百年孤独(英文版)-第19部分

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el　in　the　war。　When　he　was　alone；　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía　consoled　himself　with　the　dream　of　the　infinite　rooms。　He　dreamed　that　he　was　getting　out　of　bed；　opening　the　door　and　going　into　an　identical　room　with　the　same　bed　with　a　wroughtiron　head；　the　same　wicker　chair；　and　the　same　small　picture　of　the　Virgin　of　Help　on　the　back　wall。　From　that　room　he　would　go　into　another　that　was　just　the　same；　the　door　of　which　would　open　into　another　that　was　just　the　same；　the　door　of　which　would　open　into　another　one　just　the　same；　and　then　into　another　exactly　alike；　and　so　on　to　infinity。　He　liked　to　go　from　room　to　room。　As　in　a　gallery　of　parallel　mirrors；　until　Prudencio　Aguilar　would　touch　him　on　the　shoulder。　Then　he　would　go　back　from　room　to　room；　walking　in　reverse；　going　back　over　his　trail；　and　he　would　find　Prudencio　Aguilar　in　the　room　of　reality。　But　one　night；　two　weeks　after　they　took　him　to　his　bed；　Prudencio　Aguilar　touched　his　shoulder　in　an　intermediate　room　and　he　stayed　there　forever；　thinking　that　it　was　the　real　room。　On　the　following　morning　？rsula　was　bringing　him　his　breakfast　when　she　saw　a　man　ing　along　the　hall。　He　was　short　and　stocky；　with　a　black　suit　on　and　a　hat　that　was　also　black；　enormous；　pulled　down　to　his　taciturn　eyes。　“Good　Lord；？？rsula　thought；　“I　could　have　sworn　it　was　Melquíades。？It　was　Cataure；　Visitación’s　brother；　who　had　left　the　house　fleeing　from　the　insomnia　plague　and　of　whom　there　had　never　been　any　news。　Visitación　asked　him　why　he　had　e　back；　and　he　answered　her　in　their　solemn　language：
　　　“I　have　e　for　the　exequies　of　the　king。？
　　　Then　they　went　into　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía’s　room；　shook　him　as　hard　as　they　could；　shouted　in　his　ear；　put　a　mirror　in　front　of　his　nostrils；　but　they　could　not　awaken　him。　A　short　time　later；　when　the　carpenter　was　taking　measurements　for　the　coffin；　through　the　window　they　saw　a　light　rain　of　tiny　yellow　flowers　falling。　They　fell　on　the　town　all　through　the　night　in　a　silent　storm；　and　they　covered　the　roofs　and　blocked　the　doors　and　smothered　the　animals　who　dept　outdoors。　So　many　flowers　fell　from　the　sky　that　in　the　morning　the　streets　were　carpeted　with　a　pact　cushion　and　they　had　to　clear　them　away　with　shovels　and　rakes　so　that　the　funeral　procession　could　pass　by。

Chapter　8
SITTNG　IN　THE　WICKER　ROCKING　chair　with　her　interrupted　work　in　her　lap；　Amaranta　watched　Aureliano；　Jos？；　his　chin　covered　with　foam；　stropping　his　razor　to　give　himself　his　first　shave。　His　blackheads　bled　and　he　cut　his　upper　lip　as　he　tried　to　shape　a　mustache　of　blond　fuzz　and　when　it　was　all　over　he　looked　the　same　as　before；　but　the　laborious　process　gave　Amaranta　the　feeling　that　she　had　begun　to　grow　old　at　that　moment。
　　　“You　look　just　like　Aureliano　when　he　was　your　age；？she　said。　“You’re　a　man　now。？
　　　He　had　been　for　a　long　time；　ever　since　that　distant　day　when　Amaranta　thought　he　was　still　a　child　and　continued　getting　undressed　in　front　of　him　in　the　bathroom　as　she　had　always　done；　as　she　had　been　used　to　doing　ever　since　Pilar　Ternera　had　turned　him　over　to　her　to　finish　his　upbringing。　The　first　time　that　he　saw　her　the　only　thing　that　drew　his　attention　was　the　deep　depression　between　her　breasts。　He　was　so　innocent　that　he　asked　her　what　had　happened　to　her　and　Amaranta　pretended　to　dig　into　her　breasts　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers　and　answered：　“They　gave　me　some　terrible　cuts。？Some　time　later；　when　she　had　recovered　from　Pietro　Crespi’s　suicide　and　would　bathe　with　Aureliano　Jos？again；　he　no　longer　paid　attention　to　the　depression　but　felt　a　strange　trembling　at　the　sight　of　the　splendid　breasts　with　their　brown　nipples。　He　kept　on　examining　her；　discovering　the　miracle　of　her　intimacy　inch　by　inch；　and　he　felt　his　skin　tingle　as　he　contemplated　the　way　her　skin　tingled　when　it　touched　the　water。　Ever　since　he　was　a　small　child　he　had　the　custom　of　leaving　his　hammock　and　waking　up　in　Amaranta’s　bed；　because　contact　with　her　was　a　way　of　overing　his　fear　of　the　dark。　But　since　that　day　when　he　became　aware　of　his　own　nakedness；　it　was　not　fear　of　the　dark　that　drove　him　to　crawl　in　under　her　mosquito　netting　but　an　urge　to　feel　Amaranta’s　warm　breathing　at　dawn。　Early　one　morning　during　the　time　when　she　refused　Colonel　Gerineldo　Márquez；　Aureliano　Jos？awoke　with　the　feeling　that　he　could　not　breathe。　He　felt　Amaranta’s　fingers　searching　across　his　stomach　like　warm　and　anxious　little　caterpillars。　Pretending　to　sleep；　he　changed　his　position　to　make　it　easier；　and　then　he　felt　the　hand　without　the　black　bandage　diving　like　a　blind　shellfish　into　the　algae　of　his　anxiety。　Although　they　seemed　to　ignore　what　both　of　them　knew　and　what　each　one　knew　that　the　other　knew；　from　that　night　on　they　were　yoked　together　in　an　inviolable　plicity。　Aureliano　Jos？could　not　get　to　sleep　until　he　heard　the　twelveo’clock　waltz　on　the　parlor　dock；　and　the　mature　maiden　whose　skin　was　beginning　to　grow　sad　did　not　have　a　moments？rest　until　she　felt　slip　in　under　her　mosquito　netting　that　sleepwalker　whom　she　had　raised；　not　thinking　that　he　would　be　a　palliative　for　her　solitude。　Later　they　not　only　slept　together；　naked；　exchanging　exhausting　caresses；　but　they　would　also　chase　each　other　into　the　corners　of　the　house　and　shut　themselves　up　in　the　bedrooms　at　any　hour　of　the　day　in　a　permanent　state　of　unrelieved　excitement。　They　were　almost　discovered　by　？rsula　one　afternoon　when　she　went　into　the　granary　as　they　were　starting　to　kiss。　“Do　you　love　your　aunt　a　lot？？she　asked　Aureliano　Jos？in　an　innocent　way。　He　answered　that　he　did。　“That’s　good　of　you；？？rsula　concluded　and　finished　measuring　the　flour　for　the　bread　and　returned　to　the　kitchen。　That　episode　drew　Amaranta　out　of　her　delirium。　She　realized　that　she　had　gone　too　far；　that　she　was　no　longer　playing　kissing　games　with　a　child；　but　was　floundering　about　in　an　autumnal　passion；　one　that　was　dangerous　and　had　no　future；　and　she　cut　it　off　with　one　stroke。　Aureliano　Jos？　who　was　then　finishing　his　military　training；　finally　woke　up　to　reality　and　went　to　sleep　in　the　barracks。　On　Saturdays　he　would　go　with　the　soldiers　to　Catarino’s　store。　He　was　seeking　consolation　for　his　abrupt　solitude；　for　his　premature　adolescence　with　women　who　smelled　of　dead　flowers；　whom　he　idealized　in　the　darkness　and　changed　into　Amaranta　by　means　of　the　anxious　efforts　of　his　imagination。
　　　A　short　time　later　contradictory　news　of　the　war　began　to　e　in。　While　the　government　itself　admitted　the　progress　of　the　rebellion；　the　officers　in　Macondo　had　confidential　reports　of　the　imminence　of　a　negotiated　peace。　Toward　the　first　of　April　a　special　emissary　identified　himself　to　Colonel　Gerineldo　Márquez。　He　confirmed　the　fact　to　him　that　the　leaders　of　the　party　had　indeed　established　contact　with　the　rebel　leaders　in　the　interior　and　were　on　the　verge　of　arranging　an　armistice　in　exchange　for　three　cabinet　posts　for　the　Liberals；　a　minority　representation　in　the　congress；　and　a　general　amnesty　for　rebels　who　laid　down　their　arms。　The　emissary　brought　a　highly　confidential　order　from　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía；　who　was　not　in　agreement　with　the　terms　of　the　armistice。　Colonel　Gerineldo　Márquez　was　to　choose　five　of　his　best　men　and　prepare　to　leave　the　country　with　them。　The　order　would　be　carried　out　with　the　strictest　secrecy。　One　week　before　the　agreement　was　announced；　and　in　the　midst　of　a　storm　of　contradictory　rumors；　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　and　ten　trusted　officers；　among　them　Colonel　Roque　Carnicero；　stealthily　arrived　in　Macondo　after　midnight；　dismissed　the　garrison；　buried　their　weapons；　and　destroyed　their　records。　By　dawn　they　had　left　town；　along　with　Colonel　Gerineldo　Márquez　and　his　five　officers。　It　was　such　a　quick　and　secret　operation　that　？rsula　did　not　find　out　about　it　until　the　last　moment；　when　someone　tapped　on　her　bedroom　window　and　whispered；　“If　you　want　to　see　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía；　e　to　the　door　right　now。？？rsula　Jumped　out　of　bed　and　went　to　the　door　in　her　nightgown　and　she　was　just　able　to　see　the　horsemen　who　were　leaving　town　gallop　off　in　a　mute　cloud　of　dust。　Only　on　the　following　day　did　she　discover　that　Aureliano　Jos？had　gone　with　his　father。
　　　Ten　days　after　a　joint　muniqu？by　the　government　and　the　opposition　announced　the　end　of　the　war；　there　was　news　of　the　first　armed　uprising　of　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　on　the　western　border。　His　small　and　poorly　armed　force　was　scattered　in　less　than　a　week。　But　during　that　year；　while　Liberals　and　Conservatives　tried　to　make　the　country　believe　in　reconciliation；　he　attempted　seven　other　revolts。　One　night　he　bombarded　Riohacha　from　a　schooner　and　the　garrison　dragged　out　of　bed　and　shot　the　fourteen　bestknown　Liberals　in　the　town　as　a　reprisal。　For　more　than　two　weeks　he　held　a　customs　post　on　the　border　and　from　there　sent　the　nation　a　call　to　general　war。　Another　of　his　expectations　was　lost　for　three　months　in　the　jungle　in　a　mad　attempt　to　cross　more　than　a　thousand　miles　of　virgin　territory　in　order　to　proclaim　war　on　the　outskirts　of　the　capital。　On　one　occasion　he　was　lea　than　fifteen　miles　away　from　Macondo　and　was　obliged　by　government　patrols　to　hide　in　the　mountains；　very　close　to　the　enchanted　region　where　his　father　had　found　the　fossil　of　a　Spanish　galleon　many　years　before。
　　　Visitación　died　around　that　time。　She　had　the　pleasure　of　dying　a　natural　death　after　having　renounced　a　throne　out　of　fear　of　insomnia；　and　her　last　wish　was　that　they　should　dig　up　the　wages　she　had　saved　for　more　than　twenty　years　under　her　bed　and　send　the　money　to　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　so　that　he　could　go　on　with　the　war。　But　？rsula　did　not　bother　to　dig　it　up　because　it　was　rumored　in　those　days　that　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　had　been　killed　in　a　landing　near　the　provincial　capital。　The　official　announcement—the　fourth　in　less　than　two　years—was　considered　true　for　almost　six　months　because　nothing　further　was　heard　of　him。　Suddenly；　when　？rsula　and　Amaranta　had　added　new　mourning　to　the　past　period；　unexpected　news　arrived。　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　was　alive；　but　apparently　he　had　stopped　harassing　the　government　of　his　country　and　had　joined　with　the　victorious　federalism　of　other　republics　of　the　Caribbean。　He　would　show　up　under　different　names　farther　and　farther　away　from　his　own　country。　Later　it　would　be　learned　that　the　idea　that　was　working　on　him　at　the　time　was　the　unification　of　the　federalist　forms　of　Central　America　in　order　to　wipe　out　conservative　regimes　from　Alaska　to　Patagonia。　The　first　direct　news　that　？rsula　received　from　him；　several　years　after　his　departure；　was　a　wrinkled　and　faded　letter　that　had　arrived；　passing　through　various　hands；　from　Santiago；　Cuba。
　　　“We’ve　lost　him　forever；？？rsula　exclaimed　on　reading　it。　“If　he　follows　this　path　he’ll　spend　Christmas　at　the　ends　of　the　earth。？
　　　The　person　to　whom　she　said　it；　who　was　the　first　to　whom　she　showed　the　letter；　was　the　Conservative　general　Jos？Raquel　Moncada；　mayor　of　Macondo　since　the　end　of　the　war。　“This　Aureliano；？General　Moncada　mented；　“what　a　pity　that　he’s　not　a　Conservative。？He　really　admired　him。　Like　many　Conservative　civilians；　Jos？Raquel　Moncada　had　waged　war　in　defense　of　his　party　and　had　earned　the　title　of　general　on　the　field　of　battle；　even　though　he　was　not　a　military　man　by　profession。　On　the　contrary；　like　so　many　of　his　fellow　party　members；　he　was　an　antimilitarist。　He　considered　military　men　unprincipled　loafers；　ambitious　plotters；　experts　in　facing　down　civilians　in　order　to　prosper　during　times　of　disorder。　Intelligent；　pleasant；　ruddyfaced；　a　man　who　liked　to　eat　and　watch　cockfights；　he　had　been　at　one　time　the　most　feared　adversary　of　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía。　He　succeeded　in　imposing　his　authority　over　the　career　officers　in　a　wide　sector　along　the　coast。　One　time　when　he　was　forced　by　strategic　circumstances　to　abandon　a　stronghold　to　the　forces　of　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía；　he　left　two　letters　for　him。　In　one　of　them　quite　long；　he　invited　him　to　join　in　a　campaign　to　make　war　more　humane。　The　other　letter　was　for　his　wife；　who　lived　in　Liberal　territory；　and　he　left　it　with　a　plea　to　see　that　it　reached　its　destination。　From　then　on；　even　in　the　bloodiest　periods　of　the　war；　the　two　manders　would　arrange　truces　to　exchange　prisoners。　They　were　pauses　with　a　certain　festive　atmosphere；　which　General　Moncada　took　advantage　of　to　teach　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　how　to　play　chess。　They　became　great　friends。　They　even　came　to　think　about　the　possibility　of　coordinating　the　popular　elements　of　both　parties；　doing　away　with　the　influence　of　the　military　men　and　professional　politicians；　and　setting　up　a　humanitarian　regime　that　would　take　the　best　from　each　doctrine。　When　the　war　was　over；　while　Colonel　Aureliano；　Buendía　was　sneaking　about　through　the　narrow　trails　of　permanent　sub。　version；　General　Moncada　was　named　magistrate　of　Macondo。　He　wore　civilian　clothes；　replaced　the　soldiers　with　unarmed　policemen；　enforced　the　amnesty　laws；　and　helped　a　few　families　of　Liberals　who　had　been　killed　in　the　war。　He　succeeded　in　having　Macondo　raised　to　the　status　of　a　municipality　and　he　was　therefore　its　first　mayor；　and　he　created　an　atmosphere　of　confidence　that　made　people　think　of　the　war　as　an　absurd　nightmare　of　the　past。　Father　Nicanor；　consumed　by　hepatic　fever；　was　replaced　by　Father　Coronel；　whom　they　called　“The　Pup；？a　veteran　of　the　first　federalist　war。　Bruno　Crespi；　who　was　married　to　Amparo　Mos。　cote；　and　whose　shop　of　toys　and　musical　instruments　continued　to　prosper；　built　a　theater　which　Spanish　panies　included　in　their　Itineraries。　It　was　a　vast　openair　hall　with　wooden　benches；　a　velvet　curtain　with　Greek　masks；　and　three　box　offices　in　the　shape　of　lions？heads；　through　whose　mouths　the　tickets　were　sold。　It　was　also　about　that　time　that　the　school　was　rebuilt。　It　was　put　under　the　charge　of　Don　Melchor　Escalona；　an　old　teacher　brought　from　the　swamp；　who　made　his　lazy　students　walk　on　their　knees　in　the　limecoated　courtyard　and　made　the　students　who　talked　in　class　eat　hot　chili　with　the　approval　of　their　parents。　Aureliano　Segundo　and　Jos？Arcadio　Segundo；　the　willful　twins　of　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad；　were　the　first　to　sit　in　the　classroom；　with　their　slates；　their　chalk；　and　their　aluminum　jugs　with　their　names　on　them。　Remedios；　who　inherited　her　mother’s　pure　beauty；　began　to　be　known　as　Remedios　the　Beauty。　In　spite　of　time；　of　the　superimposed　Periods　of　mourning；　and　her　accumulated　afflictions；　？rsula　resisted　growing　old。　Aided　by　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad；　she　gave　a　new　drive　to　her　pastry　business　and　in　a　few　years　not　only　recovered　the　fortune　that　her　son　had　spent　in　the　war；　but　she　once　more　stuffed　with　pure　gold　the　gourds　buried　in　the　bedroom。　“As　long　as　God　gives　me　life；？she　would　say；　“there　will　always　be　money　in　this　madhouse。？That　was　how　things　were　when　Aureliano　Jos？deserted　the　federal　troops　in　Nicaragua；　signed　on　as　a　crewman　on　a　German　ship；　and　appeared　in　the　kitchen　of　the　house；　sturdy　as　a　horse；　as　dark　and　longhaired　as　an　Indian；　and　with　a　secret　determination　to　marry　Amaranta。
　　　When　Amaranta；　saw　him　e　in；　even　though　he　said　nothing　she　knew　immediately　why　he　had　e　back。　At　the　table　they　did　not　dare　look　each　other　in　the　face