百年孤独(英文版)-第14部分

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sentimental　person　with　no　future；　with　a　passive　character；　and　a　definite　solitary　vocation。　They　tried　to　keep　him　surrounded；　fearing　that　he　would　betray　the　conspiracy。　Aureliano　calmed　them　down：　he　would　not　say　a　word；　but　on　the　night　they　went　to　murder　the　Moscote　family　they　would　find　him　guarding　the　door。　He　showed　such　a　convincing　decision　that　the　plan　was　postponed　for　an　indefinite　date。　It　was　during　those　days　that　？rsula　asked　his　opinion　about　the　marriage　between　Pietro　Crespi　and　Amaranta；　and　he　answered　that　these　were　not　times　to　be　thinking　about　such　a　thing。　For　a　week　he　had　been　carrying　an　oldfashioned　pistol　under　his　shirt。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　his　friends。　In　the　afternoon　he　would　go　have　coffee　with　Jos？Arcadio　and　Rebeca；　who　had　begun　to　put　their　house　in　order；　and　from　seven　o’clock　on　he　would　play　dominoes　with　his　fatherinlaw。　At　lunchtime　he　was　chatting　with　Arcadio；　who　was　already　a　huge　adolescent；　and　he　found　him　more　and　more　excited　over　the　imminence　of　war。　In　school；　where　Arcadio　had　pupils　older　than　himself　mixed　in　with　children　who　were　barely　beginning　to　talk；　the　Liberal　fever　had　caught　on。　There　was　talk　of　shooting　Father　Nicanor；　of　turning　the　church　into　a　school；　of　instituting　free　love。　Aureliano　tried　to　calm　down　his　drive。　He　remended　discretion　and　prudence　to　him。　Deaf　to　his　calm　reasoning；　to　his　sense　of　reality；　Arcadio　reproached　him　in　public　for　his　weakness　of　character。　Aureliano　waited。　Finally；　in　the　beginning　of　December；　？rsula　burst　into　the　workshop　all　upset。
　　　“War’s　broken　out！？
　　　War；　in　fact；　had　broken　out　three　months　before。　Martial　law　was　in　effect　in　the　whole　country。　The　only　one　who　knew　it　immediately　was　Don　Apolinar　Moscote；　but　he　did　not　give　the　news　even　to　his　wife　while　the　army　platoon　that　was　to　occupy　the　town　by　surprise　was　on　its　way。　They　entered　noiselessly　before　dawn；　with　two　pieces　of　light　artillery　drawn　by　mules；　and　they　set　up　their　headquarters　in　the　school。　A　6　P。M。　curfew　was　established。　A　more　drastic　search　than　the　previous　one　was　undertaken；　house　by　house；　and　this　time　they　even　took　farm　implements。　They　dragged　out　Dr。　Noguera；　tied　him　to　a　tree　in　the　square；　and　shot　him　without　any　due　process　of　law。　Father　Nicanor　tried　to　impress　the　military　authorities　with　the　miracle　of　levitation　and　had　his　head　split　open　by　the　butt　of　a　soldier’s　rifle。　The　Liberal　exaltation　had　been　extinguished　into　a　silent　terror。　Aureliano；　pale；　mysterious；　continued　playing　dominoes　with　his　fatherinlaw。　He　understood　that　in　spite　of　his　present　title　of　civil　and　military　leader　of　the　town；　Don　Apolinar　Moscote　was　once　more　a　figurehead。　The　decisions　were　made　by　the　army　captain；　who　each　morning　collected　an　extraordinary　levy　for　the　defense　of　public　order。　Four　soldiers　under　his　mand　snatched　a　woman　who　had　been　bitten　by　a　mad　dog　from　her　family　and　killed　her　with　their　rifle　butts。　One　Sunday；　two　weeks　after　the　occupation；　Aureliano　entered　Gerineldo　Márquez’s　house　and　with　his　usual　terseness　asked　for　a　mug　of　coffee　without　sugar。　When　the　two　of　them　were　alone　in　the　kitchen；　Aureliano　gave　his　voice　an　authority　that　had　never　been　heard　before。　“Get　the　boys　ready；？he　said。　“We’re　going　to　war。？Gerineldo　Márquez　did　not　believe　him。
　　　“With　what　weapons？？he　asked。
　　　“With　theirs；？Aureliano　replied。
　　　Tuesday　at　midnight　in　a　mad　operation；　twentyone　men　under　the　age　of　thirty　manded　by　Aureliano　Buendía；　armed　with　table　knives　and　sharpened　tools；　took　the　garrison　by　surprise；　seized　the　weapons；　and　in　the　courtyard　executed　the　captain　and　the　four　soldiers　who　had　killed　the　woman。
　　　That　same　night；　while　the　sound　of　the　firing　squad　could　be　heard；　Arcadio　was　named　civil　and　military　leader　of　the　town。　The　married　rebels　barely　had　time　to　take　leave　of　their　wives；　whom　they　left　to　their　our　devices。　They　left　at　dawn；　cheered　by　the　people　who　had　been　liberated　from　the　terror；　to　join　the　forces　of　the　revolutionary　general　Victorio　Medina；　who；　according　to　the　latest　reports；　was　on　his　way　to　Manaure。　Before　leaving；　Aureliano　brought　Don　Apolinar　Moscote　out　of　a　closet。　“Rest　easy；　fatherinlaw；？he　told　him。　“The　new　government　guarantees　on　its　word　of　honor　your　personal　safety　and　that　of　your　family。？Don　Apolinar　Moscote　had　trouble　identifying　that　conspirator　in　high　boots　and　with　a　rifle　slung　over　his　shoulder　with　the　person　he　had　played　dominoes　with　until　nine　in　the　evening。
　　　“This　is　madness；　Aurelito；？he　exclaimed。
　　　“Not　madness；？Aureliano　said。　“War。　And　don’t　call　me　Aurelito　any　more。　Now　I’m　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía。？

Chapter　6
COLONEL　AURELIANO　BUEND？A　anized　thirtytwo　armed　uprisings　and　he　lost　them　all。　He　had　seventeen　male　children　by　seventeen　different　women　and　they　were　exterminated　one　after　the　other　on　a　single　night　before　the　oldest　one　had　reached　the　age　of　thirtyfive。　He　survived　fourteen　attempts　on　his　life；　seventythree　ambushes；　and　a　firing　squad。　He　lived　through　a　dose　of　strychnine　in　his　coffee　that　was　enough　to　kill　a　horse。　He　refused　the　Order　of　Merit；　which　the　President　of　the　Republic　awarded　him。　He　rose　to　be　mander　in　Chief　of　the　revolutionary　forces；　with　jurisdiction　and　mand　from　one　border　to　the　other；　and　the　man　most　feared　by　the　government；　but　he　never　let　himself　be　photographed。　He　declined　the　lifetime　pension　offered　him　after　the　war　and　until　old　age　he　made　his　living　from　the　little　gold　fishes　that　he　manufactured　in　his　workshop　in　Macondo。　Although　he　always　fought　at　the　head　of　his　men；　the　only　wound　that　he　received　was　the　one　he　gave　himself　after　signing　the　Treaty　of　Neerlandia；　which　put　an　end　to　almost　twenty　years　of　civil　war。　He　shot　himself　in　the　chest　with　a　pistol　and　the　bullet　came　out　through　his　back　without　damaging　any　vital　an。　The　only　thing　left　of　all　that　was　a　street　that　bore　his　name　in　Macondo。　And　yet；　as　he　declared　a　few　years　before　he　died　of　old　age；　he　had　not　expected　any　of　that　on　the　dawn　he　left　with　his　twentyone　men　to　join　the　forces　of　General　Victorio　Medina。
　　　“We　leave　Macondo　in　your　care。？was　all　that　he　said　to　Arcadio　before　leaving。　“We　leave　it　to　you　in　good　shape；　try　to　have　it　in　better　shape　when　we　return。？
　　　Arcadio　gave　a　very　personal　interpretation　to　the　instructions。　He　invented　a　uniform　with　the　braid　and　epaulets　of　a　marshal；　inspired　by　the　prints　in　one　of　Melquíades？books；　and　around　his　waist　he　buckled　the　saber　with　gold　tassels　that　had　belonged　to　the　executed　captain。　He　set　up　the　two　artillery　pieces　at　the　entrance　to　town；　put　uniforms　on　his　former　pupils；　who　had　been　amused　by　his　fiery　proclamations；　and　let　them　wander　through　the　streets　armed　in　order　to　give　outsiders　an　impression　of　invulnerability。　It　was　a　doubleedged　deception；　for　the　government　did　not　dare　attack　the　place　for　ten　months；　but　when　it　did　it　unleashed　such　a　large　force　against　it　that　resistance　was　liquidated　in　a　half　hour。　From　the　first　day　of　his　rule　Arcadio　revealed　his　predilection　for　decrees。　He　would　read　as　many　as　four　a　day　in　order　to　decree　and　institute　everything　that　came　into　his　head。　He　imposed　obligatory　military　service　for　men　over　eighteen；　declared　to　be　public　property　any　animals　walking　the　streets　after　six　in　the　evening；　and　made　men　who　were　overage　wear　red　armbands。　He　sequestered　Father　Nicanor　in　the　parish　house　under　pain　of　execution　and　prohibited　him　from　saying　mass　or　ringing　the　bells　unless　it　was　for　a　Liberal　victory。　In　order　that　no　one　would　doubt　the　severity　of　his　aims；　he　ordered　a　firing　squad　anized　in　the　square　and　had　it　shoot　at　a　scarecrow。　At　first　no　one　took　him　seriously。　They　were；　after　all；　schoolchildren　playing　at　being　grownups。　But　one　night；　when　Arcadio　went　into　Catarino’s　store；　the　trumpeter　in　the　group　greeted　him　with　a　fanfare　that　made　the　customers　laugh　and　Arcadio　had　him　shot　for　disrespect　for　the　authorities。　People　who　protested　were　put　on　bread　and　water　with　their　ankles　in　a　set　of　stocks　that　he　had　set　up　in　a　schoolroom。　“You　murderer！？？rsula　would　shout　at　him　every　time　she　learned　of　some　new　arbitrary　act。　“When　Aureliano　finds　out　he’s　going　to　shoot　you　and　I’ll　be　the　first　one　to　be　glad。？But　it　was　of　no　use。　Arcadio　continued　tightening　the　tourniquet　with　unnecessary　rigor　until　he　became　the　cruelest　ruler　that　Macondo　had　ever　known。　“Now　let　them　suffer　the　difference；？Don　Apolinar　Moscote　said　on　one　occasion。　“This　is　the　Liberal　paradise。？Arcadio　found　out　about　it。　At　the　head　of　a　patrol　he　assaulted　the　house；　destroyed　the　furniture；　flogged　the　daughters；　and　dragged　out　Don　Apolinar　Moscote。　When　？rsula　burst　into　the　courtyard　of　headquarters；　after　having　gone　through　the　town　shouting　shame　and　brandishing　with　rage　a　pitchcovered　whip；　Arcadio　himself　was　preparing　to　give　the　squad　the　mand　to　fire。
　　　“I　dare　you　to；　bastard！？？rsula　shouted。
　　　Before　Arcadio　had　time　to　read　she　let　go　with　the　first　blow　of　the　lash。　“I　dare　you　to；　murderer！？she　shouted。　“And　kill　me　too；　son　of　an　evil　mother。　That　way　I　won’t　have　the　eyes　to　weep　for　the　shame　of　having　raised　a　monster。？Whipping　him　without　mercy；　she　chased　him　to　the　back　of　the　courtyard；　where　Arcadio　curled　up　like　a　snail　in　its　shell。　Don　Apolinar　Moscote　was　unconscious；　tied　to　the　post　where　previously　they　had　had　the　scarecrow　that　had　been　cut　to　pieces　by　shots　fired　in　fun。　The　boys　in　the　squad　scattered；　fearful　that　？rsula　would　go　after　them　too。　But　she　did　not　even　look　at　them。　She　left　Arcadio　with　his　uniform　torn；　roaring　with　pain　and　rage；　and　she　untied　Don　Apolinar　Moscote　and　took　him　home。　Before　leaving　the　headquarters　she　released　the　prisoners　from　the　stocks。
　　　From　that　time　on　she　was　the　one　who　ruled　in　the　town。　She　reestablished　Sunday　masses；　suspended　the　use　of　red　armbands；　and　abrogated　the　harebrained　decrees。　But　in　spite　of　her　strength；　she　still　wept　over　her　unfortunate　fate。　She　felt　so　much　alone　that　she　sought　the　useless　pany　of　her　husband；　who　had　been　fotten　under　the　chestnut　tree。　“Look　what　we’ve　e　to；？she　would　tell　him　as　the　June　rains　threatened　to　knock　the　shelter　down。　“Look　at　the　empty　house；　our　children　scattered　all　over　the　world；　and　the　two　of　us　alone　again；　the　same　as　in　the　beginning。？Jos？Arcadio　Buendía；　sunk　in　an　abyss　of　unawareness；　was　deaf　to　her　lamentations。　At　the　beginning　of　his　madness　he　would　announce　his　daily　needs　with　urgent　Latin　phrases。　In　fleeting　clear　spells　of　lucidity；　when　Amaranta　would　bring　him　his　meals　he　would　tell　her　what　bothered　him　most　and　would　accept　her　sucking　glasses　and　mustard　plasters　in　a　docile　way。　But　at　the　time　when　？rsula　went　to　lament　by　his　side　he　had　lost　all　contact　with　reality。　She　would　bathe　him　bit　by　bit　as　he　sat　on　his　stool　while　she　gave　him　news　of　the　family。　“Aureliano　went　to　war　more　than　four　months　ago　and　we　haven’t　heard　anything　about　him；？she　would　say；　scrubbing　his　back　with　a　soaped　brush。　“Jos？Arcadio　came　back　a　big　man；　taller　than　you；　and　all　covered　with　needlework；　but　he　only　brought　shame　to　our　house。？She　thought　she　noticed；　however；　that　her　husband　would　grow　sad　with　the　bad　news。　Then　she　decided　to　lie　to　him。　‘Rou　won’t　believe　what　I’m　going　to　tell　you；？she　said　as　she　threw　ashes　over　his　excrement　in　order　to　pick　it　up　with　the　shovel。　“God　willed　that　Jos？Arcadio　and　Rebeca　should　get　married；　and　now　they’re　very　happy。？She　got　to　be　so　sincere　in　the　deception　that　she　ended　up　by　consoling　herself　with　her　own　lies。　“Arcadio　is　a　serious　man　now；？she　said；　“and　very　brave；　and　a　finelooking　young　man　with　his　uniform　and　saber。？It　was　like　speaking　to　a　dead　man；　for　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía　was　already　beyond　the　reach　of　any　worry。　But　she　insisted。　He　seemed　so　peaceful；　so　indifferent　to　everything　that　she　decided　to　release　him。　He　did　not　even　move　from　his　stool。　He　stayed　there；　exposed　to　the　sun　and　the　rain；　as　if　the　thongs　were　unnecessary；　for　a　dominion　superior　to　any　visible　bond　kept　him　tied　to　the　trunk　of　the　chestnut　tree。　Toward　August；　when　winter　began　to　last　forever；　？rsula　was　finally　able　to　give　him　a　piece　of　news　that　sounded　like　the　truth。
　　　“Would　you　believe　it　that　good　luck　is　still　pouring　down　on　us？？she　told　him。　“Amaranta　and　the　pianola　Italian　are　going　to　get　married。？
　　　Amaranta　and　Pietro　Crespi　had；　in　fact；　deepened　their　friendship；　protected　by　？rsula；　who　this　time　did　not　think　it　necessary　to　watch　over　the　visits。　It　was　a　twilight　engagement。　The　Italian　would　arrive　at　dusk；　with　a　gardenia　in　his　buttonhole；　and　he　would　translate　Petrarch’s　sonnets　for　Amaranta。　They　would　sit　on　the　porch；　suffocated　by　the　oregano　and　the　roses；　he　reading　and　she　sewing　lace　cuffs；　indifferent　to　the　shocks　and　bad　news　of　the　war；　until　the　mosquitoes　made　them　take　refuge　in　the　parlor。　Amaranta’s　sensibility；　her　discreet　but　enveloping　tenderness　had　been　wearing　an　invisible　web　about　her　fianc？　which　he　had　to　push　aside　materially　with　his　pale　and　ringless　fingers　in　order　to　leave　the　house　at　eight　o’clock。　They　had　put　together　a　delightful　album　with　the　postcards　that　Pietro　Crespi　received　from　Italy。　They　were　pictures　of　lovers　in　lonely　parks；　with　vignettes　of　hearts　pierced　with　arrows　and　golden　ribbons　held　by　doves。　“I’ve　been　to　this　park　in　Florence；？Pietro　Crespi　would　say；　going　through　the　cards。　“A　person　can　put　out　his　hand　and　the　birds　will　e　to　feed。？Sometimes；　over　a　watercolor　of　Venice；　nostalgia　would　transform　the　smell　of　mud　and　putrefying　shellfish　of　the　canals　into　the　warm　aroma　of　flowers。　Amaranta　would　sigh；　laugh；　and　dream　of　a　second　homeland　of　handsome　men　and　beautiful　women　who　spoke　a　childlike　language　with　ancient　cities　of　whose　past　grandeur　only　the　cats　among　the　rubble　remained。　After　crossing　the　ocean　in　search　of　it；　after　having　confused　passion　with　the　vehement　stroking　of　Rebeca；　Pietro　Crespi　had　found　love。　Happiness　was　acpanied　by　prosperity。　His　warehouse　at　that　time　occupied　almost　a　whole　block　and　it　was　a　hothouse　of　fantasy；　with　reproductions　of　the　bell　tower　of　Florence　that　told　time　with　a　concert　of　carillons；　and　music　boxes　from　Sorrento　and　pacts　from　China　that　sang　fivenote　melodies　when　they　were　opened；　and　all　the　musical　instruments　imaginable　and　all　the　mechanical　toys　that　could　be　conceived。　Bruno　Crespi；　his　younger　brother；　was　in　charge　of　the　store　because　Pietro　Crespi　barely　had　enough　time　to　take　care　of　the　music　school。　Thanks　to　him　the　Street　of　the　Turks；　with　its　dazzling　display　of　knickknacks；　became　a　melodic　oasis　where　one　could　fet　Arcadio’s　arbitrary　acts　and　the　distant　nightmare　of　the　war。　When　？rsula　ordered　the　revival　of　Sunday　mass；　Pietro　Crespi　donated　a　German　harmonium　to　the　church；　anized　a　children’s　chorus；　and　prepared　a　Gregorian　repertory　that　added　a　note　of　splendor　to　Father　Nicanor’s　quiet　rite。　No　one　doubted　that　he　would　make　Amaranta　a　fortunate　mate。　Not　pushing　their　feelings；　letting　themselves　be　borne　along　by　the　natural　flow　of　their　hearth　they　reached　a　point　where　all　th