Сто лет одиночества

           Butcuriositywasgreaterthanfear,forthattimethegypsieswentaboutthetownmakingadeafeningnoisewithallmannerofmusicalinstrumentswhileahawkerannouncedtheexhibitionofthemostfabulousdiscoveryoftheNaciancenes.SothateveryonewenttothetentandbypayingonecenttheysawayouthfulMel-qufades,recovered,unwrinkled,withanewandflashingsetofteeth.Thosewhorememberedhisgumsthathadbeendestroyedbyscurvy,hisflaccidcheeks,andhiswitheredlipstrembledwithfearatthefinalproofofthegypsy’ssupernaturalpower.ThefearturnedintopanicwhenMelqufadestookouthisteeth,intact,encasedintheirgums,andshowedthemtotheaudienceforaninstant-afleetinginstantinwhichhewentbacktobeingthesamedecrepitmanofyearspast-andputthembackagainandsmiledoncemorewiththefullcontrolofhisrestoredyouth.EvenJoseArcadioBuen-dfahimselfconsideredthatMelqufades’knowledgehadreachedunbearableextremes,buthefeltahealthyexcitementwhenthegypsyexplainedtohimatonetheworkingsofhisfalseteeth.Itseemedsosimpleandsoprodigiousatthesametimethatovernighthelostallinterestinhisexperimentsinalchemy.Heunderwentanewcrisisofbadhumor.Hedidnotgobacktoeatingregularly,andhewouldspendthedaywalkingthroughthehouse."Incrediblethingsarehappeningintheworld,"hesaidtoOrsula."Rightthereacrosstheriverthereareallkindsofmagicalinstrumentswhilewekeeponlivinglikedonkeys."ThosewhohadknownhimsincethefoundationofMacondowerestartledathowmuchhehadchangedunderMelqufades’influence.

           AtfirstJoseArcadioBuendfahadbeenakindofyouthfulpatriarchwhowouldgiveinstructionsforplant-ingandadvicefortheraisingofchildrenandanimals,andwhocollaboratedwitheveryone,eveninthephysicalwork,forthewelfareofthecommunity.