5.

And so it came to pass, winter surrendered and spring arrived.

Many seasons passed and the Vito clan grew with the adding of brides and the birth of many children. They prospered and sent their bounty to the coast.

Each member of the clan was assigned some responsibility. Even the smallest might carry out ashes from the fireplace, feed the chickens, or help with a multitude of chores. No one was allowed the pleasure of becoming lazy.

One day in the spring, some of the children fished along the Agno, they came running to the compound shouting, “The ice is moving. The Agno is thawing. Winter is almost over.”

Winter loosened its grip and each day the sun grew brighter and warmer. The feeling of spring filled the air. The earth breathed new life and the coming of the growing season.

The clan worked the orchards and tended the hay and grain fields in preparation of the new season. Some herded the flocks of sheep, goats and herds of cattle and horses.

It became Giuseppe’s responsibility to herd the growing number of horses. Giuseppe’s clubfoot did not hamper him on horseback. He became a masterful rider.

Each day of summer the herdsman drove the livestock out to the pastures. With little to do in the hayfields, grain fields or orchards until harvest time, the herders relaxed in the warm spring sun.

Ample rains fell on the fields and the orchards and as usual the clan witnessed the growing of a bountiful crop. Everyone not tending stock, worked on the great hall. The compound, a beehive of activity, with children carrying stones from the stream, masons laying stones and carpenters cutting logs and cutting planks for the great hall.

A portion of the men worked mixing mortar while others laid the stones. Everyone performed a certain task. There were children to watch, meals to cook, water to be carried and gardens to cultivate and tend. These tasks fell to the women.

Work commenced at dawn and only ended at dusk. The most coveted task in the compound was to be the watchmen. Usually, boys of ten or so were set as watchmen for the barbarians.

Each boy’s father admonished his son, “This is a great responsibility. Under no circumstances will a son of mine shirk his duty. It is a first step to becoming a man and an honored member of the clan.”

While the younger boys watched, the other compound members worked on the great project.

Santo directed the construction of the great hall. It pleased him to watch the clan work in harmony, and after three summers of building the workers needed little attention or direction. He watched as the men carried logs and laid them on the rock walls.

The walls, at this time, were only two feet high, but as they laid stones and logs, the walls grew. The great logs served as beams for each level of the great hall.

Next, the stone layers laid a layer of stone and mortar. As soon as the mortar dried and the stones held in place, the logs were rolled on top of the layer of stones. There were enough logs on the low wall for two upper levels.

With the first level completed, half of the logs were set in the stone and mortared. Stone by stone and log by log, the wall grew higher creating the second level and last the third level.

Back and forth, back and forth, the logs were rolled out of the way as stone and mortar were applied to the wall. Layer by layer the wall grew, and the logs were rolled into place.

Vito stood by his son. “Santo, I must tell you something. You are smarter than any of my other sons.”

“Why do you have such an opinion, Father? Everyone works hard and does his share.”

“Certainly they do. They are part of the clan. They use their backs, you use your head.”

“Father,” Santo explained in a question.

“Now let me finish. Long ago we would build walls for a new dwelling and then put the logs on top for the next level or the roof. You said there must to be an easier way to place the logs on the wall. So, you figured out to lay the logs on the wall and as the men build, the logs are lifted up a little at a time, by rolling them back and forth. When the wall is complete the logs are in place. We do not have to put the logs on top after the dwelling is complete. Putting the logs on top was a terrific task, as well as back breaking and hand smashing.”

Santo studied the workers near him. “That is true, Father, but some of these men are excellent stone layers and others do work just as important like making mortar. Look, the walls are straight and strong. I am not a good stone layer. My wall would lean in or out and I cannot do some of the work the other men perform.”

“Santo, you must realize, you are the real thinker in the clan. You are the one who showed us how to put a steep pitch on the roofs, so the snow would slide off. You are the one who showed us how to bundle the tough grass from the field and riverbank to make a better roof. This type of roof lasts longer and makes the dwelling warmer. Santo, you are the organizer and thinker in the clan. When we started building the addition on the compound three years ago, you took charge. You put everyone to a task he is best suited for, even to the children. Everyone looks to you. I wish Carlos possessed more of your ability. He will someday be the head of the clan, and he will need wisdom.”

“Father, he is a good son and brother. He will make a good elder.”

“I hope so, Santo.”

“We will back him and help him. Right now he is leading the timber cutters. It is a very important task.”

“I know, Santo.”

Santo laughed when he saw the frown on his father’s face.

“Father, not only will they cut timber, but also they must be on guard for the barbarians. Carlos has taken care of this most important task for the past three or four years. He has not lost one man to the barbarians, even when the barbarians attack. He always has the timbers here before harvest time, so we can build the barges. He is the eldest, Father, and a good leader.”

“You always defend your brothers, my son. Someday you may have to do more than help Carlos. You may have to become the clan leader.”

“Me? Father, the clan would not accept me as leader. I am the sixth son. There are many ahead of me.”

“Yes, Son, but even those who are older, they look to you. You are second in line of leadership. If something should happen to Carlos, the clan would want you as leader.”

Santo shook his head and only murmured, “We will see, if it comes to pass.”

Summer drew to a close and fall came to Valley of Po. Great migratory flights of ducks, geese and cranes wheeled overhead day after day. The completed great hall stood as a monument to their combined achievement.

With completion of the great hall, the clan turned its attention to building the barges. Everyone made preparation for delivering the overflow of their harvest to the coast.

Vito called the clan together. “We have one of the best harvests in years. When the harvest is in and the men return from the coast, we will have a great celebration in our new great hall. We will invite our kin from the other clans to come and join us. We now have room in the great hall for guests. In the great hall there are even places for guests to sleep up under the roof. The workers have laid planks above the third level and put in stairs. The great hall is really four levels. The celebration will be to honor the workers, from the smallest child to the tallest man for their work.”

The clan cheered.

Vito held up his hands for quiet. “I have also decided we must now try Carlos’ idea. Maybe we can learn to be merchants. Carlos, I think your idea of a boat is good. The selling of goods on the river needs to be tried. When you go to the coast, buy the boat and goods. See what the people want as you float down and then bring them the goods they desire, when you come back.”

He faced the clan and shouted, “Carlos has a good idea and the time is right!” The clan began to cheer Carlos. He stood by his father and put his arm around Vito.

Vito raised his hands for calm. The clan became silent and he said, “I know we are not merchants, but we are of the Vito Clan. We will learn. We will be good honest merchants. If we can, under Santo’s leadership, build such a compound and a great hall, we can learn to be merchants under Carlos’ leadership. I salute Santo and the workers on the compound and I salute Carlos for his ideas.”

For the first time in years, harmony existed between Carlos and Santo. The clan danced around Vito and Carlos and shouted their approval. Carlos motioned for Santo. He joined his father and brother as the clan continued to shout and dance. Santo carefully stood on a step lower than his father and Carlos. He wanted to show Carlos as the next clan leader and be sure the clan saw he recognized the fact.

To one side Cornelius and Giuseppe watched the three men. Cornelius said, “Giuseppe, one day our father will be clan leader.”

“How do you know Cornelius?”

“I just know. Something will happen, and father will be leader.”

“Cornelius, you are always making these plans. What makes you think this way?”

“I think of these things, because I am not like you. I am not always thinking about the baker’s daughter and hiding behind some bushes with her.”

“Cornelius, have you been spying on us?”

“I saw you once here, and there another time. Giuseppe, if her father knew what you were doing together he would either kill you or make you marry her.”

“I want to marry her and the sooner the better.”

“Then tell Father and let him make the arrangements. Better you are married and she is with child, than for her to be with child and then you are forced to wed. The first way, everyone is happy. The second, the clan might lose some friends and honor.”

“Must you always think of the clan, Cornelius?”

“Giuseppe, the clan is everything. The clan is order. The clan is safety. The clan is our family and loved ones. The clan is you, my Brother.”

“All right, I will speak to Father.”

Cornelius asked, “When?”

“Soon,” Giuseppe answered.

“If you do not, I will. I promise you, Giuseppe, I will. In fact, you should talk to him tonight.”

“Very well,” Giuseppe’s lower lip protruded, but he smiled.

“What are you grinning about?”

“Oh, just thinking, how nice it would be to have the baker’s daughter in bed with me every night, when it is cold.” He paused, “And, every morning, when I awake!”

“Giuseppe, you will,” Cornelius paused, and then shouted, “Hey, you will move out into one of the other houses, and I will have a bed to myself. Giuseppe, I think your marrying the baker’s daughter is a great idea and the sooner the better!”

The clan made great plans for the end of the harvest. The barges were to be loaded and floated to the coast. There, Carlos would buy the boat and goods to be traded as they pulled and sailed the boat up the Agno. With the clan together again, they would have a wedding, Giuseppe’s wedding. Santo made the arrangements with the baker and the baker clapped his hands at the prospects of having one less mouth at his table.

In a few short weeks everyone in the clan stood along the Agno River bank and watched the flotilla of barges push away. Cheers followed the barges as they disappeared around the first curve. Soon the clan dispersed and scattered back to their various chores.

Cornelius and Giuseppe stood watching the empty river. They were alone when suddenly they saw the tip of a boat mast coming up the river.

Cornelius shouted, “It is a merchant boat!”

Giuseppe began to hobble away from the bank, “Father, told us to never be on the river when they come by. Run to the compound.”

As they turned to run, they saw a second mast top and then a third. Cornelius fidgeted with excitement.

“There are three merchant boats. I want to see them. Let us hide in the tall cane and reeds and watch them go by.”

“Father will beat us if we do.”

“We will stay hidden. They will not see us. Come on.”

Giuseppe followed Cornelius into the tall cover along the river. The boats slowly came into view. They were not using their sails. Men walked both banks pulling the boats slowly up river against the current.

Giuseppe gasped, “Those men on this bank will see us. We need to run!”

Cornelius pushed him down on his stomach. “Stay down. We are hidden. Be quiet.”

The three boats drew closer and closer. The boys heard the strange dialect of the men pulling the boats. Shouts and instructions were called back and forth between the boats and the men on the banks. Some of the men laughed at some joke and leaned into the ropes to move the boats.

Their clothing seemed strange to the boys, yet similar to the Vito clan in some ways. They wore long flowing robes tied with a sash at the waist. Some wore a cloak over their long robes. Most men wore turbans and long beards. Their feet were encased in leather footgear. Cornelius counted ten men on each bank, pulling the boat upstream.

As they passed, he heard the words, “Agno, Este, Lonigo and Padova.” Cornelius knew the name of the river. He also knew Este and Lonigo were the two nearest villages. Padova was the coastal town, where the clan’s barges were headed. He wondered how the three boats and the family’s barges passed on the river.

The first boat passed and then the second. More shouting filled the air and they pointed at the compound. Cornelius guessed they were talking about stopping and trying to sell merchandise at the clan. When Cornelius looked over his shoulder at the compound, he saw the great gates closing.

The clan, with this action said to the merchants, “Stay out, go away. We do not want you here.”

When he looked back he saw some of the men making gestures at the closed gates. He did not know the language, but he knew the men were shouting insults and making obscene gestures at the compound. He whispered to Giuseppe, “They were going to stop, but the clan closed the gates. When they are out of sight on the river we will run to the compound.”

Giuseppe only nodded his head and continued to watch the three boats move on up the river. When the last boat moved from sight the two boys turned and started to the compound. They were startled to find their two little brothers in the reeds and canes right behind them.

Cornelius demanded, “What are you doing here?”

“We were watching the boats, just like you and Giuseppe.”

“Well come on, let us run to the compound.”

The four boys crawled out of the reeds. Giuseppe looked to the north where the boats disappeared and asked, “How soon do you think the merchants will return from Lonigo?”

Cornelius wrinkled up his brow. “Oh, it will be a few days. They will try to sell the goods they have.”

“How will they pull the boats so far? The river is down and will not rise until next spring.”

“They could stop below Lonigo and take their goods over land to sell.”

As they talked they headed toward the compound, stopping to observe a pair of birds and their nest in the reeds. “The birds have four eggs in the nest,” said Michael.

“Leave them alone and come on, let us hurry to the compound.” Cornelius commanded.

The younger boys were still looking at the bird’s nest, when Giuseppe shouted, “The merchant boats are coming back.”

For whatever reason, the three boats turned around and were floating back down the river. They were moving fast. In moments they were in full view.

Cornelius shouted, “Run! Run fast!”

The boys started running, but Giuseppe was not able to run with his deformed foot. He dropped behind. Cornelius shouted at the two younger boys, “Run to the gate. I will help Giuseppe!”

Cornelius turned back to help Giuseppe, but he did not realize Michael and Alfieri were following him back to Giuseppe. When Cornelius reached Giuseppe, he put his shoulder under his arm and said, “Let us go as fast as we can.”

Giuseppe only nodded, but shouted at the little boys. “Cornelius told you to run to the gates. Now run!”

The little boys trotted on ahead. None of the four noticed several men wading ashore and coming through the reeds. Before they realized it, men were around them. Michael and Alfieri broke to run and Cornelius and Giuseppe turned to confront the merchants. They made a mistake.

With little effort the men rushed the two older boys and grabbed them. The two boys started to fight, but were outnumbered and knocked in the head with war clubs. Swifter men ran after the two younger boys and caught them half way to the compound. The men scooped up the two younger boys and ran toward the boats. The boys screamed and kicked, but to no avail. The men were too strong.

One of the merchants pointed at Giuseppe’s crooked foot. They left Giuseppe lying on the ground. Two men picked Cornelius off the ground and carried him, despite his struggles, to the last boat in the armada of merchant ships. By this time the little boys were loaded on the first two boats and they were floating away. Cornelius was dumped on the deck tied and shoved down in the hole. The third boat floated down the river, around the curve and out of sight.

The lookouts in the third floor window saw the attack on the boys. They witnessed the two younger boys chased, caught and carried to the first two boats. They saw Cornelius and Giuseppe clubbed and Cornelius carried to the last boat. The alarm sounded and a large group of men burst from the gates. They ran toward the river, but by the time they reached the water the three boats rounded the bend of the river. In moments they were out of sight. Some of the men raced down the riverbank. It was a futile attempt, as the boats pulled further and further away. The boys were gone.