CHAPTER 8 - MEMORIES

Uncle Aldo never tired of admiring the contraption we built in the shed in the back of the house, which served as his workshop and blacksmith's shop. His eyes ran from the larger wheel that moved the whole mechanism, to the shaft that came down from the ceiling, and then to the set of gears that was next to the forge, all connected to the bellows. The construction of the entire system had taken one week. We had already started testing three days ago, and even so, for him it was still a great novelty. He finished following the start of the heating of the forge and then came to sit next to me.

¾ You know, nephew, since your arrival, your grace never ceases to amaze me! He said in his usual good-humored tone.

¾ Surprised you? And for what reason uncle?

¾ Well, first for the fact that you survived! He replied.

¾ I don't get it!

¾ Well I don't know if you remember, but it was very cold the day we found you! I don't know how many hours you wandered around as if that...err...you know, like that! He replied shyly.

¾ Naked? I added.

¾ That's for sure. And...And...Tremendously bruised, cuts all over his body, bruises, shaking, low temperature. If I were you, I would be dead by now!

I smiled slightly and turned my eyes to the wheel that was moving the forge. A weathervane coming from the ceiling drove it. A breeze was blowing from the north, but it was enough to trigger the whole mechanism. The feed was now autonomous.

In my heart, I was not thinking about how I had survived. I was just fighting my memory block. But, nothing came to me from the past, childhood, games, beatings, friends and above all my mother. Not even a glimpse of her face was in my mind. This saddened me deeply. What kind of amnesia threw me into this dark limbo? I was an orphan, an orphan of my memories. Uncle snapped me out of my thoughts.

¾ And your recovery? It was extraordinary; I have never seen anything like it!

¾ That's good, isn't it? I am glad to have this physical constitution, otherwise we wouldn't be here talking, would we?

I tried to demonstrate a purposeful disinterest. I was aware of the instinctive abilities that seized me in my final hours, but I tried not to think about them. Where did they come from and where would they take me? It didn't matter, what I wanted now was to live without having to answer so many questions, to others and to myself. Without realizing it, I sighed at length, transmitting a deep fatigue. Uncle realized this and no longer questioned me.

¾ You are right kid, you are right; we thank every day for that. Martha and me!

¾ My old lady in particular has unconditional love for you!

¾ And you, uncle? I asked intentionally trying to take him by surprise and changing the loaded tone of the conversation.

¾ Me what, nephew? He replied a bit abruptly.

¾ Do you appreciate me? I replied in a solemn good-humored half-smile.

¾ Look kid, I have to put up with it, like it or not, you are now part of the family, and I can't do anything about it!

¾ Now enough talk let's get back to work. We have many tools on order, and the contraption of yours needs to be put to the test. After all, we have spent a considerable amount of time building this! And with a strong squeeze on my shoulder serving as an impulse, he stood up, and headed toward the shed.

I looked at the hills in the distance; soon the green would give way to the white of the first snow of November. Here and there, small groves spread out within a small distance of each other. They already presented their leaves in a mix of green, red and yellow. I raised my eyes to the sky, a gray blanket of clouds was passing quickly over me, and its speed allowed for small streaks of a melancholy pastel blue. I breathed deeply feeling all the scents that surrounded me. I was alive, despite all odds to the contrary, and that was what really mattered now. The memories would one day come, and if they didn't, they would teach me to record as deeply as possible, the ones I was creating now. I closed my eyes and smiled, feeling soft and full.

¾ Hey kid, do you want to live up to your meals? Shouted my uncle in front of the shed.

I looked in his direction, he was smiling broadly.

¾ So, get off your ass and come help me, the forge looks wonderful and we have a lot to do!

I stood up still thankful to be alive, that's all.