If it was a little girl, her parents, they would have called Benedetta, so they would respect the tradition of passing on that name that often occurs in their family . Then, a name so well-wishing, would surely have brought a lot of luck to that child so much desired, after they had already come into the world's three sons. Likelihood to be born in to a great beech, the town which was called "Forest of the elves," but fortunately her mother managed to get home, despite the pains preceding the birth were very strong. Women, too, in quel tempo, erano forti e abituate a sopportare le fatiche, che condividevano con gli uomini, nei lavori del campo e del bosco.
Benedetta aveva proprio fretta, di venire al mondo. Anna, la levatrice, non fece in tempo ad arrivare per dare il suo aiuto, sebbene la sua casa distasse pochi minuti di cammino dalla casa della partoriente. Quando entrò in casa, Benedetta già stava sorridendo a un raggio di sole che illuminava l’immagine della Sacra Famiglia, che i contadini erano soliti appendere sopra la testata del letto matrimoniale.
Benedetta cresceva velocemente, come crescono in fretta tutti i bimbi che vivono in quella valle a metà strada tra la pianura e la montagna. Era una bimba allegra, con una voce cristallina which gave only joy to listen to, just like the streams that descend from the mountains in the spring. That year, the autumn had come early. In the woods of the elves, was beginning to form a carpet of glossy leaves, which accumulated in the wind a few points behind the steep walls.
Towards the end of that mild October, ran the year 1943, some huts, which were used only in summer, settled a group of partisans. They were young anti-fascists of the place, soldiers of the disbanded army and prisoners of war escaped from detention camps: all the difficulties of sharing a life was difficult and dangerous as that of the partisan bands.
The partisan group that was given the name "Mount Soglio group" had achieved a significant abundance and could be very dangerous, not only in war but also on the propaganda. For these reasons, the fascists, the group went up against one of the first and hardest raids with many who tried in vain to crush the guerrilla insurgency. On the afternoon of December 6, a German reconnaissance plane, known as "Stork" flew over the area where it was headquartered in the long partisan group: the white snow fell abundantly in the past days made it easier to identify the targets. The fact alarmed formations, but at dawn the next day a column of German motor vehicles - which were aggregated military Republican National Guard - by Cuorgnè moves in two directions: the rolling-Prascorsano Pratiglione-Forno-Rivara and oven, which came despite attempts to hinder the march blowing up some bridges. At about 17, the battle ended with the complete encirclement of the stations and the capture of 18 survivors who, in a sad procession, were taken in the basement of City Hall where they were again beaten and tortured. In the afternoon the next day, December 9, people the place was made out of their homes and in columns to the courtyard of what was then the home of beam: they had to attend as a warning, the punishment of the rebels. In two groups of nine, the partisans were made to pass through the narrow gate that opened on the right side of the house of the beam and aligned in front of a firing squad, which turned their backs, had to be shot in the back. So their lives were cut off.
Benedetta he saw the massacre, but he felt the blows of the shock of the firing squad, you feel the acrid smell of gunpowder, and felt the taste of blood on his lips, the formed a knot in my stomach that came up in throat and stopped there. Since that day, Benedetta, did not utter one word more.
Alice was a perfect copy of Benedetta. ... It was as if God had wanted to make a replica of that cheerful girl who was seen running through the streets of that country, and almost wanted to correct his error had created this new life. Alice and Benedetta were one person. Alice, growing up became the voice of Benedetta. Although it was still so small, was able to understand every thought of this grandmother who could not speak.
Alice was delighted when watching his grandmother while he was preparing the dinner. Benedict knew his actions and measured with an almost theatrical emphasis. The winter was drawing to a close, approaching the period the carnival, and in those valleys were used to observe the old ancestral traditions unique to that period. Every day, Alice grandmother Tina watched carefully, sometimes helped her shelling beans, or preparing vegetables for soup. But that day he saw something that had never before seen. Grandma Tina took from a shelf a strange pot with four handles and a mouth that choked. In his mind he saw the elves of the forest who were preparing to cook dinner. Then, his grandmother opened a canvas bag, and poured a waterfall in a pot of beans, Alice seemed to the eyes of all the elves who lived in the fairy tales. A forest made of herbs, onion and a pinch eyes, disappeared d’incanto nella bocca della pentola, e con esso tintinnando, tutti i fagioli. Intanto, nonna Tina aveva preparato con le cotenne di maiale alcuni rotolini che sembravano delle quagliette implumi, finirono nell’antro fatato anche loro, come tanti personaggi di una favola che nonna Tina le stava raccontando.
Persa in questo mondo immaginario, Alice si addormentò. Nonna Tina la prese tra le sue braccia e la portò nel suo lettino, rimboccò per bene le coperte e dentro di se recitò la preghiera dell’angelo.
Prima che soppragiunse il sonno profondo, Alice aprì ancora gli occhi, vide il bosco degli elfi, gli uccellini, gli occhi degli gnomi che guardavano attraverso il buio del bosco, e gli sembrò di feel blessed that my grandmother used to say:
"Good night my love."
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