Missione di Pattuglia del 24/12 Corps of Military Police
Service Border Patrol
Mission: Border Patrol and intercepting illegal immigrants Industry: Cordillera northern area of \u200b\u200bthe pitch dell'Abetaia Starting mission : 24/12 agents on duty: Special Agent D. Santalini 10:30 am The air was very cold that day, the mountains, and announced a new snowfall. Davy advanced among the trees, trying to follow the path of the path submerged for more than five feet of snow damned. He could not do anything that rely on electronic compass, and hope that the path stored in the circuit corresponded quell'aggeggetto.
A violent fit of coughing made him stop. "We missed this too," he thought. It turned out his left wrist, and controls the display of the Body Monitor. Do not report anything, there were no values \u200b\u200babove the limits. "Perhaps we must calibrate" she thought, while swallowing a pill. He could not afford to get sick, an illness common in those lands so far away and isolated from civilization could mean big trouble. Especially since the rescue team was almost all on leave in those days. In fact, almost all were at home at that time of year, he was one of the few who was made available for patrol missions. Around noon
firs became more sparse, and walking became easier. Now he had all the space they wanted to choose the best path, while in the forest was often forced to make his way through the branches and trunks of trees, embarrassed by the massive backpack and snowshoes. Out there but the wind was much stronger, whistling around the branches of a few trees, and created a whirlwind of snow. The electronic fabric of the suit snow automatically shut its plot, so as to reduce the passage of air. Davy contingent to march for another hour, until the stomach warned him that it was time for a snack. He managed to take shelter behind uno sperone di roccia, dove la tramontana arrivava smorzata. Per quanta tecnologia avesse addosso, era ancora costretto a mangiare a volto scoperto, dato che nessuno aveva ancora inventato un passamontagna-passavivande, e con quel vento non era affatto il caso di starsene allo scoperto.
Ore 13:07 Fu mentre masticava i pochi bocconi del panino che finalmente li vide. Erano sul crinale di fronte al suo, nient'altro che due puntini scuri in mezzo al bianco. Due, forse tre ore di cammino, e li avrebbe raggiunti.
"Non ho per niente voglia" si sorprese a pensare. L'idea di doversi rimettere a camminare in mezzo alla neve, esposto al vento, con quel carico sulle spalle lo scoraggiava. Improvvisamente aveva voglia di una comoda poltrona, davanti a un camino acceso. Mettersi a sedere era stato un errore, fermarsi era stato un errore, avrebbe dovuto immaginarlo che sarebbe finita così. Analizzò in un attimo che alternative aveva, e scoprì di non averne. O meglio, quelle che aveva non erano valide.
Davy mise via la confezione del panino, bevve l'ultimo sorso dal thermos, con un sospiro si caricò nuovamente lo zaino sulle spalle e riprese la marcia.
Erano quasi le quattro del pomeriggio quando li raggiunse. Anzi, lo raggiunse, perchè davanti a sé ne vide uno solo. Questi doveva averlo sentito, perchè iniziò a correre, tentando di nascondersi dietro ad alcune rocce affiordanti.
- SI fermi! - Gridò Davy - Border Patrol! He ordered her to stop! - He fired a shot into the air as a warning, and saw the man crouched on the ground. - Come out with your hands above your head! - Trying to post a small assault rifle, Davy approached cautiously. From behind the rocks you could hear the heavy breathing of the fugitive, broken by sobs. He slowly stood up, bringing your hands above your head. Davy signed to him to come forward, and that came up, calculating each step well not to lose his balance. Davy noticed that he wore a bulky jacket in the backpack. - Where's the other? - Churches with bad grace. What shook his head, still sobbing. - I saw that you were in two, I want to know where it went! - He emphasized.
- Di Non .. I do not know ... we parted ... an hour ago ... or maybe two ... said that he would join me ... I do not know, I swear! - Davy dropped the weapon.
- What did under his jacket? Show us! - He tried to get close, but that took a step back, bringing his arms to protect the bundle.
- No, please, is my son, do not open his coat, would die of cold! -
- Your son? - 17:00 pm
Davy had set the tent reluctantly. He had hoped to reach the refuge by night, but that woman could not hold his pace, and walk in the dark was dangerous. Alone would have also done so, she was wearing so much of that technology to be able to walk almost eyes closed, but the woman would have been unthinkable. All the more so with a baby on the neck. He was also thought to be coming to take, but the helicopter service was only one, and you would not bother for so little.
In the tent we were fine. Thanks to the double cloth insulating their bodies enough to quickly create a comfortable temperature. Not just from a sauna, but at least they could do without jackets and balaclavas.
In light of the torch hanging from the center of the dome, Davy said the woman putting that kind of a warm wool carrying pouch with shoulder strap, and revealed that an infant from the skin wrinkled and his eyes sleepy.
- How long do you have? - Churches, per rompere il silenzio che già da un po' gravava in quell'angusto spazio. La donna alzò gli occhi, e l'ombra di un sorriso le sfiorò le labbra.
- Due giorni. L'ho partorito in un rifugio clandestino, prima del Passo. Pensavo di riuscire ad attraversare la cordigliera prima di partorire, invece il tempo è finito prima del previsto. - Davy aspettò qualche secondo, poi chiese di nuovo:
- Come si chiama? -
- Ancora non lo so. Gli darò un nome solo se sopravviverà. -
- E lei? Qual'è il suo nome? - La donna lo guardò di nuovo, stavolta un po' perplessa.
- Ester. E il suo? -
- Davy. Davide. - La donna annuì, poi prese in braccio il piccolo, fissandolo. Il bambino was not comfortable, and occasionally moaning. Esther's face became thoughtful. - Is something wrong? - Churches Davy.
- I am afraid that is not well. Maybe he got cold. - Answered. Davy took off from the wrist Body Monitor and reset the data on the display, then pulled out from the side of the unit with a probe-shaped cup, and put on the forehead of the baby, then to his mouth, then the throat, while the Body Monitor record all data acquired with a hum and occasional beep. Esther looked at him a bit 'anxious, and we let him go.
- Has a bit 'of fever, could save him a cold. - Judgement Finally, reading the results on the screen. - I might give it some 'of Preflunil, but I have with me only the tablets, will not be facile fargliele ingerire... - Continuò pensieroso.
- Preflunil? Che cos'è? -
- Un farmaco preventivo che abbiamo in dotazione. Tiene a bada i sintomi di buona parte dei malanni, una pastiglia dura ventiquattr'ore, più o meno. -
- Ha controindicazioni? - Davy prese la scheda del farmaco dalla scatola dove teneva le pastiglie.
- Beh, è sconsigliato alle donne in gravidanza e in allattamento, i principi attivi possono finire nel latte... -
- Quindi se io lo prendessi, e poi lo allattassi, lui riceverebbe il principio attivo, giusto? - Davy rimase un attimo interdetto da quell'idea, sorpreso dalla prontezza di spirito di quella donna.
- Sì... almeno in teoria potrebbe funzionare... non so if you've ever tried any ... -
- I'll be the first. Give me the pill. - Said holding out his hand and looked determined. - I have gone a hundred miles of driving in the snow with him in the womb, I have given birth in a stable for goats and I have done with him in her arms, another forty, I'm not afraid of the consequences of a pill. - I insist, seeing that the guard hesitated. Davy took a pill from the blister pack and handed it to him. She swallowed it accompanied with a drink from the thermos. - How much does it take to come into circulation? -
- Half an hour, according to the board .-
- then fed it some 'right away, so for the next feeding the active ingredient in the milk will come. - Esther began to unfasten, unbutton and open up the various layers of sweatshirts, sweaters and fleece, while Davy was wearing the jacket again and was preparing to leave. - Look, I do not mind if it stays. - He said, smiling. Davy smiled back, opened the zip of the inner chamber and came out behind richiudendosela.
Outside it was pitch dark and the light filtering through the canvas tent dimly lighted snowflakes that had started to fall off a bit '. Davy recovered boots and snowshoe from the apse of the tent, and if you put off, entering a bit 'between the firs. That woman had been through a lot in those days, he was entitled to enjoy a few minutes of peace with his son, he did not do the odd man out, for more in un momento intimo come una poppata. E poi gli scappava da pisciare.
Prima di rientrare attese qualche minuto ancora, osservando da lontano la cupola della tenda, piccola bolla luminescente nel mezzo di quel nulla ovattato, che ora gli trasmetteva un senso di calore e di accoglienza. Il vento arrivava smorzato nell'ansa del monte dove si erano piazzati, e i fiocchi cadevano placidamente. Di nuovo ebbe voglia di una casa calda, di un camino accesso e una poltrona davanti. Un piatto di minestra di farro, un tavolo con una candela accesa e Mad, la sua Maddalena, che gli sorrideva. Ecco tutto ciò che voleva per quella notte, la notte della vigilia di Natale. Che andassero pure a farsi benedire i suoi colleghi, che con la scusa di essere cristiani si prendevano three days of vacation, 24 to 26, and he was left alone to do the damn patrol rounds. From next year he would take a vacation for Christmas, although it was not a Christian, and that other arrangements are a bit ', and they also should be on the night of 24 in their tent under the snow on the mountain range with eight degrees below zero. A bit 'for one, really!
about 18:30 pm When he returned, the child sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a sweater of Esther, as she was lying on the side. Davy pulled out from the pack a bit 'of supplies, much of that stuff cooked freeze-dried by melting snow in the electrical apprenticeship, and had dinner almost in silence.
- freeze-dried stuff ... bah ... pesa poco e non occupa spazio, ma fa abbastanza schifo... - Borbottò Davy alla fine della cena, quasi per scusarsi. - Non è un gran chè come cenone di Natale. -
- Per lo meno è caldo. Se non fosse stato per lei, non avrei fatto nemmeno la cena probabilmente, o per lo meno non una cena calda. Per non parlare del Pefunil, o come diavolo si chiama... Per come la vedo io, è molto più di quello che mi sarei aspettata. -
- Il Preflunil, già.... Beh, io invece avevo ben altri programmi per oggi. Sarei già dovuto essere arrivato al rifugio, e domani sarei sceso dall'altro versante, in modo da arrivare a valle dopodomani. -
- Ma mi dica, come mai è di pattuglia la vigilia di Natale? -
- Per me Natale è un giorno come un altro, non sono credente. Nessuno vuole farlo mai, vanno tutti in ferie, e così in genere lo faccio io. La paga è un po' più alta, sto mettendo da parte un po' di soldi per sposarmi, un extra mi fa comodo. E lei piuttosto? Non è credente nemmeno lei, che tenta di entrare illegalmente la vigilia di Natale dopo aver partorito da due giorni? - Ester sorrise.
- Io sono credente, ma mi hanno detto che in genere quelli della Border Patrol vanno in ferie a Natale, è il momento migliore per provarci. -
- Le è andata male, allora. - ribattè l'uomo, allungandosi per prendere lo zaino.
- Come dicevo, secondo me meglio di così non poteva andare. Sono al caldo, sono sazia, my son is safe, are in the company of a kind and generous, equipped and ready for anything that tomorrow I will escort you to the refuge, with no possibility of a wrong turn. -
- But not! - The interrupted Davy, who was poking around in various pockets of the backpack. - Do not even think to get in gear alone with you two! Tomorrow morning I call the helicopter and away we go with that! -
- even the helicopter pilot is a believer? -
- So what? He is a believer, but is obliged to come and take it if I call him, even if it was made. -
- The ruin Christmas ... -
- You will understand ... And then, if Christ would not run to help the needy? Please note, use this sleeping bag tonight, there is also room for the baby. - And handed her a large bundle under his head. Esther opened the case, and it took off like a sheet, which in less than a minute it swelled up to the consistency and the size of a sleeping bag in winter.
- But ... but keep you warm? It seems so light ... -
- is made of hollow fibers, when you open it fill with air and act as insulation to the outside. -
- Ma .. and you? He will remain free! - Protested the girl, seeing that Davy had balled up his jacket to make a pillow, and I was lying on top.
- I do not ever sleep in there, it's too hot for me. And then the heat that remains trapped in sleeping bag can not heat the tent, which will be pretty cold tomorrow. Anyway, I'm not going to share a sleeping bag with her. - Said again, ahead of the response of Esther. - First because I'm still a guard and her illegal immigrant, and I want to keep a safe distance, according to a man because I'm not a saint, and I want to stay true to my Maddalena, third, because even with the best will in no I'll never be in two in a sleeping bag. Then he put his soul in peace and sleep. - It turned out the torch. For some minutes silence reigned in the tent.
- you know, in some ways she is much more Christian a lot of people I know. The need is to believe it. - He said after a while 'Ester. Davy sighed.
- For now it's okay. I just find a way to get the Christmas holidays and be at peace with Mad. For the rest, as you believe, the ways of God are infinite, right? - Esther did not answer. It was already asleep.
Davy hesitated for a while 'between waking and sleep, thinking about her last words. I wonder if the Christian God was doing well there was someone who believed in him, or even that he had foreseen that someone would always denied, still playing his game, like him that day. In fact, it was really strange that just a coincidence he was on patrol in that area that day, just in time to save dall'assideramento Esther and il suo neonato. Ma nemmeno gli andava giù che fosse già tutto previsto.
Chissà se era già previsto anche che Jacopo, l'elicotterista in reperibilità il 25 dicembre, fosse talmente stufo del maxi pranzo con i parenti da accogliere con sollievo la chiamata d'emergenza di Davy, o che Luis, il compagno di Ester durante la traversata della cordigliera, andasse a chiedere asilo a un pastore che aveva bidonato qualche anno prima, finendo di lì a qualche giorno in galera con una lista di reati lunga come lo strascico del vestito da sposa che Maddalena si stava cucendo da sé in gran segreto, per sposarsi civilmente in comune e fare una grande festa nel bosco di querce, senza camerieri, lista degli invitati, doppie portate e bomboniere preconfezionate. Alla faccia dei genitori che l'avevano sempre costretta ad andare a catechismo, e pensavano che con il tempo la pecorella smarrita (e testarda) si sarebbe ricongiunta al gregge, e avrebbe accettato riti e tradizioni di quella piccola comunità cristiana che il nuovo parroco, barba lunga, capelli al vento e idee strane, si apprestava a sconvolgere. E così via.
Ma tutto questo Davy ancora non lo sapeva, lo avrebbe scoperto con il tempo. Per il momento era la notte di Natale, la neve cadeva abbondante sulla cordigliera, e creava un'atmosfera di pace e quasi di magia, che faceva fiorire le speranze per il futuro e conciliava il sonno.
Poi un movimento, un vagito, Ester che si svegliava e si metteva a cullare il piccolo, who continued to cry.
Davy sighed. It was only eight in the evening. That magical night would have passed very slowly.
