Chapter 32
Morning PlansMorning seemed to come earlier than usual the next day. The excitement of the truffle festival created an indescribable energy that caught everyone up in it. The streets literally filled with tourists and hungry foodies, who were pouring into this quiet city every hour, many of whom did not want to miss the Palio degli Asini. The annual race featured donkeys commandeered by locals from the borghi, or neighborhoods, vying for the victory in a race that mixed humor, stubbornness, and pageantry.
The atmosphere was infectious and swept Paolo along. His thoughts were still on the truffle harvest and every so often his mind drifted back to the Rita's assignment. As the festival atmosphere mingled with his thoughts of missing truffles, he even wondered whether this tensi
