Kidnapped!

My husband is a business man. We have many factories throughout Italy and we export goods as well. I, not having any children, help in the office. I always considered the location dangerous for him, even though he extended favors to those in the Region without work. More than once I asked him to go about accompanied by a bodyguard. Understand that he is very well known, and money makes many envious. He listened calmly, because he had a lot of faith in the people, and did not consider himself so important!

One evening, a few men blocked his car, let the bookkeeper who was with him go free. Instead, they put a sack over my husband's head, perhaps drugged him, and kidnapped him.

When I learned of the event I was at home, because I was expected him for dinner. What can I say about that time? We immediately notified the police. The news spread rapidly throughout the city. Even to convents, from which certain religious sisters assured me of their prayers and comfort, and left me this statue. I prayed, I suffered.... a thousand thought crowded my mind. But, I couldn't do anything. I had to wait for the request of the kidnappers, so that we could orient in some direction.

The phone rang: "For the life of your husband, you must give us 15 billion lire." (about $10,023,646)

An exorbitant, incomprehensible sum!

I knew very little about him during those long seven months. I went up and down Italy, desperately in search of someone or something that spoke of him and his situation. I knew from the kidnappers that "He was well," but that was little consolation!

Only after he was free did I know that he was hooded, in a tent where he could sit, kneel, or lie on a tiny bed. He had a container for a bathroom. He was incarcerated like this for seven months. He never saw or touched a face, a hand. In fact, when they would bring him food they first singled to put the hood on, then they would extend the food wrapped in cellophane, and leave him alone again in his canvas prison.

The first two months he suffered a l
ot. The precariousness, nothingness, poverty of existence was felt, but also the great need for life. He wanted to live, to be free, but how? Any attempt to run away would be a suicide. His life was in the hands of money and a gun. Desperation, hope, hatred and anguish escalated like waves on an agitated sea.

Then, something strange happened.  

...to be continued.