Сто лет одиночества
Chapter 3
AllstrangerswhopassedthroughthestreetsofMacondoatthattimehadtoringtheirbellssothatthesickpeoplewouldknowthattheywerehealthy.Theywerenotallowedtoeatordrinkanythingduringtheirstay,fortherewasnodoubtbutthattheillnesswastransmittedbymouth,allfoodanddrinkhadbeencontaminatedbyinsomnia.Inthatwaytheykepttheplaguerestrictedtotheperimeterofthetown.Soeffectivewasthequarantinethatthedaycamewhentheemergencysituationwasacceptedasanaturalthingandlifewasorganizedinsuchawaythatworkpickedupitsrhythmagainandnooneworriedanymoreabouttheuselesshabitofsleeping.
ItwasAurelianowhoconceivedtheformulathatwastoprotectthemagainstlossofmemoryforseveralmonths.Hediscovereditbychance.Anexpertinsomniac,havingbeenoneofthefirst,hehadlearnedtheartofsilverworktoperfection.Onedayhewaslookingforthesmallanvilthatheusedforlaminatingmetalsandhecouldnotrememberitsname.Hisfathertoldhim:"Stake."Aurelianowrotethenameonapieceofpaperthathepastedtothebaseofthesmallanvil:stake.Inthatwayhewassureofnotforgettingitinthefuture.Itdidnotoccurtohimthatthiswasthefirstmanifestationofalossofmemory,becausetheobjecthadadifficultnametoremember.Butafewdayslaterbe,discoveredthathehadtroublerememberingalmosteveryobjectinthelaboratory.Thenhemarkedthemwiththeirrespectivenamessothatallhehadtodowasreadtheinscriptioninordertoidentifythem.
