Private Journal of Isaiah Watts III Chapters 9-10
The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts
Volume Three
Copyright© 2022 – Nicholas Hall
Chapter Nine
"Vinnie and Tony were not the only ones who had bad dreams, nightmares."
(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts)
"There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged, positions which must not be contested,
commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed."
Sun Tzu- The Art of War
Jimmy and Monty, dressed for outdoor work on a cold, November day, prepared to go over to Isaiah's Uncle Darius' farm to help finish harvesting his corn. Ravenwood's was in the cribs for the most part, except that sold off which wouldn't be used for livestock and poultry feed. Ravenwood's cattle herd was increased during the war, as well as swine herd, and poultry flocks. Isaiah saw no reason now to decrease the sizes of any of the three at this time. Rationing was still in effect and he surmised, in consultation with his father, uncles, and man of business, the demand for farm products would only increase as troops came home and other countries would be in need of the produce. There would be opportunity here to increase sales and hence increase profits.
The four farms, Ravenwood, the Watt's home place, Darius, and Benjamin's, worked together in plowing, planting, and harvesting their crops. The cooperation was helpful to all parties, since the work would be handled by more people, accomplished quicker, and more efficiently.
"Uncle Isaiah," Jimmy mentioned going out the door, "That eighty acres we finished a couple of days ago, you know the one bordered by timber and spotted with patches of high grass, was full of pheasants, rabbits, and a few quail. Might be, some of the younger boys would enjoy a hunt before bad weather sets in or the season ends."
"Wouldn't mind having a few pheasants and rabbits in the freezer," Paul Ramos interjected, "to sort of give some variety in our meals. Besides, they'd taste pretty damn good come some cold, windy, snowy January day."
Before Isaiah could respond, Gio reacted, "I'll take them! Andy can come along. He likes to hunt and will be a help."
That was fine with Isaiah. He really didn't desire to hike all over the farm, especially that particular piece of ground since it was a collection of flat stretches and rolling hills, with low ravines. It was damned hard walking for someone like himself. His leg had been bothering him the past couple of days after working in the cattle yard, sorting out a dozen steers he wanted to market. As usual, once done, the cattle were reluctant to go up the ramp into the truck, so it took him, with the help of Gio, to move the critters. Only thing more bothersome to move, he thought, was hogs, sometimes just as reluctant but easier to herd when moved with a piece of plywood between the hogs and the human.
"Who wants to go?" Gio asked to those remaining at the breakfast table.
Vinnie, Carlito, and Andres opted out. They had no desire to go hunting. They had to care for their poultry. The building where the birds nested and spent the nights needed some cleaning and the nest boxes needed fresh straw. With winter just now setting in, it'd be important to make certain the places were cleaned and dry in order to prevent disease or mortality amongst the flocks. The birds and eggs, were great sources of food the family, were sold to community members and various markets, providing a nice profit, shared with the others at Ravenwood.
Cleaning up in the poultry houses and pens was dirty work, but strangely, the boys didn't really mind it.
Cordell, Eddie, Rico, and Tony were definitely in. Their chores were finished, until evening when they would milk the four cows again and feed the livestock so they were eager to go. Andy definitely wanted to go since he'd not had the opportunity to do much hunting since their arrival at Ravenwood.
Gio made certain the boys were all dressed warmly, specifically Rico and Tony since Cordell and Eddie were well accustomed to the weather and how to dress. Gio laughed when he heard Eddie ask Rico if he'd dressed warm enough and then checked by putting his hand down the front of Rico's pants to cup his cock and balls.
"Feels warm enough to me," he smirked, rolling Rico's developing balls about in his hand.
Gio armed Rico and Tony with single-shot .410 ga shotguns, while Eddie and Cordell picked their favorite guns, a .20ga single shot and a .20ga double, and shells. Andy chose a double barrel (side by side) .12ga shotgun.
It would be the first pheasant hunt for Rico and Tony at Ravenwood. Both were more than a little familiar with firearms, although most of their direct experience was with pistols used against German soldiers. The hunting they'd done while at Ravenwood was mainly concentrated on squirrels and an occasional rabbit. Duck hunting would come about another year, if Gio had anything to say about it, although the farm provided all the tame duck they needed to eat. It would depend on how the boys would feel about it.
Bundled up warmly against the cold, weapons and ammunition ready to go, Andy and Gio loaded the boys into the back bed of the pickup truck, tossed in a heavy canvas so they could cover themselves and fend off the cold, and headed down the road for the eighty they intended to hunt.
As they drove, Andy behind the wheel since he felt it was his duty to chauffer the "Captain" about, commented, "Suppose we could get Isaiah's uncle, you know the one with the shop, to construct one of those covers like they had on the army trucks they hauled soldiers in, so we could put in on this truck easily and take it off when we didn't need it? It sure would protect anything we carried back there and keep the boys warm as well."
Gio nodded, responding, "A hell of good idea! I don't think it'd be any problem. If I get a chance, I'll talk to Zach myself."
Fifteen minutes later, all of them were out of the truck, guns loaded, and ready to hunt. The field was a combination of rolling ground with tall grass swales, farmable, but not as easily as flat ground, and had plenty of cover along the fence rows, the grassy strips in the shallow ravines, and along the timber line on one side of the field. It was, as one would expect from Jimmy's description, prime pheasant, rabbit, and quail ground.
Eddie and Cordell, having hunted for pheasants and other game since their arrival, proceeded to explain how important it was to thoroughly search each patch of grass, tall weeds, or other likely cover for birds.
"Don't be surprised when a fat rooster pheasant explodes from the grass in front of you, cackling, and flapping it's wings like a banshee!" Cordell explained.
Eddie turned to Gio and told him he'd pair up with Rico and Cordell would pair up with Tony. That way each would have a more "experienced" hunter with him.
Gio just smiled and nodded, enjoying the way Cordell and Eddie were treating Rico and Tony. Just like brothers would, he thought.
The four of them hadn't walked twenty feet into a rather large swale of tall grasses and weeds, when three rooster pheasants and two hens exploded from the grass in front of them, appearing to leap from where they were hiding, cackling in fear and surprise trying to escape.
All three of the roosters went into the game bag!
In two hours, nine pheasants and five rabbits total were added to the game bag. The rabbits were courtesy of Gio's sling shot and .22 cal. Pistol. The hunting party was ready to return home and clean the game in order to freeze it for the future, as Paul wanted. It wouldn't be the first or the last hunting trip for Rico and Tony they both declared.
"It was super fun!" Rico declared.
Tony whispered to Cordell, "It was fuckin' fantastic!"
Vinnie, Carlito, and Andres finished up in the poultry houses and headed up the stairs to shower and put on clean clothes. Isaiah overheard Vinnie agree with Carlito cleaning the chicken house was rather unpleasant. In fact, his direct response, probably learned from either Carlito or Andres or the older boys, was "it was fuckin' nasty!" Isaiah agreed!
Soon after the three of them ascended the stairs, he saw Tommy, massaging his crotch as he moved, bolt up the stairs. If he didn't remind Isaiah of a randy male hound dog in pursuit of a bitch in heat, nothing did, except maybe St. James or Uncle Freddy Russo.
Indeed, Tommy was in pursuit, not of a bitch in heat, but three young boys who had the most desirable asses he'd ever sunk his prick into. A quick grab of his crotch and a wink by Carlito was all the invitation and encouragement Tommy needed to head up to the party. He had a good hour or so before he had to help Paul finish off the preparations for the luncheon meal, so there was plenty of time for what he intended to do – to all three!
The three poultry house cleaning experts were naked and in the large shower when he popped into the bathroom. The sight of Carlito's and Andre's developing teen cocks with tufts of black pubic hair just forming, and descending balls and Vinnie's prepubescent small cock and balls, put Tommy into a quick and eager cock-stand! All three boy erections were pointing upward when they turned to face him! Tommy couldn't get his clothes off fast enough!
Entering the shower, naked and fully erect (all five inches of him), Tommy licked his lips and smiled, volunteering, "I'm here to wash and dry my beautiful, sexy boys!"
Using first wash cloths and then his soap-slicked hands, Tommy gently, methodically, and erotically washed and fondled every part of each boys' body, especially the delightful front parts and the delectable rear part. By the time he was rinsing them off, all three were at a state of full readiness.
He knelt in from to Vinnie, smiled up at him, and leaned forward slurping the small cock and balls into his mouth and began to softly suckle and bob on the small pleasure pole, until Vinnie began to shiver and shake, finally shuddering in a dry orgasm his balls and cock trying to expel what was not there yet but would be someday.
"You, my little sweetheart," Tommy crooned, "and I are going to enjoy this next part immensely!"
He put a towel on the floor, lay Vinnie on it, belly down, and took the position between his legs in the same manner Jimmy did! Well, so did St. James, Freddie Russo, and Isaiah for that matter. When he wasn't being fucked, he liked to return the pleasures to others.
Staving off any objections from Carlito and Andres, he grinned, waggled a finger at them, telling them, "I have time this morning to do all three of you, so don't get anxious, sweet ones!"
Tommy lifted Vinnie's butt up in the air slightly, shuffled closer, and slowly eased his stiff prick into the warm, tight, heat of Vinnie's rear portal. Tommy leaned forward, slowly forcing Vinnie to lay belly down of the towel with his butt cheeks tight up against Tommy's crotch, so Tommy's belly rested in the small of his back.
Once situated the way he liked it and a position which would bring pleasure to both of them, Tommy lay his head up against Vinnie's, slipped his arms under Vinnie's arm pits so he could gain purchase, and began a very pleasurable and loving fuck!
Shortly after lunch, Agosto Russo called and asked Gio to come over. He'd received a letter from someone in Italy and wanted to share it with Gio.
Gio was gone most the afternoon, arriving home early evening just before dinner. Chores were always done by then, so the boys and men were showered, cleaned up, and ready for dinner and the evening. Gio was unusually quiet during dinner, adding little to the tales concerning the morning hunting expedition from Eddie, Cordell, Rico, and Tony. Isaiah did notice of exchange of glances from Tony to Andy, back to Gio, and then back to Andy. Andy said nothing, but acknowledged some sort of understanding and communication by simply giving a quick, short nod!
Everyone, including Gio, was quite tired and ready for bed by nine-thirty that evening; everyone it seemed except Andy who declared he was behind on his bookkeeping and would retire when he finished. Isaiah had no concerns; Andy would work late if he needed to catch up so all accounts were paid and revenues recorded. Isaiah assumed everyone was in bed when Gio and he went to bed and after a bit, and fell asleep.
Not quite so!
Gio seemed really worn out and extremely tired and quiet, Isaiah thought. When he questioned Gio concerning his visit with his grandparents, he deferred and dodged answering. Asked if his wounds were bothering him after hunting in the morning, he merely nodded they were.
"They do that sometimes," he allowed. "It'll pass before morning of that I'm certain."
Around midnight, Isaiah was awakened by Gio thrashing about in the bed, shouting, crying aloud for someone to help him. Apparently, Isaiah thought, he was fighting off attackers in his dreams or experiencing a very frightening, terrible nightmare as a result of his service in Italy.
Before he could react to try to wake Gio, a naked Tony bounded into the bedroom, clambered up on the bed, put his arms around Gio, pressing his body next to Gio's.
"Poppa!" he shouted and cried, "Wake up! You're safe! We're all okay. Wake up!"
Gio heard a noise at the doorway, saw Andy standing there and, dashing around him and toward the bed, came a naked Rico. He leaped on the bed, slid up against Gio's side and added to Tony's pleas for Gio to wake. Isaiah decided he'd best leave the bed and join Andy since the boys seemed to be familiar with the scene and had handled it before.
"What's happening, Andy?" Isaiah asked, concerned for the health and welfare of his soul mate.
"Just `stand easy,' Isaiah," Andy responded, "Tony and Rico will calm him down in a minute."
"Poppa!" Tony shouted again, "Wake up! Rico's here, Vinnie is sound asleep and safe, and Uncle Andy is standing watch. You're okay; we're okay! Wake up and give us a hug! We love you so much, Poppa!"
Isaiah watched as Gio immediately began to calm, his eyes opened, and he babbled,
"I dreamed they were killing me and I'd never see my beloved Isaiah or my sweet boys again."
He sobbed as he hugged Tony and Rico close to his body, asking if Vinnie was safe.
"The bastards were going to rape and kill you and I couldn't stop it. I hurt so bad inside and out!" he whimpered.
Watching all of this unfold, Isaiah, now standing next to Andy, asked, "How did you guys get here so fast? I didn't hear you come down the stairs."
"Tony and Rico were asleep on the couch and I was dozing in a chair."
Isaiah raised a quizzical eyebrow, wondering and questioning how the three of them anticipated or knew the nightmare would happen.
Andy volunteered, "Tony picked up on it at dinner. He recognized the signs that the Captain was showing. Of the three of the Captain's boys, Tony is the closest to him, not that he doesn't love all three equally, but Tony and he are as one sometimes. Tony barely lets him out of his sight, especially after last December."
Isaiah noticed the reference to December again, but made no comment, deciding it would all be revealed in time. However, Andy's comments did explain the unspoken communication between Tony and him at the dinner table earlier in the evening.
"Where's Vinnie?" Gio asked looking around the room.
"He's upstairs, Poppa," Rico responded. "I'll go get him. Be right back," and gave Gio a kiss before scampering out of bed and up the stairs to bring Vinnie down.
"He'll ask for you next, Mr. Isaiah," Andy cautioned. "Only this time we don't have to answer that you're safe back at Ravenwood."
Rico returned with a very sleepy Vinnie, who, seeing Gio in bed with Tony, realized what was going on and quickly crawled up on the bed, stretched his small frame up on Gio's stomach and chest, gave his "Poppa" a kiss, and snuggled in. Rico crawled in next to Gio's right side and put one arm over Vinnie, while shifting his own head up against Gio's side.
All three of his boys now either in his arms or snuggled up against him, with Tony murmuring how much they loved him, Gio looked around the room, smiled, at Isaiah, gave him a jerk of his head indicating he wanted Isaiah to join him, moved a hand and patted the bed next to Tony.
Isaiah wasn't a bit hesitant to accept the invitation or reluctant, after climbing in bed, reluctant to accept Tony's small bare buttocks pressed up against his naked crotch and cock. Andy settled himself in one of the easy chairs in the spacious bedroom, knowing he'd sit there until Gio returned to a less restless sleep.
He overheard Gio ask Isaiah, "I suppose you wonder what brought all of the on, don't you?"
"Wouldn't mind hearing about it if you want to tell me!"
"Well, you know I went over to Grandma and Grandpa Russo's this afternoon. They'd received a letter from a relative in Italy in Porti Sicuro. The letter, among other things, informed them of Cousin Leo and his family being avenged in the most effective, but quite bloody manner. I tried to defer their questions concerning what I knew of it, but they wouldn't be put off."
Gio spent the rest of the afternoon revealing his role, but not the details, and what he did. It distressed them but had a greater impact on him. He hated to talk about it, but he'd been told, during one of his de-briefing sessions after he left Italy, it'd help him "heal" by talking about it, without reavealing highly classified information. Russo's also wanted to know how and when he decided to take on the boys as his own and where did he recover from his wounds. The big question they asked, which he, muttering a "slight" untruth, why they weren't notified when he'd been found instead of waiting until the war was over. Why was he declared missing in action for so long?
The summer of 1944 was a dangerous one for Gio, his boys, and his mission. The Germans and the Italian Facists put a substantial price on his head, not so much for his capture, but more for evidence of his death. The bounty was to be paid in either German Marks or Italian Lira. When little effort was made, the offer was then made to be paid in gold. That really sparked some interest. Eventually, the Germans would put together a special "kill squad" to locate and kill Gio and all of his followers. They were suspious there was only one "killer" and had a small group of compatriots assisting him. The Germans were absolutely correct in their assessment.
The bounty and search had exactly the opposite affect on the rural populations of occupied Italy. Patriotic Italians who were fighting the German occupation, either with armed force or just plain resistance through any means, were more than eager to assist "the avenging angel" exact retaliation and retribution against the Nazi's on their behalf. Demarco's connections throughout the Partisan forces, the local populations, and the extended Russo Family was instrumental in keeping Gio's true identity and where-abouts quite hidden.
Gio was able to continue his acts of terroism against the Germans and those disloyal to Italy, his looting and stealing of treasures and valuables from the Germans and others who decided to help themselves to assist their cause. The vast majority of his spoils were returned, not all since he did keep precious stones and some jewelry for his own "investment" when he returned home, to the local populations to help them rebuild after the war came to a close, since it was evident to him the war was winding down. The Germans were becoming more violent and indiscriminant in their attacks and actions against the local populace. The Germans were losing and taking their anger out on the most vulnerable and least able to defend themselves.
He could be counted on, by the locals, to visit revenge on the Nazi's for their acts of murder, rape, and destruction. If the Nazi's killed locals by hanging, shooting, or any other manner, Gio would destroy twice as many Nazi's in retaliation. The bodies, with at least one decorated with his special flag, would be found hanging alongside a road, inside a barracks, sitting behind the wheel of a miliary vehicle or any other place which would serve as a warning to others who might commit such a deed.
Those who would rape or kill young boys or girls received special treatment. Generally, the locals would know who did it and were quick to let Gio know where they were. Gio would track them down, take them captive, strip them naked, tie them up, and castrate them before shooting them or cutting their throats. The bodies were displayed in various locations to, again, serve as a warning to others who might decided they'd like to rape a child.
In no way did the support of the locals deter those predators, those he killed, from seeking the reward the Nazi's offered for his death. As they stalked him, he killed them, maintaining his position as the apex predator in order to survive and protect "his people."
Gio depended on the loyalty and assistance of the extended Russo family for his and the boys safety, concealment, and well-being. He rewarded the family most amply for the loyalty and trust they displayed toward him. They survived in the same manner they'd survived over the centuries agains the tyranny of despotic "dons" or leaders, with stoic resistance and patience. Over the years they were not hesitant to rid themselves of nastiness inflicted on them by doing just what Gio was doing- killing the oppressors. He became known by them as "don Fiorella," the name of the man who'd owned the Villa he sought refuge in. The occupant, don Fiorella, was described, to outsiders, as an old man of little wealth, well respected, and harmless who lived there with his grandsons. Even when the Allies began winning and occupying the area, the locals persisted in sticking to their story. It was where he and the boys called "home" and he recovered!
Gio realized the dangers and knew at some point he'd have to go to ground to avoid capture and death. He became even more secretive, more judicious in his attacks, and more brutal as the Nazi's amped up their tactics as well. He sent Isaiah a letter in August hoping to give him a clue where he might be if he didn't hear from him for a while. It was becoming more difficult to communicate with his superiors and get information out. In a highly secret and well-coded communication to Andy, now in Italy not that far from him, Gio informed Andy what he intended on doing and where he could be found if necessary. The coded warning they would use if something was wrong was simply, "the gardeners hoe is broken." This was meant to hasten Andy to the villa.
After the Battle of Rimini, Gio was ordered to cease operation and be rotated out. He refused to obey the order!
****
Chapter Ten
"My heart saddened as I come to realize what Gio, the boys, and people of Italy and all of Europe suffered under the vicious, tyrannical, inhumane Fascists and Nazis. Autocrats should not be allowed to flourish, robbing people of their freedom, dignity, and lives."
(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts)
"The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so he cannot fathom our real intent."
Sun Tzu- The Art of War
Gio received, after the Battle of Rimini, from his network of informers, via the Russo Family, word of the location of the high-ranking German officer who ordered the murder of Leo Russo's family. Apparently, the officer was taking out his ire on anyone within reach in revenge for the death of a valuable Partisan fighter double-agent. The agent had been supplying critical information concerning the movement of Allied Forces and the activities of the Partisans who sympathized with them. The turn-coat lived in the village Leo and his family resided in. Granted, Leo did lead the group who discovered the person, captured him, and hung him in the town square with a label of "traitor" hanging from his shirt front.
In refusing the order to rotate and take a break, Gio knew he could be court martialed for insubordination, so he decided to "go missing in action." He also knew the war was winding down, although the ferocity of it didn't lessen, since the fighting was moving farther west along the Gothic Line. "Going missing in action" was rather easy to accomplish. He sent a message he was in extreme danger since the enemy had a substantial bounty on his head and he would have a difficult time making contact with "friendlies" without being captured or killed.
He included where and how he intended to obey the order by contacting a nearby allied detachment. The location was Rimini and the group was an Allied Rifle company. Gio sent the same message, via dispatch in written form, to the unit. He was highly suspicious of the security of the message since he was certain there was a mole in the unit passing on information any message concerning his whereabouts. As a result, he sent a highly secret and secure message to Andy indicating there were spies and double agents in that particular unit. The message to Andy read, "The garden needs weeding." As he was to discover later, his assumptions were accurate. In fact, it was the double-agent in that particular unit who announced, "Knobby" failed to make contact and was thought to be either killed or missing in action.
Any action taken against the German officer would have to be well-planned and almost flawless. The planning would take observation of the officer's habits, his routines, his likes and dislikes, his temperament, and where he would be most vulnerable. Gio took his time and when he was certain of a relative successful operation, he struck, as silently as a serpent in the night with the force and shock of a bolt of lightning.
Agosto Russo, held up the letter he'd received, saying,
"This letter says Leo and his family were avenged, in the manner of an eye for an eye, as one would, given our family heritage and background. Would you say, my Grandson, this is correct?"
Gio nodded to his grandfather, offering the deed was done and vengeance was complete and exacting.
Agosto knew, from the letter, more was done than just a simple deed. He didn't know the details! The look on his grandson's face, the reluctance for him to speak to his grandparents concerning the "how" revenge was taken, caused Agosto to pause in his search for answers. Gio's reluctance to speak of the "revenge taking" was only to spare his grandparents the brutality and goriness of it.
The targeted officer woke in the morning and found his mistress's head, severed from her body, resting on the pillow next to him! The officer shouted and screamed in terror and anger for his guards, but they couldn't respond. Their bodies were upright and standing near the front door, pinned by bayonets through the throat, embedded in the door frame.
The officer ran outside seeking his two sons, who were assigned to him as aides, and discovered them hanging from a small tree in the yard. When he finally drew some attention and ordered his immediate subordinate officers to his office to seek out the killer or killers. In his anger, once all were assembled, he pounded on the top of his office desk, setting off the explosive device under it, scattering his body parts all over as well as killing half of his officer staff present and severely wounding the rest.
Agosto, seeing the lingering trauma in his grandson's eyes, decided not to pursue it further, instead offered a "Thank you. Leo's soul shall rest in peace and so should your troubled mind!"
Little else was said concerning the incident, which suited Gio just fine.
The discovery and "adopting" of Vinnie, Rico, and Tony was an unpleasant story to relay to his grandparents, but the story was one with a happy ending, as far as Gio and the boys were concerned. The Russo's were more than happy he had "boys of his own" and they had three more great-grandsons.
"But how did you get them to the United States and with passports and citizenship papers?" Sabrina asked, fearful somehow the boys would be taken away and sent back to Italy.
"Bribery and knowing the right people, especially if those people have a debt to be repaid or secrets to hide," smiled Gio. He'd learned well from his grandfather and also his association with the Watt's Family, especially Isaiah's father, David, how to accomplish things when the legality of something was in question.
Colonel Dickenson was able to effectuate all the necessary paperwork and speed the process along with dollars Gio provided. The same was true when it came time to bring the boys home to Decker's Corner and Ravenwood. Andy, knowing all of the nuances of military red tape and government bureaucracy, knew just what buttons to push and where to go to step up the process.
"So," his grandmother Sabrina asked, persistent in her attempt to discover more concerning Gio's injuries, "how did you get hurt and what took them so long to let us know you were okay?"
"Actually," Gio began, deciding to give his grandparents some semblance of an explanation he thought would satisfy them.
"There were several occasions I picked up some minor wounds that didn't hinder my operation or mission as we neared the end of 1944, however, it was the ones toward the end of December which caused the problems."
The Germans intensified their searches for the skeleton-masked Angel of Death spreading terror and death in their midst after the murder of the German officer and part of his staff of officers. Gio really pissed off the Fascist-Partisans as well when he crept into one of their camps one night, entered a house where some were sleeping, and slit the throat of every other man!
It not only pissed them off, but terrified them as well, requiring a larger number of people to stand guard at night and causing much lack of sleep among the Partisans. After all, who could sleep at night wondering if his throat would be slit next?
His action also increased the diligence in the search for the "night killer!" As a result, Gio became more cautious and auspicious in his attacks. The last thing he wanted to do was inadvertently expose his hideout and put the boys in danger. However, it didn't negate the need for supplies or for taking the boys with him to where he thought was relatively safe. Yet, it was still not entirely safe in the countryside since irregular Italian-Fascists who sympathized with the Germans and scattered German soldiers who'd escaped capture during the battle, were trying to reunite with the German army west along the Gothic Line. Neither group was immune from temptation of a reward offered in gold for the death or capture of the night killer.
Such was the occasion when Gio, accompanied by Vinnie, Rico, and Tony, traveling by donkey and cart, visited Ravena after the battle there. German forces, by in large, were routed from the area and it was secure under Allied Forces.
Some three weeks after the battle, with the Germans defeated by Canadian Forces, the four of them visited Ravena, picking up household supplies and, most importantly, medical supplies destined for the local doctor. Porti Sicuro was fortunate to have it's own doctor, a middle-aged practioner who's identity was well concealed from the Nazi's so they wouldn't abscond with him. Gio felt confident in his abilities and the manner in which he practised medicine.
The donkey cart was loaded with supplies, mostly medical supplies including several field kits used in battle by the medics. The supplies came from a field medic with access to supplies used in battle. The medic was a young man who loved having Demarco's fat Italian cock up his butt as often and as long (it was that) as possible. Demarco, by the same token, made every opportunity to journey to Ravena to dip his wick into the honey pot and leave a deposit of oppulent volume. They met during the Battle of Ravena and decided, after the war, to hook up permanently when the young medic could return unfettered by his soldiering duty.
Gio took the usual precautions on the way home; taking his time, checking his back trail, using a circutious route, and keeping watch at night. It was only a two night journey to Ravena, but he still was cautious. They were spending the night about an hour outside of Ravena. They ordinarily traveled farther but for some reason, Gio felt uneasy. Tony thought he noticed a man paying special attention to them after they left the young medic's location on the outskirts of the city and headed home.
Gio separated Vinnie and Rico to one side of their small camp, located Tony with the donkey and cart on the other side, while he stood guard. A small fire was built earlier to cook a small meal for the four of them and was now just barely embers. The only problem seemed to be full moon, the light blocked ocassionally by large clouds.
Around midnight, Tony was the first to notice something was amiss when the donkey emitted a soft nicker and pricked up it's ears. Gio didn't miss the low nicker of the alerted donkey either, but was attacked before he could react! Several shots rang out from the trees near the encampment and Gio dropped, hit by several of the bullets fired at him.
Five armed men, one in civilian clothes and four in German soldier uniforms, entered the small clearing and warily approached Gio, laying on the ground near where the campfire still smoldered. The man in civilian garb, gave Gio a jab with his rifle, shined a flashlight down at him, and announced gleefully,
"Yep, that's him; the same man I saw at Rimini and today in Ravena!"
"Where are the others?" one of the German soldiers asked.
"Right here!" shouted Tony as he fired first one-barrel of the .12ga sawed-off shotgun and then the second. The 00 buckshot loads hit the three men in the upper bodies and faces, dropping them, writhing like chickens with their heads cut off, and scattering brains and facial parts across the ground beneath them.
Tony's shots were immediately, almost in conjunction with, the staccoto "burrrrrrrrrrp" of the Sten machine gun Rico carried, dropping the other two German soldiers.
Rico heard the distinct "snap" of the shotgun breech being closed after Tony reloaded it, and walked carefully toward the fallen soldiers and civilian. Tony, holding the shotgun at the ready, worked quickly, but cautiously toward where Gio lay.
Gio was conscious; hurt badly but still awake and lucid!
"Did you get-em,' Tony?" Gio asked.
"Yes, Poppa, I shot three and Rico killed the other two."
"Where's Vinnie?" Gio asked, concerned for the youngest of his boys.
"With Rico, Poppa. They're checking out the dead guys."
"Tony, listen to Poppa very carefully!"
Tony nodded and leaned closer to Gio.
"Have Rico bring one of the field medical kits from the cart. Then take my cape, mask, and the flags we have and leave them on or next to the dead civilian. Make certain no one can identify the man from his face. Understand?"
"Yes, Poppa. But don't you die on me, please," Tony choked out tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Don't worry, my sweet boy," Gio assured him, though he was in great pain and losing blood.
Rico and Vinnie arrived at that moment with the medical kit.
"After bandaging me up," Gio continued, "take me to Ravena and the medic who gives us the supplies. Have him fix me up and take me home. Okay?"
"Yes, Poppa," Rico and Tony answered almost simutaneously.
"Rico, when we get home, have Demarco send a message by radio, saying `the gardeners hoe is broken.' Andy will get the message and get to the Villa as fast as he can."
Rico knew what to do, but all three boys needed help in deciding what to do about Gio's wounds and how to save his life. Under his direction, he pointed out the compresses to use, how to secure them with gauze wrappings, how to apply the powdered disinfectant on the wounds, and finally, "When you move me to the cart for the journey, take one of the small ampules of morphine, jab my right thigh with the needle and squeeze. The pain will disappear in minutes and make it easier for me to travel."
It didn't take long for the boys, using their knives, to cut Gio's shirt and pants from his body, exposing his wounds. Gio was wounded in the upper left chest, his left arm, and two bullet wounds in his left leg; one in the inside of the thigh and the other in the calf of his leg. The boys set about their task as "Poppa" instructed them what to do.
With Tony cradling Gio's head, laying in the cart next to the now re-arranged load of medicines and Rico and Vinnie sitting on the small seat in front urging the donkey to move as quickly as it could, the boys and their precious cargo headed toward the army camp where the medic was stationed.
In a little over an hour later, Gio was on a table and a medical doctor hastening to repair the damage caused by the bullets fired into him and stop the bleeding. The three boys refused to leave Gio while the medical people worked on him.
"What's the man's name?" the doctor, directing his attention to Vinnie, asked as he was busy with caring for the wounds the medic cleaned for him so he could see what the problems were.
"Poppa!" announced Vinnie, offering no more.
Somewhat frustrated and curious, he asked Rico the same question.
"Poppa don Fiorella."
With that, the doctor assumed that was about the extent of information he was going to get on identification of the patient on the table in front of him. So, he turned his attention toward Tony.
"Your Poppa seems to be a younger man than what he would appear initially. I notice several older injuries, perhaps from gunshot or knife wounds?"
He looked questioningly at Tony, expecting a more definitive answer than he was receiving from the other two.
Tony just shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
"Poppa was a policeman before the war!"
After Gio was sewed up, patched up, and sedated, the doctor announced,
"He should stay here for a couple of days to make certain he doesn't develop future problems, such as infection. He's lost quite a bit of blood and will take some time to recover. He may need therapy to help him walk again since the big muscles in his thigh and lower leg was damaged."
"I don't think so," Rico announced. "Poppa said to take him home and that's what we will do. There's a doctor nearby who can take care of him."
The doctor was about to object, but noticed the medic give a slight shake of his head, warning him to not press the issue but let the boys do as they announced. So, the doctor asked instead,
"Do you know who did this and wonder what happened to them after the attack?"
"Fascist bandits," growled Tony in his immature boy's voice. "We killed all four of the murdering fuckers and now," he said reinforcing Rico's announcement, "we take our Poppa home!"
The doctor didn't argue!
It was almost dawn by the time Gio was stitched up and patched up and sent on his way. Even with stopping frequently to allow the donkey to rest, be watered and fed, Rico and his precious cargo arrived in front of the Villa shortly before dusk.
Vinnie nearly busted his ass racing to the Villa shouting for Demarco, Sandro, and Nicolo to "Come quick; Poppa's been shot!"
All three barreled out of the front door of the Villa and raced toward the cart. Demarco told Vinnie to go back into the house and get Gio's bed ready for him. Demarco, Nicolo, Sandro, and Rico carefully carried Gio inside to his bed. Gio didn't complain about the movement, although the move did cause him considerable pain. Once in his own bed, he was lucid enough to thank them and express his gratitude about being home! He also instructed Demarco to send the radio message concerning his misfortune.
Tony, standing nearby, reminded Demarco he was to send "The gardener's hoe is broken" and that was all. Demarco just nodded, understanding the young lad was worried sick about his Poppa. Demarco left, telling Sandro and Nicolo to take care of the donkey, move the supplies into the storeroom, and for Nicolo to take the motorcycle and go to town and fetch the doctor.
Gio lay, resting, saying little, breathing deeply while Tony prepared a sleeping pallet for himself next to Gio's bed. There was no way the other two boys or he would let Gio out of their sights. Demarco noticed, when he came back into the room, Tony had the shotgun close by and Rico had the machine gun just as handy.
"Are you well armed as well?" he asked Vinnie.
Vinnie just nodded, turned sideways, and displayed the Walther pistol tucked into his belt.
Two hours later the doctor arrived and began his examination. Tony reached into his pants pocket and produced several pages of written information.
"The army doctor," he explained to the local physician, "said to give you this since it would help you," and handed him the pages.
The doctor read through the paper work, nodded to himself several times, before uncovering Gio and performing his own examination.
"Any pain, don Fiorella?"
"Some, but not more than I can handle. I really don't want a bunch of narcotics pumped into me."
The doctor nodded his understanding, knowing don Fiorella would want to keep a clear head if at all possible.
"Then take some aspirin or a glass of wine or brandy to help with the pain if it becomes too unbearable."
Turning to the boys and Demarco, he told them to keep him covered, plenty of water, hot meat broth as often as he could take it, and watch for a fever.
"He needs rest to gain back his strength and will have a long road to recovery since the muscles in his left leg need strengthening and healing in order for him to walk properly."
Vinnie, Rico, and Tony listened carefully to every word the doctor said, but they knew they'd listen just as carefully to their Poppa.
Not once during his visit did the doctor ask how Gio got shot! He did, however, thank him profusely for the medical supplies and said he'd start taking them back to his office when he came again the next day.
Tony, before crawling into his bed, still trying to choke back his tears, whispered to Gio, "Please don't die Poppa. We love so much! What would we do without you?"
Gio smiled and gestured Tony closer.
Kissing the frightened boy on the cheek, he answered, "Don't worry, I'm not going to die. You boys need your Poppa and I need you."
Gio would sleep about two hours at a stretch before waking wanting some water. The boys made certain there was fresh water and assisted him in drinking it. The three of them tended to all of his needs over the next two days, feeding him broth Demarco fixed and an occasional brandy when he thought he needed it. The doctor's visit each day encouraged them "don Fiorella" was doing as well as could be expected. So far, there was no fever.
Early in the morning on the third day, Sandro announced a stranger was coming up the lane and just crossed the bridge.
To be continued:
***
Thank you for reading "The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts, Volume Three-
Chapters Nine and Ten."
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