by J. R. Sharp
Catherina was entering the kitchen and heard her mother’s last request. “Who is coming over tonight?” asked Catherina. Pietro looked at his wife with stern eyes as if saying that he was upset that his eldest daughter heard him.
“There is no need to prepare food; this won’t be a social engagement, just some wine and cheese will do fine. They will be here in about an hour and make sure that all the lights are out when it gets dark. Have Catherina bring the wine and cheese out to me,” ordered Pietro as he finished his dinner.
Everyone had finished their dinner and was helping clear the table as Anna was getting the wine and cheese ready for the evening’s guest. Maria was so much help now that she would follow her mother around all day long so she could have something to do and be her constant assistant. Anna was about ready to start the journey towards the barn when she remembered that Pietro wanted Catherina to bring the food and wine, she had an instinct as to why but kept to herself.
“Catherina, would you please take the food and wine to your father?” asked Anna.
“Maria and I will take all the wine and food to the barn.”
Anna looked down at her oldest granddaughter and smiled at her as she gave her the tray of food. Catherina grabbed the basket of wine while guiding her oldest daughter towards the back door. They both walked very slowly towards the barn because it was getting dark and very hard to see. As they got closer to the barn, Catherina could hear voices coming from the barn, but as soon as they got closer the barn was quiet again. Pietro met them at the door and grabbed the food from Maria who was very excited about leaving the house. She started to pull on her grandfather so he would pick her up, which he did as he turned to put the food down on the table.
“Who were you talking with?” asked Catherina as she made her way into the dark barn.
“No one. I was talking to the cow, telling her that she has a lot of walking to do the next three to four days.” Pietro smiled.
Catherina put the basket of wine down next to the food and started to look around the barn, but the only thing she could see were the cow and some chickens running around looking for food before it got too dark to eat.
“Why don’t you go back into the house and let Maria stay here with me, I will bring her in when she settles down,” ordered Pietro who always had a soft heart for his granddaughters. Catherina did as her father requested, but not before she gave her eldest a kiss good night. As Catherina was walking back to the house she heard something from behind her and she looked around to see that Mr. Martin was going into the barn.
Pietro was holding Maria and pouring himself some wine when Greg walked into the barn. Pietro turned to see his longtime friend and noticed that he was wearing a small jacket as it was starting to get cold at night.
“You want some wine?” asked Pietro. Greg smiled as if Pietro really had to ask him that question. As Pietro poured wine, he could hear the other farmers arriving at the barn for their meeting to figure out what to do with this year’s crop.
Pietro decided that it was best to have at least one lantern on so they could see each other talk and find the wine and food. Everyone knew that if they heard an airplane the lantern would be turned out for fear of being bombed. Pietro put Maria down and walked to the middle of the barn to start the meeting. Everyone stopped talking and shifted their attention to Pietro.
“Does anyone have a way of transporting our crops to town?” asked Pietro to the other farmers. There was silence in the room for about a minute before Pietro spoke again. “Has anyone been visited by the Germans or Fascists in the last three months about your crops?” Again nobody spoke. After a minute Greg grabbed the lantern and turned it down so it was out. The barn was pitch dark as the planes flew from east to west. Pietro could hear the familiar movement of feet from the back of barn near the cow coming towards the direction of the farmers. After the planes flew long enough that their engines were not in hearing distance of the barn, Greg lit the lantern and revealed two more bodies in the barn.
“We will help you with your crops,” remarked the tall freedom fighter with green eyes.
All the farmers finished their wine and left the barn about five minutes after the resistant fighters made their exit. Pietro locked up the barn and made his way back to the house with Maria holding his hand. They entered the kitchen to see that only Anna and Catherina were sitting in a low, dim light of a lantern at the dining table. Maria ran to her mother’s side to show her the candy that was given to her.
“Who gave you the candy?” asked Catherina.
“The man with green eyes said that I would have to share with my sister,” replied Maria who was eating one of the pieces. Catherina took a deep breath and looked at her father, who was washing his hands in the sink.
“I am tired and have to start with the crops tomorrow, I am going to bed,” Pietro said as he started his walk towards the bedroom without looking at his wife and daughter. Catherina hugged her daughter and started to cry as Anna gave her a hug as only a mother could.
***
Pietro walked into the barn the next morning knowing that the cow was his only way of getting the crops done unless he was going to do it himself, which would probably kill him. As he prepared the cow, he heard some noise in the front of the barn. It was Catherina and Anna coming in his direction; they both looked like they were ready for work.
“What do you two want?” asked Pietro.
“Shut up, old man, and let’s get these fields done so we can rest up for the winter,” replied Anna to her husband. Pietro smiled at his wife and daughter as they proceeded to help him the next couple of days getting the fields harvested and plant the winter crops.
The week went by very quickly and it was time for Pietro to make his trip to town to see what was going on with the auction house. The morning was very cold and probably was a good thing since everyone would be inside as Pietro rode his bike into town. Pietro turned into town from the main rode to see what was going on and if the auction house was open for business. Just as he approached, he noticed that the Germans were just about gone. Only a couple of sedans were left and the troop transporters were all gone. All the roadblocks were gone, but he did notice a sedan parked in front of Francisco’s apartment, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary. Pietro decided to take a chance and go talk with them. He noticed that the German soldiers were very young. As Pietro rode up to the German soldiers he handed them the hazelnuts from the basket of the bike. The German soldiers grabbed the nuts and looked at Pietro with a puzzled look.
“This is not an auction house anymore, old man. This is a way station for the labor camps. Would you like to go inside and see?” joked one of the soldiers.
Pietro backed away. “No, thank you. I must be getting on with my chores,” answered Pietro who was moving the bicycle in the opposite direction of the soldiers. Pietro started his way out of town but didn’t want to ride too quickly to attract attention. As he made his way out of the town, he heard the front gates open at the auction house. Pietro stopped just short of the turn towards the road heading out of town to see who or what was coming out. He noticed Francisco walking with two German soldiers towards a bus that was parked on the other side. Pietro concluded neither the Germans nor the Fascists would be raiding farms or insisting on crops. They were, essentially, abandoning the area. He continued his journey out of town without seeing anybody else.
***
The next morning, Pietro went outside with his coffee to look out over his empty fields that had been full of freshly cut crops the night before. He looked at the barn and noticed a black bag in the front, but nothing else that would have given an indication that someone was there that night to take his crops. Pietro walked over to the black bag and looked inside. He smiled as he walked back to the main house to share his good fortune with his family.
Chapter 21
CATHERINA ARRESTED
THE WEATHER HAD TURNED to the harsh bitter cold of winter with very little break from the sounds
of war. Pietro was starting to worry that the Russians might come down from the northeast to rage revenge on Italy, which meant they would roll past this region on their way towards Mussolini’s new headquarters in the north. The Russians were known to kill and rape in retaliation of the Axis Powers invasion of Russia. They did not care if you weren’t in support of the invasion; you were of the right nationality for their revenge, which meant curtain death by very cruel methods. Pietro prayed for the Allies to finish their invasion of Italy and beat the Russian’s to Berlin. Only time would tell, and Pietro was in a very difficult situation with no way of getting his family out the region. All he had were a couple of bikes and an old cow.
After the New Year, the rest of the German soldiers left the region and were replaced with Mussolini supporters—sketchy individuals. Francisco was making rounds, looking for people to send to the concentration camps. They would arrest family members for the slightest indication of Ally support or verbal outcry of the current Mussolini policies. They had visited the Zucchet farm several times but made no arrests since Chester and Bruno were already serving the Fuehrer in Germany.
Pietro stayed closer to the farm since the passing of the New Year, only visiting people late in the evening or meeting the other farmers at night. Pietro would not allow anybody to leave the farm for fear of being imprisoned. With so much going on in the region related to the war and imprisoning individuals, nobody came to inquire about Pietro’s crop that he had harvested months ago. All the farmers bartered and all had more crops to keep for themselves since the Germans were no longing confiscating their food supplies. Still, the farmers were stressed from other problems plaguing this region, which were war related. Most of the farms in the region were shorthanded and left with only old men or women and children.
The sun rose from the east like it had every morning of Pietro’s life. He was outside looking in its direction with his coffee in his hand and dressed with at least two layers of clothing. As he looked down, he noticed that his clothes were starting to show their wear. If fact, everybody needed new clothes, but until this war was over they would have to do with what was on the farm. He was very restless this morning and wondered what he was going to do that day. All his winter farming was done, thankfully. Even the gear was cleaned and stowed away for the spring season. The winter crops were the next big harvest, but that was another month away. His thoughts ran quickly back to the war as he heard the familiar sounds of bombing near the town and city areas. He knew that this war was just about over and that the Allies and Russians were going to win, but what he didn’t know was when that was going to happen.
News about the war stopped months ago, and since he didn’t go to town anymore, he was subject to only rumors of the farming community. What he did know was he hadn’t heard anything from Chester or Bruno. The only contact he was having was with Gino but he hadn’t been seen in months. Gino was on the run with the Alpine freedom fighters, working with the Allies to end this war. Pietro only prayed that they all would make it home after this war was over, but he knew better than to think all of them would come back—it was war and not everyone made it home.
As Pietro walked back to the main house after making his rounds of the farm, he noticed that there was a large dust ball in the distance. He opened the door, which led to the kitchen and yelled, “We may have some visitors. Anna, get everyone in their positions!” Pietro moved into his position in front of the main house to prepare for the possibility of visitors on this very cold morning.
Pietro waited patiently to see if what was coming his way was stopping at his farm. To his surprise the dust stopped just before his house and he looked to see that it was a bus full of people. Then a familiar sedan rolled into his driveway; it was Francisco’s. Pietro knew this wasn’t going to be a good visit. Francisco had at least six henchmen with him. Three were on the bus and three with him in the sedan. What Pietro noticed over the years was that Francisco got more courageous with more protection around him.
“How can we help you today, Herr Francisco?” asked Pietro as Francisco got out of the car with his henchmen.
“Where is Bruno Zucchet?” Pietro gave Francisco a puzzled look because Francisco knew that Bruno was working with the Germans and had not returned home in over a year.
“He is away with the other’s, working with the Germans on the railroad. You know that, Francisco. He and the others haven’t been home in over a year,” answered Pietro as the henchmen went inside of the main house. Pietro looked in the house to see that everyone was in their place, but Anna was missing and probably in the kitchen.
“I want everyone out of the house!” yelled Francisco to the henchmen who had already escorted Catherina outside as she held Loretta and held Maria by the hand. Valarie and Velasco were right behind their sister. Anna was still inside and followed the henchmen up the stairs to check on Pietro’s mother.
“Francisco, you know that Bruno hasn’t been back in over a year. You know that. You were here when they came and took him,” replied Pietro who was getting mad.
“According to my records, Bruno is not listed on the German roster that they supplied to me this week. So he is missing and needs to come with us or someone else will be coming with us today,” Francisco demanded.
Anna emerged from the house and so did the other two henchmen. “There is no one else in the house except the old woman upstairs,” replied one of the henchmen.
“Go check the rest of the farm and the barn,” ordered Francisco. The henchmen did as they were told.
Anna looked at Pietro and asked, “Who are they looking for?”
Pietro looked at his wife and answered, “Bruno.”
Anna looked at Francisco with a stern look like a mother would if their child had done something wrong. Francisco turned his attention towards the henchmen that were coming back from the barn area. Francisco couldn’t look in Anna’s direction. Anna grew up with Francisco’s mother and they were very good friends until the war started.
“There is nobody else on this farm,” replied one of the henchmen. Francisco stepped away from the main house with one of the henchmen who was carrying a pistol. They started to discuss something before they came back to Pietro.
Pietro was looking at Francisco’s uniform while he was in his discussion with the henchmen and getting more agitated. For the last five years this individual has caused nothing but aggravation to this family and farm, Pietro thought.
Pietro knew that Francisco hadn’t even been involved with any part of this war except to make this region his playground area, but that would end soon and Francisco would face a certain fate that he would not be able to find protection from.
“Mr. Zucchet, since we are unable to find Bruno, somebody will have to come with us until he is found or he turns himself into the authority,” replied Francisco. Pietro was ready to lunge at Francisco when he felt his Anna grab his elbow. He turned to see her look deep into his eyes as if saying, Please don’t do this. We need you.
Pietro took a deep breath and looked down at the ground and replied. “I will go with you.”
Francisco took a step towards Pietro. “You are too old to work for the Germans.”
“I will go with you. Just give me a minute to go get my stuff,” answered Catherina. She handed Loretta to Pietro and Maria’s hand to her mother.
Francisco made a hand gestured towards the bus for it to come to the drive way and pick up another passenger. As the bus got closer, Pietro and Anna noticed that it was full of war-aged females from the region.
The bus backed into the driveway and stopped just short of the main door. Pietro and Anna knew most of them; some of the women were yelling that they were kidnapped and that their families didn’t know they were gone. Pietro walked over to Francisco to confront him. As he walked over to Francisco and the henchmen, they all turned away from the bus, which allowed Anna to quickly grab the notes before anybody noticed and promised all the girls that she would tell their families.
“That is none of your business,” replied the henchman, who was noticeably bothered by Pietro’s presence.
“Mr. Zucchet, you need to go back to the house or we will take you as well,” replied Francisco.
Pietro already knew where they were going but wanted to distract them so Anna could get all the notes from the other passengers. As Pietro walked towards the house, Catherina was coming out of the house. Pietro noticed that she was wearing her traveling clothes and caring the only suitcase that the family owned. He began to tear up when he saw Maria start to cry for her mother to stay. Pietro approached his oldest daughter and grabbed her by her elbow with his free hand and whispered, “They are going to take you to the way station in town. You need to escape before the train arrives and takes you away. Do you understand me?”
Catherina looked into her father’s eyes and replied, “I understand.” She then reached for her eldest daughter in her father’s arms to give her a hug goodbye. She then hugged her youngest daughter and her brother and sister as she made her way towards her mother. As she hugged Anna goodbye, Catherina could feel her mother start to cry and tremble in a way that she had not seen before. Anna spoke to her daughter very quickly before she was led towards the bus by one of the henchmen.
“Listen to your father and don’t get on the train. We will tell him where they are taking you.” Catherina kissed her mother and made her way onto the bus. She walked to the back of the bus so she could wave goodbye to what was left of her family.
Pietro was holding Maria and hugging his wife as the bus pulled away from the farm. He could see Catherina wave to them from the back of the bus. Anna was very upset, as was Maria, Valarie, and Valasco. The only one not upset was Loretta, who was probably too young to understand what was happening.
“They will not be taking our daughter to any concentration camp as long as I am alive,” Pietro said.