Сто лет одиночества

           TheonlyrelativeswhoknewaboutitwereJoséArcadioandRebeca,withwhomArcadiomaintainedcloserelationsatthattime,basednotsomuchonkinshipasoncomplicity.JoséArcadiohadputhisneckintothemaritalyoke.Rebeca’sfirmcharacter,thevoracitystomach,hertenaciousambitionabsorbedthetremendousenergyofherhusband,whohadbeenchangedfromalazy,womanchasingmanintoanenormousworkanimal.Theykeptacleanandneathouse.Rebecawouldopenitwideatdawnandthewindfromthegraveyardwouldcomeinthroughthewindowsandgooutthroughthedoorstotheyardandleavethewhitewashedwallsandfurnituretannedbythesaltpeterofthedead.Herhungerforearth,theclocclocofherparents’bones,theimpatienceofherbloodasitfacedPietroCrespi’spassivitywererelegatedtotheatticofhermemory.Alldaylongshewouldembroiderbesidethewindow,withdrawnfromtheuneasinessofthewar,untiltheceramicpotswouldbegintovibrateinthecupboardandshewouldgetuptowarmthemeal,muchbeforetheappearance,first,ofthemangyhounds,andthenofthecolossusinleggingsandspurswithadouble-barreledshotgun,whosometimescarriedadeeronhisshoulderandalmostalwaysastringrabbitsorwildducks.Oneafternoon,atthebeginningofhisrule,Arcadiopaidthemasurprisevisit.Theyhadnotseenhimsincetheyhadleftthehouse,butheseemedsofriendlyandfamiliarthattheyinvitedhimtosharethestew.