The Marinella Affair

<h2><strong><em>Santa Maria Assunta occupied the highest ground. From the height of its bell tower one could see everything in the surrounding area to the horizon.</em></strong></h2><h2><strong><em>As they proceeded towards the church Donanto remarked that still a young lad he had snuck up to the top of the bell tower one evening with Giuseppe.</em></strong></h2><h2><strong><em>'... just to see what it would be like.'</em></strong></h2><h3>Oddly enough not long after his recollection of that far-off boyhood venture a chaotic dissonant burst of clanging from the carillon had once again called him to the bell tower.This time however the circumstances were quite different not the silliness of a boyish prank at all; but as evidenced by the scene which met his eyes as he was about to climb the stairs running along the bell tower walls this time it was a different matter altogether.Floating in the void of the structure neck twisted unnaturally was the inert body of a man.</h3><p></p>