The Gariboldi Affair

<h2><em>Pirlo who other than working at the local pharmacy served as altar boy carried</em></h2><h2><em>the ponderous crucifix at the head of the funeral procession.</em></h2><h2><em>Father Giacomo followed behind.</em></h2><h2></h2><h2><em>A second altar boy equally in black cassock and white surplice walked</em></h2><h2><em>beside the priest to his right carrying the aspergillum used to sprinkle holy water.</em></h2><h2></h2><h2><em>They moved slowly reverentially as if in deep prayer the priest mumbling someinaudible words.</em></h2><h2></h2><h2><em>Among the throng of mourners moving with muted demeanor and wearing a simple browntunic knotted at the waist with rough-hewn cord was a nun; eyes castearthward face girdled in the freshly laundered cloth of a white wimple andhead covered with black veil. Her unassuming deportment belied her obviousbeauty and noble bearing.</em></h2><h2></h2><h2><em>She was tall and dark-skinned but with undertones of a coppery brown; irradiantwhen on occasion she would lift her head - long thin and oval - towards themorning sun. Her eyes almond-shaped and dark were keen intelligent andbetrayed a strength of character which is typically built upon incessant trials- adversity hardship suffering the overcoming of terrible events.</em></h2><p></p><h3>Colonel Emilio Gariboldi is a veteran of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. An idealist as a young man he had hoped toemulate his hero Italo Balbo and hence joined the Italian air force.</h3><h3></h3><h3>A fatal encounter with an enemy intruder while encamped with his unit on the heights of an elevated plateau near the northernEthiopian town of Axum changes his life forever.</h3><h3></h3><h3>The discovery of the body of a young black woman prisoner found in bed next to him cements his embroilment with a criminalorganization involved in human trafficking.</h3><h3></h3><h3>Almost two decades later another young black girl is found dead at the foot of the Terzano Tower in Campobasso.</h3><p></p><p></p><p></p>