Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Natalie Paise

The Girl

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:35:30 UTC

One day Pino saw an Italian girl named Anna. Pino asked Anna to go to a movie with him and she accepted his offer. Later that night, Anna stood Pino up. During the film a bombing happened on the theatre and several people were injured.

Setting

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:37:31 UTC

This story is set near the end of World War 2 in Milan, Italy. The main character is 17 year-old, Pino Lella.

Mimo Leaving

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:55:36 UTC

Allied planes bombed Milan almost every single night throughout June and July of 1943. In late June, Pino's parents sent Mimo, Pino's brother, to a school in the Alps. This was to keep him safe from the bombings. Pino refused to go because the school was meant for younger boys.

Pino's Beloved House, Gone

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:56:05 UTC

On September 20, 1943, Pino and his family came home to see that their beloved home was blown up and charred. This convinced Pino's parents to send him away to join Mimo.

Pino in the Alps

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:56:20 UTC

Father Re trained Pino to get him in better shape. He woke up early and went on long hikes, climbs, and ski trips. During the rest of his time he studied and on the weekends he went into Madesimo to learn how to drive.

The "Underground Railroad"

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:56:38 UTC

After a while of training, Father Re gave Pino the opportunity to help Jews trying to escape from Germans by joining the "Underground Railroad." He helped Jewish kids, parents, and elderly get from Italy into Switzerland before the sun rose. He guided them past Germans, through avalanches and hypothermia, and down dangerous mountains.

The Beginning of the Spying

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:57:41 UTC

May 12, 1944

Pino is called home 20 days before his 18th birthday and his father tells him he is going to get drafted into the Fascist army and be cannon fodder if he doesn't enlist into the German army. After a while in German bootcamp, he became the personal driver of Hitler's 2nd in command. Pino was now a spy for the Allies.

The Arrest

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:57:48 UTC

April 24, 1945

Under orders from the Resistance, Pino arrested the very person he had been driving around and delivered him to the American Command. Later on, Pino drove the general from American custody to the Austrian border where he could be safely interrogated for the intelligence he possessed about Hitler.

His Mission and the Reunion

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:58:00 UTC

While Pino was a spy he learned the locations of tank traps, land mines, and ammunition tunnels. He observed the building of the Germans’ main defensive positions. He secretly documented troop movements by taking notes and photos. He reported all of this back to the Allies. While he was on one of his drives with the general he met Anna again. This time she didn't stand him up.

The Ending

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:58:13 UTC

After a while of getting to know eachother, Anna and Pino fell in love. Pino asked Anna to marry him and she said yes. Sadly though, they never had the opportunity because she was abducted from her home and shot dead in front of Pino. This plagues him to this day. At 98 years old, Pino is still alive.

Traitor?

npaise — 2024-12-11 04:58:25 UTC

Pino was not allowed to tell anyone that he was a spy for the Allies, so everyone thought he was a traitor. His role model, his best friend, and his younger brother all hated him for it. Thankfully, when they found out he was a spy it was better.