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I was looking towards the Camp. The man continued to wash the fish in the tub under the fountain. "I've been less afraid of death since then," I said. 

"You shouldn't be afraid of death," said Papa, also looking straight ahead. "But it is preferable not to anticipate its arrival. If possible." 

"I am still convinced that I have glimpsed the other life." I said.

"Daughter," said Papa. "You have experienced the euphoria, the sweet euphoria that a drowning person gets." 

"Maybe. But I felt something similar and much nicer once when I wasn't drowning at all. It was towards evening. I was going home. As I was leaving the Procuratie I looked at the Basilica and I thought that there was God. Only that I thought: 'God is there,' and I felt light, more and more light and I was no longer walking... I was going... I was going towards a clear and sweet light, no more space or time, I was going towards infinity, I was in infinity and joy... no, I was joy-light myself. Suddenly I found myself standing in front of the Basilica. I don't know how, how long ago I had crossed the square. It seemed to me that years, centuries had passed. It's hard to explain. But I remember the clear impression of having come down from another, beautiful world." I turned to Papa: " It happened a few years ago. I was already grown up. And I was just going home one evening."

Campo Santa Maria Formosa was now full of people and life. The man was carrying another tub to the drinking fountain. Many women crowded around the counter and the boy, perhaps his son, helped them with their choice. There were also a lot of cats but they didn't seem impatient. They probably knew that their turn would come sooner or later. Venice is ideal for cats, if there is no war. Otherwise cats and pigeons are eaten to survive.