Enrico Maso, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 7 – The Moment Of Truth
It’s almost midnight. After a seven-hour journey, the four friends finally reach their destination.
Leaving the car, they take their rucksacks and make their way towards the campsite. In the distance they can hear what sounds like music from a concert but the sounds are indistinct.
“Watch out, guys, you can’t see a thing!” says Umberto, picking his way between indistinct shapes in search of a place to spend the night. Before Antonino even has time to switch on his phone light there is a thud and then a shout; they turn to see Alessandro sprawled across a tent.
“Help! I can’t get up!” he yells, trying to free himself from the ropes in which he is entangled as the others, laughing, come to his aid. Finally, after several more minutes, they find an empty space and stop there.
“I must admit, I’m quite excited by all this!” exclaims Antonino, searching his pocket for his glasses so he can read the instructions for erecting the tent. “I wonder what The Vagabonds will play tomorrow evening. Do you guys who were there remember which songs they played all those years ago at Castiglione del Lago?”
“Did they do the Mystical Lips of Fire?” asks Vittorio.
Alessandro and Umberto look at each other but now they can no longer remain silent.
“As a matter of fact, guys, we have a confession to make,” Alessandro begins, “We never did go to that Vagabonds concert.”
“It’s true,” adds Umberto, “We got things a bit mixed up that day.”
“Mixed up?” asks Antonino and Vittorio together.
“We got the wrong Castiglione,” Alessandro explains. “The trouble was, there are too many towns with the same name….”
“He means that the concert was at Castiglione del Lago, in Umbria. But we went to Castiglione della Pescaia, in Tuscany,” finishes Umberto.
“Well, what perfect imbeciles you two are!” exclaims Antonino while Vittorio looks on, disappointed.
“Yes, maybe we are, but you’ve no idea how many beautiful German tourists we met on the beach!”