百年孤独(英文版)-第46部分

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　wedding。
　　　On　the　ninth　of　August；　before　they　received　the　first　letter　from　Brussels；　Jos？Arcadio　Segundo　was　speaking　to　Aureliano　in　Melquíades？room　and；　without　realizing　it；　he　said：
　　　“Always　remember　that　they　were　more　than　three　thousand　and　that　they　were　thrown　into　the　sea。？
　　　Then　he　fell　back　on　the　parchments　and　died　with　his　eyes　open。　At　that　same　instant；　in　Fernanda’s　bed；　his　twin　brother　came　to　the　end　of　the　prolonged　and　terrible　martyrdom　of　the　steel　crabs　that　were　eating　his　throat　away。　One　week　previously　he　had　returned　home；　without　any　voice；　unable　to　breathe；　and　almost　skin　and　bones；　with　his　wandering　trunks　and　his　wastrel’s　accordion；　to　fulfill　the　promise　of　dying　beside　his　wife。　Petra　Cotes　helped　him　pack　his　clothes　and　bade　him　farewell　without　shedding　a　tear；　but　she　fot　to　give　him　the　patent　leather　shoes　that　he　wanted　to　wear　in　his　coffin。　So　when　she　heard　that　he　had　died；　she　dressed　in　black；　wrapped　the　shoes　up　in　a　newspaper；　and　asked　Fernanda　for　permission　to　see　the　body。　Fernanda　would　not　let　her　through　the　door。
　　　“Put　yourself　in　my　place；？Petra　Cotes　begged。　“Imagine　how　much　I　must　have　loved　him　to　put　up　with　this　humiliation。？
　　　“There　is　no　humiliation　that　a　concubine　does　not　deserve；？Fernanda　replied。　“So　wait　until　another　one　of　your　men　dies　and　put　the　shoes　on　him。？
　　　In　fulfillment　of　her　promise；　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　cut　the　throat　of　Jos？Arcadio　Segundo’s　corpse　with　a　kitchen　knife　to　be　sure　that　they　would　not　bury　him　alive。　The　bodies　were　placed　in　identical　coffins；　and　then　it　could　be　seen　that　once　more　in　death　they　had　bee　as　Identical　as　they　had　been　until　adolescence。　Aureliano　Segundo’s　old　carousing　rades　laid　on　his　casket　a　wreath　that　had　a　purple　ribbon　with　the　words：　Cease；　cows；　life　is　short。　Fernanda　was　so　indignant　with　such　irreverence　that　she　had　the　wreath　thrown　onto　the　trash　heap。　In　the　tumult　of　the　last　moment；　the　sad　drunkards　who　carried　them　out　of　the　house　got　the　coffins　mixed　up　and　buried　them　in　the　wrong　graves。

Chapter　18
AURELIANO　DID　NOT　leave　Melquíades？room　for　a　long　time。　He　learned　by　heart　the　fantastic　legends　of　the　crumbling　books；　the　synthesis　of　the　studies　of　Hermann　the　Cripple；　the　notes　on　the　science　of　demonology；　the　keys　to　the　philosopher’s　stone；　the　Centuries　of　Nostradamus　and　his　research　concerning　the　plague；　so　that　he　reached　adolescence　without　knowing　a　thing　about　his　own　time　but　with　the　basic　knowledge　of　a　medieval　man。　Any　time　that　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　would　go　into　his　room　she　would　find　him　absorbed　in　his　reading。　At　dawn　she　would　bring　him　a　mug　of　coffee　without　sugar　and　at　noon　a　plate　of　rice　and　slices　of　fried　plantain；　which　were　the　only　things　eaten　in　the　house　since　the　death　of　Aureliano　Segundo。　She　saw　that　his　hair　was　cut；　picked　off　the　nits；　took　in　to　his　size　the　old　clothing　that　she　found　in　fotten　trunks；　and　when　his　mustache　began　to　appear　the　brought　him　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía’s　razor　and　the　small　gourd　he　had　used　as　a　shaving　mug。　None　of　the　latter’s　children　had　looked　so　much　like　him；　not　even　Aureliano　Jos？　particularly　in　respect　to　the　prominent　cheekbones　and　the　firm　and　rather　pitiless　line　of　the　lips。　As　had　happened　to　？rsula　with　Aureliano　Segundo　when　the　latter　was　studying　in　the　room；　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　thought　that　Aureliano　was　talking　to　himself。　Actually；　he　was　talking　to　Melquíades。　One　burning　noon；　a　short　time　after　the　death　of　the　twins；　against　the　light　of　the　window　he　saw　the　gloomy　old　man　with　his　crow’swing　hat　like　the　materialization　of　a　memory　that　had　been　in　his　head　since　long　before　he　was　born。　Aureliano　had　finished　classifying　the　alphabet　of　the　parchments；　so　that　when　Melquíades　asked　him　if　he　had　discovered　the　language　in　which　they　had　been　written　he　did　not　hesitate　to　answer。
　　　“Sanskrit；？he　said。
　　　Melquíades　revealed　to　him　that　his　opportunities　to　return　to　the　room　were　limited。　But　he　would　go　in　peace　to　the　meadows　of　the　ultimate　death　because　Aureliano　would　have　time　to　learn　Sanskrit　during　the　years　remaining　until　the　parchments　became　one　hundred　years　old；　when　they　could　be　deciphered。　It　was　he　who　indicated　to　Aureliano　that　on　the　narrow　street　going　down　to　the　river；　where　dreams　had　been　interpreted　during　the　time　of　the　banana　pany；　a　wise　Catalonian　had　a　bookstore　where　there　was　a　Sanskrit　primer；　which　would　be　eaten　by　the　moths　within　six　years　if　he　did　not　hurry　to　buy　it。　For　the　first　time　in　her　long　life　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　let　a　feeling　show　through；　and　it　was　a　feeling　of　wonderment　when　Aureliano　asked　her　to　bring　him　the　book　that　could　be　found　between　Jerusalem　Delivered　and　Milton’s　poems　on　the　extreme　righthand　side　of　the　second　shelf　of　the　bookcases。　Since　she　could　not　read；　she　memorized　what　he　had　said　and　got　some　money　by　selling　one　of　the　seventeen　little　gold　fishes　left　in　the　workshop；　the　whereabouts　of　which；　after　being　hidden　the　night　the　soldiers　searched　the　house；　was　known　only　by　her　and　Aureliano。
　　　Aureliano　made　progress　in　his　studies　of　Sanskrit　as　Melquíades？visits　became　less　and　less　frequent　and　he　was　more　distant；　fading　away　in　the　radiant　light　of　noon。　The　last　time　that　Aureliano　sensed　him　he　was　only　an　invisible　presence　who　murmured：　“I　died　of　fever　on　the　sands　of　Singapore。？The　room　then　became　vulnerable　to　dust；　heat；　termites；　red　ants；　and　moths；　who　would　turn　the　wisdom　of　the　parchments　into　sawdust。
　　　There　was　no　shortage　of　food　in　the　house。　The　day　after　the　death　of　Aureliano　Segundo；　one　of　the　friends　who　had　brought　the　wreath　with　the　irreverent　inscription　offered　to　pay　Fernanda　some　money　that　he　had　owed　her　husband。　After　that　every　Wednesday　a　delivery　boy　brought　a　basket　of　food　that　was　quite　sufficient　for　a　week。　No　one　ever　knew　that　those　provisions　were　being　sent　by　Petra　Cotes　with　the　idea　that　the　continuing　charity　was　a　way　of　humiliating　the　person　who　had　humiliated　her。　Nevertheless；　the　rancor　disappeared　much　sooner　than　she　herself　had　expected；　and　then　she　continued　sending　the　food　out　of　pride　and　finally　out　of　passion。　Several　times；　when　she　had　no　animals　to　raffle　off　and　people　lost　interest　in　the　lottery；　she　went　without　food　so　that　Fernanda　could　have　something　to　eat；　and　she　continued　fulfilling　the　pledge　to　herself　until　she　saw　Fernanda’s　funeral　procession　pass　by。
　　　For　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　the　reduction　in　the　number　of　inhabitants　of　the　house　should　have　meant　the　rest　she　deserved　after　more　than　half　a　century　of　work。　Never　a　lament　had　been　heard　from　that　stealthy；　impenetrable　woman　who　had　sown　in　the　family　the　angelic　seed　of　Remedios　the　Beauty　and　the　mysterious　solemnity　of　Jos？Arcadio　Segundo；　who　dedicated　a　whole　life　of　solitude　and　diligence　to　the　rearing　of　children　although　she　could　barely　remember　whether　they　were　her　children　or　grandchildren；　and　who　took　care　of　Aureliano　as　if　he　had　e　out　of　her　womb；　not　knowing　herself　that　she　was　his　greatgrandmother。　Only　in　a　house　like　that　was　it　conceivable　for　her　always　to　sleep　on　a　mat　she　laid　out　on　the　pantry　floor　in　the　midst　of　the　nocturnal　noise　of　the　rats；　and　without　telling　anyone　that　one　night　she　had　awakened　with　the　frightened　feeling　that　someone　was　looking　at　her　in　the　darkness　and　that　it　was　a　poisonous　snake　crawling　over　her　stomach。　She　knew　that　if　she　had　told　？rsula；　the　latter　would　have　made　her　sleep　in　her　own　bed；　but　those　were　times　when　no　one　was　aware　of　anything　unless　it　was　shouted　on　the　porch；　because　with　the　bustle　of　the　bakery；　the　surprises　of　the　war；　the　care　of　the　children；　there　was　not　much　room　for　thinking　about　other　peoples　happiness。　Petra　Cotes　whom　she　had　never　seen；　was　the　only　one　who　remembered　her。　She　saw　to　it　that　she　had　a　good　pair　of　shoes　for　street　wear；　that　she　always　had　clothing；　even　during　the　times　when　the　raffles　were　working　only　through　some　miracle。　When　Fernanda　arrived　at　the　house　she　had　good　reason　to　think　that　she　was　an　ageless　servant；　and　even　though　she　heard　it　said　several　times　that　she　was　her　husband’s　mother　it　was　so　incredible　that　it　took　her　longer　to　discover　it　than　to　fet　it。　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　never　seemed　bothered　by　that　lowly　position。　On　the　contrary；　one　had　the　impression　that　she　liked　to　stay　in　the　corners；　without　a　pause；　without　a　plaint；　keeping　clean　and　in　order　the　immense　house　that　she　had　lived　in　ever　since　adolescence　and　that；　especially　during　the　time　of　the　banana　pany；　was　more　like　a　barracks　than　a　home。　But　when　？rsula　died　the　superhuman　diligence　of　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad；　her　tremendous　capacity　for　work；　began　to　fall　apart。　It　was　not　only　that　she　was　old　and　exhausted；　but　overnight　the　house　had　plunged　into　a　crisis　of　senility。　A　soft　moss　grew　up　the　walls。　When　there　was　no　longer　a　bare　spot　in　the　courtyard；　the　weeds　broke　through　the　cement　of　the　porch；　breaking　it　like　glass；　and　out　of　the　cracks　grew　the　same　yellow　flowers　that　？rsula　had　found　in　the　glass　with　Melquíades？false　teeth　a　century　before。　With　neither　the　time　nor　the　resources　to　halt　the　challenge　of　nature；　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　spent　the　day　in　the　bedrooms　driving　out　the　lizards　who　would　return　at　night。　One　morning　she　saw　that　the　red　ants　had　left　the　undermined　foundations；　crossed　the　garden；　climbed　up　the　railing；　where　the　begonias　had　taken　on　an　earthen　color；　and　had　penetrated　into　the　heart　of　the　house。　She　first　tried　to　kill　them　with　a　broom；　then　with　insecticides；　and　finally　with　lye；　but　the　next　day　they　were　back　in　the　same　place；　still　passing　by；　tenacious　and　invincible。　Fernanda；　writing　letters　to　her　children；　was　not　aware　of　the　unchecked　destructive　attack。　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　continued　struggling　alone；　fighting　the　weeds　to　stop　them　from　getting　into　the　kitchen；　pulling　from　the　walls　the　tassels　of　spider　webs　which　were　rebuilt　in　a　few　hours；　scraping　off　the　termites。　But　when　she　saw　that　Melquíades？room　was　also　dusty　and　filled　with　cobwebs　even　though　she　swept　and　dusted　three　times　a　day；　and　that　in　spite　of　her　furious　cleaning　it　was　threatened　by　the　debris　and　the　air　of　misery　that　had　been　foreseen　only　by　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　and　the　young　officer；　she　realized　that　she　was　defeated。　Then　she　put　on　her　worn　Sunday　dress；　some　old　shoes　of　？rsula’s；　and　a　pair　of　cotton　stockings　that　Amaranta　？rsula　had　given　her；　and　she　made　a　bundle　out　of　the　two　or　three　changes　of　clothing　that　she　had　left。
　　　“I　give　up；？she　said　to　Aureliano。　“This　is　too　much　house　for　my　poor　bones。？
　　　Aureliano　asked　her　where　she　was　going　and　she　made　a　vague　sign；　as　if　she　did　not　have　the　slightest　idea　of　her　destination。　She　tried　to　be　more　precise；　however；　saying　that　she　was　going　to　spend　her　last　years　with　a　first　cousin　who　lived　in　Riohacha。　It　was　not　a　likely　explanation。　Since　the　death　of　her　parents　she　had　not　had　contact　with　anyone　in　town　or　received　letters　or　messages；　nor　had　she　been　heard　to　speak　of　any　relatives。　Aureliano　gave　her　fourteen　little　gold　fishes　because　she　was　determined　to　leave　with　only　what　she　had：　one　peso　and　twentyfive　cents。　From　the　window　of　the　room　he　saw　her　cross　the　courtyard　with　her　bundle　of　clothing；　dragging　her　feet　and　bent　over　by　her　years；　and　he　saw　her　reach　her　hand　through　an　opening　in　the　main　door　and　replace　the　bar　after　she　had　gone　out。　Nothing　was　ever　heard　of　her　again。
　　　When　she　heard　about　the　flight；　Fernanda　ranted　for　a　whole　day　as　she　checked　trunks；　dressers；　and　closets；　item　by　item；　to　make　sure　that　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad　had　not　made　off　with　anything。　She　burned　her　fingers　trying　to　light　a　fire　for　the　first　time　in　her　life　and　she　had　to　ask　Aureliano　to　do　her　the　favor　of　showing　her　how　to　make　coffee。　Fernanda　would　find　her　breakfast　ready　when　she　arose　and　she　would　leave　her　room　again　only　to　get　the　meal　that　Aureliano　had　left　covered　on　the　embers　for　her；　which　she　would　carry　to　the　table　to　eat　on　linen　tablecloths　and　between　candelabra；　sitting　at　the　solitary　head　of　the　table　facing　fifteen　empty　chairs。　Even　under　those　circumstances　Aureliano　and　Fernanda　did　not　share　their　solitude；　but　both　continued　living　on　their　own；　cleaning　their　respective　rooms　while　the　cobwebs　fell　like　snow　on　the　rose　bushes；　carpeted　the　beams；　cushioned　the　walls。　It　was　around　that　time　that　Fernanda　got　the　impression　that　the　house　was　filling　up　with　elves。　It　was　as　if　things；　especially　those　for　everyday　use；　had　developed　a　faculty　for　changing　location　on　their　own。　Fernanda　would　waste　time　looking　for　the　shears　that　she　was　sure　she　had　put　on　the　bed　and　after　turning　everything　upside　down　she　would　find　them　on　a　shelf　in　the　kitchen；　where　she　thought　she　had　not　been　for　four　days。　Suddenly　there　was　no　fork　in　the　silver　chest　and　she　would　find　six　on　the　altar　and　three　in　the　washroom。　That　wandering　about　of　things　was　even　more　exasperating　when　she　sat　down　to　write。　The　inkwell　that　she　had　placed　at　her　right　would　be　on　the　left；　the　blotter　would　be　lost　and　she　would　find　it　two　days　later　under　her　pillow；　and　the　pages　written　to　Jos？Arcadio　would　get　mixed　up　with　those　written　to　Amaranta　？rsula；　and　she　always　had　the　feeling　of　mortification　that　she　had　put　the　letters　in　opposite　envelopes；　as　in　fact　happened　several　times。　On　one　occasion　she　lost　her　fountain　pen。　Two　weeks　later　the　mailman；　who　had　found　it　in　his　bag；　returned　it。　He　had　been　going　from　house　to　house　looking　for　its　owner。　At　first　she　thought　it　was　some　business　of　the　invisible　doctors；　like　the　disappearance　of　the　pessaries；　and　she　even　started　a　letter　to　them　begging　them　to　leave　her　alone；　but　she　had　to　interrupt　it　to　do　something　and　when　she　went　back　to　her　room　she　not　only　did　not　find　the　letter　she　had　started　but　she　had　fotten　the　reason　for　writing　it。　For　a　time　she　thought　it　was　Aureliano。　She　began　to　spy　on　him；　to　put　things　in　his　path　trying　to　catch　him　when　he　changed　their　location；　but　she　was　soon　convinced　that　Aureliano　never　left　Melquíades？room　except　to　go　to　the　kitchen　or　the　toilet；　and　that　he　was　not　a　man　to　play　tricks。　So　in　the　end　she　believed　that　it　was　the　mischief　of　elves　and　she　decided　to　secure　everything　in　the　place　where　she　would　use　it。　She　tied　the　shears　to　the　head　of　her　bed　with　a　long　string。　She　tied　the　pen　and　the　blotter　to　the　leg　of　the　table；　and　the　glued　the　inkwell　to　the　top　of　it　to　the　right　of　the　place　where　she　normally　wrote。　The　problems　were　not　solved　overnight；　because　a　few　hours　after　she　had　tied　the　string　to　the　shears　it　was　not　long　enough　for　her　to　cut　with；　as　if　the　elves　had　shortened　it。　The　same　thing　happened　to　her　with　the　string　to　the　pen　and　even　with　her　own　arm　which　after　a　short　time　of　writing　could　not　reach　the　inkwell。　Neither　Amaranta　？rsula　in　Brussels　nor　Jos？Arcadio　in　Rome　ever　heard　about　those　insignificant　misfortunes。　Fernanda　told　them　that　she　was　happy　and　in　reality　she　was；　precisely　because　she　felt　free　from　any　promise；　as　if　li