Ruggero Amalfi, the self-proclaimed 'man of culture', had entered stealthily, his eyes scanning the room with predatory intent. He moved cautiously, unaware of where the prized 'Don Quixote' volumes might be hidden. Without a moment's hesitation, Enzo sprang to his feet, barking fiercely.

Fred followed suit, quickly rising from his chair. "Enzo, get him!" he shouted, and the loyal canine lunged at Ruggero with fierce determination.

Ruggero, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock. Enzo's growling and barking filled the room, a cacophony of protective fury. Fred advanced, determined to protect his home.

Ruggero desperately tried to fend off the dog, but Enzo's unrelenting attack left him with little choice but to retreat. As Ruggero scrambled to escape, Fred joined in, grabbing Ruggero's arm and attempting to restrain him. The struggle was intense, with furniture knocked askew in the chaos. With a final, frantic shove, Ruggero managed to break free from Fred's grasp. He shot a venomous look at Fred and Enzo before fleeing through the window and disappearing into the night.

As Fred surveyed the mess Ruggero had left behind, he couldn't understand why the man had broken into their home. Little did he know that Ruggero's obsession with the 'Don Quixote' volumes was just beginning, and this failed attempt was only the start of his determined pursuit.

A week later, Fred received a letter from a local shoemaker inviting him to become an apprentice and instructing him to attend an interview early the next morning. The shoemaker, who lived on the other side of the river, had nine sons and two daughters, all eager to inherit his trade. Intrigued, Fred wondered why, with so many children to carry on his craft, the shoemaker still sought an additional apprentice. Although he felt somewhat suspicious, he ultimately decided to accept the invitation because of the promising job opportunity.

The following day, when it was time to get up, Fred had a hard time fighting the temptation to sleep a bit longer, as waking up early was never his habit. The bed felt irresistibly comfortable, and the call of sleep was almost overpowering. Just as he was about to give in, the thought of securing a job appeared in his mind. This gave him the motivation to overcome the temptation and rise from his bed. He quickly dressed. Then he set out with Enzo. The morning air was crisp and fresh. To reach the shoemaker's place, Fred needed to cross a quaint stone bridge that spanned a gently flowing river and then walk half a mile through a countryside path.

However, as they approached the bridge, Fred noticed a sign indicating that it was closed for repairs. After some searching, they found a narrow path that led to a makeshift footbridge further downstream. The bridge looked old but sturdy enough to cross. Carefully, they made their way across the footbridge.

Once across, they continued along the dirt path, which wound through a dense forest.

As they emerged from the forest, they were greeted by a flood of sunshine.  In the distance, he spotted a beautiful old house. As he approached, he saw an elderly man was struggling with a heavy bag.

Upon seeing Fred, the old man called out, "Young man, could you lend me a hand with this burden?"  Fred hesitated, feeling the press of time on his shoulders. But seeing the old man's struggle, he decided to help. He nodded and approached the man. "Of course, sir," he replied, taking hold of the bag.

Together, they entered the old house. Fred saw that the house looked as if nobody had been living there for a long time.

The old man led Fred and Enzo through a hall and up a winding staircase. "We need to take this to the top floor," he explained. The house was four stories high, and the climb was arduous. The weight of the bag pressed heavily on Fred's shoulders.

As they ascended, Fred couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The old man's eyes seemed to glint with a strange light, and his movements were almost too fluid, too graceful for someone of his apparent age. Fred wondered whether the old man was truly who he appeared to be.

Finally, they reached the top floor. The old man opened a door, revealing a room filled with strange, bubbling concoctions and mysterious equipment. Fred set the bag down with a sigh of relief, his muscles aching from the effort.

"Thank you, young man," the old man said. "Would you care to stay for lunch? I've prepared a meal that I'm sure you'll find delightful."

Fred hesitated. He was due for an appointment and knew he shouldn't be late. "I'm sorry, but I really must be going," he replied.

But the old man insisted, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Please, I insist. It would be a shame for you to leave without tasting my cooking." He gestured to a table laden with food.

Fred was tempted and hesitated. The food smelled wonderful, and his stomach growled in response. But then, his father's teachings rose up in his mind, reminding him of the importance of punctuality. He realized that he should not be late for his appointment.

"I'm sorry, but I must go," Fred said firmly, stepping back from the table. The old man's expression darkened, and for a moment, Fred thought he saw a flicker of anger in his eyes.

As Fred turned to leave, the old man's expression changed abruptly. With a swift motion, he pulled out a hidden bag of soporific powder and threw its contents at Fred. He stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding the powder. The old man's face twisted into a malicious grin.

Fred's heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to find an escape. Just then, Enzo, sensing the danger, leaped at the old man, barking fiercely. The sudden attack caught the old man off guard, and he stumbled, giving Fred a precious moment to run. Fred ran down the staircase. He could hear the old man rapidly chasing behind him.

Reaching the ground floor, Fred spotted an open window and made a split-second decision. He leaped through it, landing on the grass outside, he scrambled to his feet and ran, with Enzo close on his heels.

Fred didn't stop running until he was far from the house. Then Fred resumed his journey.

The road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree, and a sign indicated that the path was closed to pedestrians. Fred sighed, realizing they would need to find yet another way. Consulting his map, he decided to take a longer route via a hill road that meandered up and around the forest.

The hill road was steep and rocky. Fred and Enzo trudged onward, their pace slowing as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Both Fred and Enzo became very tired and hungry.

Suddenly, a food hawker appeared, carrying two plates filled with fragrant food. It seemed as if he was offering the food to them. Driven by instinct, Enzo leapt forward without hesitation and began eating from one of the plates.  Animals act on instinct, but humans are different—they can make conscious choices.  Fred hesitated; he faced a dilemma where reason and feeling battled for control. Fred struggled to decide. In a moment of prudence, he chose not to eat.  The food, as it turned out, was soporific. To Fred’s horror, Enzo collapsed and lay motionless.

(To be continued)