The Hidden

A book by Francesco Dei Pesci

Foreword
All the old men in fremantle swear this is a true story.
They swear and you dare not argue with regnant women! or "ld #talian men if they
ha$e gi$en you their word.
The grand %ialetti coffee machined loomed like an imerial monument on the front
counter of Paa &uigi!s! an art deco chrome masteriece! its cast bron'e eagle emblem
like the lost standard of the roman legion that swet all before it.
#t hissed and sluttered breathing life into the smoke filled room! the ceiling fans abo$e
turned sullenly! wobbling drunkenly on their mountings and threatened to tear themsel$es
loose from the ceiling at any time.
They had no effect on the smoke filled room at all.
As a young boy of around twel$e! # would en(oy the Palable atmoshere and the larger
than life stories! the aromatic smell of strong coffee! and the woodbine smoke of Peter
)tuy$esant cigarettes.
# was not like all the other fisherman*s sons! who strutted around like eacocks in tight
fitting tee shirts and e$en tighter (eans! drawn by the flashing inball machines like a
moth to a flame.
+e , # liked listening to the old #talian men. All #lliterate! all innumerate! yet caable of
recounting the most fantastic of stories that seemed to last months on end! they where
e-traordinary (ourneys of narrati$e from which there was no return once hooked! eic
choreograhed flights of fantasy in which all of them had a art to lay.
Professor .erdi would always beckon me o$er. #& rofessore was an e-/uisitely dressed
middle aged man! who always seemed to be carrying a atent leather document bag. He
had a full head of sil$er wa$y hair! which would ha$e seemed more suited for a little girl
in a hair shamoo ad! rather than a middle aged rofessor.
He always wore the most outrageous bow ties that contrasted starkly against his
imeccably tailored! and $ery e-ensi$e #talian suits.
# could feel the adrenalin rushing through my chest as # would sit down oosite the
rofessor! the same small table by the firelace! he would raise # finger and the barista
would arri$e shortly after with a macchiato for the rofessor ! and a latte for the boy. 0e
would always ha$e 1oman cannoli with delicate custard infused with lemon curds.
)hould # tell him he would always say theatrically to the nested tables of "ld #talian
men smoking 2igarettes.
Tell him! he is a good boy they would laugh loudly.
%ut not e$erything
He would take his elegant sil$er cigarette case from &ondon out! oen it! and take out a
cigarette! always Peter )tuy$esant. He taed it one end! the he would turn it around and
ta the other end on the sil$er case before lighting it.
#t was the look through the smoke! that thin smile! the fleeting moment that the story was
about to begin! To come ali$e! that # felt like # could almost burst.
The "ld #talian men say that the best seat by the fire is always reser$ed for the story
teller! but only if he is telling the truth.
Professor .erdi always had his seat by the fire. And as far as # was concerned! he always
told the truth.
The ceiling fan continued to wobble threatingly on the ceiling! now listen carefully the
rofessor would always say.
.
it is written, that many years ago, in the time of Charlemagne, a great
beast was made. This beast was created in the bimaristans of Syria by
the most accomplished of Turkish physicians.
On behest of the great Christian king, these abominations would be
raised in secret places known only to the council of the wise, and for
princely sums of Christian gold.
The beast was created to contest the metal of the most fearless warriors
in Charlemagnes kingdom.
Legend tells, the creature was born from the blood of a wolf, and the
fallen bodies of the vanuished.
The broken bodies of the !amlukes who fought valiantly in battle.
"nd when the moon was full, the beast would rise from within them, so
these fallen warriors may taste battle again and have their revenge.
So fearsome was the creature, so insatiable was its craving for flesh
when it awakened, that the caliphs promised "llah they would make no
more. "nd spurned the Christian kings gold.
Of the creature#only a few where created and unleashed unto man.
Only the bravest, and most worthy of the warriors in Christendom
would be selected to do battle with the beast. Only those strong of heart
and steeled of mind would be permitted to enter the fray.
Should the knight triumph, he would be ordained into the kings special
guard, and en$oy uneualed glory and privilege that both king and
church bestowed upon his family.
One family lineage was so victorious in hunting the beast, so immune
where they to its cunning, so fearless of its lust, that the church took an
e%ceptional interest in them.
The warrior princess of the family !edici hunted the beast as intensely
as the beast would hunt them. They would smite it with their blades.
wicked blades of steel and silver.
&lades forged carefully by &lacksmiths who knew much, and where
visited often in the dark of night by the church.
't is said, it was the medicis who first smote the beast, and thence it did
know pain.
Some have written that the medicis where not of normal men.
Others say they where in league with the dark lord.
The (oly Church however, was convinced victory was of gods doing,
and by this sign of god, they should follow the medicis through time ,
and shield them from all mortal foe.
)atch them.
*rotect them.
until the lords true purpose was revealed through them.
Of the creature, part wolf, part man, all hatred and evil# indeed only
few where created.
&ut as in all things in life, the bravest do not always triumph.
"ll men lose faith.
"ll men deceive
"nd all plans do not go well.