Enrico Maso, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 7 – The Raspberry Fair
The solution to the mystery is much less dramatic than expected.
There was no pheasant, no killer instinct, no chase in the fields! Just Nebo being stroked by an admiring group of children in the shadow of an oak tree.
The white road has led Gianni to a little village fair, though there had been no signs whatsoever on the main road.
“Useless dog!” laughs Gianni, “You’ve found some new friends, I see.”
“Is it your dog, sir?” What’s his name?”
“He’s called Nebo; he’s a hunting dog but it seems as if he’s become more of a fair dog… It’s beautiful here! Does this fair have a name?”
“It’s the Raspberry Fair,” replies the oldes child in the group, “This is its twentieth year. Our grandfather always brings our raspberries.”
Gianni takes a look around him. Nothing he sees looks very professional. The fair is small, and seems rather chaotic. The food stalls are crowded with people, though.
“Come on, Nebo, let’s have a look at the menu,” says Gianni, heading towards the cash desk.
The menu is a real surprise: gnocchi with raspberries, sauces with raspberries, beef stewed in raspberries…. everything is cooked with raspberries!
Gianni orders the gnocchi and a dessert. “And to drink?” asks the cashier.
“Don’t tell me you even have raspberry beer…” jokes Gianni.
“Of course! Large or small?”
“It’ll have to be a large one!” says Gianni, thinking that this is beginning to look promising…