Chiara hung up the telephone, and she sank back in her chair. Massimo was standing in the middle of the large open-plan room on the ground floor, and he was looking around suspiciously. He had a strange feeling…things were too calm. It was a feeling that wasn't destined to last.
“Massimo!” Matteo called him suddenly. “Two vans just pulled up outside. Energumen are getting out of them, like the ones from last time. THEY'RE HEADING TOWARD US.”
Massimo didn't make him wait for an answer; lately, he had often imagined such an event taking place: “I WANT ALL THE CHILDREN HERE NEXT TO CHIARA. AND STAY DOWN, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? LYING FLAT ON THE GROUND,” he shouted. “FERNANDA, HERE BY ME! NICOLA, VALERIO: NEXT TO MATTEO. OPEN FIRE! YOU UPSTAIRS, ONE OF YOU COVER US! THE OTHER TWO, OPEN FIRE!”
While he was giving these orders, Massimo, along with Fernanda, |