The wine bar was crowded with raucous soldiers, despite the early hour and that the only tables, outside on the pavement, were subject to the blasts of cold air that funnelled between four-storey buildings on either side of the narrow street. Much to Rob’s relief, Susanna appeared immune to both Neapolitan wind and American merriment, her attention focused on the plate of what she called ‘la salsa.’ Rob had heard one of the Americans ask for ‘spaghetti Napoli,’ so used the term when ordering to the apparent amusement of the barman. Nonetheless, the plates had contained spaghetti and a tomato sauce when practically thrown on the table by a harassed waiter. During the long wait for food, Rob and Susanna had consumed two-thirds of a bottle of wine, the alcohol generating an attractive flush o
