“It’s too early” I said, when we exited the cafe. And, in fact, just like I remembered from the time I studied in this city, even if the museum was closed and empty, the place in front of the main gate was crowded with tourists.
“Fuck” is what come from the mouth of Dirk. Chance asks: “What about the back of the buiding?”
“It’s on one of the busiest street of the town. There is only a safe way to enter. The roof”.
“How can we get there? With my broken ribs, I can’t turn any part of my body into bird’s part. I can’t fly over there” says Danny.
“Not to mention that nor Dirk or me can do that” whispers Chance. “Only you can fly there”.
“Actually, it would be nearly impossible even for me. Without an ascending current of hot air, I can’t take flight along a steep wall. But have no fear, there is an easy way. The only thing we need, is to go to a restaurant. A real restaurant.”
The faces of my friend were amusing. But quickly they understood my plan, when I showed them the aerial passage, built in part over buildings, in part over columns, that unites the Uffizi Museum with the Palazzo Pitti, on the other side of the River Arno. “You see, the Uffizi were the palace of the state administration, while Pitti was the residence of the great-duke. He didn’t want to cross the streets, so he had this peculiar corridor, one mile long, built for him. And we’ll use it to reach the Uffizi roof.”
Along the way, Danny bought his disposable camera. I had some of my personal money with me, the souvenir of my trip across America, so I bought a digital 5 megapixel. The meal was exceptionally good. I hoped it would have cured the strange sensation of “outplaceness” I am feeling, and that it’s starting to make me feel dizzy. I enjoyed the culatello, the ribollita, the bistecca, and so did my colleagues (Dirk especially the bistecca, enough similar to a texan T bone to suit his all American taste).
All went like a normal dinner of a small group of friends. Just, in the end, after we paid the bill, we didn’t get to the exit. We went for the bathroom. And there, we opened a small window facing the aerial passage, and after a small jump, we get safely over its roof.
Under the full moon, thirty metres above the street level, we walked fast toward the Uffizi, crossing the paths of only some stray cats.
Nad now, finally, we are on the museum roof.
Danny takes his pocket radio and signals to Grimm to come to open the roof window.
[ 01-24-2003, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: The Eurostar ]
