h¡¡Amaranta¡¡as¡¡with¡¡a¡¡capricious¡¡little¡¡girl¡¡who¡¡was¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡taking¡¡seriously¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡younger¡¡brother£»£¿he¡¡told¡¡her¡£¡¡¡°He¡¯s¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡store¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Amaranta¡¡felt¡¡humiliated¡¡and¡¡told¡¡Pietro¡¡Crespi¡¡with¡¡a¡¡virulent¡¡anger¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her¡¡sister¡¯s¡¡wedding¡¡even¡¡if¡¡her¡¡own¡¡dead¡¡body¡¡had¡¡to¡¡lie¡¡across¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡The¡¡Italian¡¡was¡¡so¡¡impressed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dramatics¡¡of¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡resist¡¡the¡¡temptation¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Rebeca¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡how¡¡Amaranta¡¯s¡¡trip£»¡¡always¡¡put¡¡off¡¡by¡¡£¿rsula¡¯s¡¡work£»¡¡was¡¡arranged¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡week¡£¡¡Amaranta¡¡put¡¡up¡¡no¡¡resistance£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡she¡¡kissed¡¡Rebeca¡¡good¡bye¡¡she¡¡whispered¡¡in¡¡her¡¡ear£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°Don¡¯t¡¡get¡¡your¡¡hopes¡¡up¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡they¡¡send¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡I¡¯ll¡¡find¡¡some¡¡way¡¡of¡¡stopping¡¡you¡¡from¡¡getting¡¡married£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡you¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡£¿rsula£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡invisible¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡Melqu¨ªades£»¡¡who¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡stealthy¡¡shuffling¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rooms£»¡¡the¡¡house¡¡seemed¡¡enormous¡¡and¡¡empty¡£¡¡Rebeca¡¡took¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡domestic¡¡order£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡woman¡¡took¡¡care¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bakery¡£¡¡At¡¡dusk£»¡¡when¡¡Pietro¡¡Crespi¡¡would¡¡arrive£»¡¡preceded¡¡by¡¡a¡¡cool¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡lavender¡¡and¡¡always¡¡bringing¡¡a¡¡toy¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gift£»¡¡his¡¡fianc¨¦e¡¡would¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡main¡¡parlor¡¡with¡¡doors¡¡and¡¡windows¡¡open¡¡to¡¡be¡¡safe¡¡from¡¡any¡¡suspicion¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡unnecessary¡¡precaution£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Italian¡¡had¡¡shown¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡respectful¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡touch¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡within¡¡the¡¡year¡£¡¡Those¡¡visits¡¡were¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡house¡¡with¡¡remarkable¡¡toys¡£¡¡Mechanical¡¡ballerinas£»¡¡music¡¡boxes£»¡¡acrobatic¡¡monkeys£»¡¡trotting¡¡horses£»¡¡clowns¡¡who¡¡played¡¡the¡¡tambourine£º¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡startling¡¡mechanical¡¡fauna¡¡that¡¡Pietro¡¡Crespi¡¡brought¡¡dissipated¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa¡¯s¡¡affliction¡¡over¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Melqu¨ªades¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡old¡¡days¡¡as¡¡an¡¡alchemist¡£¡¡He¡¡lived¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡in¡¡a¡¡paradise¡¡of¡¡disemboweled¡¡animals£»¡¡of¡¡mechanisms¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡apart¡¡in¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡perfect¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡system¡¡of¡¡perpetual¡¡motion¡¡based¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pendulum¡£¡¡Aureliano£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡had¡¡neglected¡¡the¡¡workshop¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡little¡¡Remedios¡¡to¡¡read¡¡and¡¡write¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡the¡¡child¡¡preferred¡¡her¡¡dolls¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡would¡¡e¡¡every¡¡afternoon¡¡and¡¡who¡¡was¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡her¡¡being¡¡separated¡¡from¡¡her¡¡toys¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡be¡¡bathed¡¡and¡¡dressed¡¡and¡¡seated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡parlor¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡visitor¡£¡¡But¡¡Aureliano¡¯s¡¡patience¡¡and¡¡devotion¡¡finally¡¡won¡¡her¡¡over£»¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point¡¡where¡¡she¡¡would¡¡spend¡¡many¡¡hours¡¡with¡¡him¡¡studying¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡and¡¡sketching¡¡in¡¡a¡¡notebook¡¡with¡¡colored¡¡pencils¡¡little¡¡houses¡¡with¡¡cows¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corral¡¡and¡¡round¡¡suns¡¡with¡¡yellow¡¡rays¡¡that¡¡hid¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡hills¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Only¡¡Rebeca¡¡was¡¡unhappy£»¡¡because¡¡of¡¡Amaranta¡¯s¡¡threat¡£¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡her¡¡sister¡¯s¡¡character£»¡¡the¡¡haughtiness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡spirit£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡frightened¡¡by¡¡the¡¡virulence¡¡of¡¡her¡¡anger¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡spend¡¡whole¡¡hours¡¡sucking¡¡her¡¡finger¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bathroom£»¡¡holding¡¡herself¡¡back¡¡with¡¡an¡¡exhausting¡¡iron¡¡will¡¡so¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡earth¡£¡¡In¡¡search¡¡of¡¡some¡¡relief¡¡for¡¡her¡¡uncertainty£»¡¡she¡¡called¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡to¡¡read¡¡her¡¡future¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡string¡¡of¡¡conventional¡¡vagaries£»¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡predicted£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°You¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡your¡¡parents¡¡remain¡¡unburied¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Rebeca¡¡shuddered¡£¡¡As¡¡in¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡herself¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡house¡¡as¡¡a¡¡very¡¡small¡¡girl£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡trunk¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡rocker£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bag¡¡whose¡¡contents¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡known¡£¡¡She¡¡remembered¡¡a¡¡bald¡¡gentleman¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡linen¡¡and¡¡with¡¡his¡¡collar¡¡closed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡gold¡¡button£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡hearts¡£¡¡She¡¡remembered¡¡a¡¡very¡¡young¡¡and¡¡beautiful¡¡woman¡¡with¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡perfumed¡¡hands£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡mon¡¡with¡¡the¡¡jack¡¡of¡¡diamonds¡¡and¡¡his¡¡rheumatic¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡put¡¡flowers¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡take¡¡her¡¡out¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡through¡¡a¡¡town¡¡with¡¡green¡¡streets¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡understand£»£¿she¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡seemed¡¡disconcerted£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡either£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¯s¡¡what¡¡the¡¡cards¡¡say¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Rebeca¡¡was¡¡so¡¡preoccupied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡enigma¡¡that¡¡she¡¡told¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡scolded¡¡her¡¡for¡¡believing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡predictions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cards£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡undertook¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡task¡¡of¡¡searching¡¡closets¡¡and¡¡trunks£»¡¡moving¡¡furniture¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡over¡¡beds¡¡and¡¡floorboards¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡bones¡£¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡since¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rebuilding¡£¡¡He¡¡secretly¡¡summoned¡¡the¡¡masons¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡revealed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡walled¡¡up¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡in¡¡some¡¡bedroom¡¡because¡¡it¡¡bothered¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡work¡£¡¡After¡¡several¡¡days¡¡of¡¡listening£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ears¡¡against¡¡the¡¡walls£»¡¡they¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡cloc¡cloc¡£¡¡They¡¡penetrated¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡the¡¡bones¡¡in¡¡the¡¡intact¡¡bag¡£¡¡They¡¡buried¡¡it¡¡the¡¡same¡¡day¡¡in¡¡a¡¡grave¡¡without¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡next¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡Melqu¨ªades£»¡¡and¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa¡¡returned¡¡home¡¡free¡¡of¡¡a¡¡burden¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡had¡¡weighed¡¡on¡¡his¡¡conscience¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡Prudencio¡¡Aguilar¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡went¡¡through¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡he¡¡kissed¡¡Rebeca¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forehead¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°Get¡¡those¡¡bad¡¡thoughts¡¡out¡¡of¡¡your¡¡head£»£¿he¡¡told¡¡her¡£¡¡¡°You¡¯re¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡happy¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡friendship¡¡with¡¡Rebeca¡¡opened¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡closed¡¡by¡¡£¿rsula¡¡since¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡Arcadio¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡any¡¡hour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flock¡¡of¡¡goats£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡unleash¡¡her¡¡feverish¡¡energy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hardest¡¡tasks¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡she¡¡would¡¡go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡workshop¡¡and¡¡help¡¡Arcadio¡¡sensitize¡¡the¡¡daguerreotype¡¡plates¡¡with¡¡an¡¡efficiency¡¡and¡¡a¡¡tenderness¡¡that¡¡ended¡¡up¡¡by¡¡confusing¡¡him¡£¡¡That¡¡woman¡¡bothered¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡tan¡¡of¡¡her¡¡skin£»¡¡her¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡smoke£»¡¡the¡¡disorder¡¡of¡¡her¡¡laughter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkroom¡¡distracted¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡and¡¡made¡¡him¡¡bump¡¡into¡¡things¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡occasion¡¡Aureliano¡¡was¡¡there¡¡working¡¡on¡¡his¡¡silver£»¡¡and¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡the¡¡table¡¡to¡¡admire¡¡his¡¡laborious¡¡patience¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡it¡¡happened¡£¡¡Aureliano¡¡made¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡Arcadio¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkroom¡¡before¡¡raising¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡meeting¡¡those¡¡of¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera£»¡¡whose¡¡thought¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡visible£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡exposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡noon¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°Well£»£¿Aureliano¡¡said¡£¡¡¡°Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pilar¡¡Ternera¡¡bit¡¡her¡¡lips¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sad¡¡smile¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°That¡¡you¡¯d¡¡be¡¡good¡¡in¡¡a¡¡war£»£¿she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡°Where¡¡you¡¡put¡¡your¡¡eye£»¡¡you¡¡put¡¡your¡¡bullet¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Aureliano¡¡relaxed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡omen¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡concentrate¡¡on¡¡his¡¡work¡¡as¡¡if¡¡nothing¡¡had¡¡happened£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡took¡¡on¡¡a¡¡restful¡¡strength¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡°I¡¡will¡¡recognize¡¡him£»£¿he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡°He¡¯ll¡¡bear¡¡my¡¡name¡££¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa¡¡finally¡¡got¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡for£º¡¡he¡¡connected¡¡the¡¡mechanism¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mechanical¡¡ballerina£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡toy¡¡danced¡¡uninterruptedly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rhythm¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡music¡¡for¡¡three¡¡days¡£¡¡That¡¡discovery¡¡excited¡¡him¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡his¡¡other¡¡harebrained¡¡undertakings¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡eating¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡sleeping¡£¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡vigilance¡¡and¡¡care¡¡of¡¡Rebeca¡¡kept¡¡him¡¡from¡¡being¡¡dragged¡¡off¡¡by¡¡his¡¡imagination¡¡into¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡perpetual¡¡delirium¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡recover¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡nights¡¡walking¡¡around¡¡the¡¡room¡¡thinking¡¡aloud£»¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡apply¡¡the¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pendulum¡¡to¡¡oxcarts£»¡¡to¡¡harrows£»¡¡to¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡was¡¡useful¡¡when¡¡put¡¡into¡¡motion¡£¡¡The¡¡fever¡¡of¡¡insomnia¡¡fatigued¡¡him¡¡so¡¡much¡¡that¡¡one¡¡dawn¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡recognize¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡with¡¡white¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡uncertain¡¡gestures¡¡who¡¡came¡¡into¡¡his¡¡bedroom¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Prudencio¡¡Aguilar¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡finally¡¡identified¡¡him£»¡¡startled¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡also¡¡aged£»¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡shaken¡¡by¡¡nostalgia¡£¡¡¡°Prudencio£»£¿he¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡°You¡¯ve¡¡e¡¡from¡¡a¡¡long¡¡way¡¡off£¡£¿After¡¡many¡¡years¡¡of¡¡death¡¡the¡¡yearning¡¡for¡¡the¡¡living¡¡was¡¡so¡¡intense£»¡¡the¡¡need¡¡for¡¡pany¡¡so¡¡pressing£»¡¡so¡¡terrifying¡¡the¡¡neatness¡¡of¡¡that¡¡other¡¡death¡¡which¡¡exists¡¡within¡¡death£»¡¡that¡¡Prudencio¡¡Aguilar¡¡had¡¡ended¡¡up¡¡loving¡¡his¡¡worst¡¡enemy¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡spent¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡time¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡from¡¡Riohacha¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡who¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Upar¡¡Valley£»¡¡those¡¡who¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡swamp£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡because¡¡Macondo¡¡was¡¡a¡¡town¡¡that¡¡was¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡until¡¡Melqu¨ªades¡¡arrived¡¡and¡¡marked¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡small¡¡black¡¡dot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡motley¡¡maps¡¡of¡¡death¡£¡¡Jos£¿Arcadio¡¡Buend¨ªa¡¡conversed¡¡with¡¡Prudencio¡¡Aguilar¡¡until¡¡dawn¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡later£»¡¡worn¡¡out¡¡by¡¡the¡¡vigil£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡into¡¡Aureliano¡¯s¡¡workshop¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡him£º¡¡¡°What¡¡day¡¡is¡¡today£¿£¿Aureliano¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Tuesday¡£¡¡¡°I¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing£»£¿Jos£¿Arcadio