Part 21 (1/2)
”When?” Lucia asked. She was suddenly very unhappy for the memory of the attack was still vivid, and she dreaded to think of her newly found G.o.dfather's returning to the dangers and hards.h.i.+ps of the front, but she was too brave and too wise to say so. She kept a stiff upper lip and her eyes were dry as they discussed the plans.
”I think I will leave in a day or two now that my mind is made up,” the Captain said, ”it will take me quite awhile to return to my Company, and I may have to wait in Rome for orders, so the sooner I am off the better.”
”Yes, I suppose so,” Lucia replied slowly. ”Oh, but how we will miss you, I cannot bear to think,” she added impulsively.
”Then you must write to me often,” the Captain laughed, ”I get so few letters and I will treasure them. I will want to know just how you and Beppi and Nana spend each day, and what tricks Garibaldi is up to.”
”I shall tell you everything,” Lucia promised, eagerly, ”every tiny little thing, and you will write back?”
”Yes, as often as I can,” the Captain promised. He got up from his chair and started to walk toward the house. When he was halfway up the path Beppi dashed through the garden gate and ran to him.
”Oh, but I have had a fine morning,” he declared, ”you will never guess where I have been.”
”You do look excited,” the Captain smiled, ”it must have been a very nice place, tell us about it.”
”Then come back and sit down,” Beppi insisted, taking his hand. The Captain returned to his chair and Beppi perched on the arm of it.
”Now begin,” Lucia said, ”we are listening.”
”Well,” Beppi took a long breath. ”This afternoon I was tired of playing in the garden and I went out into the road. Nana was sound asleep and did not hear me, and when I had walked a little ways I met two boys; one of them was bigger than me and the other one was littler.
We said h.e.l.lo, and one of them asked me my name, and I told him, and then the big one said he guessed I couldn't fight--” Beppi stopped and turned two accusing eyes at Lucia, ”that was because I had on these old stockings. I told you, sister, that I'd be laughed at unless I went barefoot, same as always.”
”Never mind about that,” the Captain interposed, laughing, ”tell us the rest.”
”Well, I told him I could, and we did, of course, and I won,” he continued proudly, ”and after that we were friends, and they asked me if I'd ever been to the sh.o.r.e, and I said; not right to it, so they took me. We went down a hill and pretty soon we were right by the ocean, and the waves were coming in all frothy white on the blue water, and I took off my shoes and stockings--”
”Oh, Beppi,” Lucia protested.
”Yes, I did,” Beppi repeated, ”I certainly did and we had a fine time, I can tell you, and here comes the exciting part. While we were on the beach a soldier came along; he was walking on the wall and he had a big gun. The two boys ran to him and I went with them. He asked me my name and where I lived, and I told him, and he said he had a nephew in the war, and one of the boys asked him how Roderigo Vicello was, and when I heard that name I just shouted, 'Why I know him,' and then I told them all about the bridge and the King giving Roderigo a medal, and everything. They were all glad, I can tell you, and I guess these boys won't say I can't fight again in a hurry,” he added triumphantly.
”Oh, that is exciting news!” Lucia exclaimed, ”Roderigo told me he had an uncle here. Did he have a big scar on his face, Beppino?”
”Yes,” Beppi replied eagerly, ”he got it in the Tripoli war. He is a very brave man, I think, but he says he'd rather fight than guard the sh.o.r.e, but of course he has to do as he's told, because he's a soldier.”
”And I suppose that means you don't have to do what you're told until you're one,” the Captain laughed, ”what will Nana say when she hears you ran away?”
”Who's going to tell her?” Beppi inquired, ”Lucia won't, and I don't think you will,” he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
”No, I suppose I won't after that,” the Captain replied, laughing, ”that is if you will promise to be very good and mind Lucia while I am away.”
”Away?” Beppi queried, ”where are you going?”
”Back to fight,” the Captain replied, ”and perhaps I shall be gone for a long, long time, and of course, while I am gone I shall expect you to take care of your sister.”
”Oh, Lucia can take care of herself,” Beppi laughed, ”she always has, and of Nana and me, too, but I'll be good if you say so, only can't I go down to the sh.o.r.e once in a while?”
”Of course, darling,” Lucia answered for the Captain, ”but you must tell Nana where you are going.”