Musei e Cornetti

Rhyme and Reason

Thanks for all the lovely reviews: StormerBeatsBad, MaccasWeirdFriend, leah9712, PurlyandGirly, NJ2001, ThisBirdHasFlown, anakinbridger541, Swimmer girl 17, and Sunderious

FYI: The man in the bespoke suit from the last chapter is in his 30s or so; the professor is much older. They're not the same person. Just to clarify :0)

"Stage . . . ." muttered Ringo, licking his tiny plastic gelato spoon contemplatively. "Are there any theatres in Florence?"

"We've already been over this," sighed John, pausing to lean on the stone wall of the Renaissance bridge they were crossing. He looked down the river to the next bridge, which had houses built directly onto it.

"That's the Ponte Vecchio, I think," mused Ringo, following John's gaze to the neighbouring bridge. "It's a bridge, not a theatre."

"Since when did you know all about Italian bridges?" inquired John, turning to Ringo.

"Since I looked at Brian's guidebook yesterday," replied Ringo sensibly.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" said John, gesturing to the river, the riverside houses, and the bridge beyond.

Ringo joined John at the edge of the bridge. The pair of Beatles stared out across the sun-flecked water and the orange plaster facades of the buildings on either side of the river. The Italian sky softly arced the scene. Behind them, motorbikes and cars zoomed past, and pedestrians strolled by. Italian, French, English, Japanese: a world's worth of languages bubbled across the stones of the bridge as the water slipped underneath.

"Ah, it's good to be alive," sighed Ringo, satisfied. He scraped the last of his melting chocolate gelato out of its paper cup.

"Lions!" exclaimed John, whipping around with a grin to face Ringo.

"What did I do wrong?" wondered Ringo, bewildered.

"It's not what you did wrong, it's what I did right!" replied John happily, racing down the bridge to the other side. "Come on, Ringo, we have to go get a new map!" he called back over his shoulder.

…

"Ta!" said Ringo, pressing some lire into the gypsy street vendor's hand. The vendor grinned toothlessly and shoved the money deeply into a pouch in her skirts.

Ringo unfurled his purchase, a map of Florence with bus routes and schedules printed on it.

"We need to figure out how to get to that Roman thing," rushed John. "Maybe this one? Or this one?"

The guitarist pointed at a couple of spots on the map.

Ringo sighed and looked up from the map to stare around at the piazza they were in. A tall, tan stone block of a building stood above them, complete with crenellated bell-tower. Ringo and John were standing next to a fountain at the building's corner; in the fountain stood a sculpture of a very regal Neptune, who seemed to frown down on the English tourists.

"Or maybe here?" muttered John, pointing at a spot in the middle of the Arno River.

"You have to wear your glasses to read a map, John," groaned Ringo.

"You find it, then," sulked John.

"Find what? You still haven't explained anything yet!" complained Ringo, scratching his head.

"It's this Roman theatre somebody was telling me about, I think it was Neil," said John quickly. "It's just outside of Florence, in a town that rhymes with holy."

Ringo blinked. "You're looking for a town that rhymes with holy?"

At their feet, a small flock of pigeons pecked at a discarded sandwich. They cooed eagerly at the two young men for more food.

"Are you needing some help?" asked someone in a heavy Italian accent. John and Ringo looked up to see the street vendor giving them a gap-toothed grin.

"Can you help us find a town that rhymes with holy?" asked John.

"Something oh-li," helped Ringo slowly.

"Ah, Fiesole!" exclaimed the old Italian woman. "Sisisisisi!"

"Look, it's right here!" exclaimed Ringo, pointing to an edge of the map. Sure enough, a small arrow was labelled "to Fiesole."

"Thanks!" said Ringo as John folded up the map.

The woman extended a hand, palm up.

Ringo delved through his pockets and gave her another coin.

"Grazie mille," said the woman.

"Let's go find a Roman theatre in Fiesole!" exclaimed John impatiently.