Сто лет одиночества

           ArcadiogotalittleclosertohimwhenhebegantohelpAurelianoinhissilverwork.MelquíadesansweredthateffortatcommunicationattimesbygivingforthwithphrasesinSpanishthathadverylittletodoreality.Oneafternoon,however,heseemedtobeilluminatedbyasuddenemotion.Yearslater,facingthefiringsquad,ArcadiowouldrememberthetremblingwithwhichMelquíadesmadehimlistentoseveralpagesofhisimpenetrablewriting,whichcoursehedidnotunderstand,butwhichwhenreadaloudwerelikeencyclicalsbeingchanted.ThenhesmiledforthefirsttimeinalongwhileandsaidinSpanish:"WhenIdie,burnmercuryinmyroomforthreedays."ArcadiotoldthattoJoséArcadioBuendíaandthelattertriedtogetmoreexplicitinformation,buthereceivedonlyoneanswer:"Ihavefoundimmortality."WhenMelquíades’breathingbegantosmell,ArcadiotookhimtobatheintheriveronThursdaymornings.Heseemedtogetbetter.Hewouldundressandgetintothewaterwiththeboys,andhismysterioussenseoforientationwouldallowhimtoavoidthedeepanddangerousspots."Wecomefromthewater,"hesaidonacertainoccasion.Muchtimepassedinthatwaywithoutanyone’sseeinghiminthehouseexceptonthenightwhenhemadeapatheticefforttofixthepianola,andwhenhewouldgototheriverwithArcadio,carryingunderhisarmagourdandabarofpalmoilsoapwrappedinatowel.OneThursdaybeforetheycalledhimtogototheriver,Aurelianoheardhimsay:"IhavediedoffeveronthedunesofSingapore."