There was no question in Carter’s mind that he would go along with the rest of the men in the morning. In fact, he was anxious to begin the climb at once, but he knew that they were right. To go out unprepared, stumbling about the mountainside in the darkness, was a recipe for disaster; it would only put all of them at risk. Impatient as he was to go, there was nothing to do till morning, so as the men drifted home one by one, he went back into the house to tell Antonella of their plan and to see what news, if any, there might be on the television.

Upon hearing Carter tell of the search for Giorgio being organized for the next morning, Nunzio and Michele instantly vowed to go along. Antonella, however, would hear none of it. She pointed out that neither of the two had any climbing experience at all, and in any case they were completely unequipped for such an effort. All they would do is cause the family even more worry and, worse, risk serious injury. If they insisted on taking part, she told them, they should confine their search to the paths all along the lower elevations around the village.There was every bit as great a chance that Giorgio might be found there as there was higher up the mountain. Her adamance in the matter left no room for negotiation, and the two sons-in-law were wise enough not to argue with her.

When the hour grew late and the women of the village began to go home, Antonella asked Giulia and Daniela to escort their grandparents home. Nunzio and Michele went along, leaving only Carter behind. No sooner had they left when Antonella made him sit down next to her on the couch. She looked at him for a moment, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, as if she were not sure of what to say.

“Cosa?” said Carter. “What is it?”

Antonella looked him squarely in the eye.

“Carter,” she told him, “I must ask you, too, not to go up the mountain with those men tomorrow.”

Carter was dismayed by her request. Already in his short stay with them, he had grown very fond of Antonella and Giorgio. They were like old friends to him. Carter was as worried as anyone in Castelalto about Giorgio, and he felt an obligation to do all he could to help find him.

“But why would I not go?” he protested. “What good will I be doing anyone just sitting around here all day?”

Shaking her head, Antonella sighed in frustration and muttered something in dialect that he could not understand.

“Listen to me,” she finally said tersely. “If you go up to the top of the mountain tomorrow, Michele and Nunzio will think they have to go, as well—out of pride. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Yes, but—”