Chapter 2

           WhenthepirateSirFrancisDrakeattackedRiohachainthesixteenthcentury,OrsulaIguaran’sgreat-great-grandmotherbecamesofrightenedwiththeringingofalarmbellsandthefiringofcannonsthatshelostcontrolofhernervesandsatdownonalightedstove.Theburnschangedherintoauselesswifefortherestofherdays.Shecouldonlysitononeside,cushionedbypillows,andsomethingstrangemusthavehappenedtoherwayofwalking,forsheneverwalkedagaininpublic.Shegaveupallkindsofsocialactivity,obsessedwiththenotionthatherbodygaveoffasingedodor.Dawnwouldfindherinthecourtyard,forshedidnotdarefallasleeplestshedreamoftheEnglishandtheirferociousattackdogsastheycamethroughthewindowsofherbedroomtosubmithertoshamefultortureswiththeirred-hotirons.Herhusband,anAragonesemerchantbywhomshehadtwochildren,spenthalfthevalueofhisstoreonmedicinesandpastimesinanattempttoalleviateherterror.FinallyhesoldthebusinessandtookthefamilytolivefarfromtheseainasettlementofpeacefulIndianslocatedinthefoothills,wherehebuilthiswifeabedroomwithoutwindowssothatthepiratesofherdreamwouldhavenowaytogetin.

           Inthathiddenvillagetherewasanative-borntobaccoplanterwhohadlivedthereforsometime,DonJoseArcadioBuendfa,withwhomOrsula’sgreat-great-grandfatherestablishedapartnershipthatwassolucrativethatwithinafewyearstheymadeafortune.Severalcenturieslaterthegreat-great-grandsonofthenative-bornplantermarriedthegreat-great-granddaughteroftheAragonese.Therefore,everytimethatOrsulabecameexercisedoverherhusband’smadideas,shewouldleapbackoverthreehundredyearsoffateandcursethedaythatSirFrancisDrakehadattackedRiohacha.