The Patience of the Spider Read Free Page A

field of vision. He
manages to sit up a little in bed. Livias standing in front of the window,
and Dr. Strazzera is beside her, talking to her at great length.
Montalbano hears a little giggle come from Livia.What a witty guy,
this Dr. Strazzera! And why is he hanging all over Livia? And why
doesnt she feel the need to take a step back? Okay, Ill show them.
    Water!he yells in rage.
    Livia jumps, startled.
    Why is he drinking so much? Livia asks.
    It must be an effect of the anesthetic, says Strazzera. And he
adds: But, you know, Livia, the operation was childs play. I was
even able to make it so that the scar will be practically invisible.
    Livia gives the doctor a grateful smile, which infuriates the inspector
even more.
    An invisible scar! So he wont have any problem entering the
next Mr. Muscle competition.
    Speaking of muscle, or whatever you want to call it ...He
slides over, ever so gently, until his body is pressed up against
Livias back. She seems to appreciate the contact, to judge by
the way she moans in her sleep.
    Montalbano extends a cupped hand and places it over one
    of her tits. As if by conditioned reflex, Livia puts her hand over
his. But here the operation grinds to a halt. Because Montalbano
knows perfectly well that if he proceeds any further,
Livia will put an immediate stop to it. Its already happened
once, on his first night back from the hospital.
    No, Salvo. Out of the question. Im afraid you might
hurt yourself.
    Come on, Livia. Its my shoulder that was injured, not
my
    Dont be vulgar. Dont you understand? I wouldnt feel
comfortable, Id be afraid to . . .
    But his muscle, or whatever you want to call it, doesnt
understand these fears. It has no brain, is not used to thinking.
It refuses to listen to reason. So it just stays there, bloated with
rage and desire.
    Fear.Terror. He begins to feel this the second day after the operation,
when, around nine in the morning, the wound starts to throb
painfully.Why does it hurt so much? Did they forget a piece of gauze
in there, as so often happens? Or maybe not gauze, but a ten-inch
scalpel? Livia notices at once and calls Strazzera.Who comes running,
probably leaving in the middle of some open-heart surgery. But thats
how things are now: The moment Livia calls, Strazzera comes run-
ning.The doctor says the reaction was to be expected, theres no reason
for Livia to be alarmed. And he sticks another needle into Montalbano.
Less than ten minutes later, two things happen: first, the pain
starts to subside; and second, Livia says:
    The commissioners here.
    And she leaves. Bonetti-Alderighi enters the room accompanied by
    the chief of his cabinet, Dr. Lattes, whose hands are folded in prayer, as
    if he were at a dying mans bedside.
How are you? How are you? asks the commissioner.
How are you? How are you? Lattes echoes him, as in a litany.
The commissioner begins to speak, but Montalbano hears only
    scraps of what hes saying, as if a strong wind were carrying away his
words.
. . . and therefore Ive recommended you be given a solemn
    citation...
. . . solemn citation... echoes Lattes.
La-de-da-de-da-de-ation, says a voice in Montalbanos head.
Wind.
. . . while awaiting your return, Inspector Augello...
Oh good fellow, good fellow, says the same voice in his head.
Wind.
Eyelids drooping, inexorably closing.
    Now his eyelids are drooping. Maybe he can finally fall asleep.
Just like this, pressed up against Livias warm body. But theres
that goddamn shutter that keeps wailing with every gust of
wind.
    What to do? Open the window and try to close the shutter
more tightly? Not a chance. It would surely wake Livia up.
But maybe there is a solution. No harm in trying. Instead of
fighting the shutters wail, try to echo it, incorporate it in the
rhythm of his own breathing.
    Iiiih! goes the shutter.
Iiiih! goes the inspector, softly, lips barely open.
Eeeeh! goes the