The expert
Giorgio Ristori was again contacted by the Vigevano FLIP man, Giuseppe Salvini, for instructions how to meet an expert pagist to talk about his left arm.
«At university? I was thinking to a place …»
«… more conspiring? Secret passages, underground rooms, dark Gothic domes? And whoever builds more! And if they build, would certainly not tell us. And then, frankly, who frequents them, would be immediately suspicious, as a paedophile near a kindergarten.»
After laughing for comparison, Ristori had asked:
«Do you say that the best place to conspire is what we usually attends?»
«With some care, yes. You make abstractions in a hurry, Giorgio.»
He arrived to the lesson in slight delay, a pretext for getting to the top of the stairs of an amphitheatre, penultimate row left, against the wall, according to the recommendations of Salvini and how he wasn’t used. Throughout the lesson, nobody had contacted him.
At the end, he raised as all to stretch legs, a little disappointed. High People guys, the vast majority, enjoyed the break going to university pub, to drink something, joke, flirt. The few of Low People, who could allow university, stood away, by prohibitive cost and unwelcome, unless they are prepared to make the jesters or laughing to rich companions for a drink offer.
He was considering whether to leave, maybe the contact had not been able to come. He decided to use more patience. He sat down waiting of the next lesson.
«Gianni Ristoni?» – a voice behind.
He sought to behave as imagined would make a good conspirator. Without turn, he opened the clipboard and pretended to read.
«Giorgio Ristori, maybe you swap for someone else.»
«A caution. I’m Beretta. Let speak informally, it sounds strange between university companions.»
«Alright. A curiosity before. Where were you the first hour? And as you arrived behind?»
«I have always been here. I could not get up and appear from nothing during the lesson: teachers have clinical eye. When everyone has risen to do their own cocks, I could get out.»
«Uhm, there is a handbook to learn the tricks?»
«We will give advice. But the basic rule is: Think before you act. And now we come to your problem.»
«I’m improving a bit with my left arm, but will never handle a rifle.»
«Never say never again, as saying that stupid 007. However, a few steps Beretta is better. I like more, for example. How d’you shootwith an automatic pistol?»
«In Iran I used and well, of course. But how do I use only one hand to change the loader?»
«With calm at home, for example. A 98FS or 62FS has fifteen shots in the loader, and one in the barrel. I have never used more than five shots in a single action. The safe was removed with the thumb of holding hand. Also arming the hammer for the first hit, if you don’t want to unbalance the hand with dual action trigger.»
«And assembling the silencer?»
«I always use it in action, not to identify me for. You can always leave it mounted, it is only a matter of space. But we can project a holster suitable for you.»
Giorgio Ristori advanced still an objection, not wanting to get an easy enthusiasm.
«And if were it jamming?»
«With a good Beretta, kept clean and well-oiled, at home with calm, and carefully examining ammunitions, it never happens; uhm almost never. However, succeeding, even with two good hands, unsticking the gun would be the last of your problems.»
«I understand.» – Giorgio said after a nervous brief laugh – «In short, you see no problems.»
«Oh, there are, but can be solved with training and fantasy, if you wish to do so.»
«There’s another story that I would like to talk to you.»
«Agreed, but the lesson is beginning. Let us make four steps, without attracting attention disturbing.»
Separately they got down the stairs before teacher started.
