Сто лет одиночества

           InhisownhandwritinghesetdownaconcisesynthesisofthestudiesbyMonkHermann.whichheleftJoseArcadiosothathewouldbeabletomakeuseoftheastrolabe,thecompass,andthesextant.JoseArcadio

           Buendfaspentthelongmonthsoftherainyseasonshutupinasmallroomthathehadbuiltintherearofthehousesothatnoonewoulddisturbhisexperiments.Havingcompletelyabandonedhisdomesticobligations,hespententirenightsinthecourtyardwatchingthecourseofthestarsandhealmostcontractedsunstrokefromtryingtoestablishanexactmethodtoascertainnoon.Whenhebecameanexpertintheuseandmanipulationofhisinstruments,heconceivedanotionofspacethatallowedhimtonavigateacrossunknownseas,tovisituninhabitedterritories,andtoestablishrelationswithsplendidbeingswithouthavingtoleavehisstudy.Thatwastheperiodinwhichheacquiredthehabitoftalkingtohimself,ofwalkingthroughthehousewithoutpayingattentiontoanyone,asOrsulaandthechildrenbroketheirbacksinthegarden,growingbananaandcaladium,cassavaandyams,ahuyamarootsandeggplants.Suddenly,with-outwarning,hisfeverishactivitywasinterruptedandwasreplacedbyakindoffascination.Hespentseveraldaysasifhewerebewitched,softlyrepeatingtohimselfastringoffearfulconjectureswithoutgivingcredittohisownunderstanding.Finally,oneTuesdayinDecember,atlunchtime,allatoncehereleasedthewholeweightofhistorment.Thechildrenwouldrememberfortherestoftheirlivestheaugustsolemnitywithwhichtheirfather,devastatedbyhisprolongedvigilandbythewrathofhisimagination,revealedhisdiscoverytothem:"Theearthisround,likeanorange."

           Orsulalostherpatience."Ifyouhavetogocrazy,pleasegocrazyallbyyourself!"sheshouted."Butdon’ttrytoputyourgypsyideasintotheheadsofthechildren."