“Now that we’re far away from the morgue, the dead bodies, the blood, and all those other amenities, I have a confession to make.”

Alberto stopped chewing and gave Rocco a level look. “You’re a homosexual?”

“No. And even if I was, you’re the last man I’d try to hook up with.”

“I’d actually have given you some serious consideration . . .”

“All right, so are you interested in hearing this confession or not?”

“Go on!”

“You’re an invaluable person. And I thank God that I found you here. Without you, things would have been much more difficult.”

Alberto wiped his mouth, laid the napkin back on his knees, and took a sip of wine. Rocco followed suit. They sat in silence until the check came.

I ATE TOO MUCH. I CAN’T GET TO SLEEP. I OUGHT TO LEARN from Lupa. I get obsessed with staring at this light on the ceiling. Pink.

“After all, we’re leaving here soon,” I say. To no one. There’s nobody here. Just me and a sleeping dog. The pink goes from pale to dark, then purple. One two three. One two three.

You’re not here. You’re not coming back. Then you meant what you said. “Did you mean what you said?” My feet and my hands are cold.

“I read something about quanta. There are particles of the electron that only appear in reality when they collide. Then they disappear. Did you know that?”

Where do they disappear to? There’s something they’ve never told us. Something that every once in a while appears here, in our world, but then, just as fast as it appeared, it goes away again, leaving no trace behind it. Not even a smell.

“Where are you?”

She’s right to leave. On this side there are teeth, blood, and claws, Marina. They cut, they scratch, they make you bleed. Look at how my skin has been ruined. I look like I’m covered with tattoos.

But if I shut my eyes, I see her. With her back to me. Sitting on the beach. I call her name. She doesn’t turn around. I call her name again. “Marina, will you answer me?” Her shoulders are shaking. She’s laughing. Then, slowly, she turns around. But the sun blinds me and I can’t seem to glimpse her face. She’s raised a hand in front of her eyes, to block the light. She blows me a kiss.

Friday

Italo, excuse me if I disturb you in my own office,” Rocco said upon entering the room. The officer was stretched out on the sofa, holding some photographs in his hand. “Say, do you feel like adding another pain in the ass to the chart outside?”

“Sure, tell me which,” he replied, sitting up.