Сто лет одиночества
Chapter 2
Thenshefelthim.Sheremainedmotionlessagainsthim,tremblingwithsurpriseandfear,unabletobelievetheevidence,andfinallysheturnedherheadandlookedathimwithatremuloussmile.Atthatinstanttwogypsiesputthesnake-manintohiscageandcarriedhimintothetent.Thegypsywhowasconductingtheshowannounced:
"Andnow,ladiesandgentlemen,wearegoingtoshowtheterribletestofthewomanwhomusthaveherheadchoppedoffeverynightatthistimeforonehundredandfiftyyearsaspunishmentforhavingseenwhatsheshouldnothave."
JoseArcadioandthegypsygirldidnotwitnessthedecapitation.Theywenttohertent,wheretheykissedeachotherwithadesperateanxietywhiletheytookofftheirclothes.Thegypsygirlremovedthestarchedlacecorsetsshehadonandthereshewas,changedintopracticallynothing.Shewasalanguidlittlefrog,withincipientbreastsandlegssothinthattheydidnotevenmatchthesizeofJoseArcadio’sarms,butshehadadecisionandawarmththatcompensatedforherfragility.Nevertheless,JoseArcadio
couldnotrespondtoherbecausetheywereinakindofpublictentwherethegypsiespassedthroughwiththeircircusthingsanddidtheirbusiness,andwouldeventarrybythebedforagameofdice.Thelamphangingfromthecenterpolelightedthewholeplaceup.Duringapauseinthecaresses,JoseArcadiostretchedoutnakedonthebedwithoutknowingwhattodo,whilethegirltriedtoinspirehim.Agypsywomanwithsplendidfleshcameinashorttimeafteraccompaniedbyamanwhowasnotofthecaravanbutwhowasnotfromthevillageeither,andtheybothbegantoundressinfrontofthebed.
