The Mistery of Belicena Villca convince her with any argument and she , doubting , looked towards the vines as if seeking the protection of my father . – Come on Mommy , tell me where he is . I have the right to see uncle Kurt once in life . In the end she made up her mind , although showing great contrariety , and while she spoke , far from being happy for my persuasion , I cursed on the inside for the pain that I had caused her and the anguish that this confidence would undoubtedly produce ; at least until the return from my trip .
– He is close to here , in the Province of Catamarca . I ' ve never been to visit him because he expressly forbade me to do so although he gave me the address for an emergency case . I gave her a card and the fountain pen , checking that my mother had memorized the data . – In these 35 years you have not seen him or written to him ? --I asked her incredulous . She smiled as she gave me back the card and the fountain pen . – Yes silly . We have seen him with your father a few times , in Salta and once in Buenos Aires , for a vacation . But we never write to him . He writes us a couple of times a year , to a mailbox that your father has in Cerrillos and tells us when he will go to Salta , occasion that we take advantage of to meet for a few hours . I have seen him less than twenty times over these years .
It was hard for me to believe that two brothers separated by only 350 km . could not visit each other because of events that nobody remembers , occurred forty years ago and thousands of miles away . Yet it justified the fears of my mother and I understood the effort she had to make to give in to my request and trust me with her secret .
I suddenly remembered Dad and trembled in anticipation , calculating the anger he would feel when he knew of my impertinence . Mom wouldn ' t hide him my inconsiderate claims and he would go into a rage . Shame would cover me and maybe I would have to promise not to go to Catamarca . I decided to avoid any discussion and leave immediately .
I kissed Mom on the forehead and headed for the car . She shouldn ' t have noticed my hurry because before I reached to start the engine she yelled at me : – Wait , Arturo ; wait a few minutes I ' ll give you something . She entered the house and despite my impatience , I had to wait ten long minutes . At last she came back with an envelope in hand . – I wrote a few lines for Kurt . You are so hasty that you don ' t think that he does not know you . He saw you for five minutes when you were a kid , how do you think he will remember you ? She gave me the envelope that I gratefully received because , I admitted , it would be of great help to identify me . – Open your right hand and put the palm upwards --said Mom with an air between mysterious and accomplice .
I did as she asked and she opened her left fist , which had been all the time closed . Something fell into my hand that at first I couldn ' t distinguish . It was a shiny object and as I examined it I listened in amazement :
– This is what Kurt gave you the night of 1947 . I took it while you were sleeping for fear that you would lose it playing and I kept it in my jewelry box . With the passing of the years it became difficult to give it to you , because you would have demanded explanations that we couldn ' t have given you . He wanted at that moment to make you a gift , but he had brought nothing because he was unaware that he had a nephew . He remained single and when he saw you , he was moved and said that , having no children , it would be you , his only nephew , who should keep it .
I stared in amazement at the Iron Cross with Swastika and Oak Leaves that I had in my hands and I wondered how an Officer who never fought could obtain the highest decoration that Germany gave to reward acts of heroism and courage .
– See you soon mother --I greeted through the car window-- . Do not worry , I ' ll be prudent .
Greetings again to Dad and Katalina . Ciao . Ciao . I started the engine and a few minutes later I was on the road .
Chapter IX
I stopped at the Cerrillos Service Station to refuel and I took the opportunity to look at the card with Uncle Kurt ' s address again . It was incredible that a relative whom I thought deceased 35 years ago , was so close and in good condition . I read again :
Mr . Cerino Sanguedolce Fray Mamerto Esquiu Street , 95 Santa María - Province of Catamarca
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