Сто лет одиночества

           TheonlyonewhoknewitimmediatelywasDonApolinarMoscote,buthedidnotgivethenewseventohiswifewhilethearmyplatoonthatwastooccupythetownbysurprisewasonitsway.Theyenterednoiselesslybeforedawn,withtwopiecesoflightartillerydrawnbymules,andtheysetuptheirheadquartersintheschool.A6P.M.curfewwasestablished.Amoredrasticsearchthanthepreviousonewasundertaken,housebyhouse,andthistimetheyeventookfarmimplements.TheydraggedoutDr.Noguera,tiedhimtoatreeinthesquare,andshothimwithoutanydueprocessoflaw.FatNicanortriedtoimpressthemilitaryauthoritieswiththemiracleoflevitationandhadhisheadsplitopenbythebuttofasoldier’srifle.TheLiberalexaltationhadbeenextinguishedintoasilentterror.Aureliano,pale,mysterious,continuedplayingdominoeswithhisfather-in-law.Heunderstoodthatinspiteofhispresenttitleofcivilandmilitaryleaderofthetown,DonApolinarMoscotewasoncemoreafigurehead.Thedecisionsweremadebythearmycaptain,whoeachmorningcollectedanextraordinarylevyforthedefenseofpublicorder.Foursoldiersunderhiscommandsnatchedawomanwhohadbeenbittenbyamaddogfromherfamilyandkilledherwiththeirriflebutts.OneSunday,twoweeksaftertheoccupation,AurelianoenteredGerineldoMárquez’shousehisusualtersenessaskedforamugofcoffeewithoutsugar.Whenthetwoofthemwerealoneinthekitchen,Aurelianogavehisvoiceanauthoritythathadneverbeenheardbefore."Gettheboysready,"hesaid