McHale riprende: «E sulla distribuzione ci siamo. Manca però l’approvvigionamento. Se in Italia si trovavano solo ‘pozzanghere’, come avete fatto a rendere stabili e costanti le forniture?».
«Alcuni suoi illustri connazionali mi etichettarono a dovere: “petroliere senza petrolio”. Erano i primi mesi all’Agip, ingenuamente andai alla ricerca di petrolio e gas da chi bramava mettere le mani su ciò che non avevo la benché minima intenzione di smantellare. Fu una riunione molto rapida, appena mi resi conto their arrogance would never listened to those who had ruined the cake, I got up, courteously greeted and taken the plane back home. Determined, stubborn as I am, to do everything myself. "
"Yet, you did not have the technology to carry out such an activity."
"They had the courage and will. Now I can say that there are enough. "
"You have defied the power of companies that move the world."
"That's why we are now hovering in the air, is not it? Soprannominai the 'Seven Sisters', a family of incestuous relationships. Powerful, powerful. The Heads of State and Government bowed before them. Sfruttai that their strength. "
'It is therefore fair to say that he challenged? ".
"Not really. I dare not, I'm not going to react. I act. I realized that in that relationship of superiority to politics I could find the crack to enter Eni.
McHale is confused: "How?".
"I am committed to give a face to deny that, in the crisis that gripped them from the 50s, might find redemption and a chance to become historical forces. You see, the big companies offering ridiculous percentage of revenues due to political pressure. I could not focus on pushing political support of the same caliber, I decided to act on Social Development and economic development of those countries. If the seven sisters were offering fifty-fifty, why not give twenty-five percent more? Three quarters of them, they were entitled. The rest of us and no intermediaries. We need oil and we Eni: we will go to take without any intervening elements to parasitize percentage on contracts. Linear, no? It is a cynical argument, I know but at the same time, justice, sovereignty of both sides, and clearing the architecture on which the system was sustained. Italy has a geopolitical position of the first order who asked us to be exploited, while the countries with which the resources available to speak to us as they served them. There you could tell in the blink of an eye because, despite decolonization, could not be said to be still at large and even we were. There was a solidarity fund and Italy among them, an affinity that was born from a similar situation. The advantage was mutual, and my quota system has made school so much that two years ago producing countries have joined together to check contracts even better. It was a chain reaction that I am proud to have started. A devastating domino that undermined the foundations of the entire framework of the cartel. "
"To this we owe our success in obtaining your supplies?".
"Basically yes, the respect I have for people and countries, rather than for oil or for money in itself. Here again we were in tune. In addition, agreed to bear the entire burden of risk. The contract was signed under the conditions that only after I said that Eni had completed - at our expense, and possibly successful - drilling operations research. I count on the fingers of one hand the agreements, under the counter or in the light of the sun, we were not able to bring to an end. A miracle given that we could rely on ourselves and that's it. "
"We start with Iran."
"and continued with Jordan, Tunisia, Libya, Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco. "
"The Soviet Union ...."
'too. I still remember the reactions displaced: those who accused me of opening to the devil, who does not follow the doctrine. The operation was by Luigi Longo, secretary of the Communist Party that gave me the opportunity to meet Nikita Khrushchev. I met him during the resistance and, despite the wide gap - between a lot of quotes - "ideal" that separated us then and now, helped me willingly. The doctrine did not interest me. Italy was in need of oil, the Soviet Union of extraction technologies and transportation. There we had them 100 million dollars of industrial supplies by Italian companies, us 100 million dollars worth of oil, more than one third of national demand of the time. Given the figures, we would have lowered the fat percentage on the price of the Seven Sisters cartel with incalculable benefits for the state finances and the people's pockets. Only fools would not allow the agreement was signed, but after today, I doubt will have a future to the expectations. "
"Why?".
"Why not a trade agreement. The world at Yalta was divided into two zones of influence, with Europe broken up and left the land of conquest. Italy is paying the center and is working Fanfani - for the little that is granted - at a mediating position that attempts to stretch the likely conflict and, in the meantime, try to bring out our country on the chessboard. Can not do everything alone and it has, or rather had, me. "
"Do you think that the woven fabric can break up until now?".
"The plane on fire is a good warning. It will not be the only one. "
"We continue on supplies: Egypt."
"One of our best partners. Nasser is really a free man, of justice, which he did not nationalize any problem with the most important asset of his country: the Suez Canal. "
"He led his country into war."
"was needed."
"Some have noted a resemblance between you."
"There was. I knew when I realized that one look was enough to be clear. "
McHale does a half smile: "Jordan, Egypt, etc ... However, a country lacking in that area."
"What?".
"Israel."
"He's oil?".
"A few reservations."
Mattei wink: "well, then we are not interested. Closed here. "
"Back in Italy?"
"Better."
"Let's Eni.
"Better yet."
"Why, after having picked up the Agip and have it re-established, has not decided to sell? On the other hand was his task, perhaps modified by events but still the reason for which it was made public at the helm. "
"says it well: public company."
"So?".
'company, public. First: the company, I have done, saved and developed. The public company, prior to public company and is not a charity. First, then, budgetary discipline and management. After an initial period in which we guarantee loans and begged with my personal and industrial properties, they are then able to do a great job. In secundis: public. Public company, the better it sounds now? If he had not a task well beyond the accounting would be a limited company or a corporation, we agree? Instead we are faced with something beyond the Budget to close Dec. 31. "
"I'm afraid I do not understand."
"I can see for miles that his training is far from that. Make yourself comfortable, we're not under a welfarist social democracy. The public company is not a hospice charity, as he said President Einaudi. Nor is a company that dividends must be disconnected to please some rich bored decides to gamble on the course of his securities. If the economy is political, the company is a public policy tool. If the policy should result in sovereignty and independence, as in my view, Eni has a few keys to traverse this path. Without Eni, without the public industry, the policy would remain in the legislative branch to act without any pick in society, in industrial relations in diplomatic relations. "
"He's giving justice to those who indicate on the Board of Directors of Eni a shadow government."
"But as a shadow government! I work for the Italian government, are in effect an employee, and from what I do and risk, perhaps not even take che stipendio. Ho certo una forte autonomia, ma sta a Palazzo Chigi staccare l’assegno a fine mese. Sono un funzionario come altri, con una testa dura e un’idea di Stato diversa da quella che possono avere i membri del Consiglio dei Ministri».
«Di privatizzazione quindi non se ne parla?».
«Quando se ne parlerà vorrà dire che chi di dovere avrà fatto il suo sporco gioco e si dovrà ricostruire da zero la sovranità e l’indipendenza dell’Italia».
«Parla come se fosse il ministro degli esteri».
«Me lo chiedo anche io ogni tanto. Sarà che, forse, sotto sotto, la politica estera dell’Italia la facciamo a Metanopoli e non di fianco lo stadio Olimpico?».
"Sovereignty is a word the applicant. What does it mean? ".
"Having the opportunity to independently choose the path to the future. The future belongs to those who decide the future should be made and created from one: sovereignty is a state of mind before a political practice. Sovereignty is what binds the members and is the foundation of the State of each state. On the practical side, a key role is assigned to the energy sector that was struggling to rebuild. "
"How?".
"centralizing. Try to think about: Eni, the national oil agency, which refers ad un solo ambito. Provi a riflettere su questa altra sigla: Ene, ente nazionale energia. Un organismo unitario, a completo controllo pubblico, cui è riservata la produzione e la distribuzione dell’energia elettrica, del gas, del petrolio e a cui è assegnato il monopolio sui carburanti. In quest’ottica si inquadrano anche gli investimenti che stiamo operando nel nucleare, la fonte con la F maiuscola, il futuro per decenni a venire: e non esagero. In Italia vi è una crescente domanda di energia, la centralizzazione può essere l’unico modo sia per soddisfarla che per veicolare uno sviluppo armonico e uniforme dell’intero paese, a prezzi accessibili per tutti».
«Se si oppone alla privatizzazione, chiude also leads to the liberalization of the sector? ".
"In economics, the 'absolute' are rare, and among these, is a natural monopoly. Given the necessary infrastructure, it seems that the many and too many operators would be able to support the huge investment costs and management? There are two options: you delegate to a single private operator, even stranger, leaving him free to do the good and the bad weather, or you assign control to the state. Not any one state but a state whose government and whose leaders have in mind the priorities of the historical moment. A state in which tasks are assigned to elite able to interpret the needs. "
"means a State Ethics?".
"Call it as you wish. I'm not interested in definitions, goals and outcomes of interest. "
"If you contemplate a similar situation in the United States would take me for a Bolshevik and risk internment."
"Because you are a sovereign country, your army and your web diplomatic cover you shoulder. We do not and we need the weapons contracts, public industry, the guarantee of access to goods that are becoming fundamental to consumer and economic development. "
"He made many enemies?".
"Look at her, our plane has just exploded."
"The last, in order of time?".
"A few months ago Indro Montanelli, under pressure from someone who has passed internal documents, has launched a press campaign against Eni, leveraging broken laws and so on. From a legal point of view has every reason in the world, but I have not yet understood for whom and for what we're working. "
"She has a newspaper, could answer."
"Yes, I founded and supported" The Day "with distractions from the balance sheet of Eni. Its function would be propaganda, but of trust and Eni not to inform the Italians to what was being done. I was forced to use it for a defensive weapon, given the attacks that came from all sides. "
«A proposito di distrazioni dal bilancio, quanto c’è di vero sul finanziamento ai partiti?».
«Non sono dogmatico e mi posso permettere di considerare i partiti, se disponibili ad aiutarmi dal PCI al Movimento Sociale, come dei taxi. Salgo, pago la corsa e scendo. Senza pregiudiziali ideologiche. Lei forse, prima di prendere un taxi, chiede se l’autista ha votato Democratico o Repubblicano?».
«No, certo che no».
«Per l’appunto».
«Certo che la differenza tra un partito ed un taxi è abissale».
«In cosa? Siamo in una democrazia delegata, gli uomini di partito altro non sono che dei veicoli».
"If you have such a low opinion of Italian political institutions, because it finances?".
"Why are unfortunately the only ones who can and could - as the crash we are going to do - finance - at the political level of course - my project to Italy and to which has not in some external group its strategic importance."
"It will be realized?".
"Fanfani has something in Serbian, but makes vague. Time here for a month will play the ace. I am convinced, I trust him having regard to the school from which it comes. "
Bertuzzi smiled, pleased, "a few years ago, say you would not have said a score the same."
"Maybe, but I am able to change your mind when you need it," replied Mattei with the ruthlessness and the nice irony that mark.
McHale continued: "Have you ever been afraid, for you and your family?".
'Again? Our plane has just exploded. "
"So she came up with."
"It was not fear. The fear and phobia are for the weak of spirit, I was convinced of the opposite path, and I knew I was right. At the same time I was aware that I could end badly. I was right and I'm proud of: it means that I have worked well. "
The effect of decompression is fading.
"That's it?" chiede adombrato McHale, forse rattristato dal dover chiudere la più importante e bella conversazione della sua vita.
«Penso di sì», rispondono insieme Mattei e Bertuzzi.
«Chi la sta uccidendo?»
«“Tutti” le va bene come risposta? Ho pestato i piedi a troppe persone, ho una memoria di ferro per ricordarmi le offese subite e sono sempre riuscito a presentare il conto. Mi creda, passeranno anni prima che dicano chiaramente che ci hanno fatto saltare. Tempo qui a pochi mesi gli atti giudiziari parleranno di un banale guasto allo spinterogeno o qualcosa di simile, e archivieranno il tutto come un problema di manutenzione. Qualcuno, probabilmente innocente o con un ruolo non più che marginale, sarà convicted and live happily. "
"Who are the worst people she has met or collided?".
"In order?".
"Rank, always number."
"Cefis.
McHale interrupts him: "there is behind him?".
"It may be, it is likely but now I do not care. Whether it was he who put the explosive, which is the principal, which is absolutely alien and has even tried to warn me, remains the worst in the history of Eni and I think, ultimately, also of Italy. My biggest mistake: Having regard to where he came from school and saw the formation of Atlantic non avrei mai dovuto assumerlo. Dal rumore di queste lamiere che si contorcono sento che sarà lui, appena gli sarà possibile, a prendere il mio posto. Farà carriera perché ha potenzialità ed entrature politiche, finanziarie e culturali, ma sarà il requiem dell’Eni per come l’ho voluta costruire».
«Qualcuno intravede dietro Cefis l’ombra di Fanfani».
«Balle e complottismo d’accatto. Si frequentano, come posso frequentare io l’ambasciata Americana e allo stesso tempo quella Sovietica. Vista la carica di dirigente pubblico sarebbe strano il contrario.
Al secondo posto Sturzo, da quando ho scelto di non privatizzare l’Agip se l’è legata al finger. Not to mention the workshops Gear! Non-state, inter-, Communism and Marxism spurious white blah ... After their rescue became a center of excellence in the field of oil extraction technologies and plant design. Meanwhile, we have saved thousands of jobs and thousands of families out of poverty. Who was right? ".
"You and La Pira.
"Wrong: the job was right, always right because it mobilizes for a purpose. My men were aware of. " Bertuzzi
applaud the journalist is shocked and tries to recover in a minute, "Montanelli?.
"You dislike summer mosquito buzzing around my head. I do not feel resentment for those who do not understand. Travaglio that person .... "
"By the way, Eni's future?".
"Do not depend on me. Not even depend on some divine will. It depends on the men, the only members to write his - and their own - destiny. On Cefis shrouds pitiful. We are fortunate not immortal and Eni's will survive somehow, despite all that will be able to un-make. With us
Italy has partially broken the geographical and political condition of dwarfism in which it had been confined after their defeat in the war. Sooner or later, perhaps it will take decades, someone will notice and then come back Eni ad essere uno dei motori della nostra affermazione e della ricerca di uno spazio vitale per il paese».
«Torniamo in tuffo tra i personaggi. I migliori?».
«Nasser, già gliene ho parlato. Fanfani, equilibrista tra gli interessi imposti dal vostro paese e volontà più o meno nascosta di assecondarmi. S’inventò pure il termine “neoatlantismo” a dire che il suo non era uno sganciamento ma un ripensamento della nostra posizione; bella operazione di trucco e parrucco, da morir dal ridere.
Giorgio la Pira, amico e artefice dello sviluppo delle Pignone nonché graditissimo consulente. Idealista nell’animo e allo stesso tempo pragmatico in practice, was the first to urge them to look to the Middle East.
Ideally, anyone who cares about sovereignty. I have always felt at ease with men and independent above the miserable games. You can do business with them without thinking that they can betray you when the shoulders. If you are free, and are and will remain so, are men of words. They can fight back, weave the dark, covert agreement: it is politics, not to recognize out of the game is to ask yourself, especially when you're dealing with people in such baseness bases his empire. Okay, however, never! Do not give half-answers. Men who have gone to war, and volunteers aware of the risks in play, beyond the party with whom they were deployed. Entirely sincere. "
The silence at the end of these words. The faces are brightened by the moonlight above the storm. Mattei smiles, he deviates and reaches the mini Morane Saulnier on which they are still in the air, "like a martini?".
"For sure!" He says McHale.
'award - Bertuzzi still echoes in his command post - ice and lemon. "
"Go for a drink then. Italy. Eni, the Sovereign. "
"A Enrico Mattei."
"To Us."
In the few seconds before the end, McHale has a thought for the man with whom he shared il suo ultimo viaggio. Ha riunito l’Italia all’Eni: Fascisti, volontari della Repubblica Sociale, democristiani e partigiani. Un esperimento di organicità su piccola scala, ardito quanto di successo. La sua dinastia, il suo coraggio e la sua volontà finiranno con lui, pensa. Lascerà un grande rimpianto nei cuori di chi lo ha amato e in quelli di chi ha lavorato per lui. Un filare di pioppi piegato, gli occhi di pochi contadini poi ridotti al silenzio, fiamme che squarciano il buio. L’Italia lo rimpiangerà, forse già tra pochi anni quando l’esplosione dell’aereo sarà ripetuta nelle piazze, nelle stazioni, sui treni, nelle banche. Il cherosene avrà l’odore delle pietre della corona della regina, dei limoni della sponda est del Mediterraneo, di lembi di tessuto a stelle e strisce. L’Italia si ritroverà terra di nessuno. Sarà la triste sorte di gloria degli inattuali.