Сто лет одиночества

           Therainwaslettingup,butthestreetswereasslipperyandassmoothasmeltedsoap,andonehadtoguessdistancesinthedarkness.ArcadioleftAmarantawithúrsulaandmadeanattempttofacetwosoldierswhohadopenedupwithheavyfiringfromthecorner.Theoldpistolsthathadbeenkeptformanyyearsinthebureaudidnotwork.ProtectingArcadiowithherbody,úrsulatriedtodraghimtowardthehouse.

           "ComealonginthenameofGod,"sheshoutedathim."There’sbeenenoughmadness!"

           Thesoldiersaimedatthem.

           "Letgoofthatman,ma’am,"oneofthemshouted,"orwewon’tberesponsible!"

           Arcadiopushedúrsulatowardthehouseandsurrendered.Ashorttimelatertheshootingstoppedandthebellsbegantotoll.Theresistancehadbeenwipedoutinlessthanhalfanhour.NotasingleoneofArcadio’smenhadsurvivedtheattack,butbeforedyingtheyhadkilledthreehundredsoldiers.Thelaststrongholdwasthebarracks.Beforebeingattacked,thesupposedColonelGregorioStevensonhadfreedtheprisonersandorderedhismentogooutandfightinthestreet.Theextraordinarymobilityandaccurateaimwhichheplacedhistwentycartridgesgavetheimpressionthatthebarrackswaswell-defended,andtheattackersblewittopieceswithcannonfire.Thecaptainwhodirectedtheoperationwasstartledtofindtherubbledesertedandasingledeadmaninhisundershortswithanemptyriflestillclutchedinanarmthathadbeenblowncompletelyoff.