The first foot put out of the prison police van erupts in applause. It seems like the greeting of a community, “at least that part that knows how to put the human side before judicial considerations”, a resident wants to clarify. «Well done Chico!», shouts from the crowd, and some chant a «Hip hip hurrah». Enrico Forti looks around, his eyes hollow from tension and perhaps from tiredness. Moreover, his uncle, Gianni, confessed that his nephew hasn’t slept for days. Chico takes a few seconds to look at those present among whom friends, journalists and onlookers mingle. With bright eyes, a quick glance all around, Forti never takes his smile off his face. Bring your fist close to your heart and wave, then he walks towards the entrance hall of his house, the one he hasn’t seen for 27 years, tormenting the visor of a cap in his hands. A catwalk that will cause discussion, “but from tomorrow”, the crowd points out. Even Gianni Forti, despite waiting for this moment for a quarter of a century, is not entirely prepared. First he sits in front of the penitentiary van with his hands behind his back, wearing down the asphalt while waiting for the door to open. Then he thinks better of it and waits for his nephew in the hall. For someone he wants to try to recover some intimacy. It is 3.03pm when Forti’s van crosses the last curve and quickly sneaks into a side street that leads to the back entrance, taking the hundred people who have been waiting for him in front of the main entrance off guard since the morning.
The visit lasted four hours
The two hour delay compared to the announced time did not deter anyone. «I remember him fifty years ago», «I met him through television», «Are we waiting for him? Of course, everyone.” There are those who remember him “still when he had curls”, those who are merely curious and also those who are “annoyed by the somewhat biased treatment he received from Prime Minister Meloni”. Four hours later, the visiting time granted by the Surveillance Court of Venice, Forti leaves the house and at 6.52pm gets back into the penitentiary van. “It went well, thanks,” he smiles. And she leaves again in the direction of the Veronese prison. Number 12 in Piazza General Cantore remains guarded for most of the day, and not only by the Digos and the police, with the officers clearing out the cars parked in front of the condominium from ten o’clock. The cameras are nailed to the entrance of the Forti house, where Maria Loner, 96, is waiting to hug her son sixteen years after the last time, together with Stefano, Chico’s brother. «I’m happy that she is here and that she can finally hug her mother again, but I don’t know if she will be happy to find all these people», ventures Amalia Mari. In fact, someone looks out of the windows, the most respectful “lurk” a few meters away, where the pavement makes a slight curve, and pop their heads out. The tables of the Zinzorla bar instead become a sort of front row: «I’m happy that he has returned to Italy, contrary to some newspapers», says Giancarlo. «This is the right epilogue», cuts off his friend Carlo Alberto Covelli. The more time passes, the more false alarms accumulate.
Memories of friends
The dark vans that slow down make you jump up and many grab their cell phones to take home a souvenir video. Gianni Forti eases the tension with a drink of water and lemon, and when asked how long until arrival he replies with a smile: “I will protest against the ministry.” But even his lifelong friends continue to keep their eyes on the clock. «He was with me the first time he touched the water of Lake Garda – says Gianfranco Tonelli, president of the surfing and sailing club at the time – Chico was and remains a volcano». «We have known each other since we were fifteen – says Franz Bridi – In ’79 Chico and I opened the first windsurfing school in Italy. I know him well, it is impossible that he committed a crime.” Tonelli and Bridi are part of the «A chance for Chico» committee, and together with Sergio Boscheri and Vittorio Ciurletti they promise: «As soon as possible we will go and visit him in prison». Even the parents of the singer Michele Cristoforetti, who dedicated a song to Forti before dying of leukemia, are waiting. Also present was provincial councilor Walter KaswalderForti’s former high school classmate, is certain that “Chico will start again in a great way.”
