Chapter VI

After the Feat

They were coming back in the cart, Tito had left the horse go very slowly as they was no use to rush; the public would certainly wait for their return to let go their enthusiasm. Slowly, drawn by a tired horse, the cart moved between trees or an empty plain. Bianca told him about her emotions during descent. While she accomplished her feat with great composure as she judged it to be without danger, she confessed now that she wasn't quite as brave as she thought.

She explained, holding Tito's hand:

- It's the ascent that was the most taxing. I saw myself going up and up and I wondered how far I would go. The balloon made a terrible noise, the air was cooling down and the canvas kept slamming like gunshots.

Tito, anxious, whispered as if he was himself living the moment and Bianca wasn't beside him, safe and sound:

- You should have let it go.

She replied laughing:

- That's what I did. As you saw! When I saw the balloon disappear above me at an incredible speed, while I felt I was falling, I thought: "The parachute will not open." He opened nevertheless with a creaking sound like a canvas being torn up and it was as if one arm snatched me from the jaws of death. Afterwards, it became delicious. I'll do it again, Tito.

He whispered, dry mouth:

- I don't think so.

She looked in front of her, radiant and happy to be alive. Already, a murmur from the crowd reached them but she couldn't see the spectators yet. At the entrance of the village, on the main street, there was a high mound that they climbed under the burning sun. The horse slowed down again. Then Bianca did let out a cry, realising that she forgot to mention Tito her meeting with Count Cassatti.

- This man here looks like you in the most astonishing way, even his voice, can you imagine? My word! I thought for one second that it was you with a different costume.

Tito smiled.

- He looks better than me, then?

She looked at him tenderly and gave him a slap on the cheek.

- How can you say such things? Didn't you look at him?

Tito admitted that indeed he had concentrated his attention on her and he had hardly noticed the figure that was on the landing site. He took him for a simple onlooker, which was natural on such a day. Didn't some spectator run to the road to witness her landing? Anyway, the incident didn't warrant a long conversation. It was already forgotten by the two fiancés. And the cart arrived at the village entrance. They were on show again. When they reached the top of the mound, she had a cry of surprise when she saw the whole square absolutely full of spectators. The whole town was there.They screamed, they cheered and she noticed Father Barretti who shouted even more loudly than anybody else.

It was really a day of happiness and if Bianca had not been the possessor of a foolproof modesty, she could have thought of herself as a great star and have taken seriously the posters that called her the Queen of the Air. But, her charming nature didn't allow her such magnificent extravagance and she accepted the ovation with pleasure while not feeling any pride. She said simply to Father Barretti:

- Are you pleased, my dear director? No accident! No false move!

By God, yes, Mr Director was pleased. And knowing it was good practice to show his satisfaction in public, he took care to give her, in front of the crowd, an envelope containing her double fee. He had only retained a few francs for accounting, because he was a practical man and business was business.