I watch out of the van, the van of Lorelei, the girl that is giving me hospitality, until we, the “Sardella Brothers” will be able to afford a new van. “Afford” meaning Tobias finally finding another nearly destroyed caravan to repair, like the previous one.
I watch out the van, I was saying, and I see only fog. What a sad Christmas Eve. No snow, no cold, bright winter days. Here, everything seems… without character. It’s not cold, and it’s not warm, it’s not sunny, yet is not cloudy. The people is the same: not friendly, nor unpleasant.
I have been watching them, nearly invisible, for some time, this morning: Christmast Eve. In every other town of the western world, the street would have been busy with people doing their last minute shopping for the gifts. Here, all look normal, like any other day.
The trees, the Christmas trees, all looks similar. The decoration are different, yes, but every ball, every candle is put on the branch in a regular pattern, like a computer would have chosen the right place to hang them.
And then, at the show in the afternoon, the public most impressed me. When they clapped, they all did it at the same moment, like it was an only person. Scary.
There is really something evil behind this. It looks like a city of damned. Could be only my impression, but… no, there is something strange. This city needs… help.
Then, Lorelei returns in the van.
“How are you, Guido? Have you slept well?” she asks. Guido is the false name I gave, to cover my identity.
“Yes, but I didn’t need that. We are all very well. Tomorrow we’ll do the show.”
“Good. The Christmas show it’s the better moment for your returns. We had great reviews at Chicago, the people is expecting you and your friends” she says.
Then, she put a CD on the player, and an old Christmas song begins to play.
“Frank Sinatra?” I ask.
“No. Bing Crosby.”
I have never heard the song before. Santa Claus is coming to town.
