SHRIMP COCKTAIL

He caresed with his hands the hot sand, he filled his first and
then emptied it slowly to the ground.

The sea was getting shades of coluor, underneath a multitude of
luminescent fishes were giving life to the waves, togheter with
corals ond big inhoffensive sharks.

From above someone was looking at that beach, the stewardess
served a shrimp cocktail, there was a slight, very low noise from
the air conditioning.

He put his walkman on, while the 'Valkyrie's Ride' was creeping
into his elaboration, the cocktail was beginning to be effective.

He went into the water and he felt very cold, nonwithstanding 40
C in the shade, a dolphin jumped in the air.

A few kilometers off shore at the depth of 35 metres the
submarine advanced very slowly under the unconcerned eyes of a
sperm-whale.

The captain wore a turtleneck and a white marine hat, from time
to time the piping on the ceiling made in fall to the ground,
when it happened he bent to pick up without saying a word.

With cold hands he turned some handles clockwise, nothing
happened though.

Outside the water molecules were settling in and crashing without
any emotion.
A broken plastic bag was soaring on deep water loke pushed by the
wind.

by Alessando Nadalini
Via Mongardino 3/10
40037 Sasso Marconi
Bologna

traduzione di Paolo Petrini
Via Cialdini
06100 PERUGIA