The Deserter - Part Four.
So they sat in the shade of a tree and told his friend Grigula the events of that morning, however, deliberately leaving out the part where one of the robbers had revealed that the thefts had been commissioned. Knowing the fiery and impetuous character of Karrabusu he would go immediately to the home of Don Tattànu looking for the man who had been accused of being the instigator of the robbery to account for strong and robust and although could not compete with a sas trassas Balent and experienced man as Austinu Zedda, also doing so would be reached only to put on the alert while Grigula interested in that he felt more comfortable and safe so that it may fit if he had made some missteps. Provided that his involvement was proven.
Karrabusu nodded satisfied listening to the story of his friend and regretted only the fact of not having been able to accompany that business.
- I would have loved to have been with you in search of cattle. The two of us together we are unbeatable! - Said.
- Better not. You're still too young and then you always have to pretend to be crippled ... you never know who do not try again to join! You do not want to risk the end of your Fadal , the son of Sarteddu zilleràiu up!
The friend had to agree with him against his will and changed the subject to conceal the disappointment. - Good. So ... it seems to me that the horse will be rested and given to drink so I can take them to the barn. What are you doing, come back to me in town?
Antonio thought for a moment, then answered - No, you go ahead. I want to go home for leaving his rifle and haversack. I can not introduce reinforced by your aunts!
Young Serchis stretched her lips into a sly smile of someone who knows a lot and replied - Well, you will also want to get you polished before meeting Annetta! That girl does not leave me in peace even a moment, I am always asking about you!
- These are not your business! Now jump back up into the saddle and Iu in the country. - Grigula ordered gruffly, standing up.
The friend did so, chuckling and a couple of minutes later he was already pushing the cattle through the bridge at the time of the country.
While watching him go, Grigula smiled at the thought of the girl named by Peppe.
It was the maid in the house Serchis though now it was like a family. The two spinsters treated her like a daughter and Karrabusu was almost a big sister.
Lui invece la conosceva da quando era tornato da Tanca Regia subito dopo la morte della sua famiglia durante l’epidemia di colera del 1910. Allora erano entrambi poco più che diciottenni e Antonio, frequentando casa Serchis, aveva faticato non poco a stringere amicizia con quella bella ragazza timida che anche se mostrava simpatia per lui, fedele al suo ruolo di tzeracca quasi non gli rivolgeva la parola se non direttamente interpellata.
Col tempo la simpatia si era trasformata in affetto e i due giovani probabilmente sarebbero arrivati ad un fidanzamento se allo scoppio della Grande Guerra Grigula non fosse stato richiamato e per sfuggire all’arruolamento non si fosse dato alla macchia.
Mentre si rivestiva, il giovane ripensava a tutti gli eventi che fino a quel momento avevano influenzato la sua vita e alle disgrazie che lo avevano accompagnato finora. Concluse però che alla fine tutti più o meno sopportavano una vita fatta di sacrifici e dispiaceri ma che ‘erano anche dei lati positivi e piacevoli a saperla prendere per il verso giusto. Lui ad esempio non credeva nell’ineluttabilità del destino, anzi fedele agli insegnamenti del suo mentore di quando lavorava come stalliere e domatore a Tanca Regia, era fermamente convinto che ognuno fosse autore della propria fortuna e che la rassegnazione o l’accettazione supina degli accadimenti fossero assolutamente da evitare.
Questo ed altri erano stati gli insegnamenti di Ernesto Mariani maresciallo di cavalleria, sovrintendente principale del centro di allevamento e addestramento che da secoli in quel di Abbasanta forniva i migliori cavalli per gli eserciti aragonesi e spagnoli, Sardo-Piemontesi e ora per quelli del Regno d’Italia.
Il maresciallo Mariani oltre alla passione per i cavalli coltivava quella per i libri e in particolare amava quelli che trattavano di avvenimenti storici e gli analizzavano sotto il profilo sociale e psicologico. Questo gli consentiva, a suo modo di vedere, di capire meglio il presente e fare le scelte più giuste per il futuro.
Quando gli fu affidato il giovane Grigula, oltre ad insegnargli i rudimenti del mestiere, si preoccupò anche di far crescere la sua mente e la sua cultura facendogli leggere libri di storia, di filosofia, di sociologia politica. All’inizio Antonio non ci capiva un granché, forse colpa anche del fatto che la sua istruzione scolastica si era fermata ai 5 anni obbligatori in cui era stato un allievo del maestro Selegas; col tempo e la perseveranza del maresciallo però, nel giro di un paio di mesi si trovò a proprio agio con quei libri e le animate discussioni che seguivano quelle letture contribuirono a farlo crescere sia intellettualmente che umanamente. 
A volte ripensava con nostalgia a quei tempi felici in cui teenager was in his opinion the best job in the world, care for and participating in the breaking of those thoroughbreds that were the backbone of the Royal Cavalry. Then his family was still alive and happy as his days ran galloping "sleeping" in " tancas " plateau Abbasanta Mariani and the marshal looked at him, with his ever-present pipe in his mouth, sitting with his back on the trunk of an oak and a notebook in her lap on which to draw with pencil sketches of portraits of the boy on horseback and landscape. 
flowed While the memories of his life recently arrived at of the country. By now the sun was almost hidden behind the hill over "Lare up" but are still in several hours of light. The paths that led from each side were from the countryside to Bonarcanto population of animals and men who fell after a day's work. Tired and dusty, they greeted each other with nods or phrases fact, all the weight of their years and their hard work in carved deep lines crossing their faces burnt by the sun and dust. Grigula had chosen that moment to enter the country to blend with its neighbors and attract less attention. Before going to the house of the sisters Serchis wanted to go to his house, has long been deserted, leaving them rifle, cartridge belt and haversack, maybe clean up and present in acceptable conditions. Especially since they would be there also and Annette, as she had imagined Karrabusu, he might see his clothes shabby and dirty. As he climbed the road that bisects the country from west to east, we salute the women out of their homes took advantage of the incoming light and cool to keep those jobs that were close to their jurisdiction.
There were those who sat next doorstep with the casting rod in hand spinning wool, while others were " bordìnde " that went back and forth by passing in "Roccos sos" stuck to the floor and walls the threads of wool or linen hanks to create a measure of the frame on which were woven enzòros, bèrtulas, tappètes, fàunas .
Other still on his knees chilìru cleaned the pulses from the last remnants of s'isprunidùra to cook the evening or to store them for winter, when they constituted the main diet. Basòlu, Pisu, and pisigheddu fae first cooked and seasoned with fennel and bean sprouts with the other hand, would have helped to give a minimum of calories to the poor and malnourished.
The meat was a luxury that only the rich could afford it often and people Bonarcanto even raise pigs and chickens, ate meat only rarely. The hens were used for eggs and were eaten only when they became too old, cooked in soup or used to make the sauce to dress sos macarrònes the feast of Our Lady of Bonacatu.
The pig was slaughtered instead of early December, after Sa Groriòsa as it was called the Feast of the fact that fell on December 8. He expected that the climate was cold enough and allowing it to preserve meat for a while 'time, because even if the majority was processed to produce sardìzza, trempàle, presùttu, zerìsu, Muster and fat and blood to do sos sambenazzòs , the rest was eaten fresh and to ensure a minimum of time needed just a cold climate.
was a holiday when they slaughtered the pig and usually around the neighborhood as he was involved in each family in turn replied to this ritual. Often the men helped each other in all steps of the slaughter, by binding to s'abbruschiatùra cun s'uscradìna which were often made in an open space between houses, with children who attended the show and waited for someone to rub the skin singed to remove the pig knows zudda , detached sas ungrèddas and spears so that the lucky or faster could nibble the cartilage warm interior. As a child Antonio also had participated in those fights gay bit 'sas ungrèddas together with the other neighborhood children and the memories came back to him loud and clear every time he came to my nostrils the smell of burnt hair. Now as he continued to climb toward the center of the country watched the children playing barefoot with criccu up with the cane or fucilini cabìzza and a veil of nostalgia rises from the heart to the eyes tarnished view and project the image of his mother calling him from the front door, his face tanned and smiling. Although barely able to drive away those memories and turn into a lane and along the back of small low houses. At that point because the difference in height, the roof tiles come up to his head and while traveling s'ottorìnu his nostrils perceive the smell of smoke which is impregnated on cannitzau . Only the houses of the wealthy, and Bonarcanto could be counted on the fingers of one hand, they could afford know ziminèra with its beautiful fireplace that smokes while everyone else is warmed and sometimes cooked in forrèdda knows that was nothing if not a space surrounded by stones, concentric or square at the center of the room used as a kitchen. Inside de on foghìle the fire was lit and the smoke from any chimney being incalanato, flowed up through cannitzau filtering and finally came out between the tiles outside. 
This does not prevent that during the 'winter there was always a certain height above the ground in a cloud of smoke that wanted to go out slowly from areas of on cannitzau . The situation improved in the summer when the fire was lit to cook using only sos forrèddos coal-fired brick, for those who could afford it, otherwise the wood that women were going to get every day in the countryside.
edge of the lane stood a moment undecided. If he wanted to go to the family home was to proceed to the left but saw his right about two hundred yards a large manor house, as if it were suddenly something clicked in my mind, I walked with quick steps and wide and a couple of minutes later he was already running along the high walls that surround it.
was the home of Don Sebastian Grigula Selis and walked down the wall along its entire length to the back, one that bordered on the campaign that allowed access through a large wooden door that he hoped to find open.
But his hopes were destined to be disappointed when he comes to find him well-bolted door. He was then to retrace his steps when the other side of the wall came the voices. Intrigued, he tried to focus better to grasp the sounds that reached him, was not able to decipher the words he heard. He understood that there were two people talking but the words were unintelligible because of the distance.
He decided to climb the wall. Having had a quick look around and making sure that no one was coming, he climbed the fence to catch your finger and the tip of the boots in the cracks of the stones of which it was built. Came to the top he lay down and began to crawl, protected from wisteria vine that covered a great distance to the wall in the direction of the voices he had heard from the street.
soon was able to understand the words that came through a light breeze was blowing at that light, he stopped and flattening more than listened.
immediately recognized the voice of Don Tattànu, had the tone of one accustomed to be heard and obeyed above.
- So I warrant that all is well? Are you sure those two do not cause problems?
- Safe printzipàle . I'm busy As a person who was part of the agreements remain a secret. I guarantee you that do not open your mouth.
- Me Austìnu hope so, I hope. For your sake it is better that my name not be associated with these matters ... the rest is your job to make sure that things are resolved without my involvement.
- Abarràde tranchìllu, printzipale . Nobody saw me, and nobody knows anything. Only now to achieve your goals you need to change strategy ...
- I know. In fact, I already thought about the next steps. But now it's too late to talk and I'm hungry. I'm going to give me a wash and then I sit at the table. You dissella my horse, groom and feed him well. Please do not make him drink before it is completely dry. When you're done pass from me that you do the tasks for tomorrow.
uttered those words, Don Tattànu left the backyard to get into the main one, where a kind of path covered colonnade, went up the stairs outside double ramp and entered the house opposite. His party also left the yard and headed toward the stables. At that point, Grigula slid beyond the wall, taking care not to make any noise back down to the street and quickly turned away in the opposite direction from which it came.
As he approached sos cantareddos where he was the father's house, saw what he had heard and tried to make sense of logical links to the information that he had extorted the rustlers. The marine biotoxins to "those two" made by Don Tattànu was thinking just the two thieves who claimed to have been hired by Austìnu Zedda, references to agreements and secrecy made by him he gave further confirmation.
But why had that advantage and above could get Don Tattànu by these thefts? Told him that in Capo di Sopra the "owners" had to employ the so-called "de tzeràccos fura " that were used just to perform robberies on commission, but by these parties if they had ever heard. Also don Tattànu certainly did not need money, known as the richest Bonarcanto and owner of the finest livestock in the area that rivaled that of neighboring lussurgesi. There must be some other reason that at the time escaped him.
Continued ...
