Сто лет одиночества
Chapter 6
"Weleaveittoyouingoodshape,trytohaveitinbettershapewhenwereturn."
Arcadiogaveaverypersonalinterpretationtotheinstructions.Heinventedauniformwiththebraidandepauletsofamarshal,inspiredbytheprintsinoneofMelquíades’books,andaroundhiswaisthebuckledthesaberwithgoldtasselsthathadbelongedtotheexecutedcaptain.Hesetupthetwoartillerypiecesattheentrancetotown,putuniformsonhisformerpupils,whohadbeenamusedbyhisfieryproclamations,andletthemwanderthroughthestreetsarmedinordertogiveoutsidersanimpressionofinvulnerability.Itwasadoubleedgeddeception,forthegovernmentdidnotdareattacktheplacefortenmonths,butwhenitdiditunleashedsuchalargeforceagainstitthatresistancewasliquidatedinahalfhour.FromthefirstdayofhisruleArcadiorevealedhispredilectionfordecrees.Hewouldreadasmanyasfouradayinordertodecreeandinstituteeverythingthatcameintohishead.Heimposedobligatorymilitaryserviceformenovereighteen,declaredtobepublicpropertyanyanimalswalkingthestreetsaftersixintheevening,andmademenwhowereoveragewearredarmbands.HesequesteredFatherNicanorintheparishhouseunderpainofexecutionandprohibitedfromsayingmassorringingthebellsunlessitwasforaLiberalvictory.Inorderthatnoonewoulddoubttheseverityofhisaims,heorderedafiringsquadorganizedinthesquareandhaditshootatascarecrow.Atfirstnoonetookhimseriously.
