The Savage Garden

by Mark Mills

  It was an enjoyable event, helped along by attentive waiters forever topping up champagne flutes. Signora Docci looked magnificent in an emerald green gown, its bright, bold color matching her mood. Only Maurizio seemed a little out of sorts, and only when in Adam's company. He could feel the heat of hostility coming off Maurizio, melting the memories of the easygoing rapport that had marked their exchanges earlier in the day. There wasn't much time to dwell on this before Maria came through to the terrace with news that the first guests were arriving. Signora Docci went off to do her duty in the entrance hall. Her two children and four grandchildren went with her.

  "It is time for the Doccis to smile and pretend to be a family," said Riccardo, somewhat unfairly, it seemed to Adam.

  The party's reputation proved to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It was clear from the start that people were bent on enjoying themselves. Most arrived well within the first half-hour, a steady stream of humanity soon filling the back terrace to overflowing. Some made for the parterre and the lower terrace. It was an idyllic sight: well- dressed couples strolling in the waning sunlight against the backdrop of the rolling hills to the accompaniment of the string quartet.

  Taking Adam aside, Harry announced breathlessly that he'd just met the most amazing woman. The fact that she was married appeared to have no bearing on the matter, and Harry hurried off to make some alterations to the place settings.

  Adam sought out Signora Docci, who was in discussion with a middle-aged couple. She used his arrival as an excuse to peel away, slipping her arm through his and leading him off.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Anywhere but there."

  Picking their way down the steps to the parterre, she explained that the man was a friend of Maurizio, a fellow partisan from the war. And like many partisans she had known, he'd been less set on fighting the Germans than on looting the factories the enemy destroyed while in retreat. Being first on the scene, the members of the Italian underground were often best placed to control the black market in any goods that survived. First it was shoes from Poggibonsi, then hats from Impruneta.

  "He," she said, with a slight jerk of the head behind her, "came to our door with both. His prices were ridiculous." She gave a little laugh. "Our heroes of the struggle. Look at them now—no different."

  Adam had to ask. "And Maurizio?"

  "Let's just say, he never sold to us."

  She smiled and nodded at the leader of the chamber quartet as they negotiated their way across the parterre. They stopped at the balustrade, looking down over the lower terrace, the hills beyond already falling into silhouette.

  "It's changing so fast."

  "What?"

  She couldn't mean the view. Medieval peasants wouldn't have looked out of place in it.

  "The world. Or maybe every age thinks just the same thing."

  "Maybe."

  "Big changes are coming. I can see it everywhere ... music, theater, films, art. Look at Harry's sculpture. Have you ever seen anything like it? Don't listen to the politicians, always look at the artists, they're the first to tell us where we're going."

  "Have you been talking to him?"

  "Harry?"

  "It's not the first time I've heard that line of argument."

  She laughed. "Well, that one was mine."

  They were approached by a passing couple. A few pleasantries were exchanged, Adam was introduced by Signora Docci, but the couple soon took the veiled hint from their hostess and moved on.

  Signora Docci ground the tip of the cane into the gravel at their feet, observing her handiwork for a moment before looking up.

  "You have a gift, Adam, don't waste it."

  "You have been talking to him."

  "He's right. You sense things other people don't."

  "Or maybe I'm so ordinary that anything that isn't disturbs me."

  She laughed. "I'm sorry you're leaving. I'm also sorry we only met at the end of my life. I think we could have been very good friends."

  Embarrassment left him mute. No one had ever spoken to him in such terms before.

  "Remember those words," she said.

  "I will."

  She turned stiffly and surveyed the villa with an approving eye—the stir and hum on the terrace, the lowering sun skimming the roof.

  "Now take this old lady back to her guests. It's time to announce dinner."

  Harry had engineered matters so that Signora Pedretti—the new love of his life—was seated between them.

  "Make me look good," said Harry, seeing her approach their table.

  "How?" asked Adam.

  "Just be yourself."

  Signora Pedretti was young, petite, impishly beautiful. Her delicate wrists glistened with gold, and her mouth was a startling splash of color. She didn't appear nearly as surprised as Harry by the fact that providence had thrown them together again. Nor was she unhappy about it.

  She proved considerably better company than the woman to Adam's left, who only came to life when he finally remarked on the jewels blazing at her neck. She was French, Parisian, married to the American gentleman holding forth on the far side of the table about the benefits of the fertilizers and hybrid grains he sold to the Italians. God knows how much money he had made importing "superior American product," as he termed it—quite a bundle, if his wife's necklace was anything to go by—but he talked like a man on a humanitarian mission. Italy was poor, ravaged by war and desperately in need of being dragged into the twentieth century. He, of course, was proud to be playing his part in this mercy mission.

  His words clearly rankled the Italians around the table, but out of politeness, or maybe stupefaction, they held themselves in check. It took an Englishwoman to light the touch paper. Adam had been introduced to her earlier in the evening—a tall, pale creature, gaunt and ascetic, with a bony high-ridged nose and heavy-lidded eyes that lent her a misleading air of boredom. It was a distinctive and familiar look, a particular brand of ugliness reserved for the English upper classes.

  Those same lugubrious eyes now twinkled with mischief as she leaned forward, searching out the Italian faces around the table.

  "I happen to know a lot of Americans," she said with her cut- glass accent, "and please don't think for a moment that they are all like Seymour."

  "Vera . . ." There was a note of friendly forbearance in Seymour's voice that suggested they were well acquainted.

  "Can't you see they're only tolerating you? They find your views offensive. As do I."

  "I'm not trying to be offensive."

  "I know," replied Vera with a wicked smile, "it comes naturally."

  Seymour gave a hearty laugh. "Touche."

  "If the United States is so worried about communism and Russia's interest in Italy, which is a questionable notion now that that funny little man Khrushchev is premier, then you really should spend less time treating this country like a marketplace for your goods and more time making friends."

  The ensuing debate ran right through the starter of blue mullet and on into the spit-roasted pork stuffed with garlic and rosemary (which tasted as good as it had been smelling all afternoon). It was a lively and generally good-natured discussion about Fascists, Monarchists and democracy, poverty, overpopulation and America's desire to create the world in its own image. Even Harry and Signora Pedretti broke off from their quiet flirtation to chip in a comment from time to time.

  Seymour fought his corner valiantly and with dignity, never losing his studied jauntiness, whereas his wife grew tetchy and spiteful. Her unquestioning belief in the redemptive power of economic prosperity bore all the hallmarks of religious zealotry. Her god was the one true god, and all unbelievers were doomed to damnation, or worse still: communism.

  The discussion petered out over pudding, by which time the first stars were overhead, the torches had been lit around the parterre, and Adam was wondering just how much longer he could go without seeing Antonella. The moment the band struck up on the lower terrace, he downed the rest o
f his coffee and went in search of her.

  People were rising now, making for the music. Through the building throng he saw her talking to Maria, who had abandoned the refuge of the villa. Maria was smiling—which in itself was a rarity—but it was her hands that seemed different. They made quick and expressive gestures as she talked. Her dark eyes lost some of their luster when she saw Adam approaching, and she only stayed long enough to acknowledge his greeting.

  "Poor Maria," said Antonella.

  "Is there a problem?"

  "Only that she is a bit drunk." She hooked her arm through his. "Come, I want you to meet someone."

  The elderly man in question was on the point of nodding off, his bald crown tracing a lazy circle in the air. The table where he was seated was deserted, except for a young couple on the far side, engrossed, pressed close in conversation, a picture of barely suppressed desire. When Antonella and Adam took a seat on either side of the man, he started like a soldier called to attention.

  "Rodolfo, this is Adam," Antonella said in Italian.

  Rodolfo's head snapped round. "Adam?"

  "And the garden . . ."

  "Oh, the garden Adam. Does he speak Italian? Of course he does. Crispin wouldn't have sent him if he didn't speak Italian."

  "You know Professor Leonard?" asked Adam.

  "Yes, yes, of course." Rodolfo gripped his forearm surprisingly hard. "Congratulations. I've known that garden almost all my life. What you have done is, well, exceptional. Have you told Crispin yet? Of course you have."

  "No."

  "No? Why not?"

  "I don't know."

  "Well, you must, you must. He knew there was something in that garden. He knew it. He often said so. And it annoyed him that he couldn't identify it. We were young—your age— though of course we were both much better-looking." He found this extremely amusing. "Anyway, we went there a lot with Francesca"—he jabbed a crooked finger at Antonella—"her grandmother. I should say that I hated Crispin then. You see, I knew I was only there for one reason—because they couldn't be alone together."

  "Why not?"

  "It was a long time ago. It wasn't allowed. I, the boy who had always loved her, had to stand by and watch her lose her heart to him."

  This was clearly news to Antonella. "Really?"

  Her eyes flicked to Adam. He feigned an equal degree of surprise.

  "Yes, but that's beside the point. The point is that Crispin sensed something right back then. Sometimes we would go there by ourselves, the two of us, him and me—that's when I grew to like him. He sensed it, you see?" Rodolfo patted Adam on the hand. "You'll send me your thesis and I'll have it translated. I'll even see it published for you. Oh, nothing very exciting—a departmental journal at the university—but that's how it begins for all of us." He gave a short and slightly demented snigger. "And in sixty years if you play your cards right, you can be just like me—penniless, half-drunk at a party, and wondering what you've done with another man's cigar." He searched around him.

  Antonella pointed. "It's in your hand."

  "So it is. Now, you two youngsters go and join the other apes prancing in the cage." He made to relight the cigar. Antonella blew out the match.

  "One dance," she said.

  "No."

  "I insist."

  "Persuade me."

  "It might be our last."

  "Good point. Help me up."

  It was a big band, with lots of brass, and it played big band numbers. Which was fine for those who knew how to dance to big band numbers, and not so good for those who didn't know how to dance to anything. To make matters worse, Rodolfo could dance—he could really dance. He also had remarkable stamina for a man his age, which gave Adam lots of time to dread the handover. When it finally came, he felt duty-bound to confess to Antonella that he had two left feet (one of which was still stiff and sore from his stumble in the memorial garden).

  The alcohol helped, so did the excuse to lay his hands on her.

  The band was set up on a tiered dais just in front of the stone balustrade. The dance floor consisted of a giant boarded circle at the heart of the terrace, with the marble fountain as a centerpiece. It was ringed by tall screens of tight-clipped yew strung with Chinese lanterns and flanked by flaming torches, which cast wild and restless shadows. Penned in by the hedges, the music was all- engulfing.

  "Did you enjoy dinner?" asked Antonella as they fought for their patch on the crowded floor.

  "Yes."

  "Nonna said you would. Vera is very . . .provocativa."

  "She certainly is."

  "She is a lesbian, you know?"

  "Odd, she didn't say."

  Pressed close by the crush, Adam allowed his hand to stray.

  "You're not wearing any underwear." "I can't with this dress."

  "How does it feel?"

  "It feels good. You should try it some time."

  He hoped the ambiguity was deliberate.

  "God, you're beautiful," he said, his head thick with desire.

  "Thank you."

  "I want to kiss you."

  "We can't." She gave a theatrical flick of the wrist. "The scandal..."

  "I don't care. Tomorrow's my last day."

  "I know. That's why you're invited to lunch. In Siena. You said you wanted to see Siena. They're friends of Edoardo's. Harry can come too. It's all organized."

  "I want to be alone with you."

  She pressed her lips to his ear. "Then it's lucky I have a plan."

  She refused to elaborate.

  A little while later, he lost her to a string of competitors, beginning with her brother, Edoardo. Adam received Grazia in exchange. He hobbled his way through a couple of numbers with her, then she too was taken from him, at which point he renounced the dance floor for the bar nearby. He was waiting to be served when Harry stalked up to him.

  "Her husband's not here."

  It took a moment for Adam to realize he was talking about Signora Pedretti. "I know, she said over dinner."

  "But a bunch of his friends are." Harry lit a cigarette and glared about him.

  "Harry, are you seriously trying to seduce a married woman?"

  "I think so. Yes. Why? You think it's a bad idea?" He hesitated. "Shit, it's a bad idea, isn't it?" "Is it enough to know she would—under different circumstances, I mean?"

  "Maybe."

  "So ask her."

  "Ask her?"

  "Yes. Then you'll know. And then her husband's friends won't have to kill you."

  There was a simple logic to the suggestion that Adam suspected would appeal to Harry. It did. Harry tripped off in search of Signora Pedretti, greeting Antonella's mother as he went. Caterina approached Adam with the controlled steps of someone who knows they've strayed beyond their limit.

  "Where's Riccardo?" he asked.

  "Talking to my mother." She gave a sardonic smile. "I think she approves."

  "He's great."

  "So is Antonella." She nodded toward the dance floor. "I saw you dancing with her. You like her, don't you?"

  Something in her voice brought out a defensive streak in him.

  "Is that so hard to understand?"

  "Of course not, I am her mother."

  "Yes, I like her."

  "Men do. That is never a problem for her."

  Intentionally or otherwise, her words placed him somewhere in a long line of foolhardy suitors, and he was happy that the barman asked him for his order at that moment.

  "One of those, please," he said, pointing to Caterina's cocktail glass.

  It was unpronounceable. And almost undrinkable.

  "Did she tell you what happened to her face?"

  The directness of the question threw him momentarily.

  "Your mother did."

  "I was driving."

  "I know."

  "And Antonella was the one asking me to go faster. Did my mother tell you that?"

  "No."

  "No, of course she didn't. No one remembers th
at."

  He looked at her and saw a drunk and guilt-ridden mother still groping for excuses many years on.

  "You don't believe me? It's true. She was . . .selvaggia. Not like Edoardo. Una piccola selvaggia."

  A little savage.

  He could feel his hackles rising now. Looking to dilute her responsibility was one thing; harboring a hateful grudge against the daughter she'd disfigured seemed downright unreasonable.

  "Were you drunk when it happened?" he asked, biting back a more aggressive riposte.

  "Is that what you heard?"

  "No."

  The tension went out of her frame. After a moment, she said in a lowered voice, "Yes, I was drunk. Emilio was dead . . . just two months before." She glanced away. "I loved my brother."

  Yet another junction in the cat's cradle of cause and effect: Emilio's murder and the scars on Antonella's face.

  Adam turned to the dance floor, where Antonella was spinning in the arms of some new admirer. "Look at her," he said. "Look at the way she is. She doesn't mind. Why should you?"

  Caterina seemed on the point of mouthing a response, but she walked away without speaking.

  A moment later, Harry came striding up to him.

  "Great idea, Paddler."

  "What?"

  "She said yes."

  "Who?"

  "Who do you think? I asked her and she said yes she would, if circumstances were different."

  "Good, so now you know."

  "No," said Harry, "now I have to go and wait for her in the olive grove." He slapped Adam on the back. "Great bloody tactic."

  "Harry . . ."

  Harry didn't turn; he just waggled his fingers in the air as he slipped away through the crowd.

  "Oh shit," muttered Adam.

  He twisted back to the barman and asked for a bottle of mineral water.

  Not long after, the numbers started to thin out. The champagne caught up with Grazia, who lost the ability to stand, let alone dance, at which point Edoardo and Adam bundled her into the car. Antonella drove. She said she'd be back to pick up Adam and Harry at eleven o'clock, which was less than eight hours off. Adam made a futile search for Harry. Then he headed for his bed.

  Maurizio must have been watching him, tracking his movements, biding his time. He intercepted Adam at the head of the steps leading to the parterre.