Сто лет одиночества
Chapter 7
Inspiteofhistriumphalreturn,ColonelAurelianoBuendíawasnotenthusiasticoverthelooksofthings.ThegovernmenttroopsabandonedtheirpositionswithoutresistanceandthatarousedanillusionofvictoryamongtheLiberalpopulationthatitwasnotrighttodestroy,buttherevolutionariesknewthetruth,ColonelAurelianoBuendíabetterthananyofthem.Althoughatthatmomenthehadmorethanfivethousandmenunderhiscommandandheldtwocoastalstates,hehadthefeelingofbeinghemmedinagainsttheseaandcaughtinasituationthatwassoconfusedthatwhenheorderedtherestorationofthechurchsteeple,whichhadbeenknockeddownbyarmycannonfire,FatherNicanorcommentedfromhissickbed:"Thisissilly;thedefendersofthefaithofChristdestroythechurchandtheMasonsorderitrebuilt."Lookingforaloopholethroughwhichhecouldescape,hespenthoursonendinthetelegraphofficeconferringwiththecommandersofothertowns,andeverytimehewouldemergewiththefirmestimpressionthatthewarwasatastalemate.Whennewsoffreshliberalvictorieswasreceiveditwascelebratedwithjubilantproclamations,buthewouldmeasuretherealextentofthemonthemapandcouldseethathisforceswerepenetratingintothejungle,defendingthemselvesagainstmalariamosquitoes,advancingintheoppositedirectionfromreality."We’rewastingtime,"hewouldcomplaintohisofficers."We’rewastingtimewhilethebastardsinthepartyarebeggingforseatsincongress."
