MARESCIALLO

Down the path that lead below the hill, sat another house that was a home to many brothers and sisters. Among them was Gabriele, a boy of ten years who grew with different circumstances to Maria.

There was a man called il Maresciallo, and he was a high ranking military officer for the German Army. He and around 13 of his men too found this house and made it their own home.

These soldiers did not ask to take food, but were served it. They did not ask for money or gold, but gave protection in exchange for a place at the table, and a glass of vino.

...wine.

It was often when they Maresciallo would discuss events that were occurring in the war. He discussed how Germany was going after America, while at the time, Italy was still sided with Germany.

"Maresciallo was a very good man, very friendly with my father."

It was another evening at casa del Palozzo*. The smell of wine entangled itself with the aroma of la cena*, and laughter echoed throughout the house in a small moment of contentment. Gabriele's father at one head of the table, and Maresciallo at the other in a room dimly lit, just enough to entertain company.

The laughter had died quickly at the sound of harsh knocking at the front door. Gabriele looked at his father who had put down his wine but made no attempt to move.

Maresciallo stood and rearranged his uniform before he answered the door. The room remained so silent as everyone tried to anticipate their next move. Gabriele could hear as Maresciallo spoke authoritatively in German at the door, although he couldn't understand a word.

Within the next few moments the door was closed, and shortly after the laughter returned, and another bottle of wine was popped open.

Gabriele was unaware at the time, but Maresciallo saved his family many times from situations like this. The German soldiers would do their rounds in the small campagna of Cepagatti. And once they would reach casa del Palozzo, il Maresciallo would be quick to send them back on their way.

One day Gabriele took notice of six small planes that were flying in the sky, none like he had ever seen before. He watched as one flew behind the other, each very synchronized together before they all started to fall and drop bombs.

His family in disarray urged him to go back inside with them, but all that his youthful eyes could capture was the explosion that seemed far too close. It had managed to blast a neighbouring house of a man that was well known amongst the town.

"They dropped the bombs. Barone was living there, big rich man Italiano."

After the attacks there were tanks patrolling the streets in search for German soldiers. It was known at the time that America was the operator of these attacks, and Italy was now their ally. America had found the Germans who stayed and hid, and America wanted them all to be killed.

There were more attacks that followed the bombing. There were people who came by parachute at night in search for the German soldiers. Gabriele was given the message to keep the house dark at night, in attempt to find any hidden German soldiers in the houses that were lit.

Maresciallo would regularly during this time spend his days in the city at the casino. Many soldiers would follow and return later in the evening, in time for la cena ed il vino.

...the dinner and the wine.

It wasn't until the next day when someone spread the news that, "Maresciallo, caput. Maresciallo caput." And it wasn't until later that day when Gabriele found out that Maresciallo was taken down outside the casino by an American tank.

"Maresciallo was a very good man, very friendly with my father."

*Casa del Palozzo – House of Palozzo. Palozzo is Gabriele's family name.

* La Cena – (the) Dinner.