Don Carina Novel




   Authors Bio

   Plot

   WWII Naples

   Out-Takes

   WWII Heroines

   Mafia Films

   Peace Not War

   Artwork
Female Heroes of WWII     Novels/Screenplays    Meet The Author    Home

Out-Takes from Don Carina

It's difficult for a writer, but many times good, interesting scenes and segments must be removed from your book. Fortunately, websites allow them to live again. Here are some scenes cut from the book that I believe you will enjoy.

Russo's Biggest Scam Russo is the head of the Naples Camorra before the war. He recounts one of his biggest scams prior to the war.

"I'm told you're a guy that can get things done," the weathered, salty sea captain said to me.

"I've been able to help a few people from time to time," Russo told him. "How can I help?"

"I don't know how to say it. I can't find my fucking ship in the harbor."

"What?"

"Yes, I know it's the damndest thing. My crew and I came ashore for a meal before unloading the ship, and when we came back to the dock she was gone, all nineteen hundred tons of her."

"No!" Russo said to the Captain.

"Yes sir. We looked all over the harbor, no sign of it."

"Did you have any crew left on board?"

"We left two guys behind, no sign of 'em. We talked to the harbor master and he showed us as still docked. No damn sign of the damned ship. He said it hadn't sailed out of the harbor. He didn't know what to tell us beyond that. The harbor master pointed me in your direction."

"Ouch. That can't be good to lose your ship, Captain, eh?" Russo kidded him.

"No, I don't believe the Clarke Steam Ship Company gives me no bonus over that."

"What about contacting your company?"

"Well, I thought I'd try seeing if you could help me first. I don't know if someone stole it, or what to think, but my job's on pretty thin ice as it is after a little drunken episode that...well you don't need to hear about that. Don't think they'd be too happy me losing their ship like that."

"What's the name of the ship and what was your cargo?"

"The Alexandra, British, we come up from the Ivory Coast carrying sugar, tea and coffee mostly. We dropped anchor here in Napoli for a quick stop, unloading mostly coffee here, before heading back home. We're 'spected to sail back to London tomorrow. I could pay you a little. Maybe even show up in England a few bags short of sugar and coffee, if you catch my drift."

"Yes, that'll work." Russo scratched his head. "How long can you give me to see what I can find out?"

"Sorry to say, but if I gotta report back no later than 4 o'clock today. I'm already late and who knows what messages the home office has been sendin' to the ships radio."

"Only four hours. Damn, I don't know what I can do for you but I'll check around. I do know the harbor and the city better than anyone. I'll ask a few questions see what I can find out."

"That'd be great, Signore Russo."

"I suggest you meet me back here at 3:45 this afternoon."

"I'll do that. Thanks." The Captain walked away.

Russo went to the phone and dialed a number, "Okay, you've got until 3:30 Tony."

3:45 rolled around and the Captain half staggered up to me, the stench of fresh alcohol saturated the Captain's breath. "Well, am I walkin' the plank or did you find my ship?"

"Good news, Captain. I found the Alexandra docked up the coast a ways. About a half dozen men were just starting to unload some of your cargo. They ran off on seeing my men. Sorry we couldn't catch them for you but they had a boat waiting and took off in a flash. Your two men were tied up and blindfolded, down below."

"Very good. How did you find it so quickly?"

"Like I said, I know what goes on around here and I've got lots of ears around the city."

"Well, thank you. I better report all this to the authorities," the Captain said.

Russo told him, "In your position Captain, may I suggest you be happy to get the ship back and let things lie."

"You're probably right. Better to keep the whole embarrassing secret hush, hush," the Captain placed his finger over his mouth indicating 'hush.' "I better get back and shove off, now." He turned and started to weave off.

"Did you forget something, Captain?" The Captain looks back a bit puzzled. Russo said, "I remember talk of some sugar and coffee."

"Oh, yeah. Send down a couple guys with a truck and I'll drop off some coffee and sugar," the Captain again used the hush sign and gave me a wink.

"Will do," I replied. "Now may I suggest you get back to your ship." The Captain saluted me and I saluted back, then he turned and weaved his way toward the docks."Go help him back to his ship and pick up the goods, Tony," I said to one of my guys. Tony ran after the Captain.

Four of Russo's guys came back. One of them came over to me and whispered, "Like you said Prince, we unloaded about a third of the sugar then refilled the bags with white sand and stacked those first with the real bags of sugar on top."

Russo smiled at his little scam and said, "Next month, there are going to be some of the lousiest tea parties in Merry Ol' England." Everyone laughed. I passed out a stack of lira to each of my guys.

Alonzo asked, "Why didn't we take all the cargo, Russo?"

Russo bopped him playfully on the head, "If we take it all silly, the Captain would have to file a police report. The key to a good scam is to make everyone happy."

"You're the Prince, Russo," Alonzo said.

Big Tony bowed to Russo and said, "And we are your Royal Court."

"I'd say the kingdom is in trouble," Russo said and they all laughed.

Further tutoring of Carina by Doctor DiScullo: "Let's talk a little more about Octavian as he is so important to the history of our country and the world. Nephew of Caesar, Augustus caught the admiration of his uncle when he served under him in the Spanish wars of 46 BC. Caesar named him his successor at his death a few years later. Many powers were pulling Rome apart. Antony, one of Caesar's commanders, threatened Rome with his army and lived openly with Cleopatra of Egypt."

"I read a translation of Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare. It was very exciting," I said.

"Yes, indeed. Antony was out for himself, though, and not in the best interest of his country. For 14 years Augustus skillfully built political allies in the tricky world of Roman politics and won the Roman Senate and people to his side. With the authority of the Senate, Augustus raised an army and eventually defeated Antony with daring strategies."

"What a time that must have been to live, under Augustus."

"Unlike the Emperors that followed him, Augustus lived modestly and gave much of his personal wealth to help Rome. He brought safety to Rome with great public works projects including: the worlds first large scale fire department and flood control; reduction of street crime; extension of the highway system connecting Rome with its far-flung empire which stimulated trade; development of an efficient postal service; and rebuilt Rome with the construction of many bridges, aqueducts, temples and public buildings adorned with beautiful works of art. He was a master of governmental organization. It was his Roman virtue of Fermitas—his tenacity and strength of purpose—that brought Rome its greatest prosperity and peace in its thousand year reign and still affects civilization to this day."