CHAPTER NINE.

"Let them go," said Luca. "They'll wait up for us on the other side." said Luca. "They'll wait up for us on the other side."

They were pedalling up a steep section of road, struggling to keep pace with the lithe younger riders ahead who danced along effortlessly on the pedals. It had been weeks since Peppi last rode his bike with any regularity and months since he trained on any hills. His legs and lungs were on fire. His only comfort was the knowledge that Luca, judging by his labored breathing, was suffering just as much.

The ride had started out pleasantly enough. As they rode along out of town, Luca had introduced Peppi to the rest of the group. From their reaction, Peppi could tell that his name had been mentioned before. "That's Peppi," he had heard the younger riders whispering respectfully. "Luca's old teammate. He won a sack of races in his day." That he had been so well remembered gave Peppi a warm feeling inside.

Now, however, that comfortable feeling of warmth in Peppi's heart and soul had turned into the acute discomfort of his aching leg muscles as the road grew steeper still. He and Luca slowed to a crawl, so much so that the two were almost in danger of falling over sideways. It was only pride and sheer determination that spared them both from the humiliation of having to dismount and walk the last few meters to the top; they would have preferred to drop dead on that very spot. Mercifully, the road leveled out as they reached the summit of the climb. They pedalled over the top and were greeted by the view of a long, gloriously flat road winding its way through the valley below.

"I think...you've suffered...enough...for today," declared Luca between gulps of air.

"There's...always...tomorrow," Peppi puffed in reply.

They coasted down the hill and gradually caught up to the other riders. By then the group had settled into a moderate tempo, allowing Peppi and Luca to cling to the back with a reasonable amount of effort. Soon they had recovered enough to join in the paceline. Peppi stayed behind Luca, letting him lead the way up to the front as he had done so often years ago when the two raced together. Luca had just reached the front of the line and was taking his pull into the wind when Peppi happened to look down for the first time at the rear derailleur of his friend's bicycle.

"Luca!" exclaimed Peppi. "You're using Shimano?"

"So what?" called Luca over his shoulder. He pulled off to the side to allow Peppi to pa.s.s to the front of the line.

"A nice Italian boy like you, using j.a.panese components instead of Campagnolo," said Peppi, clicking his tongue as he went by. "I don't believe it."

"Hey, welcome to the global economy," replied Luca with a shrug. "I would have thought a nice American boy like you would understand."

At that the two of them laughed. The others in the group smiled and laughed with them for it was good to see two old friends reunited after so many years. The whole crew pedalled on, jabbering all the while about little else but racing and riding, about derailleurs and pedals and gear sets and wheel hubs and about who was going to win the Giro that year. Those were the things most important to them at the moment; little else matters when you are riding a bike.

When they all finally returned to Villa San Giuseppe, it was nearing midday and the bright sun warmed the piazza as the riders rolled in. They gathered once more around the fountain and chatted a while longer before heading their separate ways for Sunday dinner. Before long only Peppi and Luca remained. They got off their bikes and sat on the steps by the fountain.

Peppi looked about the piazza, trying to reconcile his memories of the place with the scene now presented to his eyes.

"Things have changed," he said.

Luca looked about the piazza with him. "Everything changes," he replied. "But you know, at the same time, everything stays the same. Sometimes it all just looks different to you."

"But where did all these cars come from?" said Peppi. "When I left there were maybe one or two in the whole town. Now it looks like everyone has one."

"Ayyy, that was after the war when you left," said Luca with a wave of his hand. "No one had anything back then. Life is easier these days. If you'd stuck around, you might have a car or two of your own by now."

"I'd still prefer my bike," said Peppi.

Luca grinned and nodded in agreement. "Your Italian is still very good, by the way," he told Peppi. "I'm surprised you haven't forgotten it after all these years."

"You can take the boy out of Villa San Giuseppe, but it's hard to get Villa San Giuseppe out of the boy," said Peppi.

"Bravo," said Luca. Then he paused and gazed at his friend for a time. He nodded his head toward Peppi's hand. said Luca. Then he paused and gazed at his friend for a time. He nodded his head toward Peppi's hand.

"I see a ring on your finger, Peppi," he said, "but I don't hear you mention a wife."

Peppi looked down at his hand and shrugged. "I can't bring myself to take it off," he replied.

"I understand," said Luca. "Children?"

Peppi shook his head. "How about you?"

"Two," said Luca, unable to suppress a smile at the thought of his children. "A son and daughter, and two grandchildren! Who would have imagined, eh?"

"That's wonderful," said Peppi. "When do I get to meet them all?"

"Soon," said Luca, "but first, amico mio, amico mio, tell me what finally brings you all the way back to visit Villa San Giuseppe after all these years?" tell me what finally brings you all the way back to visit Villa San Giuseppe after all these years?"

"I haven't come to visit," said Peppi. "I've come to stay."

"To stay?" stay?" said Luca, surprised but clearly delighted by the news. "But where, here in town?" said Luca, surprised but clearly delighted by the news. "But where, here in town?"

"I thought I'd live in the mulino," Peppi answered. "In the house where I grew up. It's still mine by right."

"Il mulino?" said Luca thoughtfully. said Luca thoughtfully.

"Yes," said Peppi. "I want to go see it right now before I go back to Sulmona for my things. Why don't you come along, just in case I've forgotten the way."

"Well-yes, of course," said Luca, his brow furrowed. "But first, why don't we go to my house. My wife is making dinner. I can give you some dry clothes to put on, we can eat and talk, and later on I'll drive you back to Sulmona. Then we can go see the mulino."

"Okay," said Peppi. "A nice home-cooked meal sounds very good to me right now."

"Va bene," said Luca, patting him on the back. said Luca, patting him on the back. "Andiamo." "Andiamo."

"I hope your wife won't mind having an unexpected guest."

"Don't worry," Luca a.s.sured him as they pedalled off. "You'll like my wife. She's the best cook in all Abruzzo!"

CHAPTER TEN.

Luca and Peppi were discussing peppers and tomatoes and the cultivation of grapes when they finally came to the house a short time later. Luca lamented his lack of time to spend taking proper care of his garden. were discussing peppers and tomatoes and the cultivation of grapes when they finally came to the house a short time later. Luca lamented his lack of time to spend taking proper care of his garden.

"The factory keeps me busy almost every day," he complained to Peppi. "And then if I feel like riding my bike for a while-well, there just aren't enough hours to the day."

"You just need to get up earlier in the morning," Peppi chided him.

"You and my wife should get along very well," said Luca with a rueful sigh.

Filomena had seen them walking their bikes by the factory and up the path to the house. She a.s.sumed that her husband was dragging home to dinner another hungry straggler from his pack of cycling cronies. The extra plate was already set on the table by the time the two walked through the door.

Besides Filomena, Luca's son, Costanzo, was there with his wife, Maria, and their two teenage children, Gianni and Vittoria. Only Luca's daughter, Lucrezia, who had gone to visit friends in Pescara, was missing. When Luca first introduced Peppi, all of them, Filomena included, gaped at the newcomer as if they could not believe their eyes.

"You are Peppi?" said Gianni with great respect. "The bicycle racer?" are Peppi?" said Gianni with great respect. "The bicycle racer?"

"I don't believe it," said his sister. "All these years I thought that you were just someone Papa Luca made up in his imagination."

"I've been gone a long time," said Peppi with a shrug. "It all seems like a dream even to me."

"Vittoria, Gianni, stop staring at him!" exclaimed Filomena. "Go sit down at the table. You too, Costanzo."

"But they're right," laughed Costanzo. "It's almost like we're meeting a ghost. My father's talked about you for so many years."

"That's what friends are for," said Luca happily. "Now, Peppi, let's get you some dry clothes and then we can all eat."

The long, perfectly ch.o.r.eographed meal that followed surpa.s.sed even Luca's lofty predictions. When everyone finally gathered around the dinner table, Luca poured the wine while Filomena brought out for appetizers a platter of bruschetta and another of fried olives stuffed with prosciutto. Soon after came the pasta alla chitarra, pasta alla chitarra, thin strands of pasta tossed in a savory sauce of pancetta, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and cheese. thin strands of pasta tossed in a savory sauce of pancetta, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and cheese. Il secondo piatto Il secondo piatto consisted of tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, boiled and served in a zesty tomato sauce. There is no more powerful reminder of days past than the aroma and flavors of the food one loves. Everything Peppi had tasted to that point, every morsel, had evoked some memory of his youth, but the tripe in particular pleased him for it had been one of his mother's specialties. He made a point of telling Filomena so as she was preparing to serve the main course of roasted lamb garnished with artichokes and fennel. Along with it she had prepared broccoli rabe and fried cardoons, a hearty, thistlelike vegetable that managed to flourish even in the chilly climate of the Abruzzi mountains. All in all, the meal was a staggering performance. consisted of tripe, the lining of the cow's stomach, boiled and served in a zesty tomato sauce. There is no more powerful reminder of days past than the aroma and flavors of the food one loves. Everything Peppi had tasted to that point, every morsel, had evoked some memory of his youth, but the tripe in particular pleased him for it had been one of his mother's specialties. He made a point of telling Filomena so as she was preparing to serve the main course of roasted lamb garnished with artichokes and fennel. Along with it she had prepared broccoli rabe and fried cardoons, a hearty, thistlelike vegetable that managed to flourish even in the chilly climate of the Abruzzi mountains. All in all, the meal was a staggering performance.

After dinner, while the men contemplated their bloated midsections, Maria and Vittoria cleared the dishes while Filomena prepared the coffee and dessert. Luca settled back in his chair and gave a contented sigh.

"What did I tell you, Peppi," he said, patting his stomach. "Is my wife the best cook in all Abruzzo or not?"

Peppi let out a contented sigh of his own, for it had been many weeks since he had eaten so robustly. He smiled and nodded in agreement as he eased back and looked up at the photographs displayed on the wall behind his friend. There were, he noticed, pictures from the early days when Luca was still racing and others from when he and Filomena first met. The wedding pictures dominated the center of the wall as did the pictures of the children and grandchildren.

Luca leaned back and looked over his shoulders at the photographs. "You're in one of those, you know," he said.

"Which one?" said Peppi.

Luca pointed to an old photograph hanging amidst several others taken years and years ago. Peppi stood and went to get a closer look. Tears came to his eyes when he saw it. It was a picture of Peppi and Luca after a race, their arms around each other's shoulders. They were smiling from ear to ear, so young, so full of strength and vitality.

"I remember that race," said Peppi. "It was our last one together. You won it easily."

"That's because you let me," replied Luca with a grin. "For once he gave me a leadout in the sprint instead of the other way around," he said to Costanzo and Gianni.

"It was the least I could do," said Peppi, still gazing at the photograph and the others around it. Looking at them reminded him of so many places that were once familiar to him, but about which he had since forgotten. Mostly, though, he studied the faces of the people and friends that he had known and loved so well, many of whom he knew were long gone by now. He turned from the wall and sat back down at the table.

"You have a beautiful family, Luca," said Peppi. "You too, Costanzo."

"Do you have children of your own?" asked Luca's son.

"No," answered Peppi. "My wife and I always wanted them, but none ever came along. That's just the way it goes sometimes in life." He looked at Costanzo and smiled. "So, do you work with your father?" he asked him.

"No," Costanzo answered to his surprise.

Luca let out a low grumble of irritation. "He works in Torino," he said ruefully. "Can you believe it? My son has a family business right here, but he decides to go work for strangers in Torino."

"I'm an engineer!" Costanzo protested, but with a laugh. "It's what you sent me to school for. There's nothing for me to do in a candy factory. Besides, you still have Lucrezia working for you."

"Uff," grunted Luca, rubbing his forehead. "It's more like I work for her." He looked at Peppi and shook his head. "I don't know what I'm going to do with these kids."

"I wouldn't worry," grinned Peppi. "I think you're all doing just fine."

Filomena brought out coffee to go along with a simple cornmeal cake and a plate of fruit. Vittoria and Maria set out some fresh plates and they all sat down to have dessert with the men.

"So, Peppi, you've made my husband very happy today with your visit," said Filomena. "And to think I almost couldn't get him out of bed on time for the ride this morning."

"I was sure he'd be there," said Peppi.

Luca laughed. "I wasn't."

"It was a good ride," said Peppi, "and a wonderful meal, Filomena. I couldn't have hoped for more on my first day here."

"Where are you staying?" asked Maria.

"In Sulmona," replied Peppi. "But I plan to move back into the house I grew up in. It's still in my name."

"Where is the house?" she asked.

"A little ways outside of town," explained Peppi. "Just down the road, if I remember correctly. It's been so long. Perhaps you've seen it. It has a little mulino attached to it."

They all glanced at one another.

"The mulino?" said Filomena, her eyes meeting Luca's.

"Yes," said Peppi. "You know, I'm really looking forward to seeing it again. For so long it was just a distant memory in the back of my mind, almost as if I had imagined it. I don't think I ever gave it a thought all the time I was in America. But now that I'm back here and so close to it, I'm starting to feel a little excited. Your husband promised to take me by to see it later on."

"Yes, yes, of course," said Luca expansively. "But first we'll finish our dessert and then watch the television a little, eh? The last stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean is on this afternoon. We should relax, it's been a long day."

By the time they had retired to the living room, the bicycle race was nearing the finish. Peppi watched with great interest for he had never before seen live television coverage of a bicycle race. Cycling was only just beginning to catch on as a spectator sport in America. Even then the broadcasts were almost always tape-delayed segments edited to fill up a thirty-minute program. It was engrossing to see the race in its entirety, to watch all the action unfolding as it happened.

The time pa.s.sed quickly and before Peppi knew it the sky had started to darken. Luca stood and stretched his arms over his head as he gazed out the window. The sun had already dropped from sight, leaving in its path a great splash of purple and orange across the tops of the mountains.

"It's getting late," said Luca with a yawn. "Soon it will be dark. I should probably drive you back to Sulmona. I can help you get your things and you can stay here for the night."

"Yes," Filomena agreed. "That's a good idea. You're welcome to stay."

"Thank you, but that's not necessary," said Peppi. "I've imposed enough on you for the first day."

"Nonsense," said Filomena. "It's been a pleasure."

"If we leave now, maybe it will still be light enough to see the mulino," Peppi said hopefully.

"Well-we'll see," said Luca. "But first I just wanted to make one quick stop on the way."

With Peppi's bike secured to the roof of Luca's car, they left the house soon after. Luca drove them to the piazza and stopped outside the local bar.

"Come on," he told Peppi, "there are some people inside I want you to meet."

Luca led him into the bar and ordered a round of drinks for everyone. By then, word of Peppi's return had already spread around town. To his amazement, Peppi recognized several of the old, grizzled faces grinning at him as they all drank to his health to welcome him back to Villa San Giuseppe. The others were strangers to him, but they too welcomed him back as if he were a long lost relative. They stayed there till well into the night, drinking and talking and remembering, until it was time for Luca to bring Peppi back to Sulmona. By then it was too dark and late to visit the mulino, but as they stepped into his car, Luca vowed that they would ride their bicycles out to it first thing the next morning.