10

Po Leung Ba was more than proud to belong to the Japanese Imperial Army. He called himself a Japanese born in Nanking. He was a seasoned Japanese naval intelligence officer, from there he moved on to the terrible Japanese military police. He did not lose track of his sister. Suspected of belonging to the Kuomintang, but the siege Namura imposed made her inaccessible even to him. Her devotion to Japan was so great that she accepted and justified the death of her parents at the hands of her adored superiors.

Things were bad. The glorious Japanese imperial army knew only defeats in China. But the Japanese were stubborn, cruel, and too brave. Yet the rebels were getting bolder and bolder. The Japanese revenge became more and more terrible. They would lose the war, but they would leave the occupied land completely razed to the ground. Po Leung was as equal as the Japanese army, very orderly, never breaking down, no mercy to the enemy or to himself. Po Leung had missions to do. He would continue to guard the ruins where he sometimes saw his sister enter. It was an open secret that he himself had denounced his parents and handed over his fortune to his superiors.

VII

Fulvio saw the secret meetings in his house; all that gave him a very bad feeling, they were not innocent family or friends meetings to help each other in the terrible times they were living through.

"Fino" Italian always had a present for the ladies, an affectionate smile for the men and a gallant gesture for the serious girls. He gave the image of a nice westerner who did not understand a single letter of Chinese.

The meeting ended and the participants faded into the shadows. Marina was also about to leave.

--I must go to Tientsin-- he said in the five minutes she could talk to the torturer of her soul, --I have to look for some Italian soldiers. My comrades-in-arms are not very pro-Japanese and now that Italy has surrendered, their hearts are with the resistance. Namura knows that I am his most terrible rival. He does not want obstacles.

--I don't know what Namura's rival will be-- Madame Moonlight told him without seeing him, and feeling very close the man's tall presence at her back.

--Namura fears me. He knows perfectly well of the Italian custom of stealing the girl. Something that only after 56 times dead I will stop trying,-- said Fulvio, getting as close as he could, to see the imperceptible step that was moving away from him.

Madame Moonlight smiled sidelong. Her heart was beating madly. For the man's disturbing presence and why Namura was sending him to his death. If the rebels failed, he would do it and throw the blame on them.

--When will you leave?-- she asked him, her lips white with fear, avoiding looking him in the face, her eyes lowered, feeling extremely vulnerable before him.

--I will leave in the early morning. It may be the last time I see you. If I die, my heart will remain in you,-- he said sadistically, feeling the girl's shudder.

--Those soldiers will come peacefully with you?-- she asked quietly, avoiding looking at him so as not to be immersed in the man's eyes that blinded and paralyzed her with their intensity.

--Very difficult. We Italians are a stubborn and determined people. We are all for freedom. We cannot approve of what is happening here,--he explained, holding back, absolutely spellbound by the profile of that beautiful face.

--Only you,-- said the girl painfully.

--Remember Shakespeare-- said Fulvio evading, seeing how she turned her back to him, to escape his magnetic presence--, "Romeo and Juliet is set in Venice. We like tragic love. In that we are the same as the Chinese. I just want a kiss and I can die in peace,-- Fulvio whispered, approaching slowly, blowing softly on her cheeks as he turned her gently, --You say nothing. You don't care for me then?

She did not answer. A thousand times she dreamed of this moment; she simply didn't know how to act.

--If I were to ask you not to go?-- the girl said, face to face with her love, after turning quickly and looking at him, --I would ask you not to go.

--I would ask you to give up what I don't know what you do, but I don't like it,-- said Fulvio, looking directly at her, although he knew it was impolite among the Chinese to act in this way; but he could not give up seeing her.

--I can't give up what I don't know what I'm doing,-- said the terrified young woman as she saw the man approaching to kiss her. He was a rude savage. He was looking straight at her. That was immensely rude of that barbarian.

Fulvio grabbed her. Just as he was about to kiss her she fled.

--Let me go,-- she begged in a whisper, appealing to his last defense.

Fulvio let her go in pain. This woman wanted to bring him to his knees and if he continued like this, he would leave Namura in diapers.

The young woman disappeared fleeing in the middle of the ruins. Fulvio followed her into the dark street. He did not get her. In the silence of the black night he shouted.

--Is that what you want, do you want me on my knees, do you want me to shout that I love you? I do love you,-- he shouted in Italian, kneeling in the middle of the lonely street.

Immediately two gunshots raised dust next to him and a searchlight blinded him. A Japanese patrol car stopped violently right in front of his face. Fulvio furiously hit the ground twice with his fists. This was a land where you couldn't even love or be scorned.

Hours later a desolate Fulvio was sharing tea with the doctor.

--He is a very difficult tiger to tame. He is afraid to love.

--And I of losing her," said Fulvio, indifferent to the danger he would experience in the coming hours. Italian Soldiers in China

VIII

Hours later, on the second set, at the Moonlight, a sad Madame Moonlight recited some poems that made Namura despair; the girl was hopelessly in love. She was proving it all the time. However, the young woman went to the table and shared as usual with the general. She even dared to give the man a kiss on the cheek, which immediately revived him.

--My shame before your excellency is infinite,--said the young woman, crestfallen and contrite, --for in my tango dance which I performed only for your enjoyment, my faults and errors were evident. I feel that I embarrass you in front of your subordinates. Your difference is so great that you forgive me such an insult.

--Not at all,--said the general, delighted at the young woman's sudden approach. The future presented possibilities.

--That is why this wretched woman asks and begs for a favor,--said the woman, destroying him with those immense black eyes from her slanting eyelids.

--!But my good!.But my goodness, how could I refuse,--said the general, absolutely mesmerized. If it had occurred to Madame Moonlight to ask him for the surrender of the Japanese army, she would certainly have obtained it from the general without complaint.

--I would beg you to intercede with Major Gallipoli to surrender your mysterious knowledge of tango dancing to my humble person.

--!But if the execution was perfect!--exclaimed the Major in surprise,

--I would like to beg him to intercede with Major Gallipoli to surrender his mysterious knowledge of the tango dance to my humble person

Madame Moonlight hid her face in her hands and sobbed shakily to hide her shame.

--Please don't!-she said through tears, --My dance was a disaster and I was disgraced in front of everyone present. I apologize for the offense before your excellency.

--But is that so?

--Indeed,--said the girl, still sobbing, --I asked him. But he is a hard-hearted Western man, selfish in the extreme. He wouldn't even listen to me, much less teach me.

--His life is at stake,--said the general menacingly, as if he had Gallipoli in front of him; additionally, he was relieved to see that the man had no intention in the girl.