1. “All dead, they are all dead; gone! Only you, my son. May God protect you.”“All dead, they are all dead; gone! Only you, my son. May God protect you.”
Saverini’s widow murmured, while she emptied an old, rusty bucket of the water sheSaverini’s widow murmured, while she emptied an old, rusty bucket of the water she
had just used for her cleaning duties, covered by a long black cloth, wrapped aroundhad just used for her cleaning duties, covered by a long black cloth, wrapped around
her head and shoulders.her head and shoulders.
On the other side of the small house, where the two of them lived, the mother andOn the other side of the small house, where the two of them lived, the mother and
her son, Antoine, sat on one of the steps leading to the little house’s entrance. Withher son, Antoine, sat on one of the steps leading to the little house’s entrance. With
his rough jacket on top of his shoulders and his shotgun beside him the young man,his rough jacket on top of his shoulders and his shotgun beside him the young man,
tied his old boots. He was getting ready to go shooting. The sound of a dog’s belltied his old boots. He was getting ready to go shooting. The sound of a dog’s bell
and the joyful howling, were the signs that Semillante, the young man’s dog, wasand the joyful howling, were the signs that Semillante, the young man’s dog, was
delirious to walk for another adventure beside her master.delirious to walk for another adventure beside her master.
The two of them, the man and the dog, walked at a synchronised pace, rubbingThe two of them, the man and the dog, walked at a synchronised pace, rubbing
along the green grass reaching the height of the young man’s knees and nearlyalong the green grass reaching the height of the young man’s knees and nearly
hiding all Semillante’s body, until they approached the hairpin bend path of ‘ Lehiding all Semillante’s body, until they approached the hairpin bend path of ‘ Le
Falesie’ , the same place Paolo Saverini had introduced his son to shooting. TheFalesie’ , the same place Paolo Saverini had introduced his son to shooting. The
steep climb was made even harder by the strong wind, slowing their way to the topsteep climb was made even harder by the strong wind, slowing their way to the top
and dropping the young man's shabby hair over his eyes and beard.and dropping the young man's shabby hair over his eyes and beard.
Nevertheless, the man and the dog secured enough game and later set out towardsNevertheless, the man and the dog secured enough game and later set out towards
town. Right in front of them, an immense horizon loomed; the red colour of thetown. Right in front of them, an immense horizon loomed; the red colour of the
sunset merged into the sea. Sunbeams of gules light filled the crevices of the cliffssunset merged into the sea. Sunbeams of gules light filled the crevices of the cliffs
which let glimmers escape through into the Corsican town of Bonifacio. At that timewhich let glimmers escape through into the Corsican town of Bonifacio. At that time
of the day, the cobbled streets of the port were getting scrubbed by peddlers who, inof the day, the cobbled streets of the port were getting scrubbed by peddlers who, in
those days of religious celebrations, sold meat and fish here. Blood spilled fromthose days of religious celebrations, sold meat and fish here. Blood spilled from
goats and sheep was swept into the water of the port together with animals’ guts andgoats and sheep was swept into the water of the port together with animals’ guts and
dead fish heads, which, pushed by the current mixed with the colour of the sunset,dead fish heads, which, pushed by the current mixed with the colour of the sunset,
adding even stronger colour to it.adding even stronger colour to it.
Everyone knew Antoine’s name in Bonifacio, however, he would walk through townEveryone knew Antoine’s name in Bonifacio, however, he would walk through town
as if he were invisible. Nobody wanted trouble, especially with someone who carriedas if he were invisible. Nobody wanted trouble, especially with someone who carried
the Saverini’s family name, and a loaded shotgun. "Antoine!” called the peddler whothe Saverini’s family name, and a loaded shotgun. "Antoine!” called the peddler who
had just traded a sliced piece of fish from him for the game Antoine shot earlier,had just traded a sliced piece of fish from him for the game Antoine shot earlier,
announcing to him that Ravolati’s son, Nicolas, was in Bonifacio for the 'announcing to him that Ravolati’s son, Nicolas, was in Bonifacio for the '
Catenacciou’ , referring to the religious procession held in the town on Good Friday.Catenacciou’ , referring to the religious procession held in the town on Good Friday.
The young man, slipping the fish into the inside pocket of his rough jacket, withoutThe young man, slipping the fish into the inside pocket of his rough jacket, without
saying a word, but with his face as white as the colour of the cliffs that surroundedsaying a word, but with his face as white as the colour of the cliffs that surrounded
the town, he kneeled towards Semillante and, running his hand down the back of thethe town, he kneeled towards Semillante and, running his hand down the back of the
dog, began to talk to her, “Fear not, fear not Semillante.” The two families, thedog, began to talk to her, “Fear not, fear not Semillante.” The two families, the
Saverinis and the Ravolatis, were at war for a long time, and for years they hadSaverinis and the Ravolatis, were at war for a long time, and for years they had
hunted and killed each other. Antoine, was responsible for the death of Nicolas’shunted and killed each other. Antoine, was responsible for the death of Nicolas’s
father, who had previously killed Paolo Saverini. The presence of Nicolas in townfather, who had previously killed Paolo Saverini. The presence of Nicolas in town
was an opportunity the man could not miss; Nicolas had to be murdered, andwas an opportunity the man could not miss; Nicolas had to be murdered, and
Antoine's hunger for revenge was growing fast. On the other hand, Antoine wasAntoine's hunger for revenge was growing fast. On the other hand, Antoine was
Nicolas’s prey for a long time.Nicolas’s prey for a long time.
It was almost night; the dramatic procession to Calvary began. The young man andIt was almost night; the dramatic procession to Calvary began. The young man and
his dog entered the cobbled, crowded alleys of Bonifacio, filled by the rumble of thehis dog entered the cobbled, crowded alleys of Bonifacio, filled by the rumble of the
faithful,faithful,
singing and inciting the name of God. The passion of Christ journey to Calvary wassinging and inciting the name of God. The passion of Christ journey to Calvary was
conducted by an anonymous penitent, hooded and red dressed, carrying a big,conducted by an anonymous penitent, hooded and red dressed, carrying a big,
heavy cross and dragging around his feet a heavy chain. Apart from the priest, noheavy cross and dragging around his feet a heavy chain. Apart from the priest, no
one knew the hooded man's identity.one knew the hooded man's identity.
The procession reached the church and the crowd had now stopped the deepThe procession reached the church and the crowd had now stopped the deep
singing. The only noise was the lugubrious sound of the chain rings on the tiles andsinging. The only noise was the lugubrious sound of the chain rings on the tiles and
granite steps, made by the penitent walking up the stairs. The crowd had gatheredgranite steps, made by the penitent walking up the stairs. The crowd had gathered
around him and were ready to enter the church. The sharp noise had stopped.around him and were ready to enter the church. The sharp noise had stopped.

2. Antoine, with a sneer on his face, glanced the hooded man, intrigued by the identityAntoine, with a sneer on his face, glanced the hooded man, intrigued by the identity
hidden underneath that red hood and by those fiery eyes directed towards him.hidden underneath that red hood and by those fiery eyes directed towards him.
Antoine’s expression altered, indicating that something wasn’t right in that man'sAntoine’s expression altered, indicating that something wasn’t right in that man's
eyes. No one in town dared look at him the same way the penitent was now lookingeyes. No one in town dared look at him the same way the penitent was now looking
at Antoine Saverini. The two men exchanged deep looks which grew moreat Antoine Saverini. The two men exchanged deep looks which grew more
aggressive each second. Suddenly, an unexpected presence behind Antoine put itsaggressive each second. Suddenly, an unexpected presence behind Antoine put its
harm round his neck and interrupted at that moment: “In the name of my family,”harm round his neck and interrupted at that moment: “In the name of my family,”
whispered a voice in Antoine’s ear, while stabbing the man’s chest, leaving him onwhispered a voice in Antoine’s ear, while stabbing the man’s chest, leaving him on
the ground in a puddle of blood, which slowly flowed down the stairs. Some of thethe ground in a puddle of blood, which slowly flowed down the stairs. Some of the
crowd reported seeing Nicolas Ravolati embark on a fishing boat the followingcrowd reported seeing Nicolas Ravolati embark on a fishing boat the following
morning, before sunset.morning, before sunset.