Amina Persa Page #4

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I wonder what's in his mind.

Did you see how he waggles

his red tongue?

He's a real swine.

At times he lifts up his robe

to shock me.

I was a nurse in World War 1.

I've seen a few.

Imagine if I...

Madam's back.

- It's quite painful,my dear.

- What?

Having him here,

above our heads.

Despite his silence,we know

he exists and thinks.

Maybe he even hates us...

Squatting like an animal...

Can you help me?

Annetta was wrong,though.

She had no authority.

It's my fault.

I asked her...

You'd have found out anyhow.

But...

what really happened?

I didn't know

Uncle had a brother.

His name's Berto.

He was a science lecturer.

Suddenly one day,

he was taken ill.

He lost his mind.

He's a maniac but harmless.

- Is he always up there?

- Always.

So he plays the piano

at night?

No.

Who does then?

Don't make me talk.

I beg of you.

Be kind.

Don't ask questions.

Are you my friend?

Do you promise?

Of course,Auntie.

Good.

I'm not a curious person,

but those strange noises...

I won't tell Uncle if you like.

The oddest thing is that

Berto doesn't speak any more.

He used tp speak a lot,

and sing too,like a tenor.

Not a word now,

not even to his brother.

Your uncle's a saint.

He washes and shaves him

every morning.

He cuts his nails

and makes his bed.

No one's allowed in there.

Only Fabio keeps a key.

- Do you visit him?

- Never.

Fabio would be furious if he knew

we were discussing it.

Your uncle's very good.

But he can be quite mean too.

- What are you doing?

- Nothing,just closing it.

I'm sorry

I thought you were...

Why would you open it?

You have no reason.

See,Tino. We're survivors

of a great empire,

heirs of the Habsburgs.

Our forebears and fathers

of Venice,Trieste in my case,

all spoke Goethe's sweet

tongue as their second language.

To think we learn that the

Austrians were all ruthless.

What?

On the contrary,they were

honest and able administrators.

And strict educators too.

But for Italy's unification

we'd be part of civilised Europe.

Churches are deserted.

Only cinemas are full.

That's where today's people

go for confession.

- So you saw him.

- Who?

My brother...

the demented one.

- I'm sorry.

- You needn't apologise.

Silence is better than lies.

In fact my brother was

a noble soul.

A respected science professor.

Insects were his main interest.

He devised

an interesting theory.

That is,God is to be sought

below not above us.

He thought

we were more likely

to find evidence of God

in insects.

"Why look to the sky

when thinking of God?

"Let's look down and study

more mysterious forms of life.

"God ...is an ant.

"God's a bee. We must

look for God amid the insects."

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