Сто лет одиночества

           Thatdayhewentintothewateratabadspotandtheydidnotfindhimuntilthefollowingday,afewmilesdownstream,washeduponabrightbendintheriverandwithasolitaryvulturesittingonhisstomach.Overthescandalizedprotestsofúrsula,whoweptwithmoregriefthanshehadhadforherownfather,JoséArcadioBuendíawasopposedtotheirburyinghim."Heisimmortal,"hesaid,"andhehimselfrevealedtheformulaofhisresurrection."Hebroughtouttheforgottenwaterpipeandputakettlemercurytoboilnexttothebody,whichlittlebylittlewasfillingwithbluebubbles.DonApolinarMoscoteventuredtoremindhimthatanunburieddrownedmanwasadangertopublichealth."Noneofthat,becausehe’salive,"wastheanswerofJoséArcadioBuendía,whofinishedtheseventy-twohourswiththemercurialincenseasthebodywasalreadybeginningtoburstwithalividfluorescence,thesoftwhistlesofwhichimpregnatedthehousewithapestilentialvapor.Onlythendidhepermitthemtoburyhim,notinanyordinaryway,butthehonorsreservedforMacondo’sgreatestbenefactor.Itwasthefirstburialandthebest-attendedonethatwaseverseeninthetown,onlysurpassed,acenturylater,byBigMama’sfuneralcarnival.Theyburiedhiminagraveduginthecenteroftheplotdestinedforthecemetery,withastoneonwhichtheywrotetheonlythingtheyknewabouthim:MELQUíADES.Theygavehimhisninenightsofwake.Inthetumultthatgatheredinthecourtyardtodrinkcoffee,telljokes,andplaycards.