Hombrearmonica’s Weblog

While Saluzzi was about to cross the road to reach the bar in front, Ristori kept him.
«Are you crazy, Beretta? I wouldn’t regret my finances, but I cannot afford this place.»
«A secret, Giorgio: I do. And I’ve been myself to invite you.»
«Thanks, however it’s not the case. It’s attended by the worst thugs of High People who don’t want us of Low People go inside. Even the most peaceful of High’s get away.»
«I like myself to avoid unnecessary hassles, Giorgio. If they leave us in peace, we’ll drink something and then go out. But if they would cause, I have myself a few sins to redeem, it will be my expiation. Trust me.»
«Uhm.»

The friends entered and, given a look around, they sat at a table on the sidelines. The bar was very elegant, like those which Saluzzi, belonging to the High People, was used.
«You can see nobody does say anything.» – Saluzzi told Ristori.
«I hope. I’m doing below. Note that in a brawl I have an arm only.»
«I do, I do, Giorgio.»

A waiter arrived with the list. Saluzzi chose first, as to encourage the young friend having no scruples. Moreover, there was nothing that cost less than 5€, perhaps one-crisp-one, but it wasn’t expected in the list. The waiter made no verbal objections to order, but raised an
eyebrow without leaving. Even Saluzzi was dressed as a Low People.
«Any problem?» – he asked, the arrogant tone of High People which he never used.
«No one, sir.» – the waiter replied in conditional reflex tone.

Entering, at a corner table, Saluzzi had noticed two youngsters with their girls, robust and well-dressed the males, a little sexy the girls. Used to assess people with pagist eye, he had identified a male as the leader and the other as a gregarious, the girl of dominant as a good girl, at least compared to the second, a real witch. For a closer look, Saluzzi had suspected that the witch had a project on boss, disdaining her fellow. He also excluded last youngster from the possible life dangers.

While the waiter was returning to the bench, Saluzzi saw the witch whispering something to boss, which raised his voice into bar:
«Hey, Luigi. Now d’you serve even dogs?»

Saluzzi saw that his friend tightened right hand. Even his left took a leap.
«Quiet, Giorgio. The revenge must be served frozen.»

The waiter did not reply, prepared the drinks on a tray and returned to the table. He served them, put the ticket in a stunning view on the table and remained firmly waiting.

Wolf had noticed before, a different behavior in serving the four at the table.During missions, he had a steely control on his emotions, including anger. But when he was out of service, as to say, went to a wedding to provocations. He took from the portfolio the biggest banknote, 500 €, and put on the table next to bill. Indeed, in berlüscaland was not a great figure, under the scythe of galloping inflation – systematically punished by EU with heavy fines, which covered Low People in addition to the loss of value of the currency – but it was still big for a bill in a bar, even luxury.

The waiter had opened eyes. For complete revenge of discriminatory behaviour of man, who was a Low People, but included in category of servants of glebe, not in the sense of ASUR, those who are prostrated to rich and arrogant with less guaranteed, Wolf lengthened the legs and supported at the back of the chair.
«Don’t you have to change in tavern?» – he ridiculed with a fucker’s tone.

The waiter gathered banknote and ticket to return to cash. The manoeuvre had not escaped to the four, including the banknote.
«Watch to be false.» – strong the boss.

The waiter returned with the rest in hand, implicitly denouncing the goodness of the banknote.
«We will have to change local, whether now they serve also shits.» – strong.
«Stop causing, one has problems to arm.» – boss’s girl, low voice, but audible in the silence that had fallen into the room.
«And then he turns with the saucer.»

Ristori was furious. After a year of military front, despite all the vicissitudes, he felt offended for himself and his uniform. Wolf, who had understood, inciting him, murmured:
«Sergeant, what wait you to defend your honor?»
«What can I do with an arm off?»
«Use the right, I will be your left arm.»
«OK.» – a martial Ristori replied.

Wolf beckoned him to go forward. Ristori got up and went decidedly to table of four. The two males and the witch sneered, but the other girl, confirming the judgement of Wolf, not joined them.
«I’m a sergeant of the berlüscandian army, wounded and decorated in war. I demand your apology to my honour and my uniform.»
«Now you are only a crippled. What d’you request if I send you to shit?»
«Enough, Roby. You are wrong, excuse yourself and get down.» – his girlfriend.
«Take it into ass, bitch!» – he screamed, giving her a push.
«You are a beast!» – she complained.
«Now I want also apologies to girl.» – Ristori insisted.
«Now I crush you and throw out kicked in the ass, sergeant of the cock.» – the boss screamed rising and making a sign to bootlicker.
«You still seated, which is better. You don’t have enough balls.»

Wolf had arrived behind Ristori, without getting noticed in the heat of argument. He went out from left side of Ristori and with a push had seatted the bootlicker.
«Count bird hair, while adults have to do.» – he added.
«Ah, we have a replacement, eh?» – Roby tried to joke, a somewhat less self-confident – «Never mind, I’m an expert in kung-fu.»
«Better for you. I’m not the substitute, however, only his left arm.»

Lonely Wolf got his right arm behind his back and grabbed the belt with his hand, then aproached better Ristori, who said:
«Go ahead, braggart. If you don’t want to apologize, give me satisfaction.»

It was a heavy clash. The boss actually knew beating. Wolf, not to humiliate friend replacing him totally, tried to confine itself to protect shots from the left arm. Giorgio bled from a little cut to the lip and Wolf were touched by two heavy blows to the side and chest. But both had closed
teeth and held out. When Giorgio, suffering, had managed to penetrate the guard of boss to touch heavily with a hook to the jaw, he didn’t stand, as a luxury small cunt, and
collapsed on the ground.

Ristori stooped him and struck in the solar plexus, one two three times. He struck him also with a fist to the balls.
«And this is for kung-fu, fucker.»
«Enough, enough.» – boss managed to say between groans and foaming at the mouth.

Lonely Wolf intervened.
«Just so, Giorgio. Don’t dirty your hands with the miserable life of this fucker, not worth it. He has been humiliated enough, in front of his gang and women.»
«Agreed, Beretta.» – Ristori replied rising.

It began to dab his mouth with a handkerchief, while Wolf crouched next to the fallen.
«If you were thinking of giving my friend still nuisance, I deal myself with you. You know why he called me Beretta?» – he opened a little the jacket to glimpse the weapon – «I prefer this to fists.»

Beretta rose without waiting for the answer. The beaten, with broken voice by pain and even more by humiliation said to the girl:
«Help me to get up.»
«Do the best you can, great man. With me you closed. I’m tired of your bullying.» – she contacted the two stragers – «Can I come with you? You never know with this scum.»
«All right, girl.» – Wolf.

They went out on street. Lonely Wolf, with tone that inspired confidence, asked:
«What did a good girl like you with bullies who don’t respect even a wounded war hero?»
«I didn’t know them as now. It was long time I would get rid of them, but I had somewhat fear. I gladly take advantage of the lesson that you gave them. Let me see your lip, sergeant.»

She tried to move away the hand of Giorgio.
«No, leave, Miss. This is not the case.»
«Not to be berk, Giorgio.» – Wolf intervened – «If she want to take care of you, let she take. What is your name, Miss, for my curiosity?»
«Xenia.»
«Beautiful, original. Montale, if I’m not mistaking.»
«Yes, it comes from a poem by Montale.»

Ristori accepted attention. The lip was bleeding still a bit, but only a little. The cut was modest.
«It seems me alright. But use my handkerchief.» – the girl took by the bag a tissue and put him on the lip.
«I believe myself it goes well, Giorgio.» – Saluzzi reassured, having a look – «There is no need of points. And then, Xenia, not fear for him. You have to do with a genuine war hero: seriously wounded, he saved the life of his captain, regardless himself. It is hard to die.»
«Come on, Beretta, I embarrassed.»
«I saw how you dealt with that overbearing, Giorgio. And I like that you have defended me. You are my knight.»
«I have done only what anyone else would have done.»

Wolf intervened still.
«Don’t be modest. Not many people, even with two arms, have dealt that overbearing, supported by claque too. But now let us stop the compliments on sidewalks. Guys, give you appointment and then don’t let me stand like candle-end. Where can we accompany, Xenia?»

Two men accompanied the girl home, partly on foot, partly by metro, which they left soon because the train went on-off for electricity interruptions. In front of his home, Xenia greeted them, then, got up on feet points, gave a kiss in front of the boy.
«Giorgio, now you know where I live, come and see me when you want. At university search me. We are in the same course, I have noticed.»
«Really? OK, then we’ll see.»

When two friends remained alone, after a few steps in silence, Wolf turned the boy.
«Put off that berk air. Rather, the next time you have lesson, search her really.»

Ristori giggled embarrassed.
«D’you believe she’ll not snob me?»
«Come on! you have conquered her, knight without fear and blemish. Maybe you have not noticed, enchanted from her eyes, but when she tamponed your lip with the tissue, she had a finger stained with your blood. After rubbed against another, instinctively she has licked to clean it better. She is taken, I tell you. Just you don’t play the enchanted in the wood.»
«Don’t joke me! Agreed, Beretta, I’ll try not to make the the enchanted in the wood. And our affair?»
«Now I have to leave. I organize things and then contact you through Vigevano network. Things will not be roses and flowers. I would also like to get your arm examined by a specialist friend of mine. Have no illusions, but if something can do, he is the right one.»
«Thank you, Beretta. For everything. Today for myself was a beautiful day; it was long time I didn’t feel so good and strong.»