Сто лет одиночества

           Butthefast-movingeventsofthosedaysnotonlypreventedherplansfrombeingcarriedout,theymadeherregrethavingconceivedthem.Thewar,whichuntilthenhadbeenonlyawordtodesignateavagueandremotecircumstance,becameaconcreteanddramaticreality.AroundtheendofFebruaryanoldwomanwithanashenlookarrivedinMacondoridingadonkeyloadeddownwithbrooms.Sheseemedsoinoffensivethatthesentriesletherpasswithoutanyquestionsasanothervendor,oneofthemanywhooftenarrivedfromthetownsintheswamp.Shewentdirectlytothebarracks.Arcadioreceivedherintheplacewheretheclassroomusedtobeandwhichatthattimehadbeentransformedintoakindofrearguardencampment,withroiledhammockshangingonhooksandmatspiledupinthecorners,andriflesandcarbinesandevenhuntingshotgunsscatteredonthefloor.Theoldwomanstiffenedintoamilitarysalutebeforeidentifyingherself:

           "IamColonelGregorioStevenson."

           Hebroughtbadnews.ThelastcentersLiberalresistance,accordingtowhathesaid,werebeingwipedout.ColonelAurelianoBuendía,whomhehadleftfightinginretreatnearRiohacha,hadgivenhimamessageforArcadio.HeshouldsurrenderthetownwithoutresistanceontheconditionthatthelivesandpropertyofLiberalswouldberespected.Arcadioexaminedthatstrangemessengerwhocouldhavebeenafugitivegrandmotherwithalookofpity.

           "Youhavebroughtsomethinginwriting,naturally,"hesaid.

           "Naturally,"theemissaryanswered,"Ihavebroughtnothingofthesort.