Amina Persa Page #5

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to know?

I don't know.Uncle lied.

Or Auntie did.

Listen.

You'll never know the truth.

- Besides,who cares?

- You're right.

I'm involved.

I can't ignore it.

Really! The cause of death

won't be written on the grave.

Something doesn't jell.

My aunt's still very young.

When was Beba born?

When did she die?

Let's go and see.

It must be over there.

Strange,

Beba's name isn't here.

Of course,it's a nickname.

It's Slav for doll.

Didn't you know?

No,I didn't know.

She could be the one,

Barbara Stolz 1920-1968.

Can't be.

She died at 48.

What about that blank stone?

Know where the Gas Company is?

Of course. I'm from Venice.

Third bridge to the left.

Damn! You scared my fish away!

Bugger it!

- We Don't have a Mr Stolz.

- My uncle. He works here

Not to my knowledge. Augusto,

do you know a Mr Stolz?

Stolz?

I don't remember him.

I've never heard the name.

Ever.

Now I remember,

Stolz,the engineer

Of course.

A very tall man...

quite handsome too.

I thought he was dead.

He worked here years ago.

- Some 12 even 15 years ago.

- I told you. He's left.

- Happy birthday, Master Tino.

- Thank you.

Blow

This is my present,vermouth.

- This is from me.

- Thank you, Uncle.

With my best wishes.

You can buy what you like.

- Thank you,everyone.

You shouldn't have.

Presents give pleasure

to the giver.

I went to your office today.

Very good.

- What were you talking about?

- Nothing.

Tino and I are going out

together tonight.

So much study calls

for a break.

But it's so cold.

It's not cold. Besides,

we'll be well sheltered.

Perhaps Tino would sooner...

Are you deciding for him?

Don't you want to let him

make up his own mind?

He appears to be old enough

Careful.

What are you doing?

Give it to me.

An additional toast

to your birthday.

Plum liqueur,a great

stimulant at this hour.

It will brace you up.

It's cold outside.

Frankly,It's quite cold

in here too.

This room's so glum.

You said it was today

at midday.

I bet that dreadful gas building

hasn't changed one iota.

Somber, grey...

murky water, greenish-grey.

Inside, It's like an anthill.

You have no idea of its many

stairs,landings,mezzanines,

little offices like kennels...

Is the caretaker Augusto

still there? A wiry, old man?

Yes, an old man.

I don't know his name.

Maybe you won't believe it,

but I feel that...

that words such as...gas,

yes,gas,sound preposterous.

Paroxytone words

are already quite droll.

Take engineer,or more so

sur... surveyor,

assessor...

But monosyllables

such as gas...

Not to mention apocopated words

such as compo...

a compo claim,a compo case,

compo...just listen to it.

Rego,commo,cuppa,

uni,telly,pub...

Simply irresistible!

One of these days...

I'll show you my collection

of dictionaries...22 of them.

- Sorry. Had I known...

- Please don't apologise.

Excuses,justifications...

leave all that out.

We ought to remember

Homer's words.

"Be calm,my heart.

You've suffered far worse."

- Why are you staring at me?

- No reason.

- Are you afraid of me?

- No.

You needn't be afraid of me.

I can do you some good.

Come on.

Let's go and talk in a cafe.

That's the girl!

- Is it good?

- Yes.

I'm glad.

I love them too.

Those little logs,

what do we know about them?

- I really can't, sir.

- Oh, go on.

- There. Is it nice?

- Yes,very.

Give it to me,then.

Come.

I'm not crazy about sweets

but I love the game.

That Daniela there,

so pretty,so obliging...

My dear Fabio...

more and more handsome.

Tino,before you is

the Duke himself.

This must be your nephew.

I heard...

Yes,he is.

He went to see me at the

office...the Gas Company.

How clever of him.

What can I say? Blessed youth!

Blessed innocence!

Sorry,I couldn't help it.

Forgive me,but the Duke and I

are very old friends.

His presence helps me speak.

The fact is

I don't have a job.

I haven't worked

for 15 years.

So I live on the estate...

my wife's estate.

Yes.

This isn't my business.

I'd better leave.

Don't you move.

I can't explain everything.

It would take me years.

Tell me why I should work.

Why?

If I don't have a purpose,

a child...

Do you find me prosaic?

I'll be right back.

I won't forgive him.

But don't think badly of him.

Someone who did what he did

for his wretched brother...

Buried alive...

a life of misery.

- Is the train going tonight?

- After one. Roulette is first.

You'd better hurry,then.

It's drizzling.

- I can't guess your age,son.

- Nineteen.

Nineteen!

No occultism please,Fabio

Come on. Let's go, Tino.

You,hurry up.

- Where are we going,Uncle?

- To discover an unknown Venice.

I'm so glad to see you.

Who's the good-looking lad?

My nephew.

Come along.

You can't stay without a tie.

That's better.

- A little cognac?

- Leave the bottle with me

Four,black even.

- Any money?

- The money fron Auntie.

Come on.

Take it out of your pocket.

Here...on eleven.

Six... actually six and nine

split.

Christ!

- Aren't you playing?

- Yes, I am.

Nineteen red, odd.

- You bring bad luck.

- Nineteen.

Is nineteen yours?

You've bloody won!

Nineteen's ours.

Sit down. Stay here.

Good for you.

I'll take this.

I need it to recover.

Don't move or I'll eat you up.

I eat kids,don't I?

They must have told you.

We'll play these on alternate,

odd numbers 1-3-5-7-9...

Here...

E,u,a,i,o...

Eufrasio.

Know why my brother

kept saying that word?

Because it contains

the five vowels.

seventeen,nineteen,

twenty-one...

Twenty,black even.

Chemin de fer

is about to start.

Let's try

It will be on credit.

Let me feel your bum.

Come on,Duke.

Play the bat. Fly away.

Know who we're waiting for,

sonny? The casino survivors.

Your uncle plays his last

few coins with them.

- Let's go home,Uncle.

- Yes,of course. Home

Duke,I'm taking

the child home.

Wait here.

I'll be right back

- Let's go.

- I'll go alone.

Why that tone now?

Go alone if you like.

Don't fall into a canal.

Go.

No. I'll wait for you.

Are you crazy?

I'm going... I'm staying...

I give the orders here.

I command you to go.

Off with you!

You're not well.

Let's go.

Don't touch me,

with that alter boy's face.

Go home. Begone!

Good night.

They're coming.

I have a royal flush!

- Duke,I have a royal flush!

- Bravo!

What are you doing here?

Nothing.

You've paid a visit

to the forbidden room,right?

May I offer you something?

Like a cherry chocolate?

It's very nice.

It's delicious.

Listen to that.

It's the cicadas.

It's like a violin

penetrating my brain.

Just listen to it go...

Can you hear the bow stroking,

pressing onto the strings...

cutting...

going round and round

like a chainsaw.

What's up?

Are you afraid of me?

No,it can't be.

You're afraid of your poor,

sick uncle...

half lucid,half insane...

half engineer

and half professor...

like two faces in a mirror...

light area...

and shaded area.

Tino,aren't we all

like that?

You're frightened.

You really are.

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