Сто лет одиночества

           HefoundFranciscotheMan,likeamonolithicchameleon,sittinginthemidstofacirclebystanders.Hewassingingthenewswithhisold,out-of-tunevoice,accompanyinghimselfwiththesamearchaicaccordionthatSirWalterRaleighhadgivenhimintheGuianasandkeepingtimewithhisgreatwalkingfeetthatwerecrackedfromsaltpeter.Infrontofadoorattherearthroughwhichmenweregoingandcoming,thematronoftherockingchairwassittingandfanningherselfinsilence.Catarino,withafeltrosebehindhisear,wassellingthegatheringmugsoffermentedcanejuice,andhetookadvantageoftheoccasiontogoovertothemenandputhishandonthemwhereheshouldnothave.Towardmidnighttheheatwasunbearable.Aurelianolistenedtothenewstotheendwithouthearinganythingthatwasofinteresttohisfamily.Hewasgettingreadytogohomewhenthematronsignaledhand.

           Aurelianothrewacoinintothehopperthatthematronhadinherlapandwentintotheroomwithoutknowingwhy.Theadolescentmulattogirl,smallbitch’steats,wasnakedonthebed.BeforeAurelianosixty-threemenhadpassedthroughtheroomthatnight.Frombeingusedsomuch,kneadedwithsweatandsighs,theairintheroomhadbeguntoturntomud.ThegirltookoffthesoakedsheetandaskedAurelianotoholditbyoneside.Itwasasheavyasapieceofcanvas.Theysqueezedit,twistingitattheendsuntilitregaineditsnaturalweight.Theyturnedoverthematandthesweatcameoutoftheotherside.Aurelianowasanxiousforthatoperationnevertoend.