百年孤独(英文版)-第90部分
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der beside the window； withdrawn from the uneasiness of the war； until the ceramic pots would begin to vibrate in the cupboard and she would get up to warm the meal； much before the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
