34
Piccolo’s Performance
April 1944
The men of his tent were more informed in the minutiae of the war than most South Africans, Pietro would bet. Since he’d last seen Iris, German troops were occupying Hungary, and the U.S.S.R. had retaken Odessa. If nothing else, the war was representative of how long nearly six weeks really were. That’s how long since he’d laid eyes on his Iris.
It was opening night of The Barber of Seville.
A flurry of exuberance ensued in the mess hall. Pietro could hear it from the stage. A brilliantly real Italian street scene smelled of fresh paint. He was so damn proud of them all. Behind the closed curtains, men as men and men as women practiced with falsettos to match their costumes. Pietro lightly touched his bruised throat and flinched. The only good thing
