Сто лет одиночества

           AmarantafoundachancetoconfessherlovetoPietroCrespi,whoafewweeksbeforehadformalizedhispromisetoRebecaandhadsetupastoreformusicalinstrumentsandmechanicaltoysinthesamesectionwheretheArabshadlingeredinothertimesswappingknickknacksformacaws,andwhichthepeoplecalledtheStreetoftheTurks.TheItalian,whoseheadcoveredwithpatentleathercurlsarousedinwomenanirrepressibleneedtosigh,dealtwithAmarantaaswithacapriciouslittlegirlwhowasnotworthtakingseriously.

           "Ihaveayoungerbrother,"hetoldher."He’scomingtohelpmeinthestore."

           AmarantafelthumiliatedandtoldPietroCrespiwithavirulentangerthatshewaspreparedtostophersister’sweddingevenowndeadbodyhadtolieacrossthedoor.TheItalianwassoimpressedbythedramaticsofthethreatthathecouldnotresistthetemptationtomentionittoRebeca.ThatwashowAmaranta’strip,alwaysputoffbyúrsula’swork,wasarrangedinlessthanaweek.Amarantaputupnoresistance,butwhenshekissedRebecagoodbyeshewhisperedinherear:

           "Don’tgetyourhopesup.EveniftheysendmetotheendsoftheearthI’llfindsomewayofstoppingyoufromgettingmarried,evenifIhavetokillyou."

           Withtheabsenceofúrsula,withtheinvisiblepresenceofMelquíades,whocontinuedhisstealthyshufflingthroughtherooms,thehouseseemedenormousandempty.Rebecatookchargeofdomesticorder,whiletheIndianwomantookcareofthebakery.