Miracle at St. Anna

Angelo’s memories begin to return, distressing him. He is only soothed by hugging Train. He recounts that his name is Angelo Tornacelli and conveys the horrors he saw at St. Anna, including the murder of his mother. The now-dead German prisoner turned against his own people in the massacre, killing the soldier who killed Angelo’s mother before helping Angelo escape. Rodolfo had been the one to lure the residents of St. Anna from their homes, promising that the Germans only wished to speak with them. Rodolfo, a listening Ettora realizes, did all this to catch Peppi; when Peppi was not found, the angry Germans “had a killing party” (249). She screams and weeps her rage, causing Ludovico to realize he has always loved her.

Fatigued and hopeless from the constant danger, many of the villagers elect to drink their remaining wine rather than attempt to flee the village before the Germans arrive. Stamps struggles to decide what their next move should be, weighing orders against the approaching Germans. Bishop approaches, unconcerned when he hears about the dead prisoner; Stamps, horrified with Angelo’s graphic report of the St. Anna violence, is furious at Bishop’s nonchalance. He blames Bishop for sending Train after Angelo, framing it as the inciting incident of all their troubles.