Сто лет одиночества

           Itwas,therefore,aroutethatdidnotinteresthim,foritcouldleadonlytothepast.Tothesouthlaytheswamps,coveredwithaneternalvegetablescumandthewholevastuniverseofthegreatswamp,which,accordingtowhatthegypsiessaid,hadnolimits.Thegreatswampinthewestmingledwithaboundlessextensionofwaterwherethereweresoft-skinnedceta-ceansthathadtheheadandtorsoofawoman,causingtheruinationofsailorswiththecharmoftheirextraordinarybreasts.Thegypsiessailedalongthatrouteforsixmonthsbeforetheyreachedthestripoflandoverwhichthemulesthatcarriedthemailpassed.AccordingtoJoseArcadioBuendfa’scalculations,theonlypossibilityofcontactwithcivilizationlayalongthenorthernroute.SohehandedoutclearingtoolsandhuntingweaponstothesamemenwhohadbeenwithhimduringthefoundingofMacondo.Hethrewhisdirectionalinstrumentsandhismapsintoaknapsack,andheundertooktherecklessadventure.

           Duringthefirstdaystheydidnotcomeacrossanyappreciableobstacle.Theywentdownalongthestonybankoftherivertotheplacewhereyearsbeforetheyhadfoundthesoldier’sarmor,andfromtheretheywentintothewoodsalongapathbetweenwildorangetrees.Attheendofthefirstweektheykilledandroastedadeer,buttheyagreedtoeatonlyhalfofitandsalttherestforthedaysthatlayahead.Withthatprecautiontheytriedtopostponethenecessityofhavingtoeatmacaws,whosebluefleshhadaharshandmuskytaste.Then,formorethantendays,theydidnotseethesunagain.Thegroundbecamesoftanddamp,likevolcanicash,andthevegetationwasthickerandthicker,andthecriesofthebirdsandtheuproarofthemonkeysbecamemoreandmoreremote,andtheworldbecameeternallysad.