'Didn't suffer at all. The volley took half his head off.'
The others came in, and there was an orgy of kisses and embraces.
Jacomuzzi and Dr. Pasquano came from Montelusa to see him.
'All the papers are talking about you,' said Jacomuzzi. He seemed moved but a little envious.
'I was truly sorry I didn't get to do your autopsy,' said Pasquano. 'I'd really like to know how you're put together inside.'
'I was the first on the scene,' said Mim Augello, 'and when I saw you in that condition, in that situation, I got so scared I nearly shit my pants.'
'How did you find out?'
'There was an anonymous call to headquarters saying there'd been some shooting at the foot of the Scala dei Turchi. Galluzzo was on duty and phoned me right away. He also said something I didn't know. He said you were in the habit of meeting Gege at the place where the shooting was heard.'
'He knew that?!'
'Apparently everybody knew! Half the town knew! So, anyway, I didn't even get dressed, I went right outside in my pajamas'
Montalbano raised a tired hand, interrupting him.
'You sleep in pajamas?'
'Yes,' said Augello, confused. 'Why?'
'Never mind. Go on.'
'As I was racing there in my car, I called an ambulance with my cell phone. Which was a good thing, because you were losing a lot of blood.'
'Thanks,' Montalbano said gratefully.
'What do you mean, thanks? Wouldn't you have done the same for me?'
Montalbano did a little rapid soul-searching and decided not to answer.
'Oh, I also wanted to mention something strange,' Augello continued. 'The first thing you asked me, when you were still lying on the sand, groaning, was to remove the snails that were crawling on you. You were sort of delirious, so I said yes, I'd remove them, but there wasn't a single snail on you.'
...
Livia came and gave him a long hug, started crying, and lay down in the bed beside him as best she could.
'Stay like that,' said Montalbano.
He liked the scent of her hair as she rested her head on his chest.
'How did you find out?'
'From the radio. Actually, it was my cousin who heard the news. What a way to wake up!'
'What did you do?'
'First I called Alitalia and booked a flight to Palermo, then I called your office in Vig. They put Augello on, and he was very nice. He reassured me and even offered to come get me at the airport. He told me the whole story in the car.'
'Livia, how am I?'
'You're doing well, considering what happened.'
'Am I ruined forever?'
'What are you talking about?!'
'Will I have to eat bland food for the rest of my life?'
...
'But you leave me no choice,' the commissioner said, smiling.
'Why?'
'Because you've been going about things like a sheriff, or, if you prefer, like some kind of nocturnal avenger, and it's going to end up all over the television and newspapers.'
'That's not my fault.'
'No, it's not, but neither will it be my fault if I'm forced to promote you. You're just going to have to behave for a little while. Fortunately you won't be able to leave this place for another twenty days.'
'Twenty days?!'
'By the way, Undersecretary Licalzis in Montelusa at the moment. He says he's here to sensitize public opinion to the struggle against the Mafia. He's made it known he intends to pay you a visit this afternoon.'
'I don't want to see him!' Montalbano shouted, upset.
The undersecretary was someone who had been up to his ears in sweetheart deals with the Mafia and was now recycling himself, as always with the Mafias consent.
