百年孤独(英文版)-第33部分

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odbye　to　him；　languid　and　serious；　without　shedding　a　tear；　as　she　had　taught　him；　sweltering　in　the　heat　in　the　green　corduroy　suit　with　copper　buttons　and　a　starched　bow　around　his　neck。　He　left　the　dining　room　impregnated　with　the　penetrating　fragrance　of　rose　water　that　she　had　sprinkled　on　his　head　so　that　she　could　follow　his　tracks　through　the　house。　While　the　farewell　lunch　was　going　on；　the　family　concealed　its　nervousness　with　festive　expressions　and　they　celebrated　with　exaggerated　enthusiasm　the　remarks　that　Father　Antonio　Isabel　made。　But　when　they　took　out　the　trunk　bound　in　velvet　and　with　silver　corners；　it　was　as　if　they　had　taken　a　coffin　out　of　the　house。　The　only　one　who　refused　to　take　part　in　the　farewell　was　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía。
　　　“That’s　all　we　need；？he　muttered。　“A　Pope！？
　　　Three　months　later　Aureliano　Segundo　and　Fernanda　took　Meme　to　school　and　came　back　with　a　clavichord；　which　took　the　place　of　the　pianola。　It　was　around　that　time　that　Amaranta　started　sewing　her　own　shroud。　The　banana　fever　had　calmed　down。　The　old　inhabitants　of　Macondo　found　themselves　surrounded　by　newers　and　working　hard　to　cling　to　their　precarious　resources　of　times　gone　by；　but　forted　in　any　case　by　the　sense　that　they　had　survived　a　shipwreck。　In　the　house　they　still　had　guests　for　lunch　and　the　old　routine　was　never　really　set　up　again　until　the　banana　pany　left　years　later。　Nevertheless；　there　were　radical　changes　in　the　traditional　sense　of　hospitality　because　at　that　time　it　was　Fernanda　who　imposed　her　rules。　With　？rsula　relegated　to　the　shadows　and　with　Amaranta　absorbed　In　the　work　of　her　winding　cloth；　the　former　apprentice　queen　had　the　freedom　to　choose　the　guests　and　impose　on　them　the　rigid　norms　that　her　parents　had　taught　her。　Her　severity　made　the　house　a　redoubt　of　old　customs　in　a　town　convulsed　by　the　vulgarity　with　which　the　outsiders　squandered　their　easy　fortunes。　For　her；　with　no　further　questions　asked；　proper　people　were　those　who　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　banana　pany。　Even　Jos？Arcadio　Segundo；　her　brotherinlaw；　was　the　victim　of　her　discriminatory　jealousy　because　during　the　excitement　of　the　first　days　he　gave　up　his　stupendous　fighting　cocks　again　and　took　a　job　as　foreman　with　the　banana　pany。
　　　“He　won’t　ever　e　into　this　house　again；？Fernanda　said；　“as　long　as　he　carries　the　rash　of　the　foreigners。？
　　　Such　was　the　narrowness　imposed　in　the　house　that　Aureliano　Segundo　felt　more　fortable　at　Petra　Cotes’s。　First；　with　the　pretext　of　taking　the　burden　off　his　wife；　he　transferred　his　parties。　Then；　with　the　pretext　that　the　animals　were　losing　their　fertility；　he　transferred　his　barns　and　stables。　Finally；　with　the　pretext　that　it　was　cooler　in　his　concubine’s　house；　he　transferred　the　small　office　in　which　he　handled　his　business。　When　Fernanda　realized　that　she　was　a　widow　whose　husband　had　still　not　died；　it　was　already　too　late　for　things　to　return　to　their　former　state。　Aureliano　Segundo　barely　ate　at　home　and　the　only　appearances　he　put　in；　such　as　to　sleep　with　his　wife；　were　not　enough　to　convince　anyone。　One　night；　out　of　carelessness；　morning　found　him　in　Petra　Cotes’s　bed。　Fernanda；　contrary　to　expectations；　did　not　reproach　him　in　the　least　or　give　the　slightest　sigh　of　resentment；　but　on　the　same　day　she　sent　two　trunks　with　his　clothing　to　the　house　of　his　concubine。　She　sent　them　in　broad　daylight　and　with　instructions　that　they　be　carried　through　the　middle　of　the　street　so　that　everyone　could　see　them；　thinking　that　her　straying　husband　would　be　unable　to　bear　the　shame　and　would　return　to　the　fold　with　his　head　hung　low。　But　that　heroic　gesture　was　just　one　more　proof　of　how　poorly　Fernanda　knew　not　only　the　character　of　her　husband　but　the　character　of　a　munity　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　that　of　her　parents；　for　everyone　who　saw　the　trunks　pass　by　said　that　it　was　the　natural　culmination　of　a　story　whose　intimacies　were　known　to　everyone；　and　Aureliano　Segundo　celebrated　the　freedom　he　had　received　with　a　party　that　lasted　for　three　days。　To　the　greater　disadvantage　of　his　wife；　as　she　was　entering　into　a　sad　maturity　with　her　somber　long　dresses；　her　oldfashioned　medals；　and　her　outofplace　pride；　the　concubine　seemed　to　be　bursting　with　a　second　youth；　clothed　in　gaudy　dresses　of　natural　silk　and　with　her　eyes　tigerstriped　with　a　glow　of　vindication。　Aureliano　Segundo　gave　himself　over　to　her　again　with　the　fury　of　adolescence；　as　before；　when　Petra　Cotes　had　not　loved　him　for　himself　but　because　she　had　him　mixed　up　with　his　twin　brother　and　as　she　slept　with　both　of　them　at　the　same　time　she　thought　that　God　had　given　her　the　good　fortune　of　having　a　man　who　could　make　love　like　two。　The　restored　passion　was　so　pressing　that　on　more　than　one　occasion　they　would　look　each　other　in　the　eyes　as　they　were　getting　ready　to　eat　and　without　saying　anything　they　would　cover　their　plates　and　go　into　the　bedroom　dying　of　hunger　and　of　love。　Inspired　by　the　things　he　had　seen　on　his　furtive　visits　to　the　French　matrons；　Aureliano　Segundo　bought　Petra　Cotes　a　bed　with　an　archiepiscopal　canopy；　put　velvet　curtains　on　the　windows；　and　covered　the　ceiling　and　the　walls　of　the　bedroom　with　large　rockcrystal　mirrors。　At　the　same　time　he　was　more　of　a　carouser　and　spendthrift　than　ever。　On　the　train；　which　arrived　every　day　at　eleven　o’clock；　he　would　receive　cases　and　more　cases　of　champagne　and　brandy。　On　the　way　back　from　the　station　he　would　drag　the　improvised　cumbiamba　along　in　full　view　of　all　the　people　on　the　way；　natives　or　outsiders；　acquaintances　or　people　yet　to　be　known；　without　distinctions　of　any　kind。　Even　the　slippery　Mr。　Brown；　who　talked　only　in　a　strange　tongue；　let　himself　be　seduced　by　the　tempting　signs　that　Aureliano　Segundo　made　him　and　several　times　he　got　dead　drunk　in　Petra　Cotes’s　house　and　he　even　made　the　fierce　German　shepherd　dogs　that　went　everywhere　with　him　dance　to　some　Texas　songs　that　he　himself　mumbled　in　one　way　or　another　to　the　acpaniment　of　the　accordion。
　　　“Cease；　cows；？Aureliano　Segundo　shouted　at　the　height　of　the　party。　“Cease；　because　life　is　short。？
　　　He　never　looked　better；　nor　had　he　been　loved　more；　nor　had　the　breeding　of　his　animals　been　wilder。　There　was　a　slaughtering　of　so　many　cows；　pigs；　and　chickens　for　the　endless　parties　that　the　ground　in　the　courtyard　turned　black　and　muddy　with　so　much　blood。　It　was　an　eternal　execution　ground　of　bones　and　innards；　a　mud　pit　of　leftovers；　and　they　had　to　keep　exploding　dynamite　bombs　all　the　time　so　that　the　buzzards　would　not　pluck　out　the　guests？eyes。　Aureliano　Segundo　grew　fat；　purplecolored；　turtleshaped；　because　of　an　appetite　parable　only　to　that　of　Jos？Arcadio　when　he　came　back　from　traveling　around　the　world。　The　prestige　of　his　outlandish　voracity；　of　his　immense　capacity　as　a　spendthrift；　of　his　unprecedented　hospitality　went　beyond　the　borders　of　the　swamp　and　attracted　the　bestqualified　gluttons　from　all　along　the　coast。　Fabulous　eaters　arrived　from　everywhere　to　take　part　in　the　irrational　tourneys　of　capacity　and　resistance　that　were　anized　in　the　house　of　Petra　Cotes。　Aureliano　Segundo　was　the　unconquered　eater　until　the　luckless　Saturday　when　Camila　Sagastume　appeared；　a　totemic　female　known　all　through　the　land　by　the　good　name　of　“The　Elephant。？The　duel　lasted　until　dawn　on　Tuesday。　During　the　first　twentyfour　hours；　having　dispatched　a　dinner　of　veal；　with　cassava；　yams；　and　fried　bananas；　and　a　case　and　a　half　of　champagne　in　addition；　Aureliano　Segundo　was　sure　of　victory。　He　seemed　more　enthusiastic；　more　vital　than　his　imperturbable　adversary；　who　possessed　a　style　that　was　obviously　more　professional；　but　at　the　same　time　less　emotional　for　the　large　crowd　that　filled　the　house。　While　Aureliano　Segundo　ate　with　great　bites；　overe　by　the　anxiety　of　victory；　The　Elephant　was　slicing　her　meat　with　the　art　of　a　surgeon　and　eating　it　unhurriedly　and　even　with　a　certain　pleasure。　She　was　gigantic　and　sturdy；　but　over　her　colossal　form　a　tenderness　of　femininity　prevailed　and　she　had　a　face　that　was　so　beautiful；　hands　so　fine　and　well　cared　for；　and　such　an　irresistible　personal　charm　that　when　Aureliano　Segundo　saw　her　enter　the　house　he　mented　in　a　low　voice　that　he　would　have　preferred　to　have　the　tourney　in　bed　and　not　at　the　table。　Later　on；　when　he　saw　her　consume　a　side　of　veal　without　breaking　a　single　rule　of　good　table　manners；　he　mented　seriously　that　that　delicate；　fascinating；　and　insatiable　proboscidian　was　in　a　certain　way　the　ideal　woman。　He　was　not　mistaken。　The　reputation　of　a　bone　crusher　that　had　preceded　The　Elephant　had　no　basis。　She　was　not　a　beef　cruncher　or　a　bearded　lady　from　a　Greek　circus；　as　had　been　said；　but　the　director　of　a　school　of　voice。　She　had　learned　to　eat　when　she　was　already　the　respectable　mother　of　a　family；　looking　for　a　way　for　her　children　to　eat　better　and　not　by　means　of　any　artificial　stimulation　of　their　appetites　but　through　the　absolute　tranquility　of　their　spirits。　Her　theory；　demonstrated　in　practice；　was　based　on　the　principle　that　a　person　who　had　all　matters　of　conscience　in　perfect　shape　should　be　able　to　eat　until　overe　by　fatigue。　And　it　was　for　moral　reasons　and　sporting　interest　that　she　left　her　school　and　her　home　to　pete　with　a　man　whose　fame　as　a　great；　unprincipled　eater　had　spread　throughout　the　country。　From　the　first　moment　she　saw　him　she　saw　that　Aureliano　Segundo　would　lose　not　his　stomach　but　his　character。　At　the　end　of　the　first　night；　while　The　Elephant　was　boldly　going　on；　Aureliano　Segundo　was　wearing　himself　out　with　a　great　deal　of　talking　and　laughing。　They　slept　four　hours。　On　awakening　each　one　had　the　juice　of　forty　oranges；　eight　quarts　of　coffee；　and　thirty　raw　eggs。　On　the　second　morning；　after　many　hours　without　sleep　and　having　put　away　two　pigs；　a　bunch　of　bananas；　and　four　cases　of　champagne；　The　Elephant　suspected　that　Aureliano　Segundo　had　unknowingly　discovered　the　same　method　as　hers；　but　by　the　absurd　route　of　total　irresponsibility。　He　was；　therefore；　more　dangerous　than　she　had　thought。　Nevertheless；　when　Petra　Cotes　brought　two　roast　turkeys　to　the　table；　Aureliano　Segundo　was　a　step　away　from　being　stuffed。
　　　“If　you　can’t；　don’t　eat　any　more；？The　Elephant　said　to　him。　“Let’s　call　it　a　tie。？
　　　She　said　it　from　her　heart；　understanding　that　she　could　not　eat　another　mouthful　either；　out　of　remorse　for　bringing　on　the　death　of　her　adversary。　But　Aureliano　Segundo　interpreted　it　as　another　challenge　and　he　filled　himself　with　turkey　beyond　his　incredible　capacity。　He　lost　consciousness。　He　fell　face　down　into　the　plate　filled　with　bones；　frothing　at　the　mouth　like　a　dog；　and　drowning　in　moans　of　agony。　He　felt；　in　the　midst　of　the　darkness；　that　they　were　throwing　him　from　the　top　of　a　tower　into　a　bottomless　pit　and　in　a　last　flash　of　consciousness　he　realized　that　at　the　end　of　that　endless　fall　death　was　waiting　for　him。
　　　“Take　me　to　Fernanda；？he　managed　to　say。
　　　His　friends　left　him　at　the　house　thinking　that　they　had　helped　him　fulfill　his　promise　to　his　wife　not　to　die　in　his　concubine’s　bed。　Petra　Cotes　had　shined　his　patent　leather　boots　that　he　wanted　to　wear　in　his　coffin；　and　she　was　already　looking　for　someone　to　take　them　when　they　came　to　tell　her　that　Aureliano　Segundo　was　out　of　danger。　He　did　recover；　indeed；　in　less　than　a　week；　and　two　weeks　later　he　was　celebrating　the　fact　of　his　survival　with　unprecedented　festivities。　He　continued　living　at　Petra　Cotes’s　but　he　would　visit　Fernanda　every　day　and　sometimes　he　would　stay　to　eat　with　the　family；　as　if　fate　had　reversed　the　situation　and　had　made　him　the　husband　of　his　concubine　and　the　lover　of　his　wife。
　　　It　was　a　rest　for　Fernanda。　During　the　boredom　of　her　abandonment　her　only　distractions　were　the　clavichord　lessons　at　siesta　time　and　the　letters　from　her　children。　In　the　detailed　messages　that　she　sent　them　every　two　weeks　there　was　not　a　single　line　of　truth。　She　hid　her　troubles　from　them。　She　hid　from　them　the　sadness　of　a　house　which；　in　spite　of　the　light　on　the　begonias；　in　spite　of　the　heaviness　at　two　in　the　afternoon；　in　spite　of　the　frequent　waves　of　festivals　that　came　in　from　the　street　was　more　and　more　like　the　colonial　mansion　of　her　parents。　Fernanda　would　wander　alone　among　the　three　living　ghosts　and　the　dead　ghost　of　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía；　who　at　times　would　e　to　sit　down　with　an　inquisitive　attention　in　the　halflight　of　the　parlor　while　she　was　playing　the　clavichord。　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　was　a　shadow。　Since　the　last　time　that　he　had　gone　out　into　the　street　to　propose　a　war　without　any　future　to　Colonel　Gerineldo　Márquez；　he　left　the　workshop　only　to　urinate　under　the　chestnut　tree。　He　did　not　receive　any　visits　except　that　of　the　barber　every　three　weeks；　He　fed　on　anything　that　？rsula　brought　him　once　a　day；　and　even　though　he　kept　on　making　little　gold　fishes　with　the　same　passion　as　before；　he　stopped　selling　them　when　he　found　out　that　people　were　buying　them　not　as　pieces　of　jewelry　but　as　historic　relics。　He　made　a　bonfire　in　the　courtyard　of　the　dolls　of　Remedios　which　had　decorated；　their　bedroom　since　their　wedding。　The　watchful　？rsula　realized　what　her　son　was　doing　but　she　could　not　stop　him。
　　　“You　have　a　heart　of　stone；？she　told　him。
　　　“It’s　not　a　question　of　a　heart；？he　said。　“The　room’s　getting　full　of　moths。？
　　　Amaranta　was　weaving　her　shroud。　Fernanda　did　not　understand　why　she　would　write　occasional　letters　to　Meme　and　even　send　her　gifts　and　on　the　other　hand　did　not　even　want　to　hear　about　Jos？Arcadio。　“They’ll　die　without　knowing　why；？Amaranta　answered　when　she　was　asked　through　？rsula；　and　that　answer　planted　an　enigma　in　Fernanda’s　heart　that　she　was　never　able　to　clarify。　Tall；　broadshouldered；　proud；　always　dressed　in　abundant　petticoats　with　the　lace　and　in　air　of　distinction　that　resisted　the　years　and　bad　memories；　Amaranta　seemed　to　carry　the　cross　of　ashes　of　virginity　on　her　forehead。　In　reality　she　carried　it　on　her　hand　in　the　black　bandage；　which　she　did　not　take　off　even　to　sleep　and　which　she　washed　and　ironed　herself。　Her　life　was　spent　in　weaving　her　shroud。　It　might　have　been　said　that　she　wove　during　the　day　and　unwove　during　the　night；　and　not　with　any　hope　of　defeating　solitude　in　that　way；　but；　quite　the　contrary；　in　order　to　nurture　it。
　　　The　greatest　worry　that　Fernanda　had　during　her　years　of　abandonment　was　that　Meme　would　e　to　spend　her　first　vacation　and　not　find　Aureliano　Segundo　at　home。　His　congestion　had　put　an　end　to　that　fear。　When　Meme　returned；　her　parents　had　made　an　agreement　that　not　only　would　the　girl　think　that　Aureliano　Segundo　was　still　a　domesticated　husband　but　also　that　she　would　not　notice　the　sadness　of　the　house。　Every　year　for　two　months　Aureliano　Segundo　played　his　role　of　an　exemplary　husband　and　he　anized　parties　with　ice　cream　and　cookies　which　the　gay　and　lively　schoolgirl　enhanced　with　the　clavichord。　It　was　obvious　from　then　on　that　she　had　inherited　very　little　of　her　mother’s　character。　She　seemed　more　of　a　second　version　of　Amaranta　when　the　latter　had　not　known　bitterness　and　was　arousing　the　house　with　her　dance　steps　at　the　age　of　twelve　or　fourteen　before　her　secret　passion　for　Pietro　Crespi　was　to　twist　the　direction　of　her　heart　in　the　end。　But　unlike　Amar