Сто лет одиночества

           Withoutmeaningto,thewomanlookedatJoseArcadioandexaminedhismagnificentanimalinreposewithakindofpatheticfervor."Myboy,"sheexclaimed,"mayGodpreserveyoujustasyouare."JoseArcadio’scompanionaskedthemtoleavethemalone,andthecouplelaydownontheground,closetothebed.ThepassionoftheotherswokeupJoseArcadio’sfervor.Onthefirstcontactthebonesofthegirlseemedtobecomedisjointedwithadisorderlycrunchlikethesoundofaboxofdominoes,andherskinbrokeoutintoapalesweatandhereyesfilledwithtearsasherwholebodyexhaledalugubriouslamentandavaguesmellofmud.Butsheboretheimpactwithafirmnessofcharacterandabraverythatwereadmi-rable.JoseArcadiofelthimselfliftedupintotheairtowardastateofseraphicinspiration,wherehisheartburstforthwithanoutpouringoftenderobscenitiesthatenteredthegirlthroughherearsandcameoutofhermouthtranslatedintoherlanguage.ItwasThursday.OnSaturdaynight,JoseArcadiowrappedaredclotharoundhisheadandleftwiththegypsies.

           WhenOrsuladiscoveredhisabsenceshesearchedforhimallthroughthevillage.Intheremainsofthegypsycamptherewasnothingbutagarbagepitamongthestillsmokingashesoftheextinguishedcampfires.SomeonewhowastherelookingforbeadsamongthetrashtoldOrsulathatthenightbeforehehadseenhersoninthetumultofthecaravanpushingthesnake-man’scageonacart."He’sbecomeagypsy"sheshoutedtoherhusband,whohadnotshowntheslightestsignofalarmoverthedisappearance.

           "Ihopeit’strue,"JoseArcadioBuendfasaid,grindinginhismortarthematerialthathadbeengroundathousandtimesandreheatedandgroundagain.