百年孤独(英文版)-第21部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

adio　was　named　civil　and　military　leader　they　had　a　daughter。
　　　The　only　relatives　who　knew　about　it　were　Jos？Arcadio　and　Rebeca；　with　whom　Arcadio　maintained　close　relations　at　that　time；　based　not　so　much　on　kinship　as　on　plicity。　Jos？Arcadio　had　put　his　neck　into　the　marital　yoke。　Rebeca’s　firm　character；　the　voracity　of　her　stomach；　her　tenacious　ambition　absorbed　the　tremendous　energy　of　her　husband；　who　had　been　changed　from　a　lazy；　woman…chasing　man　into　an　enormous　work　animal。　They　kept　a　clean　and　neat　house。　Rebeca　would　open　it　wide　at　dawn　and　the　wind　from　the　graveyard　would　e　in　through　the　windows　and　go　out　through　the　doors　to　the　yard　and　leave　the　whitewashed　walls　and　furniture　tanned　by　the　saltpeter　of　the　dead。　Her　hunger　for　earth；　the　cloc…cloc　of　her　parents？bones；　the　impatience　of　her　blood　as　it　faced　Pietro　Crespi’s　passivity　were　relegated　to　the　attic　of　her　memory。　All　day　long　she　would　embroider　beside　the　window；　withdrawn　from　the　uneasiness　of　the　war；　until　the　ceramic　pots　would　begin　to　vibrate　in　the　cupboard　and　she　would　get　up　to　warm　the　meal；　much　before　the　appearance；　first；　of　the　mangy　hounds；　and　then　of　the　colossus　in　leggings　and　spurs　with　a　double…barreled　shotgun；　who　sometimes　carried　a　deer　on　his　shoulder　and　almost　always　a　string　of　rabbits　or　wild　ducks。　One　afternoon；　at　the　beginning　of　his　rule；　Arcadio　paid　them　a　surprise　visit。　They　had　not　seen　him　since　they　had　left　the　house；　but　he　seemed　so　friendly　and　familiar　that　they　invited　him　to　share　the　stew。
　　　Only　when　they　were　having　coffee　did　Arcadio　reveal　the　motive　behind　his　visit：　he　had　received　a　plaint　against　Jos？Arcadio。　It　was　said　that　he　had　begun　by　plowing　his　own　yard　and　had　gone　straight　ahead　into　neighboring　lands；　knocking　down　fences　and　buildings　with　his　oxen　until　he　took　forcible　possession　of　the　best　plots　of　land　around。　On　the　peasants　whom　he　had　not　despoiled　because　he　was　not　interested　in　their　lands；　he　levied　a　contribution　which　he　collected　every　Saturday　with　his　hunting　dogs　and　his　double…barreled　shotgun。　He　did　not　deny　it。　He　based　his　right　on　the　fact　that　the　usurped　lands　had　been　distributed　by　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía　at　the　time　of　the　founding；　and　he　thought　it　possible　to　prove　that　his　father　had　been　crazy　ever　since　that　time；　for　he　had　disposed　of　a　patrimony　that　really　belonged　to　the　family。　It　was　an　unnecessary　allegation；　because　Arcadio　had　not　e　to　do　justice。　He　simply　offered　to　set　up　a　registry　office　so　that　Jos？Arcadio　could　legalize　his　title　to　the　usurped　land；　under　the　condition　that　he　delegate　to　the　local　government　the　right　to　collect　the　contributions。　They　made　an　agreement。　Years　later；　when　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　examined　the　titles　to　property；　he　found　registered　in　his　brother’s　name　all　of　the　land　between　the　hill　where　his　yard　was　on　up　to　the　horizon；　including　the　cemetery；　and　discovered　that　during　the　eleven　months　of　his　rule；　Arcadio　had　collected　not　only　the　money　of　the　contributions；　but　had　also　collected　fees　from　people　for　the　right　to　bury　their　dead　in　Jos？Arcadio’s　land。
　　　It　took　？rsula　several　months　to　find　out　what　was　already　public　knowledge　because　people　hid　it　from　her　so　as　not　to　increase　her　suffering。　At　first　she　suspected　it。　“Arcadio　is　building　a　house；？she　confided　with　feigned　pride　to　her　husband　as　she　tried　to　put　a　spoonful　of　calabash　syrup　into　his　mouth。　Nevertheless；　she　involuntarily　sighed　and　said；　“I　don’t　know　why；　but　all　this　has　a　bad　smell　to　me。？Later　on；　when　she　found　out　that　Arcadio　had　not　only　built　a　house　but　had　ordered　some　Viennese　furniture；　she　confirmed　her　suspicion　that　he　was　using　public　funds。　“You’re　the　shame　of　our　family　name；？she　shouted　at　him　one　Sunday　after　mass　when　she　saw　him　in　his　new　house　playing　cards　with　his　officers。　Arcadio　paid　no　attention　to　her。　Only　then　did　？rsula　know　that　he　had　a　six…month…old　daughter　and　that　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad；　with　whom　he　was　living　outside　of　marriage；　was　pregnant　again。　She　decided　to　write　to　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía；　wherever　he　was；　to　bring　him　up　to　date　on　the　situation。　But　the　fast…moving　events　of　those　days　not　only　prevented　her　plans　from　being　carried　out；　they　made　her　regret　having　conceived　them。　The　war；　which　until　then　had　been　only　a　word　to　designate　a　vague　and　remote　circumstance；　became　a　concrete　and　dramatic　reality。　Around　the　end　of　February　an　old　woman　with　an　ashen　look　arrived　in　Macondo　riding　a　donkey　loaded　down　with　brooms。　She　seemed　so　inoffensive　that　the　sentries　let　her　pass　without　any　questions　as　another　vendor；　one　of　the　many　who　often　arrived　from　the　towns　in　the　swamp。　She　went　directly　to　the　barracks。　Arcadio　received　her　in　the　place　where　the　classroom　used　to　be　and　which　at　that　time　had　been　transformed　into　a　kind　of　rearguard　encampment；　with　roiled　hammocks　hanging　on　hooks　and　mats　piled　up　in　the　corners；　and　rifles　and　carbines　and　even　hunting　shotguns　scattered　on　the　floor。　The　old　woman　stiffened　into　a　military　salute　before　identifying　herself：
　　　“I　am　Colonel　Gregorio　Stevenson。？
　　　He　brought　bad　news。　The　last　centers　of　Liberal　resistance；　according　to　what　he　said；　were　being　wiped　out。　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía；　whom　he　had　left　fighting　in　retreat　near　Riohacha；　had　given　him　a　message　for　Arcadio。　He　should　surrender　the　town　without　resistance　on　the　condition　that　the　lives　and　property　of　Liberals　would　be　respected。　Arcadio　examined　that　strange　messenger　who　could　have　been　a　fugitive　grandmother　with　a　look　of　pity。
　　　“You　have　brought　something　in　writing；　naturally；？he　said。
　　　“Naturally；？the　emissary　answered；　“I　have　brought　nothing　of　the　sort。　It’s　easy　to　understand　that　under　the　present　circumstances　a　person　can’t　carry　anything　that　would　promise　him。？
　　　As　he　was　speaking　he　reached　into　his　bodice　and　took　out　a　small　gold　fish。　“I　think　that　this　will　be　sufficient；？he　said。　Arcadio　could　see　that　indeed　it　was　one　of　the　little　fishes　made　by　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía。　But　anyone　could　have　bought　it　before　the　war　or　stolen　it；　and　it　had　no　merit　as　a　safe…conduct　pass。　The　messenger　even　went　to　the　extreme　of　violating　a　military　secret　so　that　they　would　believe　his　identity。　He　revealed　that　he　was　on　a　mission　to　Cura？ao；　where　he　hoped　to　recruit　exiles　from　all　over　the　Caribbean　and　acquire　arms　and　supplies　sufficient　to　attempt　a　landing　at　the　end　of　the　year。　With　faith　in　that　plan；　Colonel　Aureliano　Buendía　was　not　in　favor　of　any　useless　sacrifices　at　that　time。　But　Arcadio　was　inflexible。　He　had　the　prisoner　put　into　the　stocks　until　he　could　prove　his　identity　and　he　resolved　to　defend　the　town　to　the　death。
　　　He　did　not　have　long　to　wait。　The　news　of　the　Liberal　defeat　was　more　and　more　concrete。　Toward　the　end　of　March；　before　a　dawn　of　premature　rain；　the　tense　calm　of　the　previous　weeks　was　abruptly　broken　by　the　desperate　sounds　of　a　cornet　and　a　cannon　shot　that　knocked　down　the　steeple　of　the　church。　Actually；　Arcadio’s　decision　to　resist　was　madness。　He　had　only　fifty　poorly　armed　men　with　a　ration　of　twenty　cartridges　apiece。　But　among　them；　his　former　pupils；　excited　by　the　high…sounding　proclamations；　the　determination　reigned　to　sacrifice　their　skins　for　a　lost　cause。　In　the　midst　of　the　tramping　of　boots；　contradictory　mands；　cannon　shots　that　made　the　earth　tremble；　wild　shooting；　and　the　senseless　sound　of　cornets；　the　supposed　Colonel　Stevenson　managed　to　speak　to　Arcadio。　“Don’t　let　me　undergo　the　indignity　of　dying　in　the　stocks　in　these　women’s　clothes；？he　said　to　him。　“If　I　have　to　die；　let　me　die　fighting。？He　succeeded　in　convincing　him。　Arcadio　ordered　them　to　give　him　a　weapon　and　twenty　cartridges；　and　he　left　him　with　five　men　to　defend　headquarters　while　he　went　off　with　his　staff　to　head　up　the　resistance。　He　did　not　get　to　the　road　to　the　swamp。　The　barricades　had　been　broken　and　the　defenders　were　openly　fighting　in　the　streets；　first　until　they　used　up　their　ration　of　rifle　bullets；　then　with　pistols　against　rifles；　and　finally　hand　to　hand。　With　the　imminence　of　defeat；　some　women　went　into　the　street　armed　with　sticks　and　kitchen　knives。　In　that　confusion　Arcadio　found　Amaranta；　who　was　looking　for　him　like　a　madwoman；　in　her　nightgown　and　with　two　old　pistols　that　had　belonged　to　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía。　He　gave　his　rifle　to　an　officer　who　had　been　disarmed　in　the　fight　and　escaped　with　Amaranta　through　a　nearby　street　to　take　her　home。　？rsula　was；　in　the　doorway　waiting；　indifferent　to　the　cannon　shots　that　had　opened　up　a　hole　in　the　front　of　the　house　next　door。　The　rain　was　letting　up；　but　the　streets　were　as　slippery　and　as　smooth　as　melted　soap；　and　one　had　to　guess　distances　in　the　darkness。　Arcadio　left　Amaranta　with　？rsula　and　made　an　attempt　to　face　two　soldiers　who　had　opened　up　with　heavy　firing　from　the　corner。　The　old　pistols　that　had　been　kept　for　many　years　in　the　bureau　did　not　work。　Protecting　Arcadio　with　her　body；　？rsula　tried　to　drag　him　toward　the　house。
　　　“e　along　in　the　name　of　God；？she　shouted　at　him。　“There’s　been　enough　madness！？
　　　The　soldiers　aimed　at　them。
　　　“Let　go　of　that　man；　ma’am；？one　of　them　shouted；　“or　we　won’t　be　responsible！？
　　　Arcadio　pushed　？rsula　toward　the　house　and　surrendered。　A　short　time　later　the　shooting　stopped　and　the　bells　began　to　toll。　The　resistance　had　been　wiped　out　in　less　than　half　an　hour。　Not　a　single　one　of　Arcadio’s　men　had　survived　the　attack；　but　before　dying　they　had　killed　three　hundred　soldiers。　The　last　stronghold　was　the　barracks。　Before　being　attacked；　the　supposed　Colonel　Gregorio　Stevenson　had　freed　the　prisoners　and　ordered　his　men　to　go　out　and　fight　in　the　street。　The　extraordinary　mobility　and　accurate　aim　with　which　he　placed　his　twenty　cartridges　gave　the　impression　that　the　barracks　was　well…defended；　and　the　attackers　blew　it　to　pieces　with　cannon　fire。　The　captain　who　directed　the　operation　was　startled　to　find　the　rubble　deserted　and　a　single　dead　man　in　his　undershorts　with　an　empty　rifle　still　clutched　in　an　arm　that　had　been　blown　pletely　off。　He　had　a　woman’s　full　head　of　hair　held　at　the　neck　with　a　b　and　on　his　neck　a　chain　with　a　small　gold　fish。　When　he　turned　him　over　with　the　tip　of　his　boot　and　put　the　light　on　his　face；　the　captain　was　perplexed。　“Jesus　Christ；？he　exclaimed。　Other　officers　came　over。
　　　“Look　where　this　fellow　turned　up；？the　captain　said。　“It’s　Gregorio　Stevenson。？
　　　At　dawn；　after　a　summary　court　martial；　Arcadio　was　shot　against　the　wall　of　the　cemetery。　In　the　last　two　hours　of　his　life　he　did　not　manage　to　understand　why　the　fear　that　had　tormented　him　since　childhood　had　disappeared。　Impassive。　without　even　worrying　about　making　a　show　of　his　recent　bravery；　he　listened　to　the　interminable　charges　of　the　accusation。　He　thought　about　？rsula；　who　at　that　hour　must　have　been　under　the　chestnut　tree　having　coffee　with　Jos？Arcadio　Buendía。　He　thought　about　his　eight…month…old　daughter；　who　still　had　no　name；　and　about　the　child　who　was　going　to　be　born　in　August。　He　thought　about　Santa　Sofía　de　la　Piedad；　whom　he　had　left　the　night　before　salting　down　a　deer　for　next　day’