Chapter Six
Departing Grancorso after five months proved to be easier and harder than I’d envisioned. I’ll admit that, at first, being deposited into such a distinctly alien environment had rattled me. The rituals, the indigenous customs, the interpersonal relationships, not to mention the diet, had taken some adjustment, the diet being the easiest part. Luckily, I’d found allies. Signora Mantegna. Santina. And finally, Rudi.
I felt a begrudging affection for the town. The prying eyes and wagging tongues and the small-town intrigues had been offset by the easy congeniality and the strong bonds between the inhabitants. Parents here watched out for their own kids as well as those of their neighbors. The elderly, even those without direct family ties, were never abandoned. And while old enm
