Can you give me a lift to Latisana or just above? I can get transportation from there.”
“Of course.”
“It was a shame that it should freeze. The prospects were so good.”
“There must have been a world of ducks outside.”
“Yes. But now they won’t stay with their feed frozen over. They will be on their way south tonight.”
“Will they all go?”
“All except our local ducks that breed here. They’ll stay as long as there is any open water.”
“I’m sorry for the shoot.”
“I’m sorry you came so far for so few ducks.”
“I always love the shoot,” the Colonel said. “And I love Venice.”
The Barone Alvarito looked away and spread his hands toward the fire. “Yes,” he said. “We all love Venice. Perhaps you do the best of all.”
The Colonel made no small talk on this but said, “I love Venice as you know.”
“Yes. I know,” the Barone said. He looked at nothing. Then he said, “We must wake your driver.”
“Has he eaten?”
“Eaten and slept and eaten and slept. He has also read a little in some illustrated books he brought with him.”
“Comic books,” the Colonel said.
“I should learn to read them,” the Barone said. He smiled the shy, dark smile. “Could you get me some from Trieste?”
