as plenty to discuss 'ith +ita% but the conversation I had in "ind didnGt strike a spark. I soon realiFed that +ita 'as di**erent *ro" "e4 she 'as not a grain o* "ustardM she 'as the daughter o* a poor% sickly storekeeper. Kor her the university 'as not at all the te"ple o* Uno'ledge4 it 'as a thorny and di**icult path 'hich led to a degree% a Pob% and regular pay. She hersel* had 'orked since childhood4 she had helped her *ather% had been a salesgirl in a village store% and had also ridden about /urin on a bicycle% "aking deliveries and picking up pay"ents. All this did not put a distance bet'een usM on the contrary I *ound it ad"irable% like everything that 'as part o* her4 her not very 'ell cared *or% rough!looking hands% her "odest dress% her steady gaFe% her concrete sadness% the reserve 'ith 'hich she accepted "y re"arks. So "y Finc sul*ate ended up badly by concentrating% turned into nothing "ore than a bit o* 'hite po'der 'hich in su**ocat! ing clouds e0haled all or al"ost all o* its sul*uric acid. I le*t it to its *ate and asked +ita to let "e 'alk her ho"e. It 'as dark% and her ho"e 'as not close by. /he goal that I had set "ysel* 'as obPectively "odest% but it see"ed to "e inco"parably audacious4 I hesitated hal* o* the 'ay and *elt on burning coals% and into0icated "ysel* and her 'ith disPointed% breathless talk. Kinally% tre"bling 'ith e"otion% I slipped "y ar" under hers. +ita did not pull a'ay% nor did she return the pressure4 but I *ell into step 'ith her% and *elt e0hilarated and victorious. It see"ed to "e that I had 'on a s"all but decisive battle against the darkness% the e"ptiness% and the hostile years that lay ahead.

"RON
&ight lay beyond the 'alls o* the #he"ical Institute% the night o* Europe4 #ha"berlain had returned *ro" :unich duped% ,itler had "arched into rague 'ithout *iring a shot% Kranco had subdued Barcelona and 'as ensconced in :adrid. Kascist Italy% the s"all!ti"e pirate% had occupied Albania% and the pre"onition o* i""inent catastrophe condensed like gru"ous de' in the houses and streets% in 'ary conversations and doFing consciences. But the night did not penetrate those thick 'allsM Kascist censorship itsel*% the regi"eGs "aster'ork% kept us shut o** *ro" the 'orld% in a 'hite% anesthetiFed li"bo. About thirty o* us had "anaged to sur"ount the harsh barrier o* the *irst e0a"s and had been ad"itted to the second yearGs 5ualitative Analysis

laboratory. Ve had entered that enor"ous% dark% s"oky hall like so"eone 'ho% co"ing into the ,ouse o* the 3ord% re*lects on each o* his steps. /he previous lab% 'here I had tackled Finc% see"ed an in*antile e0ercise to us no'% si"ilar to 'hen as children 'e had played at cooking4 so"ething% by hook or crook% in one 'ay or another% al'ays ca"e o* it% perhaps too little% perhaps not very pure% but you really had to be a hopeless case or pigheaded not to get "agnesiu" sul*ate *ro" "agnesite% or potassiu" bro"ide *ro" bro"ine. &ot here4 here the a**air had turned serious% the con*ronta! tion 'ith :other!:atter% our hostile "other% 'as tougher and closer. At t'o in the a*ternoon% ro*essor ).% 'ith his ascetic and distracted air% handed each o* us precisely one gra" o* a certain po'der4 by the ne0t day 'e had to co"plete the Hualitative analysis% that is% report 'hat "etals and non!"etals it contained. +eport in 'riting% like a police report% only yes and no% because doubts and hesitations 'ere not ad"issible4 it 'as each ti"e a choice% a deliberation% a "ature and responsible undertaking% *or 'hich Kascis" had not prepared us% and *ro" 'hich e"anated a good s"ell% dry and clean. So"e ele"ents% such as iron and copper% 'ere easy and direct% incapable o* conceal"entM others% such as bis"uth and cad"iu"% 'ere deceptive and elusive. /here 'as a "ethod% a toilso"e% age! old plan *or syste"atic research% a kind o* co"bined stea"roller and *ine!toothed co"b 'hich nothing Din theoryE could escape% but I pre*erred to invent each ti"e a ne' road% 'ith s'i*t% e0te"poraneous *orays% as in a 'ar o* "ove"ent% instead o* the deadly grind o* a 'ar o* position. Subli"ate "ercury into droplets% trans*or" sodiu" into chloride% and identi*y it as trough!shaped chips under "y "icroscope. -ne 'ay or another% here the relationship 'ith :atter changed% beca"e dialectical4 it 'as *encing% a *ace!to!*ace "atch. /'o uneHual opponents4 on one side% putting the Huestions% the un*ledged% unar"ed che"ist% at his elbo' the te0tbook by Autenrieth as his sole ally Dbecause ).% o*ten called to help out in di**icult cases% "aintained a scrupulous neutrality% re*used to

give an opinion4 a 'ise attitude% since 'hoever opens his "outh can put his *oot in it% and pro*essors are not supposed to do thatEM on the other side% responding 'ith enig"as% stood :atter% 'ith her sly passivity% ancient as the All and portentously rich in deceptions% as sole"n and subtle as the Sphin0. I 'as Pust beginning to read .er"an 'ords and 'as enchanted by the 'ord Grstoff D'hich "eans Bele"entC4 literally% Bpri"al sub! stanceCE and by the pre*i0 Gr 'hich appeared in it and 'hich in *act e0presses ancient origin% re"ote distance in space and ti"e. In this place% too% nobody 'asted "any 'ords teaching us ho' to protect ourselves *ro" acids% caustics% *ires% and e0plo! sionsM it appeared that the InstituteGs rough and ready "orality counted on the process o* natural selection to pick out those a"ong us "ost Huali*ied *or physical and pro*essional survival. /here 'ere *e' ventilation hoodsM each student% *ollo'ing his te0tGs prescriptions% in the course o* syste"atic analysis% consci! entiously let loose into the air a good dose o* hydrochloric acid and a""onia% so that a dense% hoary "ist o* a""oniu" chloride stagnated per"anently in the lab% depositing "inute scintillating crystals on the 'indo'panes. Into the hydrogen sul*ide roo" 'ith its "urderous at"osphere 'ithdre' couples seeking privacy and a *e' lone 'olves to eat their snacks. /hrough the "urk and in the busy silence% 'e heard a ied"ontese voice say4 B 0#ntio vobis $a#di#m ma$n#m% 2abem#s ferr#m%1 )I announce to you a great Poy. Ve have iron.C It 'as :arch 1979% and a *e' days earlier an al"ost identical sole"n announce"ent &)2abem#s Pa*am1, had closed the conclave that had raised to eterGs /hrone #ardinal Eugenio acelli% in 'ho" "any put their hopes% since one "ust a*ter all put oneGs hope in so"eone or so"ething. /he blasphe"ous announce"ent ca"e *ro" Sandro% the Huiet one. In our "idst% Sandro 'as a loner. ,e 'as a boy o* "ediu" height% thin but "uscular% 'ho never 'ore an overcoat% even on the coldest days. ,e ca"e to class in 'orn corduroy knickers% knee socks "ade o* ho"espun 'ool and so"eti"es a short black cape 'hich "ade "e think o* the /uscan poet +enato

Kucini. ,e had large% calloused hands% a bony% rugged pro*ile% a *ace baked by the sun% a lo' *orehead beneath the line o* his hair% 'hich he 'ore very short and cut in a brush. ,e 'alked 'ith the peasantGs long% slo' stride. A *e' "onths be*ore% the racial la's against the Ie's had been proclai"ed% and I too 'as beco"ing a loner. :y #hristian class"ates 'ere civil peopleM none o* the"% nor any o* the teachers% had directed at "e a hostile 'ord or gesture% but I could *eel the" 'ithdra' and% *ollo'ing an ancient pattern% I 'ithdre' as 'ell4 every look e0changed bet'een "e and the" 'as acco"panied by a "inuscule but perceptible *lash o* "istrust and suspicion. Vhat do you think o* "eY Vhat a" I *or youY /he sa"e as si0 "onths ago% your eHual 'ho does not go to :ass% or the Ie' 'ho% as )ante put it% Bin your "idst laughs at youCY I had noticed 'ith a"aFe"ent and delight that so"ething 'as happening bet'een Sandro and "e. It 'as not at all a *riendship born *ro" a**inityM on the contrary% the di**erence in our origins "ade us rich in B e0changeable goods%C like t'o "erchants 'ho "eet a*ter co"ing *ro" re"ote and "utually unkno'n regions. &or 'as it the nor"al% portentous inti"acy o* t'enty!year!olds4 'ith Sandro I never reached this point. I soon realiFed that he 'as generous% subtle% tenacious% and brave% even 'ith a touch o* insolence% but he had an elusive% unta"ed HualityM so that% although 'e 'ere at the age 'hen one al'ays has the need% instinct% and i""odesty o* in*licting on one another everything that s'ar"s in oneGs head and else'here Dand this is an age that can last long% but ends 'ith the *irst co"pro"iseE% nothing had gotten through his carapace o* reserve% nothing o* his inner 'orld% 'hich nevertheless one *elt 'as dense and *ertileA nothing save a *e' occasional% dra"atically truncated hints. ,e had the nature o* a cat 'ith 'ho" one can live *or decades 'ithout ever being per"itted to penetrate its sacred pelt. Ve had "any concessions to "ake to each other. I told hi" 'e 'ere like cation and anion% but Sandro did not see" to

ackno'ledge the co"parison. ,e 'as born in Serra dGIvrea% a beauti*ul but niggardly region. ,e 'as the son o* a "ason and spent his su""ers 'orking as a shepherd. &ot a shepherd o* souls4 a shepherd o* sheep% and not because o* Arcadian rhetoric or eccentricity% but happily% out o* love *or the earth and grass and an abundance o* heart. ,e had a curious "i"etic talent% and 'hen he talked about co's% chickens% sheep% and dogs he 'as trans*or"ed% i"itating their 'ay o* looking% their "ove"ents and voices% beco"ing very gay and see"ing to turn into an ani"al hi"sel*% like a sha"an. ,e taught "e about plants and ani"als% but said very little about his *a"ily. ,is *ather had died 'hen he 'as a childM they 'ere si"ple% poor people% and since Dhe boy 'as bright% they had decided to "ake hi" study so that he 'ould bring "oney ho"e4 he had accepted this 'ith ied! "ontese seriousness but 'ithout enthusias". ,e had traveled the long route o* high schoolA liceo Aai"ing at the highest "arks 'ith the least e**ort. ,e 'as not interested in #atullus and )escartes% he 'as interested in being pro"oted% and spending Sunday on his skis and cli"bing the rocks. ,e had chosen che"istry because he had thought it better than other studiesM it 'as a trade that dealt 'ith things one can see and touch% a 'ay to earn oneGs bread less tiring than 'orking as a carpenter or a peasant. Ve began studying physics together% and Sandro 'as surprised 'hen I tried to e0plain to hi" so"e o* the ideas that at the ti"e I 'as con*usedly cultivating. /hat the nobility o* :an% acHuired in a hundred centuries o* trial and error% lay in "aking hi"sel* the conHueror o* "atter% and that I had enrolled in che"istry because I 'anted to re"ain *aith*ul to this nobility. /hat conHuering "atter is to understand it% and understanding "atter is necessary to understanding the universe and ourselves4 and that there*ore :endeleevGs eriodic /able% 'hich Pust during those 'eeks 'e 'ere laboriously learning to unravel% 'as poetry% lo*tier and "ore sole"n than all the poetry 'e had s'allo'ed do'n in liceoM and co"e to think o* it% it even rhy"edT /hat i* one looked *or the bridge% the "issing link%

bet'een the 'orld o* 'ords and the 'orld o* things% one did not have to look *ar4 it 'as there% in our Autenrieth% in our s"oke!*illed labs% and in our *uture trade. And *inally% and *unda"entally% an honest and open boy% did he not s"ell the stench o* Kascist truths 'hich tainted the skyY )id he not perceive it as an igno"iny that a thinking "an should be asked to believe 'ithout thinkingY Vas he not *illed 'ith disgust at all the dog"as% all the unproved a**ir"ations% all the i"perativesY ,e did *eel itM so then% ho' could he not *eel a ne' dignity and "aPesty in our study% ho' could he ignore the *act that the che"istry and physics on 'hich 'e *ed% besides being in the"selves nourish"ents vital in the"selves% 'ere the antidote to Kascis" 'hich he and I 'ere seeking% because they 'ere clear and distinct and veri*iable at every step% and not a tissue o* lies and e"ptiness% like the radio and ne'spapersY Sandro listened to "e 'ith ironical attention% al'ays ready to de*late "e 'ith a couple o* civil and terse 'ords 'hen I trespassed into rhetoric. But so"ething 'as ripening in hi" Dcertainly not all "y doingM those 'ere "onths heavy 'ith *ate*ul eventsE% so"ething that troubled hi" because it 'as at once ne' and ancient. ,e% 'ho until then had read only Salgari% Iack 3ondon% and Uipling% overnight beca"e a *urious reader4 he digested and re"e"bered everything% and everything in hi" spontaneously *ell into place as a 'ay o* li*eM together 'ith this% he began to study% and his average shot up *ro" # to A. At the sa"e ti"e% out o* unconscious gratitude% and perhaps also out o* a desire to get even% he in turn took an interest in "y education and "ade it clear to "e that it had gaps. I "ight even be right4 it "ight be that :atter is our teacher and perhaps also% *or lack o* so"ething better% our political schoolM but he had another *or" o* "atter to lead "e to% another teacher4 not the po'ders o* the Analytical 3ab but the true% authentic% ti"eless Grstoff( the rocks and ice o* the nearby "ountains. ,e proved to "e 'ithout too "uch di**iculty that I didnGt have the proper credentials to talk about "atter. Vhat co""erce% 'hat inti"acy had I had% until then% 'ith E"pedoclesG *our ele"entsY )id I kno' ho' to light

a stoveY Vade across a torrentY Vas I *a"iliar 'ith a stor" high up in the "ountainsY /he sprouting o* seedsY &o. So he too had so"ething vital to teach "e. A co"radeship 'as born% and there began *or "e a *everish season. Sandro see"ed to be "ade o* iron% and he 'as bound to iron by an ancient kinship4 his *atherGs *athers% he told "e% had been tinkers D ma$nHn E and blacks"iths in the #anavese valleys4 they "ade nails on the charcoal *orges% sheathed 'agon 'heels 'ith red!hot hoops% pounded iron plates until dea*ened by the noiseM and he hi"sel* 'hen he sa' the red vein o* iron in the rock *elt he 'as "eeting a *riend. In the 'inter 'hen it suddenly hit hi"% he 'ould tie his skis on his rusty bike% leaving early in the "orning and pedaling a'ay until he reached the sno'% 'ithout a cent% an artichoke in one pocket and the other *ull o* lettuceM then he ca"e back in the evening or even the ne0t day% sleeping in haylo*ts% and the "ore stor"s and hunger he su**ered the happier and healthier he 'as. In the su""er% 'hen he 'ent o** by hi"sel*% he o*ten took along a dog to keep hi" co"pany. /his 'as a s"all yello' "ongrel 'ith a do'ncast e0pressionM in *act% as Sandro had told "e% acting out in his 'ay the ani"al episode% as a puppy he had had a "ishap 'ith a cat. ,e had co"e too close to a litter o* ne'born kittens% the "other cat 'as "i**ed and beca"e enraged% and had begun to hiss% getting all pu**ed upM but the puppy had not yet learned the "eaning o* those signals and re"ained there like a *ool. /he cat had attacked hi"% chased hi"% caught hi"% and scratched his noseM the dog had been per"anently trau"atiFed. ,e *elt dishonored% and so Sandro had "ade hi" a cloth ball% e0plained to hi" that it 'as the cat% and every "orning presented it to hi" so that he could take his revenge on it *or the insult and regain his canine honor. Kor the sa"e therapeutic "otive% Sandro took hi" to the "ountains% so he could have so"e *un4 he tied hi" to one end o* a rope% tied hi"sel* to the other% set the dog *ir"ly on a rock ledge% and then cli"bed upM 'hen the rope ended% he pulled it up slo'ly% and the dog had learned to 'alk up 'ith his "uFFle pointed

sky'ards and his *our pa's against the nearly vertical 'all o* rock% "oaning so*tly as though he 'ere drea"ing. S a n d ro cli"bed the rocks "ore by instinct than techniHue% trusting to the strength o* his hands and saluting ironically% in the proPecting rock to 'hich he clung% the silicon% calciu"% and "agnesiu" he had learned to recogniFe in the course on "ineralogy. ,e see"ed to *eel that he had 'asted a day i* he had not in so"e 'ay gotten to the botto" o* his reserve o* energy% and then even his eyes beca"e brighter and he e0plained to "e that% 'ith a sedentary li*e% a deposit o* *at *or"s behind the eyes% 'hich is not healthyM by 'orking hard the *at is consu"ed and the eyes sink back into their sockets and beco"e keener. ,e spoke grudgingly about his e0ploits. ,e did not belong to that species o* persons 'ho do things in order to talk about the" Dlike "eEM he did not like high!sounding 'ords% indeed 'ords. It appeared that in speaking% as in "ountain cli"bing% he had never received lessonsM he spoke as no one speaks% saying only the core o* things. I* necessary he carried a thirty!kilo pack% but usually he traveled 'ithout itM his pockets 'ere su**icient% and in the" he put so"e vegetables% as I have said% a chunk o* bread% a pocketkni*e% so"eti"es the dog!eared Alpine #lub guide% and a skein o* 'ire *or e"ergency repairs. In *act he did not carry the guide because he believed in it% but *or the opposite reason. ,e rePected it because he *elt that it shackled hi"M not only that% he also sa' it as a bastard creature% a detestable hybrid o* sno' and rock "i0ed up 'ith paper. ,e took it into the "ountains to vili*y. ,appy i* he could catch it in an error% even i* it 'as at his and his cli"bing co"panionGs e0pense. ,e could 'alk *or t'o days 'ithout eating% or eat three "eals all together and then leave. Kor hi" % all seasons 'ere good. In the 'inter he skied% but not at the 'ell! eHuipped% *ashionable slopes% 'hich he shunned 'ith laconic scorn4 too poor to buy ourselves the sealskin strips *or the ascents% he sho'ed "e ho' you se' on rough he"p cloths% Spartan devices 'hich absorb the 'ater and

then *reeFe like cod*ish% and "ust be tied around your 'aist 'hen you ski do'nhill. ,e dragged "e along on e0hausting treks through the *resh sno'% *ar *ro" any sign o* hu"an li*e% *ollo'ing routes that he see"ed to intuit like a savage. In the su""er% *ro" shelter to shelter% inebriating ourselves 'ith the nun% the e**ort% and the 'ind% and scraping the skin o* our *ingertips on rocks never be*ore touched by hu"an hands4 but not on the *a"ous peaks% nor in Huest o* "e"orable *eatsM such things did not "atter to hi" at all. Vhat "attered 'as to kno' his li"itations% to test and i"prove hi"sel*M "ore obscurely% he *elt the need to prepare hi"sel* Dand to prepare "eE *or an iron *uture% dra'ing closer "onth by "onth. /o see Sandro in the "ountains reconciled you to the 'orld and "ade you *orget the night"are 'eighing on Europe. /his 'as his place% 'hat he had been "ade *or% like the "ar"ots 'hose 'histle and snout he i"itated4 in the "ountains he beca"e happy% 'ith a silent% in*ectious happiness% like a light that is s'itched on. ,e aroused a ne' co""union 'ith the earth and sky% into 'hich *lo'ed "y need *or *reedo"% the plenitude o* "y strength% and a hunger to understand the things he had pushed "e to'ard. Ve 'ould co"e out at da'n% rubbing our eyes% through the s"all door o* the :artinotti bivouac% and there% all around us% barely touched by the sun% stood the 'hite and bro'n "ountains% ne' as i* created during the night that had Pust ended and at the sa"e ti"e innu"erably ancient. /hey 'ere an island% an else'here. In any event% it 'as not al'ays necessary to go high and *ar. In the in!bet'een seasons SandroGs kingdo" 'as the rock gy"nasiu"s. /here are several% t'o or three hours by bike *ro" /urin% and I 'ould be curious to kno' 'hether they are still *reHuented4 the Stra' Stack innacles 'ith the Volk"ann /o'er% the /eeth o* #u"iana% atanZa +ock D'hich "eans ,are +ockE% the lN% the SbarZa% and others% 'ith their ho"ely% "odest na"es. /he last% the SbarZa% I think 'as discovered by Sandro hi"sel* and a "ythical brother o* his 'ho" Sandro never let "e see but 'ho% *ro" his *e' scanty

hints% "ust have stood in the sa"e relationship to hi" as he stood to the run o* hu"anity. SbarZa is a noun *ro" the verb sbarZJ% 'hich "eans Bto terri*yCM the SbarZa is a pris" o* granite that to'ers about a hundred "eters above a "odest hill bristling 'ith bra"bles and a brush'ood coppiceM like )anteGs @eglio di # retaAt he -ld :an o* #reteA it is split *ro" base to su""it by a *issure that gets narro'er as it rises% *inally *orcing the cli"ber to co"e out on the rock *ace itsel*% 'here% precisely% he is terri*ied% and 'here at that ti"e there 'as Pust a single piton% charitably le*t behind by SandroGs brother. /hose 'ere curious places% *reHuented by a *e' doFen a"a! teurs o* our sta"p% all o* 'ho" Sandro kne' either by na"e or sight4 'e cli"bed up% not 'ithout technical proble"s% and surrounded by the irritating buFF o* enor"ous bluebottle *lies attracted by our s'eat% cra'ling up good solid rock 'alls interrupted by grassy ledges 'here *erns and stra'berries gre' or% in the *all% blackberries4 o*ten enough 'e used as holds the trunks o* puny little trees% rooted in the cracks% and a*ter a *e' hours 'e reached the peak% 'hich 'as not a peak at all but "ostly placid pastureland 'here co's stared at us 'ith indi**erent eyes. /hen 'e descended at breakneck speed% in a *e' "inutes% along paths stre'n 'ith old and recent co' dung% to recover our bikes. At other ti"es our e0ploits 'ere "ore de"andingM never any Huiet Paunts% since Sandro said that 'e 'ould have plenty o* ti"e 'hen 'e 'ere *orty to look at the scenery. B 3etGs go% shall 'eYC he said to "e one day in KebruaryA'hich in his language "eant that% since the 'eather 'as good% 'e should leave in the a*ternoon *or the 'inter cli"b o* the /ooth o* :.% 'hich *or so"e 'eeks had been one o* our proPects. Ve slept in an inn and le*t the ne0t day% not too early% at so"e undeter"ined hour DSandro did not like 'atches4 he *elt their Huiet continuous ad"onish"ent to be an arbitrary intrusionE. Ve plunged boldly into the *og and ca"e out o* it about one oGclock% in glea"ing sunlight and on the big crest o* a peak 'hich 'as not the right one.

I then said that 'e should be able to go do'n about a hundred "eters% cross over hal*'ay up the "ountain% and go up along the ne0t ridge4 or% better yet% since 'e 'ere already there% continue cli"bing and be satis*ied 'ith the 'rong peak% 'hich in any case 'as only *orty "eters lo'er than the right one. But Sandro% 'ith splendid bad *aith% said in a *e' dense syllables that "y last proposal 'as *ine% but *ro" there B by 'ay o* the easy north'est ridgeC Dthis 'as a sarcastic Huotation *ro" the above"entioned Alpine #lub guideE 'e could also reach the /ooth o* :. in hal* an hourM and 'hat 'as the point o* being t'enty i* you couldnGt per"it yoursel* the lu0ury o* taking the 'rong route. /he easy ridge "ust really have been easy% indeed ele"entary in the su""erM but 'e *ound it in a very disco"*orting state. /he rock 'as 'et on the side *acing the sun and covered 'ith a black layer o* ice in the shadeM bet'een one large outcrop o* rock and another lay pockets o* "elting sno' into 'hich 'e sank to our 'aists. Ve reached the top at *iveM I dragged "ysel* along so piti*ully that it 'as pain*ul% 'hile Sandro 'as seiFed by a sinister hilarity that I *ound very annoying. BAnd ho' do 'e get do'nYC BAs *or getting do'n% 'e shall see%C he replied% and added "ysteriously4 B/he 'orst that can happen is to have to taste bear "eat.C Vell% 'e tasted bear "eat in the course o* that night% 'hich see"ed very% very long. Ve got do'n in t'o hours% helped badly by the rope% 'hich 'as *roFenM it had beco"e a "alignant% rigid tangle that snagged on each proPection and rang against the rock *ace like the cable o* a *unicular. At seven 'e 'ere on the bank o* a *roFen pond and it 'as dark. Ve ate the little that 'as le*t% built a useless dry stone 'all *acing the 'ind% and lay do'n on the ground to sleep% pressed to each other. It 'as as though ti"e itsel* had *roFenM every so o*ten 'e got to our *eet to reactivate our circulation% and it 'as al'ays the sa"e ti"e4 the 'ind never stopped blo'ing% there 'as al'ays the sa"e ghost o* a "oon% al'ays at the sa"e point

in the sky% and in *ront o* the "oon passed a *antastic cavalcade o* tattered clouds% al'ays the sa"e. Ve had taken o** our shoes% as described in 3a""erGs books% so dear to Sandro% and 'e kept our *eet in our packsM at the *irst *unereal light% 'hich see"ed to seep *ro" the sno' and not the sky% 'e rose 'ith our li"bs benu"bed and our eyes glittering *ro" lack o* sleep% hunger% and the hardness o* our bed. And 'e *ound our shoes so *roFen that they rang like bells% and to get the" on 'e had to hatch the" out like brood hens. But 'e 'ent back do'n to the valley under our o'n stea"M and to the innkeeper 'ho asked us% 'ith a snicker% ho' things had gone% and "ean'hile 'as staring at our 'ild% e0alted *aces% 'e ans'ered *lippantly that 'e had had an e0cellent outing% then paid the bill and departed 'ith dignity. /his 'as i tA t he bear "eatM and no' that "any years have passed% I regret that I ate so little o* it% *or nothing has had% even distantly% the taste o* that "eat% 'hich is the taste o* being strong and *ree% *ree also to "ake "istakes and be the "aster o* oneGs destiny. /hat is 'hy I a" grate*ul to Sandro *or having led "e consciously into trouble% on that trip and other undertakings 'hich 'ere only apparently *oolish% and I a" certain that they helped "e later on. /hey didnGt help Sandro% or not *or long. Sandro 'as Sandro )el"astro% the *irst "an to be killed *ighting in the +esistance 'ith the Action artyGs ied"ontese :ilitary #o""and. A*ter a *e' "onths o* e0tre"e tension% in April o* 1944 he 'as captured by the Kascists% did not surrender% and tried to escape *ro" the Kascist arty house in #uneo. ,e 'as killed 'ith a to""ygun burst in the back o* the neck by a "onstrous child!e0ecutioner% one o* those 'retched "urderers o* *i*teen 'ho" :ussoliniGs +epublic o* SalQ recruited in the re*or"atories. ,is body 'as abandoned in the road *or a long ti"e% because the Kascists had *orbidden the population to bury hi".

/oday I kno' that it is a hopeless task to try to dress a "an in 'ords% "ake hi" live again on the printed page% especially a "an

like Sandro. ,e 'as not the sort o* person you can tell stories about% nor to 'ho" one erects "onu"ents!he 'ho laughed at all "onu"ents4 he lived co"pletely in his deeds% and 'hen they 'ere over nothing o* hi" re"ains!nothing but 'ords% precisely.

POTASS"#$
In Ianuary 1941 the *ate o* Europe and the 'orld see"ed to be sealed. -nly the deluded could still think that .er"any 'ould not 'inM the stolid English B had not noticed that they had lost the ga"e% B and obstinately resisted under the bo"bingsM but they 'ere alone and su**ered bloody losses on all *ronts. -nly a voluntarily dea* and blind "an could have any doubts about the *ate reserved *or the Ie's in a .er"an Europe4 'e had read Keucht'angerGs <**ermanns( s"uggled secretly in *ro" Krance% and a British Vhite Book% 'hich arrived *ro" but that 'as enough. :any re*ugees *ro" alestine and described the B &aFi atrocitiesCM 'e had only believed hal* o* it% oland and Krance had reached Italy% and 'e had talked 'ith the"4 they did not kno' the details o* the slaughters that 'ere taking place behind

a "onstrous curtain o* silence% but each o* the" 'as a "essenger% like those 'ho run to Iob to tell hi"% BI alone have escaped to tell you the story.B And yet% i* 'e 'anted to live% i* 'e 'ished in so"e 'ay to take advantage o* the youth coursing through our veins% there 'as indeed no other resource than sel*!i"posed blindnessM like the English% B'e did not notice%B 'e pushed all dangers into the li"bo o* things not perceived or i""ediately *orgotten. V e could also% in the abstract% thro' everything a'ay and escape and be transplanted to so"e re"ote% "ythical country% chosen *ro" a"ong the *e' that kept their *rontiers open4 :adagascar% British ,onduras. But to do this one needed a lot o* "oney and a *abulous capacity *or initiativeAand I% "y *a"ily% and o ur *riends had neither one nor the other. Besides% i* looked at *r o" close by and in detail% things did not a*ter all see" so disastrous4 the Italy around us% or% to put it "ore accurately Dat a ti "e 'hen one traveled littleE% hostile. ied"ont and /urin 'ere not ied"ont 'as our true country% the one in 'hich 'e reach o* a bicycle% 'ere ours%

recogniFed ourselvesM the "ountains around /urin% visible on clear days% and 'ithin irreplaceable% and had taught us *atigue% endurance% and a certain 'isdo". In short% our roots 'ere in ied"ont and /urin% not enor"ous but deep % e0tensive% and *antastically intert'ined. &either in us nor% "ore generally% in our generation% 'hether BAryanC or Ie'% had the idea yet gained ground that one "ust and could resist Kascis". -ur resistance at the ti"e 'as passive and 'as li"ited to rePection% isolation% and avoiding conta"ination. /he seed o* active struggle had not survived do'n to us% it had been sti*led a *e' years be*ore 'ith the *inal s'eep o* t he scythe% 'hich had relegated to prison% house arrest% e0ile% or silence the last /urinese protagonists and 'itnessesA Einaudi % .inFburg% :onti% @ittorio Koa% ?ini% #arlo 3evi. /hese na"es said nothing to us% 'e kne' hardly anything about t h e " A t he Kascis" around

us did not have opponents. Ve had to begin *ro" scratch% BinventB our anti!Kascis"% create it *ro" t he ger"% *ro" the roots% *ro" our roots. Ve looked around us and traveled up roads that led not very *ar a'ay. /he Bible% #roce% geo"etry% and physics see"ed to us sources o* certainty. Ve gathered in the gy" o* the /al"ud /orahA in the School o* the 3a'% as the very old ,ebre' ele"entary school 'as proudly calledAand taught each other to *ind again in the Bible Pustice and inPustice and the strength that overco"es inPusticeM to recogniFe the ne' oppressors in Ahasuerus and &ebuchadneFFar. But 'here 'as Uadosh Barukh[% B the ,oly -ne% Blessed be ,eC4 he 'ho breaks the slavesG chains and sub"erges the EgyptiansG chariotsY ,e 'ho dictated the 3a' to :oses% and inspired the liberators EFra and &ehe"iah% no longer inspired anyoneM the sky above us 'as silent and e"pty4 he allo'ed the olish ghettos to be e0ter"inated% and slo'ly% con*usedly% the idea 'as "aking head'ay in us that 'e 'ere alone% that 'e had no allies 'e could count on% neither on earth nor in heaven% that 'e 'ould have to *ind in ourselves the strength to resist. /here*ore the i"pulse that drove us to e0plore our li"its 'as not co"pletely absurd4 to travel hundreds o* kilo"eters on our bikes% to cli"b 'ith *ury and patience up rock 'alls that 'e did not kno' very 'ell% to subPect ourselves voluntarily to hunger% cold% and *atigue% to train ourselves to endure and to "ake decisions. A piton goes in or it doesnGtM the rope holds or it doesnGt4 these too 'ere sources o* certainty. #he"istry% *or "e% had stopped being such a source. It led to the heart o* :atter% and :atter 'as our ally precisely because the Spirit% dear to Kascis"% 'as our ene"yM but% having reached the *ourth year o* ure #he"istry% I could no longer ignore the *act that che"istry itsel*% or at least that 'hich 'e 'ere being ad"inistered% did not ans'er "y Huestions. /o prepare phenyl bro"ide or "ethyl violet according to .atter"ann 'as a"using% even e0hilarating% but not very "uch di**erent *ro" *ollo'ing ArtusiGs recipes. Vhy in that particular 'ay and not in anotherY A*ter having been *orce *ed in liceo the truths revealed by Kascist )octrine% all revealed% unproven truths either bored "e sti** or aroused "y suspicion. )id che"istry theore"s e0istY &o4 there*ore you had to go *urther% not be satis*ied 'ith the

A#ia% go back to the origins% to "athe"atics and physics. /he origins o* che"istry 'ere ignoble% or at least eHuivocal4 the dens o* the alche"ists% their abo"inable hodgepodge o* ideas and language% their con*essed interest in gold% their 3evantine s'indles typical o* charlatans or "agiciansM instead% at the origin o* physics lay the strenuous clarity o* the VestA Archi"edes and Euclid. I 'ould beco"e a physicist% r#at coel#mC perhaps 'ithout a degree% since ,itler and :ussolini *orbade it. A brie* course o* e0ercises in physics *or"ed part o* the *ourth! year che"istry progra"4 si"ple "easure"ents o* viscosity% sur*ace tension% rotatory po'er% and suchlike e0ercises. /he course 'as conducted by a young assistant% thin% tall% a bit hunched over% polite% and e0traordinarily shy% 'ho behaved in a 'ay that 'e 'ere not used to. -ur other teachers% al"ost 'ithout e0ception% sho'ed the"selves convinced o* the i"portance and e0cellence o* the subPect they taughtM so"e o* the" 'ere in good *aith% *or others it 'as evidently a "atter o* personal supre"acy% o* their private hunting grounds. /hat assistant% ho'ever% al"ost had the air o* apologiFing to us% o* ranging hi"sel* on our side4 in his so"e'hat e"barrassed and 'ell!bred ironic s"ile% one see"ed to read4 BI too kno' that 'ith this antiHuated and 'orn!out eHuip"ent youGll not be able to put together anything use*ul% and that *urther"ore these are all "arginal *utilities% and kno'ledge lives else'hereM but this is a trade that you and I too "ust 'ork a t A so please try not to do "uch da"age and to learn as "uch as you can.C In short% all the girls in the course *ell in love 'ith hi". )uring the span o* those "onths I "ade desperate atte"pts to be taken on as a student assistant by this or that pro*essor. So"e o* the" snidely or even arrogantly told "e that the racial la's prohibited itM others *ell back on haFy or *li"sy e0cuses. A*ter having i"perturbably collected the *ourth or *i*th rePection% I 'as going ho"e one evening on "y bike% 'ith an al"ost palpable load o* dishearten"ent and bitterness on "y back. I 'as pedaling listlessly up @ia @alperga #aluso% 'hile *ro" the @alentino ark gusts o* *reeFing 'ind overtook and passed "e M

it 'as night by no'% and the light o* the street la"ps% covered 'ith purple *or the blackout% did not prevail over the "ist and darkness. /he passersby 'ere *e' and hurriedM and then suddenly one a"ong the" caught "y attention. ,e 'as going in "y direction 'ith a long% slo' stride% he 'ore a long black overcoat% and his head 'as bare. ,e 'as 'alking a bit hunched over and looked like the assistantAit 'as the assistant. I passed hi"% uncertain as to 'hat I should doM then I plucked up "y courage% 'ent back% and once again did not dare speak to hi". Vhat did I kno' about hi"Y &othing. ,e could be indi**erent% a hypocrite% even an ene"y. /hen I thought that I risked nothing but another rePection% and 'ithout beating around the bush I asked hi" 'hether it 'ould be possible to be accepted *or e0peri"ental 'ork in his school. /he assistant looked at "e 'ith surpriseM and instead o* going into the long e0planation I e0pected% he replied 'ith t'o 'ords *ro" the .ospel4 BKollo' "e.C /he inside o* the Institute o* E0peri"ental hysics 'as *ull o* dust and century!old ghosts. /here 'ere ro's o* glass!doored cupboards packed 'ith slips o* paper% yello'ed and gna'ed by "ice and paper "oths4 these 'ere the observations o* eclipses% registrations o* earthHuakes% "eteorological bulletins *ro" 'ell into the last century. Along the 'alls o* one corridor I *ound an e0traordinary tru"pet% "ore than thirty *eet long% 'hose origin% purpose% and use no one any longer kne'Aperhaps it 'as to announce the )ay o* Iudg"ent% 'hen all that 'hich is hidden 'ill appear. /here 'as an Aeolipyle in Secession style% a ,eroGs *ountain% and a 'hole obsolete and proli0 *auna o* contraptions *or generations destined *or classroo" de"onstrations4 a pathetic and ingenuous *or" o* "inor physics% in 'hich stage setting counts *or "ore than concept. It is neither illusionis" nor conPuring trick but borders on the". /he assistant 'elco"ed "e in the tiny roo" on the ground *loor 'here he hi"sel* lived% and 'hich 'as bristling 'ith a "uch di**erent sort o* eHuip"ent% unkno'n and e0citing enthusias".

So"e "olecules are carriers o* an electrical dipoleM they behave in short in an electrical *ield like "inuscule co"pass needles4 they orient the"selves% so"e "ore sluggishly% others less so. )epending on conditions% they obey certain la's 'ith greater or less respect. Vell% no'% these devices served to clari*y those conditions and that inadeHuate respect. /hey 'ere 'aiting *or so"eone to put the" to useM he 'as busy 'ith other "atters Dastrophysics% he speci*ied% and the in*or"ation shook "e to the "arro'4 so I had an astrophysicist right in *ront o* "e% in *lesh and bloodTE and besides he had no e0perience 'ith certain "anipulations 'hich 'ere considered necessary to puri*y the products that had to be "easuredM *or this a che"ist 'as necessary% and I 'as the 'elco"ed che"ist. ,e 'illingly handed over the *ield to "e and the instru"ents. /he *ield 'as t'o sHuare "eters o* a table and deskM the instru"ents% a s"all *a"ily% but the "ost i"portant 'ere the Vestphal balance and the heterodyne. /he *irst I already kne'M 'ith the second I soon established a *riendship. In substance it 'as a radio! receiving apparatus% built to reveal the slightest di**erences in *reHuencyM and in *act% it 'ent ho'lingly out o* tune and barked like a 'atchdog si"ply i* the operator shi*ted in his chair or "oved a hand% or i* so"eone Pust ca"e into the roo". Besides% at certain hours o* the day% it revealed a 'hole intricate universe o* "ysterious "essages% :orse tickings% "odulated hisses% and de*or"ed% "angled hu"an voices% 'hich pronounced sentences in inco"prehensible languages% or others in Italian% but they 'ere senseless sentences% in code. It 'as the radiophonic Babel o* the 'ar% "essages o* death trans"itted by ships or planes *ro" .od kno's 'ho to .od kno's 'ho"% beyond the "ountains and the sea. Beyond the "ountains and the sea% the assistant e0plained to "e% there 'as a scholar na"ed -nsager% about 'ho" he kne' nothing e0cept that he had 'orked out an eHuation that clai"ed to describe the behavior o* polar "olecules under all conditions% provided that they 'ere in a liHuid state. /he eHuation *unctioned 'ell *or diluted solutionsM it did not appear that anyone

had bothered to veri*y it *or concentrated solutions% pure polar liHuids% and "i0tures o* the latter. /his 'as the 'ork that he proposed I do% to prepare a series o* co"ple0 liHuids and check i* they obeyed -nsagerGs eHuation% 'hich I accepted 'ith indiscri"inate enthusias". As a *irst step% I 'ould have to do so"ething he did not kno' ho' to do4 at that ti"e it 'as not easy to *ind pure products *or analysis% and I 'as supposed to devote "ysel* *or a *e' 'eeks to puri*ying benFene% chloroben! Fene% chlorophenols% a"inophenols% toluidines% and "ore. A *e' hours o* contact 'ere su**icient *or the assistantGs personality to beco"e clearly de*ined. ,e 'as thirty% 'as recently "arried% ca"e *ro" /rieste but 'as o* .reek origin% kne' *our languages% loved "usic% ,u0ley% Ibsen% #onrad% and /ho"as :ann% the last so dear to "e. ,e also loved physics% but he 'as suspicious o* every activity that set itsel* a goal4 there*ore% he 'as nobly laFy and% naturally% detested Kascis". ,is relationship to physics perple0ed "e. ,e did not hesitate to harpoon "y last hippogri**% con*ir"ing Huite e0plicitly that "essage about B "arginal *utilityC 'hich 'e had read in his eyes in the lab. &ot only those hu"ble e0ercises o* ours but physics as a 'hole 'as "arginal% by its nature% by vocation% inso*ar as it set itsel* the task o* regulating the universe o* appearances% 'hereas the truth% the reality% the inti"ate essence o* things and "an e0ist else'here% hidden behind a veil% or seven veils DI donGt re"e"ber e0actlyE. ,e 'as a physicist% "ore precisely an astrophysicist% diligent and eager but 'ithout illusions4 the /ruth lay beyond% inaccessible to our telescopes% accessible to the initiates. /his 'as a long road 'hich he 'as traveling 'ith e**ort% 'onder"ent% and pro*ound Poy. hysics 'as prose4 elegant gy"nastics *or the "ind% "irror o* #reation% the key to "anGs do"inion over the planetM but 'hat is the stature o* #reation% o* "an and the planetY ,is road 'as long and he had barely started up it% but I 'as his disciple4 )id I 'ant to *ollo' hi"Y It 'as a terri*ying reHuest. /o be the assistantGs disciple 'as *or "e an enPoy"ent o* every "inute% a never be*ore e0peri!

enced bond% 'ithout shado's% rendered "ore intense by the certainty that the relationship 'as "utual4 I% a Ie'% e0cluded and "ade skeptical by recent upheavals% the ene"y o* violence but not yet caught up in the necessity o* an opposed violence% I should be *or hi" the ideal interlocutor% a 'hite sheet on 'hich any "essage could be inscribed. I did not "ount the ne' gigantic hippogri** 'hich the assistant o**ered "e. )uring those "onths the .er"ans destroyed Belgrade% broke the .reek resistance% invaded #rete *ro" the air4 that 'as the /ruth% that 'as the +eality. /here 'ere no escape routes% or not *or "e. Better to re"ain on the Earth% playing 'ith the dipoles *or lack o* anything better% puri*y benFene and prepare *or an unkno'n but i""inent and certainly tragic *uture. /o puri*y benFene% then% under the conditions to 'hich the 'ar and the bo"bings had reduced the Institute 'as not an insigni*icant undertaking4 the assistant declared that I had carte blanche% I could ru""age every'here *ro" base"ent to attic% appropriate any instru"ent or product% but I could not buy anything% even he couldnGt% it 'as a regi"e o* absolute autarky. In the base"ent I *ound a huge de"iPohn o* technical ben! Fene% at 92 percent purity% better than nothing% but the "anuals prescribed recti*ying it and then putting it through a *inal distillation in the presence o* sodiu"% to *ree it *ro" the last traces o* hu"idity. /o recti*y "eans to distill by *ractions% discarding the *ractions that boil lo'er or higher than prescribed% and gathering the Bheart% B 'hich "ust boil at a conslant te"perature4 I *ound in the ine0haustible base"ent the necessary glass'are% including one o* those @igreu0 distillation colu"ns% as pretty as a piece o* lace% the product o* superhu"an patience and ability on the part o* the glass blo'er% but Dbe it said bet'een usE o* debatable e**iciency% I "ade the double boiler 'ith a s"all alu"inu" pot. )istilling is beauti*ul. Kirst o* all% because it is a slo'% philosophic% and silent occupation% 'hich keeps you busy but gives you ti"e to think o* other things% so"e'hat like riding a

bike. /hen% because it involves a "eta"orphosis *ro" liHuid to vapor DinvisibleE% and *ro" this once again to liHuidM but in this double Pourney% up and do'n% purity is attained% an a"biguous and *ascinating condition% 'hich starts 'ith che"istry and goes very *ar. And *inally% 'hen you set about distilling% you acHuire the consciousness o* repeating a ritual consecrated by the centuries% al"ost a religious act% in 'hich *ro" i"per*ect "ate! rial you obtain the essence% the #sia( the spirit% and in the *irst place alcohol% 'hich gladdens the spirit and 'ar"s the heart. I took t'o good days to obtain a *raction o* satis*ying purity4 *or this operation% since I had to 'ork 'ith an open *la"e% I had voluntarily e0iled "ysel* to a s"all roo" on the second *loor% deserted and e"pty and *ar *ro" any hu"an presence. &o' I had to distill a second ti"e in the presence o* sodiu". Sodiu" is a degenerated "etal4 it is indeed a "etal only in the che"ical signi*icance o* the 'ord% certainly not in that o* everyday language. It is neither rigid nor elasticM rather it is so*t like 'a0M it is not shiny or% better% it is shiny only i* preserved 'ith " a n i a c a l care% since other'ise it reacts in a *e' instants 'ith air% covering itsel* 'ith an ugly rough rind4 'ith even greater rapidity it reacts 'ith 'ater% in 'hich it *loats Da "etal that *loatsTE% dancing *renetically and developing hydrogen. I ransacked the entrails o* the Institute in vain4 like AriostoGs Astol*o on the :oon I *ound doFens o* labeled a"pules% hundreds o* abstruse co"pounds% other vague anony"ous sedi"ents apparently untouched *or generations% but not a sign o* sodiu". Instead I *ound a s"all phial o* potassiu"4 potassiu" is sodiu"Gs t'in% so I grabbed it and returned to "y her"itage. I put in the *lask o* benFene a lu"p o* potassiu"% Bas large as hal* a p e a C A so said the "anualAand diligently distilled the contents4 to'ard the end o* the operation I duti*ully doused the *la"e% took apart the apparatus% let the s"all a"ount o* liHuid in the *lask cool o** a bit% and then 'ith a long pointed stick ske'ered the Bhal* peaC o* potassiu" and li*ted it out. otassiu"% as I said% is sodiu"Gs t'in% but it reacts 'ith air and 'ater 'ith even greater energy4 it is kno'n to everyone

Dand 'as kno'n also to "eE that in contact 'ith 'ater it not only develops hydrogen but also ignites. So I handled "y B hal* peaC like a holy relic4 I placed it on a piece o* dry *ilter paper% 'rapped it up in it% 'ent do'n into the InstituteGs courtyard% dug out a tiny grave% and buried the little bedeviled corpse. I care*ully ta"ped do'n the earth above it and 'ent back up to "y 'ork. I took the no' e"pty *lask% put it under a *aucet% and turned on the 'ater. I heard a rapid thu"p and *ro" the neck o* the *lask ca"e a *lash o* *la"e directed at the 'indo' that 'as ne0t to the 'ashbasin and the curtains around it caught *ire. Vhile I 'as stu"bling around looking *or so"e even pri"itive "eans to e0tinguish it% the panels o* the shutter began to blister and the roo" 'as no' *ull o* s"oke. I "anaged to push over a chair and tear do'n the curtainsM I thre' the" on the *loor and sto"ped *uriously on the"% 'hile the s"oke hal* blinded "e and "y blood 'as throbbing violently in "y te"ples. Vhen it 'as all over% 'hen the incandescent tatters 'ere e0tinguished% I re"ained standing there *or a *e' "inutes% 'eak and stunned% "y knees turned to 'ater% conte"plating the vestiges o* the disaster 'ithout seeing the". As soon as I got "y breath back% I 'ent to the *loor belo' and told the assistant 'hat had happened. I* it is true that there is no greater sorro' than to re"e"ber a happy ti"e in a state o* "isery% it is Pust as true that calling up a "o"ent o* anguish in a tranHuil "ood% seated Huietly at oneGs desk% is a source o* pro*ound satis*action. /he assistant listened to "y account 'ith polite attention but 'ith a Huestioning look4 Vho had co"pelled "e to e"bark on that voyage% and to distill benFene by going to so "uch troubleY In a 'ay% it served "e right4 these are the things that happen to the pro*ane% to those 'ho da'dle and play be*ore the portals o* the te"ple instead o* going inside. But he didnGt say a 'ordM he resorted *or the occasion Dun'illingly% as al'aysE to the hier! archical distance and pointed out to "e that an e"pty *lask does not catch *ire4 so it "ust not have been e"pty. It "ust have contained% i* nothing else% the vapor o* the benFene% besides o*

course the air that ca"e in through its neck. But one has never seen the vapor o* benFene% 'hen cold% catch *ire by itsel*4 only the potassiu" could have set *ire to the "i0ture% and I had taken out the potassiu". All o* itY All% I ans'eredM but then I 'as visited by a doubt% returned to the scene o* the accident% and *ound *rag"ents o* the *lask still on the *loor4 on on e o* the"% by looking closely% one could see% barely visible% a tiny 'hite *leck. I tested it 'ith phenolphtha! lein4 it 'as basic% it 'as potassiu" hydro0ide. /he guilty party had been *ound4 adhering to the glass o* the *lask there "ust have re"ained a "inuscule particle o* potassiu"% all that 'as needed to react 'ith the 'ater I had poured in and set *ire to the benFene vapors. /he assistant looked at "e 'ith an a"used% vaguely ironic e0pression4 better not to do than to do% better to "editate than to act% better his astrophysics% the threshold o* the $nkno'able% than "y che"istry% a "ess co"pounded o* stenches% e0plosions% and s"all *utile "ysteries. I thought o* another "oral% "ore do'n to earth and concrete% and I believe that every "ilitant che"ist can con*ir" it4 that one "ust distrust the al"ost!the!sa"e Dsodiu" is al"ost the sa"e as potassiu"% but 'ith sodiu" nothing 'ould have happenedE% the practically identical% the appro0i"ate% the or!even% all surrogates% and all patch'ork. /he di**erences can be s"all% but they can lead to radically di**erent conseHuences% like a railroadGs s'itch pointsM the che"istGs trade consists in good part in being a'are o* these di**erences% kno'ing the" close up% and *oreseeing their e**ects. And not only the che"istGs trade.

N " C K E %
I had in a dra'er an illu"inated parch"ent on 'hich 'as 'ritten in elegant characters that on ri"o 3evi% o* the Ie'ish race% had been con*erred a degree in #he"istry su""a cu" laude. It 'as there*ore a dubious docu"ent% hal* glory and hal* derision% hal* absolution and hal* conde"nation. It had re"ained in that dra'er since Iuly 1941% and no' 'e 'ere at the end o* &ove"ber. /he 'orld 'as racing to catastrophe% and around "e nothing 'as happening. /he .er"ans had spread like a *lood in oland% &or'ay% ,olland% Krance% and (ugoslavia and had penetrated the +ussian steppes like a kni*e cutting through butter. /he $nited States did not "ove to help the English% 'ho re"ained alone. I could not *ind 'ork and 'as 'earing "ysel* out looking *or any sort o* paid occupationM in the ne0t roo"

"y *ather% prostrated by a tu"or% 'as living his last "onths. /he doorbell rangAit 'as a tall% thin young "an 'earing the uni*or" o* the Italian ar"y% and I i""ediately recogniFed in hi" the *igure o* the "essenger% the :ercury 'ho guides souls% or% i* one 'ishes% the annunciatory angel. In short% the person *or 'ho" everyone 'aits% 'hether he kno's it or not% and 'ho brings the heavenly "essage that changes your li*e *or good or ill% you donGt kno' 'hich until he opens his "outh. ,e opened his "outh% and he had a strong /uscan accent and asked *or )r. 3evi% 'ho incredibly 'as "ysel* DI still 'asnGt accusto"ed to the titleE% introduced hi"sel* urbanely% and o**ered "e a Pob. Vho had sent hi" to "eY Another :ercury% #aselli% the in*le0ible custodian o* another "anGs *a"e4 that BlaudeC on "y diplo"a had actually served *or so"ething. /hat I 'as a Ie' the lieutenant apparently kne' Din any event% "y last na"e le*t little roo" *or doubtE% but it didnGt see" to "atter to hi". :oreover% it see"ed that the business so"eho' suited hi"% that he took a bitter and subtle pleasure in breaking the la's o* racial separationAin short% he 'as secretly an ally and sought an ally in "e. /he 'ork he o**ered "e 'as "ysterious and Huite *ascinat! ing. B In so"e placeC there 'as a "ine% *ro" 'hich 'as taken 6 percent o* so"e use*ul "aterial Dhe didnGt tell "e 'hatE and 98 percent o* sterile "aterial% 'hich 'as piled up in a nearby valley. In this sterile "aterial there 'as nickelM very little% but its price 'as so high that its recovery should be given so"e thought. ,e had an idea% in *act a cluster o* ideas% but he 'as in the "ilitary service and had little *ree ti"e. I 'as supposed to replace hi"% test his ideas in the lab% and then% i* possible% together 'ith hi"% realiFe the" industrially. It 'as clear thatM this reHuired "y trans*er to that B so"e place%C 'hich 'as then sketchily described. /he trans*er 'ould take place under a double seal o* secrecy. In the *irst place% *or "y protection% nobody should kno' "y na"e nor "y abo"inable origin% because the B so"e placeC 'as under the control o* the "ilitary authoritiesM and in the second place% to protect his idea% I 'ould

have to s'ear on "y honor not to "ention it to anyone. Besides% it 'as clear that one secret 'ould rein*orce the other and that there*ore% to a certain degree% "y condition as an outcast couldnGt have been "ore opportune. Vhat 'as his idea% and 'here 'as this Bso"e placeCY /he lieutenant bo'ed out thereM until "y *inal acceptance he could not tell "e "uch% that 'as obvious. In any case% the idea consisted in an attack on the sterile "aterial in a gaseous phase% and the Bso"e placeC 'as a *e' hoursG Pourney *ro" /urin. I Huickly consulted 'ith "y parents. /hey agreed4 'ith "y *atherGs illness the house had an urgent need o* "oney. As *or "e% I had not the slightest doubt4 I *elt sapped by "y inactivity% certain o* "y che"istry% and eager to put it to the test. Besides% the lieutenant had aroused "y curiosity and I liked hi". -ne could see that he 'ore the uni*or" 'ith revulsionM his choice o* "e "ust not have been dictated solely by practical considerations. ,e talked about Kascis" and the 'ar 'ith reticence and a sinister gaiety that I had no trouble interpreting. It 'as the ironic gaiety o* a 'hole generation o* Italians% intelligent and honest enough to rePect Kascis"% too skeptical to oppose it actively% too young to passively accept the tragedy that 'as taking shape and to despair o* the *utureM a generation to 'hich I "ysel* 'ould have belonged i* the providential racial la's had not intervened to bring "e to a precocious "aturity and guide "e in "y choice. /he lieutenant ackno'ledged "y consent and 'ithout 'ast! ing ti"e gave "e an appoint"ent at the railroad station *or the ne0t day. reparationsY I didnGt need very "uch4 certainly no docu"ents DI 'ould begin 'ork incognito% 'ithout a na"e or 'ith a *alse na"eA'eGd see about that later onEM a *e' heavy suits D"y cli"bing out*its 'ould go very 'ellE% a shirt% books i* I 'ished. As *or the rest% no proble"4 I 'ould *ind a heated roo"% a lab% regular "eals 'ith a *a"ily o* 'orkers% and "y colleagues 'ere good people 'ith 'ho"% ho'ever% he advised "e not to beco"e too inti"ate *or obvious reasons. Ve le*t% got o** the train% and reached the "ine a*ter a cli"b

o* *ive kilo"eters surrounded by a *orest sparkling 'ith hoar! *rost. /he lieutenant% 'ho 'as briskly businesslike% introduced "e su""arily to the director% a young% tall% vigorous engineer 'ho 'as even "ore businesslike and 'ho evidently had already been told about "e. I 'as taken into the lab% 'here a singular creature a'aited "e4 a rather ra'!boned girl o* eighteen% 'ith *iery red hair and green% slanting% "ischievous% alert eyes. I learned that she 'ould be "y assistant. )uring the "eal 'hich% e0ceptionally% 'as o**ered to "e on the o**iceGs pre"ises% the radio broadcast the ne's o* the Iapanese attack on earl ,arbor and IapanGs declaration o* 'ar on the $nited States. :y *ello' diners Da nu"ber o* clerks% besides the lieutenantE greeted the announce"ent in various 'ays4 so"e% and a"ong these the lieutenant hi"sel*% 'ith reserve and cautious glances at "eM others% 'ith 'orried co""entsM still others% belligerently insisting on the by no' proven invincibility o* the Iapanese and .er"an ar"ies. So the B so"e placeC had beco"e localiFed in space% 'ithout% ho'ever% losing any o* its "agic. (es% all "ines are "agical per se% and al'ays have been. /he entrails o* the earth s'ar" 'ith gno"es% kobolds DcobaltTE% nic"el( .er"an Blittle de"onC or Bsprite%C and *ro" 'hich 'e derive the 'ord nickel% creatures 'ho can be generous and let you *ind a treasure beneath the tip o* your picka0% or deceive and bedaFFle you% "aking "odest pyrites glitter like gold% or disguising Finc in the garb o* tin4 and in *act% "any are the "inerals 'hose na"es have roots that signi*y Bdeception% *raud% bedaFFle"ent.C /his "ine too had its "agic% its 'ild enchant"ent. -n a sHuat% bleak hill% all Pagged rocks and stu"ps% 'as sunk a cyclopean% cone!shaped gorge% an arti*icial crater% *our hundred "eters in dia"eter4 it 'as in every 'ay si"ilar to the sche"atic representations o* ,ell in the synoptic tables o* )anteGs -ivine .omedy% Along the encircling tiers% day by day% 'ere e0ploded dyna"ite charges4 the slope o* the coneGs 'alls 'as graded at the indispensable "ini"u" so that the "aterial shaken loose

'ould roll do'n to the botto" but 'ithout gaining too "uch speed. At the botto"% in 3uci*erGs place% stood a ponderous rolling shutterM beneath this 'as a shallo' vertical pit 'hich led into a long horiFontal tunnelM this in turn debouched in the open air on the side o* the hill% Pust above the "ineGs "ain building. In the tunnel an ar"ored train shuttled back and *orth4 a s"all but po'er*ul loco"otive positioned the cars one by one under the shutter so that they could be *illed% then dragged the" out to look again at the stars. /he plant 'as built in a tier along the slope o* the hill and beneath the tunnelGs openingM in it the "ineral 'as shattered in a huge crusher that the director described to "e and de"onstrated 'ith al"ost childlike enthusias". It 'as a bell turned upside do'n% or% i* one 'ished% the corolla o* a bind'eed% *our "eters in dia"eter and constructed o* "assive steel4 at its center% suspended *ro" above and guided *ro" belo'% s'ung a gigantic clapper. /he oscillation 'as slight% barely visible% but 'as enough to split in the blink o* an eye the "ass o* rock 'hich poured do'n *ro" the train4 the rocks 'ere split% pressed together lo'er do'n% split again% and ca"e out belo' in *rag"ents as large as a "anGs head. /he operation proceeded in the "idst o* an apocalyptic uproar% a cloud o* dust 'hich could be seen do'n on the plain. /he "aterial 'as crushed again until it beca"e gravel% then dried out and si*tedM and it 'asnGt di**icult to *igure out that the *inal purpose o* that gigantic labor 'as to e0tract a "iserable 6 percent o* asbestos 'hich 'as trapped in those rocks. All the rest% thousands o* tons a day% 'as du"ped at rando" into the valley. (ear a*ter year% the valley 'as being *illed by a slo' avalanche o* dust and gravel. /he asbestos that still 'as in it "ade the "ass o* "aterial slightly slippery% sluggishly sticky% like a glacier4 the enor"ous gray tongue% dotted 'ith blackish rocks% crept laboriously% ponderously do'nhill% about ten "eters a yearM it e0erted so "uch pressure on the 'alls o* the valley as to produce deep transverse *issures in the rockM yearly it "oved a

*e' inches several o* the buildings erected too *ar do'n. I lived in one o* the"% called the Bsub"arineC precisely because o* its Huiet do'n'ard dri*t. /here 'as asbestos every'here% like ashy sno'. I* you le*t a book *or a *e' hours on the table and then picked it up% you *ound its pro*ile in negativeM the roo*s 'ere covered by a thick layer o* dust% 'hich on rainy days soaked through like a sponge% and then suddenly 'ould slide and crash violently to the ground. /he head *ore"an in the "ine% called Antaeus% 'as an obese giant 'ith a thick black beard 'ho actually see"ed to dra' his strength *ro" :other Earth. ,e told "e that% years be*ore% a persistent rain had 'ashed "any tons o* asbestos *ro" the 'alls o* the "ineM the asbestos had accu"ulated at the botto" o* the cone over the open valve% secretly setting like a plug. &obody had attached "uch i"portance to the "atter% but it had continued to rain% the cone acted as a *unnel% a lake o* t'enty thousand cubic "eters o* 'ater had *or"ed over the plug% and still nobody had given the "atter any thought. ,e% Antaeus% sa' trouble co"ing and had insisted that the then director do so"ething about it4 being the good "ine *ore"an that he 'as he *avored a nice big dyna"ite charge e0ploded 'ithout ado on the botto" o* the lakeM but 'hat 'ith this and that% it "ight be dangerous% you could da"age the valve% best to get the advice o* the ad"inistrative council% nobody 'anted to decide% and "ean'hile the "ine% 'ith its "align genius% decided by itsel*. Vhile the 'ise "en 'ere deliberating% a dull roar 'as heard% the plug had given 'ay% the 'ater sank in the pit and tunnel% s'ept a'ay the train 'ith all its cars% and laid 'aste the plant. Antaeus sho'ed "e the "arks le*t by the *lood% a good t'o "eters above the inclined plane. /he 'orkers and "iners D'ho in the local Pargon 'ere called B"inorsCE ca"e *ro" the neighboring villages% 'alking perhaps t'o hours over the "ountain paths. /he clerks lived on the spot. /he plain 'as only *ive kilo"eters a'ay% but *or all purposes the "ine 'as a s"all autono"ous republic. At that

ti"e o* rationing and black "arket there 'ere no supply proble"s up thereM nobody kne' ho' this 'as% but everyone had everything. :any clerks had their o'n truck gardens% around the sHuare villa that housed the o**icesM so"e o* the" even had chicken coops. Several ti"es one clerkGs chickens 'ould invade the truck garden o* another% da"aging it% and this produced tireso"e disputes and *euds% 'hich 'ere ill!suited to the serenity o* the place and the directorGs curt% no!nonsense nature. ,e had cut through the tangle in a "anner 'orthy o* hi"4 he had ordered a Klobert shotgun and hung it on a nail in his o**ice. Anyone 'ho *ro" the 'indo' sa' a *oreign chicken scratching around in his truck garden had the right to take the shotgun and shoot it t'ice4 but the chicken had to be caught in the act. I* the chicken died on the *ield% the corpse belonged to the shooterM this 'as the la'. )uring the *irst days a*ter the ruling% there had been "any dashes *or the gun and shootings% 'hile all those not involved bet on the outco"e% but then the trespassing stopped. -ther "arvelous stories 'ere told to "e% like the story about Signor ista"iglioGs dog. /his Signor ista"iglio% 'hen I got there% had been gone *or years% but his "e"ory 'as still alive and% as o*ten happens% had acHuired a gilded patina o* legend. So then this Signor ista"iglio 'as an e0cellent section chie*% no longer young% a bachelor% *ull o* co""on sense% estee"ed by all% and his dog 'as a very beauti*ul .er"an shepherd% eHually upright and estee"ed. /here ca"e a certain #hrist"as and *our o* the *attest turkeys in the to'n do'n in the valley disappeared. /oo bad4 thieves had been suspected% a *o0% and that 'as the end o* it. But another 'inter ca"e and this ti"e seven turkeys disappeared bet'een &ove"ber and )ece"ber. /he the*ts 'ere reported to the local carabinieri% but nobody 'ould have ever solved the "ystery i* Signor ista"iglio hi"sel* had not let slip one 'ord too "any one evening 'hen heGd drunk a bit. /he turkey thieves 'ere the t'o o* the"% he and his dog. -n Sunday he took his dog to the to'n% roa"ed about a"ong the *ar"s%

and sho'ed hi" 'hich 'ere the "ost beauti*ul and least guarded turkeysM case by case he e0plained to hi" the best strategyM then they ca"e back to the "ine and at night he 'ould set hi" *ree% and the dog arrived invisibly% slithering along the 'alls like a real 'ol*% Pu"ped over the *ence around the chicken coop or dug a passage under it% killed the turkey silently% and brought it back to his acco"plice. It does not appear that Signor ista"iglio sold the turkeysM according to the "ost accredited version% he gave the" as gi*ts to his lovers% 'ho 'ere nu"erous% old% ugly% and scattered throughout the *oothills o* the ied"ontese Alps. But "any% "any stories 'ere toldM *ro" 'hat could be gathered% all *i*ty o* the "ineGs inhabitants had reacted on each other% t'o by t'o% as in co"binatorial analysis% that is to say% everyone 'ith all the others% and especially every "an 'ith all the 'o"en% old "aids or "arried% and every 'o"an 'ith all the "en. All I had to do 'as select t'o na"es at rando"% better i* o* di**erent se0% and ask a third person4 B Vhat happened 'ith those t'oYC and lo and behold% a splendid story 'as un*olded *or "e% since everyone kne' the story o* everyone else. It is not clear 'hy these events% o*ten Huite co"plicated and al'ays inti"ate% 'ere told so o**handedly% particularly to "e o* all people% 'ho on the contrary could tell nothing to anyone% not even "y real na"e. But it appears that this is "y *ate Dand IG" de*initely not co"plaining about itE4 I a" one o* those people to 'ho" "any things are told. I recorded in various versions a re"ote saga going back to a period "uch be*ore Signor ista"iglioGs. /here had been a ti"e 'hen% in the "ineGs o**ices% they had had a real .o"orrah. )uring that legendary season% every evening% 'hen the *ive!thirty siren sounded% none o* the clerks 'ent ho"e. At that signal% liHuor and "attresses suddenly popped up *ro" a"ong the desks% and an orgy erupted that e"braced everything and everyone% young pubescent stenographers and balding accountants% starting 'ith the then director all the 'ay do'n to the

disabled door"en4 the sad round o* "ining paper'ork gave 'ay suddenly% every evening% to a boundless interclass *ornication% public and variously intert'ined. &o survivors had lived do'n to our day to provide direct testi"ony4 a series o* disastrous balance sheets had *orced the board o* governors in :ilan to carry out a drastic% puri*ying intervention. &obody e0cept *or Signora Bortolasso% 'ho% I 'as assured% kne' everything% had seen everything% but 'as not talking because o* her e0tre"e shyness. Signora Bortolasso% in any case% never talked 'ith anyone% outside the strict necessities o* 'ork. Be*ore she had her present na"e she 'as called .ina delle Benne4 at nineteen% already a typist in the o**ice% she had *allen in love 'ith a young% sli"% red!headed "iner 'ho% 'ithout really reciprocating% sho'ed hi"sel* nevertheless ready to accept her loveM but her B*olksC had been ada"ant. /hey had spent "oney on her studies and she had to sho' her gratitude by "aking a good "arriage and not hooking up 'ith Pust anybodyM and 'hatGs "ore% since the girl re*used to be reasonable% they 'ould see to it4 either drop that redhead or get out o* the house and the "ine. .ina 'as 'illing to 'ait until her t'enty!*irst birthday D'hich 'as only t'o years a'ayE4 but the redhead didnGt 'ait *or her. ,e sho'ed up one Sunday 'ith another 'o"an% then 'ith a third% and 'ound up "arrying a *ourth. .ina then "ade a cruel decision4 i* she couldnGt bind hersel* to the "an she cared *or% the only one% 'ell then% there 'ould not be any other. &ot a nunM she had "odern ideas4 but she *orbade hersel* "arriage *orever in a re*ined and "erciless "anner% that is% by getting "arried. She 'as by no' al"ost an e0ecutive% needed by the "anage"ent% endo'ed 'ith an iron "e"ory and proverbial diligence4 and she let everyone kno'% her parents and her bosses% that she intended to "arry Bortolasso% the "ineGs si"pleton. /his Bortolasso 'as a "iddle!aged laborer% strong as a "ule and dirty as a pig. ,e "ost likely 'as not a real si"pleton4 it is

"ore probable that he belonged to that species o* hu"an being o* 'ho" one says in ied"ont that they play the *ool so as not to pay *or the salt4 sheltering behind the i""unity granted the 'eak!"inded% Bortolasso per*or"ed 'ith e0tre"e negligence the Pob o* gardenerA'ith a negligence that verged on rudi"entary cunning. @ery 'ell% the 'orld had declared hi" irresponsible and no' it had to tolerate hi" as such% indeed give hi" a living and take care o* hi". Asbestos drenched by rain is hard to e0tract% so the rain gauge at the "ine 'as very i"portant. It 'as placed in the "iddle o* a *lo'erbed% and the director hi"sel* took the readings. Bortolasso% 'ho every "orning 'atered the *lo'erbed% got the habit o* also 'atering the rain gauge% severely *alsi*ying the data *or the costs o* e0traction. /he director Dnot i""ediatelyE realiFed this and gave hi" orders to stop. BSo then he likes it dry%B Bortolasso reasonedM and a*ter every rain he 'ould go and open the valve under the instru"ent. Vhen I arrived at the "ine the situation had been stabiliFed *or so"e ti"e. .ina% no' Signora Bortolasso% 'as about thirty! *ive4 the "odest beauty o* her *ace had gro'n sti** and *i0ed in a tense% alert "ask and bore the "ani*est stig"a o* a protracted virginity. Kor a virgin she had re"ained% they all kne' it because Bortolasso told it to everyone. /his had been the agree"ent at the ti"e o* the "arriageM he had accepted it% even i* later% al"ost every night% he tried to violate the 'o"anGs bed. But she had de*ended hersel* *uriously and still de*ended hersel*Anever% never 'ould a "an% and "ost o* all that one% be per"itted to touch her. /hese nightly battles o* the sad couple had beco"e the talk o* the "ine% and one o* its *e' attractions. -n one o* the *irst "ild evenings% a group o* a*icionados invited "e to co"e along 'ith the" to hear 'hat happened. I re*used and they returned disappointed soon a*ter4 they had heard only a tro"bone playing BKaccetta &era.C W /hey e0plained to "e that so"eti"es this
WC3ittle Black Kace % B a Kascist song populariFed at the ti"e that Italy invaded Ethiopia% in 197>A/ +A&S .

happened4 he 'as a "usical si"pleton and 'ould blo' o** stea" in that 'ay. I *ell in love 'ith "y 'ork *ro" the very *irst day% although it entailed nothing "ore at that stage than Huantitative analysis o* rock sa"ples4 attack 'ith hydro*luoric acid% do'n co"es iron 'ith a""onia% do'n co"es nickel Dho' littleT a pinch o* red sedi"entE 'ith di"ethylglyo0i"e% do'n co"es "agnesiu" 'ith phosphate% al'ays the sa"e% every blessed dayAin itsel*% it 'as not very sti"ulating. But sti"ulating and ne' 'as another sensation4 the sa"ple to be analyFed 'as no longer an anony"ous% "anu*actured po'der% a "aterialiFed HuiF4 it 'as a piece o* rock% the earthGs entrail% torn *ro" the earth by the e0plosiveGs *orceM and on the basis o* the daily data o* the analysis little by little 'as born a "ap% the portrait o* the subterranean veins. Kor the *irst ti"e a*ter seventeen years o* school 'ork% o* .reek verbs and the history o* the eloponnesian Var % the things I had learned 'ere beginning to be use*ul to "e. 5uantitative analysis% so devoid o* e"otion% heavy as granite% ca"e alive% true% use*ul% 'hen part o* serious and concrete 'ork. It 'as use*ul4 it 'as part o* a plan% a tessera in a "osaic. /he analytical "ethod I *ollo'ed 'as no longer a bookish dog"a% it 'as put to the test every day% it could be re*ined% "ade to con*or" 'ith our ai"s% by a subtle play o* reason% o* trial and error. /o "ake a "istake 'as no longer a vaguely co"ic accident that spoils an e0a" *or you or a**ects your "arks4 to "ake a "istake 'as si"ilar to 'hen you go cli"bingA a contest% an act o* attention% a step up that "akes you "ore 'orthy and *it. /he girl in the lab 'as called Alida. She 'atched "y neophyteGs enthusias"s 'ithout sharing the"M she 'as in *act surprised and so"e'hat annoyed. ,er presence 'as not unpleasant. She 'as a liceo graduate% Huoted indar and Sappho% the daughter o* a co"pletely innocuous s"all local Kascist o**icial% 'as cunning and sloth*ul% and didnGt give a da"n about anything% least o* all the analysis o* rock% 'hich she had learned to per*or" "echanically *ro" the lieutenant. She too% like all

the people up there% had interacted 'ith several persons and did not "ake a "ystery o* it 'ith "e% thanks to that curious gi*t *or garnering con*essions 'hich I "entioned be*ore. She had *ought 'ith "any 'o"en because o* vague rivalries% had *allen in love a little 'ith "any "en% a great deal 'ith one% and 'as engaged to still another% a gray% unpretentious *ello'% an e"ployee in the /echnical -**ice 'ho ca"e *ro" her to'n and 'ho" her *a"ily had picked *or her. About this% too% she didnGt give a da"n. Vhat could she do about itY +ebelY 3eaveY &o% she 'as a girl *ro" a good *a"ily% her *uture 'as children and the kitchen stove% Sappho and indar 'ere things o* the past and nickel an abstruse stopgap. She 'orked listlessly in the lab 'hile 'aiting *or that so little longed!*or "arriage% negligently 'ashing the precipitates% 'eighing the nickel di"ethylglyo0i"e% and I had hard 'ork convincing her that it 'as not Huite the thing to pad the results o* the analyses4 so"ething she tended to do% in *act she con*essed to having done o*ten% since% she said% it didnGt cost anybody anything% and pleased the director% the lieutenant% and "ysel*. Vhat% a*ter all% 'as that che"istry over 'hich the lieutenant and I racked our brainsY Vater and *ire% nothing else% like in the kitchen. A less appetiFing kitchen% thatGs all4 'ith penetrating or disgusting s"ells instead o* the do"estic kindM *or the rest% there too aprons% "i0ing% burned hands% and 'ashing up at the end o* the day. &o escape *or Alida. She listened 'ith devout co"punction and at the sa"e ti"e Italian skepticis" to "y tales o* li*e in /urin4 these 'ere heavily censored because in *act both she and I had to play the ga"e o* "y anony"ity. &evertheless so"ething did e"erge4 i* nothing else% *ro" "y reticences the"selves. A*ter so"e 'eeks I realiFed that I 'as no longer a na"eless person4 I 'as a certain )octor 3evi 'ho "ust not be called 3evi% neither in the second nor the third person% due to good "anners% and in order to avoid a "ess. In the "ineGs gossipy and easygoing at"osphere% a disparity bet'een "y indeter"inate state as an outcast and "y visible "ildness o*

"anner leaped to the eye% andAAlida ad"itted this to "eA'as lengthily discussed and variously interpreted4 I 'as everything *ro" an agent o* the -@+A% the Kascist secret police% to so"eone 'ith high!class connections. .oing do'n into the valley 'as unco"*ortable% and *or "e not very prudentM since I could not visit anyone% "y evenings at the "ine 'ere inter"inable. So"eti"es I stayed in the lab past Huitting ti"e or 'ent back there a*ter dinner to study% or to "editate on the proble" o* nickel. At other ti"es I shut "ysel* in to read :annGs Ioseph stories in "y "onastic cell in the sub"arine. -n nights 'hen the "oon 'as up I o*ten took long solitary 'alks through the 'ild countryside around the "ine% all the 'ay up to the bri" o* the crater% or hal*'ay up on the back o* the gray% craggy du"p chute% shaken by "ysterious creaks and shivers as i* so"e busy gno"es really nested there4 the darkness 'as punctuated by the distant ho'ls o* dogs in the invisible valley botto". /hese roa"ings granted "e a truce *ro" the gri" a'areness o* "y *ather dying in /urin% o* the A"erican de*eats at Bataan% the .er"an victories in the #ri"ea% in short% o* the open trap 'hich 'as about to spring shut4 it gave birth in "e to a ne' bond% "ore sincere than the rhetoric about nature learned at school% 'ith those bra"bles and stones 'hich 'ere "y island and "y *reedo"% a *reedo" I 'ould perhaps soon lose. Kor that rock 'ithout peace I *elt a *ragile and precarious a**ection4 'ith it I had contracted a double bond% *irst in the e0ploits 'ith Sandro% then here% trying as a che"ist to 'rest a'ay its treasure. Kro" this rocky love and these asbestos!*illed solitudes% on so"e other o* those long nights 'ere born t'o stories o* islands and *reedo"% the *irst I *elt inclined to 'rite a*ter the tor"ents o* co"positions in liceoC one story *antasiFed about a re"ote precursor o* "ine% a hunter o* lead instead o* nickelM the other% a"biguous and "ercurial% I had taken *ro" a re*erence to the island o* /ristan da #unha that I happened to see during that period.

/he lieutenant% 'ho 'as doing his "ilitary service in /urin% ca"e up to the "ine only one day a 'eek. ,e 'ould check "y 'ork and give "e instructions and advice *or the co"ing 'eek% and proved to be an e0cellent che"ist and a tenacious and acute researcher. A*ter a short period o* orientation% alongside the routine o* daily analyses% a proPect 'ith "uch higher ai"s began to take shape. In the "ineGs rock there 'as indeed nickel% but very little4 *ro" our analyses it sho'ed an average content o* 9.6 percent. +idiculous% in co"parison to the "inerals "ined by "y antip! odal colleague!rivals in #anada and &e' #aledonia. But perhaps the ra' "aterial could be enrichedY $nder the lieutenantGs guidance I tried all possible "ethods4 by "agnetic separation% by *lotation% by levigation% by si*ting% 'ith heavy liHuids% 'ith the shaking plate. I did not get any'here4 nothing concentratedM in all the *ractions the percentage o* nickel re"ained obstinately the sa"e as the *irst. &ature 'as not helping us4 'e concluded that the nickel acco"panying the bivalent iron took its place vicariously% *ollo'ed it like an evanescent shado'% a "inuscule brother4 9.6 percent o* nickel% 8 percent o* iron. All the reagents i"aginable *or nickel should have been e"ployed in doses *orty ti"es greater% even 'ithout taking into account the "agnesiu". An econo"ically desperate enterprise. At "o"ents o* 'eariness I perceived the rock that encircled "e% the green serpentine o* the Alpine *oothills% in all its sidereal% hostile% e0traneous hard! ness4 in co"parison% the trees o* the valley% by no' already dressed *or spring% 'ere like us% also people 'ho do not speak but *eel the heat and the *rost% enPoy and su**er% are born and die% *ling out pollen 'ith the 'ind% obscurely *ollo' the sun in its travels. &ot the rock4 it does not house any energy% it is e0tinguished since pri"ordial ti"es% pure hostile passivityM a "assive *ortress that I had to pull do'n bastion by bastion to get "y hands on the hidden sprite% the capricious "#*fernic"el 'hich Pu"ps out no' here% no' there% elusive and "align% 'ith long perked ears% al'ays ready to *lee *ro" the blo's o* the investigating picka0% leaving you 'ith nothing to sho' *or it.

But this is no longer the ti"e *or sprites% nic"el( and kobolds. Ve are che"ists% that is% hunters4 ours are Bthe t'o e0periences o* adult li*eC o* 'hich avese spoke% success and *ailure% to kill the 'hite 'hale or 'reck the shipM one should not surrender to inco"prehensible "atter% one "ust not Pust sit do'n. Ve are here *or thisAto "ake "istakes and to correct ourselves% to stand the blo's and hand the" out. Ve "ust never *eel disar"ed4 nature is i""ense and co"ple0% but it is not i"per"eable to the intelligenceM 'e "ust circle around it% pierce and probe it% look *or the opening or "ake it. :y 'eekly conversations 'ith the lieutenant sounded like 'ar plans. A"ong the "any atte"pts 'e had "ade there also 'as that o* reducing the rock 'ith hydrogen. Ve had placed the "ineral% *inely ground% in a porcelain boatM had placed this in turn in a HuartF tubeM and through the tube% heated *ro" the outside% 'e had pushed a current o* hydrogen in the hope that this 'ould strip the o0ygen bound to the nickel and leave it reduced% that is% naked% in its "etallic state. :etallic nickel% like iron% is "agnetic% and there*ore% according to this hypothesis% it 'ould have been easy to separate it *ro" the rest% alone or 'ith the iron% si"ply by "eans o* a s"all "agnet. But% a*ter the treat"ent% 'e had vainly agitated a po'er*ul "agnet in the 'atery suspension o* our po'der4 'e had only gotten a trace o* iron. #lear and sad4 hydrogen% under these conditions% did not reduce anythingM the nickel% together 'ith the iron% "ust be *ir"ly lodged in the serpentineGs structure% co"bined 'ith the silicate and 'ater% satis*ied Dso to speakE 'ith its state and averse to assu"ing another. But say one tried to pull that structure apart. /he idea ca"e to "e as one s'itches on a light% one day 'hen by chance there *ell into "y hands an old dusty diagra"% the 'ork o* so"e unkno'n predecessor o* "ineM it sho'ed the loss o* 'eight in the "ineGs asbestos as a *unction o* te"perature. /he asbestos lost a little 'ater at 129\ centigrade% then re"ained apparently unaltered until about 899\ centigradeM here one noted an abrupt step do'n 'ith a *all in 'eight o* 16 percent% and the author

had re"arked4 B beco"es *ragile.C &o' serpentine is the *ather o* asbestos4 i* asbestos deco"poses at 899\ centigrade% serpentine should do so alsoM and% since a che"ist does not think% indeed does not live% 'ithout "odels% I idly 'ent about representing the" *or "ysel*% dra'ing on paper long chains o* silicon% o0ygen% iron% and "agnesiu"% 'ith a little nickel caught bet'een their links% and then the sa"e chains a*ter the s"ash reduced to short stubs% 'ith the nickel *lushed out o* its den and e0posed to attackM and I did not *eel "uch di**erent *ro" the re"ote hunter o* Alta"ira 'ho painted an antelope on the rock 'all so that the ne0t dayGs hunt 'ould be lucky. /he propitiatory cere"onies did not last long4 the lieutenant 'as not there% but he could arrive *ro" one hour to the ne0t% and I 'as a*raid that he 'ould not accept% or 'ould not readily accept% "y very unorthodo0 hypothesis o* 'ork. But I *elt it itch all over "y skin4 'hatGs done is done% best get to 'ork i""ediately. /here is nothing "ore vivi*ying than a hypothesis. Vatched 'ith an a"used and skeptical e0pression by Alida% 'ho% since it 'as no' late in the a*ternoon% kept looking ostentatiously at her 'rist'atch% I set to 'ork like a 'hirl'ind. In a "o"ent the apparatus 'as "ounted% the ther"ostat set at 899\ centigrade% the pressure regulator on the tank set% the *lu0"eter put in order. I heated the "aterial *or hal* an hour% then reduced the te"perature and passed the hydrogen through *or another hour4 by no' it 'as dark% the girl had gone% all 'as silence against the backdrop o* the gri" hu" o* the .rading )epart"ent% 'hich also 'orked at night. I *elt part conspirator% part alche"ist. Vhen the ti"e ca"e% I took the porcelain boat out o* the HuartF tube% let it cool o** in the vacuu"% then dispersed in 'ater the po'der% 'hich had turned *ro" greenish to a dirty yello'4 a thing 'hich see"ed to "e a good sign. I picked up the "agnet and set to 'ork. Each ti"e I took the "agnet out o* the 'ater% it brought 'ith it a tu*t o* bro'n po'der4 I re"oved it delicately 'ith *ilter paper and put it aside% perhaps a "illigra" each ti"eM *or the analysis to be 'ell!*ounded at least a hal*

gra" o* "aterial 'as needed% that is% several hours o* 'ork. I decided to stop about "idnight4 to interrupt the separation% I "ean to say% because at no cost 'ould I have put o** the beginning o* the analysis. Kor this% since it involved a "agnetic *raction Dand there*ore presu"ably poor in silicatesE% and yielding to "y haste% I there and then tried a si"pli*ied variant. At three in the "orning I had the result4 no longer the usual pink little cloud o* nickel!di"ethylglyo0i"e but rather a visibly abundant precipitate. Kiltered% 'ashed% dried% and 'eighed. /he *inal datu" appeared to "e 'ritten in letters o* *ire on the slide rule4 > percent o* nickel% the rest iron. A victory4 even 'ithout a *urther separation% an alloy to be sent to the electric oven as is. I returned to the sub"arine 'hen it 'as al"ost da'n 'ith an acute desire to go i""ediately and 'ake the director% telephone the lieutenant% and roll around on the dark *ields% 'hich 'ere dripping 'et 'ith de'. I 'as thinking "any *oolish things% and I 'as not thinking o* anything sensible and sad. I 'as thinking o* having opened a door 'ith a key% and o* possessing the key to "any doors% perhaps to all o* the". I 'as thinking o* having thought o* so"ething that nobody else had yet thought% not even in #anada or &e' #aledonia% and I *elt invincible and untouchable even 'hen *aced by close ene"ies% closer each "onth. Kinally% I 'as thinking o* having had a *ar *ro" ignoble revenge on those 'ho had declared "e biologically in*erior. I 'as not thinking that i* the "ethod o* e0traction I had caught sight o* could have *ound industrial application% the nickel produced 'ould have entirely ended up in Kascist ItalyGs and ,itler .er"anyGs ar"or plate and artillery shells. I 'as not thinking that during those very "onths there had been dis! covered in Albania deposits o* nickel "ineral be*ore 'hich ours could go and hide% and along 'ith it every proPect o* "ine% the directorGs% and the lieutenantGs. I did not *oresee that "y interpretation o* the "agnetic separability o* nickel 'as sub! stantially "istaken% as the lieutenant sho'ed "e a *e' days later% as soon as I told hi" o* "y results. &or did I *oresee that

the director% a*ter having shared "y enthusias" *or a *e' days% thre' a 'et blanket on "ine and his 'hen he realiFed that there did not e0ist in co""erce any "agnetic selector capable o* separating a "aterial in the *or" o* a *ine po'der% and that on cruder po'ders "y "ethod could not *unction. And yet this story does not end here. )espite the "any years that have passed% the liberaliFation o* e0changes% and the *all in the international price o* nickel% the ne's o* the enor"ous 'ealth that lies in that valley in the *or" o* rubble accessible to everyone still sets *ire to the i"agination. &ot *ar *ro" the "ine% in cellars% stables% on the borderline bet'een che"istry and 'hite "agic% there are still people 'ho go at night to the rubble heaps and co"e back 'ith bags o* gray gravel% grind it% cook it% treat it 'ith ever ne' reagents. /he *ascination o* buried 'ealth% o* t'o kilos o* a noble silvery "etal bound to a thousand kilos o* sterile stone 'hich is thro'n a'ay% has not yet died out. &or have the t'o "ineral tales 'hich I 'rote then disappeared. /hey have had a troubled *ate% al"ost as troubled as "y o'n4 they have su**ered bo"bings and escapes% I had given the" up *or lost% and I *ound the" recently 'hile going through papers *orgotten *or decades. I did not 'ant to abandon the"4 the reader 'ill *ind the" here in the succeeding pages% inserted% like a prisonerGs drea" o* escape% bet'een these tales o* "ilitant che"istry.

% E A
Dy name is Iodm#nd and I come from far aJay% Dy co#ntry is called Thi#da3 at least Je call it that( b#t o#r nei$hbors( that is( o#r enemies( #se different names for #sKSa"sa( 0emet( 9laman% Dy co#ntry is different from this one3 it has $reat forests and rivers( lon$ Jinters( sJam*s( mists and rain% Dy * e o * l e K I mean those Jho s*ea" my lan$#a$eKare she*herds( h#nters( and JarriorsC they do not li"e to c#ltivate the land( indeed they scorn those Jho do c#ltivate it( drive their floc"s on their fields( sac" their villa$es( and ma"e slaves of their Jomen% I am neither a she*herd nor a Jarrior3 I am not even a h#nter( altho#$h my trade is not very different from a

h#nter>s% It ties me to the land( b#t I am freeC I am not a *easant% Dy father and all of #s Fodm#nds in the *aternal line have alJays *lied this trade( Jhich consists in "noJin$ a certain heavy roc"( findin$ it in distant co#ntries( heatin$ it in a certain Jay that Je "noJ( and eLtractin$ blac" lead from it% 0ear my villa$e there Jas a lar$e bed3 it is said that it had been discovered by one of my ancestors Jhom they called Fodm#nd @l#e Teeth% It is a villa$e of lead:smiths3 everyone there "noJs hoJ to smelt and Jor" it( b#t only Je Fodm#nds "noJ hoJ to find the roc" and ma"e s#re it is the real lead roc"( and not one of the many heavy roc"s that the $ods have streJn over the mo#ntain so as to deceive man% It is the $ods Jho ma"e the veins of metals $roJ #nder the $ro#nd( b#t they "ee* them secret( hidden3 he Jho finds them is almost their eA#al( and so the $ods do not love him and try to beJilder him% They do not love #s Fodm#ndsC b#t Je don>t care% 0oJ( in five or siL $enerations the bed has been eLha#stedC someone has s#$$ested folloJin$ it beloJ the $ro#nd( di$$in$ t#nnels( and even tried to do it and lost by it3 finally the o*inion of the more *r#dent *revailed% 9ll the men have res#med their former trades( b#t not IC '#st as the lead( Jitho#t #s( does not see the li$ht( so Je cannot live Jitho#t lead% <#rs is an art that ma"es #s rich( b#t it also ma"es #s die yo#n$% Some say that this ha**ens beca#se the metal enters o#r blood and sloJly im*overishes it3 others thin" instead that it is a reven$e of the $ods( b#t in any case it matters little to #s Fodm#nds that o#r lives are short( beca#se Je are rich( res*ected( and see the Jorld% In fact the case of my ancestor Jith the bl#e teeth is eLce*tional( beca#se the de*osit he had discovered Jas eLce*tionally richC in $eneral( Je *ros*ectors are

also travelers% 2e himself( they told me( came from far aJay( from a co#ntry Jhere the s#n is cold and never sets( the *eo*le live in ho#ses made of ice( and in the sea sJim monsters a tho#sand strides lon$% So( after siL $enerations in one *lace( I be$an travelin$ a$ain( in search of roc" to smelt or to be smelted by other *eo*le3 teachin$ them the art in eLchan$e for $old% Me Fodm#nds are JiBards( that>s Jhat Je areC Je chan$e lead into $old% I left by myself( headin$ so#thJard( Jhen I Jas still yo#n$% I traveled for fo#r years( from re$ion to re$ion( avoidin$ the *lains( climbin$ #* the mo#ntain valleys( ta**in$ Jith my hammer( findin$ little or nothin$C in the s#mmer I Jor"ed in the fields3 in the Jinter I Jove bas"ets or s*ent the $old I had bro#$ht Jith me% @y myself( I have saidC for #s( Jomen serve to *rovide a male child( so that the race does not die o#t( b#t Je don>t ta"e them alon$% Mhat #se Jo#ld they serveN They don>t learn hoJ to find the roc"( and in fact( if they to#ch it Jhen &hey have their *eriod it cr#mbles into dead sand and ashes% @etter the $irls yo# meet alon$ the Jay( $ood for a ni$ht or a month( Jith Jhom yo# can ma"e merry Jitho#t thin"in$ of tomorroJ( as instead Jives do% It is better to live o#r tomorroJs aloneC Jhen the flesh be$ins to become loose and *ale( the belly *ains( hair and teeth fall o#t( $#ms t#rn $ray( then it is better to be alone% I arrived at a *lace from Jhich( on clear days( yo# co#ld see a chain of mo#ntains to the so#th% In the s*rin$ I be$an Jal"in$ a$ain( determined to reach themC I Jas com*letely fed #* Jith that stic"y( soft earth( $ood for nothin$( $ood for ma"in$ clay ocarinas( lac"in$ both secrets and virt#e% In the mo#ntains it is differentC the roc"s( Jhich are the bones of the

earth( can be seen #ncovered( they rin$ o#t #nder yo#r hobnailed boots( and it is easy to distin$#ish the different A#alitiesC the *lain is not for #s% I Jo#ld as" aro#nd Jhere the easiest mo#ntain *ass Jas% I also as"ed if they had lead( Jhere they bo#$ht it( and hoJ m#ch they *aid for itC the more money they *aid( the more I searched in the vicinity% Sometimes they didn>t even "noJ Jhat lead Jas3 Jhen I shoJed them the ch#n" of it that I alJays carry in my ba$ they la#$hed at feelin$ it so soft( and derisively as"ed me if in my co#ntry lead is also #sed to ma"e *lo#$hs and sJords% Dost times( hoJever( I co#ld not #nderstand them or ma"e them #nderstand meC bread( mil"( a cot( a $irl( the direction to ta"e the neLt day( and that>s all% I $ot thro#$h a broad *ass at the hei$ht of the s#mmer( Jith a s#n that at midday Jas almost *er*endic#lar over my head( and yet there Jere still s*lotches of snoJ on the #*land meadoJs% O#st a bit loJer doJn Jere floc"s( she*herds( and *athsC yo# co#ld see the bottom of the valley( so dee* that it still seemed immersed in the ni$ht% I descended( fo#nd villa$es( one rather lar$e villa$e on a stream( Jhere the mo#ntain fol" came doJn to barter livestoc"( horses( cheese( *elts( and a red liA#id they called Jine% I almost b#rst o#t la#$hin$ Jhenever I heard them s*ea"C their lan$#a$e Jas a cr#de and indistinct $#r$le( an animal:li"e gur!gur% so m#ch so that it Jas s#r*risin$ to see that they nevertheless act#ally had Jea*ons and tools li"e o#rs( some of them even more in$enio#s and elaborate% The Jomen s*#n( as they did bac" home% They b#ild ho#ses of roc"( not so *retty b#t solid3 some ho#ses( tho#$h( Jere made of Jood( s#s*ended a feJ feet above the $ro#nd since they rested on fo#r or siL Jooden bloc"s to**ed by dis"s of

smooth stone3 I believe these stones served to *revent the invasion of mice( and this seemed to me an intelli$ent invention% The roofs Jere not made of straJ h#t of broad( flat stones% They did not "noJ beer% I immediately saJ that on hi$h( alon$ the valley>s sides( there Jere holes in the roc" and cascades of r#bbleC the si$n that in these *arts too some *eo*le Jere *ros*ectin$% @#t I did not as" any A#estions to avoid aro#sin$ s#s*icion3 a forei$ner li"e myself aro#sed too m#ch already% I Jent doJn to the stream( Jhich Jas rather sJift &I remember that its Jater Jas t#rbid and a din$y Jhite( as if it had been miLed Jith mil"( somethin$ Jhich in my *arts Jas #nheard of,( and I set abo#t *atiently eLaminin$ the stonesC this is one of o#r tric"s( the stones in a stream come from afar and s*ea" clearly to him Jho #nderstands% There Jas a little of everythin$ flint stones( $reen stones( lime stones( $ranite( iron: bearin$ stones( even a little of Jhat Je call $almeida( all st#ff that did not interest me3 and yet I had the fiLed idea that in a valley formed li"e that( Jith certain Jhite striations on the red roc" and Jith so m#ch iron thereabo#ts( lead roc"s co#ld not be missin$% I Jal"ed doJn alon$ the stream( *artly on the bo#lders( *artly Jadin$ Jherever I co#ld( li"e a h#ntin$ do$( Jith my eyes $l#ed to the $ro#nd( Jhen lo and behold? a little beloJ the confl#ence Jith another( smaller stream( I saJ a stone amon$ millions of other stones( a stone almost the same as all the others( a din$y Jhite stone Jith small blac" s*ec"les( Jhich bro#$ht me to a halt( tense and motionless( eLactly li"e a h#ntin$ do$ *ointin$% I *ic"ed it #*% It Jas heavy% 0eLt to it Jas another li"e it b#t smaller% Me rarely ma"e mista"esC b#t '#st to be s#re I cr#shed it and too" a fra$ment as bi$ as a n#t

alon$ Jith me to test it% 9 $ood *ros*ector( a serio#s one( Jho does not Jant to tell lies either to others or himself( sho#ld not tr#st in a**earances( beca#se the roc"( Jhich seems dead( instead is f#ll of dece*tionC sometimes it chan$es its nat#re even Jhile yo#=re di$$in$( li"e certain sna"es that chan$e color so yo# Jon>t see them% 9 $ood *ros*ector( therefore( carries everythin$ Jith himC a clay cr#cible( *ieces of charcoal( to#chJood and steel( and another instr#ment that is secret and I can>t mention and is #sed *recisely to find o#t Jhether the roc" is $ood or not% That evenin$ I fo#nd an o#t:of:the:Jay s*ot( b#ilt a hearth( on Jhich I *#t the Jell:layered cr#cible( heated it for half an ho#r( and then let it cool% I bro"e it o*en and there it JasKthe shiny heavy little dis" Jhich can be scored by yo#r fin$ernail( Jhich ma"es yo#r heart lea* Jith 'oy and the fati$#e of the lon$ Jal" vanish from yo#r le$s( and Jhich Je call )the little "in$%1 9t this *oint Je are far from finished3 on the contrary( most of the Jor" is still to be done% Po# have to $o bac" #* the stream( and at every branchin$ loo" aro#nd to see Jhether the $ood stone contin#es to ri$ht or left% I Jent #* for A#ite a distance alon$ the bi$ stream and the stone Jas alJays there b#t became more and more s*arse3 then the valley narroJed to a $or$e so *rofo#nd and stee* that climbin$ it Jas o#t of the A#estion% I as"ed the she*herds thereabo#ts and they $ave me to #nderstand by dint of $est#res and $r#nts that there really Jas no Jay of $ettin$ aro#nd that $or$e( b#t if yo# Jent bac" doJn to the bi$ valley yo# Jo#ld find a small road( abo#t so Jide( Jhich ran thro#$h a *ass they called somethin$ li"e Trin$o and descended '#st above the $or$e( endin$ #* in a *lace Jhere there Jere horned beasts that mooed and therefore

&I tho#$ht, also $raBin$ land( she*herds( bread( and mil"% I started Jal"in$( easily fo#nd the road and Trin$o( and from there Jent doJn to a very bea#tif#l co#ntry% Strai$ht in front of me in a lon$ t#nnel:li"e vieJ I saJ a valley $reen Jith larches( and in the distance mo#ntains Jhite Jith snoJ at the hei$ht of the s#mmerC the valley ended at my feet in a vast meadoJ dotted Jith h#ts and floc"s% I Jas tired3 I Jal"ed farther doJn and sto**ed by the she*herds% They Jere distr#stf#l( b#t they "neJ &even too Jell, the val#e of $old( and they *#t me #* for a feJ days Jitho#t botherin$ me% I too" advanta$e of this to learn a feJ Jords of their lan$#a$eK they called mo#ntains )*en(1 meadoJs )tBa(1 the snoJ of s#mmer )roisa(1 shee* )fea(1 their ho#ses )bait(1 Jhich are made of roc" in the loJer *art( Jhere they "ee* the livestoc"( and of Jood above( Jith stone rests as I have already said( Jhere they live and store hay and *rovisions% They Jere cantan"ero#s *eo*le( Jho s*o"e little( b#t they had no Jea*ons and did not treat me badly% Mhen I Jas rested I res#med my search( still Jith the stream system( and I Jo#nd #* sli**in$ into a valley *arallel to the larch valley( lon$( narroJ( and deserted( Jitho#t meadoJs or Joods% The stream Jhich ran thro#$h it Jas rich in $ood roc"C I felt I Jas close to Jhat I Jas searchin$ for% It too" me three days( slee*in$ in the o*enC in fact( Jitho#t slee*in$ at all( I Jas that im*atient( *assin$ the ni$ht starin$ at the s"y so that daJn Jo#ld brea" soon% The de*osit Jas A#ite o#t of the Jay( in a very stee* $#llyC the Jhite roc" cro**ed o#t here and there amid sic"ly $rass( Jithin a hand>s reach( and all yo# had to do Jas di$ tJo or three feet to find the blac" roc"( the richest of all( Jhich I had never yet seen b#t Jhich my father had described to me% 9

com*act roc" Jitho#t sla$( to *#t a h#ndred men to Jor" for a h#ndred years% Mhat Jas stran$e Jas that someone m#st have already been thereC yo# co#ld see( half hidden behind a roc" &Jhich certainly had been *#t there on *#r*ose,( the o*enin$ to a t#nnel( Jhich m#st have been very old( beca#se from its va#lt h#n$ stalactites as lon$ as my fin$ers% <n the $ro#nd there Jere sta"es of rotted Jood and a feJ corroded bone fra$ments3 the rest m#st have been carried off by the f o L e sKin fact there Jere foot*rints of foLes and *erha*s of JolvesC b#t a half s"#ll that *rotr#ded from the m#d Jas certainly h#man% This is a diffic#lt thin$ to eL*lain( b#t it has already ha**ened more than once that someone( Jho "noJs Jhen( comin$ from Jho "noJs Jhere( at some remote time( *erha*s before the Qlood( finds a vein( does not say anythin$ to anyone( tries by himself to di$ o#t the roc"( leaves his bones there( and then the cent#ries *ass% Dy father told me that in Jhatever t#nnel or cave yo# may di$ yo# find the bones of the dead% In short( the de*osit Jas thereC I made my tests( I b#ilt as best I co#ld a f#rnace there in the o*en( I Jent doJn and came bac" #* Jith Jood( I melted doJn as m#ch lead as I co#ld carry on my bac"( and I ret#rned to the valley% I didn>t say anythin$ to the *eo*le on the *ast#reland3 I contin#ed doJn the Trin$o and came to the lar$e villa$e on the other side( Jhich Jas called Sales% It Jas mar"et day( and I *#t myself on shoJ Jith my *iece of lead in my hand% 9 feJ *eo*le be$an to sto*( to Jei$h it and as" me A#estions( of Jhich I only #nderstood half3 it Jas clear that they Janted to "noJ Jhat it Jas $ood for( hoJ m#ch it cost( and Jhere it came from% Then an alert:loo"in$ felloJ Jith a *laited Joolen ca* came #* to me( and Je #nderstood each other *retty Jell% I shoJed him that yo# co#ld beat that st#ff Jith a hammerC in fact( ri$ht

there and then I fo#nd a hammer and a c#rbstone and shoJed him hoJ easy it is to fashion it into slabs and sheetsC then I eL*lained to him that Jith the sheets( Jeldin$ them on one side Jith a red: hot iron( yo# co#ld ma"e *i*es% I told him that Jooden *i*es( for eLam*le( the rain*i*es in that toJn Sales( lea" and rot3 I eL*lained to him that bronBe *i*es are hard to ma"e and Jhen they are #sed for drin"in$ Jater ca#se stomach tro#ble( and that instead lead *i*es last forever and can be 'oined to$ether very easily% P#ttin$ on a solemn face( I also too" a random shot and eL*lained to him that Jith a sheet of lead yo# can also line coffins for the dead( so that they don>t $roJ Jorms b#t become dry and thin( and so the so#l too is not dis*ersed( Jhich is a fine advanta$e3 and still Jith lead yo# can cast small f#neral stat#es( not shiny li"e bronBe( b#t in fact a bit dar"( a bit s#bd#ed( as is s#itable to ob'ects of mo#rnin$% Since I saJ that these matters interested him $reatly( I eL*lained that( if one $oes beyond a**earances( lead is act#ally the metal of deathC beca#se it brin$s on death( beca#se its Jei$ht is a desire to fall( and to fall is a *ro*erty of cor*ses( beca#se its very color is d#lled:dead( beca#se it is the metal of the *lanet T#isto( Jhich is the sloJest of the *lanets( that is( the *lanet of the dead% I also told him that( in my o*inion( lead is a material different from all other materials( a metal Jhich yo# feel is tired( *erha*s tired of transformin$ itself and that does not Jant to transform itself anymoreC the ashes of Jho "noJs hoJ many other elements f#ll of life( Jhich tho#sands #*on tho#sands of years a$o Jere b#rned in their oJn fire% These are thin$s I really thin"3 it is not that I invented them to close the deal% That man( Jhose name Jas @orvio( listened to all this Jith his mo#th a$a*e( and then he told me that it really m#st be as I said( and that that *lanet is sacred to a $od

Jho in his toJn Jas called Sat#rn and is de*icted Jith a scythe% This Jas the moment to $et doJn to brass tac"s( and Jhile he Jas still there m#llin$ over my blandishments( I as"ed him for thirty *o#nds of $old for handin$ over the de*osit( the techniA#e of smeltin$ the lead( and *recise instr#ctions on the *rinci*al #ses of the metal% 2e made me a co#nter offer of bronBe coins Jith a boar im*rinted on them( coined Rod "noJs Jhere( b#t I made the motion of s*ittin$ on themC $old( and c#t the nonsense% 9nyJay( thirty *o#nds are too m#ch for someone travelin$ on foot( everyone "noJs that( and I "neJ that @orvio "neJ itC so Je concl#ded the deal for tJenty *o#nds% 2e insisted that I accom*any him to the de*osit( Jhich Jas only ri$ht% Mhen Je $ot bac" to the valley( he $ave me the $oldC I chec"ed all tJenty in$ots( fo#nd them $en#ine and of $ood Jei$ht( and Je $ot bea#tif#lly dr#n" on Jine to celebrate% It Jas also a fareJell dr#n"% It is not that that co#ntry did not *lease me( b#t many reasons im*elled me to contin#e my 'o#rney% QirstC I Janted to see the Jarm co#ntries( Jhere they say olives and lemons $roJ% SecondC I Janted to see the sea( not the stormy sea from Jhich came my ancestor Jith the bl#e teeth( b#t the te*id sea( from Jhich comes salt% ThirdC there>s no *oint in havin$ $old and carryin$ it on yo#r bac"( Jith the contin#o#s terror that at ni$ht or d#rin$ a drin"in$ bo#t someone Jill steal it from yo#% Qo#rth( and to s#m #*C I Janted to s*end the $old on a sea voya$e( to $et to "noJ the sea and sailors( beca#se sailors need lead( even if they do not "noJ it% So I leftC I Jal"ed for tJo months( descendin$ a lar$e sad valley #ntil it o*ened o#t on a *lain% There Jere meadoJs and Jheatfields and a shar* smell of b#rnt br#shJood Jhich filled

me Jith nostal$ia for my co#ntryC a#t#mn( in all the co#ntries of the Jorld( has the same smell of dead leaves( of restin$ earth( of b#ndles of b#rnin$ branches( in short( of thin$s Jhich are endin$( and yo# thin" )forever%1 I came across a fortified cityKthere are none as lar$e bac" homeKat the confl#ence of tJo rivers3 there Jas a mar"et fair Jith slaves( meats( Jine3 filthy( solid( disheveled $irls3 a tavern Jith a $ood fireKand I s*ent the Jinter thereC it snoJed as it does bac" home% I left in Darch( and after a month of Jal"in$ I fo#nd the sea( Jhich Jas not bl#e b#t $ray( belloJed li"e a bison( and h#rled itself on the land as tho#$h it Janted to devo#r itC at the tho#$ht that it never rested( never had rested since the be$innin$ of the Jorld( my co#ra$e failed me% @#t I still contin#ed doJn the road to the east( alon$ the beach( beca#se the sea fascinated me and I co#ld not tear myself aJay from it% I fo#nd another city( and I sto**ed there( also beca#se my $old Jas be$innin$ to come to an end% They Jere fishermen and stran$e fol"( Jho came by shi* from vario#s( very distant co#ntriesC they bo#$ht and sold3 at ni$ht they fo#$ht over the Jomen and "nifed each other in the alleyJays% Then I too bo#$ht a heavy "nife made of bronBe in a leather sheath( to carry tied to my Jaist #nder my clothes% They "neJ $loss b#t not mirrors3 that is( they only had small mirrors of *olished bronBe( chea* thin$s( the "ind that $et scratched immediately and distort the colors% If yo# have lead it is not diffic#lt to ma"e a $lass mirror( b#t I made a f#ss abo#t *artin$ Jith the secret( I told them that it is an art Jhich only Je Fodm#nds "noJ( that a $oddess named Qri$$a ta#$ht it to #s( and other foolishness Jhich they sJalloJed hoo"( line( and sin"er% I needed moneyC I loo"ed aro#nd me( fo#nd near the *ort a $laBier Jho seemed rather intelli$ent( and made a deal Jith him%

Qrom him I learned several thin$sKfirst of all( that $lass can be bloJnC I li"ed that system a $reat deal( and I even had him teach it to me( and one day or another I Jill also try to bloJ lead or melted bronBe &b#t they are too liA#id( I do#bt Jhether I>ll s#cceed,% I( hoJever( ta#$ht him that on a still:hot *ane of $lass yo# can *o#r melted lead and obtain mirrors not so lar$e b#t l#mino#s( Jitho#t flaJs( Jhich last for many years% 2e in fact Jas rather ade*tC he had a secret for ma"in$ colored $lass and fashioned varie$ated $lass *anes that Jere bea#tif#l to loo" at% I Jas f#ll of enth#siasm for the collaboration and invented a *rocess of ma"in$ mirrors also Jith the ro#nded ca*s of bloJn $lass( *o#rin$ the lead into it or s*readin$ it on the o#tsideC if yo# loo"ed into them yo# see yo#rself either very lar$e or very small( or even all croo"edC these mirrors are not li"ed by Jomen( b#t all children insist on $ettin$ them% Thro#$h the s#mmer and fall Je sold mirrors to the merchants( Jho *aid Jell for them3 b#t meanJhile I Jas tal"in$ Jith them and tried to $ather as m#ch information as I co#ld on a re$ion Jhich many of them "neJ% It Jas asto#ndin$ to see hoJ those *eo*le( Jho act#ally s*ent half their lives on the sea( had s#ch conf#sed notions abo#t the cardinal *oints and distances3 b#t( in short( on one *oint they Jere all a$reedC that is( that by sailin$ so#th( some said a tho#sand miles( others said ten times farther than that( yo# came to a land Jhich the s#n had b#rnt to d#st( rich in #n#s#al trees and animals( and inhabited by ferocio#s men Jith blac" s"in% @#t many stated as a certainty that halfJay alon$ yo# enco#ntered a lar$e island called Icn#sa( Jhich Jas the island of metalsC they told the stran$est stories abo#t this island( Jhich Jas inhabited by $iants( Jhereas the horses( oLen( even rabbits and chic"ens Jere tiny3 that the Jomen $ave orders and fo#$ht the Jars( Jhile the men Jatched over the livestoc" and s*#n the Jool3 that these

$iants Jere devo#rers of men( es*ecially forei$ners3 that it Jas a land of #tter Jhoredom( Jhere the h#sbands eLchan$ed Jives and even the animals co#*led ha*haBardly( Jolves Jith cats( bears Jith coJs3 that the Jomen>s *eriod of *re$nancy lasted only three days( then the Jomen $ave birth and immediately told the infantC )Ret movin$( brin$ me the scissors and t#rn on the li$ht( so I can c#t yo#r #mbilical cord%1 Still others said that alon$ its coasts there are fortresses b#ilt of roc"( bi$ as mo#ntains3 that everythin$ on that island is made of roc"Kthe *oints of the s*ears( the Jheels of the Ja$ons( even the Jomen>s combs and seJin$ needlesC also the *ots to coo" Jith( and that they act#ally have stones Jhich b#rn and they set them ali$ht #nder these *ots3 that alon$ their roads( to $#ard the crossroads( there are *etrified monsters fri$htenin$ to loo" at% I listened to all these thin$s Jith a $rave face( b#t Jithin myself I Jas la#$hin$ lo#d eno#$h to b#rst( beca#se by noJ I have roamed the Jorld eno#$h and "noJ that all is '#st li"e yo#r hometoJnC for the rest( I too( Jhen I $et bac" and tell stories abo#t the co#ntries I>ve been in( am#se myself by inventin$ Jeird tales3 indeed( here they tell fantastic stories abo#t my co#ntryKfor eLam*le( that o#r b#ffalo do not have "nees and all yo# have to do to sla#$hter them is saJ thro#$h the trees a$ainst Jhich they lean at ni$ht to restC their Jei$ht brea"s the tree3 they fall doJn and cannot $et #* a$ain% 9s to metals( hoJever( they Jere all in a$reementC many merchants and sea ca*tains had bro#$ht loads of raJ or finished metal from the island to land( b#t they Jere cr#de fol" and from their acco#nts it Jas hard to #nderstand Jhat metal they Jere referrin$ to3 also beca#se not all s*o"e the same lan$#a$e and no one s*o"e mine( and there Jas a $reat conf#sion of terms% They said( for eLam*le( )"alibe1 and there Jas absol#tely no Jay to fi$#re o#t Jhether they meant iron( silver( or bronBe% <thers called

)sider1 either iron or ice( and they Jere so i$norant as to insist that the ice in the mo#ntains( Jith the *assin$ of the cent#ries and beneath the Jei$ht of the roc"( hardens and first becomes roc" crystal and later iron:bearin$ roc"% To *#t it bl#ntly( I Jas fed #* Jith these female occ#*ations and Janted to $o and see this Icn#sa% I handed over to the $laBier my share in the b#siness( and Jith that money( *l#s the money I had made from the mirrors( I $ot *assa$e on board a car$o shi*3 b#t yo# don>t leave in the Jinter( there is the north Jind( or the Jest Jind( or the so#th Jind( or the so#thJest JindKin brief( it a**ears that no Jind is $ood( and that #ntil 9*ril the best thin$ is to stay on land( $et dr#n"( bet yo#r shirt on the dice $ames( and $et some $irl in the *ort *re$nant% Me left in 9*ril% The shi* Jas loaded Jith '#$s of Jine3 besides the oJner there Jas the creJ chief( fo#r sailors( and tJenty roJers chained to their benches% The creJ chief came from Iriti and Jas a bi$ liarC he told stories abo#t a co#ntry Jhere there lived men called @i$ Sars( Jho have ears so h#$e that they Jra* themselves in them to slee* in the Jinter( and abo#t animals called 9lfil Jith tails in the front Jho #nderstand the lan$#a$e of men% I m#st confess that I had tro#ble acc#stomin$ myself to life aboard shi*C it dances #nder yo#r feet( leans a bit to the ri$ht and a bit to the left( it is hard to eat and slee*( and yo# ste* on each other>s feet d#e to the lac" of s*ace3 besides( the chained roJers stare at yo# Jith s#ch ferocio#s eyes as to ma"e yo# thin" that( if they Jeren>t in fact chained( they Jo#ld tear yo# to *ieces in a flashC and the oJner told me that sometimes it ha**ens% <n the other hand( Jhen the Jind is favorable( the sail billoJs o#t( the roJers lift their oars( and yo# thin" yo# are flyin$ in an enchanted silence3 yo# see dol*hins lea* o#t of the Jater( and the sailors claim that they can discover( from the eL*ression on their sno#ts

the Jeather Je Jill have the neLt day% That shi* Jas Jell *lastered Jith *itch and yet the entire "eel Jas riddled Jith holes3 they Jere shi* Jorms( they eL*lained% In *ort( too( I had seen that all the moored shi*s Jere Jorm:eatenC there Jas nothin$ to be done( said the oJner( Jho Jas also the ca*tain% Mhen the shi* is old( it>s bro"en #* and b#rnt3 b#t I had an idea( and the same for the anchor% It>s st#*id to ma"e it o#t of iron3 the r#st devo#rs it( and it doesn>t last tJo years% 9nd fishin$ netsN Those sailors( Jhen the Jind is $ood( dro**ed a net that had Jooden floats and roc"s as ballast% Foc"s? If they had been lead they co#ld have been fo#r times less c#mbersome% <f co#rse I did not say a Jord to anyone( b#tKas yo# too Jill #nderstandKI Jas already thin"in$ of the lead I Jo#ld di$ o#t of Icn#sa>s entrails( and I Jas sellin$ the bears"in before I had shot the bear% Me came in si$ht of the island after eleven days at sea% Me entered a small harbor by roJin$3 aro#nd #s there Jere $ranite cliffs and slaves Jho Jere carvin$ col#mns% They Jere not $iants and they did not slee* in their oJn ears3 they Jere made li"e #s and comm#nicated Jell eno#$h Jith the sailors( b#t their $#ards did not let them s*ea"% This Jas a land of roc"s and Jind( Jhich I li"ed on si$htC the air Jas f#ll of the smell of herbs( bitter and Jild( and the *eo*le seemed stron$ and sim*le% The land of metals Jas tJo days> Jal" aJayC I hired a don"ey Jith a driver( and this is act#ally tr#e( they are small don"eys &tho#$h not li"e cats( as they say on the mainland, b#t rob#st and to#$h3 in short( in all r#mors there may be some tr#th( *erha*s a tr#th hidden beneath veils of Jords( li"e a riddle% Qor eLam*le( I saJ that the story of the roc" fortresses Jas A#ite correct3 they are not as bi$ as mo#ntains( b#t solid( re$#lar in sha*e( Jith heJn stones fitted to$ether Jith *recision% 9nd Jhat is c#rio#s is that everyone says that )they have alJays been there(1 and nobody

"noJs by Jhom( hoJ( Jhy( and Jhen they Jere b#ilt% That the islanders devo#r forei$ners( hoJever( is a $reat lie% Roin$ in sta$es they led me to the mine Jitho#t ma"in$ any diffic#lties or ind#l$in$ in mysteries( as if their land belon$ed to everyone% The land of metals is eno#$h to ma"e yo# dr#n"( as ha**ens Jhen a ho#nd enters a Jood f#ll of $ame and '#m*s from scent to scent( shiverin$ all over and $oin$ half craBy% It is near the sea( a line of hills Jhich on hi$h become roc"y cra$s( and near and far( all the Jay to the horiBon( one sees *l#mes of smo"e from the fo#ndries( s#rro#nded by *eo*le Jor"in$( free and slavesC and the story of the stone that b#rns is also tr#e3 I co#ld scarcely believe my eyes% It doesn>t catch fire easily( b#t then it *rod#ces a $reat deal of heat and lasts for a lon$ time% They bro#$ht it there from Rod "noJs Jhere( in bas"ets on don"eys> bac"sKit is blac"( $reasy( fra$ile( and not very heavy% So( as I Jas sayin$( there are marvelo#s stones( certainly heavy Jith metals never seen( Jhich s#rface in Jhite( violet( and bl#e strea"sC beneath that land there m#st be a fab#lo#s tracery o* veins% I Jo#ld Jillin$ly have lost myself in it( ta**in$( di$$in$( and testin$3 b#t I am a Iodm#nd( and my roc" is lead% I immediately set to Jor"% I fo#nd a de*osit on the co#ntry>s Jestern border( Jhere I believe nobody had ever searchedC in fact( there Jere no *its( nor t#nnels( nor hea*s of r#bble( and there Jeren>t even any si$ns on the s#rface3 the roc"s on the s#rface Jere li"e all the other roc"s% @#t '#st beloJ( the lead Jas thereC and this is a thin$ of Jhich I had often tho#$ht( that Je *ros*ectors believe Je find the metal Jith o#r eyes( eL*erience( and s"ill( b#t in reality Jhat $#ides is somethin$ more *rofo#nd( a force li"e that Jhich $#ides the salmon to $o bac" #* o#r rivers( or the sJalloJs to ret#rn to the nest% Perha*s it ha**ens Jith #s as Jith the Jater diviners( Jho

do not "noJ Jhat $#ides them to the Jater( b#t somethin$ does $#ide them and tJists the Jand in their hands% I can>t say hoJ( b#t ri$ht there Jas the leadC I felt it #nder my feet( t#rbid( *oisono#s( and heavy( stretchin$ for tJo miles alon$ a broo" in a Jood Jhere Jild bees nest in the li$htnin$:str#c" tree tr#n"s% In a short time I had bo#$ht slaves Jho d#$ for me( and as soon as I had laid aside a bit of money I also bo#$ht myself a Joman% 0ot '#st to have a $ood timeC I chose her caref#lly( not loo"in$ so m#ch for bea#ty b#t rather that she be healthy( Jide in the hi*s( yo#n$( and merry% I chose her li"e that( so that she $ives me a Fodm#nd( and o#r art does not *erish3 and I haven>t been behindhand( beca#se my hands and "nees have be$#n to sha"e( and my teeth are loose in my $#ms and have t#rned bl#e li"e those of my ancestor Jho came from the sea% This Fodm#nd Jill be born at the end of the comin$ Jinter( in this land Jhere *alms $roJ( salt condenses( and at ni$ht yo# can hear the Jild do$s bayin$ on the trac" of a bear% In this villa$e I have fo#nded near the broo" of the Jild bees( and to Jhich I Jo#ld have li"ed to $ive a name in my lan$#a$e( Jhich I am for$ettin$( @a" der @innen( meanin$ @roo" of the @ees1C b#t the *eo*le here have acce*ted the name only in *art( and amon$ themselves( in their lan$#a$e( Jhich by noJ is mine( they call it @ac# 9bis%

$ERC#RY
Mith my Jife( Da$$ie( I the #ndersi$ned .or*oral 9brahams have lived on this island for fo#rteen years% I had been sent here as $arrisonC it seems that on a nearby island &I mean to say )the nearest1C it is northeast from this one( not less than (200 miles( and is called St% 2elena, Jas eLiled an im*ortant and dan$ero#s *erson( and it Jas feared that his s#**orters mi$ht hel* him to esca*e and ta"e shelter doJn here% This is a story Jhich I have never believedC my island is called -esolation( and never Jas an island>s name better chosen3 so I co#ld never #nderstand Jhat s#ch an im*ortant *erson Jo#ld come loo"in$ for here% The r#mor Jent aro#nd that he Jas a rene$ade( an ad#lterer(

a Pa*ist( rabble:ro#ser( and bra$$art% 9s lon$ as he Jas alive( there Jere Jith #s another tJelve soldiers( yo#n$( merry felloJs( from Males and S#rrey3 they Jere also $ood farmers and $ave #s a hand in the Jor"% Then the rabble:ro#ser died( and after that a $#nboat came to ta"e #s all homeC b#t Da$$ie and I remembered certain old debts and *referred to remain here to Jatch over o#r *i$s% <#r island has the sha*e yo# can see beloJ%

It is the loneliest island in the Jorld% It Jas discovered more than once( by the Port#$#ese( the -#tch( and even before that by sava$es Jho carved si$ns and idols in the roc"s of Do#nt SnoJdon3 b#t nobody has ever stayed on( beca#se it rains here half the year and the soil is $ood only for sor$h#m and *otatoes% 0evertheless( those Jho are not choosy certainly Jon>t die of h#n$er( beca#se the northern coast for five months of the year sJarms Jith seals( and the tJo small islands to the so#th are f#ll of sea$#lls> nestsC all yo# have to do is $et a boat and yo# can find as many e$$s as yo# Jant% They taste of fish( b#t they are no#rishin$ and "ill yo#r

h#n$er3 everythin$ here tastes of fish( even the *otatoes and the *i$s Jho eat them% <n the slo*es east of SnoJdon $roJ holm oa"s and other trees Jhose names I do not "noJC in the a#t#mn they bloom Jith li$ht bl#e( fleshy floJers that smell li"e #nJashed *eo*le3 in the Jinter( hard( so#r berries( not $ood to eat% They are stran$e treesC they s#c" #* Jater from the dee* earth and throJ it #* in rain from the to*s of their branches3 even on dry days( the land beneath this forest is h#mid% The Jater that *o#rs doJn from the branches is $ood to drin"( and indeed has a soothin$ effect on inflammations( altho#$h it tastes of mossC Je $ather it Jith a system of $#tters and basins% This forest( Jhich( in fact( is the only one on the island( Je called the Mee*in$ Qorest% Me live at 9berdare% It is not a toJnKthere are only fo#r Jooden h#ts( tJo of Jhich are caved in3 b#t one of the Melshmen insisted on callin$ it that( since he himself came from 9berdare% -#c"bill is the island>s northernmost *ointC the soldier .ochrane( Jho s#ffered from homesic"ness( Jent there often and s*ent Jhole days amid the salty mist and Jind beca#se it seemed to him that he Jas closer to Sn$land% &2e also b#ilt a beacon there( Jhich nobody ever bothered to li$ht%, It is called -#c"bill beca#se( Jhen seen from the east( it really has the sha*e of a d#c">s bill% Seal Island is flat and sandy3 the seals $o there in the Jinter to have their *#*s% 2olyJell .ave Jas $iven that name by my Jife( and I don>t "noJ Jhat she saJ in it% 9t certain *eriods( Jhen Je Jere alone( she Jent there almost every ni$ht( Jith a torch( even tho#$h it Jas almost tJo miles from 9berdare% She Jo#ld sit there to s*in or "nit( Jaitin$ for Rod "noJs Jhat% I as"ed her abo#t it more than onceC she told me some conf#sed thin$s( that she heard voices and saJ shadoJs( and that doJn there( Jhere not even the th#nder of the sea reached( she felt less alone and more *rotected%

I( hoJever( feared that Da$$ie Jas leanin$ toJard idolatry% In that cave there Jere bo#lders that loo"ed li"e fi$#res of men and animals3 one bo#lder( ri$ht in the bac"( Jas a horned s"#ll% .ertainly these sha*es Jere not made by h#man handsC and so Jho did themN I( on my acco#nt( *referred to $ive them a Jide berth3 also beca#se in the cave one sometimes heard stifled r#mbles( li"e attac"s of colic in the earth>s entrails( the floor Jas hot #nder yo#r feet( and from certain fiss#res in the bac" came 'ets of steam Jith a s#lf#ro#s smell% In short( I Jo#ld have $iven an entirely different name to that caveC b#t Da$$ie said that the voice she claimed to hear Jo#ld one day *rono#nce o#r fate( and the island>s and all h#manity>s% Da$$ie and I remained alone for several years3 each year( at Saster( @#rton>s Jhaler Jo#ld *ass by brin$in$ neJs of the Jorld and *rovisions and ta"e on the small amo#nt of smo"ed *or" that Je had *rod#ced3 b#t then everythin$ chan$ed% Three years a$o @#rton set ashore here tJo -#tchmenC Millem Jas still nearly a child( shy( blond( and *in":s"inned3 on his forehead he had a silvery sore Jhich loo"ed li"e le*rosy and no shi* Janted him aboard% 2endri" Jas older3 he Jas thin and had $ray hair and a Jrin"led broJC he told a not very clear story of a braJl in Jhich he s#**osedly bashed in his A#artermaster>s head( and the $alloJs Jas Jaitin$ for him in 2olland3 b#t he did not s*ea" li"e a sailor and had $entleman>s hands( not the hands of someone Jho bashes in heads% <ne mornin$ a feJ months later Je saJ smo"e rise from one of the S$$ Islands% I too" the boat and Jent over to loo"% I fo#nd tJo shi*Jrec"ed Italians( Raetano of 9malfi and 9ndrea of 0oli% Their shi* had s*lit on the PloJshare roc"s( and they had sJ#m to safety3 they did not "noJ that the lar$e island Jas inhabited3 they had lit afire of br#shJood and $#ano to dry o f f% I

told them that in a feJ months @#rton Jo#ld *ass by a$ain and he co#ld land them in S#ro*e( b#t they ref#sed Jith terror% 9fter Jhat they had seen that ni$ht( never a$ain Jo#ld they set foot on a shi*3 and it too" a $reat deal of *ers#adin$ on my *art to convince them to come on my small boat and cross the h#ndred yards of sea that se*arated #s from -esolation% 9s far as they Jere concerned( they Jo#ld have stayed on that miserable roc" eatin$ sea$#lls> e$$s #ntil their nat#ral death% 0ot that -esolation lac"s for s*ace% I *#t #* the fo#r men in one of the h#ts abandoned by the Melshmen3 they had A#ite eno#$h room( also beca#se their l#$$a$e Jas modest% <nly 2endri" had a Jooden tr#n"( closed Jith a loc"% Millem>s sore Jas not le*rosy at all3 Da$$ie c#red it in a feJ Jee"s Jith com*resses of an herb she "noJsKit is not act#ally Jatercress( it>s a s#cc#lent herb Jhich $roJs at the borders of the forest and is $ood to eat( even if then it $ives yo# stran$e dreamsC b#t Je call it Jatercress% To tell the tr#th( she did not only treat him Jith com*ressesC she sh#t herself #* Jith him in the bedroom and san$ him chants li"e l#llabies( Jith *a#ses that seemed to me too lon$% I Jas $lad and less Jorried Jhen Millem Jas c#red( b#t immediately after be$an another annoyin$ b#siness Jith 2endri"% 2e and Da$$ie too" lon$ Jal"s to$ether( and I heard them tal" abo#t the seven "eys( 2ermes Trisme$ist#s( the #nion of contraries( and other rather obsc#re matters% 2endri" b#ilt himself a st#rdy h#t Jitho#t JindoJs( *#t his tr#n" in it( and s*ent Jhole days there( sometimes Jith Da$$ieC yo# co#ld see smo"e risin$ o#t of the chimney% They Jo#ld also $o to the cave and ret#rn Jith colored stones( Jhich 2endri" called )cinnabars%1 The tJo Italians Jorried me less% They too loo"ed at Da$$ie Jith shinin$ eyes( b#t they did not "noJ Sn$lish and co#ld not tal" Jith her% Mhat>s more( they Jere 'ealo#s of each other and

s*ent their days "ee*in$ an eye on each other% 9ndrea Jas very devo#t( and in a short time had filled the island Jith saints made of Jood and ba"ed clayC he had $iven a terracotta Dadonna as a $ift to Da$$ie( Jho( hoJever( did not "noJ Jhat to do Jith it and *#t it in a corner of the "itchen% In short( it Jo#ld have been clear to anyone that these fo#r men needed fo#r Jomen% <ne day I bro#$ht them all to$ether and Jitho#t beatin$ aro#nd the b#sh told them that if one of them to#ched Da$$ie he Jo#ld end #* in 2ell( beca#se one sho#ld not l#st after another man>s JomanC b#t I Jo#ld send him there myself( at the cost of endin$ #* there too% Mhen @#rton came by a$ain( Jith his hold brimmin$ Jith Jhale oil( all of #s in a$reement solemnly commissioned him Jith the tas" of findin$ fo#r Jives( b#t he la#$hed in o#r faces% Mhat did Je thin"N That it Jas easy to find Jomen ready to settle doJn amon$ the seals( on this for$otten island( to marry fo#r $ood:for: nothin$sN Perha*s if Je *aid them( b#t Jith JhatN .ertainly not Jith o#r sa#sa$es( half *i$ and half seal( Jhich stan" of fish more than his Jhaler% 2e left and immediately after hoisted his sails% That very evenin$( '#st before ni$htfall( Je heard a $reat r#mble of th#nder( as tho#$h the island itself Jas bein$ sha"en to its roots% In a feJ min#tes the s"y dar"ened and the blac" clo#d that covered it Jas lit from beloJ as by afire% Qrom the to* of Do#nt SnoJdon Je saJ first ra*id red flashes lea* o#t and climb #* into the s"y( then a broad( sloJ stream of b#rnin$ lavaC it did not descend toJard #s b#t to the left( the so#th( *o#rin$ from rid$e to rid$e( hissin$ and crac"lin$% 9fter an ho#r it reached the sea and there it Jas do#sed Jith a roar( liftin$ #* a col#mn of va*or% 0one of #s had ever tho#$ht that Do#nt SnoJdon co#ld be a volcano3 and yet the sha*e of its s#mmit( Jith a ro#nd holloJ at least tJo h#ndred feet dee*( co#ld have made #s s#s*ect this% The s*ectacle contin#ed all thro#$h the ni$ht( calmin$ doJn

every so often( then *ic"in$ #* a$ain Jith a neJ series of eL*losions3

it seemed that it Jo#ld never end% Pet( toJard daJn( a hot Jind

bleJ from the east( the s"y cleared off a$ain( and the #*roar $rad#ally died doJn #ntil it Jas red#ced to a m#rm#r( then silence% The mantle of lava( Jhich had been yelloJ and daBBlin$( t#rned reddish li"e smolderin$ coals( and by dayli$ht it Jas eLtin$#ished%
Dy *reocc#*ation Jas the *i$s% I told Da$$ie that she sho#ld $o

to slee*( and as"ed the fo#r men to come Jith me3 I Janted to see Jhat had chan$ed on the island%
0othin$ had ha**ened to the *i$s( b#t they ran to meet #s li"e brothers &I can>t stand *eo*le Jho s*ea" badly of *i$sC they arc animals Jho are A#ite conscio#s( and it *ains me Jhen I have to sla#$hter them,% <n the northeastern slo*e several crac"s had o*ened( tJo lar$e ones Jhose bottoms cannot be seen% The so#th: Jestern ed$e of the Mee*in$ Qorest Jas b#ried( and the stri* alon$side for a breadth of tJo h#ndred feet Jas dried o#t and had ca#$ht fire3 the earth m#st have been hotter than the s"y( beca#se the fire folloJed the tr#n"s all the Jay to the roots( scoo*in$ o#t *assa$es Jhere they had been% The mantle of lava Jas all dotted I Jith b#rst b#bbles Jith ed$es as shar* as s*linters of $lass( and it i loo"ed li"e a $i$antic cheese $raterC it iss#ed from the so#thern li* of the crater( Jhich had colla*sed( Jhile the northern li*( Jhich formed the to* of the mo#ntain( Jas noJ a ro#nded crest that seemed m#ch hi$her than before% Mhen Je loo"ed into the 2olyJell .ave Je Jere *etrified Jith

astonishment% It Jas another cave( com*letely different( as Jhen

one sh#ffles a dec" of cardsKnarroJ Jhere before it had been broad(

hi$h Jhere it had been loJC at one *oint the ceilin$ had colla*sed
and the stalactites instead of *ointin$ doJn noJ *ointed

sideJays( li"e stor"s> bea"s% 9t the rear( Jhere before there had been the -evil>s S"#ll( there Jas noJ an enormo#s chamber( li"e the dome of a ch#rch( still f#ll of smo"e and crac"lin$ so#nds( so m#ch so that 9ndrea and Raetano Janted at all costs to t#rn bac"% I sent them to call Da$$ie so that she too Jo#ld come and see her cave( and( as I eL*ected( Da$$ie arrived $as*in$ from the r#n and emotion( and the tJo Italians stayed o#tside( *res#mably to *ray to their saints and to say their litanies% Inside the cave Da$$ie ran bac" and forth li"e a h#ntin$ do$( as if those voices she said she heard Jere callin$ to her3 s#ddenly she let o#t a scream Jhich made all o#r hairs stand on end% There Jas in the s"y of the c#*ola a crac"( and dro*s Jere fallin$ from it( b#t not of JaterC shiny( heavy dro*s( Jhich *l#n"ed on the roc" floor and b#rst into a tho#sand s*atterin$ dro*s that rolled far aJay% 9 little loJer doJn a *ool had formed( and then Je #nderstood that it Jas merc#ryC 2endri" to#ched it( and I did tooC it Jas a cold( lively material( Jhich moved in small( irritated( and frenetic Javes% 2endri" seemed transfi$#red% 2e eLchan$ed sJift $lances Jith Da$$ie Jhose si$nificance I co#ld not catch( and he said some obsc#re( miLed:#* thin$s to #s( Jhich( hoJever( she seemed to #nderstandC that it Jas time to initiate the Rreat Mor"3 that( li"e the s"y( the earth too has its deJ3 that the cave Jas f#ll of the s*irit#s m#ndi% Then he t#rned o*enly to Da$$ie and said to herC ).ome here this evenin$3 Je Jill ma"e the beast Jith tJo bac"s%1 2e too" from his nec" a chain Jith a bronBe cross and shoJed it to #sC on the cross a sna"e Jas cr#cified( and he threJ the cross on the merc#ry in the *ool( and the cross floated% If yo# loo"ed aro#nd( merc#ry Jas ooBin$ from all the crac"s of the neJ cave( li"e beer from neJ vats% If yo# listened yo# heard a sonoro#s m#rm#r( *rod#ced by tho#sands of metallic dro*lets

Jhich fell from the cave>s va#lt and s*lattered on the $ro#nd( and by the so#nd of the tric"les vibratin$( li"e melted silver( before sin"in$ in the crevices in the roc" floor% To tell the tr#th( I had never li"ed 2endri"Kof the fo#r men( he Jas the one I li"ed the least3 b#t at that moment he filled me Jith fear( ra$e( and rev#lsion% 2e had a croo"ed( fleetin$ li$ht in his eyes( li"e that of merc#ry3 it seemed that he had t#rned into merc#ry( that it Jas r#nnin$ in his veins and shone thro#$h his eyes% 2e sc#rried abo#t the cave li"e a ferret( dra$$in$ Da$$ie by the Jrist( *l#n$in$ his hands into the *ools of merc#ry( s*rayin$ it over himself and *o#rin$ it on his head( as a thirsty man Jo#ld do Jith JaterC one ste* more and he mi$ht have dr#n" it% Da$$ie folloJed him( s*ellbo#nd% I stood it for a Jhile( then I fli**ed o*en my "nife( $rabbed him by the chest( and *#shed him a$ainst the roc" JallC I am m#ch stron$er than he is( and he Jent slac" li"e a sail Jhen the Jind dro*s% I Janted to "noJ Jho he Jas( Jhat he Janted of #s and the island( and Jhat abo#t that b#siness of the beast Jith tJo bac"s% 2e loo"ed li"e a man Jho has aJa"ened from a dream( and he s*o"e o#t ri$ht aJay% 2e confessed that the story of the m#rdered A#artermaster Jas a lie( b#t not that of the $alloJs that aJaited him in 2ollandC he had *ro*osed to the States Reneral to trans: form the sand of the d#nes into $old( had obtained a f#nd of one h#ndred tho#sand florins( and had s*ent a feJ of them in eL*eri: ments and the rest in rioto#s livin$( then he had been as"ed to eLec#te before the '#d$es Jhat he called the e0peri"entu" crurisM b#t from a tho#sand *o#nds of sand he had s#cceeded in obtainin$ only tJo fla"es of $old( so he had '#m*ed from the JindoJ( had hidden in his $irlfriend>s ho#se( and then had embar"ed secretly on the first shi* leavin$ for the .a*e% 2e had in his tr#n" his alchemist>s *ara*hernalia% 9s for the beast( he said it

Jas not somethin$ that co#ld be eL*lained in a feJ Jords% Der: c#ry( for their Jor"( Jo#ld be indis*ensable( beca#se it is a fiLed volatile s*irit( that is( the female *rinci*le( and combined Jith s#lf#r( Jhich is hot male earth( *ermits yo# to obtain the *hiloso*hic S$$( Jhich is *recisely the @east Jith TJo @ac"s( for in it are #nited and commin$led male and female% T#ite a tale this Jas( clear( strai$ht tal"( tr#ly that of an alchemist( of Jhich I didn>t believe a Jord% The tJo of them( he and Da$$ie( Jere the beast Jith tJo bac"sC he $ray and hairy( she Jhite and smooth( inside the cave or Rod "noJs Jhere( or *erha*s in o#r very oJn bed Jhile I Jas ta"in$ care of the *i$s3 they Jere *re*arin$ to do it( dr#n" Jith the merc#ry as they Jere( if they hadn>t done it already% Perha*s the merc#ry Jas already co#rsin$ thro#$h my veins too( for at that moment I Jas really seein$ red% 9fter tJenty years of marria$e( Da$$ie didn>t mean all that m#ch to me( b#t at that moment I Jas b#rnin$ Jith desire for her and Jo#ld have m#r: dered for her% @#t I mana$ed to control myself3 indeed( I Jas still holdin$ 2endri" ti$htly *ressed a$ainst the Jall Jhen I $ot an idea( and I as"ed him hoJ m#ch merc#ry Jas JorthC he( Jith his craft( o#$ht to "noJ that% )TJelve Sn$lish $#ineas a *o#nd(1 he re*lied in a Jhis*er% )SJear?1 )I sJear(1 he re*lied( liftin$ #* his tJo th#mbs and s*ittin$ on the $ro#nd betJeen them3 *erha*s it Jas their Jay of sJearin$( these transm#ters of metalsC b#t he had my "nife so close to his throat that certainly he Jas tellin$ the tr#th% I let him $o( and he( still com*letely terrified( eL*lained to me that raJ merc#ry li"e o#rs is not Jorth m#ch( b#t that it can be *#rified by distillin$ it( li"e Jhis"ey( in cast:iron or terracotta retorts3 then the retort is bro"en and in the resid#e yo# find lead( often silver( and some:

times $old3 that this Jas their secret3 b#t he Jo#ld do it for me if I *romised to s*are his life% I *romised absol#tely nothin$ and instead told him that Jith the merc#ry I Janted to *ay for the fo#r Jives% Da"in$ clay retorts and 'ars m#st s#rely be easier than chan$in$ the sand of 2olland into $oldC so $et crac"in$( since Saster Jas a**roachin$ and so also @#rton>s visit% I Janted to have ready for Saster forty *int 'ars of *#rified merc#ry( all the same( each Jith a fine cover( smooth and ro#nd( since the eye Jants its share too% 2e sho#ld $et hel* also from the other three( and I too Jo#ld $ive him a hand% 2e needn>t Jorry abo#t the ba"in$ of retorts and 'arsC there already Jas the f#rnace in Jhich 9ndrea ba"ed his saints% I learned hoJ to distill immediately( and in ten days the 'ars Jere readyC they Jere for a sin$le *int( b#t each *int of merc#ry Jei$hed seventeen ab#ndant *o#nds( so heavy that it Jas hard to lift one Jith yo#r o#tstretched arms( and Jhen yo# shoo" one it seemed that inside Jrithed a livin$ animal% 9s for findin$ the cr#de merc#ry( that Jas a cinchC in the cave yo# JalloJed in merc#ry( it dri**ed on yo#r head and sho#lders( and Jhen yo# Jent home yo# fo#nd it in yo#r *oc"ets( yo#r boots( even in the bed( and it Jent a bit to everyone>s head( so m#ch so that it be$an to seem nat#ral to #s that Je sho#ld eLchan$e it for some Jomen( It is tr#ly a biBarre s#bstanceC it is cold and el#sive( alJays restless( b#t Jhen it is A#ite still yo# can see yo#rself in it better than in a mirror% If yo# stir it aro#nd in a boJl it contin#es to tJirl for almost half an ho#r% 0ot only does 2endri">s sacrile$io#s cr#cifiL float on it b#t also stones( even lead% 0ot $oldC Da$$ie tried it Jith her rin$( b#t it immediately san" to the bottom( and Jhen Je fished it #* a$ain it had t#rned into tin% In short( it is a material I do not li"e( and I Jas in a h#rry to close the deal and $et rid of it%

9t Saster( @#rton arrived( carried off the forty 'ars caref#lly sealed Jith JaL and clay( and left Jitho#t ma"in$ any *romises% <ne evenin$ toJard the end of a#t#mn Je saJ his sail loom #* in the rain( $roJ lar$er( and then disa**ear in the m#r"y air and dar"ness% Me tho#$ht he Jas Jaitin$ for the li$ht to enter the small anchora$e( as he #s#ally did( b#t in the mornin$ there Jas no trace of @#rton or his Jhalin$ shi*% There Jere instead( standin$ on the beach( drenched and stiff Jith the cold( fo#r Jomen *l#s tJo children( all cl#stered ti$htly to$ether in a hea* d#e to cold and shyness3 one of them silently delivered a letter from @#rton% 9 feJ linesKthat to find fo#r Jomen for fo#r #n"noJns on a desolate island( he had had to hand over all the merc#ry and nothin$ had been left for the bro"era$e3 that he Jo#ld claim it( in merc#ry and smo"ed *or"( to the t#ne of 0 *ercent on his neLt visit3 that they Jeren>t first:choice Jomen( b#t he had not fo#nd anythin$ better3 that he *referred to land them A#ic"ly and ret#rn to his Jhaler to avoid Jitnessin$ dis$#stin$ braJls and beca#se he Jas neither a $o: betJeen nor a *im*( nor even a *riest to officiate at a Jeddin$3 that nevertheless he advised us to *erform the Jeddin$s o#rselves( as best Je co#ld( for the health of o#r so#ls( Jhich at any rate he already considered someJhat ailin$% I called o#t the fo#r men and Janted to *ro*ose that Je draJ lots( b#t I immediately saJ that there Jas no need for that% There Jas a middle:a$ed m#latto( *l#m*ish( Jith a scar on her fore: head( Jho stared insistently at Millem( and Millem loo"ed at her Jith c#riosityC the Joman co#ld have been his mother% I said to MillemC )-o yo# Jant herN Ta"e her?1Khe too" her and I married them as best I co#ld3 that is( I as"ed her if she Janted him and him if he Janted her( b#t the little s*eech abo#t )for rich or *oor( in sic"ness or in health1 I co#ld not recall eLactly and so I invented it there and then( Jindin$ #* Jith )#ntil death overta"es

yo#(1 Jhich seemed to me to have a $ood so#nd% I Jas '#st finish: in$ #* Jith these tJo Jhen I saJ that Raetano had chosen a yo#n$( one:eyed $irl( or *erha*s she had chosen him( and they Jere r#nnin$ aJay to$ether in the rain( holdin$ hands( so m#ch so that I had to *#rs#e them and marry them from a distance as I too Jas r#nnin$% <f the tJo Jho remained( 9ndrea too" a blac" Joman abo#t thirty( *retty and even ele$ant( Jith a *l#med hat and a boa of ostrich feathers that Jas dri**in$ Jet( b#t Jith a rather eA#ivocal manner( and I married them too( altho#$h I Jas still $as*in$ for breath beca#se of the race I had '#st r#n% 2endri" Jas left and a small( thin $irl Jho Jas in fact the mother of the tJo children% She had $ray eyes and loo"ed aro#nd her as tho#$h the scene did not concern her b#t am#sed her% She Jas not loo"in$ at 2endri" b#t Jas loo"in$ at me3 2endri" Jas loo"in$ at Da$$ie( Jho had '#st come o#t of the h#t and had not ta"en o#t her c#rlers( and Da$$ie Jas loo"in$ at 2endri"% Then it *o**ed into my head that the tJo children co#ld hel* me ta"e care of the *i$s3 Da$$ie Jo#ld certainly not $ive me children3 that 2endri" and Da$$ie Jo#ld $et alon$ very Jell to$ether( ma"in$ the beast Jith tJo bac"s and their distillations3 and that the $irl Jith the $ray eyes did not dis*lease me( even if she Jas m#ch yo#n$er than I3 on the contrary( she made me feel $ay and li$ht: hearted( li"e a tic"le( and bro#$ht to mind the idea of catchin$ her on the Jin$ li"e a b#tterfly% So I as"ed her her name and then I as"ed myself in a lo#d voice( in the *resence of JitnessesC )-o yo# Jish( .or*oral -aniel I% 9brahams( to ta"e as Jife the here *resent Febecca OohnsonN1 and I ansJered myself yes( and since the $irl too Jas a$reed( Je $ot married%

P H O S P H O R # S

In Iune 1946 I spoke *rankly to the lieutenant and the director4 I realiFed that "y 'ork 'as beco"ing useless% and they too realiFed this and advised "e to look *or another Pob% in one o* the not too "any niches the la' still granted "e. I 'as *utilely looking 'hen one "orning% a very rare event% I 'as called to the "ineGs telephone4 *ro" the other end o* the line a :ilanese voice% 'hich see"ed to "e crude and energetic% and 'hich said that it belonged to a )r. :artini% su""oned "e to an appoint"ent on the *ollo'ing Sunday at the ,otel Suisse in /urin% 'ithout vouchsa*ing "e the lu0ury o* any details. But he had said B,otel SuisseC and not BAlbergo SviFFeraC as a loyal citiFen 'ould be obliged to say4 at that ti"e% 'hich 'as the ti"e

o* Starace%W one 'as very attentive to such piddling details% and oneGs ears 'ere e0pert at intercepting certain nuances. In the *oyer Doh% pardon "e% in the lobby% 'hich isnGt a Krench 'ordE o* the ,otel Suisse% an anachronistic oasis o* plush upholstery% velvets% shado's% and draperies% )r. :artini% 'ho 'as prevalently a commendatore( as I had learned Pust be*ore *ro" the door"an% 'as 'aiting *or "e. ,e 'as a thickset "an o* about si0ty% o* "ediu" height% tanned% al"ost bald4 his *ace had heavy *eatures% but his eyes 'ere s"all and astute% and his "outh% a tri*le t'isted to the le*t as in a gri"ace o* conte"pt% 'as thin as a cut. /his commendatore revealed hi"sel* *ro" his *irst re"arks to be also a no!nonsense% all!business typeM and I understood at that point that this strange haste o* BAryanC Italians in dealing 'ith Ie's 'as not accidental. Vhether intuition or calculation% it served a purpose4 'ith a Ie'% at a ti"e o* the )e*ense o* the +ace% one could be polite% one could even help hi"% and even boast DcautiouslyE about having helped hi"% but it 'as not advisable to have hu"an relations 'ith hi"% nor to co"pro"ise onesel* too deeply% so as not to be *orced later to o**er understanding or co"passion. /he commendatore asked only a *e' Huestions% responded evasively to "y "any Huestions% and proved to be a very do'n! to!earth person on t'o *unda"ental points4 the starting salary that he o**ered "e ca"e to a su" that I 'ould never have dared ask *or% and le*t "e du"b*oundedM his industry 'as S'iss% indeed he hi"sel* 'as a S'iss Dhe pronounced it B SvissCE % so *or "y possible hiring there 'as no di**iculty. I *ound strangeAin *act% *rankly co"icAhis S'iss!is" e0pressed in such a virulent :ilanese accentM I *ound% ho'ever% his "any reticences Huite Pusti*iable. /he *actory o* 'hich he 'as the o'ner and director 'as on the outskirts o* :ilan% and I 'ould have to "ove to :ilan. It
WA Starace 'as *or "any years secretary o* the Kascist &ational arty. ,e distinguished hi"sel* by the stupid Feal 'ith 'hich he strove to B p u r i*yC the custo"s o* the Italians% co"bating the use o* *oreign 'ords Din *act% such 'ords as Bh ot e l B or B*oyerCE .

produced hor"onal e0tracts4 I% ho'ever% 'ould have to deal 'ith a very precise proble"% that is% research into a ne' cure *or diabetes 'hich 'ould be e**ective i* taken orally. )id I kno' anything about diabetesY &ot "uch% I replied% but "y "aternal grand*ather had died o* diabetes% and also on "y paternal side several o* "y uncles% legendary devourers o* pasta% had sho'n sy"pto"s o* the disease in their old age. ,earing this% the commendatore beca"e "ore attentive and his eyes s"aller4 I realiFed later that% since the tendency to diabetes is hereditary% it 'ould not have displeased hi" to have at his disposal an authentic diabetic% o* a basically hu"an race% on 'ho" he could test certain o* his ideas and preparations. ,e told "e that the o**ered salary 'as subPect to rapid raisesM that the laboratory 'as "odern% 'ell eHuipped% and spaciousM that in the *actory there 'as a library 'ith "ore than ten thousand volu"esM and% *inally% like a "agician e0tracting a rabbit *ro" his tall silk hat% he added that% perhaps I did not kno' it Dand indeed I didnGtE% but already 'orking in his laboratory% and on the sa"e proble"% 'as a person I kne' 'ell% a class"ate o* "ine and a *riend% 'ho in *act had spoken o* "e4 .iulia @ineis. I should decide 'ith cal"4 I 'ould *ind hi" at the ,otel Suisse t'o Sundays *ro" today. /he very ne0t day I Huit the "ine and "oved to :ilan 'ith the *e' things I *elt 'ere indispensable4 "y bike% +abelais% the Dacaronaeae( Doby -ic" translated by avese% a *e' other books% "y picka0% cli"bing rope% logarith"ic ruler% and recorder. /he commendatore>s lab 'as not in*erior to his description o* it4 a palace in co"parison to the "ineGs lab. I *ound already set out *or "y arrival a 'orkbench% a ventilation hood% a desk% a closet *illed 'ith glass'are% and an inhu"an silence and orderliness. B: yC glass'are 'as countersigned 'ith a s"all dot in blue ena"el glaFe% so that it 'ould not be con*used 'ith glass'are *ro" other closets% and also because Bhere 'ith us breakages have to be paid *or.C /his% at any event% 'as only one o* the "any regulations that the commendatore had trans"itted to "e on the day o* "y arrival4 he passed the" o** to "e as e0a"ples o* B S'iss precision%C the soul o* the laboratory and

the entire *actory% but to "e they see"ed a collection o* 'itless i"pedi"ents bordering on persecution "ania. /he commendatore e0plained to "e that the *actoryGs 'ork% particularly the proble" he had entrusted to "e% had to be attentively protected *ro" possible industrial spies. /hese spies could be outsiders but also clerks and 'orkers in the *actory itsel*% despite all the precautions he used in hiring. /here*ore I "ust not talk 'ith anyone about the subPect that had been proposed to "e% nor o* its possible develop"ents4 not even 'ith "y colleagues% in *act 'ith the" even less than 'ith others. Kor this reason% every clerk had his particular schedule o* hours% 'hich coincided 'ith a single pair o* tra" runs co"ing *ro" the city4 9 had to co"e in at 8% @ at 8494% # at 8498% and so on% and the sa"e *or Huitting ti"es% in such a "anner that never 'ould t'o colleagues have the opportunity to travel in the sa"e tra"car. Kor people 'ho ca"e to 'ork late and *or those 'ho le*t be*ore Huitting ti"e there 'ere heavy *ines. /he last hour o* the day% even i* the 'orld ca"e to an end% "ust be dedicated to dis"antling% 'ashing% and putting a'ay the glass'are% so that no one entering outside the lab hours could reconstruct 'hat 'ork had been done during the day. Every evening a daily report "ust be co"piled and handed in in a sealed envelope to hi" personally or to Signora 3oredana% 'ho 'as his secretary. I could eat lunch 'here I 'ishedM it 'as not his intention to seHuester the clerks in the *actory during the "idday break. ,o'ever% he told "e Dand here his "outh t'isted "ore than usual and beca"e even thinnerE there 'ere no good cheap trattorie thereabouts% and his advice 'as to eHuip "ysel* *or lunching in the labM i* I brought the ra' "aterials *ro" ho"e% a 'orker there 'ould see to cooking it *or "e. As *or the library% the regulations that had to be *ollo'ed 'ere singularly severe. Books could not be taken out o* the *actory under any circu"stancesM they could be consulted only 'ith the consent o* the librarian% Signorina aglietta. $nderlining a 'ord% or Pust "aking a "ark 'ith pen or pencil% 'as a very

serious o**ense4 aglietta 'as e0pected to check every book% page by page% 'hen returned% and i* she *ound a "ark% the book had to be destroyed and replaced at the e0pense o* the culprit. It 'as *orbidden even to leave bet'een the sheets a book"ark% or turn do'n the corner o* a page4 Bso"eoneB could have dra'n clues *ro" this about the *actoryGs interests and activitiesAin short% violate its secret. Vithin this syste"% it is logical that keys 'ere *unda"ental4 in the evening% everything had to be locked up% even the analytical balance% and the keys then deposited 'ith the custodian. /he commendatore had a key that opened all the locks. /his viaticu" o* precepts and prohibitions 'ould have "ade "e per"anently unhappy i* on entering the lab I had not *ound .iulia @ineis% Huite cal"% seated beside her 'orkbench. She 'as not 'orkingAinstead she 'as darning her stockings% and see"ed to be 'aiting *or "e. She greeted "e 'ith a**ectionate *a"iliarity and a "eaning*ul gri"ace. Ve had been class"ates at the university *or *our years% and had attended together all the lab courses% 'hich are 'onder*ul "atch"akers% 'ithout ever beco"ing particular *riends. .iulia 'as a dark girl% "inute and HuickM she had eyebro's 'ith an elegant arc% a s"ooth% pointed *ace% a lively but precise 'ay o* "oving. She 'as "ore open to practice than to theory% *ull o* hu"an 'ar"th% #atholic 'ithout rigidity% generous and slap! dashM she spoke in a veiled% distracted voice% as i* she 'ere de*initely tired o* living% 'hich she 'as not at all. She had been there *or nearly a yearAyes % she 'as the person 'ho "entioned "y na"e to the commendatoreC she kne' vaguely about "y precarious situation at the "ine% thought that I 'ould be 'ell suited *or that research 'ork% and besides% 'hy not ad"it it% she 'as *ed up 'ith being alone. But I shouldnGt get any ideas4 she 'as engaged% very "uch engaged% a co"plicated and tu"ultuous business that she 'ould e0plain to "e later. And 'hat about "eY &oY &o girlsY /hatGs bad4 she 'ould try to help "e out there% *orget the racial la'sM a lot o* nonsense any'ay% 'hat i"portance could they haveY

She advised "e not to take the commendatore>s strange ideas too seriously. .iulia 'as one o* those people 'ho% apparently 'ithout asking Huestions or going to any trouble% i""ediately kne' everything about everybody% 'hich to "e% .od kno's 'hy% never happensM so she 'as *or "e a tourist guide and a *irst!class interpreter. In a single session she taught "e the essentials% the pulley!lines hidden behind the *actoryGs scenery and the roles o* the "ain characters. /he commendatore 'as the boss% although subPected to obscure other bosses in BaselM ho'ever% the person 'ho gave the orders 'as 3oredana Dand she pointed her out to "e *ro" the 'indo' on the courtyard4 tall% brunette% shapely% rather vulgar% a bit *adedE% 'ho 'as his secretary and "istress. /hey had a villa on the lake% and h eAB'ho 'as old but hornyCAtook her sailing. /here 'ere photos o* this in the "ain o**ice% hadnGt I seen the"Y Also Signor .rasso% in the ersonnel -**ice% 'as a*ter 3oredana% but *or the "o"ent she% .iulia% had not yet been able to ascertain 'hether heGd already been to bed 'ith her or not4 she 'ould keep "e posted. 3iving in that *actory 'as not di**icultM it 'as di**icult to 'ork there because o* all those entangle"ents. /he solution 'as si"pleAPust donGt 'ork4 she had realiFed this i""ediately% and in a year% "odesty aside% she had done hardly anythingAall that she did 'as set up the apparatus in the "orning% Pust enough to satis*y the eye% and dis"ount it in the evening in accordance 'ith regulations. /he daily report she created out o* her i"agination. Apart *ro" that% she prepared her trousseau% slept a great deal% 'rote torrential letters to her *iance% and% against regulations% started conversations 'ith everyone 'ho ca"e 'ithin earshot4 'ith A"brogio% hal* daFed% 'ho took care o* the rabbits *or the e0peri"entsM 'ith :ichela% 'ho 'atched over the keys and probably 'as a Kascist spyM 'ith @arisco% the 'o"an 'orker 'ho% according to the commendatore( 'as supposed to prepare "y lunchM 'ith :aiocchi% a *ighter on KrancoGs side in Spain% po"aded and a 'o"aniFerM and% i"partially% 'ith :oioli% pallid and gelatinous% 'ho had nine children% had been a

"e"ber o* the

eopleGs

arty% and 'hose back the Kascists had

broken 'ith their clubs. @arisco% she e0plained% 'as her creature4 she 'as attached and devoted and did everything she 'as ordered to do% including certain e0peditions into the depart"ent *or the production o* organo!therapeutics D*orbidden to those not 'orking thereE% *ro" 'hich she returned 'ith livers% brains% suprarenal capsules% and other rare innards. @arisco 'as also engaged% and bet'een the t'o o* the" there 'as pro*ound solidarity and an intense e0change o* inti"ate con*idences. Kro" @arisco% 'ho% since she 'as in charge o* cleaning% had access to all depart"ents% she had *ound out that production too 'as enveloped in closely "eshed anti!spy trappings4 all pipes *or 'ater% vapor% vacuu"% gas% naphtha% etc.% ran in underground passages or 'ere sheathed in ce"ent% and only the valves 'ere accessibleM the "achines 'ere covered 'ith co"plicated gear!cases and locked. /he dials o* the ther"o"eters and "ano"eters 'ere not graduatedM they bore only conventional colored "arks. -* course% i* I 'anted to 'ork and the research into diabetes interested "e% go right ahead and do it% 'e 'ould be *riends any'ayM but I shouldnGt count on her collaboration because she had other things to think about. I could% ho'ever% count on her and @arisco 'hen it ca"e to cooking. /hey% both o* the"% had to start training% in vie' o* their co"ing "arriages% and so they 'ould o**er "e so"e *eeds 'hich 'ould "ake "e *orget all about ration cards and rationing. It did not see" to "e rule!abiding that co"plicated *eats o* cuisine should take place in the lab% but .iulia told "e that in that laboratory% outside o* a certain "ysterious consultant *ro" Basel 'ho see"ed "u""i*ied% ca"e once a "onth Din any case% abundantly preannouncedE% looked around as though he 'ere in a "useu"% and le*t 'ithout breathing a 'ord% no living being ever entered% and you could do 'hatever you liked% so long as you le*t no traces behind. In the "e"ory o* "an% the commendatore had never set *oot there.

A *e' days a*ter I 'as hired% the commendatore su""oned "e to the "ain o**ice% and on that occasion I noticed that the photos o* the sailboatAactually very chasteA'ere really there. ,e told "e that the "o"ent had co"e to begin the real 'ork. /he *irst thing I had to do 'as go to the library% ask aglietta *or the Uerrn% a treatise on diabetes. I kne' .er"an% didnGt IY .ood% so I could read it in the original te0t and not in a very poor Krench translation 'hich the people in Basel had co""issioned. ,e% he ad"itted% had read only the latter% 'ith! out understanding "uch o* it% but nevertheless gaining *ro" it the conviction that )r. Uerrn 'as a *ello' 'ho kne' plenty and that it 'ould be 'onder*ul to be the *irst to translate his ideas into practice4 certainly% he 'rote in a rather involuted "anner% but the people in Basel 'ere very keen on this business o* an oral anti!diabetic% especially the "u""i*ied consultant% so I should get Uerrn% read hi" attentively% and then 'e 'ould discuss it. But "ean'hile% so as not to 'aste ti"e% I could begin 'ork. ,is "any preoccupations had not allo'ed hi" to devote to the te0t the attention it deserved% but he had nonetheless gotten *ro" it t'o *unda"ental ideas% and 'e should try to test the" in practice. /he *irst idea concerned anthocyanins. Anthocyanins% as you kno' very 'ell% are the pig"ents o* red and blue *lo'ers4 they are substances easy to o0idiFe and deo0idiFe% as is also glucose% and diabetes is an ano"aly in the o0idiFing o* glucose4 B hence% B 'ith the anthocyanins one could try to reestablish a nor"al o0idiFing o* glucose. /he petals o* the corn*lo'er are very rich in anthocyaninsM in vie' o* the proble"% he had put a 'hole *ield under cultivation 'ith corn*lo'ers and had the petals harvested and dried in the sun4 I should try to "ake e0tracts *ro" the"% ad"inister the" to rabbits% and check their glyce"ia. /he second idea 'as Pust as vague% and at once si"plistic and co"plicated. Still according to )r. Uerrn% in the commendatore>s 3o"bardian interpretation% phosphoric acid had a *unda"ental i"portance in the "etabolis" o* carbohydrates4 and up to this

point there 'as nothing to obPect toM less convincing 'as the hypothesis elaborated by the commendatore hi"sel* on UerrnGs rather "isty *unda"entals% na"ely% that it 'ould su**ice to ad"inister to the diabetic a little phosphorus o* vegetal origin to correct his subverted "etabolis". At that ti"e I 'as so young as to think that it "ight be possible to change a superiorGs ideasM there*ore I put *orth t'o or three obPections% but I sa' i""ediately that under their blo's the commendatore hardened like a sheet o* copper under a ha""er. ,e cut "e short and% 'ith a certain pere"ptory tone o* his that trans*or"ed his suggestions into co""ands% advised "e to analyFe a good nu"ber o* plants% select the richest in organic phosphorus% "ake *ro" the" the usual e0tracts% and stick the" into the usual rabbits. EnPoy your 'ork and good a*ternoon. Vhen I told .iulia about the outco"e o* this colloHuy% her Pudg"ent 'as i""ediate and angry4 the old "an is craFy. But I had provoked hi"% descending to his level and sho'ing hi" *ro" the start that I took hi" seriously4 IGd asked *or it% and I should see no' 'hat I could do 'ith those corn*lo'ers% phosphorus% and rabbits. In her opinion% that "ania o* "ine about 'ork% 'hich even 'ent to the point o* prostituting "ysel* to the commendatore>s senile *airy tales% resulted *ro" the *act that I didnGt have a girl *riend4 i* I had one% I 'ould have thought about her instead o* anthocyanins. It 'as truly a pity that she% .iulia% 'as not available% because she realiFed the sort o* person I 'as% one o* those 'ho do not take the initiative% indeed run a'ay% and "ust be led by the hand% solving little by little all their co"plicated con*licts. Vell% in :ilan there 'as a cousin o* hers% also rather shyM she 'ould arrange *or "e to "eet her. But 'hat the deuce% I too% by heavens% should get busyM it hurt her heart to see so"eone like "e thro' a'ay the best years o* his youth on rabbits. /his .iulia 'as a bit o* a 'itchAshe read pal"s% 'ent to "ediu"s% and had pre"onitory drea"sAand so"eti"es I have dared to think that this haste o* hers to *ree "e o* an old anguish and procure *or "e i""ediately a "odest

portion o* Poy ca"e *ro" a dark intuition o* hers about 'hat *ate had in store *or "e% and 'as unconsciously ai"ed at de*lecting it. Ve 'ent together to see the "ovie Port of ShadoJs and thought it "arvelous% and 'e con*essed to each other that 'eGd identi*ied 'ith the "ain actors4 sli"% dark .iulia 'ith the ethereal :ichele :organ and her ice!green eyes% and I% "ild and recessive% 'ith the deserter Iean .abin% a *ascinator and tough guy% killed deadAridiculous% and besides% those t'o loved each other and 'e didnGt% rightY Vhen the "ovie 'as about to end% .iulia announced that I 'ould have to take her ho"e. I had to go to the dentist% but .iulia said4 BI* you donGt take "e% IGll yell% <.et your hands o** "e% you pigTGC I tried to obPect% but .iulia took a deep breath and in the darkness o* the "ovie house began% B .et your . . .C 4 so I phoned the dentist and took her ho"e. .iulia 'as a lioness% capable o* traveling *or ten hours standing up in a train packed 'ith people running a'ay *ro" the bo"bings to spend t'o hours 'ith her "an% happy and radiant i* she could engage in a violent verbal duel 'ith the commendatore or 3oredana% but she 'as a*raid o* insects and thunder. She called "e to evict a tiny spider *ro" her 'orkbench DI 'asnGt allo'ed to kill it% but had to put it in a 'eighing bottle and carry it outside to the *lo'erbedE% and this "ade "e *eel virtuous and strong like ,ercules *aced by the ,ydra o* 3erna% and at the sa"e ti"e te"pted% since I perceived the intense *e"inine charge in the reHuest. A *urious stor" broke% .iulia stood *ast *or t'o strokes o* lightning and at the third ran to "e *or shelter. I *elt the 'ar"th o* her body against "ine% diFFying and ne'% *a"iliar in drea"s% but I did not return her e"braceM i* I had done so% perhaps her destiny and "ine 'ould have gone 'ith a crash o** the rails% to'ard a co""on% co"pletely unpredictable *uture. /he librarian% 'ho" I had never seen be*ore% presided over the library like a 'atchdog% one o* those poor dogs 'ho are

deliberately "ade vicious by being chained up and given little to eatM or better% like the old% toothless cobra% pale because o* centuries o* darkness% 'ho guards the kingGs treasure in the O#n$le @oo"% aglietta% poor 'o"an% 'as little less than a l#s#s nat#raeC she 'as s"all% 'ithout breasts or hips% 'a0en% 'ilted% and "onstrously "yopic4 she 'ore glasses so thick and concave that% looking at her head!on% her eyes% light blue% al"ost 'hite% see"ed very *ar a'ay% stuck at the back o* her craniu". She gave the i"pression o* never having been young% although she 'as certainly not "ore than thirty% and o* having been born there% in the shado's% in that vague odor o* "ilde' and stale air. &obody kne' anything about her% the commendatore hi"sel* talked about her 'ith irritated i"patience% and .iulia ad"itted that she hated her instinctively% 'ithout kno'ing 'hy% 'ithout pity% as a *o0 hates a dog. She said that she stank o* "othballs and looked constipated. "alevolent aglietta asked "e 'hy I 'anted the Uerrn in air% "ade "e sign a register% and reluctantly particular% insisted on seeing "y identity card% inspected it 'ith a surrendered the book. It 'as a strange book4 it 'ould be hard to think o* its being 'ritten and published in any other place than the /hird +eich. /he author 'as not 'ithout a certain ability% but every one o* his pages gave o** the arrogance o* so"eone 'ho kno's that his state"ents 'ill not be disputed. ,e 'rote% indeed harangued% like a possessed prophet% as though the "etabolis" o* glucose% in the diabetic and the healthy person% had been revealed to hi" by Iehovah on Sinai or% rather% by Votan on @alhalla. erhaps 'rongly% I i""ediately conceived *or UerrnGs theories a resent! *ul distrustM but I have not heard that the thirty years that have passed since then have led to their reevaluation. /he adventure o* the anthocyanins soon ended. It had begun 'ith a picturesHue invasion o* corn*lo'ers% sacks upon sacks o* delicate pale blue petals% dry and *ragile like tiny potato chips. /hey produced e0tracts o* changeable colors% also picturesHue% hut e0tre"ely unstable4 a*ter a *e' daysG atte"pts% still be*ore having recourse to the rabbits% I received *ro" the commendatore

the authoriFation to *ile the 'hole subPect a'ay. I continued to *ind it strange that this "an% a S'iss 'ith his *eet on the ground% had let hi"sel* be convinced by that *anatical visionary% and 'hen I got the chance% I cautiously hinted at "y opinion% but he ans'ered Huite brutally that it 'as not *or "e to criticiFe the pro*essors. ,e "ade it clear to "e that I 'asnGt paid to do nothing% and urged "e not to 'aste ti"e but begin i""ediately 'ith the phosphorus4 he 'as convinced that the phosphorus 'ould certainly lead us to a brilliant solution. So on to the phosphorus. I set to 'ork% not at all convinced% though convinced that the commendatore( and "ost likely Uerrn hi"sel*% had given in to the cheap spell o* na"es and clichesM in *act% phosphorus has a very beauti*ul na"e Dit "eans Bbringer o* lightCE% it is phosphorescent% itGs in the brain% itGs also in *ish% and therefore eating *ish "akes you intelligentM 'ithout phosphorus plants do not gro'M Kalieres developed phosphatine% glycerophosphates *or ane"ic children one hundred years agoM it is in the tips o* "atches% and girls driven desperate by love ate the" to co""it suicideM it is in 'ill!oG!the!'isps% putrid *la"es *leeing be*ore the 'ay*arer. &o% it is not an e"otionally neutral ele"ent4 it 'as understandable that a ro*essor Uerrn% hal* bioche"ist and hal* 'itch doctor% in the environ"ent i"pregnated 'ith black "agic o* the &aFi court% had designated it as a "edica"ent. $nkno'n hands le*t on "y bench at night all sorts o* plants% a species a dayM they 'ere all singularly do"estic plants% and I do not kno' ho' they had been chosen4 onion% garlic% carrot% burdock% blueberry% yarro' "il*oil% 'illo'% garden sage% rose! "ary% dog rose% Puniper. I% day by day% deter"ined their inor! ganic and total phosphorus content% and I *elt like the donkey tied to a bucket pu"p. Iust as "uch as the analysis o* nickel in the rock had e0alted "e% ele"ental in "y previous incarnation% so 'as I hu"iliated no' by the daily dosage o* phosphorus% because to do 'ork in 'hich one does not believe is a great a**lictionM the presence o* .iulia in the ne0t roo" barely did anything to cheer "e up% singing in a "uted voice B itGs spring%

'ake up%B and cooking a'ay 'ith the ther"o"eter in the pretty little yre0 beakers. Every so o*ten she ca"e to conte"plate "y 'ork% provocative and "ocking. Ve had noticed% .iulia and I% that the sa"e unkno'n hands le*t in the lab% in our absence% barely perceptible signs. A closet% locked in the evening% 'as open in the "orning. A stand had changed places. /he hood% le*t open% had been lo'ered. -ne rainy "orning% like +obinson #rusoe% 'e *ound on the tile *loor the print o* a rubber sole4 the commendatore 'ore shoes 'ith rubber soles. B,e co"es at night to "ake love 'ith 3oredana%C .iulia decidedM I thought instead that that lab% obsessively tidy% "ust be used *or so"e other i"palpable secret S'iss activity. Syste"atically 'e stuck toothpicks on the inside part o* the doors% al'ays locked by key% 'hich led *ro" the roduction )epart"ent into the laboratory4 every "orning the toothpicks had *allen out. A*ter t'o "onths I had about *orty analyses4 the plants 'ith a higher phosphorus content 'ere sage% celandine% and parsley. I 'as thinking at this point that it 'ould be a good idea to deter"ine in 'hat *or" the phosphorus 'as bound% and try to isolate the phosphoric co"ponent% but the commendatore called Basel and then declared that there 'asnGt ti"e *or such subtleties4 continue 'ith the e0tracts% done 'ithout too "uch *uss% 'ith hot 'ater and the press% and then concentrated under vacuu"4 stick the" into the rabbitsG esophaguses and "easure their glyce"ia. +abbits are not attractive ani"als. /hey are a"ong the "a""als "ost distant *ro" "an% perhaps because their Hualities are those o* hu"anity 'hen hu"iliated and outcast4 they are ti"id% silent% and evasive% and all they kno' is *ood and se0. E0cept *or so"e country cat in "y distant childhood% I never had touched an ani"al% and *aced 'ith the rabbits I *elt a distinct revulsion4 .iulia had the sa"e reaction. 3uckily% ho'ever% @arisco 'as on inti"ate ter"s both 'ith the little beasts and 'ith A"brogio% 'ho took care o* the". She sho'ed us that% in a dra'er% there 'as a s"all assort"ent o* appropriate

instru"entsM there 'as a tall narro' bo0 'ithout a cover4 she e0plained that rabbits like to hide in a den% a s"all space% and i* one takes the" by the ears D'hich are their natural handleE and sticks the" in a bo0% they *eel sa*er and stop "oving. /here 'as a rubber sound and a s"all 'ooden spindle 'ith a transverse hole4 you had to *orce the spindle bet'een the ani"alGs teeth% and then% through the hole% slip the sound do'n the throat Huite *ir"ly% pushing it do'n until you could *eel it touch the botto" o* the sto"achM i* you donGt use the 'ood% the rabbit cuts the sound 'ith his teeth% s'allo's it% and dies. /hrough the sound it 'as easy to inPect the e0tracts into the sto"ach% using an ordinary syringe. /hen you have to "easure the glyce"ia. Vhat the tail is to "ice% the ears are to rabbits% also in this instance4 they have thick% pro"inent veins% 'hich i""ediately beco"e s'ollen i* the ears are rubbed. Kro" these veins% per*orated by a needle% you take a drop o* blood% and% 'ithout asking any Huestions about the various "anipulations% you proceed according to #recelius!Sei*ert. /he rabbits either are stoic or not very sensitive to pain4 none o* these abuses see"ed to "ake the" su**erAas soon as they 'ere *reed and put back in the cage they cal"ly returned to "unching on the hay% and the ne0t ti"e they did not sho' any *ear. A*ter a "onth I could have per*or"ed the glyce"ia test 'ith "y eyes closed% but it did not see" to "e that our phosphorus had any e**ectM only one o* the rabbits reacted to the e0tract o* celandine 'ith a lo'ering o* its glyce"ia% but a *e' 'eeks later a big tu"or gre' on its neck. /he commendatore told "e to operate on i t AI operated% 'ith a bitter sense o* guilt and vehe"ent disgust% and it died. /hose rabbits% by order o* the commendatore( lived each in its o'n cage% "ales and *e"ales% in strict celibacy. But there 'as a night bo"bing 'hich% 'ithout causing "any other da"ages bashed all the cages% and in the "orning 'e *ound the rabbits intent on a "eticulous and general ca"paign o* copulation4 the bo"bs had not *rightened the" at all. Vhen set *ree they had i""ediately dug in the *lo'erbeds the tunnels *ro" 'hich they

derive their na"es%W and at the slightest alar" broke o** their nuptials hal*'ay through and ran *or shelter. A"brogio had a hard ti"e rounding the" up and shutting the" in ne' cagesM the 'ork o* the glyce"ia tests had to be interrupted because only the cages 'ere "arked% not the ani"als% and a*ter the dispersion it 'as i"possible to identi*y the". .iulia ca"e bet'een one rabbit and the ne0t% and told "e point! blank that she needed "e. I had co"e to the *actory on "y bike% rightY Vell% that very a*ternoon she had to go i""ediately all the 'ay to orta .enova% and to get there you had to take three di**erent tra"s% she 'as in a hurry% it 'as an i"portant business4 'ould I please carry her on the crossbar% agreedY I% 'ho according to the commendatore>s "aniacal staggered schedule Huit t'elve "inutes be*ore she did% 'aited *or her around the corner% settled her on the bikeGs crossbar% and 'e le*t. /raveling around :ilan on a bike 'as not at all daring in those days% and to carry a passenger on the crossbar at a ti"e o* bo"bings and 'ith people leaving their ho"es to spend the night in a sa*er place 'as Pust about nor"al4 so"eti"es% especially at night% it 'ould happen that strangers 'ould ask *or this service% and *or being transported *ro" one end o* the city to the other they 'ould pay *our or *ive lire. But .iulia% rather restless as a rule% that evening endangered our stabilityM she convulsively clutched the handlebar% "aking it hard to steer% suddenly changing her position 'ith a Perk% illustrating her conversation 'ith violent gestures o* her hands and head% 'hich shi*ted our co""on center o* gravity in an unpredictable "anner. ,er conversation 'as at the start so"e'hat generic% but .iulia 'as not the type to bottle up her secrets and so harbor bileM hal*'ay do'n @ia I"bonati she had already le*t generalities behind% and at had said no and she
WA rabbit in Italian is a coni$lio and a tunnel is a c#nicolo% ,ence 3eviGs c o " " e n t A
T RANS .

orta @olta she

spoke in Huite e0plicit ter"s4 she 'as *urious because his parents

'as *lying to the counterattack. Vhy had they said itYA*or the" I a" not pretty enough% understandYAshe snarled% shaking the handlebar. BVhat idiotsT (ou look pretty enough to "e % B I said seriously. B.et s"art. (ou donGt kno' 'hat itGs all about.C BI only 'anted to pay you a co"pli"entM besides% thatGs 'hat I think.C B/his is not the "o"ent. I* youGre trying to court "e no'% IGll knock you do'n. B B(ouGll *all% to o. B B(ouGre a *ool. .o on% keep pedaling% itGs getting late.C By the ti"e 'e reached 3argo #airoli I already kne' every! thing4 or better% I possessed all the *actual ele"ents% but so con*used and Pu"bled in their te"poral seHuence that it 'as not easy *or "e to "ake sense o* the". Above all% I could not understand ho' his 'ill 'as not enough to overco"e the proble"Ait 'as inconceivable% scandalous. /here 'as this "an% 'ho" .iulia had at other ti"es described to "e as generous% solid% ena"ored% and seriousM he possessed that girl% disheveled and splendid in her anger% 'ho 'as 'rithing bet'een "y *orear"s intent on steeringM and% instead o* rushing to :ilan to present his argu"ents% he 'as holed up in so"e border barracks to de*end the nation. Because% being a $oy( he 'as o* course doing his "ilitary service4 and as I 'as thinking like this and as .iulia continued to *ight 'ith "e as i* I 'ere her )on +odrigo%W I *elt "ysel* overco"e by an absurd hatred *or this never encountered rival. A $oy( and she 'as a $oy;( according to "y atavistic ter"inology4 and they could have gotten "arried. I *elt gro'ing 'ithin "e% perhaps *or the *irst ti"e% a nauseating sensation o* e"ptiness4 so this is 'hat it "eant to be di**erent4 this 'as the price *or being the salt o* the earth. /o carry on your crossbar a girl you desire and be so *ar *ro" her as not to be able even to *all in love 'ith her%
WA character in :anFoniGs historical novel The @etrothedTRANS.

carry her on your crossbar along @iale .oriFia to help her belong to so"eone else% and vanish *ro" "y li*e. In *ront o* &o. 49 @iale .oriFia there 'as a bench4 .iulia told "e to 'ait *or her there and *le' through the street door like a gust o* 'ind. I sat do'n and 'aited% battered and sorro'*ul. I thought that I ought to be less o* a gentle"an% indeed less inhibited and *oolish% and that *or the rest o* "y li*e I 'ould regret that bet'een "ysel* and her there had been nothing but a *e' school and co"pany "e"oriesM and that "aybe it 'as not too late% that "aybe the no o* those t'o "usical co"edy parents 'ould be ada"ant% that .iulia 'ould co"e do'n in tears and I then could console herM and that these 'ere in*a"ous hopes% a 'icked taking advantage o* the "is*ortunes o* others. And *inally% the 'ay a ship'recked person tired o* struggling lots hi"sel* sink straight to the botto"% I *ell back on 'hat 'as "y do"inant thought during those years4 that the e0isting *iancJ and the la's o* racial separation 'ere only stupid alibis% and that "y inability to approach a 'o"an 'as a conde"nation 'ithout appeal 'hich 'ould acco"pany "e to "y death% con*ining "e to a li*e poisoned by envy and by abstract% sterile% and ai"less desires. .iulia ca"e out a*ter t'o hours% in *act burst through the street door like a shell *ro" a "ortar. It 'as not necessary to Huestion her to *ind out ho' things had gone4 BI "ade the" look that high%C she said% all red in the *ace and still gasping. I "ade an e**ort to congratulate her in a believable *ashion. But itGs i"possible to "ake .iulia believe things you donGt really think% or hide things you do think. &o' that she had thro'n o** that 'eight% and 'as shining 'ith victory% she looked "e straight in the eye% sa' the shado' there% and asked% BVh at 'ere you thinking aboutYC B hosphorus%C I replied. .iulia got "arried a *e' "onths later and said goodbye to "e% snu**ing tears up her nose and giving @arisco detailed ali"entary instructions. She has had "any hardships and "any childrenM 'e

have re"ained *riends% 'e see each other every so o*ten in :ilan and talk about che"istry and other reasonable "atters. Ve are not dissatis*ied 'ith our choices and 'ith 'hat li*e has given us% but 'hen 'e "eet 'e both have a curious and not unpleasant i"pression D'hich 'e have both described to each other several ti"esE that a veil% a breath% a thro' o* the dice de*lected us onto t'o divergent paths% 'hich 'ere not ours.

GO%
It is 'ell kno'n that people *ro" /urin transplanted to :ilan do not strike root% or at least do it badly. In the *all o* 1946 there 'ere seven o* us *riends *ro" /urin% boys and girls% living in :ilan% having arrived *or di**erent reasons in the large city 'hich the 'ar had rendered inhospitableM our parentsAthose o* us 'ho still had the"Ahad "oved to the country to avoid the bo"bings% and 'e 'ere living an a"ply co""unal li*e. Euge 'as an architect% he 'anted to do :ilan over% and declared that the best city planner had been Krederick Barbarossa. Silvio had a la' degree% but he 'as 'riting a philosophical treatise on "inuscule sheets o* onionskin and had a Pob 'ith a shipping co"pany. Ettore 'as an engineer at -livettiGs. 3ina 'as sleeping 'ith Euge and had so"e vague involve"ent 'ith art galleries.

@anda 'as a che"ist like "e but could not *ind a Pob% and 'as per"anently irritated by this because she 'as a *e"inist. Ada 'as "y cousin and 'orked at the #orbaccio ublishing ,ouseM Silvio called her the bi!doctor because she had t'o degrees% and Euge called her co#simo( 'hich "eant cousin o* ri"o% 'hich Ada rather resented. A*ter .iuliaGs "arriage% I had re"ained alone 'ith "y rabbitsM I *elt a 'ido'er and an orphan and *antasiFed about 'riting the saga o* an ato" o* carbon% to "ake the people understand the sole"n poetry% kno'n only to che"ists% o* chlorophyll photosynthesis4 and in *act I did eventually 'rite it% but "any years later% and it is the story 'ith 'hich this book concludes. I* I a" not "istaken 'e 'ere all 'riting poetry% e0cept *or Ettore% 'ho said it 'as undigni*ied *or an engineer. Vriting sad% crepuscular poe"s% and not all that beauti*ul% 'hile the 'orld 'as in *la"es% did not see" to us either strange or sha"e*ul4 'e proclai"ed ourselves the ene"ies o* Kascis"% but actually Kas! cis" had had its e**ect on us% as on al"ost all Italians% alienating us and "aking us super*icial% passive% and cynical. Ve bore 'ith spite*ul gaiety the rationing and the *reeFing cold in houses 'ithout coal% and 'e accepted 'ith irresponsibility the nightly bo"bings by the EnglishM they 'ere not *or us% they 'ere a brutal sign o* *orce on the part o* our very distant allies% they didnGt bother us. Ve thought 'hat all hu"iliated Italians 'ere then thinking4 that the .er"ans and Iapanese 'ere invincible% but the A"ericans 'ere too% and that the 'ar 'ould plod on like this *or another t'enty or thirty years% a bloody and inter"inable but re"ote stale"ate% kno'n only through doctored 'ar bulletins% and so"eti"es% in certain o* "y conte"porariesG *a"ilies% through *unereal% bureaucratic letters 'hich spoke such 'ords as B heroically% in the *ul*ill"ent o* his duty.C /he danse macabre up and do'n the 3ibyan coast% back and *orth on the steppes o* the $kraine% 'ould never co"e to an end. Each o* us did his or her 'ork day by day% slackly% 'ithout believing in it% as happens to so"eone 'ho kno's he is not

'orking *or his o'n *uture. Ve 'ent to the theater and concerts% 'hich so"eti"es 'ere interrupted hal*'ay through because the air!raid siren 'ould start shrieking4 and this see"ed to us a ridiculous and grati*ying incidentM the Allies 'ere "asters o* the sky% perhaps in the end they 'ould 'in and Kascis" 'ould endA bu t it 'as their business% they 'ere rich and po'er*ul% they had the airplane carriers and the 3iberators. But not us% B theyC had declared us B di**erent%C and di**erent 'e 'ould beM 'e took sides but kept out o* the stupid and cruel Aryan ga"es% discussing the plays o* -G&eill and /hornton Vilder% cli"bing the .rigne slopes% *alling a bit in love 'ith each other% inventing intellectual ga"es% and singing the lovely songs Silvio had learned *ro" so"e o* his Valdensian *riends. As to 'hat 'as happening during those sa"e "onths in all o* Europe occupied by the .er"ans% in Ann KrankGs house in A"sterda"% in the pit o* Babi (ar near Uiev% in the ghetto o* Varsa'% in Salonika% pestilence 'hich 'as about to aris% and 3idice4 as to this sub"erge us no precise

in*or"ation had reached us% only vague and sinister hints dropped by soldiers returning *ro" .reece or *ro" the rear areas o* the +ussian *ront% and 'hich 'e tended to censor. -ur ignorance allo'ed us to live% as 'hen you are in the "ountains and your rope is *rayed and about to break% but you donGt kno' it and *eel sa*e. But in &ove"ber ca"e the Allied landing in &orth A*rica% in )ece"ber ca"e the +ussian resistance and *inally victory at Stalingrad% and 'e realiFed that the 'ar had dra'n closer and that history had resu"ed its "arch. In the space o* a *e' 'eeks each o* us "atured% "ore so than during the previous t'enty years. -ut o* the shado's ca"e "en 'ho" Kascis" had not crushedAla'yers% pro*essors% and 'orkersAand 'e recogniFed in the" our teachers% those *or 'ho" 'e had *utilely starched until then in the BibleGs doctrine% in che"istry% and on the "ountains. Kascis" had reduced the" to silence *or t'enty years% and they e0plained to us that Kascis" 'as not only a clo'nish and i"provident "isrule but the negator o* PusticeM it had not only dragged Italy into an unPust and ill!o"ened 'ar%

but it had arisen and consolidated itsel* as the custodian o* a detestable legality and order% based on the coercion o* those 'ho 'ork% on the unchecked pro*its o* those 'ho e0ploit the labor o* others% on the silence i"posed on those 'ho think and do not 'ant to be slaves% and on syste"atic and calculated lies. /hey told us that our "ocking% ironic intolerance 'as not enoughM it should turn into anger% and the anger should be channeled into a 'ell!organiFed and ti"ely revolt% but they did not teach us ho' to "ake bo"bs or shoot a ri*le. /hey talked to us about unkno'ns4 .ra"sci% Salve"ini% .obetti% the +osselli brothersA'ho 'ere theyY So there actu! ally e0isted a second history% a history parallel to the one 'hich the liceo had ad"inistered to us *ro" on highY In those *e' convulsed "onths 'e tried in vain to reconstruct% repopulate the historic blank o* the last t'enty years% but those ne' characters re"ained B heroes%C like .aribaldi and &aFario Sauro% they did not have thickness or hu"an substance. /he ti"e to consolidate our education 'as not granted us4 in :arch ca"e the strikes in /urin% indicating that the crisis 'as near at hand4 on Iuly 62 ca"e the internal collapse o* Kascis"% the piaFFas Pa""ed 'ith happy% *raternal cro'ds% the spontaneous and precarious Poy o* a country to 'hich liberty had been given by a palace intrigueM and then ca"e the eighth o* Septe"ber% the gray!green serpent o* &aFi divisions on the streets o* :ilan and /urin% the brutal rea'akening4 the co"edy 'as over% Italy 'as an occupied country% like oland% (ugoslavia% and &or'ay. In this 'ay% a*ter the long into0ication 'ith 'ords% certain o* the rightness o* our choice% e0tre"ely insecure about our "eans% our hearts *illed 'ith "uch "ore desperation than hope% and against the backdrop o* a de*eated% divided country% 'e 'ent into battle to test our strength. Ve separated to *ollo' our destinies% each in a di**erent valley. Ve 'ere cold and hungry% 'e 'ere the "ost disar"ed partisanT in the ied"ont% and probably also the "ost unprepared. Ve thought 'e 'ere sa*e because 'e had not yet "oved out o* our

re*uge buried under three *eet o* sno'4 but so"ebody betrayed us% and on the da'n o* )ece"ber 17% 1947% 'e 'oke surrounded by the Kascist +epublic4W they 'ere three hundred and 'e eleven% eHuipped 'ith a to""y gun 'ithout bullets and a *e' pistols. Eight o* us "anaged to escape and scattered a"ong the "ountainsM three o* us did not get a'ay4 the "ilitia"en captured Aldo% .uido% and "ysel*% still hal* asleep. As they ca"e in I "anaged to hide in the stoveGs ashes the revolver I kept under "y pillo'% and 'hich in any case I 'as not sure I kne' ho' to use4 it 'as tiny% all inlaid 'ith "other o* pearl% the kind used in "ovies by ladies desperately intent on co""itting suicide. Aldo% 'ho 'as a doctor% stood up% stoically lit a cigarette% and said4 B/ oo bad *or "y chro"oso"es.C /hey beat us up a bit% 'arned us Bnot to do anything ill! advised%C pro"ised to Huestion us later in a certain very con! vincing "anner o* theirs and shoot us i""ediately a*ter'ard% ranged the"selves 'ith great po"p around us% and began 'alking us do'n to'ard the "ountain pass. )uring the "arch% 'hich lasted *or several hours% I did t'o things that 'ere very i"portant to "e4 I ate bit by bit the "uch too *alse identity card I had in "y 'allet Dthe photograph 'as particularly disgustingE% and% pretending to stu"ble% I slipped into the sno' the notebook *ull o* addresses I carried in "y pocket. /he "ilitia"en 'ere singing intrepid 'ar songs% shooting at hares 'ith their to""y guns% and *linging grenades into the strea"s to kill the trout. )o'n in the valley several buses 'ere 'aiting *or us. /hey "ade us get on and sit separately% and I had "ilitia"en all around% seated and standing% 'ho 'ere not concerned about us and kept on singing. -ne o* the"% right in *ront o* "e% had his back to "e and *ro" his belt hung a hand grenade% one o* those .er"an hand grenades 'ith a 'ooden handle. I could easily have li*ted the sa*ety pin% pulled the cord% and done a'ay 'ith "ysel* and several o* the"% but I didnGt have the courage. /hey

W/his 'as the +epublic o* Salo% the puppet govern"ent set up by the Kascists in the north o* Italy at Salo and under the protection o* the &aFi ar"y.

took us to the barracks% 'hich 'ere on the outskirts o* Aosta. /heir centurion 'as called Kossa% and it is strange% absurd% and sinisterly co"ic% given the situation at that ti"e% that he lies no' *or decades in so"e out!o*!the!'ay 'ar ce"etery and I a" here% alive and substantially unhar"ed% 'riting this story. Kossa 'as a stickler *or legality and set about rapidly organiFing in our *avor a prison regi"e 'hich 'as in con*or"ity 'ith regulations. So he put us in the barracksG base"ent% one "an per cell% 'ith a cot and a pail% rations at eleven% an hour o* open!air e0ercise% and the prohibition o* talking to each other. /his prohibition 'as pain*ul because a"ong us% in each o* our "inds% 'eighed an ugly secret4 the sa"e secret that had e0posed us to capture% e0tinguishing in us% a *e' days be*ore% all 'ill to resist% indeed to live. Ve had been *orced by our consciences to carry out a sentence and had carried it out% but 'e had co"e out o* it destroyed% destitute% 'aiting *or everything to *inish and to be *inished ourselvesM but also 'anting to see each other% to talk% to help each other e0orciFe that so recent "e"ory. &o' 'e 'ere *inished% and 'e kne' it4 'e 'ere in the trap% each one in his o'n trap% and there 'as no 'ay out e0cept do'n. It did not take "e long to be convinced o* it% e0a"ining "y cell inch by inch% since the novels on 'hich *or years I had *ed 'ere *ull o* "iraculous escapesM but here the 'alls 'ere hal* a yard thick% the door 'as "assive and guarded on the outside% the s"all 'indo' 'as *urnished 'ith iron bars. I had a nail *ile% I could have sa'n through one bar% perhaps even all o* the"M I 'as so thin that perhaps I could have sHueeFed through4 but up against the 'indo' I discovered a large ce"ent block to protect against bo"b *rag"ents during the air raids. Every so o*ten they ca"e to get "e *or the interrogations Vhen Kossa 'as the interrogater% it 'asnGt too bad4 Kossa 'as the sort o* "an I had never "et until then A a Kascist by the book% stupid and courageous% 'ho" the trade o* soldiering D,e had *ought in A*rica and Spain and boasted about it to usE had sheathed in solid ignorance and *olly but had not corrupted n o r "ade inhu"ane. ,e had believed and obeyed all o* his li*e and

'as naively convinced that the persons guilty *or the catastrophe 'ere Pust t'o4 the Uing and .aleaFFo #iano% 'ho during those very days had been shot by a *iring sHuad at @erona4 not Badoglio% he too 'as a soldier% he had s'orn loyalty to the Uing and he had kept *aith 'ith his oath. I* it had not been *or the Uing and #iano% 'ho had sabotaged the Kascist 'ar *ro" the start% everything 'ould have gone 'ell and Italy 'ould have 'on. ,e regarded "e as scatterbrained% spoiled by bad co"panyM deep do'n in his class!oriented soul he 'as convinced that a "an 'ith a university degree could not really be Ba subversive.C ,e Huestioned "e out o* boredo"% in order to indoctrinate "e and give hi"sel* i"portance% but 'ithout any serious inHuisitional intent4 he 'as a soldier% not a cop. ,e never asked "e e"barrassing Huestions% nor did he ever ask "e 'hether I 'as a Ie' . -n the other hand% #agniGs interrogations 'ere so"ething to be a*raid o*. #agni 'as the spy 'ho had gotten us captured4 a co"plete spy% in every ounce o* his *lesh% a spy by nature and tendency "ore than by Kascist conviction or *or "onetary gainM a spy to hurt% out o* a kind o* sporty sadis"% as the hunter shoots *ree ga"e. ,e 'as a skill*ul "an4 he had co"e 'ith good credentials to a partisan *or"ation ne0t to ours% had passed hi"sel* o** as the depository o* i"portant .er"an "ilitary secrets% had revealed the"% and later they proved art*ully *alse and *abricated by the .estapo. ,e organiFed the de*ense o* the *or"ation% put the" through painstaking *ire*ight e0ercises Din 'hich he "anaged to get the" to use up a good part o* their a""unitionE% then *led to the valley and reappeared at the head o* the Kascist platoons assigned to round up partisans. ,e 'as about thirty% 'ith a pallid% *labby co"ple0ionM he began the interrogation by placing a 3uger on his desk% pro"inently displayed% then ha""ered a'ay *or hours 'ithout a letupM he 'anted to kno' everything. ,e continually threatened us 'ith torture and the *iring sHuad% but *ortunately *or "e I kne' al"ost nothing% and the *e' na"es I did kno' I kept to "ysel*. ,e alternated "o"ents o* si"ulated cordiality 'ith eHually

si"ulated e0plosions o* rageM he told "e Dprobably blu**ingE that he kne' I 'as a Ie' % but that it 'as good *or "e4 I 'as either a Ie' or a partisan4 i* a partisan% he 'ould put "e against a 'allM i* a Ie'% *ine% there 'as a collection ca"p at #arpi% they 'ere not bloody butchers% and I 'ould re"ain there until the *inal victory. I ad"itted to being a Ie'4 partly because I 'as tired% partly out o* an irrational digging in o* pride% but I absolutely did not believe in his 'ords. ,ad not he hi"sel* said that the control o* that very barracks 'ould 'ithin a *e' days be taken over by the SSY In "y cell there 'as a single di" bulb% 'hich re"ained lit also at nightM it 'as barely enough to read by% but all the sa"e I read a great deal% because I thought the ti"e le*t "e 'as short. /he *ourth day% during the hour o* open!air e0ercise% on the sly I put in "y pocket a large stone because I 'anted to try to co""uni! cate 'ith .uido and Aldo% 'ho 'ere in adPoining cells. I suc! ceeded% but it 'as e0hausting4 it took an hour to trans"it a sentence% tapping it out in code on the 'all bet'een us% like the "iners in Rerminal buried in the "ine. ressing "y ear against the 'all to catch the reply% I heard instead the Poyous% robust songs o* the "ilitia"en seated in the "ess hall over our heads4 Bthe vision of% % % 9li$heri1 or Bb#t I do not leave the tommy $#n behind1 or% tear*ul a"ong all o* the"% B.ome( there is a road in the Joods%1 In "y cell there 'as also a "ouse. ,e kept "e co"pany% but at night he che'ed "y bread. /here 'ere t'o cots4 I dis"antled one o* the" and re"oved its long% s"ooth barM I set it up vertically% and at night stuck the loa* o* bread on its point% but 'ould leave so"e o* the cru"bs on the *loor *or the "ouse. I *elt "ore like a "ouse than heM I 'as thinking o* the road in the 'oods% the sno' outside% the indi**erent "ountains% the hundred splendid things 'hich i* I could go *ree I 'ould be able to do% and a lu"p rose in "y throat. It 'as *reeFing. I knocked on the door until the "ilitia"an ca"e 'ho 'as acting as a prison guard and asked hi" to let "e

see KossaM the guard 'as actually the "an 'ho had beaten "e 'hen I 'as captured% but 'hen he *ound out that I 'as a BdoctorB he had begged "y pardon4 Italy is a strange country. ,e did not get "e an intervie'% but he got blankets *or "e and the others and per"ission to 'ar" up *or a hal* hour every evening be*ore lights!out by standing ne0t to the boiler. /he ne' regi"e began that very evening. A "ilitia"an ca"e to get "e% and he 'as not aloneM 'ith hi" 'as another prisoner 'hose e0istence I 'as una'are o*. A pity4 i* it had been .uido or Aldo it 'ould have been "uch betterM ho'ever% he 'as a hu"an being I could talk 'ith. ,e took us to the boiler roo"% 'hich 'as "urky 'ith soot% sHueeFed by a lo' ceiling% al"ost entirely encu"bered by the boilerAbut hot4 a relie*. /he "ilitia"an "ade us sit on a bench and took up a position hi"sel* on a chair in the doorGs opening% in order to obstruct it4 he held his to""y gun upright bet'een his knees% yet a *e' "inutes later he 'as already doFing and had lost interest in us. /he prisoner looked at "e 'ith curiosity4 BAre you the rebelsYC he asked. ,e 'as perhaps thirty!*ive% 'as thin and a bit stooped% had kinky% unruly hair% a badly shaved beard% a large hooked nose% a lipless "outh% and shi*ty eyes. ,is hands 'ere disproportionately large% gnarled% baked by sun and 'ind% and al'ays "oving4 no' he scratched hi"sel*% no' he dru""ed on the bench or on his thighM I noticed that they shook slightly. ,is breath s"elled o* 'ine% and *ro" this I deduced that he had Pust been arrestedM he had the accent o* the valley thereabouts% but did not look like a peasant. I ans'ered hi"% speaking in generalities% but he 'asnGt discouraged. B,eGs asleep4 you can talk i* you 'ant to. I can get ne's out o* here4 and any'ay I "ay get out soon.C ,e didnGt see" to "e all that trust'orthy. BV hy are you hereYC I asked. B#ontraband. I didnGt 'ant to share it 'ith the"% thatGs all. VeGll end up co"ing to an agree"ent% but "ean'hile they keep "e here. ItGs bad% 'ith "y trade.C BItGs bad *or all tradesTC

BBut I have a special trade. I also do contraband% but only in the 'inter% 'hen the )ora *reeFes over 4 so I do "any di**erent kinds o* 'ork% but none under a boss. Ve are *ree people4 "y *ather also 'as like this and "y grand*ather and all "y great! grand*athers since the beginning o* ti"e% back to 'hen the +o"ans ca"e. B I had not understood the allusion to t he *roFen )ora and asked hi" to e0plain it4 Vas he a *isher"an perhapsY B(ou kno' 'hy itGs called the )oraYC he ans'ered. B Because itGs "ade o* gold. &ot all% o* course% but it carries gold% and 'hen it *reeFes over you can no longer take it out.C BIs there gold on the botto"YC B(es% in the sand4 not every'here% but in "any stretches. ItGs the 'ater that drags it do'n *ro" t he "ountain and piles it up at rando"% thereGs so"e in one bend o* the river and none in another. -ur particular bend% 'hich 'e have passed *ro" *ather to son% is the richest o* all4 it is 'ell hidden% very "uch out!o*! the!'ay% but Pust the sa"e itGs best to go there at night so that nobody can co"e and poke around. Because o* this% 'hen it *reeFes over solid% as it did *or instance last year% you canGt 'ork% because as soon as youGve cut a hole in the ice "ore ice *or"s% and besides your hands canGt stand it. I* I 'ere in your place and you in "ine% on "y 'ord o* honor% IGd even tell you 'here it is Ao ur place.C I *elt 'ounded by this sentence o* his. I kne' very 'ell ho' things stood 'ith "e% but I didnGt like to hear it said to "e by a stranger. /he other "an% 'ho realiFed his blunder% tried a'k! 'ardly to "ake a"ends4 BVell% 'hat I "eant to say is that these are con*idential "atters% 'hich you donGt even tell to your *riends. I live on this% I have nothing else in this 'orld% but I 'ouldnGt change places 'ith a banker. (ou see% itGs not that there is so "uch gold4 there is in *act very little% you 'ash it *or a 'hole night and you "anage to get t'o or three gra"s out o* it4 but it never ends. (ou can go back 'hen you 'ish4 the ne0t night or a "onth later% 'henever you *eel like it% and the gold has gro'n backM

and itGs that 'ay *orever and ever% like grass co"es back in the *ields. And so there are no people 'ho are *reer than us4 thatGs 'hy I *eel IG" going craFy% staying inside here. BBesides% you "ust understand that not everyone is able to 'ash sand% and that gives you satis*action. :y *ather taught "e % Pust "e% because I 'as the s"artestM "y other brothers 'ork in the *actory. And only to "e he le*t the panCAand 'ith his enor"ous right hand slightly curled into a cup% he sketched the pro*essional rotary "ove"ent. B&ot all days are good4 it goes better 'hen the 'eather is good and the "oon in its last Huarter. I couldnGt say 'hy% but thatGs ho' it is% in case it ever should occur to you to try.C I appreciated the good o"en in silence. -* course I 'ould try it4 Vhat 'ouldnGt I tryY )uring those days% 'hen I 'as 'aiting courageously enough *or death% I harbored a piercing desire *or everything% *or all i"aginable hu"an e0periences% and I cursed "y previous li*e% 'hich it see"ed to "e I had pro*ited *ro" little or badly% and I *elt ti"e running through "y *ingers% escaping *ro" "y body "inute by "inute% like a he"orrhage that can no longer be stanched. -* course I 'ould search *or gold4 not to get rich but to try out a ne' skill% to see again the earth% air% and 'ater *ro" 'hich I 'as separated by a gul* that gre' larger every dayM and to *ind again "y che"ical trade in its essential and pri"ordial *or"% the Scheide"#nst( precisely% the art o* separating "etal *ro" gangue. BI donGt sell it all%C the "an continued. BI a" too *ond o* it. I keep a little on the side and "elt it do'n% t'ice a year% and 'ork it4 I a" not an artist but I like to have it in "y hands% hit it 'ith the ha""er% score it% scratch it. IG" not interested in getting richM 'hat counts *or "e is to live *ree% not to have a collar like a dog% to 'ork like this% 'hen I 'ish% and nobody 'ho can co"e and say% <#o"e on% get "oving.G /hatGs 'hy I hate staying in hereM besides% on top o* everything else% you lose a dayGs 'ork.C /he "ilitia"an Perked in his sleep and the to""y gun that he held bet'een his knees *ell to the *loor 'ith a crash. /he

stranger and I e0changed a Huick glanceM 'e understood each other in a *lash and rose 'ith a Pu"p *ro" the bench4 but 'e barely had ti"e to take a step and already the "ilitia"an had picked up his gun. ,e sat up% looked at his 'atch% cursed in @enetian dialect% and told us roughly that it 'as ti"e to return to our cells. In the corridor 'e "et .uido and Aldo% 'ho% escorted by another guard% 'ere on their 'ay to take our place in the dusty *ug o* the boiler roo"4 they greeted "e 'ith a nod o* the head. In the cell I 'as 'elco"ed by the solitude% the *reeFing% pure breath o* the "ountains 'hich ca"e through the s"all 'indo'% and the anguish o* to"orro'. I listenedAin the silence o* cur*e' one could hear the "ur"ur o* the )ora% lost *riend% and all *riends 'ere lost% and youth and Poy% and perhaps li*e4 it *lo'ed close by but indi**erent% dragging along the gold in its 'o"b o* "elted ice. I *elt gripped by a pain*ul envy *or "y a"biguous co"panion% 'ho 'ould soon return to his precarious but "onstrously *ree li*e% to his ine0haustible trickle o* gold% and an endless series o* days.

CER"#$
/he *act that I% a che"ist% engaged here in 'riting "y stories about che"istry% have lived a di**erent season% has been narrated else'here.W At a distance o* thirty years I *ind it di**icult to reconstruct l be sort o* hu"an being that corresponded% in &ove"ber 1944 % to "y na"e or% better% to "y nu"ber4 114211. I "ust have by then overco"e the "ost terrible crisis% the crisis o* having beco"e part o* La$er syste"% and I "ust have developed a strange callousness i* I then "anaged not only to survive but also to think% to register the 'orld around "e% and even to per*or" rather delicate 'ork% in an environ"ent in*ected by the
W:y t'o books on Ausch'itF4 If This Is a Dan and The Tr#ce D enguin :odern #lassics% 1919E.

daily presence o* death and at the sa"e ti"e brought to a *renFy by the approach o* the +ussian liberators% 'ho by no' 'ere only eighty kilo"eters a'ay. )esperation and hope alternated at a rate that 'ould have destroyed al"ost any nor"al person in an hour. Ve 'ere not nor"al because 'e 'ere hungry. -ur hunger at that ti"e had nothing in co""on 'ith the 'ell!kno'n Dand not co"pletely disagreeableE sensation o* so"eone 'ho has "issed a "eal and is certain that the ne0t "eal 'ill not be "issed4 it 'as a need% a lack% a yearning that had acco"panied us no' *or a year% had struck deep% per"anent roots in us% lived in our cells% and conditioned our behavior. /o eat% to get so"ething to eat% 'as our pri"e sti"ulus% behind 'hich% at a great distance% *ollo'ed all the other proble"s o* survival% and even still *arther a'ay the "e"ories o* ho"e and the very *ear o* death. I 'as a che"ist in a che"ical plant% in a che"ical laboratory Dthis too has been narratedE% and I stole in order to eat. I* you do not begin as a child% learning ho' to steal is not easyM it had taken "e several "onths be*ore I could repress the "oral co""and"ents and acHuired the necessary techniHues% and at a certain point I realiFed D'ith a *lash o* laughter and a pinch o* satis*ied a"bitionE that I 'as relivingA me( a respectable little university graduateAthe involution!evolution o* a *a"ous re! spectable dog% a @ictorian% )ar'inian dog 'ho is deported and beco"es a thie* in order to live in his Ulondike La$erAthe great Buck o* The .all of the Mild% I stole like hi" and like the *o0es4 at every *avorable opportunity but 'ith sly cunning and 'ithout e0posing "ysel*. I stole everything e0cept the bread o* "y co"panions. Kro" the point o* vie'% precisely% o* substances that you could steal 'ith pro*it% that laboratory 'as virgin territory% 'aiting to be e0plored. /here 'as gasoline and alcohol% banal and inconvenient loot4 "any stole the"% at various points in the plant% the o**er 'as high and also the risk% since liHuids reHuire receptacles. /his is the great proble" o* packaging% 'hich every e0perienced che"ist kno's4 and it 'as 'ell kno'n to .od

Al"ighty% 'ho solved it brilliantly% as he is 'ont to% 'ith cellular "e"branes% eggshells% the "ultiple peel o* oranges% and our o'n skins% because a*ter all 'e too are liHuids. &o'% at that ti"e% there did not e0ist polyethylene% 'hich 'ould have suited "e per*ectly since it is *le0ible% light% and splendidly i"per"e! able4 but it is also a bit too incorruptible% and not by chance .od Al"ighty hi"sel*% although he is a "aster o* poly"eriFation% abstained *ro" patenting it4 ,e does not like incorruptible things. Since I lacked the proper packaging "aterials% the ideal loot 'ould there*ore have had to be solid% not perishable% not cu"berso"e% and above all ne'. It had to be o* high unitary value% that is% not volu"inous% because 'e 'ere o*ten searched at the ca"pGs entrance a*ter 'orkM and it should *inally be use*ul to or desired by at least one o* the social categories that co"posed the La$er>s co"plicated universe. I had "ade various atte"pts in the lab. I had stolen a *e' hundred gra"s o* *atty acids% laboriously obtained by the o0ida! tion o* para**in *ro" so"e colleagues o* "ine on the other side o* the barrier4 I had eaten hal* o* it and it really took the edge o** "y hunger% but it had such a nasty taste that I gave up the idea o* selling the re"ainder. I had tried to "ake *ritters 'ith sanitary cotton% 'hich I pressed against an electric hot plateM they had a vague taste o* burnt sugar% but they looked so a'*ul that I did not consider the" "arketable. As *or selling the cotton directly to the La$er>s in*ir"ary% I had tried this once% but it 'as too cu"berso"e and not "uch sought a*ter. I also *orced "ysel* to ingest and digest glycerin% basing "ysel* on the si"plistic reasoning that% since it is a product o* the splitting o* *ats% it "ust a*ter all in so"e 'ay be "etaboliFed and *urnish calories4 and perhaps it did *urnish the"% but at the cost o* e0tre"ely unpleasant side e**ects. /here 'as a "ysterious Par on one o* the shelves. It contained about t'enty gray% hard% colorless% tasteless little rods and did not have a label. /his 'as very strange% because it 'as a .er"an laboratory. (es% o* course% the +ussians 'ere a *e' kilo"eters

a'ay% catastrophe 'as in the air% al"ost visibleM there 'ere bo"bings every dayM everybody kne' the 'ar 'as about to end4 but *inally so"e constants "ust still subsist% and a"ong these 'ere our hunger% that that laboratory 'as .er"an% and that .er"ans never *orget the labels. In *act% all the other Pars and bottles in the lab had neat labels% 'ritten on the type'riter or by hand in beauti*ul .othic charactersAonly that Par lacked a label. In the situation I certainly did not dispose o* the eHuip"ent and tranHuility necessary to identi*y the nature o* those s"all rods. Iust to be sure% I hid three in "y pocket and carried the" 'ith "e that evening into the ca"p. /hey 'ere about t'enty! *ive "illi"eters long and had a dia"eter o* *our or *ive. I sho'ed the" to "y *riend Alberto. Alberto took a penkni*e out o* his pocket and tried to cut into one o* the"4 it 'as hard% resisted the blade. ,e tried to scrape it4 'e heard a slight crepitation and sa' a spray o* yello' sparks. At this point diagnosis 'as easy4 it 'as iron!ceriu"% an alloy *ro" 'hich the co""on *lints o* cigarette lighters are "ade. But 'hy 'ere they so largeY Alberto% 'ho *or so"e 'eeks had 'orked as a laborer 'ith a sHuad o* 'elders% e0plained to "e that they 'ere "ounted on the tips o* o0yacetylene torches to ignite the *la"e. At this point I *elt skeptical about the co""ercial possibilities o* "y stolen goods4 they could perhaps be used to light a *ire% but in the La$er "atches DillegalE 'ere certainly not scarce. Alberto reproached "e. Kor hi" renunciation% pessi"is" discourage"ent 'ere abo"inable and culpable4 he did not accept the concentration ca"p universe% he rePected it both instinctively and 'ith his reason% and he did not let hi"sel* be tainted by it ,e 'as a "an o* good and strong 'ill% and "iraculously he had re"ained *ree% and his 'ords and his acts 'ere *ree4 he had not bo'ed his head% he had not bent his back. A gesture o* his% a 'ord% a s"ile had a liberating virtue% they 'ere a rip in the rigid *abric o* the La$er( and all those 'ho had contact 'ith hi" *elt this% even those 'ho did not understand his language. I believe that nobody% in that place% 'as loved as "uch as he 'as.

,e reproached "e4 you should never be disheartened% be! cause it is har"*ul and there*ore i""oral% al"ost indecent. I had stolen the ceriu"4 good% no' itGs a "atter o* launching it. ,e 'ould take care o* it% he 'ould turn it into a novelty% an article o* high co""ercial value. ro"etheus had been *oolish to besto' *ire on "en instead o* selling it to the"4 he 'ould have "ade "oney% placated Iove% and avoided all that trouble 'ith the vulture. Ve "ust be "ore astute. /his speech% about the necessity o* being astute% 'as not ne' bet'een usM Alberto had o*ten "ade it to "e% and be*ore hi" others in the *ree 'orld% and still "any others repeated it to "e later% an in*inite nu"ber o* ti"es do'n to today% 'ith a "odest resultM indeed% 'ith the parado0ical result o* developing in "e a dangerous tendency o* sy"biosis 'ith a truly astute person% 'ho obtained Dor *elt he obtainedE te"poral or spiritual advantages *ro" his co"panionship 'ith "e. Alberto 'as an ideal sy"biont% because he re*rained *ro" being astute at "y e0pense. I did not kno'% but he did Dhe al'ays kne' everything about everyone% and yet he didnGt kno' .er"an% or olish% and had very little KrenchE% that in the plant there 'as a clandestine industry o* cigarette lighters4 unkno'n cra*ts"en% at spare "o"ents% "ade the" *or i"portant persons and civilian 'orkers. &o' *lints are needed *or lighters% and they had to be o* a certain siFe4 'e had to thin do'n the rods I had. But ho' could 'e thin the" do'n% and ho' "uchY B)onGt "ake di**iculties%C he told "e. B 3eave it to "e. (ou Pust 'orry about stealing the rest o* the".C /he ne0t day I had no trouble in *ollo'ing AlbertoGs advice. Along about ten in the "orning the siren o* the Qlie$eralarmK the air!raid alar"Aburst out. It 'as nothing ne' by no'% but each ti"e this happened 'e *eltA 'e and everyoneAstruck by anguish to the "arro' o* our bones. It did not see" an earthly sound% it 'as not a siren like those in the *actories% it 'as a sound o* enor"ous volu"e 'hich% si"ultaneously and in cadence throughout the entire Fone% rose to a spas"odic% acute note and redescended to a thunderous gru"ble. It could not

have been a chance invention% since nothing in .er"any took place by chance% and in any case it 'as too "uch in con*or"ity 'ith the goal and background4 I have o*ten thought that it had been elaborated by so"e "alevolent "usician% 'ho locked in it *ury and 'eeping% the 'ol*Gs ho'ling at the "oon and the breath o* a typhoon4 Astol*oGs horn "ust have sounded like that. It provoked panic% not only because it announced the bo"bs to co"e but also because o* its intrinsic horror% al"ost the la"ent o* a 'ounded beast as all!enco"passing as the horiFon. /he .er"ans 'ere "ore *rightened than 'e 'ere by the bo"bings4 'e% irrationally% did not *ear the"% because 'e kne' that they 'ere not ai"ed at us but at our ene"ies. In the space o* a *e' seconds I *ound "ysel* alone in the lab% pocketed all the ceriu"% and 'ent out into the open to Poin "y IommandoC the sky already resounded 'ith the ru"ble o* bo"bers% and *ro" the" *ell% s'aying so*tly% yello' lea*lets 'hich bore atrocious 'ords o* derision4 Im @a#ch "ein Qett( 9che Ghr ins @ett3 -er 9rsch "a#m Jarm( Qlie$eralarm? 'hich% translated% ran4 &o lard in the gut At eight on the cotM Soon as the arse is 'ar" Air!raid alar"T Ve 'ere not per"itted to enter the air!raid shelters4 'e gathered in the vast areas not yet built up% around the ri" o* the plant. As the bo"bs began to *all% lying on the *roFen "ud and the sparse grass I *elt the s"all rods in "y pocket and "editated on the strangeness o* "y destiny% o* our destinies as leaves on a branch% and on hu"an destinies in general. According to Al! berto% the price o* a lighter *lint 'as eHuivalent to a ration o*

bread% that is% one day o* li*eM I had stolen at least *orty rods% *ro" each o* 'hich could be obtained three *inished *lints. /he total4 one hundred and t'enty *lints% t'o "onths o* li*e *or "e and t'o *or Alberto% and in t'o "onths the +ussians 'ould have arrived and liberated usM and *inally the ceriu" 'ould have liberated us% an ele"ent about 'hich I kne' nothing% save *or that single practical application% and that it belongs to the eHuivocal and heretical rare!earth group *a"ily% and that its na"e has nothing to do 'ith the 3atin and Italian 'ord *or 'a0 &iceraE% and it 'as not na"ed a*ter its discovererM instead it celebrates Dgreat "odesty o* the che"ists o* past ti"esTE the asteroid #eres% since the "etal and the star 'ere discovered in the sa"e year% 1891M and this 'as perhaps an a**ectionate!ironic ho"age to alche"ical couplings4 Pust as the Sun 'as gold and :ars iron% so #eres "ust be ceriu". /hat evening I brought into ca"p the s"all rods and Alberto a "etal plate 'ith a round hole4 it 'as the prescribed caliber to 'hich 'e had to thin do'n the rods in order to trans*or" the" into *lints and there*ore bread. Vhat then occurred should be Pudged 'ith caution. Alberto said that the rods "ust be reduced by scraping the" 'ith a kni*e% on the sly% so that no co"petitor could steal our secret. VhenY At night. VhereY In the 'ooden hut% under the blankets and on top o* the pallet *ull o* shavingsAthus running the risk o* starting a *ire and% "ore realistically% o* being hanged4 *or this 'as the punish"ent "eted out% a"ong other transgressions% to all those 'ho lit a "atch in the hut. -ne al'ays hesitates to Pudge *oolhardy actions% 'hether oneGs o'n or those o* others% a*ter they have proven to be success*ul4 perhaps there*ore they 'ere not *oolhardy enoughY -r perhaps it is true that there e0ists a .od 'ho protects children% *ools% and drunksY -r perhaps again these actions have "ore 'eight and "ore 'ar"th than those innu"erable other actions that have ended badly% and one tells the" "ore 'illinglyY But 'e did not ask ourselves such Huestions4 the La$er had

given us a craFy *a"iliarity 'ith danger and death% and risking the noose to eat "ore see"ed to us a logical% indeed an obvious choice. Vhile our co"panions slept% 'e 'orked 'ith the kni*e% night a*ter night. /he scene 'as so sad you could 'eep4 a single electric light bulb 'eakly lit the large 'ooden hut% and in the shado's% as in a vast cave% the *aces o* other "en 'ere visible% 'racked by sleep and drea"s4 tinged 'ith death% they 'orked their Pa's *uriously% drea"ing o* eating. :any o* the" had an ar" or a naked% skeletal *oot hanging over the side o* the bunk% others "oaned or talked in their sleep. But 'e t'o 'ere alive and did not give 'ay to sleep. Ve kept the blanket raised 'ith our knees and beneath that i"provised tent scraped a'ay at the s"all rods% blindly and by touch4 at each stroke you heard a slight crackle and sa' a spray o* yello' sparks spurt up. At intervals 'e tested to see i* the rod passed through the sa"ple hole4 i* it didnGt% 'e continued to scrapeM i* it did% 'e broke o** the thinned!do'n stub and set it care*ully aside. Ve 'orked *or three nights4 nothing happened% nobody noticed our activity% nor did the blanket or pallet catch *ire% and this is ho' 'e 'on the bread 'hich kept us alive until the arrival o* the +ussians and ho' 'e co"*orted each other in the trust and *riendship 'hich united us. Vhat happened to "e is described else'here. Alberto le*t on *oot 'ith the "aPority o* the prisoners 'hen the *ront dre' near4 the .er"ans "ade the" 'alk *or days and nights in the sno' and *reeFing cold% slaughtering all those 'ho could not go on4 then they loaded the" on open *reight cars% 'hich transported the *e' survivors to a ne' chapter o* slavery% Buchen'ald and :authausen. &or "ore than a *ourth o* those 'ho le*t survived the "arch. Alberto did not return% and not a trace re"ains o* hi"M a*ter the end o* the 'ar a "an *ro" his to'n% hal* visionary and hall crook% lived *or a nu"ber o* years on the "oney he "ade telling his "other *alse consolatory tales about hi".

CHRO$"#$
/he entree 'as *ish% but the 'ine 'as red. @ersino% head o* "aintenance% said that it 'as all a lot o* nonsense% provided the 'ine and *ish 'ere goodM he 'as certain that the "aPority o* those 'ho upheld the orthodo0 vie' could not% blind*olded% have distinguished a glass o* 'hite 'ine *ro" a glass o* red. Bruni% *ro" the &itro )epart"ent% asked 'hether so"ebody kne' 'hy *ish goes 'ith 'hite 'ine4 various Poking re"arks 'ere "ade but nobody 'as able to ans'er properly. -ld "an #o"etto added that li*e is *ull o* custo"s 'hose roots can no longer be traced4 the color o* sugar paper% the buttoning *ro" di**erent sides *or "en and 'o"en% the shape o* a gondolaGs pro'% and the innu"erable ali"entary co"patibilities and inco"patibilities% o* 'hich in *act the one in Huestion 'as a

particular case4 but in any event% 'hy 'ere pigGs *eet obligatory 'ith lentils% and cheese on "acaroni. I "ade a rapid "ental revie' to be sure that none o* those present had as yet heard it% then I started to tell the story o* the onion in the boiled linseed oil. /his% in *act% 'as a dining roo" *or a co"pany o* varnish "anu*acturers% and it is 'ell kno'n that boiled linseed oil has *or "any centuries constituted the *unda"ental ra' "aterial o* our art. It is an ancient art and there*ore noble4 its "ost re"ote testi"ony is in .enesis >414% 'here it is told ho'% in con*or"ity 'ith a precise speci*ication o* the Al"ighty% &oah coated Dprobably 'ith a brushE the ArkGs interior and e0terior 'ith "elted pitch. But it is also a subtly *raudulent art% like that 'hich ai"s at concealing the substratu" by con*erring on it the color and appearance o* 'hat it is not4 *ro" this point o* vie' it is related to cos"etics and adorn"ent% 'hich are eHually a"biguous and al"ost eHually ancient arts DIsaiah 741>E. .iven there*ore its pluri!"illenial origins% it is not so strange that the trade o* "anu*acturing varnishes retains in its crannies Ddespite the innu"erable solicitations it "odernly receives *ro" kindred techniHuesE rudi"ents o* custo"s and procedures abandoned *or a long ti"e no'. So% returning to boiled linseed oil% I told "y co"panions at table that in a prescription book published about 1946 I had *ound the advice to introduce into the oil% to'ard the end o* the boiling% t'o slices o* onion% 'ithout any co""ent on the purpose o* this curious additive. I had spoken about it in 1949 'ith Signor .iaco"asso -lindo% "y predecessor and teacher% 'ho 'as then "ore than seventy and had been "aking varnishes *or *i*ty years% and he% s"iling benevolently behind his thick 'hite "ustache% had e0plained to "e that in actual *act% 'hen he 'as young and boiled the oil personally% ther"o"eters had not yet co"e into use4 one Pudged the te"perature o* the batch by observing the s"oke% or spitting into it% or% "ore e**iciently% i""ersing a slice o* onion in the oil on the point o* a ske'erM 'hen the onion began to *ry% the boiling 'as *inished. Evidently% 'ith the passing o* the years% 'hat had been a crude

"easuring operation had lost its signi*icance and 'as trans! *or"ed into a "ysterious and "agical practice. -ld #o"etto told o* an analogous episode. &ot 'ithout nostalgia he recalled his good old ti"es% the ti"es o* copal gu"4 he told ho' once boiled linseed oil 'as co"bined 'ith these legendary resins to "ake *abulously durable and glea"ing var! nishes. /heir *a"e and na"e survive no' only in the locution Bcopal shoes%C 'hich alludes precisely to a varnish *or leather at one ti"e very 'idespread that has been out o* *ashion *or at least the last hal* century. /oday the locution itsel* is al"ost e0tinct. #opals 'ere i"ported by the British *ro" the "ost distant and savage countries% and bore their na"es% 'hich in *act distinguished one kind *ro" another4 copal o* :adagascar or Sierra 3eone or Uauri D'hose deposits% let it be said parentheti! cally% 'ere e0hausted along about 19>1E% and the very 'ell kno'n and noble #ongo copal. /hey are *ossil resins o* vegetable origin% 'ith a rather high "elting point% and in the state in 'hich they are *ound and sold in co""erce are insoluble in oil4 to render the" soluble and co"patible they 'ere subPected to a violent% se"i!destructive boiling% in the course o* 'hich their acidity di"inished Dthey decarbo0ylatedE and also the "elting point 'as lo'ered. /he operation 'as carried out in a se"i! industrial "anner by direct *ire in "odest% "obile kettles o* *our or si0 hundred poundsM during the boiling they 'ere 'eighed at intervals% and 'hen the resin had lost 1> percent o* its 'eight in s"oke% 'ater vapor% and carbon dio0ide% the solubility in oil 'as Pudged to have been reached. Along about 1949% the archaic copals% e0pensive and di**icult to supply during the 'ar% 'ere supplanted by phenolic and "aleic resins% both suitably "odi*ied% 'hich% besides costing less% 'ere directly co"patible 'ith the oils. @ery 'ell4 #o"etto told us ho'% in a *actory 'hose na"e shall not be uttered% until 1927 a phenolic resin% 'hich look the place o* the #ongo copal in a *or"ula% 'as treated e0actly like copal itsel*A that is% by consu"ing 1> percent o* it on the *ire% a"id pestilential phenolic e0halationsAuntil it had leached that solubility in oil 'hich the resin already possessed.

,ere at this point I re"e"bered that all languages are *ull o* i"ages and "etaphors 'hose origin is being lost% together 'ith the art *ro" 'hich they 'ere dra'n4 horse"anship having declined to the level o* an e0pensive sport% such e0pressions as Bbelly to the groundC and Btaking the bit in oneGs teethC are unintelligible and sound oddM since "ills 'ith superi"posed stones have disappeared% 'hich 'ere also called "illstones% and in 'hich *or centuries 'heat Dand varnishesE 'ere ground% such a phrase as B to eat like *our "illstonesC sounds odd and even "ysterious today. In the sa"e 'ay% since &ature too is con! servative% 'e carry in our coccy0 'hat re"ains o* a vanished tail. Bruni told us about an episode in 'hich he hi"sel* had been involved% and as he told the story% I *elt "ysel* invaded by s'eet and tenuous sensations 'hich later I 'ill try to e0plain. I "ust say *irst o* all that Bruni 'orked *ro" 1922 to 19>2 in a large *actory on the shores o* a lake% the sa"e one in 'hich I had learned the rudi"ents o* the varnish!"aking trade during the years 194> A41. So he told us that% 'hen he 'as do'n there in charge o* the Synthetic @arnishes )epart"ent% there *ell into his hands a *or"ula o* a chro"ate!based anti!rust paint that contained an absurd co"ponent4 nothing less than a""oniu" chloride% the old% alche"ical sal a""oniac o* the te"ple o* A""on% "uch "ore apt to corrode iron than preserve it *ro" rust. ,e had asked his superiors and the veterans in the depart"ent about it4 surprised and a bit shocked% they had replied that in that *or"ulation% 'hich corresponded to at least t'enty or thirty tons o* the product a "onth and had been in *orce *or at least ten years% that salt B had al'ays been in it%C and that he had his nerve% so young in years and ne' on the Pob% criticiFing the *actoryGs e0perience% and looking *or trouble by asking silly ho's and 'hys. I* a""oniu" chloride 'as in the *or"ula% it 'as evident that it had so"e sort o* use. Vhat use it had nobody any longer kne'% but one should be very care*ul about taking it out because Bone never kno's.C Bruni is a rationalist% and he took all this very badly% but he is a prudent "an% and so he accepted the advice% according to 'hich in that

*or"ulation and in that lakeshore *actory% unless there have been *urther develop"ents% a""oniu" chloride is still being put inM and yet today it is co"pletely useless% as I can state *ro" *irsthand e0perience because it 'as I 'ho introduced it into the *or"ula. /he episode cited by Bruni% the rustproo* *or"ula 'ith chro"ates and a""oniu" chloride% *lung "e back in ti"e% all the 'ay to the *reeFing cold Ianuary o* 194>% 'hen "eat and coal 'ere still rationed% nobody had a car% and never in Italy had people breathed so "uch hope and so "uch *reedo". But I had returned *ro" captivity three "onths be*ore and 'as living badly. /he things I had seen and su**ered 'ere burning inside o* "eM I *elt closer to the dead than the living% and *elt guilty at being a "an% because "en had built Ausch'itF% and Ausch'itF had gulped do'n "illions o* hu"an beings% and "any o* "y *riends% and a 'o"an 'ho 'as dear to "y heart. It see"ed to "e that I 'ould be puri*ied i* I told its story% and I *elt like #oleridgeGs Ancient :ariner% 'ho 'aylays on the street the 'edding guests going to the *east% in*licting on the" the story o* his "is*ortune. I 'as 'riting concise and bloody poe"s% telling the story at breakneck speed% either by talking to people or by 'riting it do'n% so "uch so that gradually a book 'as later born4 by 'riting I *ound peace *or a 'hile and *elt "ysel* beco"e a "an again% a person like everyone else% neither a "artyr nor debased nor a saint4 one o* those people 'ho *or" a *a"ily and look to the *uture rather than the past. Since one canGt live on poetry and stories% I looked *everishly *or 'ork and *ound it in the big lakeshore *actory% still da"aged *ro" the 'ar% and during those "onths besieged by "ud and ice. &obody 'as "uch concerned 'ith "e4 colleagues% the director% and 'orkers had other things to think aboutAthe son 'ho 'asnGt returning *ro" +ussia% the stove 'ithout 'ood% the shoes 'ithout soles% the 'arehouses 'ithout supplies% the 'indo's 'ithout panes% the *reeFing cold 'hich split the pipes% in*lation% *a"ine% and the virulent local *euds. I had been benignly granted a la"e!legged desk in the lab% in a corner *ull

o* crashing noise% dra*ts% and people co"ing and going carrying rags and large cans% and I had not been assigned a speci*ic task. I% unoccupied as a che"ist and in a state o* utter alienation Dbut then it 'asnGt called thatE% 'as 'riting in a haphaFard *ashion page a*ter page o* the "e"ories 'hich 'ere poisoning "e% and "y colleagues 'atched "e stealthily as a har"less nut. /he book gre' under "y hands% al"ost spontaneously% 'ithout plan or syste"% as intricate and cro'ded as an anthill. Every so o*ten% i"pelled by a *eeling o* pro*essional conscience% I 'ould ask to see the director and reHuest so"e 'ork% but he 'as "uch too busy to 'orry about "y scruples. I should read and studyM 'hen it ca"e to paints and varnishes I 'as still% i* I didnGt "ind his saying so% an illiterate. I didnGt have anything to doY Vell% I should praise .od and sit in the libraryM i* I really had the itch to do so"ething use*ul% 'ell% look% there 'ere articles to translate *ro" .er"an. -ne day he sent *or "e and 'ith an obliHue glint in his eyes announced that he had a little Pob *or "e. ,e took "e to a corner o* the *actoryGs yard% near a retaining 'all4 piled up at rando"% the lo'est crushed by the highest% 'ere thousands o* sHuare blocks o* a bright orange color. ,e told "e to touch the"4 they 'ere gelatinous and so*tishM they had the disagree! able consistency o* slaughtered tripes. I told the director that% apart *ro" the color% they see"ed to "e to be livers% and he praised "e4 thatGs Pust ho' it 'as described in the paint "anualsT ,e e0plained that the pheno"enon 'hich had produced the" 'as called Pust that in English% B liveringCM under certain conditions certain paints turned *ro" liHuids into solids% 'ith the consistency precisely o* the liver or lungs% and "ust be thro'n out. /hese parallelepiped shapes had been cans o* paint4 the paint had livered% the cans had been cut a'ay% and the contents had been thro'n on the garbage du"p. /hat paint% he told "e% had been produced during the 'ar and i""ediately a*terM it contained a basic chro"ate and alkyd resin. erhaps the chro"ate 'as too basic or the resin too acidic4 these 'ere e0actly the conditions under 'hich a BliveringC

can take place. All right% he "ade "e the gi*t o* that pile o* old sinsM I should think about it% "ake tests and e0a"inations% and try to say 'ith precision 'hy the trouble had occurred% 'hat should be done so that it 'as not repeated% and i* it 'ere possible to reclai" the da"aged goods. /hus set *orth% hal* che"istry and hal* police 'ork% the proble" attracted "e4 I 'as reconsidering it that evening Dit 'as Saturday eveningE as one o* the sooty% *reeFing *reight trains o* that period lugged "e to /urin. &o' it happened that the ne0t day destiny reserved *or "e a di**erent and uniHue gi*t4 the encounter 'ith a 'o"an% young and "ade o* *lesh and blood% 'ar" against "y side through our overcoats% gay in the hu"id "ist o* the avenues% patient% 'ise and sure as 'e 'ere 'alking do'n streets still bordered 'ith ruins. In a *e' hours 'e kne' that 'e belonged to each other% not *or one "eeting but *or li*e% as in *act has been the case. In a *e' hours I *elt reborn and replete 'ith ne' po'ers% 'ashed clean and cured o* a long sickness% *inally ready to enter li*e 'ith Poy and vigorM eHually cured 'as suddenly the 'orld around "e% and e0orciFed the na"e and *ace o* the 'o"an 'ho had gone do'n into the lo'er depths 'ith "e and had not returned. :y very 'riting beca"e a di**erent adventure% no longer the dolorous itinerary o* a convalescent% no longer a begging *or co"passion and *riendly *aces% but a lucid building% 'hich no' 'as no longer solitary4 the 'ork o* a che"ist 'ho 'eighs and divides% "easures and Pudges on the basis o* assured proo*s% and strives to ans'er Huestions. Alongside the liberating relie* o* the veteran 'ho tells his story% I no' *elt in the 'riting a co"ple0% intense% and ne' pleasure% si"ilar to that I *elt as a student 'hen penetrating the sole"n order o* di**erential calculus. It 'as e0alting to search and *ind% or create% the right 'ord% that is% co""ensurate% concise% and strongM to dredge up events *ro" "y "e"ory and describe the" 'ith the greatest rigor and the least clutter. arado0ically% "y baggage o* atrocious "e"ories beca"e a 'ealth% a seedM it see"ed to "e that% by 'riting% I 'as gro'ing like a plant.

In the *reight train o* the *ollo'ing :onday% sHueeFed in a sleepy cro'd bundled in scar*s% I *elt *ull o* Poy and alert as never be*ore or a*ter. I 'as ready to challenge everything and everyone% in the sa"e 'ay that I had challenged and de*eated Ausch'itF and loneliness4 disposed% especially% to engage in Poyous battle 'ith the clu"sy pyra"id o* orange livers that a'aited "e on the lakeshore. It is the spirit that do"inates "atter% is that not soY Vas it not this that they had ha""ered into "y head in the Kascist and .entile liceoY I thre' "ysel* into the 'ork 'ith the sa"e intensity that% at not so distant a period% 'e had attacked a rock 'allM and the adversary 'as still the sa"e% the not!I% the Button :older%W the hyleC stupid "atter% sloth*ully hostile as hu"an stupidity is hostile% and like it strong because o* its obtuse passivity. -ur trade is to conduct and 'in this inter"inable battle4 a livered paint is "uch "ore rebellious% "ore re*ractory to your 'ill than a lion in its "ad pounceM but% letGs ad"it it% itGs also less dangerous. /he *irst skir"ish took place in the archives. /he t'o part! ners% the t'o *ornicators *ro" 'hose e"brace had sprung our orange!colored "onsters% 'ere the chro"ate and the resin. /he resin 'as *abricated on the spot4 I *ound the birth certi*icate o* all the batches% and they did not o**er anything suspiciousM the acidity 'as variable% but al'ays in*erior to >% as prescribed. -ne batch that 'as *ound to have a p, o* >.6 had been duti*ully dis! carded by an inspector 'ith a *lo'ery signature. In the *irst in! stance the resin could not be *aulted. /he chro"ate had been purchased *ro" di**erent suppliers% and it too had been duly inspected batch by batch. According to urchase Speci*ication 489]9 it should have contained not less than 68 percent o* chro"iu" o0ide in allM and no' here% right be*ore "y eyes I had the inter"inable list o* tests *ro" Ianuary 1946 until today Done o* the least e0citing *or"s o* reading i"aginableE% and all the values satis*ied the speci*ication% indeed
WA character in IbsenGs Peer Rynt%

'ere eHual a"ong the"selves4 69.2 percent% not one percent "ore% not one less. I *elt "y inner being as a che"ist 'rithe% con*ronted by that abo"inationM in *act% one should kno' that the natural oscillations in the "ethod o* preparation o* such a chro"ate% added to the inevitable analytical errors% "ake it e0tre"ely i"probable that the "any values *ound in di**erent batches and on di**erent days could coincide so e0actly. ,o' co"e nobody had gotten suspiciousY But in *act at that ti"e I did not yet kno' the *rightening anesthetic po'er o* co"pany papers% their capacity to hobble% douse% and dull every leap o* intuition and every spark o* talent. It is 'ell kno'n to the scholarly that all secretions can be har"*ul or to0ic4 no' under pathological conditions it is not rare that the paper% a co"pany secretion% is reabsorbed to an e0cessive degree% and puts to sleep% paralyFes% or actually kills the organis" *ro" 'hich it has been e0uded. /he story o* 'hat had happened began to take shape. Kor so"e reason% so"e analyst had been betrayed by a de*ective "ethod% or an i"pure reagent% or an incorrect habitM he had diligently totted up those so obviously suspicious but *or"ally bla"eless resultsM he had punctiliously signed each analysis% and his signature% s'elling like an avalanche% had been consolidated by the signatures o* the lab chie*% the technical director% and the general director. I could see hi"% the poor 'retch% against the background o* those di**icult years4 no longer young% since all the young "en 'ere in the "ilitary servicesM perhaps chivied by the Kascists% perhaps hi"sel* a Kascist being looked *or by the partisansM certainly *rustrated% because being an analyst is a young "anGs PobM on guard in his lab 'ithin the *ortress o* his "inuscule specialty% since the analyst is by de*inition in*allibleM and derided and regarded 'ith a hostile eye outside the lab Pust because o* his virtues as an incorruptible guardian% a severe% pedantic% uni"aginative little Pudge% a stick poked in the 'heels o* production. /o Pudge *ro" the anony"ous% neat hand'riting% his trade "ust have e0hausted hi" and at the sa"e ti"e brought hi" to a crude per*ection% like a pebble in a "ountain

strea" that has been t'irled over and over all the 'ay to the strea"Gs "outh. It 'as not surprising that% 'ith ti"e% he had developed a certain insensitivity to the real signi*icance o* the operations he 'as per*or"ing and the notes he 'as 'riting. I planned to look into his particular case but nobody kne' anything "ore about hi"M "y Huestions 'ere "et 'ith dis! courteous or absent"inded replies. :oreover% I 'as beginning to *eel around "e and "y 'ork a "ocking and "alevolent curiosity4 'ho 'as this Iohnny!co"e!lately% this pipsHueak earning 1%999 lire a "onth% this "aniac scribbler 'ho 'as disturbing the nights o* the guest Huarters typing a'ay at .od kno's 'hat% and sticking his nose into past "istakes and 'ashing a generationGs dirty linenY I even had the suspicion that the Pob that had been assigned "e had the secret purpose o* getting "e to bu"p into so"ething or so"ebodyM but by no' this "atter o* the livering absorbed "e body and soul% tri*es et boya#LAin short% I 'as ena"ored o* it al"ost as o* that a*ore"entioned girl% 'ho in *act 'as a little Pealous o* it. It 'as not hard *or "e to procure% besides the Speci*ication Dthe urchase SE% also the eHually inviolable #S% the #heck!

ing Speci*ications4 in a dra'er in the lab there 'as a packet o* greasy *ile cards% type'ritten and corrected several ti"es by hand% each o* 'hich contained the 'ay to carry out a check o* a speci*ic ra' "aterial. /he *ile card on prussian blue 'as stained 'ith blue% the *ile card on glycerine 'as sticky% and the *ile card on *ish oil s"elled like sardines. I took out the *ile card on chro"ate% 'hich due to long use had beco"e sunrise% and read it care*ully. It 'as all rather sensible and in keeping 'ith "y not!so! *ar!o** scholastic notionsM only one point see"ed strange to "e. ,aving achieved the disintegration o* the pig"ent% it p rescribed adding t'enty!three drops o* a certain reagent. &o'% a drop is not so de*inite a unit as to enta il so de*inite a nu"erical coe**icientM and besides% 'hen all is said and done% the prescribed dose 'as absurdly high4 it 'ould have *looded the analysis% leading in any case to a result in keeping 'ith the speci*ication. I looked at the back o* the *ile cardM it

bore the date o* the last revie'% Ianuary 4% 1944M the birth certi*icate o* the *irst livered batch 'as on the succeeding Kebruary 66. At this point I began to see the light. In a dusty archive I *ound the #S collection no longer in use% and there% lo and behold% the preceding edition o* the chro"ate *ile card bore the direction to add B6 or 7C drops% and not B 6 7 C 4 the *unda"ental Bo rC 'as hal* erased and in the ne0t transcription had gotten lost. /he events "eshed per*ectly4 the revision o* the *ile card had caused a "istake in transcription% and the "istake had *alsi*ied all succeeding analyses% concealing the results on the basis o* a *ictitious value due to the reagentGs enor"ous e0cess and thus bringing about the acceptance o* ship"ents o* pig"ent 'hich should have been discardedM these% being too basic% had brought about the livering. But there is trouble in store *or anyone 'ho surrenders to the te"ptation o* "istaking an elegant hypothesis *or a certainty4 the readers o* detective stories kno' this Huite 'ell. I got hold o* the sleepy "an in charge o* the storeroo"% reHuested *ro" hi" all the sa"ples o* all the ship"ents o* chro"ate *ro" Ianuary 1944 on% and barricaded "ysel* behind a 'orkbench *or three days in order to analyFe the" according to the incorrect and correct "ethods. .radually% as the results lined up in a colu"n on the register% the boredo" o* repetitious 'ork 'as being trans*or"ed into nervous gaiety% as 'hen as children you play hide and seek and discover your opponent clu"sily sHuat! ting behind a hedge. Vith the "istaken "ethod you constantly *ound the *ate*ul 69.2 percentM 'ith the correct "ethod% the results 'ere 'idely dispersed% and a good Huarter% being in*erior to the prescribed "ini"u"% corresponded to the ship"ents 'hich should have been rePected. /he diagnosis 'as con*ir"ed% the pathogenesis discovered4 it 'as no' a "atter o* de*ining the therapy. /his 'as *ound pretty soon% dra'ing on good inorganic che"istry% that distant #artesian island% a lost paradise% *or us organic che"ists% bunglers% Bstudents o* gunksC4 it 'as necessary

to neutraliFe in so"e 'ay% 'ithin the sick body o* that varnish% the e0cess o* basicity due to *ree lead o0ide. /he acids 'ere sho'n to be no0ious *ro" other aspects4 I thought o* a""oniu" chloride% capable o* co"bining stably 'ith lead o0ide% producing an insoluble and inert chloride and *reeing the a""onia. /ests on a s"all scale gave pro"ising results4 no' Huick% *ind the chloride% co"e to an agree"ent 'ith the head o* the :illing )epart"ent% slip into a s"all ball "ill t'o o* the livers disgusting to see and touch% add a 'eighed Huantity o* the presu"ed "edicine% start the "ill under the skeptical eyes o* the onlookers. /he "ill% usually so noisy% started al"ost grudgingly% in a silence o* bad o"en% i"peded by the gelatinous "ass 'hich stuck to the balls. All that 'as le*t 'as to go back to /urin to 'ait *or :onday% telling the patient girl in 'hirl'ind style the hypotheses arrived at% the things understood at the lakeshore% the spas"odic 'aiting *or the sentence that the *acts 'ould pronounce. /he *ollo'ing :onday the "ill had regained its voice4 it 'as in *act crunching a'ay gaily 'ith a *ull% continuous tone% 'ithout that rhyth"ic roaring that in a ball "ill indicates bad "aintenance or bad health. I stopped it and cautiously loosened the bolts on the "anholeM there spurted out 'ith a hiss an a""oniacal pu**% as it should. /hen I took o** the cover. Angels and "inisters o* graceTAthe paint 'as *luid and s"ooth% co"pletely nor"al% born again *ro" its ashes like the hoeni0. I 'rote out a report in good co"pany Pargon and the "anage"ent increased "y salary. Besides% as a *or" o* recognition% I received the assign"ent o* t'o tires *or "y bike. Since the storeroo" contained several ship"ents o* perilously basic chro"ate% 'hich "ust also be utiliFed because they had been accepted by the inspection and could not be returned to the supplier% the chloride 'as o**icially introduced as an anti! livering preventive in the *or"ula o* that varnish. /hen I Huit "y Pob4 ten years 'ent by% the post'ar years 'ere over% the deleterious% too basic chro"ates disappeared *ro" the "arket% and "y report 'ent the 'ay o* all *lesh4 but *or"ulas are as holy

as prayers% decree!la's% and dead languages% and not an iota in the" can be changed. And so "y a""oniu" chloride% the t'in o* a happy love and a liberating book% by no' co"pletely useless and probably a bit har"*ul% is religiously ground into the chro"ate anti!rust paint on the shore o* that lake% and nobody kno's 'hy any"ore.

S#%&#R
3anFa hooked the bike to the rack% punched the ti"e card% 'ent to the boiler% put the "i0er in gear% and started the "otor. /he Pet o* pulveriFed naphtha ignited 'ith a violent thud% and a per*idious back*ire shot out Dbut 3anFa% kno'ing that *urnace% had gotten out o* the 'ay in ti"eE4 then it continued to burn 'ith a good% taut% *ull roar% like continuous thunder% 'hich covered the lo' hu" o* the "otors and trans"issions. 3anFa 'as still heavy 'ith the sleep and cold o* a sudden a'akening% he re"ained sHuatting in *ront o* the *urnace% 'hose red blaFe% in a succession o* rapid glea"s% "ade his enor"ous% craFed shado' dance on the back 'all% as in so"e pri"itive "ovie house. A*ter hal* an hour the ther"o"eter began to "ove% as it

should4 the hand o* burnished steel% slithering like a snail over the dark yello' *ace% ca"e to a stop at 92 degrees. /his too 'as right% because the ther"o"eter 'as o** by *ive degreesM 3anFa 'as satis*ied and obscurely at peace 'ith the boiler% the ther! "o"eter% and% in short% the 'orld and hi"sel* because all the things 'hich should happen 'ere happening% and because in the *actory he alone kne' that the ther"o"eter 'as o**4 perhaps another "an 'ould have given a boost to the *ire% or 'ould have started to *igure out 'ho kno's 'hat to "ake it rise to 199 degrees% as it 'as 'ritten on the 'orksheet. So the ther"o"eter halted *or a long ti"e at 92 degrees and then began to cli"b again. 3anFa re"ained close to the *ire% and since% 'ith the 'ar"th% sleep began pressing in on hi" again% he per"itted it so*tly to invade so"e o* the roo"s o* his con! sciousness. But not that 'hich stood behind his eyes and 'atched the ther"o"eter4 that "ust re"ain 'ide a'ake. Vith a sul*odiene one never kno's% but *or the "o"ent everything 'as going properly. 3anFa enPoyed the Huiet rest% going along 'ith the dance o* thoughts and i"ages that is the prelude to sleep% yet avoiding being overco"e by it. It 'as hot% and 3anFa sa' his ho"eto'nAhis 'i*e% his son% his *ield% the tavern. /he 'ar" breath o* the tavern% the heavy breath o* the stable. Vater trickled into the stable 'ith every rainstor"% 'ater that ca"e *ro" above% *ro" the haylo*tAperhaps *ro" a crack in the 'all% because all the roo* tiles Dhe had checked the" hi"sel* at EasterE 'ere in per*ect condition. /here is roo" *or another co'% but Dhere everything beca"e *ogged over by a "ist o* sketchy and un*inished calculationsE. Every "inute o* 'ork put ten lire into his pocket4 no' he *elt as i* the *ire 'as roaring *or hi"% that the "i0er 'as turning *or hi"% like a "achine to "ake "oney. -n your *eet% 3anFa% 'e have arrived at 189 degrees% 'eGve got to unbolt the kettle hatch and thro' in the B 414 but to go on calling it B 41 is really a big Poke 'hen the 'hole *actory kno's that it is sul*ur% and in ti"e o* 'ar% 'hen everything 'as lacking% "any took it ho"e and sold it on the black "arket to

the peasants 'ho dust the vines 'ith it. But i* thatGs ho' the boss 'ants it% thatGs 'hat he gets. ,e s'itched o** the *ire% slo'ed up the "i0er% unbolted the hatch% and put on the protective "ask% 'hich "ade hi" *eel like hal* a "ole and hal* a 'ild boar. /he B 41 'as already 'eighed out% in three cardboard bo0es4 he put it in cautiously and% despite the "ask% 'hich "ay have leaked a bit% i""ediately s"elled the dirty% sad s"ell that e"anated *ro" the "i0ture% and thought that "aybe the priest 'as right too% 'hen he said that in ,ell there is a s"ell o* sul*ur4 a*ter all% even the dogs donGt like it% everyone kno's that. Vhen he 'as *inished% he shut the door and started everything up again. At three in the "orning the ther"o"eter stood at 699 degrees4 it 'as ti"e *or the vacuu". ,e li*ted the black lever and the high% sharp racket o* the centri*ugal pu"p 'as superi"posed on the deep thunder o* the burner. /he needle o* the vacuu" gauge% 'hich stood vertical at Fero% began to *all% sliding to the le*t. /'enty degrees% *orty degrees4 good. At this point you can light a cigarette and take it easy *or "ore than an hour. So"e are *ated to beco"e "illionaires% and so"e are *ated to drop dead. ,e% 3anFa% 'as *ated Dand he ya'ned noisily to keep hi"sel* co"panyE to "ake night into day. As i* they too had guessed it% during the 'ar they had i""ediately shoved hi" into the great Pob o* staying up nights on the roo*tops to shoot planes out o* the sky. Vith a Pu"p he 'as on his *eet% his ears listening tensely and all his nerves in alar". /he clatter o* the pu"p had suddenly beco"e slo'er and "ore clogged% as though constrained4 and in *act% the needle o* the vacuu" gauge% like a threatening *inger% rose up to Fero% and% lookT degree by degree% it began to slide to the right. /hat 'as it% the kettle 'as building up pressure. B/urn it o** and run.C B /urn everything o** and run.C But he did not run4 he grabbed a 'rench and banged the vacuu" pipe along its entire length4 it had to be obstructed% there could be no other reason. Bang again and bang again4 nothing% the pu"p

continued to grind a'ay% and the needle bounced around at about a third o* an at"osphere. 3anFa *elt all his hairs standing on end% like the tail o* an enraged cat4 and he 'as enraged% in a "urderous% 'ild rage against the kettle% against that ugly% reluctant beast crouched on the *ire% 'hich lo'ed like a bull4 red hot% like an enor"ous hedgehog 'ith its Huills standing straight up% so that you do not kno' 'here to touch and seiFe it and you *eel like Pu"ping on it and kicking it to pieces. ,is *ists clenched and his head bursting% 3anFa 'as in a *renFy to open the hatch and let the pressure escapeM he began to loosen the bolts% and% lookT a yello'ish sli"e sHuirted hissing *ro" the crack together 'ith pu**s o* *oul s"oke4 the kettle "ust be *ull o* *oa". 3anFa sla""ed it shut% *illed 'ith an over'hel"ing desire to get on the phone and call the boss% call the *ire"an% call the ,oly .host to co"e out o* the night and give hi" a hand or at least advice. /he kettle 'as not built *or pressure and could e0plode *ro" one "o"ent to the ne0tM or at least thatGs 'hat 3anFa thought% and perhaps% i* it had been during the day or he hadnGt been alone% he 'ould not have thought that. But his *ear had turned into anger% and 'hen his anger had si""ered do'n it le*t his head cold and uncluttered. And then he thought o* the "ost obvious thing4 he opened the valve o* the suction *an% started it going% closed the vacuu" breaker% and stopped the pu"p. Vith relie* and pride because he had correctly *igured it out% he sa' the needle rise up all the 'ay to Fero% like a stray sheep that returns to the *old% and then slide gently do'n on the vacuu" side. ,e looked around% 'ith a great need to laugh and tell it to so"ebody and 'ith a *eeling o* lightness in all his li"bs. ,e sa' on the *loor his cigarette reduced to a long thin cylinder o* ash4 it had s"oked itsel*. It 'as *ive t'enty% da'n 'as breaking behind the shed o* e"pty barrels% the ther"o"eter pointed to 619 degrees. ,e took a sa"ple *ro" the boiler% let it cool% and tested it 'ith the reagent4 the test tube re"ained clear *or a *e'

seconds and then beca"e 'hite as "ilk. 3anFa turned o** the *ire% stopped the "i0er and the *an% and opened the vacuu" breaker4 he heard a long% angry hiss% 'hich gradually cal"ed do'n into a rustle% a "ur"ur% and then *ell silent. ,e scre'ed in the siphon pipe% started the co"pressor% and% gloriously% surrounded by 'hite pu**s o* s"oke and the custo"ary sharp s"ell% the dense Pet o* resin ca"e to rest in the collection basin% *or"ing a black shiny "irror. 3anFa 'ent to the "ain gate and "et #ar"ine% 'ho 'as co"ing in. ,e told hi" that everything 'as going 'ell% le*t hi" the 'ork orders% and began pu"ping up his bikeGs tires.

T"TAN"#$
/o Kelice Kantino

In the kitchen there 'as a very tall "an dressed in a 'ay :aria had never seen be*ore. -n his head he 'ore a boat "ade out o* a ne'spaper% he s"oked a pipe% and he 'as painting the closet 'hite. It 'as inco"prehensible ho' all that 'hite could be contained in so s"all a can% and :aria had a great desire to go over and look inside it. Every so o*ten the "an rested his pipe on the closet and 'histledM then he stopped 'histling and began to singM every so o*ten he took t'o steps back and closed one eye% and also at ti"es he 'ould go and spit in the garbage can% then he

rubbed his "outh 'ith the back o* his hand. In short he did so "any strange and ne' things that it 'as very interesting to stay there and 'atch hi"4 and 'hen the closet 'as 'hite% he picked up the pot and "any ne'spapers that 'ere on the *loor and car! ried everything ne0t to the cupboard and began to paint that too. /he closet 'as so shiny% clean% and 'hite that it 'as al"ost indispensable to touch it. :aria 'ent up to the closet% but the "an noticed and said% B)onGt touch. (ou "ustnGt touch.C :aria stopped in a"aFe"ent and asked% BVhyYC to 'hich the "an replied% B Because you shouldnGt.C :aria thought about that% and then asked again% B Vhy is it so 'hiteYC /he "an also thought *or a 'hile% as i* the Huestion see"ed di**icult to hi"% and then said in a deep voice% B Because it is titaniu".CW :aria *elt a delicious shiver o* *ear run through her% as 'hen in the *airy tale you get to the ogreM so she looked care*ully and sa' that the "an did not have knives either in his hand or near hi"4 but he could have one hidden. /hen she asked% B #ut 'hat on "eYCAa nd at this point he should have replied% B #ut your tongue.C Instead% he only said% B IG" not cutting anything4 this is titaniu".C In conclusion% he "ust be a very po'er*ul "an4 but he did not see" to be angry% but rather good!natured and *riendly. :aria asked hi"% B:ister% 'hatGs your na"eYC ,e replied% BKelice. B ,e had not taken his pipe out o* his "outh% and 'hen he spoke his pipe danced up and do'n but did not *all. :aria stood there *or a 'hile in silence% looking alternately at the "an and the closet. She 'as not at all satis*ied by that ans'er and 'ould have liked to ask hi" 'hy he 'as na"ed Kelice% but then she did not dare% because she re"e"bered that children "ust never ask 'hy. ,er *riend Alice 'as called Alice and 'as a child%

W/ he re are t'o untranslatable plays on 'ords on this page. Vh en the "an says Bt it an iu "C :aria hears the Italian 'ords Tita$lio due to the slurring caused b y h i s pipeM the 'ords "ean BI cut you.C Vh en she "uses over the si"ilarity o* Alice and Kelice% it is because s"all anchovies are called alice and because the t'o na"es have a si"ilarity to this and each other due to their Italian pronunciation % thus ahh:lee:chay( fay:lee:chay T RANS .

and it 'as really strange that a big "an like that should be called Kelice. But little by little% ho'ever% it began to see" natural to her that the "an should be called Kelice% and in *act she thought he could not have been called anything else. /he painted closet 'as so 'hite that in co"parison all the rest o* the kitchen looked yello' and dirty. :aria decided there 'as nothing 'rong in going to look at it up close% only look% 'ithout touching. But as she 'as approaching on tiptoe an une0pected and terrible thing happened4 the "an turned% and in t'o steps 'as beside herM he took out o* his pocket a 'hite chalk and dre' a circle on the *loor around :aria. /hen he said% B(ou "ust stay in there.C A*ter 'hich he struck a "atch% lit his pipe% "aking "any strange gri"aces 'ith his "outh% and resu"ed painting the cupboard. :aria sat on her heels and considered the circle *or a long ti"e and attentively4 but she beca"e convinced that there 'as no 'ay out. She tried to rub it at one spot 'ith her *inger and sa' that the chalk line actually disappearedM but she understood very 'ell that the "an 'ould not have regarded that syste" as valid. /he circle 'as evidently "agical. :aria sat on the *loor silent and HuietM every so o*ten she tried to reach *ar enough to touch the circle 'ith the tips o* her *eet and leaned *or'ard so *ar that she al"ost lost her balance% but she soon realiFed that there still 'as a good handGs breadth be*ore she could reach the closet or 'all 'ith her *ingers. So she Pust sat there and 'atched as gradually the cupboard% chairs% and table also beca"e 'hite and beauti*ul. A*ter a very long ti"e the "an put do'n his brush and paint pot and took the ne'spaper boat o** his head% and then you could see that he had hair like all other "en. /hen he 'ent out by the balcony and :aria heard hi" ru""aging around and tra"ping up and do'n in the ne0t roo". :aria began to call% B:isterTCA *irst in a lo' voice% then louder% but not too loud because at botto" she 'as a*raid that the "an "ight hear. Kinally the "an returned to the kitchen. :aria asked% B:ister%

can I co"e out no'YC /he "an looked do'n at :aria in the circle% laughed loudly% and said "any things that 'ere inco"prehensible% but he didnGt see" angry. At last he said% B(es% o* course% no' you can co"e out.C :aria looked at hi" perple0ed and did not "oveM then the "an picked up a rag and 'iped a'ay the circle very care*ully% to undo the enchant"ent. Vhen the circle had disappeared% :aria got up and le*t% skip! ping% and she *elt very happy and satis*ied.

ARSEN"C
,e had an unusual appearance *or a custo"er. /o our hu"ble and enterprising laboratory% hiring us to analyFe the "ost dispa! rate "aterials% ca"e all sorts o* people% "en and 'o"en% old and young% but all visibly "e"bers o* the large% a"biguous% and cunning net'ork o* co""erce. Anyone 'ho has the trade o* buying and selling is easily recogniFed4 he has a vigilant eye and a tense *ace% he *ears *raud or considers it% and he is on guard like a cat at dusk. It is a trade that tends to destroy the i""ortal soulM there have been courtier philosophers% lens!grinding phi! losophers% and even engineer and strategist philosophersM but no philosopher% so *ar as I kno'% 'as a 'holesaler or storekeeper. I received hi"% since E"ilio 'as not there. ,e could have been a peasant philosopher4 he 'as a robust and rubicund old

"an% 'ith heavy hands de*or"ed by 'ork and arthritisM his eyes looked clear% "obile% youth*ul% despite the large delicate bags that hung slackly under his eye sockets. ,e 'ore a vest% *ro" 'hose s"all pocket dangled a 'atch chain. ,e spoke ied"ontese% 'hich i""ediately "ade "e ill at ease4 it is not good "anners to reply in Italian to so"eone 'ho speaks in dialect% it puts you i""ediately on the other side o* a barrier% on the side o* the aristos% the respectable *olk% the B3uigini%C as they 'ere called by "y illustrious na"esakeMW but "y ied"ontese% correct in *or" and sound% is so s"ooth and enervated% so polite and languid% that it does not see" very authentic. Instead o* a genuine atavis" it see"s the *ruit o* diligent study% burning the "idnight oil over a gra""ar and dictionary. So in e0cellent ied"ontese 'ith 'itty Astian tones he told "e he had so"e sugar he 'anted B che"istriedC4 he 'anted to kno' 'hether it 'as or 'as not sugar% or i* perhaps there 'as so"e B *ilthC in it. Vhat *ilthY I e0plained that i* he 'as "ore speci*ic about his suspicions it 'ould *acilitate "y Pob% but he replied that he didnGt 'ant to in*luence "e% that I should "ake the analysis as best I could% he 'ould tell "e about his suspi!cions later. ,e le*t in "y hands a paper parcel containing a good hal* kilo o* sugar% told "e that he 'ould return the ne0t day% said goodbye% and le*t4 he did not take the elevator but 'alked cal"ly do'n the *our *lights o* stairs. ,e appeared to be a "an 'ithout an0ieties and 'ithout haste. Ve didnGt have "any custo"ers% 'e didnGt "ake "any analyses% and 'e didnGt "ake "uch "oney4 so 'e couldnGt buy "odern and rapid instru"ents% our *indings 'ere slo'% out analyses lasted "uch longer than nor"alM 'e didnGt even have a sign on the street% so the circle closed and there 'ere *e'er custo"ers yet. /he sa"ples le*t us *or analysis constituted a *ar *ro" negligible contribution to'ard our sustenance4 E"ilio and I took care not to let the" kno' that in general a *e' gra"s
WIn oth er 'ords % t he respectable % subservient "iddle class. / he Billustrious na"es ak eC is the ' riter % #arlo 3evi% 'ho e0presses hi"sel* on this score Huite eloHuently and vividly in his b ook The MatchTRANS.

'as enough and 'illingly accepted a litre o* 'ine or "ilk% a kilo o* spaghetti or soap% a packet o* a$nolotti% ,o'ever% given the patientGs history% that is% the old "anGs suspicions% it 'ould have been i"prudent to consu"e that sugar blindly% even Pust taste it. I dissolved a little in distilled 'ater4 the solution 'as turbidAthere 'as certainly so"ething 'rong 'ith it. I 'eighed a gra" o* sugar in the platinu" crucible Dthe apple o* our eyesE to incinerate it on the *la"e4 there rose in the labGs polluted air the do"estic and childish s"ell o* burnt sugar% but i""ediately a*ter'ard the *la"e turned livid and there 'as a "uch di**erent s"ell% "etallic% garlicky% inorganic% indeed contra! organic4 a che"ist 'ithout a nose is in *or trouble. At this point it is hard to "ake a "istake4 *ilter the solution% acidi*y it% take the Uipp% let hydrogen sul*ide bubble through. And here is the yello' precipitate o* sul*ide% it is arsenious anhydrideAin short% arsenic% the :asculinu"% the arsenic o* :ithridates and :ada"e Bovary. I spent the rest o* the day distilling pyruvic acid and speculat! ing on the old "anGs sugar. I do not kno' ho' pyruvic acid is prepared no' 'ith "odern "ethodsM at that ti"e 'e "elted sul*uric acid and soda in an ena"eled saucepan% obtaining bisul*ate 'hich to solidi*y 'e thre' on the bare *loor% and then ground it in a co**ee grinder. /hen 'e heated at 629 degrees centigrade a "i0ture o* the a*ore"entioned bisul*ate and tartaric acid% so that the latter dehydrated into pyruvic acid and 'as distilled. Kirst 'e atte"pted this operation in glass receptacles% bursting a prohibitive nu"berM then 'e bought *ro" a Punk "an ten "etal cannisters% 'hich ca"e *ro" the Allied Ar"y Surplus% the kind 'hich 'ere used *or gasoline be*ore the advent o* polyethylene% and 'hich proved to be suited to this purposeM since the custo"er 'as satis*ied 'ith the Huality o* the product and pro"ised *urther orders% 'e took the plunge and had the local blacks"ith build a crude cylindrical reactor o* sheet iron% eHuipped 'ith a hand! po'ered "i0er. Ve set it in a 'ell o* solid bricks% 'hich had on the botto" and sides *our resistors o* 1%999 'atts connected illegally upstrea"

to the "eter. I* a *ello' pro*essional is reading this% he should not be too surprised by this pre!#olu"bian and Punk!shop che"istry4 during those years 'e 'erenGt the only ones% nor the only che"ists% to live like this% and throughout the 'orld si0 years o* 'ar and destruction had brought about a regression in "any civil habits and attenuated "any needs% *irst o* all the need *or decoru". Kro" the end o* the condenser coil the acid *ell into the collector in heavy golden drops% re*racting like ge"s4 drop by drop% every ten drops one lira o* earnings. And "ean'hile I kept thinking o* the arsenic and the old "an% 'ho did not see" to "e the type to plot poisonings or even undergo the"% and I couldnGt *igure it out. /he "an returned the ne0t day. ,e insisted on paying the *ee% even be*ore kno'ing the result o* the analysis. Vhen I told hi" his *ace lit up 'ith a co"plicated% 'rinkled s"ile% and he said to "e% B IG" glad. I al'ays said it 'ould end up like this.C It 'as evident that he only 'aited *or the slightest solicitation *ro" "e to tell the story. I did not disappoint hi"% and this is the story% a tri*le *aded due to the translation *ro" essentially spoken language. BI a" a cobbler by trade. I* you start as a young "an% it is not a bad trade4 you sit% you donGt 'ork hard% and you "eet people you can talk to. #ertainly you donGt "ake a *ortune% youGre all day long 'ith other peopleGs shoes in your hands4 but you gel used to this% even to the s"ell o* old leather. :y shop is on @ia .ioberti at the corner o* @ia astrengo4 IGve been 'orking as a cobbler there *or thirty years. I a" the cobbler o* San SecondoM I kno' all the di**icult *eet% and to do "y 'ork all I need is "y ha""er and so"e t'ine. Vell% a young "an ca"e% not even *ro" hereabouts4 tall% good!looking% and *ull o* a"bitionM he set up a shop a stoneGs thro' a'ay and *illed it 'ith "achines. /o lengthen% to enlarge% to se'% to ha""er out soles% and 'ho kno's 'hat elseA I never 'ent to look% they told "e about it% ,e put cards 'ith his address and telephone nu"ber in all the ied"ontese% an

letter bo0es o* the neighborhood4 yes% sir% even a phone% as i* he 'ere a "id'i*e. B(ouGre sure to think that his business 'ent 'ell right a'ay. It did the *irst "onthsA a little out o* curiosity% a little to give us so"e co"petition% so"e custo"ers 'ent to hi"M also because at the start he kept his prices lo'4 but then he had to raise the" 'hen he sa' he 'as losing "oney. &o'% "ind% IG" saying all this 'ithout 'ishing hi" ill% IGve seen plenty like hi"% starting o** at a gallop and breaking their heads% cobblers and not only cobblers. But he% they told "e% 'ished "e ill4 they tell "e everything% and do you kno' 'hoY /he little old ladies% 'hose *eet hurt and 'ho no longer enPoy 'alking and have only one pair o* shoesM they co"e to "eAsit do'n% 'aiting *or "e to take care o* the proble"s% and "ean'hile they keep "e in*or"ed% tell "e all the ins and outs. B,e 'ished "e ill and 'as going around telling a lot o* lies about "e. /hat I resoled 'ith cardboard. /hat I get drunk every night. /hat I "ade "y 'i*e die *or the insurance. /hat a nail ca"e through the shoe o* one o* "y custo"ers and then he died o* tetanus. And so% 'ith things at this point% you can understand that I 'asnGt surprised too "uch 'hen one "orning% a"ong the dayGs shoes% I *ound this parcel. I i""ediately understood the sche"e% but I 'anted to "ake sure4 so I gave a little o* it to the cat% and a*ter t'o hours he 'ent in a corner and vo"ited. /hen I put another bit o* it in the sugar bo'l and yesterday "y daughter and I put it in the co**ee% and t'o hours later 'e both vo"ited. And no' I also have your con*ir"ation and IG" satis*ied.C B )o you 'ant to bring chargesY )o you need a declarationYC B&o % no. I told you% heGs only a poor devil and I donGt 'ant to ruin hi". Kor this trade% too% the 'orld is large and thereGs a place *or everyone4 he doesnGt kno' it% but I do.C BSo Y B B So to"orro' IGll send back the parcel by one o* "y little old ladies% together 'ith a note. In *act% n o A I think IGll bring it back "ysel*% so I can see the *ace he "akes and IGll e0plain t'o

or three things.C ,e looked around% as one 'ould in a "useu"% and then added% B (ours too is a *ine trade4 you need an eye and patience. And he 'ho hasnGt got the"% itGs best that he look *or so"ething else.C ,e said goodbye% picked up the parcel% and 'alked do'n 'ithout taking the elevator% 'ith the tranHuil dignity that 'as his by nature.

N"TROGEN
. . . and *inally there ca"e the custo"er 'eGd al'ays drea"ed o*% 'ho 'anted us as consultants. /o be a consultant is the ideal 'ork% the sort *ro" 'hich you derive prestige and "oney 'ithout dirtying your hands% or breaking your backbone% or running the risk o* ending up roasted or poisoned4 all you have to do is take o** your s"ock% put on your tie% listen in attentive silence to the proble"% and then youGll *eel like the )elphic oracle. (ou "ust then 'eigh your reply very care*ully and *or"ulate it in convoluted% vague language so that the custo"er also considers you an oracle% 'orthy o* his *aith and the rates set by the #he"istsG Society. /he drea" client 'as about *orty% s"all% co"pact% and obeseM he 'ore a thin "ustache like #lark .able and had tu*ts o* black

hairs every'hereAin his ears% inside his nostrils% on the backs o* his hands% and on the ridge o* his *ingers al"ost do'n to his *ingernails. ,e 'as per*u"ed and po"aded and had a vulgar aspect4 he looked like a pi"p or% better% a third!rate actor playing the part o* a pi"pM or a tough *ro" the slu""y outskirts. ,e e0plained to "e that he 'as the o'ner o* a cos"etics *actory and had trouble 'ith a certain kind o* lipstick. .ood% let hi" bring us a sa"pleM but no% he said% it 'as a particular proble"% 'hich had to be e0a"ined on the spotM it 'as better *or one o* us to visit and see 'hat the proble" 'as. /o"orro' at tenY /o"orro'. It 'ould have been great to sho' up in a car% but o* course i* you 'ere a che"ist 'ith a car% instead o* a "iserable returnee% a spare!ti"e 'riter% and besides Pust "arried% you 'ouldnGt spend ti"e here s'eating pyruvic acid and chasing a*ter dubious lipstick "anu*acturers. I put on the best o* "y Dt'oE suits and thought that it 'as a good idea to leave "y bike in so"e courtyard nearby and pretend I had arrived in a cab% but 'hen I entered the *actory I realiFed that "y scruples about prestige 'ere entirely inappropriate. /he *actory 'as a dirty% disorderly shed% *ull o* dra*ts% in 'hich a doFen i"pudent% indolent% *ilthy% and sho'ily "ade up girls crept about. /he o'ner gave "e so"e e0planations% e0hibiting pride and trying to look i"portant4 he called the lipstick B rouge%C the aniline B anelline%C and the benFoic aldehyde B adelaide.C /he 'ork process 'as si"ple4 a girl "elted certain 'a0es and *ats in an ordinary ena"eled pot% adding a little per*u"e and a little coloring% then poured the lot into a "inuscule ingot "old. Another girl cooled o** the "olds under running 'ater and e0tracted *ro" each o* the "olds t'enty s"all scarlet cylinders o* lipstickM other girls took care o* the asse"bly and packing. /he o'ner rudely grabbed one o* the girls% put his hand behind her neck to bring her "outh close to "y eyes% and invited "e to observe care*ully the outline o* her lipsAthere% you see% a *e' hours a*ter application% especially 'hen itGs hot% the lipstick runs% it *ilters up along the very thin lines that even young 'o"en have around their lips% and so it

*or"s an ugly 'eb o* red threads that blurs the outline and ruins the 'hole e**ect. I peered% not 'ithout e"barrass"ent4 the red threads 'ere indeed there% but only on the right hal* o* the girlGs "outh% as she stood there i"passively undergoing the inspection and che'ing A"erican gu". -* course% the o'ner e0plained4 her le*t side% and the le*t side o* all the other girls% 'as "ade up 'ith an e0cellent Krench product% in *act the product that he 'as vainly trying to i"itate. A lipstick can be evaluated only in this 'ay% through a practical co"parison4 every "orning all the girls had to "ake up 'ith the lipstick% on the right 'ith his% and on the le*t 'ith the other% and he kissed all the girls eight ti"es a day to check 'hether the product 'as kiss!proo*. I asked the tough *or his lipstickGs recipe% and a sa"ple o* both products. +eading the recipe% I i""ediately got the suspicion as to 'here the de*ect ca"e *ro"% but it see"ed to "e "ore advisable to "ake certain and let "y reply *all a bit *ro" on high% and I reHuested t'o daysG ti"e B*or the analyses.C I recovered "y bike% and as I pedaled along I thought that% i* this business 'ent 'ell% I could perhaps e0change it *or a "otorbike and Huit pedaling. Back at the lab% I took a sheet o* *ilter paper% "ade t'o s"all red dots 'ith the t'o sa"ples% and put it in the stove at 89 degrees centigrade. A*ter a Huarter o* an hour the s"all dot o* the le*t lipstick 'as still a dot% although surrounded by a greasy aura% 'hile the s"all dot o* the right lipstick 'as *aded and spread% had beco"e a pinkish halo as large as a coin. In "y "anGs recipe there 'as a soluble dyeM it 'as clear that% 'hen the heat o* the 'o"anGs skin Dor "y stoveE caused the *at to "elt% the dye *ollo'ed it as it spread. Instead% the other lipstick "ust contain a red pig"ent% 'ell dispersed but insoluble and there! *ore not "igrant4 I ascertained this easily by diluting it 'ith benFene and subPecting it to centri*ugation% and there it 'as% deposited on the botto" o* the test tube. /hanks to the e0perience I had accu"ulated at the lakeshore plant I 'as able to identi*y it4 it 'as an e0pensive pig"ent and not easy to

disperse% and besides% "y tough did not have any eHuip"ent suited to dispersing pig"ents. Kine% it 'as his headache% let hi" *igure it out% hi" 'ith his hare" o* girl guinea pigs and his revolting "etered kisses. Kor "y part% I had per*or"ed "y pro*essional servicesM I "ade a report% attached an invoice 'ith the necessary ta0 sta"ps and the picturesHue speci"en o* *ilter paper% 'ent back to the *actory% handed it over% took "y *ee% and prepared to say goodbye. But the tough detained "e4 he 'as satis*ied 'ith "y 'ork and 'anted to o**er "e a business deal. #ould I get hi" a *e' kilos o* allo0anY ,e 'ould pay a good price *or it% provided I co""itted "ysel* by contract to supply it only to hi". ,e had read% I no longer re"e"ber in 'hat "agaFine% that allo0an in contact 'ith the "ucous "e"brane con*ers on it an e0tre"ely per"anent red color% because it is not a superi"position% in short a layer o* varnish like lipstick% but a true and proper dye% as used on 'ool and cotton. I gulped% and to stay on the sa*e side replied that 'e 'ould have to see4 allo0an is not a co""on co"pound nor very 'ell kno'n% I donGt think "y old che"istry te0tbook devoted "ore than *ive lines to it% and at that "o"ent I re"e"bered only vaguely that it 'as a derivative o* urea and had so"e connection 'ith uric acid. I dashed to the library at the *irst opportunityM I re*er to the venerable library o* the $niversity o* /urinGs #he"ical Institute% at that ti"e% like :ecca% i"penetrable to in*idels and even hard to penetrate *or such *aith*ul as I. -ne had to think that the ad"inistration *ollo'ed the 'ise principle according to 'hich it is good to discourage the arts and sciences4 only so"eone i"pelled by absolute necessity% or by an over'hel"ing passion% 'ould 'illingly subPect hi"sel* to the trials o* abnegation that 'ere de"anded o* hi" in order to consult the volu"es. /he libraryGs schedule 'as brie* and irrational% the lighting di"% the *ile cards in disorderM in the 'inter% no heatM no chairs but unco"*ortable and noisy "etal stoolsM and *inally% the librarian 'as an inco"petent% insolent boor o* e0ceeding ugliness%

stationed at the threshold to terri*y 'ith his appearance and his ho'l those aspiring to enter. ,aving been let in% I passed the tests% and right a'ay I hastened to re*resh "y "e"ory as to the co"position and structure o* allo0an. ,ere is its portrait4

in 'hich - is o0ygen% # is carbon% , hydrogen% and & nitrogen. It is a pretty structure% isnGt itY It "akes you think o* so"ething solid% stable% 'ell linked. In *act it happens also in che"istry as in architecture that B beauti*ulC edi*ices% that is% sy""etrical and si"ple% are also the "ost sturdy4 in short% the sa"e thing happens 'ith "olecules as 'ith the cupolas o* cathedrals or the arches o* bridges. And it is also possible that the e0planation is neither re"ote nor "etaphysical4 to say Bbeauti*ulC is to say Bdesirable%C and ever since "an has built he has 'anted to build at the s"allest e0pense and in the "ost durable *ashion% and the aesthetic enPoy"ent he e0periences 'hen conte"plating his 'ork co"es a*ter'ard. #ertainly% it has not al'ays been this 'ay4 there have been centuries in 'hich BbeautyC 'as identi*ied 'ith adorn"ent% the superi"posed% the *rillsM but it is probable that they 'ere deviant epochs and that the true beauty% in 'hich every century recogniFes itsel*% is *ound in upright stones% shipsG hulls% the blade o* an a0% the 'ing o* a plane. ,aving recogniFed and appreciated the structural virtue o* allo0an% it is urgent that "y che"ical alter ego% so in love 'ith digressions% get back on the rails% 'hich is that o* *ornicating 'ith "atter in order to support "ysel*Aand today% not Pust "ysel*. I turned 'ith respect to the shelves o* the Uentralblatt and began to consult it year by year. ,ats o** to the .hemisches Uentralblatt C it is the "agaFine o* "agaFines% the "agaFine 'hich% ever since #he"istry e0isted% has reported in the *or" o*

*uriously concise abstracts all the articles dealing 'ith che"istry that appear in all the "agaFines in the 'orld. /he *irst years are slender volu"es o* 799 or 499 pages4 today% every year% they dish out *ourteen volu"es o* 1%799 pages each. It is endo'ed 'ith a "aPestic authorsG inde0% one *or subPects% one *or *or"ulas% and you can *ind in it venerable *ossils% such as the legendary "e"oir in 'hich our *ather Vohler tells the story o* the *irst organic synthesis or Sainte! #laire )eville describes the *irst isolation o* "etallic alu"inu". Kro" the Uentralblatt I ricocheted to @eilstein( an eHually "onu"ental encyclopedia continually brought up to date in 'hich% as in an -**ice o* +ecords% each ne' che"ical co"pound is described as it appears% together 'ith its "ethods o* preparation. Allo0an 'as kno'n *or al"ost seventy years% but as a laboratory curiosity4 the preparation "ethod described had a pure acade"ic value% and proceeded *ro" e0pensive ra' "aterials 'hich Din those years right a*ter the 'arE it 'as vain to hope to *ind on the "arket. /he sole accessible preparation 'as the oldest4 it did not see" too di**icult to e0ecute% and consisted in an o0idiFing de"olition o* uric acid. Iust that4 uric acid% the stu** connected 'ith gout% inte"perant eaters% and stones in the bladder. It 'as a decidedly unusual ra' "aterial% but perhaps not as prohibitively e0pensive as the others. In *act subseHuent research in the spick and span shelves% s"elling o* ca"phor% 'a0% and century!old che"ical labors% taught "e that uric acid% very scarce in the e0creta o* "an and "a""als% constitutes% ho'ever% 29 percent o* the e0cre"ent o* birds and 99 percent o* the e0cre"ent o* reptiles. Kine. I phoned the tough and told hi" that it could be done% he Pust had to give "e a *e' daysG ti"e4 be*ore the "onth 'as out I 'ould bring hi" the *irst sa"ple o* allo0an% and give hi" an idea o* the cost and ho' "uch o* it I could produce each "onth. /he *act that allo0an% destined to e"bellish ladiesG lips% 'ould co"e *ro" the e0cre"ent o* chickens or pythons 'as a thought 'hich didnGt trouble "e *or a "o"ent. /he trade o* che"ist D*orti*ied% in "y case% by the e0perience o* Ausch'itFE

teaches you to overco"e% indeed to ignore% certain revulsions that are neither necessary or congenital4 "atter is "atter% neither noble nor vile% in*initely trans*or"able% and its pro0i"ate origin is o* no i"portance 'hatsoever. &itrogen is nitrogen% it passes "iraculously *ro" the air into plants% *ro" these into ani"als% and *ro" ani"als to usM 'hen its *unction in our body is e0hausted% 'e eli"inate it% but it still re"ains nitrogen% aseptic% innocent. V e AI "ean to say 'e "a""alsA'ho in general do not have proble"s about obtaining 'ater% have learned to 'edge it into the urea "olecule% 'hich is soluble in 'ater% and as urea 'e *ree ourselves o* itM other ani"als% *or 'ho" 'ater is precious Dor it 'as *or their distant progenitorsE% have "ade the ingenious invention o* packaging their nitrogen in the *or" o* uric acid% 'hich is insoluble in 'ater% and o* eli"inating it as a solid% 'ith no necessity o* having recourse to 'ater as a vehicle. In an analogous *ashion one thinks today o* eli"inating urban garbage by pressing it into blocks% 'hich can be carried to the du"ps or buried ine0pensively. I 'ill go *urther4 *ar *ro" scandaliFing "e% the idea o* obtaining a cos"etic *ro" e0cre"ent% that is% a#r#m de stercore DBgold *ro" dungCE% a"used "e and 'ar"ed "y heart like a return to the origins% 'hen alche"ists e0tracted phosphorus *ro" urine. It 'as an adventure both unprecedented and gay and noble besides% because it ennobled% restored% and reestablished. /hat is 'hat nature does4 it dra's the *ernGs grace *ro" the putre*action o* the *orest *loor% and pasturage *ro" "anure% in 3atin laetamenA and does not laetari "ean Bto rePoiceCY /hatGs 'hat they taught "e in liceo( thatGs ho' it had been *or @irgil% and thatGs 'hat it beca"e *or "e. I returned ho"e that evening% told "y very recent 'i*e the story o* the allo0an and uric acid% and in*or"ed her that the ne0t day I 'ould leave on a business trip4 that is% I 'ould get on "y bike and "ake a tour o* the *ar"s on the outskirts o* to'n Dat that ti"e they 'ere still thereE in search o* chicken shit. She did not hesitateM she likes the countryside% and a 'i*e should *ollo' her husbandM she 'ould co"e along 'ith "e. It 'as a kind o* supple"ent to our

honey"oon trip% 'hich *or reasons o* econo"y had been *rugal and hurried. But she 'arned "e not to have too "any illusions4 *inding chicken shit in its pure state 'ould not be so easy. In *act it proved Huite di**icult. Kirst o* all% the *ollinaAthatGs 'hat the country people call it% 'hich 'e didnGt kno'% nor did 'e kno' that% because o* its nitrogen content% it is highly valued as a *ertiliFer *or truck gardensAthe chicken shit is not given a'ay *ree% indeed it is sold at a high price. Secondly% 'hoever buys it has to go and gather it% cra'ling on all *ours into the chicken coops and gleaning all around the threshing *loor. And thirdly% 'hat you actually collect can be used directly as a *ertiliFer% but lends itsel* badly to other uses4 it is a "i0ture o* dung% earth% stones% chicken *eed% *eathers% and chicken lice% 'hich nest under the chickensG 'ings. In any event% paying not a little% laboring and dirtying ourselves a lot% "y undaunted 'i*e and I returned that evening do'n #orso Krancia 'ith a kilo o* s'eated! over chicken shit on the bikeGs carrier rack. /he ne0t day I e0a"ined the "aterial4 there 'as a lot o* gangue% yet so"ething perhaps could be gotten *ro" it. But si"ultaneously I got an ideaM Pust at that ti"e% in the /urin sub'ay gallery an e0hibition o* snakes had opened4 Vhy not go and see itY Snakes are a clean species% they have neither *eathers nor lice% and they donGt scrabble in the dirtM and besides% a python is Huite a bit larger than a chicken. erhaps their e0cre"ent% at 99 percent uric acid% could be obtained in abundance% in siFes not too "inute and in conditions o* reasonable purity. /his ti"e I 'ent alone4 "y 'i*e is a daughter o* Eve and doesnGt like snakes. /he director and the various 'orkers attached to the e0hibition received "e 'ith stupe*ied scorn. Vhere 'ere "y credentialsY Vhere did I co"e *ro"Y Vho did I think I 'as sho'ing up Pust like that% as i* it 'ere the "ost natural thing% asking *or python shitY -ut o* the Huestion% not even a gra"M pythons are *rugal% they eat t'ice a "onth and vice versaM especially 'hen they donGt get "uch e0ercise. /heir very scanty shit is 'orth its 'eight in goldM besides% theyAand all e0hibitors and o'ners o*

snakesAhave per"anent and e0clusive contracts 'ith big phar! "aceutical co"panies. So get out and stop 'asting our ti"e. I devoted a day to a coarse si*ting o* the chicken shit% and anothe r t'o trying to o0idiFe the acid contained in it into allo0an. /he virtue and patience o* ancient che"ists "ust have been superhu"an% or perhaps "y ine0perience 'ith organic preparations 'as boundless. All I got 'ere *oul vapors% boredo"% hu"iliation% and a black and "urky liHuid 'hich irre"ediably plugged up the *ilters and displayed no tendency to crystalliFe% as the te0t declared it should. /he shit re"ained shit% and the allo0an and its resonant na"e re"ained a resonant na"e. /hat 'as not the 'ay to get out o* the s'a"ps4 by 'hat path 'ould I there*ore get out% I the discouraged author o* a book 'hich see"ed good to "e but 'hich nobody readY Best to return a"ong the colorless but sa*e sche"es o* inorganic che"istry.

T"N
It>s bad to be *oor( I 'as brooding as I held an ingot o* tin *ro" the Straits over the *la"e o* the gas Pet. @ery slo'ly the tin "elted% and the drops *ell 'ith a hiss into the 'ater o* a basin4 on the basinGs botto" a *ascinating "etallic tangle o* ever ne' shapes 'as *or"ing. /here are *riendly "etals and hostile "etals. /in 'as a *riend Anot only because% *or so"e "onths no'% E"ilio and I 'ere living on it% trans*or"ing it into stannous chloride to sell to the "anu*acturers o* "irrors% but also *or other% "ore recondite reasons4 because it "arries 'ith iron% trans*or"ing it into "ild tin plate and depriving it on that account o* its sanguinary Huality o* nocens Oerr#m3 because the hoenicians traded in it and it is to this day e0tracted% re*ined% and shipped

*ro" *abulous and distant countries Dthe Straits% precisely4 one "ight say the Sleepy Sonda Islands% the ,appy Isles and Archi! pelagosEM because it *or"s an alloy 'ith copper to give us bronFe% the respectable "aterial par e0cellence% notoriously perennial and 'ell establishedM because it "elts at a lo' te"perature% al"ost like organic co"pounds% that is% al"ost like usM and *inally% because o* t'o uniHue properties 'ith picturesHue% hardly credible na"es% never seen or heard Dthat I kno'E by hu"an eye or ear% yet *aith*ully handed do'n *ro" generation to generation by all the te0tbooksAthe B'eepingC o* tin and tin pest. (ou have to granulate tin so that a*ter'ard it can be easier to attack 'ith hydrochloric acid. So you asked *or it. (ou 'ere living under the 'ings o* that lakeshore *actory% a bird o* prey but 'ith broad% strong 'ings. (ou decided to get out *ro" under its protection% *ly 'ith your o'n 'ings4 'ell% you asked *or it. So *ly no'4 you 'anted to be *ree and you are *ree% you 'anted to be a che"ist and you are one. So no' grub a"ong poisons% lipsticks% and chicken shitM granulate tin% pour hydrochloric acidM concentrate% decant% and crystalliFe i* you do not 'ant to go hungry% and you kno' hunger. Buy tin and sell stannous chloride. E"ilio had "anaged to carve a lab out o* his parentsG apart"ent% pious% ill!advised% long!su**ering people. #ertainly% 'hen they let hi" take over their bedroo"% they had not *oreseen all the conseHuences% but thereGs no 'ay back4 no' the hall'ay 'as a storeroo" Pa""ed 'ith de"iPohns *ull o* concentrated hydrochloric acid% the kitchen stove Doutside o* "ealti"eE 'as used to concentrate the stannous chloride in beakers and si0! liter Erlen"eyer *lasks% and the entire apart"ent 'as invaded 'ith our *u"es. E"ilioGs *ather 'as a "aPestic% benign old "an 'ith a 'hite "ustache and a thunderous voice. ,e had had "any di**erent trades during his li*e% all adventurous or at least odd% and at seventy he still had a preoccupying avidity *or e0peri"entation. At that period he held the "onopoly o* the blood o* all the

cattle slaughtered at the old :unicipal Slaughterhouse on #orso Inghilterra4 he spent "any hours o* the day in a *ilthy cavern% its 'alls bro'n *ro" dried!up blood% its *loor soaked 'ith putre*ied "uck% and *reHuented by rats as large as rabbitsM even his invoices and ledgers 'ere stained 'ith blood. /he blood 'as turned into buttons% glue% *ritters% blood sausages% 'all paints% and polishing paste. ,e read e0clusively Arabic ne'spapers and "agaFines% 'hich he had sent *ro" #airo% 'here he had lived "any years% 'here he had had three sons% 'here he had de*ended% ri*le in hand% the Italian #onsulate *ro" an enraged "ob% and 'here his heart re"ained. ,e 'ent every day on his bicycle to orta alaFFo to buy herbs% sorghu" *lour% peanut *at% and s'eet potatoes4 'ith these ingredients and the slaughterhouse blood he cooked e0peri"ental dishes% a di**erent one each dayM he bragged about the" and "ade us taste the". -ne day he brought ho"e a rat% cut o** its head and pa's% told his 'i*e that it 'as a guinea pig% and had her roast it. Since his bicycle did not have a guard over the chain and the s"all o* his back had beco"e a bit sti**% he 'ould put clips on the cu**s o* his pants in the "orning and 'ouldnGt take the" o** all day. ,e and his 'i*e% the s'eet and i"perturbable Signora Ester% born in #or*u o* a @enetian *a"ily% had accepted our laboratory in their house% as i* keeping acids in the kitchen 'as the "ost natural thing in the 'orld. Ve 'ould carry the de"iPohns o* acid to the *ourth *loor in the elevatorM E"ilioGs *ather looked so respectable and authoritative that no tenant dared obPect. -ur laboratory looked like a Punk shop and the hold o* a 'haler. Apart *ro" over*lo's that% as I said% invaded the kitchen% the hall'ay% and even the bathroo"% the lab consisted o* a single roo" and the terrace. -n the terrace 'ere scattered the parts o* a ) UV "otorcycle 'hich E"ilio had bought dis"antled and 'hich% he said% he 'ould put together again so"edayM the scarlet gas tank 'as perched on the railing% and the "otor% inside a *ly net% rusted a'ay% corroded by our e0halations. /here 'ere also so"e tanks o* a""onia le*t over *ro" an epoch preceding "y arrival% during 'hich E"ilio "ade

ends "eet by dissolving gaseous a""onia in de"iPohns o* potable 'ater% selling the"% and be*ouling the neighborhood. Every'here% on the terrace and inside the apart"ent% 'as scattered an incredible a"ount o* Punk% so old and battered as to prove al"ost unrecogniFable4 only a*ter a "ore attentive e0a"ination could you distinguish the pro*essional obPects *ro" the do"estic ones. In the "iddle o* the lab 'as a large ventilation hood o* 'ood and glass% our pride and our only protection against death by gassing. It is not that hydrochloric acid is actually to0ic4 it is one o* those *rank ene"ies that co"e at you shouting *ro" a distance% and *ro" 'hich it is there*ore easy to protect yoursel*. It has such a penetrating odor that 'hoever can 'astes no ti"e in getting out o* its 'ayM and you cannot "istake it *or anything else% because a*ter having taken in one breath o* it you e0pel *ro" your nose t'o short plu"es o* 'hite s"oke% like the horses in EisensteinGs "ovies% and you *eel your teeth turn sour in your "outh% as 'hen you have bitten into a le"on. )espite our Huite 'illing hood% acid *u"es invaded all the roo"s4 the 'allpaper changed color% the doorknobs and "etal *i0tures beca"e di" and rough% and every so o*ten a sinister thu"p "ade us Pu"p4 a nail had been corroded through and a picture% in so"e corner o* the apart"ent% had crashed to the *loor. E"ilio ha""ered in a ne' nail and hung the picture back in its place. So 'e 'ere dissolving tin in hydrochloric acid4 then the solution had to be concentrated to a particular speci*ic 'eight and le*t to crystalliFe by cooling. /he stannous chloride separated in s"all% pretty pris"s% colorless and transparent. Since the crystalliFation 'as slo'% it reHuired "any receptacles% and since hydrochloric acid corrodes all "etals% these receptacles had to be glass or cera"ic. In the period 'hen there 'ere "any orders% 'e had to "obiliFe reserve receptacles% in 'hich *or that "atter E"ilioGs house 'as rich4 a soup tureen% an ena"eled iron pressure cooker% an Art &ouveau chandelier% and a cha"ber pot. /he "orning a*ter% the chloride is gathered and set to drain4

and you "ust be very care*ul not to touch it 'ith your hands or it saddles you 'ith a truly disgusting s"ell. /his salt% in itsel*% is odorless% but it reacts in so"e "anner 'ith the skin% perhaps reducing the keratinGs disul*ide bridges and giving o** a persis! tent "etallic stench that *or several days announces to all that you are a che"ist. It is aggressive but also delicate% like certain unpleasant sports opponents 'ho 'hine 'hen they lose4 you canGt *orce it% you have to let it dry out in the air in its o'n good ti"e. I* you try to 'ar" it up% even in the "ildest "anner% *or e0a"ple% 'ith a hair dryer or on the radiator% it loses its crystalliFation 'ater% beco"es opaHue% and *oolish custo"ers no longer 'ant it. Koolish because it 'ould suit the" *ine4 'ith less 'ater there is "ore tin and there*ore "ore o* a yieldM but thatGs ho' it is% the custo"er is al'ays right% especially 'hen he kno's little che"istry% as is precisely the case 'ith "irror "anu*acturers. &othing o* the generous good nature o* tin% IoveGs "etal% survives in its chloride Dbesides% chlorides in general are rabble% *or the "ost part ignoble by!products% hygroscopic% not good *or "uch4 'ith the single e0ception o* co""on salt% 'hich is a co"pletely di**erent "atterE. /his salt is an energetic reducing agent% that is to say% it is eager to *ree itsel* o* t'o o* its electrons and does so on the slightest prete0t% so"eti"es 'ith disastrous results4 Pust a single splash o* the concentrated solution% 'hich dripped do'n "y pants% 'as enough to cut the" cleanly like the blo' o* a sci"itarM and this 'as right a*ter the 'ar% and I had no other pants e0cept "y Sunday best% and there 'asnGt "uch "oney in the house. I 'ould never have le*t the lakeshore *actory% and I 'ould have stayed there *or all eternity correcting varnishesG de*or"ities% i* E"ilio had not insisted% praising adventure and the glories o* a *ree pro*ession. I had Huit "y Pob 'ith absurd sel*! assurance% distributing to "y colleagues and superiors a testa"ent 'ritten in Huatrains *ull o* gay i"pudence4 I 'as Huite a'are o* the risk I 'as running% but I kne' that the license to "ake "istakes beco"es "ore li"ited 'ith the passing o* the

years% so he 'ho 'ants to take advantage o* it "ust not 'ait too long. -n the other hand% one "ust not 'ait too long to realiFe that a "istake is a "istake4 at the end o* each "onth 'e did our accounts% and it 'as beco"ing ever "ore obvious that "an does not live by stannous chloride aloneM or at least I did not% since I had Pust "arried and had no authoritative patriarch behind "e. Ve didnGt surrender right a'ayM 'e racked our brains *or a good "onth in an e**ort to obtain vanillin *ro" eugenol 'ith an output that 'ould per"it us to live% and didnGt succeedM 'e secreted several hundred kilos o* pyruvic acid% produced 'ith eHuip"ent *or troglodytes and a 'ork schedule *or slaves% a*ter 'hich I hoisted the 'hite *lag. I had to *ind a Pob% even i* it "eant going back to varnishes. E"ilio accepted the co""on de*eat and "y desertion 'ith sorro' but like a "an. Kor hi" it 'as di**erent4 in his veins ran the paternal blood% rich in re"ote piratic *er"ents% "ercantile initiatives% and a restless *renFy *or the ne'. ,e 'as not a*raid o* "aking "istakes% nor o* changing his trade% the place% and the style o* his li*e every si0 "onths% nor o* beco"ing poorM nor did he have any caste hang!ups% nor did he *eel ill at ease about going around on his tricycle and in gray overalls to deliver our laborious chloride to custo"ers. ,e accepted% and the ne0t day he already had in "ind other ideas% other deals 'ith people "ore e0perienced than I% and i""ediately set about dis"antling the laboratory% and he 'asnGt even all that sad% 'hereas I 'as and *elt like crying% or o* ho'ling at the "oon as dogs do 'hen they see the suitcases being closed. Ve proceeded to carry out the "elancholy task helped Dor% better% distracted and i"pededE by Signor Sa"uele and Signora Ester. /here ca"e to light *a"ily utensils% sought in vain *or years% and other e0otic obPects% buried geologically in the apart"entGs recesses4 the breechblock o* a Beretta 78 to""y gun D*ro" the days 'hen E"ilio had been a partisan and roa"ed the "ountain valleys% distributing spare parts to the bandsE% an illu"inated Uoran% a very long porcelain pipe% a da"ascened s'ord 'ith a hilt inlaid 'ith silver% and an avalanche o* yello'ed papers. A"ong these

rose to the sur*aceAand I appropriated it greedilyAa procla! "ation decree o* 1182 in 'hich K. /o". 3orenFo :atteucci% .eneral InHuisitor o* the Ancona )istrict% especially delegated against the heretical depravity% 'ith "uch co"placency and little clarity% B orders% prohibits% and severely co""ands% that no Ie' shall have the te"erity to take 3essons *ro" #hristians *or any kind o* Instru"ent% and "uch less that o* )ancing.C Ve put o** until the ne0t day the "ost anguishing Pob% the dis"antling o* the ventilation hood. )espite E"ilioGs opinion% it 'as i""ediately clear that our e**orts 'ould not be su**icient. It 'as pain*ul to dra*t a couple o* carpenters% 'ho" E"ilio ordered to build a contraption *it to uproot the hood *ro" its anchorage 'ithout dis"e"bering it4 in su"% this hood 'as a sy"bol% the sign o* a pro*ession and condition% indeed an art% and should have been deposited in the courtyard intact and in its integrity% so as to *ind a ne' li*e and use in a still unde*ined *uture. A sca**olding 'as built% a block and tackle 'ere set up% and guide ropes 'ere strung. Vhile E"ilio and I 'atched the *unereal cere"ony *ro" the courtyard% the hood issued sole"nly *ro" the 'indo'% hovered ponderously% outlined sharply against the gray sky o* @ia :assena% 'as skill*ully hooked onto the chain o* the block and tackle% and the chain groaned once and broke. /he hood plunged *our *loors to our *eet and 'as reduced to shards o* 'ood and glassM it still s"elled o* eugenol and pyruvic acid% and 'ith it our 'ill and daring *or enterprise 'as also reduced to shards. In the brie* instants o* the *light the instinct o* sel*! preservation "ade us take a leap back'ard. E"ilio said% BI thought it 'ould "ake "ore noise.C

#RAN"#$
-ne cannot e"ploy Pust anyone to do the 'ork o* #usto"ersG Service. It is a delicate and co"ple0 Pob% not "uch di**erent *ro" that o* diplo"ats4 to per*or" it 'ith success you "ust in*use *aith in the custo"ers% and there*ore it is indispensable to have *aith in yoursel* and in the products you sellM it is there*ore a salutary activity% 'hich helps you to kno' yoursel* and strengthens your character. It is perhaps the "ost hygienic o* the specialities that constitute the decathlon o* the *actory che"ist4 the speciality that best trains hi" in eloHuence and i"provisation% pro"pt re*le0es% and the ability to understand and "ake yoursel* understoodM besides% you get a chance to travel about Italy and the 'orld% and it brings you into contact 'ith all sorts o* people. I "ust also "ention another peculiar

and bene*icent conseHuence o* #S4 by pretending to estee" and like your *ello' "en% a*ter a *e' years in this trade you 'ind up really doing so% Pust as so"eone 'ho *eigns "adness *or a long ti"e actually beco"es craFy. In the "aPority o* cases% at the *irst contact you have to acHuire or conHuer a position superior to that o* your interlocutor4 but conHuer it Huietly% graciously% 'ithout *rightening hi" or pulling rank. ,e "ust *eel you are superior% but Pust a little4 reachable% co"prehensible. &ever% but never% *or instance% talk che"istry 'ith a non!che"ist4 this is the AB# o* the trade. But the opposite danger is "uch "ore serious% that the custo"er outranks you4 and this can easily happen% because he plays at ho"e% that is% he puts the products youGre selling hi" to practical use% and so he kno's their virtues and de*ects as a 'i*e kno's her husbandGs% 'hile usually you have only a painless% disinterested% o*ten opti"istic kno'ledge o* the"% acHuired in the lab or during their production. /he "ost *avorable constel! lation is that in 'hich you can present yoursel* as a bene*actor% in 'hatever 'ay4 by convincing hi" that your product satis*ies an old need or desire o* his% perhaps overlookedM that% having taken everything into account% at the end o* the year it 'ould prove to cost less than the co"petitionGs product% 'hich "ore! over% as is kno'n% 'orks 'ell at *irst but% 'ell% I donGt really 'ant to go into it. (ou can% ho'ever% assist hi" also in di**erent 'ays Dand here the i"agination o* the #S candidate is revealedE4 by solving a technical proble" *or hi" that has little or nothing to do 'ith your business4 *urnishing hi" 'ith an addressM inviting hi" to dinner in a typical restaurantM sho'ing hi" your city and helping hi" or advising hi" on the purchase o* souvenirs *or his 'i*e or girl*riendM *inding hi" at the last "o"ent a ticket in the stadiu" *or the local soccer "atch DthatGs right% 'e do this tooE. :y Bologna colleague has a collection o* dirty stories continually brought up to date% and revie's the" diligently together 'ith the technical bulletins be*ore setting out on his sales trip in the cities and provinceGsM since he has a *aulty "e"ory% he keeps a record o* 'hich he has

told to 'ho"% because to ad"inister the sa"e Poke t'ice to the sa"e person 'ould be a serious "istake. All these things are learned through e0perience% but there are technical sales"en 'ho see" born to it% born #S like Athena. /his is not "y case% and I a" sadly conscious o* it4 'hen it *alls to "e to 'ork in #S% at the o**ice or traveling% I do it un'illingly% 'ith hesitation% co"punction% and little hu"an 'ar"th. Vorse4 I tend to be brusHue and i"patient 'ith custo"ers 'ho are i"patient and brusHue% and to be "ild and yielding 'ith suppliers 'ho% being in their turn #Ss% prove to be Pust that% yielding and "ild. In short% I a" not a good #S% and I *ear that by no' it is too late *or "e to beco"e one. /abasso had said to "e% B.o to ^^^^^^^^^^ and ask *or Bonino% 'ho is the head o* the depart"ent. ,eGs a *ine "an% already kno's our products% everything has al'ays gone 'ell% heGs no genius% 'e havenGt called on hi" *or three "onths. (ou 'ill see that you 'onGt have any technical di**icultiesM and i* he begins to talk prices% Pust keep to generalities4 tell hi" that youGll report to us and itGs not your Pob. . .C I had "ysel* announcedM they gave "e a *or" to *ill out and handed "e a badge to stick to "y lapel% 'hich characteriFed you as an outsider and i""uniFed you against reactions o* rePection on the part o* the guards. /hey had "e sit do'n in a 'aiting roo"M a*ter not "ore than *ive "inutes Bonino appeared and led "e to his o**ice. /his is an e0cellent sign% and it doesnGt al'ays go like this4 there are people 'ho% coldly% "ake a #S 'ait *or thirty or *orty "inutes even i* there is an appoint"ent% 'ith the deliberate ai" o* putting hi" do'n and i"posing their superior rankM it is the sa"e goal ai"ed at% 'ith "ore ingenious and "ore obscene techniHues% by the baboons in the big ditch in the Foo. But the analogy is "ore general4 all o* a #SGs strategies and tactics can be described in ter"s o* se0ual courtship. In both cases itGs a one!to!one relationshipM a courtship or negotiation a"ong three persons 'ould be unthinkable. In both cases one notes at the beginning a kind o* dance or

ritualiFed opening in 'hich the buyer accepts the seller only i* the latter adheres rigidly to the traditional cere"onialM i* this takes place% the buyer Poins the dance% and i* the enPoy"ent is "utual% "ating is attained% that is% the purchase% to the visible satis*action o* the t'o partners. /he cases o* unilateral violence are rareM not by chance are they o*ten described in ter"s borro'ed *ro" the se0ual sphere. Bonino 'as a round little "an% untidy% vaguely canine% care! lessly shaved% and 'ith a toothless s"ile. I introduced "ysel* and initiated the propitiatory dance% but right o** he said% B Ah yes% youGre the *ello' 'ho 'rote a book.C I "ust con*ess "y 'eakness4 this irregular opening does not displease "e% although it is not very use*ul to the co"pany I representM indeed% at this point the conversation tends to degenerate% or at least lose itsel* in ano"alous considerations% 'hich distract *ro" the purpose o* the visit and 'aste pro*essional ti"e. BItGs really a *ine novel%C Bonino continued. BI read it during "y vacation% and I also got "y 'i*e to read itM but not the children% because it "ight *righten the".B /hese opinions usually irritate "e% but 'hen one is in the #S role one "ust not be too discri"inating4 I thanked hi" urbanely and tried to bring the conversation back on the proper tracks% that is% our varnishes. Bonino put up so"e resistance. BIust as you see "e% I also risked *inishing up like you did. /hey had already shut "e up in the barrackGs courtyard% on #orso -rbassano4 but at a certain point I sa' hi" co"e in% you kno' very 'ell 'ho I "ean% and then% 'hile nobody sa' "e% I cli"bed the 'all% thre' "ysel* do'n on the other side% 'hich 'as a good *ive "eters% and took o**. /hen I 'ent to @al Susa 'ith the Badogliani.CW I had never heard a Badogliano call the Badogliani Badogliani% I set up "y de*enses and% in *act% caught "ysel* taking a deep breath% as so"eone does 'hen preparing *or a long i""ersion.

W/ he group% a*ter the collapse o* :ussoliniGs govern"ent in Septe"ber 1947 % that supported .eneral Badoglio% 'ho in turn supported the UingATRANS.

It 'as clear that BoninoGs story 'ould be *ar *ro" brie*4 but I re"e"bered ho' "any long stories I "ysel* had in*licted on people% on those 'ho 'anted to listen and those 'ho didnGt. I re"e"bered that it is 'ritten D)euterono"y 19419E4 B3ove ye there*ore the stranger4 *or ye 'ere strangers in the land o* Egypt%C and I settled back co"*ortably in "y chair. Bonino 'as not a good storyteller4 he roa"ed% repeated hi"sel*% "ade long digressions% and digressions inside digressions. Besides% he had the curious bad habit o* o"itting the subPect o* so"e sentences and replacing it 'ith a personal pronoun% 'hich rendered his discourse even "ore nebulous. As he 'as speaking% I distractedly e0a"ined the roo" 'here he had received "e4 evidently his o**ice *or "any years% because it looked neglected and untidy like hi". /he 'indo's 'ere o**ensively dirty% the 'alls 'ere gri"y 'ith soot% the gloo"y s"ell o* stale tobacco stagnated in the air. +usty nails 'ere driven into the 'alls4 so"e apparently useless% others holding up yello'ed sheets. -ne o* these% 'hich could be read *ro" "y observation post% began like this4 BS $ B I E # / 4 +ags. Vit h ever greater *reHuency. . . . B Else'here you could see used raFor blades% soccer pool slips% "edical insurance *or"s% picture postcards. B. . . so then he told "e that I should 'alk behind hi"% no in *act ahead o* hi"4 it 'as he 'ho 'as behind "e% a pistol pointed at "e. /hen the other guy arrived% his crony% 'ho 'as 'aiting *or hi" around the cornerM and bet'een the t'o o* the" they took "e to @ia Asti% you kno' 'hat I "ean% 'here there 'as Aloisio S"it. ,e 'ould send *or "e every so o*ten and say talk talk because your pals have already talked and thereGs no point playing the hero. . . .C -n BoninoGs desk there 'as a horrible reproduction in a light alloy o* the 3eaning /o'er o* isa. /here 'as also an ashtray "ade *ro" a seashell% *ull o* cigarette butts and cherry pits% and an alabaster penholder shaped like @esuvius. It 'as a pathetic desk% not "ore than 9.> sHuare "eters at a generous esti"ate. I here is not a seasoned #S 'ho does not kno' this sad science

o* the desk4 perhaps not at a conscious level% but in the *or" o* a conditioned re*le0% a scanty desk ine0orably proclai"s a lo'ly occupantM as *or that clerk 'ho% 'ithin eight or ten days a*ter being hired% has not been able to conHuer a desk% 'ell% he is a lost "an4 he cannot count on "ore than a *e' 'eeksG survival% like a her"it crab 'ithout a shell. -n the other hand% I have kno'n people 'ho at the end o* their careers disposed o* a sur*ace o* seven or eight sHuare "eters 'ith a polyester gloss% obviously e0cessive but a proper e0pression in code o* the e0tent o* their po'er. Vhat obPects rest on the desk is not i"portant Huantitatively4 there is the "an 'ho e0presses his authority by "aintaining on its sur*ace the greatest disorder and the greatest accu"ulation o* stationeryM there is on the contrary the "an 'ho% "ore subtly% i"poses his rank by a void and "eticulous cleanliness4 thatGs 'hat :ussolini did% so they say% at @eneFia. B. . . but all these "en 'ere not a'are that in "y belt I had a pistol too. Vhen they began to torture "e% I pulled it out% "ade the" all stand *acing the 'all% and I got out. But he . . .C ,e 'hoY I 'as perple0edM the story 'as getting "ore and "ore garbled% the clock 'as running% and though it is true that the custo"er is al'ays right% thereGs also a li"it to selling oneGs soul and to *idelity to the co"panyGs orders4 beyond this li"it you "ake yoursel* ridiculous. B. . . as *ar as I could4 a hal* hour% and I 'as already in the +ivoli section. I 'as 'alking along the road% and there 'hat do I see landing in the *ields nearby but a .er"an plane% a Stork% the kind that can land in *i*ty "eters. /'o "en get out% very polite% and ask "e please 'hich 'ay to S'itFerland. I happen to kno' these places and I ans'ered right o**4 straight ahead% like that% to :ilan and then turn le*t. <-an"e(> they ans'er% and get back in the planeM then one o* the" has a second thought% ru""ages under his seat% gets out% and co"es over to "e holding so"e thing like a rock in his handM he hands it to "e and says% </his is *or your trouble4 take good care o* it% itGs uraniu".G (ou understand% it 'as the end o* the 'ar% by no' they *elt lost alaFFo

they no longer had the ti"e to "ake the ato"ic bo"b and they didnGt need uraniu" any"ore. /hey thought only o* saving their skins and escaping to S'itFerland.C /here is also a li"it to ho' "uch you can control your *acial "uscles4 Bonino "ust have caught so"e sign on "y *ace o* incredulity% because he broke o** in a slightly o**ended tone and said% B)onGt you believe "eYC B -* course I believe you%C I responded heroically. B But 'as it really uraniu"YC BAbsolutely4 anyone could have seen that. It had an incred! ible 'eight% and 'hen you touched it% it 'as hot. Besides% I still have it at ho"e4 I keep it on the terrace in a little shed% a secret% so the kids canGt touch itM every so o*ten I sho' it to "y *riends% and itGs re"ained hot% itGs hot even no'. B ,e hesitated a "o"ent% then added% B(ou kno' 'hat IGll doY /o"orro' IGll send you a piece so youGll be convinced% and "aybe% since youGre a 'riter% along 'ith your stories one o* these days youGll also 'rite this one.C I thanked hi"% duti*ully did "y nu"ber% e0plained a certain ne' product% took a rather large order% said goodbye% and considered the case closed. But the ne0t day% on "y 1.6!sHuare! "eter desk% sat a s"all package addressed to "y attention. I opened it% not 'ithout curiosity4 it contained a s"all block o* "etal% about hal* a cigarette pack in siFe% actually Huite heavy and 'ith an e0otic look about it. /he sur*ace 'as silvery 'hite% 'ith a light yello'ish glaFe4 it did not see" hot% but it 'as not to be con*used 'ith any o* the "etals that a long everyday e0perience also outside che"istry had "ade *a"iliar to "e% such as copper% Finc% and alu"inu". erhaps an alloyY -r perhaps actually uraniu"Y :etallic uraniu" in our parts has never been seen by anyone% and in the treatises it is described as silvery 'hiteM and a s"all block like that 'ould not be per"anently hot4 perhaps only a "ass as big as a house can re"ain hot at the e0pense o* disintegrating energy. As soon as it 'as decently possible I popped into the lab% 'hich *or a #S che"ist is an unusual and vaguely i"proper

thing to do. /he lab is a place *or the young% and returning there you *eel young again4 'ith the sa"e longing *or adventure% discovery% and the une0pected that you have at seventeen. -* course% you havenGt been seventeen *or so"e ti"e no'% and besides% your long career as a para!che"ist has "orti*ied you% rendered you atrophied% handicapped% kept you ignorant as to 'here reagents and eHuip"ent are stored% *orget*ul o* everything e0cept the *unda"ental reactions4 but precisely *or these reasons the lab revisited is a source o* Poy and e0erts an intense *ascination% 'hich is that o* youth% o* an indeter"inate *uture pregnant 'ith possibilities% that is% o* *reedo". But the years o* non!use donGt "ake you *orget certain pro! *essional tics% a certain stereotyped behavior that "arks you out as a che"ist 'hatever the situation4 probing the unkno'n "aterial 'ith your *ingernail% a penkni*e% s"elling it% *eeling it 'ith your lips 'hether it is B coldC or B h ot%C testing 'hether it scratches the 'indo'pane or not% observing it under re*lected light% 'eighing it in the pal" o* your hand. It is not so easy to esti"ate the speci*ic 'eight o* a "aterial 'ithout a scale% yet a*ter all uraniu" has a speci*ic 'eight o* 19% "uch "ore than lead% t'ice as "uch as copper4 the gi*t given to Bonino by the &aFi aeronaut!astronauts could not be uraniu". I 'as beginning to discern% in the little "anGs paranoic tale% the echo o* a tenacious and recurrent local legend o* $K-s in the @al Susa% o* *lying saucers% carriers o* o"ens like the co"ets in the :iddle Ages% erratic and devoid o* results like the spirits o* the spiritualists. But i* it 'asnGt uraniu"% 'hat 'as itY I cut o** a slice o* the "etal 'ith the handsa' Dit 'as easy to sa'E and o**ered it to the *la"e o* the Bunsen burner4 an unusual thing took place4 a thread o* bro'n s"oke rose *ro" the *la"e% a thread 'hich curled into volutes. I *elt% 'ith an instant o* voluptuous nostalgia% rea'aken in "e the re*le0es o* an analyst% 'ithered by long inertia4 I *ound a capsule o* ena"eled porcelain% *illed it 'ith 'ater% held it over the sooty *la"e% and sa' *or" on the botto" a bro'n deposit 'hich 'as an old acHuaintance. I touched the

deposit 'ith a drop o* silver nitrate solution and the black!blue color that developed con*ir"ed *or "e that the "etal 'as cad"iu"% the distant son o* #ad"us% the so'er o* dragonGs teeth. Vhere Bonino had *ound the cad"iu" 'as not very interest! ing4 probably in the cad"iu"!plating depart"ent o* his *actory. :ore interesting but undecipherable 'as the origin o* his story4 pro*oundly his% his alone% since% as I *ound out later% he told it o*ten and to everyone% but 'ithout substantiating it 'ith the support o* "aterial% and 'ith details that gradually beca"e "ore color*ul and less believable 'ith the passing o* the years. It 'as clearly i"possible to get to the botto" o* it4 but I% tangled in the #S net o* duties to'ard society% the co"pany% and veri! si"ilitude% envied in hi" the boundless *reedo" o* invention o* one 'ho has broken through the barrier and is no' *ree to build *or hi"sel* the past that suits hi" best% to stitch around hi" the gar"ents o* a hero and *ly like Super"an across centuries% "eridians% and parallels.

S"%'ER
A "i"eographed circular is generally tossed into the 'astebas! ket 'ithout even being read% but I realiFed i""ediately that this one did not deserve the co""on *ate4 it 'as an invitation to a dinner celebrating the t'enty!*i*th anniversary o* our graduation *ro" college. Its language got "e to thinking4 the addresser 'as treated to the inti"ate t#( and the a"anuensis paraded a series o* outdated student e0pressions% as i* those t'enty!live years had not passed. Vith involuntary co"edy% the te0t concluded by saying%B. . . in an at"osphere o* rene'ed co"radeship% 'e 'ill celebrate our silver 'edding 'ith #he"istry by telling each other the che"ical events o* our everyday li*e Vhat che"ical eventsY /he precipitation o* sterols in our *i*ty year!old arteriesY /he eHuilibriu" o* "e"brane in our "e"branes

V ho could the author beY I "entally passed in revie' "y surviving t'enty!*ive or thirty class"ates4 I "ean to say not only those alive but those 'ho have not disappeared behind the headland o* other pro*essional activities. Kirst o* all% cross o** all the 'o"en4 all "others o* *a"ilies% all de"obiliFed% none o* the" any longer in possession o* BeventsC to be narrated. #ross o** the cli"bers% the cli"bing% the proteges% the e0!proteges turned protectors4 these are people 'ho do not like co"parisons. #ross o** the *rustrated% too% 'ho do not like co"parisons either4 at a "eeting o* this kind a ship'recked "an "ight even sho' up% but only to solicit sy"pathy or helpM it is unlikely that he 'ould take the initiative to organiFe it. Kro" the "eager list that 'as le*t a probable na"e popped up4 #erratoAthe honest% clu"sy% eager #errato% to 'ho" li*e had given so little and 'ho had given so little to li*e. I had "et hi" at intervals and *leetingly a*ter the 'ar% and he 'as an inert "an% not ship'recked4 a ship'recked "an is he 'ho departs and sinks% 'ho sets hi"sel* a goal% does not reach it% and su**ers because o* itM #errato had never set hi"sel* anything% he had not e0posed hi"sel* to anything% he had re"ained sa*ely shut up in his house% and certainly "ust have clung to the B goldenC years o* his studies since all his other years had been years o* lead. Kaced by the prospect o* that dinner I had a t'o!sided reaction4 it 'as not a neutral event% it attracted and repelled "e at the sa"e ti"e% like a "agnet brought close to a co"pass. I 'anted to go and I didnGt 'ant to4 but the "otivations *or both decisions% closely e0a"ined% 'ere not very noble. I 'anted to go because it *lattered "e to co"pare "ysel* to and *eel "ysel* "ore available than the others% less tied to "oney and the co""on idols% less duped% less 'orn out. I did not 'ant to go because I did not 'ant to be the sa"e age as the others% that is% "y age4 I didnGt 'ant to see 'rinkles% 'hite hair% didnGt 'ant to count ho' "any 'e 'ere% nor count the absent% nor go in *or calculations. And yet #errato aroused "y curiosity. At ti"es 'e had studied together4 he 'as serious and had no indulgence *or

hi"sel*% he studied 'ithout inspiration and 'ithout Poy Dhe did not see" to kno' PoyE% successively boring through the chapters o* the te0ts like a "iner in a tunnel. ,e had not been co"pro! "ised by Kascis"% and he had reacted 'ell to the reagent o* the racial la's. ,e had been an opaHue but reliable boy in 'ho" one could trust4 and e0perience teaches us that Pust this% trust! 'orthiness% is the "ost constant virtue% 'hich is not acHuired or lost 'ith the years. -ne is born 'orthy o* trust% 'ith an open *ace and steady eyes% and re"ains such *or li*e. ,e 'ho is born contorted and la0 re"ains that 'ay4 he 'ho lies to you at si0% lies to you at si0teen and si0ty. /he pheno"enon is striking and e0plains ho' certain *riendships and "arriages survive *or several decades% despite habit% boredo"% and the 'earing out o* subPects o* discussion4 I 'as interested in veri*ying this through #errato. I paid "y contribution and 'rote to the anony"ous co""ittee that I 'ould be at the dinner. ,is appearance hadnGt changed very "uch4 he 'as tall% bony% 'ith an olive co"ple0ionM his hair 'as still thick% his *ace 'ell shaven% his *orehead% nose% and chin heavy% as i* roughly "olded. &o' as then he "oved a'k'ardly% 'ith those abrupt and at the sa"e ti"e uncertain gestures 'hich in the lab had "ade hi" the proverbial s"asher o* glass'are. As is the custo" 'e dedicated the *irst "inutes o* our con! versation to a reciprocal bringing up to date. I learned that he 'as "arried 'ithout children% and si"ultaneously understood that this 'as not an agreeable subPect. I learned that he had al'ays 'orked in photographic che"istry4 ten years in Italy% *our in .er"any% then again in Italy. ,e had% yes% been the pro"oter o* the dinner and the author o* the letter o* invitation. ,e 'as not asha"ed to ad"it itM i* I 'ould allo' hi" a pro*essional "etaphor% his years o* study 'ere his /echnicolor% the re"ainder 'as black and 'hite. As to the BeventsC DI kept "ysel* *ro" pointing out to hi" the clu"siness o* this e0pressionE% they really interested hi". ,is career had been rich in events% even i* *or the "ost part they had indeed only been in

black and 'hite4 Vas that true o* "ine tooY -* course% I agreed4 'hether che"ical or not% though in recent years the che"ical events had prevailed% in *reHuency and intensity. /hey give you a sense o* 0icht daB# $eJachsen( o* i"potence% inadeHuacy% isnGt that soY /hey give you the i"pression o* *ighting an inter"inable 'ar against an obtuse and slo'!"oving ene"y% 'ho% ho'ever% is *ear*ul in ter"s o* nu"ber and bulkM o* losing all the battles% one a*ter the other% year a*ter yearM and to salve your bruised pride you "ust be satis*ied 'ith the *e' occasions 'hen you catch sight o* a break in the ene"y *ront and you pounce on it and ad"inister a Huick single blo'. #errato also kne' this never!ending battle4 he too had e0perienced the inadeHuacy o* our preparation% and the need to "ake up *or it 'ith luck% intuition% stratage"s% and a river o* patience. I told hi" that I 'as in search o* events% "ine and those o* others% 'hich I 'anted to put on display in a book% to see i* I could convey to the lay"an the strong and bitter *lavor o* our trade% 'hich is only a particular instance% a "ore strenuous version o* the business o* living. I told hi" that it did not see" *air to "e that the 'orld should kno' everything about ho' the doctor% prostitute% sailor% assassin% countess% ancient +o"an% conspirator% and olynesian lives and nothing about ho' 'e trans*or"ers o* "atter live4 but that in this book I 'ould deliberately neglect the grand che"istry% the triu"phant che"istry o* colossal plants and diFFying output% because this is collective 'ork and there*ore anony"ous. I 'as "ore interested in the stories o* the solitary che"istry% unar"ed and on *oot% at the "easure o* "an% 'hich 'ith *e' e0ceptions has been "ine4 but it has also been the che"istry o* the *ounders% 'ho did not 'ork in tea"s but alone% surrounded by the indi**erence o* their ti"e% generally 'ithout pro*it% and 'ho con*ronted "atter 'ithout aids% 'ith their brains and hands% reason and i"agination. I asked hi" i* he 'ould like to contribute to this book. I* he 'ould% he should tell "e a story and% i* he 'ould allo' "e to "ake a suggestion% it should be our kind o* story% in 'hich you

thrash about in the dark *or a 'eek or a "onth% it see"s that it 'ill be dark *orever% and you *eel like thro'ing it all up and changing your tradeM then in the dark you espy a gli""er% proceed groping in that direction% and the light gro's% and *inally order *ollo's chaos. #errato said seriously that indeed so"eti"es things 'ent like that% and that he 'ould try to co"e up 'ith so"ethingM but in general it 'as really dark all the ti"e. (ou couldnGt see the gli""er% you beat your head again and again against an ever lo'er ceiling% and ended by co"ing out o* the cave on your hands and knees and back'ard% a little older than 'hen you 'ent in. Vhile he 'as interrogating his "e"ory% his gaFe *i0ed on the restaurantGs presu"ptuously *rescoed ceiling% I took a Huick glance at hi" and sa' that he had aged 'ell% 'ithout de*or"ations% on the contrary gro'ing and "aturing4 he had re"ained heavy% as in the past% incapable o* the re*resh"ent o* "alice and laughter% but this 'as no longer o**ensive% and "ore acceptable in a *i*ty!year!old than in a youth o* t'enty. ,e told "e a story o* silver. BIGll tell you the essentials4 the tri""ings you can put in yoursel* A*or e0a"ple% ho' an Italian lives in .er"anyM a*ter all% youGve been there yoursel*. I 'as in charge o* the depart"ent 'here they "anu*actured the papers *or _!rays. )o you kno' anything about that stu**Y &ever "ind4 itGs not very sensitive "aterial% 'hich doesnGt give you trouble Dsensitivity and trouble are proportionalE4 so the depart"ent 'as also rather tranHuil. But you "ust re"e"ber that i* a *il" *or a"ateurs *unctions badly% nine ti"es out o* ten the consu"er thinks itGs his *aultM or else% at the "ost% he sends you a *e' insults that donGt reach you because o* insu**icient address. -n the other hand% i* an _!ray goes bad% a*ter all that bariu" pap or the retrograde urographyM and then a second goes bad% and the 'hole package o* sheetsM 'ell% then thatGs not the end o* it4 trouble "akes its o'n ascent% it gro's as it cli"bs% and then drops on you like an a**liction. All things 'hich "y predecessor had e0plained to "e% 'ith the typical didactic talent o* the .er"ans% in order to Pusti*y in "y eyes the *antastic ritual o* cleanliness 'hich "ust be observed in the depart"ent% *ro" beginning to end o* the 'ork process. I donGt kno' i* youGre interestedM Pust think t h a t . . . B

I interrupted hi"4 "inute precautions% "aniacal cleanliness% purity 'ith eight Feroes% are things 'hich "ake "e su**er. I kno' very 'ell that in so"e cases it is a "atter o* necessary "easures% but I also kno' that% "ore o*ten "ania prevails over co""on sense% and alongside *ive sensible precepts or prohibitions lurk ten senseless% useless ones% 'hich nobody dares rescind only out o* "ental laFiness% superstition% or "orbid *ear o* co"plications4 even 'hen it does not go so *ar as in "ilitary service% in 'hich regulations serve to s"uggle in a repressive discipline. #errato poured a drink *or "e4 his big hand "oved hesitantly to the neck o* the bottle% as i* the bottle 'as *luttering about the table to escape hi"M then he tilted it over "y glass% banging against it several ti"es. ,e agreed that things 'ere o*ten like that4 *or e0a"ple% the 'o"en in the depart"ent o* 'hich he 'as telling "e 'ere *orbidden to use *ace po'der% but one ti"e a co"pact had *allen out o* a girlGs pocket and opened% and Huite a bit o* po'der had been 'a*ted into the airM that dayGs production had been inspected 'ith particular care% but it 'as per*ect. Vell% the prohibition against *ace po'der still re"ained. B. . . but I have to tell you one detail% other'ise you 'onGt understand the story. /here is the religion o* the hair Dthis is Pusti*ied% I can assure youE4 the depart"ent is al'ays slightly pressuriFed% and the air that is pu"ped in is care*ully *iltered. -ver your clothes you 'ear a special overall and a cap over your hair4 overalls and caps "ust be 'ashed every day to re"ove lint or accidentally picked up hair. Shoes and stockings "ust be taken o** at the entrance and are replaced by dustproo* slippers. BSo there% thatGs the setting. I should add that *or *ive or si0 years there had been no "aPor accidents4 an isolated co"plaint here and there *ro" a *e' hospitals about altered sensitivity% but it 'as al"ost al'ays a "atter o* products already past the

e0piration date. /roubles% I donGt have to tell you% donGt co"e at a gallop% like the ,uns% but arrive Huietly% stealthily% like epi! de"ics. It began 'ith a special!delivery letter *ro" a diagnostic center in @iennaM it 'as couched in very civil ter"s. I 'ould call it "ore a 'arning than a co"plaint% and attached as proo* 'as an _ ray4 regular as regards grain and contrast but dotted 'ith 'hite% oblong spots the siFe o* beans. Ve replied 'ith a contrite letter in 'hich 'e begged their pardon *or the unintentional% etcetera% but a*ter the *irst Lands"nechtV had died o* the plague it is best not to entertain illusions4 the plague is the plague% thereGs no point in playing the ostrich. /he ne0t 'eek there 'ere another t'o letters4 one *ro" 3i`ge hinting at da"ages to be rei"bursed% the other *ro" the Soviet $nionM I no longer re"e"ber Dperhaps I have blocked it outE the co"plicated initials o* the co""ercial agency that had sent it. Vhen it 'as translated% everyoneGs hair stood on end. /he *ault% o* course% 'as al'ays the sa"e% those dots shaped like beans% and the letter 'as very% very heavy4 it spoke o* three operations 'hich had had to be postponed% o* shi*ts lost% o* tons o* disputed sensitive paper% o* an e0pert e0a"ination and an international controversy at the court o* .od kno's 'hereM and it enPoined us to send a S*eBialist i""ediately. BIn such cases you try at least to lock the stable door a*ter so"e o* the cattle have escaped% but you donGt al'ays succeed. It being established that all the paper had passed the e0it inspection% 'e there*ore 'ere dealing 'ith a delayed de*ect that sho'ed up 'hile in the 'arehouse% ours or the custo"erGs% or during transportation. /he director called "e in% discussed the case 'ith "e% very courteously% *or t'o hours% but to "e it see"ed that he skinned "e alive% slo'ly% "ethodically% and enPoyed doing it. B Ve accepted the results o* the laboratory inspection% and checked all the paper in stock batch by batch. /he paper less

W+e *er ence to the .e r " an soldiers 'ho die o* the plague in :anFoniGs historical novel The @etrothedTRANS.

than t'o "onths old 'as all right. In the rest the de*ect 'as *ound% though not in all4 there 'ere hundreds o* batches% and about one! si0th sho'ed the bean proble". :y assistant% 'ho 'as a young che"ist and not very sharp% "ade a curious observation4 the de*ective batches *ollo'ed each other 'ith a certain regularity% *ive good and one bad. It see"ed to "e a clue% and I tried to get to the botto" o* itM thatGs ho' it 'as% e0actly4 al"ost all the spoiled paper 'as produced on Vednesday. BI donGt have to tell you that delayed troubles are by *ar the "ost pernicious. Vhile youGre searching *or the causes% you still have to continue producing4 but ho' can you be sure that the cause or causes are not still at 'ork and the "aterial youGre producing is not the carrier o* *urther disasters. -bviously you can keep it in Huarantine *or t'o "onths and inspect it again4 But 'hat are you going to tell the 'arehouses the 'orld over that are not receiving the goodsY And 'hat about passive interestsY And the na"e% the .ood &a"e% the $nbestrittener +uP % the unble"ished reputationY And thereGs another co"plication4 any change you "ight "ake in co"position or technology "ust 'ait *or t'o "onths be*ore you kno' 'hether it helps or doesnGt% 'hether it gets rid o* the de*ect or accentuates it. I *elt innocent% naturally4 I had observed all the rules% I had not been la0 in any 'ay. Above "e and belo' "e% all the others *elt Pust as innocent4 those 'ho had passed the ra' "aterials as good% 'ho had prepared and tested the e"ulsion o* silver bro"ide% those 'ho had 'rapped% packed% and stored the packages o* paper. I *elt innocent% but I 'asnGt4 I 'as guilty by de*inition% because the head o* a depart"ent "ust ans'er *or his depart"ent% and because 'here thereGs da"age thereGs sin% and 'here thereGs sin thereGs a sinner. ItGs so"ething e0actly like original sin4 you havenGt done anything% but youGre guilty and you "ust pay. &ot 'ith "oney% but 'orse4 you lose sleep% lose your appetite% get an ulcer or shingles% and take a huge step to'ard ter"inal "anagerial neurosis. BVhile co"plaining letters and telephone calls kept co"ing in% I persisted in trying to puFFle out that business o* the

Vednesdays4 it "ust surely have so"e signi*icance. -n /uesday night a guard I didnGt like had his shi*tAhe had a scar on his chin and the *ace o* a &aFi. I did not kno' 'hether or not to "ention it to the director4 to try to unload the bla"e on others is al'ays bad policy. /hen I had the" bring "e the payroll and sa' that the &aFi had been 'ith us only three "onths% 'hile the bean trouble had begun to "ani*est itsel* on the paper produced ten "onths be*ore. Vhat ne' thing had occurred ten "onths be*oreY BAbout ten "onths be*ore there had been accepted% a*ter rigorous checks% a ne' supplier o* the black paper 'hich is used to protect the sensitive papers *ro" light4 but the de*ective "aterial 'as proved to have been packed pro"iscuously in black paper co"ing *ro" both suppliers. Also ten "onths be*ore Dnine% to be e0actE a group o* /urkish 'o"en 'orkers had been hiredM I intervie'ed the" one by one% to their great a"aFe"ent4 I 'anted to establish 'hether on Vednesday or /uesday evening they did so"ething di**erent *ro" usual. )id they 'ash% or did they not 'ashY )id they use so"e special cos"eticY )id they go dancing% and as a result s'eat "ore than usualY I did not dare ask 'hether on /uesday night they "ade loveM in any event% I didnGt get any'here either directly or through the interpreter. B-bviously% in the "ean'hile the a**air had beco"e kno'n throughout the *actory% and people 'ere looking at "e in strange 'aysM also because I 'as the only Italian depart"ent head% and I could very 'ell i"agine the co""ents they "ust have e0changed behind "y back. /he decisive help ca"e to "e *ro" one o* the guards% 'ho spoke a little Italian because he had *ought in Italy4 in *act he had been taken prisoner by the partisans around Biella and then e0changed *or so"eone. ,e held no grudge% 'as loHuacious% and spoke at rando" about a little o* everything 'ithout ever co"ing to a conclusion4 'ell% it 'as precisely his silly gabble that acted as AriadneGs thread. -ne day he told "e that he 'as a *isher"an% but that *or al"ost a year no' he no longer caught any *ish in the s"all river nearby4 ever since they had opened a tannery *ive or si0 kilo"eters

upstrea". ,e then told "e that on certain days the 'ater actually turned bro'n. /here and then I didnGt pay attention to his re"arks% but I thought about the" a *e' days later 'hen *ro" the 'indo' o* "y roo" in the guest house I sa' the s"all truck bringing back the overalls *ro" the laundry. I asked about it4 the tannery had begun operating ten "onths be*ore% and in *act the laundry 'ashed the overalls in the 'ater o* the strea" 'here the *isher"an could no longer catch *ish. ,o'ever% they *iltered it and "ade it pass through an ion e0change puri*ier. /he overalls 'ere 'ashed during the day% they 'ere dried at night in a dryer% and sent back early in the "orning be*ore the plant opened. BI 'ent to the tannery4 I 'anted to kno' 'hen% 'here% ho' o*ten% and on 'hat days they e"ptied their vats. /hey sent "e packing% but I returned t'o days later 'ith the doctor *ro" the Sanitation -**ice. Vell% the largest o* the tanning vats 'as e"ptied every 'eek% on the night bet'een :onday and /uesday. /hey re*used to tell "e 'hat it contained% but you kno' very 'ell% organic tans are polyphenols and there is no ion e0change resin that can trap the"% and 'hat a polyphenol can do to silver bro"ide even you 'ho are not in the *ield can i"agine. I got a sa"ple o* the tanning solution% 'ent to the e0peri"ental lab% and ato"iFed a 1419%999 solution in the dark! roo" in 'hich 'as e0posed a speci"en o* _!ray paper. /he e**ect could be seen a *e' days later4 the paperGs sensitivity had disappeared% literally. /he head o* the lab did not believe his eyes. ,e told "e that he had never seen so po'er*ul an inhibitor. Ve tested it 'ith increasingly diluted solutions% as ho"eopathic doctors do4 'ith solutions o* about one part to a "illionM 'e obtained bean!shaped spots% 'hich% ho'ever% appeared only a*ter t'o "onths o* rest. /he bean e * * e c t A @ohneffe"tAhad been reproduced in *ull4 'hen all 'as said and done% it beca"e obvious that a *e' thousand "olecules o* polyphenol absorbed by the *ibers o* the overalls during the 'ash and carried by an invisible piece o* lint *ro" the overall to the paper 'ere enough to produce the spots.C

/he other dinner guests around us 'ere talking noisily about children% vacations% salaries. Ve ended up by going o** to the bar% 'here gradually 'e beca"e senti"ental and pro"ised each other to rene' a *riendship that actually had never e0isted bet'een us. Ve 'ould keep in contact% and each o* us 'ould gather *or the other "ore stories like this one% in 'hich stolid "atter "ani*ests a cunning intent upon evil and obstruction% as i* it revolted against the order dear to "an4 like those reckless outcasts% thirsting "ore *or the ruination o* others than *or their o'n triu"ph% 'ho in novels arrive *ro" the ends o* the earth to th'art the e0ploits o* positive heroes.

'ANA

"#$

@arnish is an unstable substance by de*inition4 in *act% at a certain point in its career it "ust turn *ro" a liHuid into a solid. But this "ust occur at the right ti"e and place. I* it doesnGt% the e**ects can be unpleasant or dra"atic4 it can happen that a varnish hardens D'e say brutally B "onkeysCE during its soPourn in the 'arehouse% and in that case the "erchandise "ust be thro'n outM or that the base resin hardens during the synthesis% in a ten! or t'enty!ton reactor% 'hich a"ounts to a tragedyM or even that the varnish does not harden at all% even a*ter application% and then one beco"es a laughingstock% since varnish that doesnGt dry is like a gun that doesnGt shoot or a bull that canGt i"pregnate. In "any cases the o0ygen in the air plays a part in the

hardening process. A"ong the various e0ploits% vital or destruc! tive% 'hich o0ygen can per*or"% 'e varnish "akers are inter! ested above all in its capacity to react 'ith certain s"all "olecules such as those o* certain oils% and o* creating links bet'een the"% trans*or"ing the" into a co"pact and there*ore solid net'ork. /hat is ho'% *or e0a"ple% linseed oil dries in the open air. Ve had i"ported a ship"ent o* resin *or varnishes% indeed one o* those resins 'hich harden at an ordinary te"perature by si"ple e0posure to the at"osphere% and 'e 'ere 'orried. /ested by itsel*% the resin dried as e0pected% but a*ter having been ground up 'ith a certain DirreplaceableE kind o* la"pblack% its ability to dry *ell o** to the point o* disappearing4 'e had already set aside several tons o* black paint 'hich% despite all atte"pts to correct it% a*ter application re"ained inde*initely sticky% like lugubrious *lypaper. In cases like these% be*ore *or"ulating accusations% one "ust proceed cautiously. /he supplier 'as V.% a large and respect! able .er"an co"pany% one o* the large seg"ents into 'hich% a*ter the 'ar% the Allies had dis"e"bered the o"nipotent I.! Karben4 people like this% be*ore ad"itting their guilt% thro' on the scales all the 'eight o* their prestige and all their ability at 'earing you do'n. But there 'as no 'ay to avoid the contro! versy4 other ship"ents o* resin behaved 'ell 'ith that sa"e batch o* la"pblack% the resin 'as a special type that only V. produced% and 'e 'ere bound by contract and absolutely had to continue supplying that black paint% 'ithout "issing any due dates. I 'rote a 'ell!"annered letter o* protest% setting *orth the ter"s o* the proble"% and a *e' days later the ans'er ca"e4 it 'as long and pedantic% advised obvious e0pedients and proce! dures 'hich 'e had already adopted 'ithout result% and con! tained a super*luous and deliberately con*used description o* the "echanis" o* the resinGs o0idation4 it ignored our need *or i""ediate action% and on the essential point si"ply stated that the relevant tests 'ere under 'ay. /here 'as nothing le*t *or us

to do but i""ediately order another ship"ent% urging V. to check 'ith particular care the resinGs behavior 'ith that kind o* la"pblack. /ogether 'ith the con*ir"ation o* this last order a second letter arrived% nearly as long as the *irst% and signed by the sa"e )oktor 3. :Zller. It 'as a tri*le "ore to the point than the *irst% recogniFed D'ith "any Huali*ications and reservationsE the Pustness o* our grievance% and contained a piece o* advice less obvious than the previous4 B $anB #nerJarteterJeise%C that is% in a co"pletely une0pected *ashion% the gno"es o* their lab had discovered that the protested ship"ent 'as cured by the addi! tion o* 9.1 percent o* vanadiu" naphthenateAan additive that until then had never been heard o* in the 'orld o* varnishes. /he unkno'n )r. :Zller urged us to check i""ediately on the truth o* their state"entM i* the e**ect 'as con*ir"ed% their observation could avoid *or both parties the annoyances and haFards o* an international dispute. :Zller. /here 'as a :Zller in "y previous incarnation% but :Zller is a very co""on na"e in .er"any% like :olinari in Italy or :iller in English% o* 'hich it is an e0act eHuivalent. Vhy continue to think about itY And yet% rereading the t'o letters 'ith their heavy% lu"bering phrasing encu"bered 'ith technical Pargon% I could not Huiet a doubt% the kind that re*uses to be pushed aside and rasps slightly 'ithin you% like ter"ites. -h% co"e no'% there "ust be t'o hundred thousand :Zllers in .er"any% *orget it and think about the varnish that has to be corrected. . . . and then% all o* a sudden% there rose be*ore "y eyes a detail o* the last letter 'hich had escaped "e4 it 'as not a typing "istake% it 'as repeated t'iceM it said Bnaptenate%C not BnaphthenateC as it should be. &o' I conserve pathologically precise "e"ories o* "y encounters in that by no' re"ote 'orld4 'ell% that other :Zller too% in an un*orgotten lab *ull o* *reeFing cold% hope% and *ear% used to say Bbeta!&aptyla"inC instead o* B beta!&aphthyla"in.C

/he +ussians 'ere knocking at the door% t'o or three ti"es a day Allied planes ca"e to shake apart the Buna plant4 there 'as no 'ater% stea"% or electricityM not a single pane o* glass 'as intactM but the order 'as to begin producing Buna rubber% and .er"ans do not discuss orders. I 'as in a laboratory 'ith t'o other skilled prisoners% si"ilar to those educated slaves that the rich +o"ans i"ported *ro" .reece. /o 'ork 'as as i"possible as it 'as *utile4 our ti"e 'as al"ost entirely spent dis"antling the apparatus at every air!raid alar" and putting the" together again at the all!clear. But as I said% orders are not discussed% and every so o*ten so"e inspector burro'ed through the rubble and sno' all the 'ay to us to "ake sure that the labGs 'ork proceeded according to instructions. So"eti"es an SS 'ith a stone *ace 'ould co"e% at other ti"es a little old soldier *ro" the local "ilitia 'ho 'as ti"id as a "ouse% and at other ti"es still a civilian. /he civilian 'ho appeared "ost o*ten 'as called )r. :Zller. ,e "ust have been a person o* so"e authority because everybody saluted hi" *irst. ,e 'as a tall% corpulent "an o* about *orty% "ore coarse than re*ined in appearance. ,e had spoken to "e only three ti"es% and all three ti"es 'ith a ti"idity rare in that place% as i* he 'ere asha"ed o* so"ething. /he *irst ti"e only about the 'ork Dthe dosage o* the B &aptyla"in% B in *actEM the second ti"e he had asked "e 'hy I had so long a beard% to 'hich I had replied that none o* us had a raFor% in *act not even a handkerchie*% and that our beards 'ere shaved o**icially every :ondayM the third ti"e he had given "e a note% 'ritten neatly on a type'riter% 'hich authoriFed "e to shave also on /hursday and to be issued by the Sffe"tenma$aBin a pair o* leather shoes and had asked "e% addressing "e *or"ally% B Vhy do you look so perturbedYC I% 'ho at that ti"e thought in .er"an% had said to "ysel*% B-er Dann hat "eine 9hn#n$1 D/his *ello' hasnGt got an inklingE. )uty *irst. I hastened to track do'n a"ong our usual suppliers a sa"ple o* vanadiu" naphthenate% and *ound out that it 'asnGt

easy4 the product 'as not in regular production% 'as prepared only in s"all Huantities and only on orderM I put through an order. /he return o* that B p t B had thro'n "e into a state o* violent agitation. /o *ind "ysel*% "an to "an% having a reckoning 'ith one o* the BothersC had been "y keenest and "ost constant desire since I had le*t the concentration ca"p. It had been "et only in part by letters *ro" "y .er"an readers4 they did not satis*y "e% those honest% generaliFed declarations o* repentance and solidarity on the part o* people I had never seen% 'hose other *ace I did not kno'% and 'ho probably 'ere not i"plicated e0cept e"otionally. /he encounter I looked *or'ard to 'ith so "uch intensity as to drea" o* it Din .er"anE at night% 'as an encounter 'ith one o* the" do'n there% 'ho had disposed o* us% 'ho had not looked into our eyes% as though 'e didnGt have eyes. &ot to take "y revenge4 I a" not the #ount o* :ontecristo. -nly to reestablish the right proportions% and to say% BVell YC I* this :Zller 'as "y :Zller% he 'as not the per*ect antagonist% because in so"e 'ay% perhaps only *or a "o"ent% he had *elt pity% or Pust only a rudi"ent o* pro*essional solidarity. erhaps even less4 perhaps he had only resented the *act that the strange hybrid o* colleague and instru"ent that a*ter all 'as a che"ist *reHuented a laboratory 'ithout the 9nstand( the decoru"% that the laboratory de"andsM but the others around hi" had not even *elt this. ,e 'as not the per*ect antagonist4 but% as is kno'n% per*ection belongs to narrated events% not to those 'e live. I got in touch 'ith V.Gs representatives% 'ho" I kne' Huite 'ell% and asked hi" to look 'ith discretion into )r. :Zller4 ,o' old 'as heY Vhat did he look likeY Vhere had he been during the 'arY /he ans'er 'as not long in co"ing4 his age and appearance coincided% the "an had 'orked *irst at Schkopau to get e0perience in rubber technology% then at the Buna *actory near Ausch'itF. I obtained his address and sent hi"% *ro" one private person to another% a copy o* the .er"an edition o* If This Is a Dan( 'ith an acco"panying letter in 'hich I asked hi"

i* he 'as really the :Zller o* Ausch'itF% and i* he re"e"bered Bthe three "en o* the laboratoryCM 'ell% I hoped he 'ould pardon this crude intrusion and return *ro" the void but I 'as one o* the three% besides being the custo"er 'orried about the resin that did not dry. I began to 'ait *or the reply% 'hile on the co"pany level there continued% like the oscillation o* an enor"ous% very slo' pendulu"% the e0change o* che"ico!bureaucratic letters con! cerning the Italian vanadiu" that did not 'ork as 'ell as the .er"an. Vould you please in the "eanti"e be so kind as to send us urgently the speci*ications o* the product and ship to us by air *reight 2 9 kilogra"s% 'hose cost you 'ill deduct% etc.Y -n the technical level the "atter see"ed set on the right course% but the *ate o* the de*ective ship"ent 'as not clear4 to hold on to it at a discount% or return it at V.Gs e0pense% or ask *or arbitration. :ean'hile% as is the custo"% 'e threatened each other 'ith legal action% B$erichtlich vorB#$ehen%1 /he B privateC reply still kept "e 'aiting% 'hich 'as al"ost as irritating and nerve!racking as the co"pany dispute. Vhat did I kno' about "y "anY &othingAin all probability he had blotted everything out% deliberately or notM *or hi" "y letter and "y book 'ere an ill!"annered and irkso"e intrusion% a clu"sy invitation to stir up a by no' 'ell settled sedi"ent% an assault on 9nstand% ,e 'ould never reply. A pity4 he 'as not a per*ect .er"an% but do per*ect .er"ans e0istY -r per*ect Ie'sY /hey are an abstraction4 the transition *ro" the general to the particular al'ays has sti"ulating surprises in store% 'hen the interlocutor 'ithout contours% ghostly% takes shape be*ore you% gradually or at a single blo'% and beco"es the Ditmensch( the co! "an% 'ith all his depth% his tics% ano"alies% and incoherences. By no' al"ost t'o "onths had passed4 the reply 'ould no longer arrive. /oo bad. It arrived dated :arch 6% 19>1% on elegant paper headed 'ith vaguely .othic characters. It 'as a preli"inary letter% brie* and reserved. (es% the :Zller o* Buna 'as indeed he. ,e had read "y book% recogniFed 'ith e"otion persons and placesM he

'as happy to kno' that I had survivedM he asked *or in*or"ation about the other t'o B"en o* the laboratory%C and up to this point there 'as nothing strange% since they 'ere na"ed in the book4 but he also asked about .oldbau"% 'ho" I had not na"ed. ,e added that he had reread% *or the occasion% his notes on that period4 he 'ould gladly discuss the" 'ith "e in a hoped!*or personal "eeting% B use*ul both to "ysel* and to you% and necessary *or the purpose o* overco"ing that terrible pastC &)im Sinne der fteJalti$#n$ der so '#rchtbaren Wer$an$enheit1,% ,e declared at the end that% a"ong all the prisoners he had "et at Ausch'itF% I 'as the one 'ho had "ade the strongest and "ost lasting i"pression% but this could 'ell be *lattery4 *ro" the tone o* the letter% and especially *ro" that sentence about B overco"! ing% B it see"ed that the "an e0pected so"ething *ro" "e. &o' it 'as up to "e to reply% and I *elt e"barrassed. (ou see% the undertaking had succeeded% the adversary 'as snaredM he 'as there be*ore "e% al"ost a colleague varnish "aker% he 'rote like "e on paper 'ith a letterhead% and he even re"e"! bered .oldbau". ,e 'as still Huite blurred% but it 'as obvious that he 'anted *ro" "e so"ething like an absolution% because he had a past to overco"e and I didnGt4 I 'anted *ro" hi" only a discount on the bill *or the de*ective resin. /he situation 'as interesting but atypical4 it coincided only in part 'ith that o* the reprobate hauled be*ore a Pudge. Kirst o* all4 In 'hat language should I replyY #ertainly not in .er"anM I 'ould have "ade ridiculous "istakes% 'hich "y role did not per"it. Bette r al'ays to *ight on your terrain4 I 'rote to hi" in Italian. /he t'o "en o* the laboratory 'ere dead% I did not kno' 'here or ho'M the sa"e *or .oldbau"% 'ho died o* cold and hunger during the evacuation "arch. As *or "e% he kne' the essentials *ro" "y book% and *ro" "y business correspondence about the vanadiu". I had "any Huestions to ask hi"4 too "any% and too heavy *or hi" and *or "e. Vhy Ausch'itFY Vhy ann'itFY Vhy the children in the gas cha"bersY But I *elt that it 'as not yet the "o"ent to go beyond certain li"its% and I asked hi" only

'hether he accepted the Pudg"ents% i"plicit and e0plicit% o* "y book. Vhether he *elt that I.!Karben had spontaneously taken on the slave labor *orce. Vhether he kne' then about Ausch'itFGs Binstallations%C 'hich devoured ten thousand lives a day only seven kilo"eters a'ay *ro" the Buna rubber plant. And *inally% since he had talked about his B notations o* that period%C 'ould he send "e a copyY About the B hoped!*or "eetingC I said nothing% because I 'as a*raid o* it. &o point in having recourse to euphe"is"s% to talk about shyness% disgust% reticence. Kear 'as the 'ord4 Pust as I didnGt *eel "ysel* to be a :ontecristo% so I didnGt *eel "ysel* to be ,oratius!#uriatius. I did not *eel capable o* representing the dead o* Ausch'itF% nor did it see" to "e sensible to see in :Zller the representative o* the butchers. I kno' "ysel*4 I do not possess any pole"ical skill% "y opponent distracts "e% he interests "e "ore as a "an than as an opponent% I take pains to listen and run the risk o* believing hi"M indignation and the correct Pudg"ent return later% on the 'ay do'nstairs% 'hen they are no longer o* any use. It 'as best *or "e to stick to 'riting. :Zller 'rote to "e on the co"pany level that the *i*ty kilos had been shipped% and that V. 'as sure o* a *riendly settle"ent% etcetera. Al"ost si"ultaneously there arrived at "y house the letter I e0pectedM but it 'as not 'hat I e0pected. It 'as not a "odel letter% paradig"atic4 at this point% i* this story 'ere invented% I 'ould have been able to introduce only t'o kinds o* letters4 a hu"ble% 'ar"% #hristian letter% *ro" a redee"ed .er"anM a ribald% proud% glacial letter *ro" an obdurate &aFi. &o' this story is not invented% and reality is al'ays "ore co"ple0 than invention4 less ke"pt% cruder% less rounded out. It rarely lies on one level. /he letter 'as eight pages long and contained a photograph that shook "e. /he *ace 'as that *ace4 gro'n old and at the sa"e ti"e ennobled by a skill*ul photographerM I could hear hi" again high above "e pronounce those 'ords o* distracted and "o"entary co"passion4 B Vhy do you look so perturbedYC

It 'as visibly the 'ork o* an inept 'riter4 rhetorical% sincere only by hal*% *ull o* digressions and *ar*etched praise% "oving% pedantic% and clu"sy4 it de*ied any su""ary% all!enco"passing Pudg"ent. ,e attributed the events at Ausch'itF to :an% 'ithout di**erentiationM he deplored the" and *ound consolation in the thought o* the other "en spoken o* in "y book% Alberto% 3orenFo% B against 'ho" the 'eapons o* the night are bluntedC4 the phrase 'as "ine% but repeated by hi" it struck "e as hypocritical and Parring. ,e told his story4 Bdragged initially along by the general enthusias" *or ,itlerGs regi"e%C he had Poined a nationalistic student league% 'hich soon a*ter 'as by "andate incorporated in the SAM he had "anaged to be discharged and observed that Bthis too 'as there*ore possible.C Vhen the 'ar ca"e he had been "obiliFed in the antiaircra*t corps% and only then% con*ronted by the ruins o* the city% had he e0perienced B sha"e and indignationC about the 'ar. In :ay o* 1944 he had been able Dlike "eTE to have his status as a che"ist recogniFed% and he had been assigned to the Schkopau *actory o* I.!Karben% o* 'hich the plant at Ausch'itF 'as an enlarged copy4 at Schkopau he had trained a group o* $krainian girls *or 'ork in the lab% girls 'ho" in *act I had "et again in Ausch'itF and 'hose strange *a"iliarity 'ith )r. :Zller I could not then e0plain. ,e had been trans*erred to Ausch'itF together 'ith the girls only in &ove"ber 19444 at that ti"e the na"e o* Ausch'itF did not have any signi*icance% either *or hi" or his acHuaintancesM on his arrival% he had had a brie* introductory "eeting 'ith the technical director Dpresu"ably Engineer KaustE% 'ho 'arned hi" that Bthe Ie's in Buna "ust be assigned only the "ost "enial tasks% and co"passion 'as not tolerated.C ,e had been assigned to 'ork directly under )r. ann'itF% the "an 'ho had put "e through a peculiar B state e 0a"C to ascertain "y pro*essional abilities. :Zller "ade it clear that he had a very lo' opinion o* his superior% and in*or"ed "e that the "an had died o* a brain tu"or in 194>. It 'as he% :Zller%

'ho had been in charge o* the organiFation o* the Buna labM he stated that he had kno'n nothing about that e0a"% and that he hi"sel* had chosen us three specialists% and "e in particularM according to this in*or"ation% i"probable but not i"possible% I 'as there*ore in debt to hi" *or "y survival. ,e a**ir"ed that he had had a relationship 'ith "e al"ost o* *riendship bet'een eHualsM that he had conversed 'ith "e about scienti*ic proble"s and had "editated% on this occasion% on 'hat B precious hu"an values are destroyed by other "en out o* pure brutality.C &ot only did I not re"e"ber any such conversations Dand "y "e"! ory o* that period% as I have said% is e0cellentE% but against the background o* disintegration% "utual distrust% and "ortal 'eariness% the "ere supposition o* the" 'as totally outside real! ity% and could only be e0plained by a very naive e0 post *acto 'ish*ul thinkingM perhaps it 'as an incident he told a lot o* people and did not realiFe I 'as the one person in the 'orld 'ho could not believe it. erhaps in good *aith he had constructed a convenient past *or hi"sel*. ,e did not re"e"ber the t'o details about the shaving and the shoes% but he re"e"bered others% si"ilar and% in "y opinion% Huite plausible. ,e had heard about "y scarlet *ever and had 'orried about "y survival% especially 'hen he learned that the prisoners 'ere being evacuated on *oot. -n Ianuary 6>% 1942% he had been assigned by the SS to the @olksstur"% the tatterde"alion ar"y o* rePects% old "en% and children 'ho 'ere supposed to block the Soviet advance. 3uckily% he had been saved by the a*ore"entioned technical director% 'ho had authoriFed hi" to run o** to a rear area. /o "y Huestion about I.!Karben he ans'ered curtly that% yes% it had e"ployed prisoners% but only to protect the"4 actually% he put *or'ard the DinsaneTE opinion that the entire Buna!:ono'itF plant% eight sHuare kilo"eters o* giant buildings% had been constructed 'ith the intention o* Bprotecting the Ie's and contributing to their survival%C and that the order not to have co"passion *or the" 'as Beine Tarn#n$1 DBca"ou*lageCE. 0ihil de *rinci*e( no accusation against I.!Karben4 "y "an 'as

still an e"ployee o* V. % 'hich 'as its heir% and you do not spit into your o'n dish. )uring his brie* soPourn at Ausch'itF he Bhad never gained kno'ledge o* any proviso that see"ed ai"ed at the killing o* Ie's.B arado0ical% o**ensive% but not to be e0cluded4 at that ti"e% a"ong the .er"an silent "aPority% the co""on techniHue 'as to try to kno' as little as possible% and there*ore not to ask Huestions. ,e too% obviously% had not de"anded e0planations *ro" anyone% not even *ro" hi"sel*% although on clear days the *la"es o* the cre"atoriu" 'ere visible *ro" the Buna *actory. A little be*ore the *inal collapse he had been captured by the A"ericans and locked up *or a *e' days in a ca"p *or prisoners o* 'ar that he% 'ith un'itting irony% described as being B pri"i! tively eHuippedCM Pust as at the ti"e o* our "eeting in the lab% so no' as he 'rote% :Zller apparently continued not to have an inklingAB "eine 9hn#n$%1 ,e had returned to his *a"ily at the end o* Iune 1942. And this% substantially% 'as the content o* his notations% 'hich I had asked to see. ,e perceived in "y book an overco"ing o* Iudais"% a *ul*ill! "ent o* the #hristian precept to love oneGs ene"ies% and a testi"ony o* *aith in :an% and he concluded by insisting on the necessity o* a "eeting% in .er"any or Italy% 'here he 'as ready to Poin "e 'hen and 'here I 'ished4 pre*erably on the +iviera. /'o days later% through co"pany channels% a letter arrived *ro" V. 'hich% surely not by chance% bore the sa"e date as the long private letter% and also the sa"e signatureM it 'as a conciliatory letter% they recogniFed that the *ault 'as theirs% and declared the"selves open to any proposal. /hey i"plied that all is 'ell that ends 'ellM the incident had brought to light the virtues o* vanadiu" naphthenate% 'hich *ro" no' on 'ould be incor! porated directly into the resin *or all custo"ers. Vhat to doY /he :Zller character 'as Bent*#**t(1 he had co"e out o* his chrysalis% he 'as sharply de*ined% in per*ect *ocus. &either in*a"ous nor a hero4 a*ter *iltering o** the rhetoric and the lies in good or bad *aith there re"ained a typically gray hu"an speci"en% one o* the not so *e' one!eyed

"en in the kingdo" o* the blind. ,e did "e an undeserved honor in attributing to "e the virtue o* loving "y ene"ies4 no% despite the distant privileges he had reserved *or "e% and although he had not been an ene"y in the strict sense o* the 'ord% I did not *eel like loving hi". I did not love hi"% and I didnGt 'ant to see hi"% and yet I *elt a certain "easure o* respect *or hi"4 it is not easy to be one!eyed. ,e 'as not co'ardly% or dea*% or a cynic% he had not con*or"ed% he 'as trying to settle his accounts 'ith the past and they didnGt tally4 he tried to "ake the" tally% perhaps by cheating a little bit. #ould one ask "uch "ore *ro" an e0! SAY /he co"parison% 'hich so "any ti"es I had the opportunity to "ake% 'ith other honest .er"ans "et on the beach or in the *actory% 'as all in his *avor4 his conde"nation o* &aFis" 'as ti"id and evasive% but he had not sought Pusti*ications. ,e sought a colloHuy4 he had a conscience% and he struggled to soothe it. In his *irst letter he had spoken o* Boverco"ing the past%C B @eJalti$#n$ der Wer$an$enheit1C I later *ound out that this is a stereotyped phrase% a euphe"is" in todayGs .er"any% 'here it is universally understood as Brede"ption *ro" &aFis"CM but the root Jait that it contains also appears in the 'ords that e0press Bdo"ination%C Bviolence%C and Brape%C and I believe that translating the e0pression 'ith Bdistortion o* the pastC or Bviolence done to the pastC 'ould not stray very *ar *ro" its pro*ound "eaning. And yet this taking shelter in co""onplaces 'as better than the *lorid obtuseness o* the other .er"ans4 his e**orts to overco"e 'ere clu"sy% a bit ridiculous% irritating and sad% and yet decorous. And didnGt he get "e a pair o* shoesY -n "y *irst *ree Sunday I set about% *ull o* perple0ity% pre! paring a reply as sincere as possible% balanced and digni*ied. I "ade a dra*t4 I thanked hi" *or having taken "e into the labM I declared "ysel* ready to *orgive "y ene"ies% and perhaps even to love the"% but only 'hen they sho'ed certain signs o* repentance% that is% 'hen they ceased being ene"ies. In the opposite case% that o* the ene"y 'ho re"ains an ene"y% 'ho perseveres in his desire to in*lict su**ering% it is certain that one

"ust not *orgive hi"4 one can try to salvage hi"% one can Done "ustTE discuss 'ith hi"% but it is our duty to Pudge hi"% not to *orgive hi". As to the speci*ic Pudg"ent on his behavior% 'hich :Zller i"plicitly asked o* "e% I tact*ully cited t'o cases kno'n to "e o* his .er"an colleagues 'ho in their actions to'ard us had done so"ething "uch "ore courageous than 'hat he clai"ed to have done. I ad"itted that 'e are not all born heroes% and that a 'orld in 'hich everyone 'ould be like hi"% that is% honest and unar"ed% 'ould be tolerable% but this is an unreal 'orld. In the real 'orld the ar"ed e0ist% they build Ausch'itF% and the honest and unar"ed clear the road *or the"M there*ore every .er"an "ust ans'er *or Ausch'itF% indeed every "an% and a*ter Ausch'itF it is no longer per"issible to be unar"ed. I did not say a 'ord about the "eeting on the +iviera. /hat sa"e evening :Zller called "e on the telephone *ro" .er"any. /he connection 'as bad% and in any event by no' it is no longer easy *or "e to understand .er"an on the telephone4 his voice 'as labored and see"ed broken% his tone tense and agitated. ,e announced that *or entecost% 'ithin si0 'eeks% he 'ould co"e to Kinale 3igure4 #ould 'e "eetY /aken una'ares% I said yes. I asked hi" to let "e kno' be*orehand the details o* his arrival and put aside "y no' super*luous dra*t. Eight days later I received *ro" :rs. :Zller the announce! "ent o* the une0pected death o* )oktor 3othar :Zller in his si0tieth year o* li*e.

CARBON
/he reader% at this point% 'ill have realiFed *or so"e ti"e no' that this is not a che"ical treatise4 "y presu"ption does not reach so *arA )ma voiL est foible( et mXme #n *e# *rofane%1 &or is it an autobiography% save in the partial and sy"bolic li"its in 'hich every piece o* 'riting is autobiographical% indeed every hu"an 'orkM but it is in so"e *ashion a history. It is A or 'ould have liked to b e A a "icro!history% the history o* a trade and its de*eats% victories% and "iseries% such as everyone 'ants to tell 'hen he *eels close to concluding the arc o* his career% and art ceases to be long. ,aving reached this point in li*e% 'hat che"ist% *acing the eriodic /able% or the "onu"ental indices o* Beilstein or 3andolt% does not perceive scattered a"ong the" the sad tatters% or trophies% o* his o'n

pro*essional pastY ,e only has to lea* through any treatise and "e"ories rise up in bunches4 there is a"ong us he 'ho has tied his destiny% indelibly% to bro"ine or to propylene% or the !&#group% or gluta"ic acidM and every che"istry student% *aced by al"ost any treatise% should be a'are that on one o* those pages% perhaps in a single line% *or"ula% or 'ord% his *uture is 'ritten in indecipherable characters% 'hich% ho'ever% 'ill beco"e clear Ba*ter'ardC4 a*ter success% error% or guilt% victory or de*eat. Every no longer young che"ist% turning again to the verhYn$nisvoll page in that sa"e treatise% is struck by love or disgust% delights or despairs. So it happens% there*ore% that every ele"ent says so"ething to so"eone Dso"ething di**erent to eachE like the "ountain valleys or beaches visited in youth. -ne "ust perhaps "ake an e0ception *or carbon% because it says everything to everyone% that is% it is not speci*ic% in the sa"e 'ay that Ada" is not speci*ic as an ancestorAunless one discovers today D'hy notYE the che"ist! stylite 'ho has dedicated his li*e to graphite or the dia"ond. And yet it is e0actly to this carbon that I have an old debt% contracted during 'hat *or "e 'ere decisive days. /o carbon% the ele"ent o* li*e% "y *irst literary drea" 'as turned% insistently drea"ed in an hour and a place 'hen "y li*e 'as not 'orth "uch4 yes% I 'anted to tell the story o* an ato" o* carbon. Is it right to speak o* a B particularC ato" o* carbonY Kor the che"ist there e0ist so"e doubts% because until 1919 he did not have the techniHues per"itting hi" to see% or in any event isolate% a single ato"M no doubts e0ist *or the narrator% 'ho there*ore sets out to narrate. -ur character lies *or hundreds o* "illions o* years% bound to three ato"s o* o0ygen and one o* calciu"% in the *or" o* li"estone4 it already has a very long cos"ic history behind it% but 'e shall ignore it. Kor it ti"e does not e0ist% or e0ists only in the *or" o* sluggish variations in te"perature% daily or seasonal% i*% *or the good *ortune o* this tale% its position is not too *ar

*ro" the earthGs sur*ace. Its e0istence% 'hose "onotony cannot be thought o* 'ithout horror% is a pitiless alternation o* hots and colds% that is% o* oscillations Dal'ays o* eHual *reHuencyE a tri*le "ore restricted and a tri*le "ore a"ple4 an i"prison"ent% *or this potentially living personage% 'orthy o* the #atholic ,ell. /o it% until this "o"ent% the present tense is suited% 'hich is that o* description% rather than the past tense% 'hich is that o* narration A it is congealed in an eternal present% barely scratched by the "oderate Huivers o* ther"al agitation. But% precisely *or the good *ortune o* the narrator% 'hose story could other'ise have co"e to an end% the li"estone rock ledge o* 'hich the ato" *or"s a part lies on the sur*ace. It lies 'ithin reach o* "an and his picka0 Dall honor to the picka0 and its "odern eHuivalentsM they are still the "ost i"portant inter! "ediaries in the "illennial dialogue bet'een the ele"ents and "anE4 at any "o"entA'hich I% the narrator% decide out o* pure caprice to be the year 18 4 9 A a blo' o* the picka0 detached it and sent it on its 'ay to the li"e kiln% plunging it into the 'orld o* things that change. It 'as roasted until it separated *ro" the calciu"% 'hich re"ained so to speak 'ith its *eet on the ground and 'ent to "eet a less brilliant destiny% 'hich 'e shall not narrate. Still *ir"ly clinging to t'o o* its three *or"er o0ygen co"panions% it issued *ro" the chi"ney and took the path o* the air. Its story% 'hich once 'as i""obile% no' turned tu"ultuous. It 'as caught by the 'ind% *lung do'n on the earth% li*ted ten kilo"eters high. It 'as breathed in by a *alcon% descending into its precipitous lungs% but did not penetrate its rich blood and 'as e0pelled. It dissolved three ti"es in the 'ater o* the sea% once in the 'ater o* a cascading torrent% and again 'as e0pelled. It traveled 'ith the 'ind *or eight years4 no' high% no' lo'% on the sea and a"ong the clouds% over *orests% deserts% and li"itless e0panses o* iceM then it stu"bled into capture and the organic adventure. #arbon% in *act% is a singular ele"ent4 it is the only ele"ent that can bind itsel* in long stable chains 'ithout a great e0pense

o* energy% and *or li*e on earth Dthe only one 'e kno' so *arE precisely long chains are reHuired. /here*ore carbon is the key ele"ent o* living substance4 but its pro"otion% its entry into the living 'orld% is not easy and "ust *ollo' an obligatory% intricate path% 'hich has been clari*ied Dand not yet de*initivelyE only in recent years. I* the elaboration o* carbon 'ere not a co""on daily occurrence% on the scale o* billions o* tons a 'eek% 'herever the green o* a lea* appears% it 'ould by *ull right deserve to be called a "iracle. /he ato" 'e are speaking o*% acco"panied by its t'o satel! lites 'hich "aintained it in a gaseous state% 'as there*ore borne by the 'ind along a ro' o* vines in the year 1848. It had the good *ortune to brush against a lea*% penetrate it% and be nailed there by a ray o* the sun. I* "y language here beco"es i"precise and allusive% it is not only because o* "y ignorance4 this decisive event% this instantaneous 'ork a treAo* the carbon dio0ide% the light% and the vegetal greeneryAhas not yet been described in de*initive ter"s% and perhaps it 'ill not be *or a long ti"e to co"e% so di**erent is it *ro" that other BorganicC che"istry 'hich is the cu"berso"e% slo'% and ponderous 'ork o* "an4 and yet this re*ined% "inute% and Huick!'itted che"istry 'as BinventedC t'o or three billion years ago by our silent sisters% the plants% 'hich do not e0peri"ent and do not discuss% and 'hose te"perature is identical to that o* the environ"ent in 'hich they live. I* to co"prehend is the sa"e as *or"ing an i"age% 'e 'ill never *or" an i"age o* a happeningW 'hose scale is a "illionth o* a "illi"eter% 'hose rhyth" is a "illionth o* a second% and 'hose protagonists are in their essence invisible. Every verbal description "ust be inadeHuate% and one 'ill be as good as the ne0t% so let us settle *or the *ollo'ing description. -ur ato" o* carbon enters the lea*% colliding 'ith other in! nu"erable Dbut here uselessE "olecules o* nitrogen and o0ygen. It adheres to a large and co"plicated "olecule that activates it% and si"ultaneously receives the decisive "essage *ro" the sky%
WEnglish in originalA T RANS .

in the *lashing *or" o* a packet o* solar light4 in an instant% like an insect caught by a spider% it is separated *ro" its o0ygen% co"bined 'ith hydrogen and Done thinksE phosphorus% and *inally inserted in a chain% 'hether long or short does not "atter% but it is the chain o* li*e. All this happens s'i*tly% in silence% at the te"perature and pressure o* the at"osphere% and gratis4 dear colleagues% 'hen 'e learn to do like'ise 'e 'ill be sic#t -e#s( and 'e 'ill have also solved the proble" o* hunger in the 'orld. But there is "ore and 'orse% to our sha"e and that o* our art. #arbon dio0ide% that is% the aerial *or" o* the carbon o* 'hich 'e have up till no' spoken4 this gas 'hich constitutes the ra' "aterial o* li*e% the per"anent store upon 'hich all that gro's dra's% and the ulti"ate destiny o* all *lesh% is not one o* the principal co"ponents o* air but rather a ridiculous re"nant% an Bi"purity%C thirty ti"es less abundant than argon% 'hich nobody even notices. /he air contains 9.97 percentM i* Italy 'as air% the only Italians *it to build li*e 'ould be% *or e0a"ple% the *i*teen thousand inhabitants o* :ilaFFo in the province o* :essina. /his% on the hu"an scale% is ironic acrobatics% a PugglerGs trick% an inco"prehensible display o* o"nipotence!arrogance% since *ro" this ever rene'ed i"purity o* the air 'e co"e% 'e ani"als and 'e plants% and 'e the hu"an species% 'ith our *our billion discordant opinions% our "illeniu"s o* history% our 'ars and sha"es% nobility and pride. In any event% our very presence on the planet beco"es laughable in geo"etric ter"s4 i* all o* hu"anity% about 629 "illion tons% 'ere distributed in a layer o* ho"ogeneous thickness on all the e"ergent lands% the B stature o* "anB 'ould not be visible to the naked eyeM the thickness one 'ould obtain 'ould be around si0teen thousandths o* a "illi"eter. &o' our ato" is inserted4 it is part o* a structure% in an architectural senseM it has beco"e related and tied to *ive co"panions so identical 'ith it that only the *iction o* the story per"its "e to distinguish the". It is a beauti*ul ring!shaped structure% an al"ost regular he0agon% 'hich ho'ever is

subPected to co"plicated e0changes and balances 'ith the 'ater in 'hich it is dissolvedM because by no' it is dissolved in 'ater% indeed in the sap o* the vine% and this% to re"ain dissolved% is both the obligation and the privilege o* all substances that are destined DI 'as about to say B'ishCE to change. And i* then anyone really 'anted to *ind out 'hy a ring% and 'hy a he0agon% and 'hy soluble in 'ater% 'ell% he need not 'orry4 these are a"ong the not "any Huestions to 'hich our doctrine can reply 'ith a persuasive discourse% accessible to everyone% but out o* place here. It has entered to *or" part o* a "olecule o* glucose% Pust to speak plainly4 a *ate that is neither *ish% *lesh% nor *o'l% 'hich is inter"ediary% 'hich prepares it *or its *irst contact 'ith the ani"al 'orld but does not authoriFe it to take on a higher responsibility4 that o* beco"ing part o* a proteic edi*ice. ,ence it travels% at the slo' pace o* vegetal Puices% *ro" the lea* through the pedicel and by the shoot to the trunk% and *ro" here descends to the al"ost ripe bunch o* grapes. Vhat then *ollo's is the province o* the 'ine"akers4 'e are only interested in pinpointing the *act that it escaped Dto our advantage% since 'e 'ould not kno' ho' to put it in 'ordsE the alcoholic *er"entation% and reached the 'ine 'ithout changing its nature. It is the destiny o* 'ine to be drunk% and it is the destiny o* glucose to be o0idiFed. But it 'as not o0idiFed i""ediately4 its drinker kept it in his liver *or "ore than a 'eek% 'ell curled up and tranHuil% as a reserve ali"ent *or a sudden e**ortM an e**ort that he 'as *orced to "ake the *ollo'ing Sunday% pursuing a bolting horse. Kare'ell to the he0agonal structure4 in the space o* a *e' instants the skein 'as un'ound and beca"e glucose again% and this 'as dragged by the bloodstrea" all the 'ay to a "inute "uscle *iber in the thigh% and here brutally split into t'o "olecules o* lactic acid% the gri" harbinger o* *atigue4 only later% so"e "inutes a*ter% the panting o* the lungs 'as able to supply the o0ygen necessary to Huietly o0idiFe the latter. So a ne' "olecule o* carbon dio0ide returned to the at"osphere% and a parcel o* the energy that the sun had handed to the vine!shoot

passed *ro" the state o* che"ical energy to that o* "echanical energy% and therea*ter settled do'n in the sloth*ul condition o* heat% 'ar"ing up i"perceptibly the air "oved by the running and the blood o* the runner. B Such is li*e%C although rarely is it described in this "anner4 an inserting itsel*% a dra'ing o** to its advantage% a parasitiFing o* the do'n'ard course o* energy% *ro" its noble solar *or" to the degraded one o* lo'! te"perature heat. In this do'n'ard course% 'hich leads to eHuilibriu" and thus death% li*e dra's a bend and nests in it. -ur ato" is again carbon dio0ide% *or 'hich 'e apologiFe4 this too is an obligatory passageM one can i"agine and invent others% but on earth thatGs the 'ay it is. -nce again the 'ind% 'hich this ti"e travels *arM sails over the Apennines and the Adriatic% .reece% the Aegean% and #yprus4 'e are over 3ebanon% and the dance is repeated. /he ato" 'e are concerned 'ith is no' trapped in a structure that pro"ises to last *or a long ti"e4 it is the venerable trunk o* a cedar% one o* the lastM it is passed again through the stages 'e have already described% and the glucose o* 'hich it is a part belongs% like the bead o* a rosary% to a long chain o* cellulose. /his is no longer the hallucinatory and geological *i0ity o* rock% this is no longer "illions o* years% but 'e can easily speak o* centuries because the cedar is a tree o* great longevity. It is our 'hi" to abandon it *or a year or *ive hundred years4 let us say that a*ter t'enty years D'e are in 18>8E a 'ood 'or" has taken an interest in it. It has dug its tunnel bet'een the trunk and the bark% 'ith the obstinate and blind voracity o* its raceM as it drills it gro's% and its tunnel gro's 'ith it. /here it has s'allo'ed and provided a setting *or the subPect o* this storyM then it has *or"ed a pupa% and in the spring it has co"e out in the shape o* an ugly gray "oth 'hich is no' drying in the sun% con*used and daFFled by the splendor o* the day. -ur ato" is in one o* the insectGs thousand eyes% contributing to the su""ary and crude vision 'ith 'hich it orients itsel* in space. /he insect is *ecundated% lays its eggs% and dies4 the s"all cadaver lies in the undergro'th o* the 'oods% it

is e"ptied o* its *luids% but the chitin carapace resists *or a long ti"e% al"ost indestructible. /he sno' and sun return above it 'ithout inPuring it4 it is buried by the dead leaves and the loa"% it has beco"e a slough% a B thing %B but the death o* ato"s% unlike ours% is never irrevocable. ,ere are at 'ork the o"nipresent% untiring% and invisible gravediggers o* the undergro'th% the "icroorganis"s o* the hu"us. /he carapace% 'ith its eyes by no' blind% has slo'ly disintegrated% and the e0!drinker% e0!cedar% e0! 'ood 'or" has once again taken 'ing. Ve 'ill let it *ly three ti"es around the 'orld% until 19>9% and in Pusti*ication o* so long an interval in respect to the hu"an "easure 'e 'ill point out that it is% ho'ever% "uch shorter than the average4 'hich% 'e understand% is t'o hundred years. Every t'o hundred years% every ato" o* carbon that is not congealed in "aterials by no' stable Dsuch as% precisely% li"estone% or coal% or dia"ond% or certain plasticsE enters and reenters the cycle o* li*e% through the narro' door o* photosynthesis. )o other doors e0istY (es% so"e syntheses created by "anM they are a title o* nobility *or "an!the!"aker% but until no' their Huantitative i"portance is negligible. /hey are doors still "uch narro'er than that o* the vegetal greeneryM kno'ingly or not% "an has not tried until no' to co"pete 'ith nature on this terrain% that is% he has not striven to dra' *ro" the carbon dio0ide in the air the carbon that is necessary to nourish hi"% clothe hi"% 'ar" hi"% and *or the hundred other "ore sophisticated needs o* "odern li*e. ,e has not done it because he has not needed to4 he has *ound% and is still *inding Dbut *or ho' "any "ore decadesYE gigantic reserves o* carbon already organiciFed% or at least reduced. Besides the vegetable and ani"al 'orlds% these reserves are constituted by deposits o* coal and petroleu"4 but these too are the inheritance o* photo! synthetic activity carried out in distant epochs% so that one can 'ell a**ir" that photosynthesis is not only the sole path by 'hich carbon beco"es living "atter% but also the sole path by 'hich the sunGs energy beco"es che"ically usable.

It is possible to de"onstrate that this co"pletely arbitrary story is nevertheless true. I could tell innu"erable other stories% and they 'ould all be true4 all literally true% in the nature o* the transitions% in their order and data. /he nu"ber o* ato"s is so great that one could al'ays be *ound 'hose story coincides 'ith any capriciously invented story. I could recount an endless nu"ber o* stories about carbon ato"s that beco"e colors or per*u"es in *lo'ersM o* others 'hich% *ro" tiny algae to s"all crustaceans to *ish% gradually return as carbon dio0ide to the 'aters o* the sea% in a perpetual% *rightening round!dance o* li*e and death% in 'hich every devourer is i""ediately devouredM o* others 'hich instead attain a decorous se"i!eternity in the yello'ed pages o* so"e archival docu"ent% or the canvas o* a *a"ous painterM or those to 'hich *ell the privilege o* *or"ing part o* a grain o* pollen and le*t their *ossil i"print in the rocks *or our curiosityM o* others still that descended to beco"e part o* the "ysterious shape!"essengers o* the hu"an seed% and participated in the subtle process o* division% duplication% and *usion *ro" 'hich each o* us is born. Instead% I 'ill tell Pust one "ore story% the "ost secret% and I 'ill tell it 'ith the hu"ility and restraint o* hi" 'ho kno's *ro" the start that his the"e is desperate% his "eans *eeble% and the trade o* clothing *acts in 'ords is bound by its very nature to *ail. It is again a"ong us% in a glass o* "ilk. It is inserted in a very co"ple0% long chain% yet such that al"ost all o* its links are acceptable to the hu"an body. It is s'allo'edM and since every living structure harbors a savage distrust to'ard every contribu! tion o* any "aterial o* living origin% the chain is "eticulously broken apart and the *rag"ents% one by one% are accepted or rePected. -ne% the one that concerns us% crosses the intestinal threshold and enters the bloodstrea"4 it "igrates% knocks at the door o* a nerve cell% enters% and supplants the carbon 'hich 'as part o* it. /his cell belongs to a brain% and it is "y brain% the brain o* the me 'ho is 'ritingM and the cell in Huestion% and 'ithin it the ato" in Huestion% is in charge o* "y 'riting% in a gigantic "inuscule ga"e 'hich nobody has yet described. It is that 'hich at this instant% issuing out o* a labyrinthine tangle o* yeses and nos% "akes "y hand run along a certain path on the paper% "ark it 'ith these volutes that are signs4 a double snap% up and do'n%

bet'een t'o levels o* energy% guides this hand o* "ine to i"press on the paper this dot% here% this one.