I was sure I had it well within range that I fired. The pigeon dropped vertically, rolled on the porch roof, fell on its back. I immediately unloaded the rifle, according to Papa's instructions, and looked up to try to locate the spot where it had fallen. With fright I realized that there was no one under the veranda anymore. There were only empty chairs and tables and the baskets Mary brought. Was it possible they had left without warning me? And what was I going to do now, all alone, at the Club dei Cazadores?
After what seemed a very long time to me, one head emerged from behind a chair, another from behind a table and still other heads sprouted like mushrooms in the rain.
"What are you doing lying on the ground?" I asked in amazement.
"But Adriana, do you realize what you've done?" Papa had asked, standing up first.
"I'm sorry... I hit him badly, I know. But I caught him on the second shot, and he fell over the veranda..."
"You pointed the gun at us," Papa said unusually pale and severe.
"Towards you?" I laughed. "No, no, I was following the pigeon..."
"Okay, but it happens that we were behind the pigeon."
"I knew you were there! I continued to follow him calmly and when I had a good shot I shot him, that's all!"
"Ah, that's all!" Papa repeated and bursting out laughing turned to Gianfranco. "Ours was just a stupid reaction of old soldiers who saw a weapon aimed at them, wasn't it?"
"Very much so." confirmed Gianfranco, also unusually pale.
"You took the pigeon well, very good Adriana," said Papa, approaching a bottle of champagne.
"But please, in the future remember never to turn to people...
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