百年孤独(英文版)-第37部分

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　　　“e　here；？she　told　her。　“Now　that　were　alone；　confess　to　this　poor　old　woman　what’s　bothering　you。？
　　　Meme　avoided　the　conversation　with　a　short　laugh。　？rsula　did　not　insist；　but　she　ended　up　confirming　her　suspicions　when　Meme　did　not　e　back　to　visit　her。　She　knew　that　she　was　getting　up　earlier　than　usual；　that　she　did　not　have　a　moment’s　rest　as　she　waited　for　the　time　for　her　to　go　out；　that　she　spent　whole　nights　walking　back　and　forth　in　the　adjoining　bedroom；　and　that　the　fluttering　of　a　butterfly　would　bother　her。　On　one　occasion　she　said　that　she　was　going　to　see　Aureliano　Segundo　and　？rsula　was　surprised　that　Fernanda’s　imagination　was　so　limited　when　her　husband　came　to　the　house　looking　for　his　daughter。　It　was　too　obvious　that　Meme　was　involved　in　secret　matters；　in　pressing　matters；　in　repressed　anxieties　long　before　the　night　that　Fernanda　upset　the　house　because　she　caught　her　kissing　a　man　in　the　movies。
　　　Meme　was　so　wrapped　up　in　herself　at　that　time　that　she　accused　？rsula　of　having　told　on　her。　Actually；　she　told　on　herself。　For　a　long　time　she　had　been　leaving　a　trail　that　would　have　awakened　the　most　drowsy　person　and　it　took　Fernanda　so　long　to　discover　it　because　she　too　was　befogged；　by　her　relationship　with　the　invisible　doctors。　Even　so　she　finally　noticed　the　deep　silences；　the　sudden　outbursts；　the　changes　in　mood；　and　the　contradictions　of　her　daughter。　She　set　about　on　a　disguised　but　implacable　vigilance。　She　let　her　go　out　with　her　girl　friends　as　always；　she　helped　her　get　dressed　for　the　Saturday　parties；　and　she　never　asked　an　embarrassing　question　that　might　arouse　her。　She　already　had　a　great　deal　of　proof　that　Meme　was　doing　different　things　from　what　she　said；　and　yet　she　would　give　no　indication　of　her　suspicions；　hoping　for　the　right　moment。　One　night　Meme　said　that　she　was　going　to　the　movies　with　her　father。　A　short　time　later　Fernanda　heard　the　fireworks　of　the　debauch　and　the　unmistakable　accordion　of　Aureliano　Segundo　from　the　direction　of　Petra　Cotes’s　place。　Then　she　got　dressed；　went　to　the　movie　theater；　and　in　the　darkness　of　the　seats　she　recognized　her　daughter。　The　upsetting　feeling　of　certainty　stopped　her　from　seeing　the　man　she　was　kissing；　but　she　managed　to　hear　his　tremulous　voice　in　the　midst　of　the　deafening　shouts　and　laughter　of　the　audience。　“I’m　sorry；　love；？she　heard　him　say；　and　she　took　Meme　out　of　the　place　without　saying　a　word　to　her；　put　her　through　the　shame　of　parading　her　along　the　noisy　Street　of　the　Turks；　and　locked　her　up　in　her　bedroom。
　　　On　the　following　day　at　six　in　the　afternoon；　Fernanda　recognized　the　voice　of　the　man　who　came　to　call　on　her。　He　was　young；　sallow；　with　dark　and　melancholy　eyes　which　would　not　have　startled　her　so　much　if　she　had　known　the　gypsies；　and　a　dreamy　air　that　to　any　woman　with　a　heart　less　rigid　would　have　been　enough　to　make　her　understand　her　daughter’s　motives。　He　was　wearing　a　shabby　linen　suit　with　shoes　that　showed　the　desperate　defense　of　superimposed　patches　of　white　zinc；　and　in　his　hand　he　was　carrying　a　straw　hat　he　had　bought　the　Saturday　before。　In　all　of　his　life　he　could　never　have　been　as　frightened　as　at　that　moment；　but　he　had　a　dignity　and　presence　that　spared　him　from　humiliation　and　a　genuine　elegance　that　was　defeated　only　by　tarnished　hands　and　nails　that　had　been　shattered　by　rough　work。　Fernanda；　however；　needed　only　one　look　to　guess　his　status　of　mechanic。　She　saw　that　he　was　wearing　his　one　Sunday　suit　and　that　underneath　his　shirt　he　bore　the　rash　of　the　banana　pany。　She　would　not　let　him　speak。　She　would　not　even　let　him　e　through　the　door；　which　a　moment　later　she　had　to　close　because　the　house　was　filled　with　yellow　butterflies。
　　　“Go　away；？she　told　him。　“You’ve　got　no　reason　to　e　calling　on　any　decent　person。？
　　　His　name　was　Mauricio　Babilonia。　He　had　been　born　and　raised　in　Macondo；　and　he　was　an　apprentice　mechanic　in　the　banana　pany　garage。　Meme　had　met　him　by　chance　one　afternoon　when　she　went　with　Patricia　Brown　to　get　a　car　to　take　a　drive　through　the　groves。　Since　the　chauffeur　was　sick　they　assigned　him　to　take　them　and　Meme　was　finally　able　to　satisfy　her　desire　to　sit　next　to　the　driver　and　see　what　he　did。　Unlike　the　regular　chauffeur；　Mauricio　Babilonia　gave　her　a　practical　lesson。　That　was　during　the　time　that　Meme　was　beginning　to　frequent　Mr。　Brown’s　house　and　it　was　still　considered　improper　for　a　lady　to　drive　a　car。　So　she　was　satisfied　with　the　technical　information　and　she　did　not　see　Mauricio　Babilonia　again　for　several　months。　Later　on　she　would　remember　that　during　the　drive　her　attention　had　been　called　to　his　masculine　beauty；　except　for　the　coarseness　of　his　hands；　but　that　afterward　she　had　mentioned　to　Patricia　Brown　that　she　had　been　bothered　by　his　rather　proud　sense　of　security。　The　first　Saturday　that　she　went　to　the　movies　with　her　father　she　saw　Mauricio　Babilonia　again；　with　his　linen　suit；　sitting　a　few　seats　away　from　them；　and　she　noticed　that　he　was　not　paying　much　attention　to　the　film　in　order　to　turn　around　and　look　at　her。　Meme　was　bothered　by　the　vulgarity　of　that。　Afterward　Mauricio　Babilonia　came　over　to　say　hello　to　Aureliano　Segundo　and　only　then　did　Meme　find　out　that　they　knew　each　other　because　he　had　worked　in　Aureliano　Triste’s　early　power　plant　and　he　treated　her　father　with　the　air　of　an　employee。　That　fact　relieved　the　dislike　that　his　pride　had　caused　in　her。　They　had　never　been　alone　together　nor　had　they　spoken　except　in　way　of　greeting；　the　night　when　she　dreamed　that　he　was　saving　her　from　a　shipwreck　and　she　did　not　feel　gratitude　but　rage。　It　was　as　if　she　had　given　him　the　opportunity　he　was　waiting　for；　since　Meme　yearned　for　just　the　opposite；　not　only　with　Mauricio　Babilonia　but　with　any　other　man　who　was　interested　in　her。　Therefore　she　was　so　indignant　after　the　dream　that　instead　of　hating　him；　she　felt　an　irresistible　urge　to　see　him。　The　anxiety　became　more　intense　during　the　course　of　the　week　and　on　Saturday　it　was　so　pressing　that　she　had　to　make　a　great　effort　for　Mauricio　Babilonia　not　to　notice　that　when　he　greeted　her　in　the　movies　her　heart　was　in　her　mouth。　Dazed　by　a　confused　feeling　of　pleasure　and　rage；　she　gave　him　her　hand　for　the　first　time　and　only　then　did　Mauricio　Babilonia　let　himself　shake　hers。　Meme　managed　to　repent　her　impulse　in　a　fraction　of　a　second　but　the　repentance　changed　immediately　into　a　cruel　satisfaction　on　seeing　that　his　hand　too　was　sweaty　and　cold。　That　night　she　realized　that　she　would　not　have　a　moment　of　rest　until　she　showed　Mauricio　Babilonia　the　uselessness　of　his　aspiration　and　she　spent　the　week　turning　that　anxiety　about　in　her　mind。　She　resorted　to　all　kinds　of　useless　tricks　so　that　Patricia　Brown　would　go　get　the　car　with　her。　Finally　she　made　use　of　the　American　redhead　who　was　spending　his　vacation　in　Macondo　at　that　time　and　with　the　pretext　of　learning　about　new　models　of　cars　she　had　him　take　her　to　the　garage。　From　the　moment　she　saw　him　Meme　let　herself　be　deceived　by　herself　and　believed　that　what　was　really　going　on　was　that　she　could　not　bear　the　desire　to　be　alone　with　Mauricio　Babilonia；　and　she　was　made　indignant　by　the　certainty　that　he　understood　that　when　he　saw　her　arrive。
　　　“I　came　to　see　the　new　models；？Meme　said。　
　　　“That’s　a　fine　excuse；？he　said。
　　　Meme　realized　that　he　was　burning　in　the　heat　of　his　pride；　and　she　desperately　looked　for　a　way　to　humiliate　him。　But　he　would　not　give　her　any　time。　“Don’t　get　upset；？he　said　to　her　in　a　low　voice。　“It’s　not　the　first　time　that　a　woman　has　gone　crazy　over　a　man。？She　felt　so　defeated　that　she　left　the　garage　without　seeing　the　new　models　and　she　spent　the　night　turning　over　in　bed　and　weeping　with　indignation。　The　American　redhead；　who　was　really　beginning　to　interest　her；　looked　like　a　baby　in　diapers。　It　was　then　that　she　realized　that　the　yellow　butterflies　preceded　the　appearances　of　Mauricio　Babilonia。　She　had　seen　them　before；　especially　over　the　garage；　and　she　had　thought　that　they　were　drawn　by　the　smell　of　paint。　Once　she　had　seen　them　fluttering　about　her　head　before　she　went　into　the　movies。　But　when　Mauricio　Babilonia　began　to　pursue　her　like　a　ghost　that　only　she　could　identify　in　the　crowd；　she　understood　that　the　butterflies　had　something　to　do　with　him。　Mauricio　Babilonia　was　always　in　the　audience　at　the　concerts；　at　the　movies；　at　high　mass；　and　she　did　not　have　to　see　him　to　know　that　he　was　there；　because　the　butterflies　were　always　there。　Once　Aureliano　Segundo　became　so　impatient　with　the　suffocating　fluttering　that　she　felt　the　impulse　to　confide　her　secret　to　him　as　she　had　promised；　but　instinct　told　her　that　he　would　laugh　as　usual　and　say：　“What　would　your　mother　say　if　she　found　out？？One　morning；　while　she　was　pruning　the　roses；　Fernanda　let　out　a　cry　of　fright　and　had　Meme　taken　away　from　the　spot　where　she　was；　which　was　the　same　place　in　the　garden　where　Remedios　the　Beauty　had　gone　up　to　heaven。　She　had　thought　for　an　instant　that　the　miracle　was　going　to　be　repeated　with　her　daughter；　because　she　had　been　bothered　by　a　sudden　flapping　of　wings。　It　was　the　butterflies。　Meme　saw　them　as　if　they　had　suddenly　been　born　out　of　the　light　and　her　heart　gave　a　turn。　At　that　moment　Mauricio　Babilonia　came　in　with　a　package　that　according　to　what　he　said；　was　a　present　from　Patricia　Brown。　Meme　swallowed　her　blush；　absorbed　her　tribulation；　and　even　managed　a　natural　smile　as　she　asked　him　the　favor　of　leaving　it　on　the　railing　because　her　hands　were　dirty　from　the　garden。　The　only　thing　that　Fernanda　noted　in　the　man　whom　a　few　months　later　she　was　to　expel　from　the　house　without　remembering　where　she　had　seen　him　was　the　bilious　texture　of　his　skin。
　　　“He’s　a　very　strange　man；？Fernanda　said。　“You　can　see　in　his　face　that　he’s　going　to　die。？
　　　Meme　thought　that　her　mother　had　been　impressed　by　the　butterflies　When　they　finished　pruning　the　row　bushes　she　washed　her　hands　and　took　the　package　to　her　bedroom　to　open　it。　It　was　a　kind　of　Chinese　toy；　made　up　of　five　concentric　boxes；　and　in　the　last　one　there　was　a　card　laboriously　inscribed　by　someone　who　could　barely　write：　We’ll　get　together　Saturday　at　the　movies。　Meme　felt　with　an　aftershock　that　the　box　had　been　on　the　railing　for　a　long　time　within　reach　of　Fernanda’s　curiosity；　and　although　she　was　flattered　by　the　audacity　and　ingenuity　of　Mauricio　Babilonia；　she　was　moved　by　his　Innocence　in　expecting　that　she　would　keep　the　date。　Meme　knew　at　that　time　that　Aureliano　Segundo　had　an　appointment　on　Saturday　night。　Nevertheless；　the　fire　of　anxiety　burned　her　so　much　during　the　course　of　the　week　that　on　Saturday　she　convinced　her　father　to　leave　her　alone　in　the　theater　and　e　back　for　her　after　the　show。　A　nocturnal　butterfly　fluttered　about　her　head　while　the　lights　were　on。　And　then　it　happened。　When　the　lights　went　out；　Mauricio　Babilonia　sat　down　beside　her。　Meme　felt　herself　splashing　in　a　bog　of　hesitation　from　which　she　could　only　be　rescued；　as　had　occurred　in　her　dreams；　by　that　man　smelling　of　grease　whom　she　could　barely　see　in　the　shadows。
　　　“If　you　hadn’t　e；？he　said；　“You　never　would　have　seen　me　again。？
　　　Meme　felt　the　weight　of　his　hand　on　her　knee　and　she　knew　that　they　were　both　arriving　at　the　other　side　of　abandonment　at　that　instant。
　　　“What　shocks　me　about　you；？she　said；　smiling；　“is　that　you　always　say　exactly　what　you　shouldn’t　be　saying。？
　　　She　lost　her　mind　over　him。　She　could　not　sleep　and　she　lost　her　appetite　and　sank　so　deeply　into　solitude　that　even　her　father　became　an　annoyance。　She　worked　out　an　intricate　web　of　false　dates　to　throw　Fernanda　off　the　track；　lost　sight　of　her　girl　friends；　leaped　over　conventions　to　be　with　Mauricio　Babilonia　at　any　time　and　at　any　place。　At　first　his　crudeness　bothered　her。　The　first　time　that　they　were　alone　on　the　deserted　fields　behind　the　garage　he　pulled　her　mercilessly　into　an　animal　state　that　left　her　exhausted。　It　took　her　time　to　realize　that　it　was　also　a　form　of　tenderness　and　it　was　then　that　she　lost　her　calm　and　lived　only　for　him；　upset　by　the　desire　to　sink　into　his　stupefying　odor　of　grease　washed　off　by　lye。　A　short　time　before　the　death　of　Amaranta　she　suddenly　stumbled　into　in　open　space　of　lucidity　within　the　madness　and　she　trembled　before　the　uncertainty　of　the　future。　Then　she　heard　about　a　woman　who　made　predictions　from　cards　and　went　to　see　her　in　secret。　It　was　Pilar　Ternera。　As　soon　as　Pilar　saw　her　e　in　she　was　aware　of　Meme’s　hidden　motives。　“Sit　down；？she　told　her。　“I　don’t　need　cards　to　tell　the　future　of　a　Buendía；？Meme　did　not　know　and　never　would　that　the　centenarian　witch　was　her　greatgrandmother。　Nor　would　she　have　believed　it　after　the　aggressive　realism　with　which　she　revealed　to　her　that　the　anxiety　of　falling　in　love　could　not　find　repose　except　in　bed。　It　was　the　same　point　of　view　as　Mauricio　Babilonia’s；　but　Meme　resisted　believing　it　because　underneath　it　all　she　imagined　that　it　had　been　inspired　by　the　poor　judgment　of　a　mechanic。　She　thought　then　that　love　on　one　side　was　defeating　love　on　the　other；　because　it　was　characteristic　of　men　to　deny　hunger　once　their　appetites　were　satisfied。　Pilar　Ternera　not　only　cleared　up　that　mistake；　she　also　offered　the　old　canopied　bed　where　she　had　conceived　Arcadio；　Meme’s　grandfather；　and　where　afterward　she　conceived　Aureliano　Jos？　She　also　taught　her　how　to　avoid　an　unwanted　conception　by　means　of　the　evaporation　of　mustard　plasters　and　gave　her　recipes　for　potions　that　in　cases　of　trouble　could　expel　“even　the　remorse　of　conscience。？That　interview　instilled　In　Meme　the　same　feeling　of　bravery　that　she　had　felt　on　the　drunken　evening。　Amaranta’s　death；　however；　obliged　her　to　postpone　the　decision。　While　the　nine　nights　lasted　she　did　not　once　leave　the　side　of　Mauricio　Babilonia；　who　mingled　with　the　crowd　that　invaded　the　house。　Then　came　the　long　period　of　mourning　and　the　obligatory　withdrawal　and　they　separated　for　a　time。　Those　were　days　of　such　inner　agitation；　such　irrepressible　anxiety；　and　so　many　repressed　urges　that　on　the　first　evening　that　Meme　was　able　to　get　out　she　went　straight　to　Pilar　Ternera’s。　She　surrendered　to　Mauricio　Babilonia；　without　resistance；　without　shyness；　without　formalities；　and　with　a　vocation　that　was　so　fluid　and　an　intuition　that　was　so　wise　that　a　more　suspicious　man　than　hers　would　have　confused　them　with　obvious　experience。　They　made　love　twice　a　week　for　more　than　three　months；　protected　by　the　innocent　plicity　of　Aureliano　Segundo；　who　believed　without　suspicion　in　his　daughter’s　alibis　simply　in　order　to　set　her　free　from　her　mother’s　rigidity。
　　　On　the　night　that　Fernanda　surprised　them　in　the　movies　Aureliano　Segundo　felt　weighted　down　by　the　burden　of　his　conscience　and　he　visited　Meme　in　the　bedroom　where　Fernanda　kept　her　locked　up；　trusting　that　she　would　reveal　to　him　the　confidences　that　she　owed　him。　But　Meme　denied　everything。　She　was　so　sure　of　herself；　so　anchored　in　her　solitude　that　Aureliano　Segundo　had　the　impression　that　no　link　existed　between　them　anymore；　that　the　radeship　and　the　plicity　were　nothing　but　an　illusion　of　the　past。　He　thought　of　speaking　to　Mauricio　Babilonia；　thinking　that　his　authority　as　his　former　boss　would　make　him　desist　from　his　p