even Elio, despite his usual coldness, could avoid Libero's spinning hug.
Gaia looked at her mother and whispered:
"I did not remember that he was that gullible!"
"Don't say that." promptly scolded her Giulia. "He's a good boy. And he's very kind too."
"Yeah, but... Are you sure he'll drive us safely to the farm." Gaia uncertainly asked.
"Of course, that he will!" Carlo reassured her. "Do not underestimate him. He and his mother keep the farm going. He's strong and smart."
Dinner time came by and was spent cheerfully. In fact, Libero had brought with him all the festivity and liveliness of the countryside, which was very much appreciated by everyone but Elio.
"I'm really looking forward to showing you around." finished up Libero after he had described the farm to his cousin.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for a couple of days before you leave again?" asked Giulia.
"I can't leave mum on her own this time of the year. There's a lot to take care of."
"You are right, Libero. You really are a good boy." Carlo praised him, gently patting him on the shoulder.
"You know, uncle Carlo, I was asking myself something. Before coming here to the city, I thought you were supposed to honk the horn only in an emergency..."
"Yeah, that's right." replied Carlo. "Why?"
"Because it seems like everyone uses it as if they were playing music at a party! They never stop honking!"
Everyone burst out laughing, except for Elio, who was wondering whether Libero was joking or not...
Third Chapter
He realized that the boy was in terror, and burst into laughter
The following morning Libero got Giulia out of her bed, after he had tripped over the corridor's carpet. So, Giulia and he found themselves having breakfast before everyone else had even opened their eyes. When the smell of fresh coffee had invaded Carlo's bedroom, he also made his way to the kitchen and started explaining what had been wrong with Elio lately.
"Do not worry." Libero assured them. "This out-door experience will help him. And mum already has a strategy!"
Once they had reached the train station, Giulia could not stop giving recommendations and making sure that the kids would behave.
Gaia could not wait; she was excited and curious. On the other hand, it was clear that Elio was only being dragged into this. On top of that, he was also carrying along Gaia's heavy luggage only because Libero made him : "Ladies should not carry weights!" he said, which caused Elio to roll his eyes. He could not bear his cousin already.
Libero was wearing a pair of jeans, t-shirt and a civil protection yellow ocher baseball cap, which seemed completely out of place to his cousins. Moreover, he was carrying the remaining luggage with such easiness that they might as well have been empty.
The train departed perfectly on time. There was no one else in the car they had been allocated to. After Libero had arranged all baggage onto the overhead compartment, he suggested:
"Gaia, come with me. Let's go to the restaurant car and let's get some more breakfast. It's going to be a long journey and you'll need all your strength. Elio can watch the luggage. No one will even come close to them. If someone does, bark!" said Libero to his cousin. "And if you stop pulling such a long face, we might even bring you something to eat..."
Gaia and Libero exited the car, which turned out to be a great comfort for Elio who wanted to be alone.
He was staring at the repetitive landscapes outside his window. They had just travelled past the industrial area of the city and they had begun to be surrounded by fields and hills that were alternating again and again.
All of a sudden, on the window pane he noticed the reflection of an old man sitting in the aisle seat next to his.
When did he get into the car? He did not hear the doors open.
The old man was dressed in black and was wearing some odd glasses on his nose. He was reading a black leather book that looked about a century old, whose pages were made out of tissue paper. On his head he had a wide-brimmed hat that was covering up his face. The whole scene was rather unsettling.
Elio did not turn around, yet was keeping an eye on him through the reflection on the window pane. He felt frightened of being on his own with that man. At that moment he surely did want his big and strong cousin to be by his side. However, neither he nor Gaia were approaching.
In the meantime, the old man was still reading his book. Every once in a while, he would look at an old watch that he was keeping inside the breast pocket of his waistcoat, elegantly worn underneath his old-fashioned suit.
This would annoy Elio even more, who kept wondering what or whom that man was waiting for. It certainly must have been something of extraordinary importance given that he was constantly looking at his watch.
Suddenly, after checking the time once more, the old man closed his book and bowed down to get something inside a black bag that he was keeping between his legs. As he was bowing down, his trousers slightly went up and revealed his black ankles and some odd black thin socks that looked like black fur.
Elio was not able to contain his apprehension and started shaking. As he was going through his own bag, the old man burst out laughing as if he had perceived Elio's terror. It was a long, deep and gloomy laughter that resounded into his ears. Elio coved up his ears with his hands to try and stop hearing that noise. He closed his eyes to avoid looking at the man's reflection on the window pane and started praying to himself: "Libero, come back. Libero, come back."
Then, the automatic door of the car was abruptly opened.
"Elio, what are you doing? Did you catch an ear infection in the city? Do not infect us countrymen with these urban viruses!"
Elio startled. Then, after he had recognized Libero's playful voice, turned around and saw his cousin laugh; he was holding a shopping bag and a soft drink in his hands. Gaia was standing right behind him and was biting into a huge croissant.
There was no trace of the old man. He disappeared just like he had previously appeared. Everything belonging to him was gone: his book, his watch and his bag.
Libero sat down next to Elio and after having passed him a croissant, he noticed that he was shaking.
"Did something happen?" he asked.
"I think it's just some motion sickness." lied Elio.
Gaia understood that her brother was having one of his crises and promised herself she would address the problem to Libero.
The rest of the trip was quiet. Libero described the harvest festival that was going to take place soon and was going to involve all neighbouring villages. It was going to be held outdoors and the evening was going to be livened up by traditional dances like the taranta, and more modern ones.
Elio was looking at his sister and cousin, and asked himself how those two had managed
