Free The Beach by Cesare Pavese Page A

Luisella haven't come," Clelia said. "You know them, don't you?" Without looking away, Berti replied that he did. "Aren't we going to dance?" said Clelia.
    None of us said anything as they moved off. Guido made a fuss to get a coffee spoon; meanwhile I looked over at Doro. He must have seen an anxious question on my face, because as I was about to hide my embarrassment by staring off in another direction, I noticed him frowning, then smiling halfheartedly.
    "What is it?" Guido asked, getting up.
    Clelia and Berti came back almost at once. Whether the band was playing faster than usual or whether my nervousness had distracted me I can't say, but back they came, and Clelia said something I can't recall, something she might have said climbing out of a taxi. Berti followed her like a shadow.
    They danced once again in the course of the evening. I think Clelia had encouraged him with a look. Berti rose without saying anything and, scarcely looking at her, waited for Clelia to join him. During the intervals when I was sitting at the table either with Doro or with Guido, occasionally one of us would address a word to Berti, who answered condescendingly, in monosyllables. Guido danced often with Clelia, returning to the table with sparkling eyes. Then we all stayed at the table for a while, gossiping. Berti made an effort not to look at Clelia too much, watching the orchestra in a bored, absent-minded way. He said nothing. At this point Guido spoke to him: "Are you taking makeup exams this autumn?"
    "No," Berti muttered calmly.
    "Because you have more the face of an exam-taker than of an educated person."
    Berti grinned foolishly. Clelia smiled, too. Doro stayed put. Seconds passed and nobody spoke. Guido scowled at us and mumbled something. Most offensive of all was the half-scornful grin he dedicated to Berti. As if to say: "That's done. Let's forget it."
    Berti said nothing. He went on smiling vaguely. All at once Clelia said: "Shall we dance?" I raised my head. Berti got up.
    Clelia came back to the table, calmly nodding to someone she knew on her way. She sat down,- there was a tired, almost sulky expression on her face, and without looking at us, she murmured: "I hope that now you're going to be more entertaining." A number of her friends emerged from the shadow and distracted her.
    During our ride home in the car, Clelia replied, to a hint of mine, that Berti had not said a word while they were dancing. But Guido, on the other hand, said a great many when the two of us went later for a last trip to the bar. He explained that he couldn't stand boys and especially couldn't allow them to put on the air of reading him a lesson. "They too have to live," I said, "and learn from experience."
    "Let them wait until they've run through as many as we have," Guido said stubbornly.
    Nina was waiting for him at the bar. I was expecting her. She was sitting at a low table, her chin on her fist, watching the smoke from her cigarette. She nodded to us, and while Guido was ordering at the bar, she asked me in her husky, uneven voice, but without moving her arm, why I hadn't shown up sooner.
    "What about yesterday evening?" I said.
    "You don't dance, you don't sunbathe, you don't eat with anyone, why don't you come with us? Oh, Guido's friends! What has that woman got to seduce you all? Don't tell me it's the engineer's company you're after."
    "I'm not saying anything," I stammered.
    It was so warm that evening it was a shame to go inside. I had no idea whether or not Berti was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. Probably he had gone to sit on the beach and mull over his shame. I wouldn't have wanted to see him. Back in my room, I stood for a long time at the window.
    Berti called me from the street early the next morning. Our lane was still completely in shadow. He asked if I weren't coming with him to swim. He was quiet awhile, then asked if he could come up. He entered aggressively, his eyes shining and tired. "Does this seem the right