Сто лет одиночества

           "Weleftafewredonesinsotherewon’tbeanycomplaints."Aurelianounderstoodthedisadvantagesofbeingintheopposition."IwereaLiberal,"hesaid,"I’dgotowarbecauseofthoseballots."Hisfather-in-lawlookedathimoverhisglasses.

           "Comenow,Aurelito,"hesaid,"ifyouwereaLiberal,eventhoughyou’remyson-in-law,youwouldn’thaveseentheswitchingoftheballots."

           Whatreallycausedindignationinthetownwas.nottheresultsoftheelectionsbutthefactthatthesoldiershadnotreturnedtheweapons.AgroupofwomenspokewithAurelianosothathecouldobtainthereturnoftheirkitchenknivesfromhisfather-in-law.DonApolinarMoscoteexplainedtohim,instrictestconfidence,thatthesoldiershadtakentheweaponsoffasproofthattheLiberalswerepreparingforwar.Thecynicismoftheremarkalarmedhim.Hesaidnothing,butonacertainnightwhenGerineldoMárquezandMagníficoVisbalwerespeakingwithsomeotherfriendsabouttheincidentoftheknives,theyaskedhimifhewasaLiberaloraConservative.Aurelianodidnothesitate.

           "IfIhavetobesomethingI’llbeaLiberal,"hesaid,"becausetheConservativesaretricky."

           Onthefollowingday,attheurgingofhisfriends,hewenttoseeDr.AlirioNogueratobetreatedforasupposedpaininhisliver.Hedidnotevenunderstandthemeaningofthesubterfuge.Dr.AlirioNoguerahadarrivedinMacondoafewyearsbeforewithamedicinechestoftastelesspillsandamedicalmottothatconvincednoone:Onenaildrawsanother.Inrealityhewasacharlatan.