The Octopus at the Vatican

# 19 - the zugzwang

While he was at Cortina d'Ampezzo, the pope, now Albino Luciani, was spending happy moments with his family. They swapped news. What was he doing, what was she up to? They were proud of Albino's first cousin, Aldo Bonassoli, a well-known scientist. In their youth, Albino and Aldo had enjoyed many leisurely and sporting activities together, along with their parents who were siblings. They got on so well that they often spent holidays together. The numerous cousins loved to meet up and play. Eight years older than Aldo, Albino was like an older brother. At that blessed time, Aldo, the scientist was still little Aldino.

Vittorio Petri was 20 years younger than Aldo Bonassoli. He was the next generation. But they had often met up at big family gatherings, for Aldo was also his mother Nina's first cousin. Vittorio's sister had seen him recently. Aldo had also made important scientific breakthroughs. He worked for a big French oil producer, he traveled a lot. He still had a workshop in Lurano, near Bergamo, which he liked to go back to whenever he could. And above all, he was still a nice, extrovert and optimistic chap. It was a pleasure to come across him.

On Thursday, Albino and Vittorio had been deep in the mountains, avoiding cable cars and restaurants. They dreaded what might happen after this restful break. Cosa Nostra wouldn't give up. They were scared. What could they do? Ask the Americans for protection? Unrealistic. Demand protection from Italy? Poisoned by the Octopus. Give up the reform of the finances of the Vatican? That would make me an accomplice. And yet, John Paul I thought, Paul VI had been mixed up with this. These thoughts were troubling them as they contemplated the magnificent panorama of the Dolomites. Such beauty calmed them. As did the salami and small bottle of vino rosso, Nina had packed into their bags.

That evening, Albino and Vittorio played chess. Ettore and Nina watched their game to the end. All were sipping coffee and grappa. It was Albino's turn. But he was going to lose, lose no matter what he did. He couldn't pass his turn. That was the rule.

"It's a zugzwang, he said. The move will be bad in any case. It's exactly the situation I am in. I am so happy here, with you, with people I love, in my beloved mountains. If only time could stop. But I'm stuck. I am returning tomorrow to the Vatican's trap. Chess sometimes mimics real life."

He played and lost.

In the middle of the night, the dog, asleep at Nina's feet, moaned. Nina understood the language of the Labrador. A human being was very close to the house. Alert and very worried about the danger her brother was in, she got up soundlessly and without putting on the light. She slipped into the room where Albino and Vittorio were asleep, woke them up, signaled to them to get dressed and to escape through the pigsty. Outside, they went through a narrow passage between two buildings.

At that moment the killer entered the house. The dog jumped on him. Stunned, he fired a shot. The Labrador writhed around on the ground for a few seconds then kept still. All this had happened with little noise as he had a silencer. He kept Ettore and Nina under threat with his weapon and asked where the Pope was.

At that moment the killer entered the house. The dog jumped on him. Stunned, he fired a shot. The Labrador writhed around on the ground for a few seconds then kept still. All this had happened with little noise as he had a silencer. He kept Ettore and Nina under threat with his weapon and asked where the Pope was.

"The Pope, are you mad? There is no pope here! This is not the Vatican! Nina replied."

The killer threw her to the ground, stuck his gun in her mouth and spoke coldly to Ettore:

"If you don't tell me within three seconds where the pope is hiding, I know he's around, I kill your wife, one, two, thr. . ."

"He just left by the back door", squeaked Ettore.

At that moment, they heard the Fiat start.

The killer fled outside and got into his car in hot pursuit.