Сто лет одиночества
Chapter 1
Orsulaweptinconsternation.Thatmoneywasfromachestofgoldcoinsthatherfatherhadputtogetherovaanentirelifeofprivationandthatshehadburiedunderneathherbedinhopesofaproperoccasiontomakeuseofit.JoseArcadioBuendfamadenoattempttoconsoleher,completelyabsorbedinhistacticalexperimentswiththeabnegationofascientistandevenattheriskofhisownlife.Inanattempttoshowtheeffectsoftheglassonenemytroops,heexposedhimselftotheconcentrationofthesun’sraysandsufferedburnswhichturnedintosoresthattookalongtimetoheal.Overtheprotestsofhiswife,whowasalarmedatsuchadangerousinvention,atonepointhewasreadytosetthehouseonfire.Hewouldspendhoursonendinhisroom,calculatingthestrategicpossibilitiesofhisnovelweaponuntilhesucceededinputtingtogetheramanualofstartlinginstructionalclarityandanirresistiblepowerofconviction.Hesentittothegovernment,accompaniedbynumerousdescriptionsofhisexperimentsandseveralpagesofexplanatorysketches;byamessengerwhocrossedthemountains,gotlostinmeasurelessswamps,fordedstormyrivers,andwasonthepointofperishingunderthelashofdespair,plague,andwildbeastsuntilhefoundaroutethatjoinedtheoneusedbythemulesthatcarriedthemail.Inspiteofthefactthatatriptothecapitalwaslittlelessthanimpossibleatthattime,JoseArcadioBuendfapromisedtoundertakeitassoonasthegovernmentorderedhimtosothathecouldputonsomepracticaldemonstrationsofhisinventionforthemilitaryauthoritiesandcouldtrainthemhimselfinthecomplicatedartofsolarwar.Forseveralyearshewaitedforananswer.Finally,tiredofwaiting,hebemoanedtoMelqufadesthefailureofhisprojectandthegypsythengavehimaconvincingproofofhishonesty:hegavehimbackthedoubloonsinexchangeforthemagnifyingglass,andhelefthiminadditionsomePortuguesemapsandseveralinstrumentsofnavigation.
