115
MOUNT ERYX
IX. THE COMPARE 129
X. COMPARE BERTO 135
XI. BERTO'S WEDDING 142
TRABONELLA
XII. SULPHUR 151
XIII. OMERTA AND THE MAFIA 157
XIV. MALA VITA 165
CASTELLINARIA
XV. THE CARDINALESSA 177
XVI. THE CORPORAL 185
EARTHQUAKE ECHOES
XVII. TOTO CARBONARA 203
TURIDDU BALISTRIERI 208
RAILWAY PORTERS 216
GIUSEPPE PLATANIA 220
GIULIO ADAMO 222
CECE LUNA 223
FUGITIVES AND VICTIMS 227
THE SLOPES OF ETNA
XVIII. LAVA 233
XIX. S. ALFIO 242
XX. THE NAKED RUNNERS 248
CATANIA
XXI. HOLY WEEK 261
ORTIGIA
XXII. O FOUNTAIN ARETHUSE 289

CASTELLINARIA

CHAPTER I
CHANGES IN THE TOWN

Enrico Pampalone entered the world with a compliment to his godfather,
for of all the days in the year he chose to be born on my birthday.
Peppino sent me a telegram at once, then a formal invitation to the
christening, then a letter, an extract from which I translate:

With immense joy I inform you that Brancaccia has given to the light
a fine, healthy boy. Mother and child are well and send you their
salutations. We are all beside ourselves with delight at this happy
event and my father is talking of his grandson all day long. In
accordance with your promi