cuentos de barro - DSpace Universidad Don Bosco
cuentos de barro - DSpace Universidad Don Bosco
cuentos de barro - DSpace Universidad Don Bosco
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Tales of Clay (Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro)<br />
A Bilingual Annotated Translation of Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro<br />
Una traducción anotada y bilingüe <strong>de</strong> Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro<br />
Salvador Salazar Arrué<br />
(Salarrué)<br />
Traductor:<br />
Nelson López Rojas
C<br />
Editorial <strong>Universidad</strong> <strong>Don</strong> <strong>Bosco</strong>, 2011<br />
Colección Investigación<br />
Serie Bicentenario<br />
Autor: Salvador Salazar Arrué<br />
C Traductor: Nelson López Rojas<br />
Con autorización <strong>de</strong> la familia <strong>de</strong> Salvador<br />
Salazar Arrué<br />
Diseño: Melissa Beatriz Mén<strong>de</strong>z Moreno<br />
Apartado Postal 1874, San Salvador, El<br />
Salvador<br />
The heirs of Salarrué have graciously given<br />
the permission for this book to be published<br />
at EUDB.<br />
Translation of CdB into English is copyrighted<br />
by the translator.<br />
Hecho el <strong>de</strong>pósito que marca la ley<br />
Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial <strong>de</strong><br />
esta obra, por cualquier medio, electrónico o<br />
mecánico sin la autorización <strong>de</strong> la Editorial<br />
ISBN 978 99923 50 36 2
La literatura no es inocente; la traducción tampoco.<br />
Literature is not innocent. Neither is translation.<br />
(Coates, 1996:215)
Preface<br />
Ín d i c e/co n t e n t s<br />
Agra<strong>de</strong>cimientos/Acknowledgements<br />
Introducción/Introduction<br />
I. Una palabra <strong>de</strong>l traductor<br />
I. A Word from the Translator<br />
II. De cómo nace y se hace un traductor<br />
II. The Making of a Translator<br />
Prólogo por Rafael Lara-Martínez<br />
Cuentos-Tales<br />
Tranquera-Cattle Gate<br />
La botija-The Botija<br />
La honra-The Honor<br />
Semos malos-We’re Evil<br />
La casa embrujada-The Haunted House<br />
De pesca-Gone Fishin’<br />
Bajo la luna-Un<strong>de</strong>r the Moon<br />
El sacristán-The Sacristan<br />
La brusquita-She Ain’t No Floozy<br />
Noche buena-Christmas Eve<br />
Bruma-Mist<br />
Esencia <strong>de</strong> “azar”-Orange Blossom Essence<br />
En la línea-On the Train Tracks<br />
El contagio-The Apple doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree<br />
El entierro-The Burial<br />
z<br />
1<br />
3<br />
5<br />
5<br />
5<br />
7<br />
7<br />
11<br />
17<br />
17<br />
19<br />
26<br />
32l<br />
38<br />
43<br />
50<br />
55<br />
60<br />
65<br />
70<br />
74<br />
78<br />
81<br />
89
Hasta el cacho-All the Way<br />
La petaca-The Hump<br />
La Ziguanaba-La Siguanaba<br />
Virgen <strong>de</strong> Ludres-The Virgin of Lour<strong>de</strong>s<br />
Serrín <strong>de</strong> cedro-Cedar Sawdust<br />
El viento-The Wind<br />
La estrellemar-Starfish<br />
La brasa-The Ember<br />
El padre-The Priest<br />
La repunta-The Flash Flood<br />
El circo-The Circus<br />
La respuesta-The Answer<br />
La chichera-The Moonshine Factory<br />
El maishtro- The Teacher<br />
De caza- Gone Hunting<br />
La tinaja-The Earthenware Jar<br />
El mistiricuco-The Mistiricuco<br />
El brujo-The Sorcerer<br />
El negro-The Black Man<br />
Referencias/References<br />
94<br />
102<br />
108<br />
112<br />
114<br />
118<br />
121<br />
126<br />
128<br />
133<br />
137<br />
143<br />
147<br />
154<br />
159<br />
163<br />
166<br />
171<br />
178<br />
183
PrefacIo<br />
Andrés Bello consi<strong>de</strong>raba que el uso<br />
<strong>de</strong>l “vos” era abominable. Y durante<br />
décadas, y <strong>de</strong>bido a que Salarrué eligió<br />
la lengua vernácula para contar sus<br />
<strong>cuentos</strong>, los Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro también<br />
han sido etiquetados por los mismos<br />
salvadoreños como literatura <strong>de</strong><br />
inferior calidad, a diferencia <strong>de</strong> otros<br />
libros que se consi<strong>de</strong>ran como español<br />
“correcto”. En Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> se fun<strong>de</strong><br />
lo universal con lo local, lo religioso<br />
con lo mítico, lo urbano con lo rural,<br />
y la lengua vernácula con el lenguaje<br />
ordinario ... y Salarrué eligió la “lengua<br />
<strong>de</strong>l pueblo” para transmitir sus historias<br />
porque conocía a su pueblo. Salarrué<br />
nació en el oeste <strong>de</strong> El Salvador, lugar <strong>de</strong>l<br />
último “bastión indígena” <strong>de</strong> los pipiles<br />
en el país, y fue también el lugar <strong>de</strong> la<br />
masacre que los erradicara en 1932.<br />
Salarrué creció ro<strong>de</strong>ado <strong>de</strong> las culturas<br />
y lenguas <strong>de</strong> los grupos indígenas,<br />
así como <strong>de</strong> la lengua hablada por<br />
su familia. De tal manera, el lector<br />
<strong>de</strong> Salarrué como literatura popular<br />
<strong>de</strong>be superar la creencia <strong>de</strong> que leer<br />
Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> es leer sobre aquellos<br />
(un distante aquellos) sin educación,<br />
y aceptar nuestra herencia ancestral<br />
indígena que todos compartimos.<br />
Esta traducción es parte <strong>de</strong> mi tesis <strong>de</strong><br />
doctorado <strong>de</strong> la <strong>Universidad</strong> <strong>de</strong> Nueva<br />
York en Binghamton. Las restantes<br />
cuatro partes verán la luz más a<strong>de</strong>lante<br />
en esta serie <strong>de</strong> la Editorial <strong>Universidad</strong><br />
<strong>Don</strong> <strong>Bosco</strong>.<br />
1<br />
Preface<br />
If Andrés Bello consi<strong>de</strong>red the use of<br />
the pronoun “vos” abominable, for<br />
<strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s, and because Salarrué chose<br />
the vernacular to tell these tales,<br />
Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro was also regar<strong>de</strong>d as<br />
substandard literature by its own people,<br />
as opposed to the books that uphold<br />
“proper” Spanish. In Tales of Clay he<br />
merges the universal with the local, the<br />
religious with the mythical, the urban<br />
with the rural, and the vernacular with<br />
the ordinary language... and Salarrué<br />
chose the “language of the people” to<br />
convey his stories because he knew<br />
them. Salarrué was born in Western El<br />
Salvador, which was the last “indigenous<br />
reservation” of the Pipil people in the<br />
country, and it was also the location of<br />
the Massacre that eradicated them in<br />
1932. Salarrué grew up surroun<strong>de</strong>d by<br />
the indigenous cultures and languages<br />
of the native groups as well as the<br />
“educated” language spoken by his<br />
family. Thus, the rea<strong>de</strong>r of Salarrué as<br />
popular literature must now overcome<br />
the belief that reading Tales of Clay is<br />
reading about those (a distant those)<br />
without education, and embrace<br />
our indigenous ancestry that we all<br />
share. This translation is part of my<br />
doctoral dissertation from Binghamton<br />
University. The remaining four parts<br />
will see the light later on in this series<br />
of Editorial <strong>Universidad</strong> <strong>Don</strong> <strong>Bosco</strong>.
Ag r A d e c i m i e n t o/Ac k n o w l e d g m e n t s s<br />
Mil gracias a todas las personas e instituciones que hicieron<br />
posible este trabajo.<br />
One person alone cannot do a work of this magnitu<strong>de</strong>. I am<br />
in<strong>de</strong>bted for my findings to my informants and contacts in<br />
different areas of knowledge. It would be impossible to list<br />
them all here... to you who contributed to this work, thank<br />
you.<br />
3
Un A p A l A b r A d e l<br />
t r A d U c t o r...<br />
I. De Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> a Tales of Clay<br />
La lengua que se usa en Cuentos <strong>de</strong><br />
<strong>barro</strong> es tan amplia que no es suficiente<br />
el ser competente en un idioma para<br />
enten<strong>de</strong>rlo... o para traducirlo. Joan<br />
Corominas explica en la introducción<br />
a su famoso diccionario que su trabajo<br />
“se ha escrito para el público no<br />
especializado en lingüística, con objeto<br />
<strong>de</strong> informarle breve y claramente <strong>de</strong><br />
lo que se sabe acerca <strong>de</strong>l origen <strong>de</strong><br />
las palabras castellanas comúnmente<br />
conocidas por la gente educada.”<br />
(Corominas, 1976). Palabras comunes,<br />
palabras eruditas, términos técnicos<br />
<strong>de</strong> las partes <strong>de</strong> un barco o una iglesia,<br />
palabras indígenas, neologismos,<br />
arcaísmos, regionalismos... y el reto<br />
parecía insuperable <strong>de</strong>spués <strong>de</strong> cada<br />
vez que leía el libro <strong>de</strong> Salarrué lleno<br />
<strong>de</strong> semejante discurso subalterno,<br />
<strong>de</strong>sconocido para la gente “educada.”<br />
El reto se planteó: Derrida nos había<br />
ya advertido que la traducción era<br />
una tarea seria, mientras que Hermans<br />
nos <strong>de</strong>cía que “los traductores no sólo<br />
traducen” (1999: 96). Una vez que<br />
consulté la bibliografía disponible, me<br />
di cuenta <strong>de</strong> que este proyecto no era<br />
una simple traducción literaria, porque,<br />
como el traductor <strong>de</strong> Salarrué, tenía<br />
que transmitir no sólo las palabras y<br />
significados, sino también las diferentes<br />
capas lingüísticas que se plantean en<br />
estas historias.<br />
5<br />
A wo r d f r o m t h e<br />
tr A n s l A t o r<br />
I. From Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> to Tales of<br />
Clay The text in Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro is so<br />
comprehensive that it is not enough<br />
to be proficient in a language to<br />
un<strong>de</strong>rstand it… or to translate it. Joan<br />
Corominas explains in the introduction<br />
to his famous dictionary that his work<br />
“has been written… to inform in a<br />
concise manner what is known about<br />
the origin of Castilian words commonly<br />
known by cult people” (Corominas,<br />
1976). Common words, erudite words,<br />
technical terms for the parts of a boat or a<br />
church, indigenous words, neologisms,<br />
archaisms, regionalisms… and the<br />
challenge seemed insurmountable<br />
after each time I read Salarrué’s book<br />
filled with such subaltern speech,<br />
unknown to “cult people”.<br />
The challenge was posed: Derrida<br />
warned us that translation is a serious<br />
task, while Hermans stated that<br />
“translators never just translate” (1999:<br />
96). Once I consulted the available<br />
literature I realized that this project was<br />
not a plain literary translation, because<br />
as the translator of Salarrué I nee<strong>de</strong>d to<br />
convey not just words and meanings,<br />
but the different linguistic layers these<br />
stories pose.
La metodología <strong>de</strong> la traducción es<br />
bastante compleja. El proceso <strong>de</strong><br />
traducción ha sido compuesto por<br />
diferentes etapas <strong>de</strong> una forma un<br />
tanto circular: la lectura <strong>de</strong>l original<br />
la interpretación el análisis <strong>de</strong><br />
vocabulario relectura <strong>de</strong>l el original<br />
comparación <strong>de</strong> idiomas y<br />
comprobación <strong>de</strong> mis hipótesis con los<br />
informantes nativos interpretación<br />
(re) lectura <strong>de</strong>l original. Aunque<br />
soy un hablante nativo <strong>de</strong> español,<br />
nacido y educado en El Salvador, es<br />
un <strong>de</strong>safío el tratar <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>scifrar el<br />
vocabulario utilizado en los Cuentos <strong>de</strong><br />
<strong>barro</strong>. Mis informantes nativos rurales<br />
<strong>de</strong>l país, las fotografías <strong>de</strong> los primeros<br />
años <strong>de</strong>l siglo XX, mi interacción con<br />
los pobladores <strong>de</strong> las zonas indígenas,<br />
y mis visitas a los mundos indígenas me<br />
han ayudado a revivir las <strong>de</strong>scripciones<br />
<strong>de</strong>l libro. Mi dominio <strong>de</strong>l idioma inglés<br />
me acredita para traducir una obra<br />
<strong>de</strong> esta magnitud. Sin embargo, para<br />
que sonara más como el original, he<br />
estudiado las obras y traducciones que<br />
se han ocupado <strong>de</strong> la lengua vernácula,<br />
y he confiado en mis informantes<br />
que leyeron mis traducciones y<br />
corroboraron o no mis hipótesis acerca<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sentir <strong>de</strong> los <strong>cuentos</strong>. Los nombres<br />
<strong>de</strong> pájaros, árboles, barcos, <strong>de</strong>talles <strong>de</strong><br />
edificios renacentistas, y cosas por el<br />
estilo fueron otra investigación aparte.<br />
Esta traducción ha sido una cuestión<br />
mucho más compleja que reúne<br />
múltiples disciplinas en la mesa.<br />
6<br />
The translation methodology is quite<br />
complex. The translation process has<br />
been composed of different stages in a<br />
somewhat circular fashion: reading the<br />
original interpreting analysis<br />
of vocabulary reading the original<br />
comparing languages and testing<br />
my choices with native informants<br />
interpreting (re) reading the original.<br />
Although I am a native speaker of<br />
Spanish, born and educated in El<br />
Salvador, it is a challenge to try to<br />
<strong>de</strong>cipher the vocabulary used in<br />
Tales of Clay. Native rural Salvadoran<br />
informants, photographs of the early<br />
years of the twentieth century, my<br />
interaction with villagers of indigenous<br />
areas, and my visits to the indigenous<br />
worlds have helped me to relive the<br />
<strong>de</strong>scriptions of the book. My command<br />
of the English language qualifies me<br />
to translate a work of this magnitu<strong>de</strong>.<br />
However, to make it sound more like<br />
the original, I have studied works and<br />
translations that have <strong>de</strong>alt with the<br />
vernacular; and I have relied on my<br />
informants who read my translations<br />
and tested my hypothesis regarding<br />
the feel of the tales. Names of birds,<br />
trees, boats, specifics of renaissance<br />
buildings, and the like have been a<br />
research by themselves.<br />
This translation has been a much<br />
more complex matter that brings<br />
multiple disciplines into play.
El alcance <strong>de</strong> mi investigación me<br />
ha llevado a muchos ámbitos: <strong>de</strong> la<br />
botánica a la arquitectura medieval, <strong>de</strong><br />
la zoología a la física, y <strong>de</strong> la agricultura<br />
a la arqueología. Al intentar llenar<br />
los vacíos <strong>de</strong> la memoria histórica,<br />
investigué usando los recursos <strong>de</strong> la<br />
historiografía, visitando los pueblos, los<br />
cementerios, los lugares mencionados<br />
en el libro, y viendo y sintiendo las<br />
<strong>de</strong>scripciones floridas <strong>de</strong> los Cuentos <strong>de</strong><br />
<strong>barro</strong>. Hablé con escritores, amigos <strong>de</strong><br />
Salarrué, y con los resi<strong>de</strong>ntes locales <strong>de</strong><br />
los pueblos indígenas –más <strong>de</strong> alguno<br />
me aseguró que fue sobreviviente <strong>de</strong><br />
la masacre <strong>de</strong> 1932. El esclarecer la<br />
verdad no es una tarea fácil, y a muchos<br />
no les gusta hablar <strong>de</strong> ello. Si un país<br />
mantiene lagunas en su memoria, hay<br />
peligro que las brechas permanezcan<br />
abiertas o que se niegue la pérdida,<br />
como bien lo dijo Michel <strong>de</strong> Certeau.<br />
II. De cómo nace y se hace un<br />
traductor<br />
Ponga un letrero que diga “Pintura<br />
fresca. No tocar” y mi instinto natural<br />
es tocar con el fin <strong>de</strong> corroborar que la<br />
pintura está, <strong>de</strong> hecho, fresca. Cuando<br />
era niño me sentí atraído siempre a<br />
las cosas prohibidas. Me envenené al<br />
ingerir el jabón que quise usar para<br />
hacer burbujas, me rompí el brazo<br />
<strong>de</strong>recho, el codo y el hombro por andar<br />
en bicicleta don<strong>de</strong> las bicicletas no se<br />
<strong>de</strong>ben permitir, causé un cortocircuito<br />
en el sistema eléctrico en mi casa<br />
tratando <strong>de</strong> inventar un cautín <strong>de</strong><br />
soldadura, <strong>de</strong>scubrí la Playboy que mi<br />
tío tenía <strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> su cama como parte<br />
<strong>de</strong> su colección académica.<br />
7<br />
The scope of my research led me to<br />
many areas: from botany to medieval<br />
architecture, from zoology to physics,<br />
and from agriculture to archeology.<br />
Seeking to fill in the gaps of historical<br />
memory, I began drawing from<br />
historiography, visiting the villages, the<br />
cemeteries, the places mentioned in the<br />
book, and seeing and feeling the florid<br />
<strong>de</strong>scriptions of Tales of Clay. I spoke<br />
with writers, friends of Salarrué, and<br />
local resi<strong>de</strong>nts of the once indigenous<br />
villages –some assured me they were<br />
survivors of the Massacre of 1932.<br />
Uncovering the truth is not an easy task<br />
and many don’t like to talk about it. If<br />
a country keeps lacunae in its memory,<br />
there is danger for the gaps to remain<br />
open or to negate the loss, as Michel <strong>de</strong><br />
Certeau puts it.<br />
II. The Making of a Translator<br />
Put a sign that says “Wet paint. Do not<br />
touch” and my natural instinct is to<br />
touch in or<strong>de</strong>r to corroborate that the<br />
paint is, in<strong>de</strong>ed, wet. As a child I was<br />
always drawn to forbid<strong>de</strong>n things. I<br />
got poisoned by swallowing the soap<br />
I inten<strong>de</strong>d to use for bubbles; I broke<br />
my right arm, elbow and shoul<strong>de</strong>r<br />
by biking where bicycles should not<br />
be allowed; I shorted out the electric<br />
system in my house by trying to invent<br />
a sol<strong>de</strong>ring gun; I discovered the<br />
journal Playboy my uncle had un<strong>de</strong>r his<br />
bed as part of his aca<strong>de</strong>mic collection.
Durante los viajes para visitar a<br />
familiares en San Miguel en el este <strong>de</strong><br />
El Salvador, me escondía para leer los<br />
libros que mi abuela tenía “guardados”<br />
en una caja fuerte, porque los libros<br />
estaban quizás por <strong>de</strong>coración, no para<br />
que un niño mocoso los leyera. En estos<br />
libros <strong>de</strong>scubrí <strong>cuentos</strong> mágicos <strong>de</strong> los<br />
dragones y reyes en países lejanos... las<br />
mismas historias que iba a encontrar<br />
más tar<strong>de</strong> en la casa <strong>de</strong> don Francisco.<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Francisco era un abogado para<br />
quien trabajé en mi juventud. Había<br />
un estudio-habitación llena <strong>de</strong> libros.<br />
Derecho, biología, física, <strong>Don</strong> Quijote y<br />
Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro. Yo era un ávido lector,<br />
a los 10 ya conocía gran<strong>de</strong>s palabras y<br />
palabras <strong>de</strong> los indios, pero un día don<br />
Francisco volvió temprano <strong>de</strong>l trabajo y<br />
me encontró en su estudio. Me advirtió<br />
que sus libros no eran para una mente<br />
como la mía. Me dijo que yo sería capaz<br />
<strong>de</strong> leer todos sus libros algún día, menos<br />
hoy. Agarró algunos <strong>de</strong> los libros que<br />
<strong>de</strong>bía leer: la gramática, el álgebra,<br />
la ortografía y la caligrafía. Años más<br />
tar<strong>de</strong>, don Francisco murió y yo nunca<br />
pu<strong>de</strong> leer el resto <strong>de</strong> sus libros.<br />
Por haber nacido en San Salvador, la<br />
capital <strong>de</strong>l país, estuve expuesto a las<br />
diferencias en la semántica, la sintaxis y<br />
la fonología. Fui testigo <strong>de</strong> los cambios<br />
en los últimos años ya que muchas <strong>de</strong><br />
las poblaciones más rurales migraban<br />
a la metrópoli en busca <strong>de</strong> una vida<br />
mejor. Mi propio vocabulario estaba<br />
cambiando con los tiempos y siempre<br />
me fascinó el vocabulario que usaba tío<br />
Luis. Era originario <strong>de</strong> San Miguel, pero<br />
se mudó a Santa Ana en el extremo<br />
opuesto <strong>de</strong>l país y, por tanto, hablaba<br />
<strong>de</strong> la variedad <strong>de</strong> español a la que había<br />
sido expuesto.<br />
8<br />
During trips to visit relatives in San<br />
Miguel in eastern El Salvador, I hid to<br />
read the books my grandmother kept<br />
“safe” in a vault because books were for<br />
<strong>de</strong>coration only, not for a snotnosed<br />
boy to read. In these books I discovered<br />
magical tales of dragons and kings in<br />
distant countries… the same stories<br />
that I would find later at <strong>Don</strong> Francisco’s<br />
house. <strong>Don</strong> Francisco was a lawyer for<br />
whom I worked in my youth. He had a<br />
study-room full of books. Law, biology,<br />
physics, <strong>Don</strong> Quijote and Cuentos <strong>de</strong><br />
Barro. I was an avid rea<strong>de</strong>r at the age of<br />
10. I knew big words and Indian words,<br />
but one day <strong>Don</strong> Francisco came back<br />
early from work and he found me in<br />
his study. He warned me that his books<br />
were not for a mind like mine. He said<br />
that I would be able to read all of his<br />
books someday, but not today, though.<br />
He grabbed some of the books that I<br />
should be reading: grammar, algebra,<br />
orthography and calligraphy. Years<br />
later, <strong>Don</strong> Francisco died and I was<br />
unable to read the rest of his books.<br />
Born in San Salvador, the capital of the<br />
country, I was exposed to differences<br />
in semantics, syntax, and phonology.<br />
I witnessed changes over the years<br />
as more and more rural populations<br />
came to the metropolis in search of<br />
a better life. My own vocabulary was<br />
changing with the times and I was<br />
always fascinated with the vocabulary<br />
Uncle Luis used. He was originally from<br />
San Miguel, but moved to Santa Ana at<br />
the opposite end of the country and,<br />
thus, he spoke the variety of Spanish to<br />
which he had been exposed.
A lo largo <strong>de</strong> mi educación primaria<br />
teníamos que leer Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong><br />
<strong>de</strong> Salarrué como parte <strong>de</strong>l canon <strong>de</strong><br />
la literatura salvadoreña en el sistema<br />
educativo ya que era el “padre” <strong>de</strong><br />
la literatura. Como éramos niños,<br />
mis compañeros y yo siempre nos<br />
burlábamos <strong>de</strong> la forma inculta en que<br />
hablaban los personajes <strong>de</strong> Salarrué.<br />
Nosotros, los habitantes supremos<br />
<strong>de</strong> la ciudad capital, rechazábamos el<br />
discurso autóctono por estar “un grado<br />
por <strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> nosotros.” Para esta<br />
traducción, he leído y releído el libro en<br />
español y me enloquecí con la cantidad<br />
<strong>de</strong> información que no conocía y con<br />
el hecho <strong>de</strong> que la mayoría <strong>de</strong> estas<br />
palabras que son parte <strong>de</strong> nuestra<br />
habla cotidiana se había ignorado en<br />
los diccionarios y en la literatura oficial.<br />
Mi trabajo <strong>de</strong> traducir a Salarrué al<br />
inglés es importante para el estudio <strong>de</strong><br />
la evolución cultural y para <strong>de</strong>sexotizar<br />
la creencia <strong>de</strong> que uno pue<strong>de</strong> valorar<br />
nuestras raíces y sentirse indígena al<br />
visitar los sitios arqueológicos, mientras<br />
que los salvadoreños invisibilizamos<br />
a los pueblos indígenas que están<br />
frente a nosotros. Es mi anhelo que<br />
mi traducción traiga nueva luz sobre<br />
el pasado turbulento <strong>de</strong> nuestra<br />
nación, para que podamos apren<strong>de</strong>r<br />
a no cometer los mismos errores en el<br />
futuro.<br />
9<br />
Throughout my elementary education<br />
we had to read Salarrué’s Cuentos <strong>de</strong><br />
Barro as part of the canon of Salvadoran<br />
literature in the educational system<br />
since he is “the father” of Salvadoran<br />
literature. As children, my classmates<br />
and I always ma<strong>de</strong> fun of the way<br />
Salarrué’s characters spoke. We, the<br />
supreme inhabitants of the capital city,<br />
rejected the autochthonous speech<br />
for being a “<strong>de</strong>gree below us.” For this<br />
translation, I read and re-read the book<br />
in Spanish and became infatuated with<br />
the amount of information that I didn’t<br />
know, and with the fact that most of<br />
these words that are part of our daily<br />
speech had been ignored in dictionaries<br />
and in the official literature.<br />
My ren<strong>de</strong>ring of Salarrué’s work into<br />
English is significant for the study of<br />
cultural evolution and to <strong>de</strong>-exoticize<br />
the belief that one can feel indigenous<br />
by visiting the archeological sites while<br />
Salvadorans keep invisibilizing the<br />
indigenous peoples in front of them. It<br />
is my hope that my translation will shed<br />
new light on our nation’s troubled past<br />
so that we can learn to avoid making<br />
the same mistakes in the future.
pr ó l o g o<br />
De la est-ética en Salarrué: Mediación política y re<strong>de</strong>nción estética<br />
Por Rafael Lara-Martínez<br />
I. De la est-ética nacional-popular <strong>de</strong> Salarrué…<br />
Ante los <strong>de</strong>sastres <strong>de</strong> la historia siempre existe la esperanza <strong>de</strong> rescatar un asi<strong>de</strong>ro<br />
ético <strong>de</strong> sus vestigios. Desconsolada y optimista, nuestra herencia se aferra a un<br />
salvoconducto por efímero que sea. Este apoyo moral que <strong>de</strong>l pasado se proyecta<br />
hacia el presente, en El Salvador posee un nombre propio: Salarrué (1899-1975). Su<br />
vida carismática y su obra prolífica lo distinguen como un autor polifacético y una<br />
persona integral.<br />
Se inicia <strong>de</strong> místico en una sinfonía literaria y pictórica —O-Yarkandal (1929/1974)—<br />
que hipotéticamente <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong>ña el cuerpo. Se alza en viaje astral hacia un mundo<br />
imaginario sin amarres reales. En sus alturas espirituales lo real se disipa para<br />
volverse etéreo. Hasta el ojo crítico <strong>de</strong>l nicaragüense Sergio Ramírez en su clásica<br />
introducción a El ángel en el espejo (Caracas, 1976) lo imagina impalpable, sin<br />
conexión alguna con la realidad socio-política que transita a diario. Salarrué viviría<br />
en “un universo irreal” sin mancha política.<br />
No importa que la segunda edición ilustrada<br />
muestre lo obvio: dos cuerpos femeninos<br />
<strong>de</strong>snudos acariciándose. El presente nocentroamericano<br />
lo llamaría lesbianismo.<br />
Tampoco interesa que ese universo <strong>de</strong><br />
una Atlántida remota se <strong>de</strong>senvuelva<br />
en el crimen, en el asesinato ritual, en la<br />
<strong>de</strong>capitación, en la violencia. Importa<br />
rescatar cierta evi<strong>de</strong>ncia <strong>de</strong> un terreno<br />
fértil en el cual la izquierda contemporánea<br />
injerta una i<strong>de</strong>a <strong>de</strong> literatura sin tacha<br />
mundana durante décadas <strong>de</strong> dictadura<br />
militar. En literatura suce<strong>de</strong> lo contrario<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sentido común y <strong>de</strong>l refranero popular.<br />
Cuando “la mona se viste <strong>de</strong> seda, mona ya<br />
no se queda”. Luego, Salarrué <strong>de</strong>scien<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>l<br />
empíreo inmaculado hacia lo campesino en<br />
11
Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> (1933, ilustrados por José Mejía Vi<strong>de</strong>s) y hacia el habla infantil en<br />
Cuentos <strong>de</strong> cipotes (1945/1961). Su fecha clave <strong>de</strong> publicación —un año <strong>de</strong>spués<br />
<strong>de</strong> la matanza o etnocidio <strong>de</strong> 1932— lo hace susceptible <strong>de</strong> un rescate inigualable<br />
<strong>de</strong> lo popular. Los actores campesinos y la reproducción “fi<strong>de</strong>digna” <strong>de</strong> la oralidad<br />
lo convertirían en el candidato i<strong>de</strong>al <strong>de</strong> una contraofensiva artística que <strong>de</strong>safía<br />
toda censura <strong>de</strong>l régimen en boga, el <strong>de</strong>l general Maximiliano Hernán<strong>de</strong>z Martínez<br />
(1931-1934, 1935-1939, 1939-1944). Junto a la plástica <strong>de</strong> su ilustrador, Mejía<br />
Vi<strong>de</strong>s, el regionalismo <strong>de</strong> Salarrué se opondría a una política cultural en ciernes. Se<br />
presupone que al régimen le interesaría suprimir toda presencia indígena luego <strong>de</strong><br />
la revuelta <strong>de</strong> 1932, la cual algunos califican <strong>de</strong> vernácula y otros <strong>de</strong> comunista. La<br />
documentación primaria que <strong>de</strong>niega dicha supresión se halla siempre ausente <strong>de</strong><br />
los estudios históricos.<br />
Sea cual fuere la motivación política <strong>de</strong> la revuelta, resta <strong>de</strong>mostrar que existe una<br />
correlación, incluso indirecta, entre el rescate artístico <strong>de</strong> lo rural y el <strong>de</strong> lo indígena<br />
en Salarrué y una contraofensiva artística. Baste un recorte <strong>de</strong>l Suplemento <strong>de</strong>l<br />
Diario Oficial (1934) para verificar que el discurso liberador <strong>de</strong> la izquierda lo anticipa<br />
el régimen mismo <strong>de</strong> Martínez. La “liberación <strong>de</strong>l campesinado” la inaugura el<br />
martinato bajo la aureola <strong>de</strong> un Minimum Vital <strong>de</strong> corte masferreriano: vivienda,<br />
educación, salud, etc. En paradoja irresoluble, las reformas revolucionarias que<br />
la actualidad <strong>de</strong>l cambio le atribuye a los antecesores <strong>de</strong> su causa caracterizan al<br />
martinato mismo en su i<strong>de</strong>al indigenista.<br />
12
Igualmente, la censura editorial que la literatura <strong>de</strong> Salarrué burlaría al elevar al<br />
indígena-campesino al estatuto <strong>de</strong> héroe literario, sería una reprimenda contra sus<br />
propios colegas y amigos teósofos entre quienes se cuenta Hugo Rinker, censor<br />
oficial. No habría una frontera evi<strong>de</strong>nte entre censor y crítico. Ambos pertenecen<br />
a una misma logia teosófica y comparte un universo <strong>de</strong> creencias. Junto a Rinker,<br />
en plena campaña <strong>de</strong> reelección <strong>de</strong>l general Martínez, en 1934, Salarrué presi<strong>de</strong> un<br />
comité porque “el gran libertador <strong>de</strong> la mente humana” [Krishnamurti] “nos traiga su<br />
mensaje <strong>de</strong> luz y <strong>de</strong> verdad”. Habría un enlace inmediato, irreconocido, que ligaría<br />
lo material a lo espiritual, la teosofía a la política <strong>de</strong>l martinato.<br />
Al lector le toca juzgar si los eventos políticos <strong>de</strong> “liberación <strong>de</strong>l campesino” y <strong>de</strong><br />
“liberación <strong>de</strong>l alma humana” se correlacionan entre sí, en plena campaña política<br />
por la reelección <strong>de</strong> un colega teósofo. Sería posible que si existiera burla alguna en<br />
Salarrué a la política oficial, este engaño salpicaría sus propias creencias teosóficas<br />
que se realizan en el reino político <strong>de</strong> este mundo bajo el mandato <strong>de</strong> un colega y<br />
amigo. Pero este enlace entre la metafísica y la política resulta tema tabú hasta el<br />
presente.<br />
La obra cumbre <strong>de</strong>l simulacro campesino en Salarrué no <strong>de</strong>muestra su oposición<br />
al proyecto nacional-popular <strong>de</strong> Martínez. En cambio, <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> 1932, el autor señala<br />
su acor<strong>de</strong> parcial con el régimen. Esta anuencia la comprobaría una investigación<br />
que todos sus <strong>de</strong>fensores elu<strong>de</strong>n. Nadie rastrea la documentación primaria <strong>de</strong>l<br />
martinato y la recepción que obtienen Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> y Cuentos <strong>de</strong> cipotes en las<br />
publicaciones oficiales <strong>de</strong>l régimen.<br />
Tampoco nadie menciona que, luego <strong>de</strong> su elección en 1935, Martínez nombra a<br />
Salarrué <strong>de</strong>legado oficial a la Primera Exposición Centroamericana <strong>de</strong> Artes Plásticas,<br />
en octubre en San José, Costa Rica. El triunfo salvadoreño se <strong>de</strong>be al apoyo oficial<br />
al indigenismo artístico, es <strong>de</strong>cir, a la corriente <strong>de</strong> pensamiento que los críticos <strong>de</strong><br />
Martínez, sin documentación primaria, arguyen que su régimen acalla.<br />
13
Hay que ocultar la participación <strong>de</strong> Salarrué en el <strong>de</strong>spegue <strong>de</strong> una “política <strong>de</strong><br />
la cultura” en la Biblioteca Nacional para que su propuesta inspire a la izquierda<br />
contemporánea. Al hacer visible la sensibilidad campesina-indígena en su<br />
expresión, su estética inaugura una ética nacionalista que confun<strong>de</strong> los extremos<br />
políticos y partidarios en una sola “comunidad imaginaria”. Funciona tal cual un<br />
centro magnético que atrae los polos opuestos a una esfera neutral.<br />
En síntesis, el escondrijo historiográfico verifica cómo el proyecto cultural <strong>de</strong> la<br />
<strong>de</strong>recha y <strong>de</strong> la izquierda en curso —martinistas, comprometidos, ex-sandinista en<br />
el caso <strong>de</strong> Ramírez o la <strong>de</strong>l cambio salvadoreño actual— se apropia <strong>de</strong> un diseño<br />
artístico <strong>de</strong> la <strong>de</strong>recha. Lo <strong>de</strong>scontextualiza —abstrayendo las obras literarias y<br />
plásticas <strong>de</strong> su intención política original— y, al cabo, lo propone como mo<strong>de</strong>lo a<br />
imitar en el presente.<br />
El bosquejo cultural <strong>de</strong> la izquierda es una copia, una repetición <strong>de</strong> un simulacro<br />
artístico <strong>de</strong> la <strong>de</strong>recha. Las rigurosas exigencias revolucionarias vigentes las cumple<br />
la política cultural nacional-popular <strong>de</strong> los años treinta. No hay nada nuevo bajo el<br />
sol. Sólo existe el eterno retorno <strong>de</strong> lo mismo que, como el péndulo, se disfraza <strong>de</strong><br />
cambio.<br />
II. …a la traducción <strong>de</strong> Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>/Tales of Clay<br />
Esta encrucijada política <strong>de</strong> Salarrué no implica que se invali<strong>de</strong> su juicio estético.<br />
Por lo contrario, al visualizar lo indígena-campesino y lo infantil popular como acto<br />
<strong>de</strong> habla y <strong>de</strong> cultura, el autor funda un proyecto <strong>de</strong> re-presentación <strong>de</strong> primera<br />
magnitud. Inaugura una nacionalidad que rompe las oposiciones partidarias hasta<br />
congeniarlas en un terreno artístico neutro. Reconcilia sus diferencias gracias a un<br />
proyecto único <strong>de</strong> nación. La re<strong>de</strong>nción estética <strong>de</strong>l indígena se extien<strong>de</strong> como<br />
territorio nacional <strong>de</strong> mediación política entre los extremos.<br />
Ningún otro artista salvadoreño es capaz <strong>de</strong> seducir a ambos polos por medio <strong>de</strong> un<br />
simulacro tal <strong>de</strong> nacionalidad. La obra salarrueriana se llamaría “el falso falsificador”.<br />
Exhibe un calco tan realista <strong>de</strong> la verdad que sus observadores ya no distinguen<br />
entre la copia y el original. Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> expone una verda<strong>de</strong>ra “Salvadoran<br />
Matrix” que suplanta lo real, incluso a ochenta años <strong>de</strong> su edición.<br />
14
Des<strong>de</strong> sus lectores originales olvidados —los artistas indigenistas que forjan la<br />
“política <strong>de</strong> la cultura” <strong>de</strong>l martinato— los diversos gobiernos militares siguientes,<br />
el elogio <strong>de</strong> la generación comprometida (Roberto Armijo y Roque Dalton),<br />
el aplauso <strong>de</strong> Ramírez y la ovación actual, el libro representa el mejor acto <strong>de</strong><br />
fundación imaginaria <strong>de</strong> la nacionalidad salvadoreña. Ni siquiera el best seller <strong>de</strong>l<br />
poeta salvadoreño más aclamado —Las historias prohibidas <strong>de</strong>l Pulgarcito (1974) <strong>de</strong><br />
Roque Dalton— congrega posiciones tan adversas a su favor. Su lectura no funda<br />
un proyecto unificado <strong>de</strong> nación, <strong>de</strong> izquierda a <strong>de</strong>recha.<br />
En este logro est-ético se inserta la propuesta <strong>de</strong> Nelson López Rojas por traducir<br />
ese libro clave al inglés. Sería la primera tentativa <strong>de</strong> proyectar hacia una arena<br />
internacional el mayor legado artístico <strong>de</strong> El Salvador. Su trabajo lingüístico es<br />
minucioso. La traducción no sólo reproduce el contenido <strong>de</strong> cada cuento. Recrea<br />
el apoyo material sobre el cual se levanta cada contenido concreto. La exigencia<br />
salarrueriana requiere que exista una consonancia absoluta entre el sonido y el<br />
sentido. El sonido no ofrece un simple asiento que recibe el dictado <strong>de</strong> un contenido<br />
el cual se vuelve sensible al expresarse. El sonido forja el sentido.<br />
Si la ética indígena-campesina sólo es visualizada por una estética, su contenido<br />
cultural es materializado una ca<strong>de</strong>na sonora, en un juego interactivo entre el<br />
sonido y el sentido. He ahí el gran obstáculo que López Rojas <strong>de</strong>be vencer. Haría<br />
que el sentido surja <strong>de</strong>l sonido. Esta cuestión es ardua. Si <strong>de</strong>cantar el español<br />
rural salvadoreño al estándar no resulta fácil, tanto más difícil resulta trasvasarlo<br />
hacia una lengua extranjera. O quizás, el castellano es ya un idioma extranjero.<br />
Quizás…<br />
Por esa exigencia, López Rojas no necesita contextualizar la obra en su marco sociopolítico.<br />
En cambio, precisa elaborar un análisis lingüístico exhaustivo <strong>de</strong> lo más<br />
diversos niveles lingüísticos en Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> y <strong>de</strong> su trasposición al inglés. A<br />
nivel fonológico, se preguntaría cuáles sonorida<strong>de</strong>s inglesas transcriben la armonía<br />
sonora, casi intraducible, <strong>de</strong> “Kusususapo vengan acá cojan al sapo que se me va”, o <strong>de</strong><br />
“cabsa que misteris cuquis cantis rompis rabis caleberis coquis, sacamalaca, trufis trofis,<br />
safety matches y siacabuche”.<br />
A la reproducción <strong>de</strong> la musicalidad le prosigue la búsqueda <strong>de</strong> un ritmo melódico<br />
que calque la morfología y la sintaxis <strong>de</strong>l español salvadoreño regional. Un ejemplo<br />
<strong>de</strong> Cuentos <strong>de</strong> cipotes basta. Para el héroe, el valor <strong>de</strong> un objeto no <strong>de</strong>riva <strong>de</strong><br />
sus cualida<strong>de</strong>s inherentes. Proce<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> los atributos que el discurso, cargado <strong>de</strong><br />
afectividad, le asigna como si se tratase <strong>de</strong> propieda<strong>de</strong>s que emanaran directamente<br />
15
<strong>de</strong>l mismo objeto. En el ejemplo siguiente se trata <strong>de</strong> un acor<strong>de</strong>ón. “Es [...] un<br />
barrigante farolero que siabre naipiado, siacurruca y se culumpia, suspira diamores,<br />
eruta sin malcria<strong>de</strong>sa, se enchuta en la invisivilidad y se <strong>de</strong>spereza gatiado.<br />
La enseñanza es simplemente radical. La recreación idiomática que se <strong>de</strong>leita en<br />
asociar sonidos y palabras inventadas muestra la importancia que posee la lengua<br />
al <strong>de</strong>terminar los objetos reales en el mundo. La poética salarruerina nos instruye<br />
hasta qué punto las palabras hacen las cosas. Engendran una aureola subjetiva<br />
sobre lo sensible. La lengua rural salvadoreña crea, fragua un mundo tan singular<br />
que sólo López Rojas se atreve por vez primera en ochenta años a trasvasarla hacia<br />
una matrix ajena.<br />
Asimismo, López Rojas <strong>de</strong>canta una estética —una esfera <strong>de</strong> la percepción y<br />
sensación humana— la cual indaga las cualida<strong>de</strong>s sensibles <strong>de</strong> las cosas. La cultura<br />
rural salvadoreña traza una serie <strong>de</strong> correspon<strong>de</strong>ncias entre mundo natural y<br />
humano. El mundo se vive por medio <strong>de</strong> los sentidos. Tanto es así que el tiempo<br />
no lo mi<strong>de</strong> el reloj. Lo mi<strong>de</strong> una dimensión sensitiva que privilegia la vista, el olfato<br />
y el oído como normas que recortan la duración. El amanecer, la tar<strong>de</strong> y la noche<br />
se observan, se huelen y se escuchan <strong>de</strong> manera propia. Basta un par <strong>de</strong> ejemplos.<br />
“La fragancia <strong>de</strong> la mañana venía mera cargada”. “La aurora se iba subiendo por la<br />
pared <strong>de</strong>l oriente, como una enreda<strong>de</strong>ra”.<br />
En este intercambio entre objetos físicos y observador rural se engendra una<br />
cultura como universo <strong>de</strong> correspon<strong>de</strong>ncias entre un macrocosmos natural que se<br />
rin<strong>de</strong> ante la cultura y un microcosmos humano que a su vez se somete al influjo<br />
<strong>de</strong> lo natural. La conversión <strong>de</strong>l mundo en cosmos se opera gracias a la actividad<br />
sensorial <strong>de</strong> un observador, quien inscribe su propia subjetividad perceptiva en el<br />
flujo <strong>de</strong>l tiempo objetivo.<br />
López Rojas enfrenta todos esos <strong>de</strong>safíos para ofrecer la primera traducción<br />
completa <strong>de</strong> Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> en una lengua extrajera. Su meticuloso quehacer<br />
<strong>de</strong> traductor e intérprete la aplaudiría El Salvador en su conjunto, ya que disemina<br />
hacia el extranjero la enciclopedia primordial que compila nuestra nacionalidad.<br />
La disemi-Nación que López Rojas inaugura hace <strong>de</strong> la comunidad imaginaria<br />
salvadoreña —compartida <strong>de</strong> izquierda a <strong>de</strong>recha— un verda<strong>de</strong>ro círculo completo<br />
<strong>de</strong> la educación política nacional. Ojalá que López Rojas ensanche este conocimiento<br />
hacia otras obras fundadoras <strong>de</strong> lo salvadoreño. Esta tarea <strong>de</strong> expansión global <strong>de</strong><br />
lo regional es su misión, su <strong>de</strong>stino hacia el futuro.<br />
16
TraNquera<br />
Como el alfarero <strong>de</strong> Ilobasco mo<strong>de</strong>la sus<br />
muñecos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>: sus viejos <strong>de</strong> cabeza<br />
temblona, sus jarritos, sus molen<strong>de</strong>ras,<br />
sus gallos <strong>de</strong> pitiyo, sus chivos patas <strong>de</strong><br />
clavo, sus indios cacaxteros1 y en fin,<br />
sus batidores panzudos; así, con las<br />
manos untadas <strong>de</strong> realismo; con toscas<br />
manotadas y uno que otro sobón rítmico,<br />
he mo<strong>de</strong>lado mis Cuentos <strong>de</strong> Barro.<br />
Después <strong>de</strong> la hornada, los más rebel<strong>de</strong>s<br />
salieron con pedazos un tanto crudos;<br />
uno que otro se <strong>de</strong>scantilló; éste salió<br />
medio rajado y aquél boliado dialtiro;<br />
dos o tres se hicieron chingastes.<br />
Pobrecitos mis <strong>cuentos</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>... Nada<br />
son entre los miles <strong>de</strong> <strong>cuentos</strong> bellos que<br />
brotan día a día; por no estar hechos en<br />
torno, van <strong>de</strong>formes, toscos, viciados;<br />
porque, ¿qué saben los nervios <strong>de</strong> línea<br />
pura, <strong>de</strong> curva armónica? ¿Qué sabe el<br />
rojizo tinte <strong>de</strong> la tierra quemada <strong>de</strong> lakas<br />
y barnices?; y el palito rayador, ¿qué sabe<br />
<strong>de</strong> las habilida<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong>l buril?... Pero <strong>de</strong>l<br />
<strong>barro</strong> <strong>de</strong>l alma están hechos; y don<strong>de</strong><br />
se sacó el material un hoyito queda, que<br />
cU e n t o s /tA l e s<br />
17<br />
caTTle GaTe<br />
As the potter of Ilobasco 2 sculpts his<br />
figures of clay: his old people with shaky<br />
heads, his little pitchers, his women<br />
going to the mill, his rooster-whistles,<br />
his goats crafted with legs of nails, his<br />
figures of indigenous people carrying<br />
cacaxtes 3 on their backs, and even his<br />
figures of burly men beating mixtures<br />
for cattle, for bread, for sugar mills...<br />
Just like that, with realism all over his<br />
messy hands; I have mol<strong>de</strong>d my Tales<br />
of Clay with cru<strong>de</strong> touches here, and<br />
rhythmic touches there.<br />
After the kiln, the most rebellious ones<br />
came out with some pieces rather raw.<br />
There were others that broke; this one<br />
came out a little cracked, and that one<br />
came out bad; two or three shattered<br />
into a hundred pieces.<br />
Oh my poor tales of clay... They are<br />
nothing among the thousands of<br />
beautiful tales that sprout daily. Since<br />
they were not ma<strong>de</strong> on a potter’s wheel,<br />
they go into the world <strong>de</strong>formed, coarse,<br />
marred; because, what do his nerves<br />
know about pure lines, about harmonic<br />
curves? 4 What does the reddish tint of<br />
burned clay know about lacquer and<br />
varnishes? And the little stick that<br />
makes figures, what does it know<br />
1. RAE: cacastle. (Del nahua cacaxtli, armazón). 1. m. El Salv., Guat., Hond. y Méx. Armazón <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra para<br />
llevar algo a cuestas.<br />
2. Town in Central El Salvador known for producing the best pottery in the country.<br />
3. A woo<strong>de</strong>n frame worn on someone’s back to carry goods.<br />
4. In physics, Harmonic curve or sine curve is a pictorial representation of a harmonic motion. Harmonic<br />
motion is the movement of an object that repeats its motion over and over again.
los inviernos interiores han llenado <strong>de</strong><br />
melancolía. Un vacío queda allí don<strong>de</strong><br />
arrancamos para dar, y ese vacío sangra<br />
satisfacción y buena voluntad.<br />
Allí va esa hornada <strong>de</strong> cuenteretes,<br />
medio crudos por falta <strong>de</strong> leña: el sol se<br />
encargará <strong>de</strong> irlos tostando.<br />
5. Like a chisel, the tool of an engraver.<br />
18<br />
about the skillful burin? 5 Nevertheless,<br />
these tales are ma<strong>de</strong> from the soul of<br />
the clay; and there is a little hole left<br />
where the material was extracted, and<br />
where past winters have filled them up<br />
with melancholy. A hole in the ground<br />
is left where we took away to give, and<br />
that emptiness bleeds satisfaction and<br />
a sense of goodwill.<br />
There goes this batch of tales, half<br />
raw because there was not enough<br />
firewood. The sun will finish toasting<br />
them little by little.
la BoTIJa<br />
José Pashaca era un cuerpo tirado en<br />
un cuero; el cuero era un cuero tirado<br />
en un rancho; el rancho era un rancho<br />
tirado en una la<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
Petrona Pulunto era la nana <strong>de</strong> aquella<br />
boca:<br />
—¡Hijo: abrí los ojos; ya hasta la color<br />
<strong>de</strong> que los tenés se me olvidó!<br />
José Pashaca pujaba, y a lo mucho<br />
encogía la pata.<br />
—¿Qué quiere, mama?<br />
—¡Qués nicesario que tioficiés en algo,<br />
ya tas indio entero! 7<br />
—¡Agüén!...<br />
Algo se regeneró el holgazán: <strong>de</strong> dormir<br />
pasó a estar triste, bostezando.<br />
Un día entró Ulogio Isho con un<br />
cuenterete. Era un como sapo <strong>de</strong> piedra,<br />
que se había hallado arando. Tenía el<br />
sapo un collar <strong>de</strong> pelotitas y tres hoyos:<br />
uno en la boca y dos en los ojos.<br />
19<br />
THe BoTIJa 6<br />
José Pashaca was a body thrown into a<br />
hi<strong>de</strong>; the hi<strong>de</strong> was a hi<strong>de</strong> thrown into<br />
a shack; the shack was a shack thrown<br />
onto a hill.<br />
Petrona Pulunto was this bum’s ma:<br />
“Son, open your eyes; I’ve even<br />
forgotten what color they are!”<br />
José Pashaca moaned and the most<br />
she could get out of him was that he<br />
tucked his leg.<br />
“What ya want, Ma?”<br />
“All I’m sayin’ is that it’s time ya find<br />
somethin’ to do, Lord knows you is a<br />
grown man!” 8<br />
“Alright…!”<br />
Somehow the lazy guy regenerated 9<br />
himself: he quit sleeping, became sad,<br />
and yawned.<br />
One day Ulogio Isho entered the house<br />
carrying a dingus. 10 It resembled a<br />
stone frog that he had found when<br />
plowing. The frog had three holes: one<br />
for a mouth and two for the eyes; it also<br />
had a necklace of small beads.<br />
6. The Earthenware Jug. A botija was an instrument used to hi<strong>de</strong> or put money away. When people died,<br />
sometimes they did not tell anyone about their botijas and let them buried.<br />
7. El escritor es inconsistente para señalar el cambio vernáculo. A veces se usa cursiva, a veces no.<br />
8. “Indio entero” is literally “a grown Indian,” but the connotation of indian as the lowest class is not<br />
equivalent in English. See section on “Invisibilizing All Things Indigenous.”<br />
9. vt to restore and renew somebody morally or spiritually.<br />
10. Salvadoran Spanish: “a tale.” An object which name is either unknown or forgotten.
—¡Qué feyo este baboso! —llegó<br />
diciendo. Se carcajeaba—; ¡meramente<br />
el tuerto Can<strong>de</strong>!...<br />
Y lo <strong>de</strong>jó, para que jugaran los cipotes12 <strong>de</strong> la María Elena.<br />
Pero a los dos días llegó el anciano<br />
Bashuto, y en viendo el sapo dijo:<br />
—Estas cositas son obra <strong>de</strong>nantes, <strong>de</strong><br />
los agüelos13 <strong>de</strong> nosotros. En las aradas<br />
se incuentran catizumbadas. También<br />
se hallan botijas llenas dioro.<br />
José Pashaca se dignó arrugar el pellejo<br />
que tenía entre los ojos, allí don<strong>de</strong> los<br />
<strong>de</strong>más llevan la frente.<br />
—¿Cómo es eso, ño Bashuto?<br />
Bashuto se <strong>de</strong>sprendió <strong>de</strong>l puro, y tiró<br />
por un lado una escupida gran<strong>de</strong> como<br />
un caite15 , y así sonora.<br />
—Cuestiones <strong>de</strong> la suerte, hombre. Vos<br />
vas arando y ¡plosh!, <strong>de</strong>rrepente pegás<br />
en la huaca, y yastuvo; tihacés <strong>de</strong> plata.<br />
—¡Achís! 16 , ¿en veras, ño 17 Bashuto?<br />
20<br />
“What an ugly thing!” 11 he said as he<br />
entered the shack. He roared with<br />
laughter; “it looks just like Can<strong>de</strong>, the<br />
one-eyed pirate…!”<br />
He left it there for Maria Elena’s kids to<br />
play with.<br />
Two days later, el<strong>de</strong>rly Bashuto arrived<br />
at the house, and looking at the frog he<br />
said:<br />
“These things are ancient works, of our<br />
ancestors. There are plenty of these<br />
objects in the plowing fields. One can<br />
also find jugs filled with gold.”<br />
Finally, the not very bright José Pashaca<br />
finally ma<strong>de</strong> an effort to think, wrinkling<br />
the skin between his eyes.<br />
“What do you mean, Señor Bashuto?” 14<br />
Bashuto took the cigar out of his mouth,<br />
and he hurled a gob as big and as loud<br />
as the snap of a caite 18 sandal.<br />
“It’s a matter of luck, man. You’re<br />
plowing and plosh! All of a sud<strong>de</strong>n you<br />
hit the jug, and that’s it, you’re rich<br />
“Holy cow! Is that so, Señor Bashuto?”<br />
11. “Baboso” conveys different meanings. In this case, the affective meaning is “thing.” Also, “What a<br />
worthless piece of crap!”<br />
12. Niños, probablemente <strong>de</strong>l pipil “tsipit” que significa “maíz inmaduro, bebé”<br />
13. Quizás influencia <strong>de</strong>l asturiano: abuelo = güelo.<br />
14. There is no natural way in English to substitute “Mister” as “Ño” for “Señor” in Spanish. An alternative<br />
could be “Mister B” or “‘ster”, but some of my informants found these expressions unnatural.<br />
15. Huarache en México.<br />
16. Exclamación que indica sorpresa o <strong>de</strong>sprecio.<br />
17. Aféresis <strong>de</strong> “señor.”<br />
18. Caite (/ka-ee-tay/) is a sandal ma<strong>de</strong> of used tires, leather and other materials worn by peasants.
—¡Comolóis!<br />
Bashuto se prendió al puro con toda<br />
la fuerza <strong>de</strong> sus arrugas, y se fue en<br />
humo. Enseguiditas contó mil hallazgos<br />
<strong>de</strong> botijas, todos los cuales “él bía<br />
prisenciado con estos ojos”. Cuando se<br />
fue, se fue sin darse cuenta <strong>de</strong> que, <strong>de</strong><br />
lo dicho, <strong>de</strong>jaba las cáscaras.<br />
Como en esos días se murió la Petrona<br />
Pulunto, José levantó la boca y la<br />
llevó caminando por la vecindad, sin<br />
resultados nutritivos. Comió majonchos<br />
robados, y se <strong>de</strong>cidió a buscar botijas.<br />
Para ello, se puso a la cola <strong>de</strong> un arado<br />
y empujó. Tras la reja iban arando sus<br />
ojos. Y así fue como José Pashaca llegó<br />
a ser el indio más holgazán y a la vez<br />
el más laborioso <strong>de</strong> todos los <strong>de</strong>l lugar.<br />
Trabajaba sin trabajar —por lo menos<br />
sin darse cuenta— y trabajaba tanto,<br />
que las horas coloradas le hallaban<br />
siempre sudoroso, con la mano en la<br />
mancera y los ojos en el surco.<br />
Piojo <strong>de</strong> las lomas, caspeaba ávido la<br />
tierra negra, siempre mirando al suelo<br />
con tanta atención, que parecía como<br />
si entre los borbollos <strong>de</strong> tierra hubiera<br />
ido <strong>de</strong>jando sembrada el alma. Pa<br />
que nacieran perezas; porque eso sí,<br />
Pashaca se sabía el indio más sin oficio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l valle.<br />
21<br />
“That’s what I just said!”<br />
Bashuto sucked on his cigar with all<br />
the might of his wrinkles, and his<br />
thoughts were lost in the smoke. Then<br />
he procee<strong>de</strong>d to tell of a thousand<br />
discoveries of the magical jugs, all<br />
of which “he had witnessed with his<br />
own two eyes.” When he left, he did<br />
so without realizing that shells of his<br />
stories were left behind with José.<br />
Petrona Pulunto died around that<br />
time, causing José to scrounge around<br />
the neighborhood for food, without<br />
profitable results. He stole majonchos 19<br />
to eat, and <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to look for the<br />
mythical jugs. He put himself behind a<br />
plow and pushed. His eyes were plowing<br />
behind the bla<strong>de</strong>. That was how José<br />
Pashaca became the laziest but, at the<br />
same time, the most hardworking of all<br />
men in the area. He worked without<br />
working, at least without realizing<br />
it, and he worked so much that the<br />
reddish hours of sunset always found<br />
him sweaty, with one hand still on the<br />
plow and his eyes still on the rows.<br />
Like the louse of the hills he hungrily<br />
examined the black dirt, always looking<br />
at the ground with such attention that<br />
it seemed as if he had planted his soul<br />
in those clods of dirt. He was unwilling<br />
to work; and there was no doubt that<br />
Pashaca thought he was the least<br />
hardworking person in the valley.<br />
19. Majoncho (ma-hon-cho/) is a variety of banana that is grown in tropical areas. It is smaller that the<br />
regular banana but with more culinary uses due to its high levels of starch.
Él no trabajaba. Él buscaba las botijas<br />
llenas <strong>de</strong> bambas doradas, que hacen<br />
“¡plocosh!” cuando la reja las topa, y<br />
vomitan plata y oro, como el agua <strong>de</strong>l<br />
charco cuando el sol comienza a ispiar<br />
<strong>de</strong>trás <strong>de</strong> lo <strong>de</strong>l ductor Martínez, que<br />
son los llanos que topan al cielo.<br />
Tan gran<strong>de</strong> como él se hacía, así se hacía<br />
<strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong> su obsesión. La ambición<br />
más que el hambre, le había parado <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cuero y lo había empujado a las la<strong>de</strong>ras<br />
<strong>de</strong> los cerros; don<strong>de</strong> aró, aró, <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> la<br />
gritería <strong>de</strong> los gallos que se tragan las<br />
estrellas, hasta la hora en que el güas<br />
ronco y lúgubre, parado en los ganchos<br />
<strong>de</strong> la ceiba, puya el silencio con sus<br />
gritos <strong>de</strong>stemplados.<br />
Pashaca se peleaba las lomas. El<br />
patrón, que se asombraba <strong>de</strong>l milagro<br />
que hiciera <strong>de</strong> José el más laborioso<br />
colono24 , dábale con gusto y sin medida<br />
luengas tierras, que el indio soñador<br />
<strong>de</strong> tesoros rascaba con el ojo presto a<br />
dar aviso en el corazón, para que éste<br />
cayera sobre la botija como un trapo <strong>de</strong><br />
amor y ocultamiento.<br />
Y Pashaca sembraba, por fuerza,<br />
porque el patrón exigía los censos.<br />
22<br />
He didn’t work. He looked for botijas<br />
filled with gol<strong>de</strong>n bambas 20 that, when<br />
hit by the plow make a “plocosh” sound,<br />
and regurgitate silver and gold, like the<br />
sparkling water in the puddle when the<br />
sun begins to spy behind the plains that<br />
touch the sky, those plains that belong<br />
to Doctah Martínez. 21<br />
As he grew more powerful, so did his<br />
obsession. Greed, more than hunger,<br />
had enlivened his body and had driven<br />
him to the slopes of the hills. There he<br />
plowed and plowed from the roosters’<br />
crow that swallow the stars, until the<br />
time in which the laughing falcon, 22<br />
bellowing and lugubrious, perched in<br />
the branches of the ceiba 23 trees breaks<br />
the silence with its discordant racket.<br />
Pashaca fought for the hills. His boss,<br />
astonished by the miracle that ma<strong>de</strong><br />
José the most hardworking tenantfarmer,<br />
happily assigned him an<br />
unlimited number of large land parcels.<br />
José, dreaming of treasures, plowed<br />
with his eyes peeled for the jug that<br />
would make his heart happy, and<br />
surround the jug like a cloth of love and<br />
protection.<br />
Pashaca planted because he had to and<br />
because the boss <strong>de</strong>man<strong>de</strong>d the counts.<br />
20. Coins used in the 19th century. They were the size of a silver dollar.<br />
21. I <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to keep “spy” for “ispiar” because of the historic reference of “Ductor Martínez” who used<br />
to keep an eye on the people and their territories that were a communist menace. William Stanley sums<br />
it: “Shortly after the Matanza, Martínez established new mechanisms of state control throughout the<br />
country, but with particular impact in rural areas.” (1996: 58)<br />
22. A bird that makes an unpleasant loud noise.<br />
23. Also known as “kapok,” this tree was a sacred symbol for the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica.<br />
24. RAE: colono, na. (Del lat. colonus, <strong>de</strong> colere, cultivar). 2. m. y f. Labrador que cultiva y labra una heredad<br />
por arrendamiento y suele vivir en ella.
Por fuerza también tenía Pashaca<br />
que cosechar, y por fuerza que cobrar<br />
el grano abundante <strong>de</strong> su cosecha,<br />
cuyo producto iba guardando<br />
<strong>de</strong>spreocupadamente en un hoyo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
rancho, por siacaso.<br />
Ninguno <strong>de</strong> los colonos se sentía con<br />
hígado suficiente para llevar a cabo una<br />
labor como la <strong>de</strong> José. “Es el hombre<br />
<strong>de</strong> jierro”, <strong>de</strong>cían; “en<strong>de</strong> 25 que le entró<br />
asaber qué, se propuso hacer pisto. Ya<br />
tendrá una buena huaca... ” 26<br />
Pero José Pashaca no se daba cuenta<br />
<strong>de</strong> que, en realidad, tenía huaca. Lo<br />
que él buscaba sin <strong>de</strong>smayo era una<br />
botija, y siendo como se <strong>de</strong>cía que las<br />
enterraban en las aradas, allí por fuerza<br />
la incontraría tar<strong>de</strong> o temprano.<br />
Se había hecho no sólo trabajador, al<br />
ver <strong>de</strong> los vecinos, sino hasta generoso.<br />
En cuanto tenía un día <strong>de</strong> no po<strong>de</strong>r arar,<br />
por no tener tierra cedida, les ayudaba<br />
a los otros, les mandaba <strong>de</strong>scansar y se<br />
quedaba arando por ellos. Y lo hacía<br />
bien: los surcos <strong>de</strong> su reja iban siempre<br />
pegaditos, chachados 28 y projundos,<br />
que daban gusto.<br />
23<br />
He also had to gather the harvest,<br />
and he had to receive the abundant<br />
pay. Without concern, he amassed<br />
his remuneration in a hidy-hole in his<br />
shack, just in case.<br />
No other farmer felt brave enough to<br />
work as hard as José. “He’s an iron man,”<br />
they said; “What’s with José, sud<strong>de</strong>nly<br />
he’s making big bucks. He must have a<br />
big stash27 by now…”<br />
But José Pashaca did not realize that he<br />
actually had money. What he looked for<br />
relentlessly was a botija, and because it<br />
was said that they were buried in the<br />
fields, he felt that he must find it there<br />
sooner or later.<br />
According to his neighbors, he had<br />
become not only hardworking but<br />
even generous. When he ran out of his<br />
own land to plow, he helped others. He<br />
told them to go rest, and stayed there<br />
plowing for them. He did it well: the<br />
rows of his plow were always parallel, 29<br />
perfectly spaced and very <strong>de</strong>ep. It was<br />
a pleasure to look at those furrows.<br />
25. Arcaismo <strong>de</strong> “<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong>” o “por lo cual”.<br />
26. Según la RAE, guaca. (Del quechua waca, dios <strong>de</strong> la casa). 1. f. Sepulcro <strong>de</strong> los antiguos indios,<br />
principalmente <strong>de</strong> Bolivia y el Perú, en que se encuentran a menudo objetos <strong>de</strong> valor. 2. f. En América<br />
Central y gran parte <strong>de</strong> la <strong>de</strong>l Sur, sepulcro antiguo indio en general. 3. f. Am. Mer. y Hond. Tesoro<br />
escondido o enterrado. 4. f. C. Rica y Nic. Conjunto <strong>de</strong> objetos escondidos o guardados. 5. f. C. Rica,<br />
Cuba, Hond. y Nic. Hoyo don<strong>de</strong> se <strong>de</strong>positan frutas ver<strong>de</strong>s para que maduren. 6. f. C. Rica y Cuba. Hucha<br />
o alcancía. 7. f. coloq. Cuba. Dinero ahorrado que se guarda en casa. 8. f. El Salv. y Pan. En las sepulturas<br />
indígenas, vasija, generalmente <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> cocido, don<strong>de</strong> aparecen <strong>de</strong>positados joyas y objetos artísticos.<br />
9. f. Nic. escondite (lugar para escon<strong>de</strong>r o escon<strong>de</strong>rse).<br />
27. Stash: huaca in Salvadoran Spanish. My mother recalls that el<strong>de</strong>rs in her youth talked about their<br />
ancestors having unearthed “a treasure” hid<strong>de</strong>n insi<strong>de</strong> an earthenware jug.<br />
28. Según la RAE: chacho2, cha. (Quizá <strong>de</strong>l nahua chachacatl). 1. adj. El Salv. y Hond. Dicho <strong>de</strong> dos cosas,<br />
especialmente <strong>de</strong> dos frutas: Que están pegadas.<br />
29. Campbell: “chachawa-t,” double or twin. (182)
—¡On<strong>de</strong> te metés, babosada! —pensaba<br />
el indio sin darse por vencido—: Y tei <strong>de</strong><br />
topar, aunque no querrás, así mihaya<br />
<strong>de</strong> tronchar en los surcos.<br />
Y así fue; no lo <strong>de</strong>l encuentro, sino lo <strong>de</strong><br />
la tronchada.<br />
Un día, a la hora en que se ver<strong>de</strong>ya el<br />
cielo y en que los ríos se hacen rayas<br />
blancas en los llanos, José Pashaca se<br />
dio cuenta <strong>de</strong> que ya no había botijas.<br />
Se lo avisó un <strong>de</strong>smayo con calentura;<br />
se dobló en la mancera; los bueyes<br />
se fueron parando, como si la reja se<br />
hubiera enredado en el raizal <strong>de</strong> la<br />
sombra. Los hallaron negros, contra<br />
el cielo claro, “voltiando a ver al indio<br />
embruecado, y resollando el viento<br />
oscuro”.<br />
José Pashaca se puso malo. No quiso<br />
que nai<strong>de</strong>31 lo cuidara. “Den<strong>de</strong>32 que<br />
bía finado la Petrona, vivía íngrimo en su<br />
rancho.”<br />
Una noche, haciendo fuerzas <strong>de</strong> tripas,<br />
salió sigiloso llevando, en un cántaro<br />
viejo, su huaca. Se agachaba <strong>de</strong>trás<br />
<strong>de</strong> los matochos cuando óiba ruidos,<br />
y así se estuvo haciendo un hoyo con<br />
la cuma33 . Se quejaba a ratos, rendido,<br />
pero luego seguía con brío su tarea.<br />
30. Image that is repeated later: sky turns green, not blue.<br />
31. Arcaismo <strong>de</strong> “nadie”.<br />
32. Arcaismo <strong>de</strong> “<strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong>”.<br />
33. RAE: cuma. 1. f. Am. Cen. Cuchillo corvo para rozar y podar.<br />
24<br />
“Where is you hiding, stupid thing!”<br />
he thought without giving up: “and I’ll<br />
find you, even though you don’t want<br />
me to, even if I need to break my back<br />
plowing in the furrows.”<br />
And that’s what happened; not the<br />
finding, but the breaking.<br />
One day, at the hour when the sky<br />
turns green 30 and the rivers become<br />
white lines on the plains, José Pashaca<br />
realized that there weren’t any more<br />
botijas. Finally a sign: he broke down<br />
in the field, he fainted with fever. The<br />
oxen slowed down as if the bla<strong>de</strong><br />
became entangled in the roots of the<br />
shadow. They were found silhouetted<br />
by the clear sky, “staring down at the<br />
fallen man who was heavily breathing<br />
the dark wind.”<br />
José Pashaca became very ill. He didn’t<br />
want anyone to take care of him. “He<br />
lived all alone in his shack since Petrona<br />
had died.”<br />
One night, he plucked up his courage.<br />
He went out stealthily carrying<br />
his money in an old clay jug. He<br />
began to dig a hole with his curved<br />
machete. Whenever he heard noises<br />
he ducked down in the bushes. He<br />
moaned at times, exhausted, but with<br />
<strong>de</strong>termination continued his task.
Metió en el hoyo el cántaro, lo tapó<br />
bien tapado, borró todo rastro <strong>de</strong> tierra<br />
removida; y alzando sus brazos <strong>de</strong><br />
bejuco hacia las estrellas, <strong>de</strong>jó ir liadas<br />
en un suspiro estas palabras:<br />
—¡Vaya: pa que no se diga que ya nuai<br />
botijas en las aradas!...<br />
25<br />
He put the treasure in the hole; he<br />
covered it well, brushing away all traces<br />
of removed dirt. José stretched his<br />
branch-like arms towards the stars and<br />
spoke these words, wrapped in a sigh:<br />
“A’wright, so now nobody can’t say there<br />
ain’t no more botijas in the fields!”
la HoNra<br />
Había amanecido nortiando; la Juanita<br />
limpia lagua helada; el viento llevaba<br />
zopes34 y olores. Atravesó el llano. La<br />
nagua se le amelcochaba y se le hacía<br />
calzones. El pelo le hacía alacranes<br />
negros en la cara. La Juana iba bien<br />
contenta, chapudita35 y apagándole<br />
los ojos al viento. Los árboles venían<br />
corriendo. En medio <strong>de</strong>l llano la<br />
cogió un tumbo <strong>de</strong> norte. La Juanita<br />
llenó el frasco <strong>de</strong> su alegría y lo tapó<br />
con un grito; luego salió corriendo y<br />
enredándose en su risa. La chucha36 iba<br />
ladrando a su lado, queriendo alcanzar<br />
las hojas secas que pajareaban.<br />
El ojo diagua estaba en el fondo<br />
<strong>de</strong> una barranca, sombreado por<br />
quequeishques38 39 y palmitos.<br />
26<br />
THe HoNor<br />
It had been windy well before dawn;<br />
Juana37 was clean; the water was cold;<br />
the wind carried vultures and scents<br />
across the plain. Her skirt whirled<br />
around her so that it became one with<br />
her body. Her hair was lashing into her<br />
face like black scorpions. Juana walked<br />
with a happy bounce in her step. Her<br />
blushing cheeks caused the wind to<br />
close its eyes. The trees seemed to<br />
be running towards her, while in the<br />
middle of the valley she was caught by<br />
the northern gale. Juana filled up the<br />
bottle with her happiness and covered<br />
it with a cry; then, running and being<br />
swaddled in her laughter, she left. Her<br />
dog was barking by her si<strong>de</strong> trying to<br />
catch the dry leaves that were flying<br />
like birds.<br />
The spring was at the end of a ravine,<br />
sha<strong>de</strong>d by quequeishque40 41 vines and<br />
small palms.<br />
34. RAE: nahua “tzopílotl”; Campbell: pipil “sope, kusma”.<br />
35. Con mejillas rosadas.<br />
36. “Perra” en español salvadoreño.<br />
37. Salarrué uses proper names and their diminutive as well; however this technique does not work in<br />
English as it tends to confuse the rea<strong>de</strong>r who thinks that “Juana” and “Juanita” are two different characters.<br />
This is also applicable to later stories.<br />
38. Xanthosoma mexicanum. Es una planta trepadora, no hay que confundirla con la raíz “quequisque”<br />
39. Ramírez-Sosa: Aroid (Xanthosoma mexicanum, Araceae). Una planta herbácea con hojas en forma<br />
<strong>de</strong> corazón, que se encuentra comúnmente don<strong>de</strong> los suelos están saturados <strong>de</strong> agua. Su inflorescencia<br />
blanca atrae a los escarabajos que son sus polinizadores.<br />
40. Aroid. An herbaceous plant with heart-shaped leaves, which is commonly found where soils are<br />
saturated with water. Its white inflorescence attracts beetles for pollination.<br />
41. According to THESAURUS Tomo II. Núm. 3 (1946). Enrique D. TOVAR Y R. quequeishque, quequeshque<br />
and other names are given to taro or tato of Oceania, or Colocasia esulenta. It is an ornamental plant<br />
found in gar<strong>de</strong>ns. It is very rich in starch. <strong>de</strong> los jardines, muy rica en fécula. See Xantosoma violaceum,<br />
edible, grown in rivers. Malaret adds la aroi<strong>de</strong>a Arum sagittaíum.
Más abajo, entre grupos <strong>de</strong><br />
güiscoyoles42 y <strong>de</strong> ishcanales43 , dormían<br />
charcos azules como cáscaras <strong>de</strong> cielo,<br />
largas y oloríferas. Las sombras se<br />
habían <strong>de</strong>sbarrancado encima <strong>de</strong> los<br />
paredones; y en la corriente pacha,<br />
quebradita y silenciosa, rodaban<br />
piedrecitas <strong>de</strong> cal.<br />
La Juanita se sentó a <strong>de</strong>scansar: estaba<br />
agitada; los pechos —bien ceñidos<br />
por el traje— se le querían ir y ella los<br />
sofrenaba con suspiros imperiosos.<br />
El ojo diagua se le quedaba viendo<br />
sin parpa<strong>de</strong>ar, mientras la chucha<br />
lengüeaba golosamente el manantial,<br />
con las cuatro patas ensambladas en<br />
la arena virgen. Río abajo, se bañaban<br />
unas ramas. Cerca, unos peñascales<br />
verdosos sudaban el día.<br />
La Juanita sacó un espejo, <strong>de</strong>l tamaño<br />
<strong>de</strong> un colón, y empezó a espiarse con<br />
cuidado. Se arregló las mechas, se<br />
limpió con el <strong>de</strong>lantal la frente sudada;<br />
y como se quería, cuando a solas, se<br />
<strong>de</strong>jó un beso en la boca, mirando<br />
con recelo alre<strong>de</strong>dor, por miedo a<br />
que la bieran ispiado. Haciendo al<br />
escote comulgar con el espejo,<br />
se bajó <strong>de</strong> la piedra y comenzó a<br />
27<br />
Further down, among groups of<br />
güiscoyol44 palms and ishcanal45 trees,<br />
large and fragrant pools were sleeping<br />
like the skin of the blue sky. The shadows<br />
had fallen on the mountain si<strong>de</strong>s and in<br />
the shallow current, broken and silent,<br />
small lime stones were rolling.<br />
Tired, Juana sat down to rest. Her<br />
breasts, severely constrained by her<br />
dress, wanted to break free but she<br />
would rein them back sharply with<br />
imperious breaths. The spring-fed<br />
pond watched her without blinking.<br />
Her dog was lapping up the spring<br />
with her tongue, her four legs buried<br />
in the virgin sand. Down the river, the<br />
sun was bathing the branches. Nearby,<br />
some greenish rocks were sweating out<br />
the day.<br />
Juana took out a mirror, the size of a<br />
Colón46 , and started to carefully assess<br />
her reflection. She fixed her unruly<br />
hair, wiped her sweaty forehead with<br />
her apron, and because she was vain,<br />
when in private, she left herself a<br />
kiss on her mouth in the mirror, and<br />
looked around cautiously, fearful<br />
that someone might have seen her.<br />
After she had ma<strong>de</strong> her breast line<br />
42. También conocido como “biscoyol”. Bactris (guianensis, major or longiseta). Palmera <strong>de</strong>lgada <strong>de</strong><br />
largas y afiladas espinas.<br />
43. Conocido también como “iscanal negro, guascanal, cutupito y cachito”.<br />
44. Or Huiscoyol. Johnson: A small palm tree of lowland rainforest, occurring up to 1,000 meters.<br />
45. Acacia bursaria. Tree with mahogany-colored thorns.<br />
46. Or “The size of a dollar bill.” The Colón was the legal ten<strong>de</strong>r between 1919 and 2001 before the<br />
dollarization process in 2001. 1US$ = C8.75
pepenar chirolitas <strong>de</strong> tempisque para el<br />
cinquito47 .<br />
La chucha se puso a ladrar. En el recodo<br />
<strong>de</strong> la barranca apareció un hombre<br />
montado a caballo. Venía por la luz, al<br />
paso, haciendo chingastes49 el vidrio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l agua.<br />
Cuando la Juana lo conoció, sintió que<br />
el corazón se le había ahorcado. Ya no<br />
tuvo tiempo <strong>de</strong> escaparse; y sin saber<br />
por qué, lo esperó agarrada <strong>de</strong> una<br />
hoja.<br />
Él <strong>de</strong> a caballo, joven y guapo, apuró<br />
y pronto estuvo a su lado, radiante <strong>de</strong><br />
oportunidad. No hizo caso <strong>de</strong>l ladrido<br />
y empezó a chuliar52 a la Juana con un<br />
galope incontenible como el viento que<br />
soplaba. Hubo <strong>de</strong>fensa claudicante,<br />
con noes temblones y jaloncitos flacos;<br />
<strong>de</strong>spués ayes, y <strong>de</strong>spués... El ojo diagua<br />
no parpa<strong>de</strong>aba. Con un brazo en los<br />
ojos, la Juana se quedó en la sombra.<br />
* * *<br />
28<br />
commune with her mirror, she got off<br />
the rock and started to collect small<br />
tempisque seeds to play cinquito48 .<br />
Her dog sud<strong>de</strong>nly began to bark. A<br />
man riding a horse50 appeared from the<br />
si<strong>de</strong> of the ravine. He came through the<br />
light, slowly, fragmenting the glassy<br />
water.<br />
When Juana had known51 him, she felt<br />
that her heart had asphyxiated. She<br />
had no time to escape; and, without<br />
knowing why, she waited for him<br />
holding onto a leaf.<br />
The ri<strong>de</strong>r, young and handsome, hurried<br />
his step and was soon by her si<strong>de</strong>, radiant<br />
with opportunity and possibility. He<br />
cared nothing for the barking; instead<br />
he began to pay compliments to Juana<br />
with an unstoppable gallop just like<br />
the blowing wind. She surren<strong>de</strong>red,<br />
with shaky no’s and weak pulls. Cries<br />
of pain followed, and later… the spring<br />
would not blink. With an arm over her<br />
eyes, Juana was left in the dark.<br />
47. Serie <strong>de</strong> cinco semillas o bolitas para el juego que lleva el mismo nombre.<br />
48. “Jugar al cinquito” is a game where a player throws five seeds into a hole from a starting line. The<br />
winner is the one who gets all five seeds at once in one toss.<br />
49. Hacer añicos.<br />
50. A horse was the symbol of the colonizers, the Spaniards, the powerful class.<br />
51. Or “when he took her” but I <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to keep the biblical ambiguity of the word.<br />
52. Piropear, coquetear.<br />
* * *
Tacho, el hermano <strong>de</strong> la Juanita, tenía<br />
nueve años. Era un cipote aprietado y<br />
con una cabeza <strong>de</strong> huizayote53 . Un día<br />
vido54 que su tata estaba furioso. La<br />
Juana le bía dicho quién sabe qué, y el<br />
tata le bía metido una penquiada <strong>de</strong>l<br />
diablo.<br />
—¡Babosa! —había oído que le <strong>de</strong>cía—<br />
¡Habís perdido lonra, que era lúnico<br />
que tráibas al mundo! ¡Si biera sabido<br />
quibas ir a <strong>de</strong>jar lonra al ojo diagua, no<br />
te <strong>de</strong>jo ir aquel diya; gran babosa!...<br />
Tacho lloró, porque quería a la Juana<br />
como si hubiera sido su nana; e<br />
ingenuamente, <strong>de</strong> escondiditas, se<br />
jue al ojo diagua y se puso a buscar<br />
cachazudamente lonra e la Juana.<br />
Él no sabía ni poco ni mucho cómo<br />
sería lonra que bía perdido su hermana,<br />
pero a juzgar por la cólera <strong>de</strong>l tata, bía<br />
<strong>de</strong> ser una cosa muy fácil <strong>de</strong> hallar.<br />
Tacho se maginaba lonra, una cosa lisa,<br />
redondita, quizá brillosa, quizá como<br />
moneda o como cruz. Pelaba los ojos<br />
por el arenal, río abajo, río arriba, y<br />
no miraba más que piedras y monte,<br />
monte y piedras, y lonra no aparecía.<br />
29<br />
Tacho, Juanita’s brother, was nine years<br />
old. He was a skinny kid with spiky hair<br />
like a pear squash. 55 One day he saw<br />
that his pa was furious. Juana had told<br />
him who knows what, and his father<br />
had beaten her like hell.<br />
“What a stupid girl!” he overheard his<br />
father tell her. “You lost the honor, 56 the<br />
only thing you brought into this world!<br />
If ah woulda knew you wuz gunna leave<br />
your honor at the spring, ah wouldn’a<br />
let you go that day, you stupid girl!<br />
Tacho cried, because he loved Juana<br />
as if she were his mom. Naively, he<br />
sneaked off for the spring and started<br />
conscientiously looking for Juana’s<br />
honor.<br />
He had little to no i<strong>de</strong>a what the honor<br />
that his sister had lost looked like, but<br />
judging from his father’s rage, it must<br />
be a very easy thing to find. Tacho<br />
thought of the honor as a smooth,<br />
round, maybe shiny thing, perhaps like<br />
a coin or a cross. With his eyes wi<strong>de</strong><br />
open he searched by the shore, down<br />
the river, up the river, and nothing but<br />
rocks and wild grass, wild grass and<br />
rocks. The honor was not found.<br />
53. Sechium edule. Chayote.<br />
54. Arcaismo. “Ver era antiguamente veer (vidére): según eso, veo, veea, (Mendoza, 52), etc., era lo<br />
regular, lo mismo que veía, veías, etc. Hoy tenemos por arcaicas las formas vees, vía, etcétera, al contrario<br />
<strong>de</strong> lo que <strong>de</strong>bia ser. Vi<strong>de</strong> y vido por vi y vió, son arcaismos.” (Robles Dégano, 1903: 163)<br />
55. Squash with small thorns. Sechium edule.<br />
56. Not hers, since honor is a family matter.
La bía buscado entre lagua, en los<br />
matorrales, en los hoyos <strong>de</strong> los palos y<br />
hasta le bía dado güelta a la arena cerca<br />
<strong>de</strong>l ojo, y ¡nada!<br />
—Lonra e la Juana, <strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> que tata la<br />
penquiado —se <strong>de</strong>cía—, ha <strong>de</strong> ser<br />
gran<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Por fin, al pie <strong>de</strong> un chaparro57 , entre<br />
hojas <strong>de</strong> sombra y hojas <strong>de</strong> sol, vido<br />
brillar un objeto extraño. Tacho<br />
sintió que la alegría le iba subiendo<br />
por el cuerpo, en espumarajos<br />
cosquilleantes.<br />
—¡Yastuvo! —gritó.<br />
Levantó el objeto brilloso y se quedó<br />
asombrado.<br />
—¡Achís! —se dijo—No sabía yo que<br />
lonra juera ansina59 ...<br />
Corrió con toda la fuerza <strong>de</strong> su alegría.<br />
Cuando llegó al rancho, el tata estaba<br />
pensativo, sentado en la pila<strong>de</strong>ra60 . En<br />
la arruga <strong>de</strong> las cejas se le bía metido<br />
una estaca <strong>de</strong> noche.<br />
—¡Tata! —gritó el cipote ja<strong>de</strong>ante—: ¡Ei<br />
ido al ojo diagua y ei incontrado lonra e<br />
la Juana; ya no le pegue, tome!...<br />
30<br />
He had looked for it in the water, in the<br />
bushes, in the hollows of the trees and<br />
<strong>de</strong>ep in the sand by the spring, and<br />
nothing!<br />
“Since Father had beaten her<br />
unmercifully, Juana’s honor must be<br />
something big” he said to himself.<br />
Finally, at the foot of a chaparro58 bush,<br />
between patches of leaves and patches<br />
of sun, he saw a strange object shine.<br />
Tacho felt a wave of happiness pass<br />
through his body.<br />
“That’s it!” –he shouted.<br />
He picked up the shiny object and was<br />
astonished.<br />
“Darn!” –he said. “I didn’t know that the<br />
honor was like that…”<br />
He ran with all the strength of his<br />
happiness. When he came to his house,<br />
his father, seated by the washboard,<br />
was far away in thought, his brow,<br />
furrowed with wrinkles. 61<br />
“Pa!” shouted the panting child: “I went<br />
to the water pond and I found Juana’s<br />
honor. <strong>Don</strong>’t beat her anymore, here,<br />
take it!”<br />
57. Chaparral, gobernadora.<br />
58. Larrea tri<strong>de</strong>ntata. Or “chaparral bush” A shrub that can take over other plants.<br />
59. Arcaismo. “Ansina” suena como “así no”.<br />
60. <strong>Don</strong><strong>de</strong> se les da agua a los animales.<br />
61. Or literally “He had a stake in the wrinkles of his brows”
Y puso en la mano <strong>de</strong>l tata asombrado,<br />
un fino puñal con mango <strong>de</strong> concha. El<br />
indio cogió el puñal, <strong>de</strong>spachó a Tacho<br />
con un gesto y se quedó mirando la<br />
hoja puntuda, con cara <strong>de</strong> vengador.<br />
—Pues es cierto... —murmuró. Cerraba<br />
la noche.<br />
31<br />
And he put the fine dagger with a<br />
shell handle in his father’s hands. The<br />
stubborn old man 62 took the dagger,<br />
dismissed Tacho with the wave of his<br />
hand, staring at the bla<strong>de</strong> with revenge<br />
on his face.<br />
“Well, it’s true…” he grumbled. The<br />
night en<strong>de</strong>d.<br />
62. Neither “Indian” nor “indigenous person” fit to <strong>de</strong>scribe the “old man” or indio –as people call ol<strong>de</strong>r<br />
and stubborn people in El Salvador.
SeMoS MaloS<br />
Goyo Cuestas y su cipote hicieron un<br />
arresto, y se jueron para Honduras con<br />
el fonógrafo. El viejo cargaba la caja en<br />
bandolera; el muchacho, la bolsa <strong>de</strong><br />
los discos y la trompa achaflanada, que<br />
tenía la forma <strong>de</strong> una gran campánula;<br />
flor <strong>de</strong> lata monstruosa que perjumaba<br />
con música.<br />
—Dicen quen Honduras abunda la<br />
plata.<br />
—Sí, tata, y por ái no conocen el<br />
fonógrafo, dicen...<br />
—Apurá el paso, vos; en<strong>de</strong> que salimos<br />
<strong>de</strong> Metapán tres choya.<br />
—¡Ah!, es quel cincho me viene<br />
jodiendo el lomo.<br />
—Apechálo, no siás bruto.<br />
Apiaban para sestear bajo los pinos<br />
chiflantes y odoríferos. Calentaban café<br />
con ocote. En el bosque <strong>de</strong> zunzas, las<br />
taltuzas comían sentaditas, en un silencio<br />
nervioso. Iban llegando al Chamelecón<br />
salvaje. Por dos veces bían visto el rastro<br />
<strong>de</strong> la culebra carretía, angostito como<br />
fuella <strong>de</strong> pial. Al sesteyo, mientras<br />
masticaban las tortillas y el queso <strong>de</strong><br />
32<br />
We’re eVIl<br />
Goyo Cuestas and his child had enough<br />
courage to leave home with the<br />
phonograph, and set out for Honduras.<br />
The old man carried the phonograph<br />
box in its case over his shoul<strong>de</strong>r. The<br />
kid carried the bag of records and the<br />
disassembled horn shaped like a big<br />
bellflower, 63 a monstrous tin flower<br />
that perfumed the air with music.<br />
“They say there’s money in Honduras.”<br />
“Yes pa, and I’ve also heard dat <strong>de</strong>y<br />
never heard of phonographs there…”<br />
“Hurry up, son! You’ve been a slowpoke<br />
since we left Metapán.”<br />
“Well, the damn strap is diggin’ into my<br />
shoul<strong>de</strong>rs.”<br />
“Tighten it up, don’t be stupid!”<br />
They stopped to eat 64 un<strong>de</strong>r the<br />
whistling, aromatic pine trees. They<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> a fire with ocote-pine logs to<br />
warm up coffee. In the stand 65 of<br />
zunza trees, 66 gophers sat to eat, in a<br />
nervous silence. They were soon to<br />
arrive at the wild Chamelecón 67 river.<br />
They had twice seen tracks of carretía 68<br />
snakes, their paths as narrow as if<br />
63. Campánula, or bell-shape flower.<br />
64. “Sestear” literally means “to picnic;” however, in this context they were there just to “eat out of the<br />
picnic basket”.<br />
65. Group of trees.<br />
66. Monkey-apples.<br />
67 Chamelecón River near Potrerillos, Honduras.<br />
68. A very thin snake.
Santa Rosa, ponían un fostró. Tres días<br />
estuvieron andando en lodo, atascados<br />
hasta la rodilla. El chico lloraba, el tata<br />
mal<strong>de</strong>cía y se reiba sus ratos.<br />
El cura <strong>de</strong> Santa Rosa había aconsejado<br />
a Goyo no dormir en las galeras, porque<br />
las pandillas <strong>de</strong> ladrones rondaban<br />
siempre en busca <strong>de</strong> pasantes. Por<br />
eso, al crepúsculo, Goyo y su hijo se<br />
internaban en la montaña; limpiaban un<br />
puestecito al pie diún palo y pasaban allí<br />
la noche, oyendo cantar los chiquirines,<br />
oyendo zumbar los zancudos culuazul,<br />
enormes como arañas, y sin atreverse a<br />
resollar, temblando <strong>de</strong> frío y <strong>de</strong> miedo.<br />
—¡Tata: brán tamagases?...<br />
—Nóijo, yo ixaminé el tronco cuando<br />
anochecía y no tiene cuevas.<br />
—Si juma, jume bajo el sombrero, tata.<br />
Si miran la brasa, nos hallan.<br />
33<br />
it were the tracks of whip. They put on a<br />
record on the phonograph and listened<br />
to a fox trot while they ate, chewing<br />
tortillas and cheese from Santa Rosa.<br />
They had walked for three days through<br />
mud up to their knees. The young boy<br />
cried. The father cursed sometimes and<br />
laughed at other times.<br />
The priest of Santa Rosa had warned<br />
Goyo not to sleep in abandoned huts,<br />
because gangs of thieves were always<br />
around hunting for travelers. So, at<br />
nightfall Goyo and his son escaped<br />
<strong>de</strong>ep into the woods. They cleared a<br />
little spot at the foot of a tree and spent<br />
the night there trembling from cold<br />
and fear, not daring to say a word. They<br />
listened to the chiquirines 69 sing and<br />
to the buzz of the blue-tailed, big-asspi<strong>de</strong>rs<br />
mosquitoes.<br />
“Pop, will there be tamagases 70 ?”<br />
“No, son. I examined the tree trunk<br />
before dusk and it ain’t got no holes.”<br />
“If you smoke, do it un<strong>de</strong>r your<br />
sombrero, Pop. If they see the glow,<br />
they’ll find us.”<br />
69. Dwight Wayne Coop from Revue Magazine explains that “The song of one common species is<br />
onomatopoeically called chiquirín, because its series of sharp chirps climax in a sonorous, motor-like<br />
hum. Cheek-cheek-cheek-cheek-cheek-cheek-areeeeeeeeeennn. Many people find this tune to be<br />
soothing, and moviemakers record it and other cicada music to enhance their sets with creepiness and<br />
other ambiences. Over a century ago, while British entomologist W.L. Distant began cataloging Central<br />
American cicadas, he noticed that some cicadas have a repertoire of three or even four songs. Asi<strong>de</strong><br />
from the <strong>de</strong>afening mating call, there is a softer “honeymoon croon” that a male serena<strong>de</strong>s his mate with<br />
after she accepts his advances; the pair separates after an hour (more or less) of coitus. Males also emit a<br />
distress screech when snagged by predators, and some species have a “fight song” that tells other males<br />
to back off.”<br />
70. Same word in both languages but not related to the harmless U.S. namesake snake. This drea<strong>de</strong>d<br />
poisonous Central American snake is small in length (20 inches max.) with a triangular head.
—Sí, hombre, tate tranquilo. Dormite.<br />
—Es que currucado no me puedo<br />
dormir luego.<br />
—Estiráte, pué...<br />
—No puedo, tata, mucho yelo...<br />
—¡A la puerca, con vos! Cuchuyate<br />
contra yo, pué...<br />
Y Goyo Cuestas, que nunca en su vida<br />
había hecho una caricia al hijo, lo<br />
recibía contra su pestífero pecho, duro<br />
como un tapexco; y, ro<strong>de</strong>ándolo con<br />
ambos brazos, lo calentaba hasta que<br />
se le dormía encima, mientras él, con la<br />
cara añudada <strong>de</strong> resignación, esperaba<br />
el día en la punta <strong>de</strong> cualquier gallo<br />
lejano.<br />
Los primeros clareyos los hallaban<br />
allí, medio congelados, adoloridos,<br />
amodorrados <strong>de</strong> cansancio; con<br />
las feas bocas abiertas y babosas,<br />
semiarremangados en la manga rota,<br />
sucia y rayada como una cebra.<br />
Pero Honduras es honda en el<br />
Chamelecón. Honduras es honda en<br />
el silencio <strong>de</strong> su montaña bárbara<br />
y cruel; Honduras es honda en el<br />
misterio <strong>de</strong> sus terribles serpientes,<br />
jaguares, insectos, hombres...<br />
34<br />
“You got it, boy. <strong>Don</strong>’t worry. Go to<br />
sleep.”<br />
“But I can’t fall asleep all curled up.”<br />
“Stretch out, then…”<br />
“I can’t, Pop, it’s too cold…”<br />
“Good grief! Cuddle up with me<br />
then…”<br />
And Goyo Cuestas, who had never in his<br />
life embraced his son, brought him to<br />
his foul chest, hard as a tapexco71 , and,<br />
hugging him with both arms, warmed<br />
him up until finally he fell asleep on top<br />
of him. With resignation on his face, he<br />
waited for morning to be announced<br />
on the crow of any distant rooster.<br />
The first rays of the sun found them<br />
there, almost frozen, in pain, feeling<br />
drowsy with fatigue, with their ugly<br />
mouths opened and drooling, semicovered<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r the ragged, dirty blanket<br />
with stripes like a zebra<br />
But Honduras is <strong>de</strong>ep in the Chamelecón.<br />
Honduras is <strong>de</strong>ep within the silence of<br />
its barbaric, cruel mountains; Honduras<br />
is <strong>de</strong>ep within the mystery of its terrible<br />
serpents, jaguars, insects, men...<br />
71. A box-shaped object ma<strong>de</strong> out of strips of thin bamboo that serves multiple purposes, from a bed<br />
to a chestbox. It is believed that you are born on it, you sleep on it as an adult, and that you die and are<br />
buried in it.
Hasta el Chamelecón no llega su ley;<br />
hasta allí no llega su justicia. En la<br />
región se <strong>de</strong>ja —como en los tiempos<br />
primitivos— tener buen o mal corazón<br />
a los hombres y a las otras bestias; ser<br />
crueles o magnánimos, matar o salvar a<br />
libre albedrío. El <strong>de</strong>recho es claramente<br />
<strong>de</strong>l más fuerte.<br />
* * *<br />
Los cuatro bandidos entraron por la<br />
palizada y se sentaron luego en la<br />
plazoleta <strong>de</strong>l rancho, aquel rancho<br />
náufrago en el cañaveral cimarrón.<br />
Pusieron la caja en medio y probaron<br />
a conectar la bocina. La luna llena<br />
hacía saltar chingastes <strong>de</strong> plata sobre el<br />
artefacto. En la mediagua y <strong>de</strong> una viga,<br />
pendía un pedazo <strong>de</strong> venado olisco.<br />
—Te digo ques fológrafo.<br />
—¿Vos bis visto cómo lo tocan?<br />
—¡Ajú!... En los bananales los ei visto...<br />
—¡Yastuvo!...<br />
La trompa trabó. El bandolero le dio<br />
cuerda, y <strong>de</strong>spués, abriendo la bolsa<br />
<strong>de</strong> los discos, los hizo salir a la luz <strong>de</strong> la<br />
luna como otras tantas lunas negras.<br />
35<br />
Honduran law can not reach as far as the<br />
Chamelecón; justice is never seen that<br />
far. In that region, it is up to individuals,<br />
as in primitive times, to be good or badhearted<br />
towards other men and other<br />
beasts; to be cruel or magnanimous,<br />
to kill or to save according to their free<br />
will. The right is clearly on the si<strong>de</strong> of<br />
the strongest.<br />
* * *<br />
The four bandits came through the<br />
forest and quickly perched themselves<br />
down on the porch of the shack… that<br />
shipwrecked shack on a windy sugar<br />
plantation. They put the stolen box<br />
in the middle and tried to connect the<br />
bellflower-shaped horn. The full moon<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> pieces of silver jump out of the<br />
artifact. In the middle of the roof, and<br />
hanging from a beam, was a piece of<br />
stinking venison.<br />
“Ah tell ya it’s a pholograph.”<br />
“You seen how it works?”<br />
“Of course! I seen it in the banana<br />
plantations…”<br />
“We’ve got it ma<strong>de</strong>!”<br />
One of the bandits assembled the<br />
bellflower horn and cranked it up. He<br />
opened the bag of records, and pulled<br />
them out into the light of the moon<br />
creating so many other black moons.<br />
The phonograph worked.
Los bandidos rieron, como niños <strong>de</strong> un<br />
planeta extraño. Tenían los blanquiyos<br />
manchados <strong>de</strong> algo que parecía lodo,<br />
y era sangre. En la barranca cercana,<br />
Goyo y su cipote huían a pedazos en<br />
los picos <strong>de</strong> los zopes; los armadillos<br />
habíanles ampliado las heridas. En una<br />
masa <strong>de</strong> arena, sangre, ropa y silencio,<br />
las ilusiones arrastradas <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> tan<br />
lejos, quedaban abonadas tal vez para<br />
un sauce, tal vez para un pino...<br />
Rayó la aguja, y la canción se lanzó en<br />
la brisa tibia como una cosa encantada.<br />
Los cocales pararon a lo lejos sus palmas<br />
y escucharon. El lucero gran<strong>de</strong> parecía<br />
crecer y <strong>de</strong>crecer, como si colgado<br />
<strong>de</strong> un hilo lo remojaran subiéndolo y<br />
bajándolo en el agua tranquila <strong>de</strong> la<br />
noche.<br />
Cantaba un hombre <strong>de</strong> fresca voz, una<br />
canción triste, con guitarra.<br />
Tenía <strong>de</strong>jos llorones, hipos <strong>de</strong> amor<br />
y <strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong>za. Gemían los bajos <strong>de</strong><br />
la guitarra, suspirando un <strong>de</strong>seo; y,<br />
<strong>de</strong>sesperada, la prima lamentaba una<br />
injusticia.<br />
Cuando paró el fonógrafo, los cuatro<br />
asesinos se miraron. Suspiraron...<br />
36<br />
The bandits laughed, as if they were<br />
children from a strange planet. Their<br />
blanquiyos 72 were stained with<br />
something that looked like mud, but<br />
instead was blood. Goyo and his child<br />
were fleeing in pieces in the beaks of<br />
vultures in a nearby ravine. Armadillos<br />
had wi<strong>de</strong>ned their wounds. In a mass<br />
of sand, blood, clothing and silence,<br />
the dreams brought from so far away<br />
remained as nutrients… perhaps for a<br />
willow, perhaps for a pine…<br />
The phonograph needle got stuck in<br />
a groove, yet the song continued to<br />
travel through the warm breeze like<br />
something enchanted. In the distance,<br />
the coconut groves stilled their palms<br />
to listen. The bright morning star<br />
seemed to grow and shrink, as if hung<br />
by a thread, it were being dipped in and<br />
out of the calm water of the night.<br />
A man with his guitar sang a sad song<br />
with his fresh voice.<br />
He cried at times, hiccups of love and<br />
greatness. The guitar 73 bass hummed,<br />
sighing a wish; and, <strong>de</strong>sperate, the<br />
guitar lamented an injustice.<br />
When the phonograph stopped<br />
playing, the four bandits gazed at each<br />
other. They sighed…<br />
72. The white attire worn by indigenous people was called “blanquiyos.”<br />
73. Playing the guitar in the United States is not customary as in Latin America; therefore, the guitar is<br />
consi<strong>de</strong>red as being part of the family, or “a cousin” as in the original.
Uno <strong>de</strong> ellos se echó llorando en la<br />
manga. El otro se mordió los labios. El<br />
más viejo miró al suelo barrioso, don<strong>de</strong><br />
su sombra le servía <strong>de</strong> asiento, y dijo<br />
<strong>de</strong>spués <strong>de</strong> pensarlo muy duro:<br />
—Semos malos.<br />
Y lloraron los ladrones <strong>de</strong> cosas y<br />
<strong>de</strong> vidas, como niños <strong>de</strong> un planeta<br />
extraño.<br />
37<br />
One of them sobbed into his sleeve.<br />
The other bit his lips. The ol<strong>de</strong>st starred<br />
down at the clay soil, where his shadow<br />
was his seat, and after thinking <strong>de</strong>eply,<br />
he said:<br />
“We’re evil.”<br />
And the thieves cried about the things<br />
they’d done and the lives they’d taken,<br />
like children from a strange planet.
la caSa<br />
eMBruJaDa<br />
La casa vieja estaba abandonada allí,<br />
en el centro <strong>de</strong>l enmontado platanar.<br />
La breña bía ido ispiando por las<br />
claraboyas que los temblores abrieran<br />
para ispiar ellos. Tenía una mediagua<br />
embruecadiza, don<strong>de</strong> hacían novenario<br />
perpetuo los panales <strong>de</strong>votos. En los<br />
otros tres lados, ni una puerta; apenas<br />
un rellano <strong>de</strong> empedrado, ya perdido<br />
entre el zacate que lambía gozoso las<br />
pare<strong>de</strong>s lisas: aquella carne <strong>de</strong> casa,<br />
blanquiza en la escurana vegetal, con<br />
un blancor que <strong>de</strong>ja ganas <strong>de</strong> tristeza y<br />
que infun<strong>de</strong> cariño.<br />
Los mosquitos se prendían en el<br />
silencio, como en un turrón. El tejado,<br />
musgoso y renegrido, era como la<br />
arada en un cerrito tristoso. El viento<br />
había sembrado allí una que otra gotera<br />
fructífera, con ráices diagua y flores<br />
redonditas <strong>de</strong> sol, que caminaban por<br />
el suelo y las pare<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong>l interior. La<br />
casa vieja taba dijunta, en<strong>de</strong>rrepente.<br />
Según algunos vecinos, aquel abandono<br />
se <strong>de</strong>bía a que laija <strong>de</strong>l viejito Morán,<br />
que vivió allí, bía muerto tisguacal . 76<br />
38<br />
THe HauNTeD<br />
HouSe<br />
The old house had been abandoned<br />
there in the middle of the plantain<br />
grove which was now overgrown<br />
with weeds and brush. The invasive<br />
vegetation insi<strong>de</strong> the house, had been<br />
spying through the skylights that the<br />
earthquakes 74 had ren<strong>de</strong>d open in<br />
the roof. The house had a gabled roof<br />
tilted on one si<strong>de</strong>. It was here where<br />
<strong>de</strong>voted bees held a perpetual novena<br />
worshiping around their hives. The<br />
other three si<strong>de</strong>s had no doors. There<br />
was just a clearing with cobbled stone<br />
paving, now lost among the high grass<br />
that happily licked the plain walls of<br />
the house: the white flesh of the house<br />
contrasted with the dark vegetation. It<br />
was a whiteness that evokes feelings of<br />
sadness and ten<strong>de</strong>rness.<br />
The gnats grabbed onto the silence as<br />
if it were nougat candy. The roof, mossy<br />
and damp-stained, was like a recently<br />
plowed field on a gloomy hill. The wind<br />
had planted a nursing water leak in the<br />
old roof. Water-loving roots and sunworshipping<br />
flowers walked on the dirt<br />
floor and climbed up the interior walls.<br />
Sud<strong>de</strong>nly, the old house was <strong>de</strong>ad. 75<br />
According to some neighbors, this<br />
neglect happened because Tona,<br />
old Morán’s daughter who lived<br />
there, had died of tuberculosis.<br />
74. A tremor, a baby earthquake.<br />
75. Gone back to nature, ceased living. The house was strangled by the plants. It resembles Cortázar’s<br />
“House Taken Over.”<br />
76. Two possible interpretations: “a hermit crab” that takes someone else’s shell. Or tuberculosis.
El maishtro Ulalio <strong>de</strong>cía que era porque<br />
espantaban: “Sale el espíreto <strong>de</strong> la<br />
Tona”, <strong>de</strong>cía; “yo luei visto tres veces:<br />
chifla y siacurruca; chifla, y se acurruca:<br />
<strong>de</strong>spués, mece las mangas y se <strong>de</strong>ntra<br />
en el platanar”.<br />
Ño Mónico, que estaba loco <strong>de</strong> una<br />
locura mansita —porque hablaba<br />
disparates muy cuerdamente—,<br />
<strong>de</strong>cía con el aire <strong>de</strong> importancia y<br />
superioridad que lo caracterizaba:<br />
—¡Ah..., no señor..., nuai tales carneros<br />
aloyé, nuai tales!... Siesque vinieron los<br />
managuas77 , <strong>de</strong>spacito..., y cerraron<br />
las puertas cuando era al mediodía,<br />
aloyé. Dejaron a<strong>de</strong>ntro a la Noche, que<br />
bía venido a beber agua <strong>de</strong>scondidas<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sol. Allí la tienen enjaulada, aloyé,<br />
y la amarraron con una pita e matate.<br />
¿¡Cómo se va!? Sestá pudriendo<br />
diambre: ya gie<strong>de</strong>, aloyé, ¡ya gie<strong>de</strong>!<br />
Pasa ispiando por los juracos <strong>de</strong> la paré;<br />
y, cuando nuentran sapos, aguanta<br />
hambre. Den<strong>de</strong> aquí sioyen a veces<br />
los <strong>de</strong>stertores <strong>de</strong> la goma. Se va en<br />
friyo, aloyé. Un diya <strong>de</strong>stos va parecer<br />
la yelasón <strong>de</strong>rretida por las rindijas. Los<br />
managuas la vienen a bombiar todos<br />
los diyas, con ronquidos diagua, para<br />
jo<strong>de</strong>rla más ligero, aloyé...<br />
77. El espíritu <strong>de</strong> las nubes.<br />
78. Indigenous mythology: spirits of the clouds.<br />
79. A primitive form of thread ma<strong>de</strong> out of henequen fibers.<br />
39<br />
Señor Ulalio said that the house was<br />
abandoned because it was haunted:<br />
“Tona’s spirit wan<strong>de</strong>rs there,” he said. “I<br />
seen it three times: her ghost whistles<br />
and hi<strong>de</strong>s, whistles and hi<strong>de</strong>s, and<br />
rustles the leaves of the mango trees<br />
and flees into the plantain grove.”<br />
Señor Mónico, whose craziness was<br />
manifested in a common sanity, ma<strong>de</strong><br />
foolish remarks very seemingly sanely,<br />
with his characteristic air of arrogance<br />
and superiority pronounced:<br />
“No, sir! Those stories are false, you<br />
hear, they ain’t true! The managuas 78<br />
slowly appeared one day at noon and<br />
closed the doors. They left the Night<br />
insi<strong>de</strong>, who had come to get a drink<br />
of water behind the sun’s back. They<br />
have her there in a cage, you hear me.<br />
They tied her up with a matate 79 twine.<br />
How can she escape? She’s moul<strong>de</strong>ring<br />
from hunger, you hear me, she already<br />
stinks! She spends the days looking<br />
out through the cracks of the wall<br />
and when frogs don’t come in to be<br />
caught, she starves. Even from here<br />
you can hear her rasping breaths like a<br />
drunk with a hangover. She is cold, you<br />
hear. One of these days there will be a<br />
melted coldness seeping through the<br />
cracks. The managuas come to bother<br />
her everyday, making watery snores to<br />
wear her down and finish her off more<br />
quickly, you hear…
Los zopes no se paraban nunca en el<br />
tejado. A veces el gavilán le hacía un<br />
pase, con su cruz <strong>de</strong> sombra; y dicen<br />
que la casa se encogía y pujaba. Taba<br />
embrujada. De noche se oiba el juí, juí<br />
<strong>de</strong> una hamaca. Un chucho, que llegó<br />
un día a oler la casa, salió dando gritos<br />
<strong>de</strong> gente por el monte y montado en su<br />
cola.<br />
Las hojas enormes <strong>de</strong> los majonchos<br />
le hacían cosquillas a la casa con las<br />
puntas. Sus sombras, en forma <strong>de</strong><br />
cejas, se mecían en las pare<strong>de</strong>s, que<br />
parecían hacer muecas nerviosas. En un<br />
ventanuco que estaba en la culata una<br />
araña había enrejado, por si abrían...<br />
Las hormigas guerreadoras le habían<br />
puesto barba en una esquina. De<br />
cuando en cuando, una teja <strong>de</strong>sertaba<br />
en el viento. Una tar<strong>de</strong> en que Ulalio se<br />
acercó, le hablaron <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> a<strong>de</strong>ntro. Puso<br />
atención, y oyó la voz, sin enten<strong>de</strong>r las<br />
palabras: “era como que vaceyan un<br />
cántaro” <strong>de</strong>cía, “me <strong>de</strong>ntró un friyo<br />
feyo en el lomo y salí a la carrera”.<br />
Una vez pasó cerca el cura. Le pidieron<br />
consejo y él quiso ir a ver la casa <strong>de</strong>l<br />
embrujo. Se apió; y, remangándose<br />
la sotana, fue al platanar con Ulalio, la<br />
Chana y Julián.<br />
—¿Quién vivió allí?<br />
40<br />
Vultures would never dare stand on<br />
the roof. Sometimes, the sparrowhawk<br />
passed over the house leaving behind<br />
his shadow like a dark cross. People say<br />
that when that happened, the house<br />
shrank and creaked. T’was haunted.<br />
At night, one could hear the whoosh<br />
whoosh of the hanging hammock.<br />
A sniffing dog that came by one day<br />
sud<strong>de</strong>nly sped off for the woods riding<br />
his tail, howling like a human.<br />
The huge majoncho leaves tickled the<br />
house with their tips. Their shadows,<br />
shaped like eyebrows, swung on the<br />
walls as if they were making nervous<br />
faces. On a small window located in the<br />
rear, a spi<strong>de</strong>r wove her web just in case<br />
someone were to open it.<br />
Warrior ants had woven the shape of a<br />
beard on one corner. Once in a while,<br />
a roof tile would fly away carried by<br />
the wind. One afternoon when Ulalio<br />
approached the house, someone<br />
spoke to him from insi<strong>de</strong> the house. He<br />
listened and heard the voice, but did<br />
not un<strong>de</strong>rstand the words. “It was like<br />
someone was emptying a clay jug” he<br />
said. “A creepy chill crept around my<br />
shoul<strong>de</strong>rs, then I took off.”<br />
One day a priest passed by mounted<br />
on a horse. The town resi<strong>de</strong>nts asked<br />
for his advice, but instead he <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d<br />
to investigate the haunted house for<br />
himself. He dismounted, and adjusting<br />
his cassock walked towards the plantain<br />
grove with Ulalio, Chana, and Julián.<br />
“Who lived there?”
—El viejito Morán y suija que murió<br />
<strong>de</strong> lumonía. Otros dicen que taba<br />
tubreculosa.<br />
El cura llegó hasta la mediagua. Los<br />
panales empezaron a confesar su<br />
misterio. Abrió sin temor las puertas<br />
<strong>de</strong>svencijadas. El cadáver <strong>de</strong> la noche,<br />
que había quedado recostado en la<br />
puerta, se <strong>de</strong>rrumbó hacia afuera.<br />
Instintivamente, todos dieron un paso<br />
atrás. Rápida, como un rayo <strong>de</strong> carne,<br />
una culebra negra y brillante salió y se<br />
perdió en el monte. Los sapos venían<br />
saltando hacia afuera, como piedras<br />
vivas. Entre los ladrillos verdosos, las<br />
rueditas <strong>de</strong> plata <strong>de</strong> las goteras se<br />
habían hecho hongos. El aire jediondo<br />
casi se agarraba con la mano. Una<br />
botella olvidada había ido apagando<br />
su brillo <strong>de</strong> puro terror.<br />
El cura mandó a Julián por escobas y<br />
empezó a jalar los acapetates81 con una<br />
vara. Se <strong>de</strong>sgajaban, haciéndose tierra.<br />
De aquella rama sombría <strong>de</strong>l techo,<br />
los murciélagos se <strong>de</strong>sprendían, como<br />
hojas, o se volvían a colgar, como frutas<br />
pasadas.<br />
El cura estuvo toda la tar<strong>de</strong><br />
limpiando la casa. Bendijo un tarro<br />
<strong>de</strong> agua y lo regó por todas partes.<br />
Sacó un libro y susurró latines.<br />
80. Mysteries of the Catholic Church.<br />
81. Cobertura interior <strong>de</strong>l tejado.<br />
82. Fiber of sugar cane used as insulator.<br />
41<br />
“The old man Morán and his daughter<br />
who died of pneumonia. Others say she<br />
had turbeculosis.”<br />
The priest approached the porch. The<br />
bees began to confess their mysteries. 80<br />
He opened the dilapidated doors<br />
without fear. The cadaver of the Night,<br />
which had been left leaning insi<strong>de</strong> the<br />
door, collapsed towards the outsi<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Instinctively, everyone jumped back.<br />
Swift, like a ray of flesh, a black and<br />
shiny snake slithered by and then<br />
disappeared in the weeds. Frogs were<br />
leaping towards the door, as if they were<br />
live stones. Among the greenish bricks,<br />
the silver circles of the drips of rain had<br />
grown into fungus. The foul stench in<br />
the air could almost be grasped with<br />
a single hand. Out of fear, a forgotten<br />
bottle had ce<strong>de</strong>d its shine.<br />
The priest sent Julián to get some<br />
brooms, and using a stick he began to<br />
remove the straw 82 from the ceiling.<br />
They broke apart crumbling into dirt.<br />
The bats <strong>de</strong>tached from the gloomy<br />
branch that hung over the roof, as<br />
if they were autumn leaves. Others<br />
returned to the branch and clung like<br />
over-ripe fruit.<br />
The priest spent all afternoon<br />
cleaning the house. With a water<br />
vessel that he had blessed, he<br />
sprinkled everywhere. He took out<br />
his book and whispered in Latin.
Clavó una cruz <strong>de</strong> palo en un pilar<br />
y or<strong>de</strong>nó que se <strong>de</strong>jaran abiertas<br />
las puertas para que oreara, que se<br />
<strong>de</strong>senmontaran los contornos, que se<br />
cogieran las goteras, se plantaran flores<br />
en el suelo y se colgaran macetas <strong>de</strong> las<br />
vigas.<br />
Días <strong>de</strong>spués, el cura pudo ver la casa<br />
resucitada. El patio liso y barrido,<br />
las enreda<strong>de</strong>ras trepándose por las<br />
pare<strong>de</strong>s y las macetas colgadas <strong>de</strong> las<br />
vigas. Sonriente y gordo, palmeó en la<br />
espalda <strong>de</strong> Ulalio y le dijo:<br />
—¿Conque, embrujada, eh?...<br />
—¡No creya Padre, entuavía sioye un<br />
bisbiseyo!...<br />
42<br />
He nailed a woo<strong>de</strong>n cross on a pillar,<br />
and or<strong>de</strong>red that the doors be left open<br />
so that the air would come in, and that<br />
the moldings be removed, the leaks<br />
be fixed, and flowers be planted in the<br />
flowerpots that hung from the beams.<br />
Days later, the priest was finally able to<br />
see the house resurrected. The patio<br />
cleared and swept, the ivy climbing on<br />
the walls, and flowerpots hanging from<br />
the beams. The smiling and chubby<br />
priest gave Ulalio a pat on the back as<br />
he said:<br />
“I thought you said it was haunted...”<br />
“Just you wait, Father. I can still hear<br />
bumps in the night...”
De PeSca<br />
Eran allá como las tres <strong>de</strong> la madrugada.<br />
La luna, <strong>de</strong> llena, lambía las sombras<br />
prietas en los montarrascales y en<br />
los manglares dormilones. El estero,<br />
lagunoso en su calma, era como un<br />
pedazo <strong>de</strong> espejo <strong>de</strong>l día; <strong>de</strong>l día ya<br />
roto. La playa lechosa, <strong>de</strong> cascajo<br />
crema, se <strong>de</strong>jaba espulgar por las<br />
suaves ondas espumíferas, que la<br />
brisa <strong>de</strong>vanaba sin prisa. La isla, al otro<br />
lado <strong>de</strong>l agua, se alargaba como una<br />
nube negra que flotara en aquel cielo<br />
diáfano, mitad cielo, mitad estero. Las<br />
estrellas pintaban en ambos cielos. El<br />
mar, a lo lejos, roncaba adormilado<br />
por la frescura <strong>de</strong>l aire y la claridad <strong>de</strong>l<br />
mundo. Un cordón <strong>de</strong> aves blancas<br />
pasó, silencioso y ondulante como una<br />
culebra <strong>de</strong> luna.<br />
De la mediagua oscura, salió a la playa<br />
un indio. Llevaba <strong>de</strong>snudo el torso,<br />
los calzones arremangados sobre<br />
las rodillas; se <strong>de</strong>sperezaba, como<br />
queriendo echar al suelo el fardo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
sueño. La arena, al ser hollada por lo<br />
anchos pies <strong>de</strong>scalzos, mascaba el<br />
silencio. Miró las estrellas con los ojos<br />
fruncidos. Se espantó los mosquitos,<br />
miró el agua platera y regresó al<br />
rancho.<br />
—Son ya mero las tres, vos... ¿Nos<br />
vamos?<br />
83. Covered with water<br />
84. As in the biblical sense. See Matthew 5:13.<br />
43<br />
GoNe fISHING<br />
It was about three in the morning. The<br />
full moon licked the dark shaddows in<br />
the dry thorny bushes and in the trees<br />
in the sleepy mangrove swamp. The<br />
marsh, like a calm lagoon, reflected<br />
the broken day like a piece of mirror.<br />
The milky beach, with creamy pebbles,<br />
was being groomed83 by the smooth<br />
foamy waves blown by the gentle<br />
breeze. The island, on the other si<strong>de</strong> of<br />
the water, elongated like a black cloud<br />
that floated in that clear sky; half sky,<br />
half marsh. The stars were painted on<br />
both skies. In the distance, the dozing<br />
sea was snoring lulled by the freshness<br />
of the air and the clarity of the world. A<br />
chain of white birds swooped by, silent<br />
and undulating like a moon snake.<br />
Leaving his dark porch, a peasant went<br />
out to the beach, shirtless and with his<br />
trousers rolled up. He was stretching,<br />
as if wanting to shed his bundle of<br />
sleepiness on the ground. The peasant’s<br />
wi<strong>de</strong> barefoot feet scrunched84 through<br />
the sand and chewed up the silence. He<br />
squinted to gaze at the stars. Swatting<br />
the gnats away, he peered at the<br />
shimmering water and returned home.<br />
“It’s almost three, man... wanna go?”
Una especie <strong>de</strong> aullido <strong>de</strong> pereza le<br />
contestó. Luego, la voz atecomatada<br />
<strong>de</strong>l compañero respondió:<br />
—Ai veya, mano...<br />
—Amonóos...<br />
Los indios, hurgando en la sombra <strong>de</strong>l<br />
caedizo, escogieron los utensilios y<br />
fueron trasladándose al bote. El bote<br />
dormía, encallado, mitad en el agua,<br />
mitad en la arena. Un chucho prieto<br />
iba y venía husmeando el viaje. Por<br />
efecto <strong>de</strong>l silencio <strong>de</strong>l agua, <strong>de</strong> la luz,<br />
<strong>de</strong>l cielo bajero, el mundo todo parecía<br />
palpitar, cabecear como un barco en<br />
marcha. Los pocuyos, <strong>de</strong>spenicados85 en la inmensidad, arrullaban la cuna<br />
<strong>de</strong> la noche con su triste «oíeo, oíeo,<br />
oíeo», que sonaba intermitente, como<br />
la paletada blanda <strong>de</strong>l remo que va, va,<br />
va... sin prisa y sin ruido.<br />
—Ya va ser parada diagua, vos.<br />
—Ya paró, mano.<br />
—¡Aligere, pué!...<br />
Despegaron el bote a empujones<br />
y pujidos. El bote coleó, libre,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scantillándose tantito y revolviendo<br />
la plata <strong>de</strong> la luna en <strong>de</strong>sparpajos.<br />
85. Dispersar.<br />
86. Pocuyos or “Whippoorwill” are nocturnal birds.<br />
87. Spanish “oíeo, oíeo, oíeo”<br />
44<br />
A sort of sleepy howl answered him.<br />
Then, his partner’s barely intelligible<br />
voice answered:<br />
“Up to you, man.”<br />
“Let’s go, then.”<br />
Poking around in the shadows of the<br />
porch, the peasants picked up their<br />
fishing gear and hea<strong>de</strong>d towards<br />
the rowboat. The boat was sleeping<br />
anchored half in the water, half in the<br />
sand. A black dog was pacing back<br />
and forth, sensing the upcoming trip.<br />
Because of the effect of the silence of<br />
the water, of the light, of the low sky,<br />
the whole world seemed to throb,<br />
to nod off like a boat on its course.<br />
Pocuyos, 86 dispersed in the vastness,<br />
lulling asleep the cradle of the night<br />
with their sorrowful lullaby 87 which<br />
soun<strong>de</strong>d just like the soft rowing of the<br />
paddle that goes, and goes and goes...<br />
without hurry and without noise.<br />
“The waves have calmed down, man.”<br />
“Yes, they stopped.”<br />
“Let’s go, then!”<br />
Pushing and moaning they shoved<br />
the boat. It rocked free, tilting a<br />
little, fragmenting the reflection of<br />
the moon mirrored in the water.
Hundidos hasta las piernas, aún<br />
empujaron. Luego se metieron <strong>de</strong>ntro<br />
y se <strong>de</strong>jaron llevar por el tranquil <strong>de</strong>l<br />
agua parada. Era el cambio <strong>de</strong> marea;<br />
las corrientes que entraban al estero,<br />
fatigadas <strong>de</strong> ir buscando mundo,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scansaban un momento, antes<br />
<strong>de</strong> regresar al mar abierto. Entonces<br />
el peje 88 abismado venía arriba,<br />
flor<strong>de</strong>aguando, y buscaba la calma <strong>de</strong><br />
las ramazones y <strong>de</strong> los bancos. Ligeros<br />
colazos <strong>de</strong> zafiro indicaban ya el punto<br />
<strong>de</strong>l agua. Las sombras rojizas <strong>de</strong> los<br />
parvos pasaban, esquivando el peligro,<br />
avisados por el lánguido paleteo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
canalete.<br />
En fraterno silencio los indios cruzaban<br />
el agua como si volaran entre dos<br />
cielos. En la proa, ávida <strong>de</strong> espacio, el<br />
uno empujaba con la pértiga negra y<br />
larga que subía y bajaba rítmicamente,<br />
sincronizando con el manosear <strong>de</strong>l<br />
canalete, que el otro indio manejaba<br />
en la popa, acurrucado y friolento. En<br />
el centro <strong>de</strong>l bote el chucho, sentado,<br />
miraba tímidamente los cacharros <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cebo.<br />
—¡Qué friyo, vos!...<br />
—¡Ajú!...<br />
—¿Vamos al ramazal <strong>de</strong> la bocana?<br />
—Como quiera, mano.<br />
45<br />
Wading into the water, they continued<br />
to push. Then, they climbed in the boat<br />
and let the tranquil, still waters carry<br />
them away. Looking for a place to go,<br />
the fatigued currents, created by the<br />
change of ti<strong>de</strong>s, entered the marsh.<br />
They rested a little, before rejoining the<br />
open sea. A <strong>de</strong>ep-water fish was coming<br />
from a distance, navigating through the<br />
water lillies, looking for the calm waters<br />
at the banks un<strong>de</strong>r the branches of the<br />
mangrove trees. Spinning sapphire<br />
whorls indicated that the time to fish<br />
had come. The reddish shadows of<br />
the barvo fish passed by dodging the<br />
danger, warned by the languid stir of<br />
the short paddle.<br />
In fraternal silence, the peasants<br />
crossed the water as if they were flying<br />
between two skies. From the spacious<br />
bow, one pushed with a long black<br />
pole that rhythmically went up and<br />
down, synchronized with the pull of the<br />
paddle, that the other peasant, cold,<br />
and all curled up in the stern handled.<br />
The dog was sitting in the middle of the<br />
boat furtively eying the pieces of bait.<br />
“It’s cold, man.”<br />
“Yup.”<br />
“Should we head towards the branches<br />
by the estuary?”<br />
“It’s up to you, pal.”<br />
88. Peje: Pez. En <strong>Don</strong> Quijote, Tomo II, Capítulo XVIII se usa “peje Nicolás” como una figura mítica. (155).<br />
Observar: lat. piscis, it. pesce, port. peixe, gal. pèije hasta llegar a “peje” y a “pez”.
Los ramazales emergían <strong>de</strong>l agua<br />
purísima como inmensas arañas negras.<br />
Dos, tres, cuatro..., quedaban atrás.<br />
Al pasar rondando un tronco, el raizal<br />
projundo barzonió el bote, afligiéndolo.<br />
Con hábil punteo, salieron <strong>de</strong>l paso.<br />
—¡No se arrime mucho, mano!<br />
Torcieron hacia el sur; a poca distancia<br />
<strong>de</strong>l ramazal echaron el fondo y<br />
quedaron inmóviles. Poco tiempo<br />
<strong>de</strong>spués arrojaban los anzuelos. Con<br />
rápido a<strong>de</strong>mán los lanzaban al aire.<br />
La pita hacía una larga parábola, y el<br />
plomo se hundía allá, con un ligero<br />
“chukuz”. Luego el cor<strong>de</strong>l se quedaba<br />
ondulando encima y poco a poco se<br />
abismaba. Quedaban a la expectativa.<br />
Habían encendido los puros y jumaban,<br />
acurrucados.<br />
—¿Pican, mano?<br />
—No quieren picar.<br />
—Ya me punteyan, vos.<br />
—¿Eh...?<br />
—Es bagre, <strong>de</strong> juro. Estos chingados<br />
sian <strong>de</strong> ber llevado la chimbera.<br />
La chimbera era el cebo. El indio sacó<br />
el anzuelo, <strong>de</strong> jalón en jalón. Por fin<br />
sobreaguó el plomo negruzco. Se<br />
habían llevado el bocado.<br />
46<br />
The branches were emerging from the<br />
clear water like immense black spi<strong>de</strong>rs.<br />
Two, three, four... were left behind.<br />
When the boat passed around a trunk,<br />
the <strong>de</strong>ep mangrove roots bumped the<br />
boat, frightening it. Skillfully they were<br />
able handle the situation.<br />
“Man, don’t get too close to them<br />
roots!”<br />
They turned south. They anchored<br />
their boat a short distance away from<br />
the knots of the roots and remained<br />
motionless. They cast their fishhooks<br />
rapidly into the air. The fishing line<br />
arched into a long parabola, and the<br />
lead sinkers hit the surface with a quick<br />
choo-kuz. Then the line ondulated and<br />
plunged little by little. All curled up they<br />
waited. Having lit cigars, they smoked.<br />
“Is <strong>de</strong>y bitin’, man?”<br />
“Dey ain’t wanna.”<br />
“Hey, I got somethin’.”<br />
“What?”<br />
“I swear it’s a catfish. That stupid fish<br />
took the mackerel for sure.”<br />
What he called mackerel was nothing<br />
more than fake bait. The peasant took<br />
out the hook, pulling now and again.<br />
He finally saw the blackish lead. The<br />
fish had taken the bait.
— ¿Lo vido? Son esos babosos bagres,<br />
vos.<br />
—Si quiere nos hacemos al lado <strong>de</strong> la<br />
isla.<br />
Iba a sacar su cor<strong>de</strong>l, cuando un fuerte<br />
tirón, que la<strong>de</strong>ó el bote, les advirtió <strong>de</strong><br />
una presa mayor.<br />
—¡Jale, mano; <strong>de</strong>be ser «mero»!<br />
El indio tiró con todas sus fuerzas.<br />
—¡Ya mero revienta este jodido!<br />
Llegó el otro a ayudarle. Tiraron<br />
penosamente. El bote cimbraba,<br />
voltión. En la cola <strong>de</strong> un espumarajo<br />
surgió <strong>de</strong> pronto una sombra enorme,<br />
que arrollaba la linfa con ímpetus <strong>de</strong><br />
marejada. La luz nerviosa le mordía en<br />
redor.<br />
—¡A la ronca, mano, es tiburón!<br />
—¡Y <strong>de</strong>l fiero, vos!<br />
—¿Lo encaramamos?<br />
—¡Déjelo dir, chero, nos pue<strong>de</strong> jo<strong>de</strong>r al<br />
chucho!<br />
—¿Guá per<strong>de</strong>r mi anzuelo?...<br />
—¿Qué siarremedia?<br />
47<br />
“You seen that? It’s the stupid catfish.<br />
“Let’s go to the other si<strong>de</strong> of the<br />
island.”<br />
He was about to pull in his line out of<br />
the water when a strong tug on one<br />
si<strong>de</strong> of the boat, warning them of a<br />
bigger prey.<br />
“Pull, pal, this must be the one!”<br />
The peasant pulled with all his might.<br />
“We’ve almost got the sucker!”<br />
Then the other peasant quickly came<br />
to his rescue, but all of their effort was<br />
in vain. The boat surren<strong>de</strong>red, and spun<br />
around. Sud<strong>de</strong>nly, in the middle of the<br />
foam, an enormous shadow sprung<br />
forth creating a <strong>de</strong>structive wave that<br />
washed away the water lillies. The<br />
nervous light seemed to be biting at<br />
them.<br />
“Holy shit, man... it’s a shark!”<br />
“Shit, the nasty kind!”<br />
“Wanna try to bring it in?”<br />
“No, let it go, man. He might fuck up<br />
the dog!”<br />
“Am ah gunna lose my hook?”<br />
“What else? There is no other way.”
Un coletazo formidable hizo crujir el<br />
bote. El chucho buscaba fijo, abriendo<br />
las cuatro patas y hundiendo la cola.<br />
Soltaron. Se apercoyaron a las bordas<br />
y trataron <strong>de</strong> nivelar. Un segundo<br />
coletazo la<strong>de</strong>ó el bote. Dos sombras<br />
eseantes atacaban con furia.<br />
— ¡Levante el fondo ligero!<br />
—¡Aguár<strong>de</strong>se!<br />
Un tercer coletazo echó <strong>de</strong> bruces al<br />
indio que tiraba <strong>de</strong>l fondo. La caída<br />
hizo volcarse al bote; hubo un griterío<br />
salvaje; las colas golpeaban en la<br />
cáscara <strong>de</strong>l bote como en un tambor.<br />
Gran<strong>de</strong>s rosas <strong>de</strong> espuma se fugaban<br />
en círculos, empurpurando la plata<br />
mansa. Después, todo quedó quieto.<br />
* * *<br />
Agrupados en la orilla, los moradores<br />
<strong>de</strong>l valle escrutaban la noche. Los<br />
gritos habían levantado a las gentes. La<br />
ña Gerónima, gorda y grasienta, con su<br />
<strong>de</strong>lantal <strong>de</strong> cuadros azules, comentaba<br />
temblorosa.<br />
—¡Avemariapurísima!...<br />
Los viejos <strong>de</strong> quijada <strong>de</strong> plomo<br />
cabeceaban, como diciendo:<br />
—Pa que veyan...<br />
48<br />
A formidable sway of the shark’s tail<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> the boat creak. The mutt was<br />
tried to keep its balance by speading<br />
its four legs and tucking his tail. They<br />
were finally able to unhook the shark.<br />
Grasping onto the gunwales they<br />
tried to level the boat. A second slap<br />
si<strong>de</strong>-swipped the boat. Two s-shaped<br />
shadows furiously attacked them.<br />
“Pull up the anchor, now!”<br />
“Hold on!”<br />
A third assault threw out the man who<br />
was attempting to pull up the anchor<br />
overboard. His fall caused the boat to<br />
flip over. A savage screaming could be<br />
heard as sharks’ tails continued to hit<br />
on the si<strong>de</strong>s of the boat like a drum. Big<br />
roses of foam escaped in concentric<br />
circles, coloring purple the formerly<br />
tranquil silver light. Then, all was quiet.<br />
* * *<br />
Grouped on the beach, the people of<br />
the village scrutinized the night. The<br />
shouting had awakened them. Señora<br />
Gerónima, chubby and greasy, her<br />
apron with blue squares, spoke in a<br />
shaky voice.<br />
“Holy Mother of God!”<br />
The el<strong>de</strong>rs with chins of lead nod<strong>de</strong>d as<br />
if they were saying:<br />
“We told them so...”
Los cipotes abrían sus bocas y se<br />
acurrucaban, para <strong>de</strong>scansar las<br />
barrigas enormes.<br />
— Esos han sido los Garciya.<br />
—O los Munto.<br />
—Hilario y Cosme, quizá...<br />
—A saber si jue Mincho <strong>de</strong> la señá<br />
Fabiana.<br />
—Sí, pué...<br />
El día venía abriendo rápido, con<br />
ambas manos, los azules <strong>de</strong>l Azul. La<br />
luna, marchita ya, se arrinconaba en<br />
la montaña. Las ondas <strong>de</strong> la vaciante<br />
tráiban orito en la punta. El manglar se<br />
había separado <strong>de</strong>l paisaje, tomando<br />
su cuerpo. La isla ver<strong>de</strong>gueaba, y la<br />
fragancia <strong>de</strong> la mañana venía mera<br />
cargada.<br />
De pronto, se vio una estela que<br />
flechaba hacia la orilla. Todos quedaron<br />
en suspenso. Un perro negro llegaba<br />
ja<strong>de</strong>ante, aclarando el misterio <strong>de</strong> la<br />
tragedia. Salió <strong>de</strong> un último pechazo<br />
a la orilla; meneó el rabo; se sacudió<br />
bruscamente la gloria <strong>de</strong>l sol, y no dijo<br />
nada.<br />
49<br />
The kids, their mouths agape, curled up<br />
to rest their protruding bellies.<br />
“It must be the Garcías”<br />
“Or the Muntos”<br />
“Hilario and Cosme, perhaps.”<br />
“Who knows. It might be Fabiana’s<br />
Mincho.”<br />
“It mighta been...”<br />
The day was opening fast, with both<br />
hands open revealing the blues of<br />
the Blue. The moon, already withered,<br />
was hiding behind the mountain. The<br />
waves of the emptying sea were edged<br />
with gold. The mangrove swamp had<br />
separated from the landscape, taking<br />
its body. The island grew green, and the<br />
fragance of the morning was becoming<br />
charged.<br />
Sud<strong>de</strong>nly on the water, a wake that<br />
pointed towards the beach was seen.<br />
Everyone was in suspense. A panting<br />
black dog arrived, clearing up the<br />
mystery of the recent tragedy. He<br />
jumped out of the sea, wagged his tail,<br />
abruptly shook off in the glory of the<br />
sun, and he did not say a word.
BaJo la luNa<br />
La laguneta se iba durmiendo en la<br />
anochecida caliente. Ro<strong>de</strong>ada <strong>de</strong><br />
bosques negros iba perdiendo sus<br />
sonrojos <strong>de</strong> mango sazón y se ponía<br />
color <strong>de</strong> campanilla, color <strong>de</strong> ojo <strong>de</strong><br />
ciego. El camalote anegado en los<br />
aguazales le hacía pestaña. El cielo<br />
brumeaba como quemazón <strong>de</strong> potrero,<br />
don<strong>de</strong> eran brasas los últimos apagos<br />
<strong>de</strong>l poniente. Abajo había, en balsa<br />
<strong>de</strong> ramalada, dos garzas blancas; la<br />
una, mirando atenta la gusanera <strong>de</strong>l<br />
viento en el vidrio ver<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> las ondas;<br />
la otra, mirando como asustada el cielo<br />
en don<strong>de</strong> apuntaba una estrella con<br />
inquietu<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong> escama cobar<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Güelía a mumuja <strong>de</strong> palo podrido, a<br />
zompopera91 , a chira <strong>de</strong> mateplátano,<br />
a talepate92 y a julunera93 triste. Había<br />
ahogados en todas las oriyas, ahogados<br />
hamaqueantes, sobreagüeros, <strong>de</strong><br />
troncón y <strong>de</strong> basura. En las pesca<strong>de</strong>ras,<br />
las varas ensambladas<br />
estaban prietas sobre el claror, y se<br />
reflejaban culebriando guindoabajo.<br />
Pringaba94 jenjén y zancudo.<br />
50<br />
uNDer THe MooN<br />
The lagoon was falling asleep in<br />
the warm evening. Surroun<strong>de</strong>d by<br />
black forests, it was losing its mangocolored<br />
hues, and it turned the color<br />
of a bellflower, the color of a blind<br />
man’s eyes. The water flowers 89 that<br />
innundated in the marsh were flirting<br />
with the lagoon. The hazy sky was<br />
like the burning in a pasture ground; 90<br />
the last blushes of the west were like<br />
glowing embers. Further down, two<br />
white herons stood on a raft ma<strong>de</strong> out<br />
of branches. One, attentively staring at<br />
the wind-created worm-like ripples on<br />
the green glass surface; the other, as if<br />
it were scared, looked at the sky where<br />
there was a star that shone with an<br />
inquietu<strong>de</strong> of a coward scale.<br />
The air smelled like rotten bark, like an<br />
anthill, like the flower of a plantain tree,<br />
like a bedbug, and like a sad lurking<br />
place. There were drowned objects<br />
everywhere on the beach; things on<br />
hammocks, floating things, logs and<br />
garbage. On the fishing <strong>de</strong>cks, the poles<br />
were backlit in the light of the sky. They<br />
were reflected like a snake slithering<br />
away. It was drizzling mosquitoes and<br />
gnats. 95<br />
89. Water hyacinth<br />
90. Sugar cane or corn fields are set on fire after the harvest: stuff that is not nee<strong>de</strong>d gets burnt.<br />
91. Hormiguera <strong>de</strong> zompopos. RAE: zompopo. (Del maya zonm, hormiga, y popo, gran<strong>de</strong>). 1. m. Am.<br />
Cen. Nombre genérico <strong>de</strong> varias especies <strong>de</strong> hormiga <strong>de</strong> color café o rojizo, que tienen dos nódulos o<br />
ensanchamientos y tres o cuatro pares <strong>de</strong> espinas en el dorso <strong>de</strong>l tórax. Solamente la reina y los zánganos<br />
tienen alas. Viven en el suelo en colonias <strong>de</strong> miles y hasta millones <strong>de</strong> individuos, en hormigueros con<br />
varias entradas en forma <strong>de</strong> volcán y un laberinto <strong>de</strong> túneles que llegan hasta las cámaras. Se alimentan<br />
<strong>de</strong>l follaje <strong>de</strong> varias plantas.<br />
92. Pipil para el fétido animal “chinche”. Salarrué: Talepate: Chinche, insecto hemíptero, nocturno y<br />
fétido.<br />
93. Juronera: huronera. Eng. “ferret hole.”<br />
94. Lloviznar.<br />
95. Small insects known as midges.
A lootra oriya se oiba patente el butute 96<br />
<strong>de</strong>l guauce, llamando a la pareja para<br />
beber sombra. En el escobillal oscuro<br />
<strong>de</strong> la noche, el cielo y el agua quedaban<br />
trabados, como guindajos arrancados a<br />
una sombrilla <strong>de</strong> seda <strong>de</strong>steñida. El día<br />
se alejaba, lento y cabecero, echando<br />
polvo con las patas como los toros<br />
cimarrones.<br />
Llegada la noche, un tufo a tigre sopló<br />
los matorrales, la laguneta sonaba como<br />
una cuerda diagua a cada respiro, y <strong>de</strong><br />
cuando en cuando se oían los chukuces<br />
<strong>de</strong> las mojarras asustadas.<br />
La ranchería <strong>de</strong>l vallecito estaba en una<br />
ensenada oscurecida <strong>de</strong> tamarindos y<br />
voladores. Había ranchos hojarasquines,<br />
y ranchos palma barren<strong>de</strong>ra, coludos<br />
como pajuiles 97 , y ranchos empalizados<br />
a través <strong>de</strong> cuyas pare<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong> esqueleto,<br />
la luz candilera —esa tristura <strong>de</strong><br />
querencia nocturna— se filtraba a los<br />
patios <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> <strong>de</strong>snudo, alargándose<br />
en caprichosas luminarias.<br />
Los chuchos empezaban a ladrar<br />
con persistencia; con su quejumbre<br />
peculiar, los tuncos revolvían las sobras<br />
<strong>de</strong> huate que bueyes forasteros habían<br />
<strong>de</strong>jado al pie <strong>de</strong> los morros, <strong>de</strong> troncos<br />
limados por las cornamentas 101 .<br />
51<br />
On the other end of the lagoon, the<br />
singing of the Collared Forest-falcon<br />
calling his mate to join him in the<br />
twitlight was heard. In the dark bosom<br />
of the night, the sky and the water<br />
were stuck together, like fringes taken<br />
from a fa<strong>de</strong>d silk umbrella. The day was<br />
retreating, slowly and nodding, like a<br />
cimarron bull pawing the ground.<br />
When the night came, a stench of tiger<br />
was wafting through the thicket. The<br />
lagoon soun<strong>de</strong>d like a trickle of water<br />
at every breath, and once in a while,<br />
the frightened mojarra 98 reaching the<br />
surface were heard.<br />
The shacks of the valley were nestled<br />
in a ravine darkened by tamarind and<br />
laurel 99 trees. There were shacks ma<strong>de</strong><br />
out of leaves, shacks ma<strong>de</strong> out of palm<br />
trees, with long tails like the great<br />
curassow, and shacks built with long<br />
sticks. The light from the lantern, 100<br />
that sad nocturnal haunt was filtered<br />
towards the naked clay patios, and<br />
through its skeletal walls, prolonging<br />
the capricious lights.<br />
The mutts began to bark persistently,<br />
with their peculiar complaint. The<br />
pigs were stirring the leftover fod<strong>de</strong>r<br />
that the oxen had left at the foot of<br />
the calabash trees, 102 their trunks filed<br />
down by the rubbing of the horns.<br />
96. Canto.<br />
97. Pájaro triste y lento.<br />
98. A common sea-fish, like tilapia.<br />
99. Volador in Spanish, a kind of laurel.<br />
100. Used with kerosene in the country.<br />
101. RAE: cornamenta. 1. f. Conjunto <strong>de</strong> los cuernos <strong>de</strong> algunos cuadrúpedos, como el toro, la vaca, el<br />
venado y otros, especialmente cuando son <strong>de</strong> gran tamaño. U. t. en sent. fig.<br />
102. Morros: Crescentia alata, a small mythological tree mentioned in the Popol-Vuh with hard shell,<br />
roun<strong>de</strong>d cannonball-like fruits that come out of the trunk.
Una guitarra escondida roía el sueño<br />
<strong>de</strong> la noche. Venía saliendo la luna<br />
con una fogarada platera que daba<br />
gusto. La luz chele y tristona se tendía<br />
en los playones bocabajo, alagartada<br />
entre los troncos torcidos, chafando<br />
las trompas <strong>de</strong> los cayucos varados en<br />
seco. Los jocotes botaban sus frutas<br />
<strong>de</strong> rato en rato, en el blando estiércol<br />
espolvoreado. Iban los primeros<br />
temblores <strong>de</strong> luz, estremeciendo a lo<br />
ancho el agua friolenta.<br />
* * *<br />
Con un trágico sonar <strong>de</strong> cartucheras<br />
y caitazos, el rancho <strong>de</strong> Miguel se vio<br />
rodiado por la escolta guarera. Sobre<br />
la puerta, <strong>de</strong> cuyas rendijas manaba<br />
resplandor <strong>de</strong> alma, el cabo Remigio<br />
López dio tres fierrazos con la cruz <strong>de</strong><br />
su daga. De <strong>de</strong>ntro nai<strong>de</strong> respondió<br />
y la luz se apagó, <strong>de</strong>jando más en<br />
luna la entrada. A una seña <strong>de</strong>l cabo,<br />
los chicheros empezaron a culatiar<br />
la puerta, hasta que <strong>de</strong> golpe se jue<br />
en blanco. La ventana trasera estaba<br />
cuidada por tres hombres y cuando se<br />
abrió fue como la boca <strong>de</strong> una trampa.<br />
Hubo una refriega que atrajo algunos<br />
curiosos; y pronto los cuatro sacadores<br />
cogidos, salían <strong>de</strong>l caserío con las ollas<br />
y los telengues al hombro.<br />
103. Jocote: Spondias purpurea. Spanish plum.<br />
104. In this case: the sound of the boots.<br />
105. Guaro ma<strong>de</strong> out of sugar cane; Chicha ma<strong>de</strong> out of fermented fruits.<br />
52<br />
A hid<strong>de</strong>n guitar gnawed at the night’s<br />
sleep. The moon was coming out with a<br />
silver bonfire that was a pleasure to the<br />
eye. Its light, white and sad, was laid<br />
out face down on the beach, hiding like<br />
an alligator among the crooked trunks,<br />
and seemed to flatten out the small<br />
fishing boats in dry dock. Every once<br />
in a while the jocote 103 trees dropped<br />
their fruit, over the soft dusty dung.<br />
The first tremors of light were shivering<br />
throughout the chilly waters.<br />
* * *<br />
With a tragic sound of rifles being<br />
loa<strong>de</strong>d and the trotting of caites 104 ,<br />
Miguel’s shack was surroun<strong>de</strong>d by the<br />
Moonshine 105 police force. The cracks<br />
around the door of the house radiated<br />
a splendor of its soul. Corporal Remigio<br />
López knocked three times with the<br />
cross-like hilt of his dagger. Nobody<br />
answered from the insi<strong>de</strong>, and the light<br />
went out, only the light of the moon<br />
shone on the door. At the the corporal’s<br />
signal, the squad, using the butts of<br />
their rifles, bashed in the door. Three<br />
men were or<strong>de</strong>red to guard the back<br />
window, and when it opened it was<br />
like the mouth of a trap. The skirmish<br />
attracted some gawkers. Soon, the four<br />
moonshiners were caught. They left the<br />
hamlet carrying all of their equipment<br />
on their shoul<strong>de</strong>rs.
El camino estaba como el día, y la arenita<br />
fresca acariciaba los pies. Iban los ocho<br />
<strong>de</strong> la escolta distrayéndose con los<br />
luceros; y el cabo, montado, jumando<br />
su puro, se agachaba dormilón. Sólo los<br />
presos conversaban. El cabo les oiba,<br />
perdonero.<br />
Llegado que hubieron a las ruinas <strong>de</strong>l<br />
obraje, hubo un <strong>de</strong>scanso. El cabo<br />
López se acercó amigable a Miguel y le<br />
dijo:<br />
—Esa ña Pabla Portillo <strong>de</strong> que hablaba<br />
usté, joven, ¿ón<strong>de</strong> vive?<br />
—En Las Isletas. Es mi mama...<br />
—¿Tiene hermanas su mama?<br />
—La ña Dolores Portillo, <strong>de</strong> San Juan.<br />
—Es la mía...<br />
—Entonce, usté es Remigio López, el<br />
marido <strong>de</strong> la Felicia.<br />
—El mesmo.<br />
—¡Ah, ya jodimos!...<br />
—Me vuá quedar con vos atrás, y te<br />
golvés...<br />
Miguel sonrió apenado y se miró las<br />
manos.<br />
106. Town in La Paz, Central El Salvador.<br />
53<br />
The road was bright as day, and the<br />
fresh sand caressed their feet. All eight<br />
members of the squad were distracted<br />
by the moon. The corporal on his horse,<br />
smoking his cigar, almost nod<strong>de</strong>d<br />
off. Only the prisoners chatted. The<br />
corporal listened as if he were hearing<br />
confessions.<br />
When they arrived at the place called<br />
Ruins of “el obraje,” they took a break.<br />
Corporal López approached Miguel in<br />
a friendly manner and said:<br />
“Young man, I heard you speak about<br />
Señora Pabla Portillo, where does she<br />
live?”<br />
“In Las Isletas 106 . It’s my ma.”<br />
“Does your ma have any sisters?”<br />
“Señora Dolores Portillo, from San<br />
Juan.”<br />
“She’s my woman.”<br />
“Then you must be Remigio López,<br />
Felicia’s man.”<br />
“Exactly.”<br />
“Who woulda thought!”<br />
“Let everyone go ahead. I’ll stay back<br />
here with you then you can go back<br />
home.”<br />
Miguel smiled, embarrassed, and<br />
looked at his hands.
—Veya, primo, si me va a soltar sólo a<br />
yo, mejor alléveme.<br />
El cabo vaciló, honorífico.<br />
—Es que el <strong>de</strong>ber, hermano... la vaina...<br />
Como Miguel le miraba fijo y callando,<br />
el cabo López se alejó lento a la sombra<br />
oscura <strong>de</strong> una fila <strong>de</strong> isotes y llamó a<br />
los soldados, que le fueron ro<strong>de</strong>ando<br />
curiosos. Al mismo tiempo Miguel se<br />
unió a los presos y les arrimó al puro <strong>de</strong><br />
la resignación, la brasa <strong>de</strong> la esperanza.<br />
Después <strong>de</strong> un buen rato <strong>de</strong> espera,<br />
los sacadores vieron llegar al cabo que<br />
se arrimaba caviloso. Se paró enfrente,<br />
con los brazos cruzados encima <strong>de</strong> la<br />
daga. Los miró uno a uno como juido.<br />
Nai<strong>de</strong> habló palabra. Lejano se oiba el<br />
río, siempre <strong>de</strong>spierto. Como en trance<br />
sin remedio, el cabo dijo por fin:<br />
—¡Desgránense, <strong>de</strong>sgraciados; no seya<br />
que me arripienta!...<br />
Semejando cercenadas cabezas <strong>de</strong><br />
gigantes, las ollas se quedaron solitas<br />
junto al cerco <strong>de</strong> púas, como diciendo:<br />
“¡Achís, ¿qué pasaría?!...”<br />
54<br />
“Look, my friend, if it’s just me that<br />
you’re letting go, I’d rather stay with my<br />
compadres.”<br />
The corporal hesitated, horrified.<br />
“It’s my duty, brother... my job.”<br />
Since Miguel fixed his eyes on him and<br />
remain<strong>de</strong>d silent, Corporal López slowly<br />
moved away towards the dark shadow<br />
of izotes 107 palms and beckoned his<br />
men who curiously surroun<strong>de</strong>d him.<br />
At the same time, Miguel joined the<br />
other prisoners. He brought with him<br />
the cigar of resignation and the embers<br />
of hope.<br />
After waiting a good while, the<br />
moonshiners saw the corporal coming<br />
towards them with a thoughtful face.<br />
He stepped in front of them, with his<br />
arms crossed above his dagger. No one<br />
said a word. In the distance the river<br />
babbled, always awake. As if he were<br />
in a trance, and with no other solution,<br />
the corporal finally said:<br />
“Just go away, idiots... before I change<br />
my mind.”<br />
Reminiscent of lopped off heads of<br />
giants, the clay jugs were abandoned<br />
there, they remained lonely by the<br />
barbed wire fence, as if saying:<br />
“Holy shit... what just happened?”<br />
107. Yucca jaliscensis, a variation of yucca that has a tall stem and pointed leaves that end in a sharp<br />
needle. It gives a white flower consi<strong>de</strong>red a culinary <strong>de</strong>licacy.
el SacrISTÁN<br />
Se llamaba Agruelio; era casi joven,<br />
casi viejo; su cara era rostro. Sonreiba<br />
beatíficamente, con la dulzura triste<br />
<strong>de</strong> las bocas sin dientes. Era moreno;<br />
<strong>de</strong> pelo gris; <strong>de</strong> ojos grises; <strong>de</strong> manos<br />
grises; <strong>de</strong> traje gris, <strong>de</strong> alma gris... Iba<br />
siempre agachado; iba, por el corredor<br />
<strong>de</strong>l convento, por el suelo <strong>de</strong> la Iglesia<br />
siempre <strong>de</strong>sierta, arrastrisco como<br />
una cuca, como ratón. Tenía quién<br />
sabe qué <strong>de</strong> solterona, a pesar <strong>de</strong> que,<br />
en aquel paradójico hogar don<strong>de</strong> la<br />
falda era masculina, daba la i<strong>de</strong>a <strong>de</strong><br />
la esposa <strong>de</strong>l cura. Los tacones <strong>de</strong> sus<br />
zapatos burros108 no podían olvidar<br />
el martillo <strong>de</strong>l zapatero; martillaban<br />
constantemente el eco, impregnado <strong>de</strong><br />
incienso, <strong>de</strong> aquella tumba fresca.<br />
Agruelio salía <strong>de</strong> allí muy pocas veces.<br />
Era una especie <strong>de</strong> topo parroquial.<br />
De cuando en cuando se aventuraba<br />
en el atrio, para ver la hora en el reloj<br />
<strong>de</strong> la torre. Miraba a la calle, como<br />
quien mira al mar; miraba al reloj,<br />
como quien consulta los astros. El<br />
mirar tan alto le mareaba. Frotaba sus<br />
cejas felpudas y breñosas, y entraba<br />
tambaleante a su cueva. Tak, tak, tak,...<br />
los tacones, buscadores <strong>de</strong> tesoros.<br />
108. Botines <strong>de</strong> cuero con suela gruesa para trabajar, hechos a mano.<br />
109. Convento: in English is especially a place for nuns. In Spanish is for men and women.<br />
110. “Zapatos burros” are inexpensive locally-ma<strong>de</strong> work rustic shoes.<br />
55<br />
THe SacrISTaN<br />
His name was Aurelio. He wasn’t young<br />
nor was he old. He smiled beatifically,<br />
with the sad sweetness of a toothless<br />
mouth. He had dark skin, gray hair, gray<br />
eyes, gray hands, gray vestments, gray<br />
soul... He always walked with his head<br />
down, slumped over like a roach, like a<br />
mouse. He walked in the corridor of the<br />
resi<strong>de</strong>nce, 109 on the floor of the church<br />
that was always <strong>de</strong>serted. He carried<br />
himself like an old maid. Even in that<br />
paradoxical home where the skirt was<br />
male, he seemed more like the priest’s<br />
wife. The clomping of the heels of his<br />
rustic work shoes110 was reminiscent of<br />
the cobbler’s hammer; they poun<strong>de</strong>d<br />
constantly the echo of a fresh tomb<br />
impregnated with incense.<br />
Aurelio very rarely came out of that<br />
place. He was a kind of parochial<br />
gopher. Once in a while, he ventured<br />
into the atrium to check the time on the<br />
clock tower. He looked out at the street<br />
like one who looks at the sea. He looked<br />
at the clock like one who consults the<br />
stars. Looking up high ma<strong>de</strong> him dizzy.<br />
He rubbed his thick and unkempt<br />
eyebrows and he walked unsteadily<br />
towards his cave. Clomp, clomp,<br />
clomp... the heels, treasure hunters.
La nave <strong>de</strong>l templo iba perdida en una<br />
tempestad <strong>de</strong> silencio, izadas todas las<br />
velas <strong>de</strong> esperma con sus fuegos <strong>de</strong> San<br />
Telmo. En la popa, como un mesana111 <strong>de</strong>smantelado, iba el crucifijo.<br />
Agruelio era <strong>de</strong>voto <strong>de</strong> Santo Domingo.<br />
Santo Domingo vivía en el rincón más<br />
olvidado <strong>de</strong>l crucero <strong>de</strong> la iglesia.<br />
Era aquél un rincón arrinconado,<br />
oscuro, frío. La casa <strong>de</strong>l santo era un<br />
altar antiguo, <strong>de</strong> un dorado <strong>de</strong> kakaseca;<br />
ornamentado churriguerescamente115 con espirales terrosas, guirnaldas<br />
<strong>de</strong> mugre, gajos <strong>de</strong> uvas, piñas,<br />
granadas, pájaros muertos, mazorcas<br />
<strong>de</strong> máis y rosas petrificadas. Tenía en<br />
la portada unos pilares como pirulíes,<br />
unas columnitas <strong>de</strong> pan francés, unos<br />
capiteles116 <strong>de</strong> melcocha; y, por las<br />
pare<strong>de</strong>s, hojas, hojas, bejucos; meditas,<br />
chirolas117 , colas <strong>de</strong> alacrán y arañas <strong>de</strong><br />
verdad.<br />
56<br />
The central nave of the church 112 was<br />
lost in a tempest of silence. All its<br />
candles were like sails 113 hoisted in<br />
honor of Saint Elmo. 114 In the stern, the<br />
crucifix was like a dismantled mizzenmast.<br />
Aurelio was <strong>de</strong>voted to Saint Dominic.<br />
Saint Dominic lived in the most<br />
forgotten place in the transept of the<br />
church.<br />
It was a dark, cold corner. The Saint’s<br />
house was an old altar, gol<strong>de</strong>n,<br />
the color of dry dung, excessively<br />
<strong>de</strong>corated 118 with spirals covered in<br />
dirt, filthy garlands, bunches of grapes,<br />
pineapples, pomegranates, <strong>de</strong>ad<br />
birds, corncobs, and petrified roses.<br />
The faça<strong>de</strong> had pillars like lollipops,<br />
columns of french bread, capitals 119 like<br />
molasses candy, and covering the walls,<br />
leaves, leaves, climbing trees; chirons, 120<br />
tails of scorpions, and real spi<strong>de</strong>rs.<br />
111. RAE: mesana. (Del it. mezzana). 1. amb. Mar. Mástil que está más a popa en el buque <strong>de</strong> tres palos.<br />
112. In Spanish temple and iglesia (church) are used indistinctively by Catholics.<br />
113. Nautical, velas.<br />
114. Maybe a misrepresentation or localization of Saint Elmo. The context gives evi<strong>de</strong>nce that the<br />
interesting phenomenon creates fire in the water… just like St. Erasmus of Formiae, commonly known<br />
as Saint Elmo. See also St. Elmo’s Fire.<br />
115. RAE: churriguerismo. 1. m. Estilo <strong>de</strong> ornamentación recargada empleado por Churriguera, arquitecto<br />
y escultor <strong>barro</strong>co <strong>de</strong> fines <strong>de</strong>l siglo XVII, y sus imitadores en la arquitectura española <strong>de</strong>l siglo XVIII. 2. m.<br />
<strong>de</strong>spect. Ornamentación exagerada.<br />
116. RAE: capitel. (Del prov. capitel). 1. m. Arq. Parte superior <strong>de</strong> la columna y <strong>de</strong> la pilastra, que las corona<br />
con forma y ornamentación distintas, según el estilo <strong>de</strong> arquitectura a que correspon<strong>de</strong>.<br />
117. En este contexto: “chirolas” son las figuras <strong>barro</strong>cas esculpidas en las iglesias, posiblemente un<br />
centauro. RAE: chirola. 1. f. Arg. Antigua moneda <strong>de</strong> níquel, <strong>de</strong> 5, 10 ó 20 centavos.<br />
118. Churriguerescamente in Spanish: a very florid Spanish architectural baroque style of the 17th<br />
century, named after famous architect José Churriguero who had an aversion to empty spaces.<br />
119. In architecture: the crown of a pillar.<br />
120. In Greek mythology: the wise centaur, son of Kronos, who tutored Achilles, Asclepius, Hercules,<br />
Jason, and others.
De pie en el portal, el santo, todo<br />
vestido <strong>de</strong> negro y blanco, miraba<br />
lánguidamente tras el vidrio <strong>de</strong>l<br />
camarín. Tenía en una mano una bomba<br />
<strong>de</strong> anarquista, y en la otra un libro como<br />
un ladrillo; a sus pies, un chuchito <strong>de</strong><br />
circo. Su rostro era lampiño, a pesar <strong>de</strong><br />
la barba postiza <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra. Era calvo el<br />
pobre; y miraba como con hambre.<br />
Agruelio lo amaba; se parecía algo a<br />
él, <strong>de</strong> tanto contemplarlo. Se robaba<br />
las can<strong>de</strong>las <strong>de</strong>l Niño <strong>de</strong> Atocha (que<br />
era el menos respetable, por lo cipote)<br />
y se las iba a poner a su patrono. Tenía<br />
celos <strong>de</strong> una vieja, que le disputaba la<br />
predilección. La vieja le a<strong>de</strong>lantaba en<br />
limosnas. En aquel rincón oscuro, se<br />
marchitaban hasta las rosas <strong>de</strong> papel.<br />
El llanto <strong>de</strong> las can<strong>de</strong>las se había<br />
cuajado en la mesa <strong>de</strong> lata. Los rezos<br />
habían atraído algunas avispas, que<br />
panaleaban en las cornisas.<br />
* * *<br />
Aquella madrugada, Agruelio se había<br />
levantado como siempre, a impulso <strong>de</strong><br />
su presentimiento <strong>de</strong> gallo que conoce<br />
la vecindad <strong>de</strong>l sol. Entró a la iglesia<br />
con un portazo. Anduvo preparando el<br />
vino para la misa <strong>de</strong> cinco. Luego fue,<br />
taconeando, a encen<strong>de</strong>r las can<strong>de</strong>las.<br />
Dejó la vara en un rincón y subió al<br />
campanario para dar el primer toque.<br />
57<br />
Standing at the portal behind the glass<br />
closet in the altar, the saint, dressed all<br />
in black and white, gazed out languidly.<br />
In one hand he was holding an anarchist<br />
bomb, and on the other, a book like<br />
a brick. At his feet, there was a circus<br />
doggy. St. Dominic’s face was hairless,<br />
except for his fake woo<strong>de</strong>n beard. He<br />
was pitifully bald, and he stared out as<br />
if he were hungry.<br />
Aurelio loved him. After en<strong>de</strong>lessly<br />
staring at him so much, he could see<br />
a likeness to himself. He would steal<br />
the candles from the Niño <strong>de</strong> Atocha<br />
image 121 (who was the least respected<br />
because he was just a boy) and bring<br />
them to his patron saint. He was<br />
jealous of a lady who challenged his<br />
predilection. The old woman usually<br />
surpassed him in the giving of alms.<br />
In that dark place even paper roses<br />
would wither. The tears of the candles<br />
had coagulated on the tin table. The<br />
prayers had attracted some wasps that<br />
were diligently making a honeycomb<br />
in the cornices.<br />
* * *<br />
That dawn Aurelio woke as usual as<br />
an impulse due to his prescience of a<br />
rooster that knows the sun’s realm. He<br />
entered the church and slammed the<br />
door. He began to prepare the wine<br />
for the morning mass held at five. His<br />
shoes clomping, he went to light the<br />
candles, placing the candle stick in the<br />
corner and climbed up to the belfry to<br />
give the first peal.<br />
121. It is believed that a miracle boy (i.e. Jesus) from Atocha, Spain, helped feed the Christians who were<br />
prisoners un<strong>de</strong>r the Moors conquest in the 13th century.
Su mano gris, agarrada <strong>de</strong>l badajo 122 ,<br />
se puso a tirar sobre el pueblo dormido<br />
gran<strong>de</strong>s anillos sonoros, que caían<br />
ondulando, ondulando; abriéndose,<br />
abriéndose..., hasta llegar a la orilla<br />
<strong>de</strong>l cielo, don<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>spuntaban ligeros<br />
clarores. Luego, Agruelio bajó chas,<br />
chas, chas, <strong>de</strong> grada en grada; siempre<br />
arrastrisco, apoyándose con una mano<br />
en la pared <strong>de</strong>l caracol. En la escurana,<br />
las can<strong>de</strong>las pintaban claror con sus<br />
brochitas azules. Los murciégalos<br />
entraban, borrachos, huyendo <strong>de</strong>l día;<br />
escupían y se colgaban, como tasajos,<br />
en las vigas; uno que otro rozaba la cara<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sacristán, con su cuerpo <strong>de</strong> guineyo<br />
pasado.<br />
—¡Estos babosos !... ¡Shé!...<br />
Quería quitárselos a manotadas, como<br />
a moscas. No le casaba mucho el<br />
pañueleo espeluznante <strong>de</strong> las alas <strong>de</strong><br />
carne.<br />
—¡Bían dihacer recogida, con estos<br />
ratones volantes! Tienen carediablo,<br />
dientes, pelos y juman... ¡Papadas!...<br />
Se fue <strong>de</strong>recho al crucero. Al llegar<br />
frente al altar <strong>de</strong> su <strong>de</strong>voción, se arrodilló<br />
persignándose; cruzó los brazos, y,<br />
elevando su rostro un poquito ladiado,<br />
lo endulzó humillándolo, mientras<br />
<strong>de</strong>jaba caer una plegaria.<br />
58<br />
His gray hand held onto the clapper<br />
of the bell, until it began throwing<br />
big rings of sound over the sleeping<br />
population. The rings fell undulating,<br />
undulating, opening, opening... all the<br />
way to the tip of heaven, to the distant<br />
clear light. After, Aurelio <strong>de</strong>scen<strong>de</strong>d<br />
the stairs one by one, clomp, clomp,<br />
clomp. Slumped over, as usual, bracing<br />
himself with his hand, he went down<br />
on the spiral stairs. In the darkness, the<br />
candles painted gleams with their blue<br />
brushes. The bats entered, drunkenly,<br />
fleeing from the day. They spat and<br />
clung to the beams like jerked-beef.<br />
Every other bat brushed the sacristan’s<br />
face with its body like a rotten banana.<br />
“Freakin’ bats. Shoo!”<br />
He wanted to swat them like flies. He<br />
didn’t like the lurid flapping of their<br />
fleshy wings.<br />
“Someone must do something with<br />
these flying rats! Their faces look like<br />
the <strong>de</strong>vil. They have teeth, hair and<br />
they even smoke 123 . Damn bats!<br />
He procee<strong>de</strong>d straight to the transept.<br />
When he arrived at the altar of his<br />
<strong>de</strong>votion, he knelt down making the<br />
sign of the cross. Then he crossed his<br />
arms and elevated his angered face.<br />
He showed him his humble love, as his<br />
prayer flowed out.<br />
122. RAE: badajo. (Del lat. vulg. *batuaculum, <strong>de</strong>r. <strong>de</strong> battuĕre, batir).1. m. Pieza metálica, generalmente<br />
en forma <strong>de</strong> pera, que pen<strong>de</strong> en el interior <strong>de</strong> las campanas, y con la cual se golpean estas para hacerlas<br />
sonar. En los cencerros y esquilas suele ser <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra o hueso.<br />
123. Because bats are believed to be <strong>de</strong>mons, it is an ancient practice to torture a bat by nailing its wings<br />
t a tree and forcing the animal to smoke.
Fue entonces cuando el terremoto,<br />
que había estado un siglo con el pelo<br />
cortado, haciéndose el babieca, entró<br />
<strong>de</strong> golpe en la iglesia: y, como un nuevo<br />
Sansón, agarro las columnas y sacudió.<br />
Agruelio tuvo tiempo <strong>de</strong> ponerse en<br />
pie.<br />
—¡Santo Dios, santo juerte!...<br />
Era tar<strong>de</strong>. El patrono había soltado su<br />
bomba <strong>de</strong> anarquista. Tambaleó el<br />
altar, <strong>de</strong>smoronándose como una torta<br />
seca; se rajó el muro tremendo; y el<br />
santo perdiendo los estribos, vino a dar<br />
en la cabeza <strong>de</strong> Agruelio con su ladrillo<br />
bíblico.<br />
59<br />
The earthquake was like Samson with<br />
his hair short for over a century. Acting<br />
like babieca, 124 it sud<strong>de</strong>nly entered<br />
the church. And, as if it were a new<br />
strengthened Samson, it grabbed the<br />
columns and shook them. Aurelio was<br />
barely able to stay on his feet.<br />
“Holy God! Almighty Saint!”<br />
It was too late. His patron saint<br />
had already dropped his anarchist<br />
bomb. The altar staggered, and then<br />
crumbled like a dry loaf of bread. The<br />
large retaining wall cracked. The Saint<br />
lost his balance and smashed Aurelio’s<br />
head with his biblical brick.<br />
124. Babieca: idiot. Also, Babieca was the supreme war horse of Spain in the 11th century who carried El<br />
Cid’s <strong>de</strong>ad body and <strong>de</strong>feated the Moors.
la BruSquITa<br />
El rancho <strong>de</strong> Polo quedaba allá don<strong>de</strong><br />
empieza a trepar el volcán, al pie <strong>de</strong><br />
unos caragos jloridos, al jaz <strong>de</strong> la vereda<br />
que lleva on<strong>de</strong> Meterio Ramos, cerca<br />
<strong>de</strong>l cantón Guaruma. Entre pedrencos<br />
morados, hecho con paja <strong>de</strong> arroz<br />
y palma, el rancho miraba pa bajo,<br />
pa bajo, por encima <strong>de</strong> los gran<strong>de</strong>s<br />
potreros <strong>de</strong>l Derrumba<strong>de</strong>ro, hasta el río<br />
Guachote quiba haciendo así, así, hasta<br />
per<strong>de</strong>rse en la montaña. Encorralado en<br />
un requiebre, entre cocos y platanares,<br />
estaba el pueblo. Eran todas las casitas<br />
blancas y estaban echadas con los<br />
ojos abiertos. Como ganado arisco<br />
en <strong>de</strong>sparpajo, iban allá los cerros<br />
atrompesándose unos con otros, o<br />
encaramándose al dir <strong>de</strong> brama.<br />
La señá Manuela, la partera, <strong>de</strong>jó el<br />
guacal <strong>de</strong> café en la hornilla apagada,<br />
sobre el polvito azul <strong>de</strong> la ceniza, y con<br />
un palito encendido prendió la cabuya<br />
<strong>de</strong> su cigarro. Con un ojo apagado<br />
por el humo, le dijo a Polo para cerrar<br />
plática:<br />
—Ve vos, yo sé lo que te digo: nuai más<br />
dolor quel <strong>de</strong> parir...<br />
Polo asintió, con sencilla nobleza <strong>de</strong><br />
irnorante. Se <strong>de</strong>spidió la vieja y se fue;<br />
125. Cassia grandis: “stinking toe tree.”<br />
126. Hornilla: a combination of brick oven and grill usually kept insi<strong>de</strong><br />
60<br />
SHe aIN’T No<br />
flooZY<br />
Polo’s shack was located where the<br />
volcano begins to rise, nestled among<br />
flowering carao tree 125 and purple<br />
boul<strong>de</strong>rs. It was right off a path that<br />
takes you to the house of Meterio<br />
Ramos, near the Guaruma hamlet.<br />
The shack, contructed of palm and<br />
rice straw, was looking down, down,<br />
over the Derruba<strong>de</strong>ro pastures, with a<br />
view all the way to the Guachote river<br />
that mean<strong>de</strong>red until it got lost in the<br />
mountains. The town was corraled<br />
within the curve of the river, between<br />
coconut groves and plantain forrests.<br />
All the houses were white, and their<br />
windows looked like eyes wi<strong>de</strong> open.<br />
Like stubborn cattle, the hills were<br />
bumbing against each other as if<br />
humping in heat.<br />
Señora Manuela, the midwife, left the<br />
coffee pot on the hornilla 126 over the<br />
blue ash embers. With a small burning<br />
stick, she lit the butt of her cigarette.<br />
Squinting with one eye, because of the<br />
smoke, and to end her conversation<br />
she told Polo:<br />
“Ah know what ah tell ya, <strong>de</strong>r ain’t no<br />
pain like giving birth.”<br />
Polo nod<strong>de</strong>d, with the simple nobility of<br />
the ignorant. The midwife bid farewell
y el indio, que vivía solo allí, <strong>de</strong>scolgó<br />
la guitarra, como quien apecha la<br />
tristeza sin temor; y liayudó al cielo a dir<br />
pariendo estrellas en la tar<strong>de</strong>.<br />
* * *<br />
De allá <strong>de</strong> la carretera, <strong>de</strong> bien abajo,<br />
venía cargando con ella. La bían<br />
arronjado diun utomóvil. Él bía visto el<br />
empujón y el barquinazo. Iban todos<br />
bolos y ella lloraba a gritos. Cayó en<br />
pinganiyas, y, dando una güeltereta,<br />
sembró la cara en el lodo y se quedó<br />
aletiando. Él la pepenó127 y, como no<br />
había dón<strong>de</strong>, se la llevó cargando al<br />
rancho; cuesta arriba, cuesta arriba,<br />
sudoso y enlodado. Ella sangriaba y se<br />
quejaba. Por dos veces la bía apiado<br />
para que arrojara.<br />
Arrojaba un piro128 espumoso y<br />
hediondo y diay se <strong>de</strong>smayaba.<br />
Entró con ella apenas; la puso en la<br />
cama y empezó a lavarle la cara con un<br />
trapo mojado. A la luz <strong>de</strong>l candil vido,<br />
al ir borrando, que tenía la cara chula.<br />
El pelo lo andaba al jaz <strong>de</strong> la nuca; era<br />
blanca y suavecita, suavecita como<br />
algodón <strong>de</strong> ceiba. Cuando abrió los<br />
ojos vido que los tenía prietos y brillosos,<br />
como charcos diagua en noche <strong>de</strong><br />
relámpagos.<br />
61<br />
and left. Polo the peasant, who lived by<br />
himself there, took down the guitar like<br />
one who accepts sadness without fear,<br />
and he helped the sky to give birth to<br />
the evening stars.<br />
* * *<br />
He had been carrying her from the road<br />
below over there. They had thrown her<br />
out of their automobile. He seen them<br />
hit her and shove her. She cried loudly.<br />
They were all drunk. Her knees first hit<br />
the road and flipping over. Her face was<br />
sown in the mud and she remained<br />
there, her arms fluttering. He picked her<br />
up, and having nowhere else to take<br />
her, he carried her up hill to his shack,<br />
plodding up hill, sweaty and muddy.<br />
She was bleeding and moaning. He<br />
had to set her down twice so she could<br />
throw up.<br />
She vomited foamy and foul dregs, 129<br />
and then fainted.<br />
He was barely able to carry her any<br />
further as they entered the house. Using<br />
a wet cloth he wiped her face. In the<br />
light of the lantern he saw, as he erased<br />
the dirt, that she had a pretty face. Her<br />
hair was short, just to the base of her<br />
neck. She was white and soft, soft, like<br />
the cotton of a ceiba tree. When she<br />
opened her eyes, he saw that they were<br />
black and shiny, like puddles of water in<br />
a night full of lightning.<br />
127. RAE: pepenar. (Del nahua pepena, escoger, recoger). 1. tr. Am. Cen. y Méx. Recoger <strong>de</strong>l suelo,<br />
rebuscar.<br />
128. Salarrué: <strong>de</strong>sperdicio en la fabricación artesanal <strong>de</strong> alcohol.<br />
129. Letfovers of moonshine.
* * *<br />
Se quedó allí mientras se curaba. Había<br />
pasado una goma feya, que le bajó con<br />
chaparro. Con la sobada130 que le dio en la<br />
pierna, bajó la hinchazón. Podía apenas<br />
dar pasitos, renqueando y quejándose.<br />
Pasaba todo el día tirada boca arriba en<br />
la cama, <strong>de</strong>scalza su blancura y triste<br />
el negror <strong>de</strong> sus ojos que le sonreiban<br />
agra<strong>de</strong>cidos. Se dormía, se dormía..., y<br />
él la veiya <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> el taburete131 , medio<br />
envuelta en el perraje, con el pelo en<br />
la cara, acuchuyada toda ella, dándole<br />
el redondo <strong>de</strong> su cuerpo con un<br />
abandono que le hacía temblar y herver.<br />
Cuando estaba projunda, él se acercaba<br />
y se inclinaba. Guelía ansina como una<br />
jlor <strong>de</strong> no sé qué, con un perjume que<br />
mareya y que da jiebre. Pero Polo sabía,<br />
en su sencilla nobleza <strong>de</strong> irnorante, que<br />
nuay que conjundir la caridá...<br />
—Usté, ¿dióndés?<br />
* * *<br />
—¿Yo?..., <strong>de</strong> la capital...<br />
—¿Por qué la embolaron y<br />
larronjaron?...<br />
62<br />
* * *<br />
She stayed at his house while she<br />
healed. She had a horrible hangover<br />
that she tried to cure with more<br />
moonshine, the hair of the dog that bit<br />
her. The swelling came down after he<br />
massaged 132 her leg. At first, she could<br />
only take small steps, limping and<br />
moaning. Most of the day she spent on<br />
her back in bed, with her pale barefeet<br />
exposed, and the sad blackness of<br />
her eyes smiled thankfully. She slept,<br />
and slept... From his taboret 133 he<br />
watched her, half covered with colorful<br />
patchwork blankets, her hair covering<br />
her face, curled up in a ball, giving her<br />
body the curves that had abandoned<br />
her. She shivered and boiled. When<br />
she was <strong>de</strong>ep asleep, he risked coming<br />
closer and bent down. She smelled like<br />
an unfamiliar flower, like a perfume that<br />
makes you dizzy and that causes fevers.<br />
But Polo knew, in the humble nobility<br />
of an ignorant peasant, that charity<br />
should not be confused with...<br />
“Where you from?”<br />
* * *<br />
“Me? From the city...”<br />
“Why did them people get you drunk<br />
and threw you out of the car?”<br />
130. Una “sobada” incluye primeramente un ritual espiritual con ruda, alcohol y alcanfor, <strong>de</strong>spués hay un<br />
masaje para reparar la lesión.<br />
131. Francés tabouret: asiento <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra sin respaldo.<br />
132. Rubbing the patient using rue, alcohol and camphor to scare away evil spirits, and possibly fix the<br />
injury.<br />
133. From French: a low stool in the shape of a drum.
—Por bandidos que son. Les pegué en<br />
la cara y les di <strong>de</strong> patadas y entonces<br />
me aventaron los malditos...<br />
Polo quería <strong>de</strong>cir algo, quería sacar<br />
ajuera el ñudo que se le bía hecho en la<br />
garganta; pero no salía: era como una<br />
espina <strong>de</strong> pescado y no salía más que<br />
por los ojos. Ella lo miraba sonriente.<br />
Para animarlo, le dijo:<br />
—¿Qué no me mira que soy «brusca»?<br />
Él no comprendió aquel término<br />
urbano. ¡Ah, si lo hubiera dicho con P,<br />
qué feliz habría sido!<br />
—¡Qué brusca va ser usté!...<br />
Ella respetó aquello que creyó ser una<br />
ilusión <strong>de</strong> pureza. Él sin duda la tomaba<br />
por niña.<br />
* * *<br />
Se separaron en el crucero <strong>de</strong> los<br />
caminos. Allá en el plán. Se miraron fijo<br />
un rato, mientras cantaban los pijuyos134 Ella le cogió las manos y se las besó, se le<br />
atrinquetió en el pecho, y ligerito, le dio<br />
un beso en la cara y se alejó renquiando.<br />
63<br />
“Because they’re evil. I slapped them<br />
in the face and kicked them, and then<br />
those assholes threw me out...”<br />
Polo wanted to say something, he<br />
wanted to expell the knot that had<br />
formed in his throat, but it wouldn’t<br />
come out. It was like a fish bone, and<br />
it did not come out other than through<br />
his eyes. Smiling she looked at him, and<br />
to cheer him up she said:<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t you see I am a floozy?”<br />
He did not un<strong>de</strong>rstand that big city<br />
term. Oh, but had she said the W word,<br />
he would have been happy.<br />
“You ain’t no floozy!”<br />
She respected what seemed to be his<br />
illusion of purity. He, no doubt, was<br />
mistaking her for a virgin.<br />
* * *<br />
They parted over there at the crossroads,<br />
in the plains. They looked at each other<br />
for a moment while the Groove-billed<br />
Anis bird sang. 135 She grabbed his<br />
hands and kissed them. She hugged<br />
him and quickly gave him a kiss on<br />
his face and hobbled away limping.<br />
134. También conocido como garrapatero o pijuy. Probablemente <strong>de</strong>l chorti “tzikbu’ur”<br />
135. This bird gets its name “pijuy” or “pijuyo” in Spanish because its whistle sounds like “pí-huey.”<br />
Wikipedia: “The Groove-billed Ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris, is an odd-looking tropical bird in the cuckoo<br />
family with a long tail and a large, curved beak. It is a resi<strong>de</strong>nt species throughout most of its range,<br />
from southern Texas and central Mexico through Central America, to northern Colombia and Venezuela,<br />
and coastal Ecuador and Peru. It only retreats from the northern limits of its range in Texas and northern<br />
Mexico during winter.”
Él quedó como sembrado. Rígido como<br />
brotón <strong>de</strong> cerco, mirándola dirse, pelona<br />
y chula, chiquita y blanca. Cuando<br />
<strong>de</strong>scruzó, lo voltió a mirar parándose un<br />
momento y le dijo adiós con los <strong>de</strong>dos.<br />
Él, sin juerzas casi, le meció la mano.<br />
* * *<br />
Sentado en la piedra, frente al rancho,<br />
miraba baboso y juido <strong>de</strong>l mundo,<br />
cómo venían, por los potreros <strong>de</strong>l<br />
Derrumba<strong>de</strong>ro, los toros tardíos<br />
cabeceando y mugiendo, como si<br />
empujaran un trueno.<br />
En la puerta <strong>de</strong>l rancho la señá<br />
Manuela, la partera, cansada <strong>de</strong> hablar<br />
sola, se encumbró el último trago <strong>de</strong><br />
café hundiendo la cara en el guacal y<br />
sentenció siempre al igual:<br />
—Yo sé lo que te digo: nuay más dolor<br />
quel <strong>de</strong> parir...<br />
Con sencilla amargura <strong>de</strong> irnorante, el<br />
indio <strong>de</strong>jó <strong>de</strong> hacer cruces en la arena,<br />
y <strong>de</strong> un golpe clavó con furia el corvo<br />
en el tronco <strong>de</strong>l carago. Cayeron jlores.<br />
64<br />
He stayed as if he were planted. Rigid as<br />
a fence, watching her go, short-haired<br />
and beautiful, petite and white. As she<br />
walked away, she turned to look back at<br />
him. She paused for a moment and said<br />
good-bye with her fingers. He, almost<br />
without strength, waved back.<br />
* * *<br />
Seated on the rock, in front of his shack,<br />
he seemed like an idiot, retracted from<br />
the world. He watched the way the tardy<br />
oxen return from the Derrumba<strong>de</strong>ro,<br />
tossing their heads and bellowing, like<br />
rolling thun<strong>de</strong>r.<br />
Señora Manuela, the midwife, was in<br />
the door of her shack. Sick of talking<br />
to herself she chugged the last of the<br />
coffee, sinking her face in the gourd<br />
bowl, and said again:<br />
“Ah know what ah tell ya, <strong>de</strong>r ain’t no<br />
pain like giving birth.”<br />
With the humble sorrow of an ignorant<br />
peasant, Polo stopped making crosses<br />
in the sand. Without warning, he<br />
furiously thrust his machete in the<br />
trunk of the carao tree. Flowers fell.
NocHe BueNa<br />
La tar<strong>de</strong> herida cayó <strong>de</strong>trás <strong>de</strong>l cerro,<br />
con lala azul tronchada y el pico dioro<br />
entriabrido. El nido <strong>de</strong> noche quedó<br />
sólito, con piojío <strong>de</strong> estrellas y el huevo<br />
brilloso <strong>de</strong> la luna. Plumas quedaron<br />
angeleando, tristosas.<br />
Los guarumos, altos y chelosos, se<br />
miraban en las escuranas, con aspecto<br />
<strong>de</strong> espíretos <strong>de</strong> palos. La brisa espesa,<br />
tufosita y jelada, hacía nadar las ramas<br />
en los claros morados <strong>de</strong>l cielo. El sereno<br />
mojisco untaba brillos en los bultos <strong>de</strong><br />
las cosas; y toda la tierra se encaramaba<br />
al cielo en olores. Lijaban los grillos,<br />
puliendo el silencio.<br />
Por la puerta <strong>de</strong>l rancho embarrancado,<br />
salió al pedrero una puñalada <strong>de</strong> luz. Las<br />
sombras acamelladas <strong>de</strong> los moradores<br />
reptaron hasta el patio. Un chucho,<br />
interpuesto, se había hecho mesa en el<br />
umbral<br />
Poco a poco, la noche se fue alunando<br />
en clarores hermosos. Des<strong>de</strong> el patio<br />
se columbró el caserío <strong>de</strong>l pueblo. Uno<br />
quiotro candil estrellaba la calle. En el<br />
campanario antiguo, la luna cuajaba,<br />
campaneando alegre; y, <strong>de</strong> cuando<br />
en cuando, los cuetes puyaban la<br />
carpa tilinte <strong>de</strong>l cielo, chiflando todos<br />
luminosos y rebotando con estrépito.<br />
136. Or Trumpet trees. Cecropia Peltata.<br />
65<br />
cHISTMaS eVe<br />
The woun<strong>de</strong>d afternoon fell behind<br />
the hill, with its blue wing broken and<br />
its gol<strong>de</strong>n beak half-open. The nest of<br />
the night was empty except for stars<br />
like lice, and the moon like a big shiny<br />
egg. Feathers left behind flapping, in<br />
sorrow.<br />
The white tall Guarumo trees 136 that<br />
resemble ghosts looked at each other<br />
in the dark. The foul-smelling thick<br />
cold breeze ma<strong>de</strong> the branches of the<br />
trees swim in the sky. The humid night’s<br />
<strong>de</strong>w spread gleams unto the bumps of<br />
things. All the earth reached up to the<br />
sky in smells. Crickets san<strong>de</strong>d down the<br />
night, polishing the silence.<br />
Through the door of the shack mired in a<br />
<strong>de</strong>ep rocky ravine, a sud<strong>de</strong>n stabbing of<br />
light burst out. The camel-like shadows<br />
of the resi<strong>de</strong>nts slithered towards the<br />
backyard. A dog, interposing himself,<br />
had become a table at the threshold.<br />
Little by little, the night was turning into<br />
beautiful gleams. From the backyard,<br />
houses in the town could be seen.<br />
Once in a while a lantern would fill the<br />
road with stars. In the old belltower,<br />
the curdling moon was happily ringing<br />
the bells. From time to time firecrackers<br />
pierced the taut canvas of the sky,<br />
whistling and bouncing off with a<br />
luminous racket.
* * *<br />
La nana se enrolló en el tapado y salió,<br />
seguida <strong>de</strong> los dos cipotes. La Tina tenía<br />
once años; era <strong>de</strong>lgadita y pancitinga.<br />
Nacho andaba en cinco: sopladito,<br />
pujoso, careto y mocoso. La camisa<br />
le campaneaba al haz <strong>de</strong>l ombligo.<br />
Caminaba jalado, atrompezándose y con<br />
la boca en forma <strong>de</strong> O, por la trancazón<br />
<strong>de</strong> la ñata. Bajaron al camino rial y<br />
cogieron rumbo al pueblo. Iban, iban...,<br />
en silencio, tranqueando137 por la calle<br />
polvorosa que, como una culebra, tenía<br />
piel a manchas <strong>de</strong> sombra y luz. Unos<br />
toros pasaban por el llano, empujando<br />
la soledad con sus mugidos <strong>de</strong> brama.<br />
Al pasar por La Canoga, frente al rancho<br />
<strong>de</strong> ño Tito, la puerta <strong>de</strong> luz les cayó<br />
encima, asustándoles los ojos, y oyeron<br />
la risa <strong>de</strong> la guitarra. Pasaron en fila.<br />
Iban, iban... Como era Noche Buena,<br />
había misa <strong>de</strong>l gallo; y se había corrido<br />
la bola <strong>de</strong> que el padre Peraza iba a<br />
regalar juguetes a los chicos, <strong>de</strong>spués<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sermón.<br />
La Tina y Nacho no habían tenido<br />
juguetes nunca. Jugaban <strong>de</strong> muñecas,<br />
con caragües vestidos <strong>de</strong> tuzas; <strong>de</strong><br />
tienda, en la pila<strong>de</strong>ra; <strong>de</strong> pulicía, con<br />
olotes; y <strong>de</strong> pelotas, con bolas <strong>de</strong><br />
morro.<br />
66<br />
* * *<br />
The mother wrapped herself in her<br />
shawl and left followed by her two<br />
children. Tina was eleven, she was thin<br />
but big-bellied. Nacho was five: chubby<br />
and whinny, with a dirty face covered<br />
with snot, his mouth in the shape of<br />
an O, because of his stuffy nose. His<br />
shirt was hung on him like a bell and<br />
stopped at his navel. He tripped as<br />
his mom pulled him along. They went<br />
down on the main road, and hea<strong>de</strong>d for<br />
the town. They walked and walked... in<br />
silence, taking long steps on the dusty<br />
road that, like a snake, had stains with<br />
shadows and lights. Oxen were walking<br />
by the plain, pushing the solitu<strong>de</strong> with<br />
their bellowing rut.<br />
When passing by La Canoga, in front<br />
of Señor Tito’s shack, the door of light<br />
ensnared them, scaring their eyes.<br />
They heard the laughter of the guitar<br />
from within. They walked by single<br />
file. They continued to walk and walk...<br />
Because it was Christmas Eve, the Mass<br />
of the Rooster 138 was being celebrated.<br />
Rumor had it that Father Peraza was<br />
going to give away toys to the children<br />
after mass.<br />
Tina and Nacho had never had a toy<br />
before. Their dolls were pods of carao 139<br />
dressed in corn husks. By the washtub<br />
they ma<strong>de</strong> believe they were shopping.<br />
They played cops and robbers, with<br />
corn cobs. And they played soccer with<br />
gourds.<br />
137. Dar trancos es dar pasos largos.<br />
138. The midnight mass at Christmas is known as the “Rooster’s Mass.” On Christmas Eve, the ringing of<br />
bells happens at midnight to call families to Church. Legends tell that the only time a rooster ever crowed<br />
at midnight was when Jesus was born.<br />
139. Fruits have the shape of cylindrical pods dangling from the trees.
Iban, iban... La chucha seca los seguía,<br />
rastrera y tosigosa. Se óiba ya, clarito, el<br />
tamborón y el pito que pastoreaban la<br />
alegría pueblerina. En una embrocada<br />
que se dio el camino, saltó cheleante<br />
el pueblo; y, <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> la torre <strong>de</strong> la iglesia,<br />
el ojo con dos pestañas <strong>de</strong>l reló se les<br />
quedó mirando ceñudo, y no los perdió<br />
<strong>de</strong> vista hasta que embocaron por la<br />
plaza.<br />
Había ventas; olía a jumo, a guaro, y a<br />
cuete. Se entraba al atrio entre ramas<br />
<strong>de</strong> coco y pitas empapeladas <strong>de</strong><br />
colores. El pito y el tambor pastoreaban<br />
la alegría.<br />
* * *<br />
La niña Lola los topó en las gradas.<br />
—¿Habís venido al reparto, Ulalia?<br />
—Sí, pué...<br />
—Date priesa, si querés que te les<br />
<strong>de</strong>n algo a los cipotes. Ya el padre tá<br />
cabando.<br />
La nana jaló la ca<strong>de</strong>na, en busca <strong>de</strong>l<br />
reparto; siguió el lateral <strong>de</strong> la iglesia, y<br />
se aculó contra el chumazo e gente que<br />
iba entrando encipotada al reparto. La<br />
bullanga ensor<strong>de</strong>cía. Entre los que se<br />
réiban, pujaban los apretados.<br />
67<br />
They walked, they walked... Their skinny<br />
mutt flollowed behind them, creeping<br />
and coughing. The clear sound of<br />
drums and whistles was announcing<br />
the happiness of the peasants. In a<br />
sud<strong>de</strong>n turn of the road, the white<br />
town emerged, and from the tower of<br />
the church, the eye of the clock with<br />
two eyelashes was staring at them,<br />
frowning, and kept them in sight until<br />
they arrived in the plaza.<br />
There were street sellers everywhere.<br />
It smelled like smoke, home-ma<strong>de</strong><br />
whisky, and firecrackers. It permeated<br />
to the core of the atrium surroun<strong>de</strong>d by<br />
coconut branches and colorful banners.<br />
The whistle and the drums pastored<br />
their happiness.<br />
* * *<br />
Señora Lola stopped them by the<br />
stairs.<br />
“So, you here for the distribution of<br />
toys, Ulalia?”<br />
“Of course!”<br />
“You’d better shake a leg if you want<br />
your kids to get something. The priest<br />
is almost finished.”<br />
The mother pulled the chain, searching<br />
for the distribution. She followed around<br />
the si<strong>de</strong> of the church, and was forced<br />
into the bunch of people entering the<br />
church along with their children. The<br />
noise was <strong>de</strong>afening. Some people<br />
laughed and others moaned because<br />
they were being shoved.
La Ulalia seguía aculada, siempre<br />
al tanteyo <strong>de</strong> coger puesto. Por fin,<br />
llegó hasta la barriga negra <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cura. Sonaban trompetas; sonaban<br />
chinchines140 ; sonaban tumblimbes141 .<br />
—¿Y vos? ¿Vos no sos <strong>de</strong>l pueblo,<br />
verdá?<br />
—No, padre-cura; soy <strong>de</strong>l valle...<br />
—¡Hum, hum!... ¿Tus cipotes nuán<br />
venido a la doctrina, verdá?<br />
—No, Siñor: tamos lejos...<br />
—Hum, hum!... Para vos nuay; para vos<br />
nuay... ¿Entendiste? Para vos nuay...<br />
Pase lotra, pase, pase...<br />
* * *<br />
Topadito al cerro, floriaba un lucero. La<br />
Ulalia iba, por el camino, <strong>de</strong> güelta.<br />
Con su voz tísica, <strong>de</strong>cía:<br />
—¡Apurate, Nachito, andá!<br />
La Tina luiba jalando.<br />
Nachito <strong>de</strong>cía:<br />
140. Campana <strong>de</strong> mano, como una maraca metálica.<br />
141. Tamborcito forrado <strong>de</strong> cuero.<br />
142. Hand bell like a maraca.<br />
143. Small drum ma<strong>de</strong> of leather.<br />
68<br />
Though she was cornered, Ulalia hoped<br />
to get a spot. At last, she was able to walk<br />
up to the priest’s black belly. Trumpets<br />
played. Chinchin142 and tumblinblin143 were heard<br />
“How about you? You aren’t from this<br />
town, are you?”<br />
“No, father-priest, I am from the<br />
valley...”<br />
“Uh-hum! Your children haven’t come<br />
to catechism, have they?”<br />
“No, Señor. We live far away.”<br />
“Uh-hum! There’s nothing for you.<br />
Nothing for you, got it? There is nothing<br />
for you. Next, please, next.”<br />
* * *<br />
At the foot of the hill a star was<br />
blossoming. Ulalia and her children<br />
began their long journey back home.<br />
With her consumptive voice she said:<br />
“Hurry up, son. Hurry up!”<br />
As Tina was pulling him along Little<br />
Nacho asked:
—¿Y ed juguetes, mama?...<br />
La camisa le llegaba al ombligo. Iba<br />
tranqueando. A lo lejos, se óiba el río<br />
embarrancado. En los claros, salían<br />
<strong>de</strong> los palos brazos negros, que<br />
amenazaban el cielo.<br />
—Apurate, Nachito, andá!...<br />
—¿Y ed juguetes, mama?...<br />
Al pasar por el rancho <strong>de</strong> ño Tito, la<br />
puerta <strong>de</strong> luz les cayó encima, y oyeron<br />
la risa <strong>de</strong> la guitarra.<br />
69<br />
“Where the toys, ma?”<br />
His shirt went down to his navel. He<br />
was limping. In the distance, the river<br />
in the ravine was heard. In the plains,<br />
black arms were coming out of the<br />
trees threatening the sky.<br />
“Hurry up, son. Hurry up!”<br />
“Where the toys, ma?”<br />
When they were passing by Señor Tito’s<br />
shack the door of light ensneared them<br />
again. They heard the laughter of the<br />
guitar.
BruMa<br />
Pringaba siempre, como toda la<br />
noche, como todo ayer... El día había<br />
nacido <strong>de</strong> la escurana como un humito<br />
azulón. Era tiempo <strong>de</strong> ñebla y la laguna<br />
estaba dormida, borrosa, y <strong>de</strong> ella se<br />
<strong>de</strong>sprendía con el silencio un aroma<br />
triste. El agua gris, perdida en el cielo<br />
gris, era casi invisible. Dulcemente<br />
batía la orilla como si la besara. En<br />
aquella orilla oscura parecía finar el<br />
mundo suspendido sobre un presepicio<br />
<strong>de</strong> tristeza.<br />
El cayuco se <strong>de</strong>sprendió <strong>de</strong> la palizada<br />
con pechazos suaves <strong>de</strong> pescado<br />
colasero. Como el alma diun palo viejo<br />
que se <strong>de</strong>spren<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>l mundo, así el<br />
cayuco se fue alejando, volátil, en aquel<br />
cielo <strong>de</strong> ñeblina. Hundía y alzaba el<br />
ala <strong>de</strong>lgadita <strong>de</strong> la pértiga, coliando<br />
timonero con la pluma <strong>de</strong>l remo.<br />
Un pescador cantaba. Su voz volaba<br />
entre la ñebla 144 dorisca, como un<br />
murciégalo atontado salido diun<br />
oscuro querer. Murientes ecos<br />
sobreaguaban en la distancia. En<br />
aquella luz que se disolvía en la bruma,<br />
extrañas formas parecían <strong>de</strong>spertar<br />
al conjuro <strong>de</strong>l canto. Ca<strong>de</strong>ras <strong>de</strong> plata<br />
venían danzando sobre el agua muda;<br />
azules cabelleras flotaban en la brisa y<br />
había allí, en la margen, vagos ruidos <strong>de</strong><br />
bocas que se abren a flor <strong>de</strong> agua, <strong>de</strong><br />
suspiros, <strong>de</strong> besos, <strong>de</strong> gárgaras, como<br />
si todas estas brujerías se hubieran<br />
<strong>de</strong>spertado para embriagarse en la<br />
mañana sutil.<br />
144. Arcaismo <strong>de</strong> niebla.<br />
70<br />
MIST<br />
It was always drizzling, all day yesterday<br />
and all of last night... The day had been<br />
born out of the dark like a blueish<br />
smoke. It was the time of mist and<br />
the lagoon was sleeping, blurry. A sad<br />
aroma of silence emanated from it. The<br />
gray water, lost in the gray sky, was<br />
almost invisible. The waves sweetly<br />
caressed the shore as if it were being<br />
kissed. On the dark si<strong>de</strong> of the lagoon<br />
the world seemed to end, suspen<strong>de</strong>d<br />
over a ditch of sadness.<br />
The fishing boat <strong>de</strong>parted from the<br />
trees like the soft flutter of a live fish.<br />
Like the soul of an old tree that <strong>de</strong>parts<br />
from this world, the boat vanished like<br />
a fugitive in the foggy sky. The skinny<br />
wing of the pole sank and rose weaving<br />
with the edge of the oar.<br />
A fisherman sang. His voice was flying<br />
in the gol<strong>de</strong>n fog like a groggy bat that<br />
has just emerged from the dark. In the<br />
distance dying echoes on the water<br />
were heard. In the light that was being<br />
dissolved in the mist, strange shapes<br />
seemed to wake up to the spell cast by<br />
the singing. Silver hips were dancing<br />
on the silent water and blue hairs were<br />
floating in the breeze. In the margins<br />
there were vague sounds of mouths:<br />
sighs, kisses, and gargles that are<br />
opened to blossom water, as if all this<br />
witchcraft was awakened to become<br />
inebriated in the subtle morning.
Dejando suelta al dulce on<strong>de</strong>yo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
remolque la trenza <strong>de</strong> su canto, el<br />
negro Calistro calló chachando su<br />
mutismo al <strong>de</strong> su chero, como pa hacer<br />
un tecomate <strong>de</strong> tristura. Iban ligeros;<br />
más que sobre el cayuco, parecían<br />
bogar sobre el silencio. Una quiotra<br />
espumita iba reventona y efervescente<br />
en la punta <strong>de</strong>l remo, <strong>de</strong>jando oir su<br />
leve gorgorito.<br />
Seguía pringando cernido. Jueron<br />
<strong>de</strong>jando <strong>de</strong> remar, <strong>de</strong>jando, <strong>de</strong>jando,<br />
hasta que se quedaron casi quietos<br />
sobre el respiro <strong>de</strong>l agua dormida.<br />
El sol, enmedio <strong>de</strong> la ñebla, era<br />
como el corazón amariyo <strong>de</strong> una jlor<br />
algodonosa. Echaron los anzuelos. En<br />
aquella vagancia <strong>de</strong> las cosas no se<br />
sabía si picaría un pez o si picaría un<br />
pájaro.<br />
* * *<br />
Al mediodía se puso más tupido y más<br />
jrío. Llevaban tres horas pescando y<br />
no habían ajustado el tanto <strong>de</strong> rigor.<br />
Oyeron un cantar bajito, allí cerquita,<br />
y pensaron afligidos en El Duen<strong>de</strong>. De<br />
pronto, una sombra vaga surgió <strong>de</strong>l<br />
fondo <strong>de</strong> aquella claridad golpiada y<br />
se precipitó violenta sobre el cayuco.<br />
El golpe se oyó sordo como mazazo<br />
en pila<strong>de</strong>ra, y tras el golpe el chukuz,<br />
chukuz, chukuz <strong>de</strong> tres cuerpos al caer al<br />
agua. Manoteyos, voces y maldiciones,<br />
en trágico remolino, rondaron las<br />
cáscaras <strong>de</strong> los cayucos embruecados.<br />
71<br />
Letting loose the rope of his singing to<br />
the sweet waves of the trip, Calistro, the<br />
black man, was quiet uniting his silence<br />
to that of his friend’s merging into a ball<br />
of sadness. They were traveling fast.<br />
Rather than over water they seemed<br />
to row over silence. Every other crest<br />
of the wave was breaking and seething<br />
over the tip of the paddle, letting out<br />
the sound of its soft warble.<br />
It continued to steadily drizzle. They<br />
ceased rowing until they were almost<br />
motionless on the breath of the<br />
sleeping water. The sun, amid the mist,<br />
was like the yellow heart of a cotton-like<br />
flower. They cast their lines. Because of<br />
the circumstances, it was unknown<br />
whether they would catch a fish or a<br />
bird.<br />
* * *<br />
By noon it was raining ever har<strong>de</strong>r and it<br />
was even col<strong>de</strong>r. They had been fishing<br />
for three hours but had not caught<br />
enough. They heard a soft singing<br />
nearby and worried that it might be<br />
the Goblin. Sud<strong>de</strong>nly a vague shadow<br />
emerged from the bottom of that<br />
beaten clarity and launched violently<br />
into the boat. The thump was heard<br />
as a dull blow on a cayuco boat. The<br />
smashing was followed by the sounds<br />
plop, plop, plop of three bodies being<br />
tipped into the water. In the tragic<br />
maelstrom, hands smacking the water,<br />
yelling and cursing were surrounding<br />
the si<strong>de</strong>s of the flipped boat.
—¡Na<strong>de</strong> juerte, chero, hay que salir!...<br />
—Voy nadando, oyó. ¿Quién babosos<br />
será ése que vino a jo<strong>de</strong>rnos?<br />
Una voz cercana se <strong>de</strong>jó oír tranquila y<br />
orientera:<br />
—Van nadando al contra, hijós. Laguna<br />
a<strong>de</strong>ntro siogan; síganme a yo.<br />
Aquella seguridá les dio confianza; y a<br />
nado e chucho buscaron el braciado <strong>de</strong>l<br />
<strong>de</strong>sconocido, que los guió, los guió, los<br />
guió hasta que asentaron ja<strong>de</strong>antes en<br />
el lodito mechudo <strong>de</strong> la orilla. Al tanteyo<br />
buscaron el monte y se tendieron a<br />
<strong>de</strong>scansar. El negro Calistro estaba<br />
casi acalambrado por el yelo <strong>de</strong>l agua.<br />
Quería preguntar al <strong>de</strong>sconocido quién<br />
era, y darle las gracias; pero el juelgo se<br />
le atorzonaba en la garganta como un<br />
tapón y no podía hablar.<br />
Dejó al fin <strong>de</strong> pringar. Un vientecito<br />
brincador empezó a barrer el cielo.<br />
El sol logró meter un rayo dioro en<br />
la laguna, como carrizo en jícara, y<br />
empezó a beberse la cebada espumosa<br />
<strong>de</strong> aquella ñeblina. A las tres se vido<br />
clarito las dos rodillas prietas <strong>de</strong>l volcán<br />
acurrucado allá en Oriente. Como<br />
enormes esponjas oscuras, fueron<br />
apareciendo las ramazones <strong>de</strong> los<br />
palos asomados a la playa. En el patio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l rancho cercano, la tarraya colgada<br />
<strong>de</strong> una pértiga parecía la telaraña <strong>de</strong>l<br />
callar, para coger moscas <strong>de</strong> ruido.<br />
72<br />
“Swim hard, buddy! We gotta get out!<br />
“I’m swimming’, man. What the hell<br />
came to fuck us up?”<br />
Nearby a voice was heard, quiet and<br />
orienting:<br />
“You’re swimmin’ against the ti<strong>de</strong>, sons.<br />
If you keep goin’ you will drown, follow<br />
me.”<br />
The rescuer gave them confi<strong>de</strong>nce.<br />
And paddling doggy-style they sought<br />
the arm of the stranger, who gui<strong>de</strong>d<br />
them, gui<strong>de</strong>d them, gui<strong>de</strong>d them until<br />
they were settled, panting, on the mud<br />
of the shore. Blindly they had to feel<br />
their way around through the bushes<br />
and lay to rest. Calistro, the black man,<br />
felt cramped from the coldness of<br />
the water. He wanted to ask who the<br />
stranger was and thank him, but his<br />
breath was stuck in his throat like a<br />
stopper and he could not speak.<br />
It finally stopped raining. A jumpy<br />
wind began to sweep the sky. The sun<br />
managed to project a gol<strong>de</strong>n glimmer<br />
onto the pond, like reeds in a gourdtree,<br />
and started to drink up the frothy barley<br />
of that haze. At three o’clock they clearly<br />
saw the two black knees of the volcano<br />
nestled in the East. Looking onto the<br />
beach the branches of the trees, like<br />
enormous dark sponges, appeared. In<br />
the yard of the nearest shack, a castout<br />
net hung from a pole looked like a web<br />
of silence to catch flies of noise.
El negro Calistro y su compañero miraron<br />
curiosos al en<strong>de</strong>viduo neshnito 145 , que<br />
no lejos <strong>de</strong> ellos mostraba su espalda<br />
negra y angulosa <strong>de</strong> taburete viejo.<br />
Les bía sacado seguros, reuto y al mero<br />
punto <strong>de</strong> su propio rancho. Cuando el<br />
indio volvió su cara barboncita, cholca y<br />
sonriente, una exclamación <strong>de</strong> asombro<br />
brotó al unísono <strong>de</strong> sus labios:<br />
—¡Ño Vicente, el ciego!...<br />
—El mesmo, hijós. A nosotros los<br />
chocos nos encamina el estinto, un<br />
estinto más seguro que la bruja <strong>de</strong> los<br />
ductores, quiapunta siempre al Norte,<br />
según el <strong>de</strong>cir...<br />
73<br />
Black Calistro and his partner looked<br />
curiously at the shabby man who<br />
had his dark and angular back turned<br />
towards them like an old stool. He had<br />
gui<strong>de</strong>d them safely, straight to his shack.<br />
When the peasant turned to face them,<br />
bear<strong>de</strong>d, dirty and smiling, in unison,<br />
an exclamation of astonishment broke<br />
from their lips:<br />
“Señor Vincente, the blind man!<br />
“That’s me, sons. We, the blind, get<br />
around by using our instinct, an instinct<br />
more accurate than a compass of the<br />
doctors, which is said to always point<br />
towards the North…<br />
145. cf. Ana Rojas’ “neido”: sick looking. See Campbell “nexnah”: sucio <strong>de</strong> ceniza, <strong>de</strong> polvo.
eSeNcIa De<br />
“aZar” 146<br />
La aurora se iba subiendo por la pared<br />
<strong>de</strong>l Oriente, como una enreda<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
Floreaba corimbos rosados y gajos<br />
azules. Una que otra hoja dorada<br />
asomaba su punta. Las estrellas se iban<br />
<strong>de</strong>stiñendo una por una.<br />
Un vientecillo helado, aclarante como si<br />
llevara disuelta en su caudal la luz, iba<br />
llenando la pila <strong>de</strong>l mundo con el agua<br />
dorada <strong>de</strong>l día. Los gallos flotaban, aquí<br />
y allá, como pétalos <strong>de</strong>spenicados <strong>de</strong><br />
una sola alegría.<br />
Dulcemente se abrió la puerta <strong>de</strong> la<br />
esquina y espantó en la tienda los olores<br />
dormidos: olor a maicillo y a petate<br />
nuevo; olor a mantadril148 y a cambray<br />
pirujo149 , a jabón, a canela y anís. La luz<br />
tranquila entró, limpiando <strong>de</strong> sombras<br />
los estantes, los mostradores, los sacos<br />
aglomerados a lo largo <strong>de</strong> la pared y<br />
la máquina <strong>de</strong> coser, sobre la cual el<br />
gato gris seguía durmiendo, enroscado<br />
como un yagual.<br />
74<br />
oraNGe BloSSoM<br />
eSSeNce 147<br />
The dawn crept up the wall of the Orient,<br />
like a climbing plant. It blossomed with<br />
pink corymbs and blue clusters. The<br />
tips of the gol<strong>de</strong>n leaves were peeking<br />
out. The stars were fading out one by<br />
one.<br />
A gentle cool wind, shiny as if it were<br />
carrying light diluted in its flow, was<br />
filling up the sink of the world with<br />
the daily gol<strong>de</strong>n water. The roosters’<br />
crowing floated here and there, like<br />
petals shed out of happiness.<br />
The door of the store at the corner of<br />
the house opened gently scattering<br />
the dormant smells: smells of millet and<br />
new straw mats; smells of coarse cotton<br />
fabric and painted cloth, 150 smells of<br />
soap, cinnamon and aniseed. The quiet<br />
light came in, cleaning off the shadows<br />
from the shelves and counters, from the<br />
sacks stocked along the wall, and from<br />
the sewing machine where the gray cat<br />
continued to sleep all curled up like a<br />
yagual. 151<br />
146. RAE: azahar. (Del ár. hisp. azzahár, y este <strong>de</strong>l ár. clás. zahr, flores). 1. m. Flor blanca, y por antonom.,<br />
la <strong>de</strong>l naranjo, limonero y cidro. La escencia que se prepara con la flor <strong>de</strong>l naranjo (o en este caso, <strong>de</strong><br />
cualquier otro cítrico) y se emplea en medicina como sedante<br />
147. Or any other citrus fruit flower used as a sedative or relaxing agent.<br />
148. Salarrué: Tela ordinaria <strong>de</strong> algodón, <strong>de</strong> que se visten los indios.<br />
149. Salarrué: tela con dibujos a círculos <strong>de</strong>l tamaño <strong>de</strong> monedas gran<strong>de</strong>s.<br />
150. Coarse cloth with imprints the size of a half-dollar.<br />
151. Yagual is a piece of cloth or strawmat in the shape of a turbin. Women wear it on top of the head<br />
for carrying goods.
La Toya abrió también la ventana; y,<br />
cogiendo la escoba <strong>de</strong>l rincón, empezó<br />
a barrer con el polvo <strong>de</strong> tiste <strong>de</strong> los<br />
ladrillos, las tiras <strong>de</strong> género, las briznas<br />
<strong>de</strong> tusa, los pelos <strong>de</strong> elote y uno quiotro<br />
papel. A lo lejos, freían un huevo.<br />
La ña Grabiela salió <strong>de</strong>l dormitorio,<br />
apartando la cortina <strong>de</strong> perraje. Era<br />
una viejecita blanca, lenta y encorvada.<br />
Sus ojillos, ver<strong>de</strong>s y hundidos,<br />
miraban bajeros, siguiendo los giros<br />
<strong>de</strong>l pescuezo. Sobre su panzinga <strong>de</strong><br />
beata, colgaba el <strong>de</strong>lantal fruncido;<br />
y, sobre el <strong>de</strong>lantal, el mosquero <strong>de</strong><br />
llaves. Tembeleque, llegó al mostrador;<br />
miró, con ojos <strong>de</strong> ausencia, la calle<br />
empedrada que subía curveando; el<br />
trasero mugriento <strong>de</strong> la iglesia; y, a<br />
través <strong>de</strong>l arco <strong>de</strong>l campanario, el cielo<br />
azul, <strong>de</strong> un azul dominguero. Luego,<br />
la ña Grabiela abrió la gaveta <strong>de</strong>l<br />
mostrador y, metiendo su blanda mano<br />
<strong>de</strong> espulgadora, hizo sonar el humil<strong>de</strong><br />
pianito <strong>de</strong>l pisto.<br />
—¡Toya!...<br />
—¡Man<strong>de</strong>!...<br />
—Andá on<strong>de</strong> Lino, que te venda un<br />
cuis152 <strong>de</strong> esencia <strong>de</strong> azar. Lleva el bote.<br />
Miá güelto el dolor...<br />
75<br />
Toya also opened the window. She<br />
grabbed the broom from the corner<br />
and began to sweep the floor. A reddish<br />
dust cloud was formed as she swept off<br />
the tiles littered with bla<strong>de</strong>s of husks,<br />
threads of silk, and some bits of paper.<br />
In the distance, someone was frying an<br />
egg.<br />
Señora Gabriela came out of her<br />
bedroom, pushing the coarse curtain<br />
out of the way. She was a <strong>de</strong>ar old lady,<br />
pale-skinned, slow and hunched. Her<br />
green and sunken eyes looked down,<br />
following the turns of her neck. Her<br />
wrinkled apron was draperd over her<br />
belly like a nun’s habit, and a bunch of<br />
keys swarmed over her apron. Shakily,<br />
she approached the counter, and with<br />
absent eyes she looked at the curvy<br />
stoned road going up the hill, at the<br />
mucky rear of the church, and through<br />
the bell tower, at the blue sky, blue like<br />
a Sunday morning. Gabriela opened the<br />
counter drawer, and searching with her<br />
expert hands found the bag of coins.<br />
“Toya!”<br />
“Yes?”<br />
152. Cuartillo, moneda <strong>de</strong> 1/4 <strong>de</strong> real (Este último vale 12 1/2 centavos).<br />
“Go to Lino’s to buy me some essence of<br />
orange blossom. Bring this little bottle<br />
with you. My pain is back...
Por la esquina entró una cipota y fue a<br />
pegarse al mostrador, empinándose sin<br />
lograr dominarlo.<br />
—Ración<br />
almidón...<br />
<strong>de</strong> canela y ración <strong>de</strong><br />
Cantaba al hablar. La ña Grabiela, que<br />
era un poco sorda, no la oyó.<br />
Andaba dando vueltecitas <strong>de</strong> uno a<br />
otro lado. Espantó al gato, metiéndole<br />
un tastazo en la nalga.<br />
—Ración<br />
almidón...<br />
<strong>de</strong> canela y ración <strong>de</strong><br />
La viejecita entró en el dormitorio,<br />
apartando la cortina. Iba<br />
tambaleándose. La niña, siempre<br />
pegadita al mostrador, catarrosa y<br />
<strong>de</strong>smechada, continuaba esperando. A<br />
lo lejos, en el patio, alguien se bañaba a<br />
guacaladas.<br />
De la trastienda llegaba un quejarse<br />
congojoso. La cipota no hablaba<br />
ya más: escuchaba, con la boca<br />
entreabierta, el quejarse monótono,<br />
como mecido <strong>de</strong> hamaca. Poco a poco<br />
iba menguando, menguando... hasta<br />
callar. Cuando calló, la niña salió tímida<br />
al andén y aguardó.<br />
Llegó la Toya, con la esencia <strong>de</strong> azar. La<br />
niña la <strong>de</strong>tuvo.<br />
76<br />
A young girl entered into the shop,<br />
hung onto the counter as if she were<br />
glued to it. She stood on tiptoe unable<br />
to keep her balance.<br />
“A portion of cinnamon and a portion<br />
of starch...” She sang as she spoke.<br />
Gabriela did not hear her because she<br />
was a little <strong>de</strong>af.<br />
She paced back and forth, scaring the<br />
cat away with a swat on his behind.<br />
“A portion of cinnamon and a portion<br />
of starch...”<br />
The old lady went back into her<br />
bedroom, brushing the curtain asi<strong>de</strong>.<br />
She walked staggering. The unkempt<br />
little girl, still glued to the counter, snotnosed<br />
and messy hair, continued to<br />
wait. In the distant courtyard, splashes<br />
were heard as someone bathed in a<br />
traditional fashion, scooping water<br />
from the trough and pouring it over<br />
their head.<br />
A painful groan came from the<br />
backroom. The girl stopped her<br />
singing; she was now just listening with<br />
her mouth agape to the monotonous<br />
moan like the creaking of a hammock.<br />
It was fading out little by little... until<br />
it was gone. When it stopped, the girl<br />
walked to the si<strong>de</strong>walk and timidly<br />
waited there.<br />
Toya finally arrived with the essence of<br />
orange blossom. The girl stopped her.
—La ña Grabiela taba quejándose, y se<br />
jue callando, y se jue callando, y se jue<br />
callando... hasta que se calló.<br />
La Toya entró corriendo.<br />
—¡Madrina, Madrina!...<br />
Alguien seguía bañándose en el patio,<br />
a guacaladas. Dulcemente volvió<br />
a cerrarse la puerta <strong>de</strong> la esquina,<br />
guardando los olores: olor a maicillo,<br />
olor a petates, olor a manta y a cambray<br />
pirujo, a jabón, a canela y anís... y a<br />
esencia <strong>de</strong> azar.<br />
77<br />
“Señora Gabriela was moaning and<br />
she became more and more quiet, and<br />
then she fa<strong>de</strong>d away.”<br />
Toya rushed insi<strong>de</strong>.<br />
“Godmother, godmother!”<br />
Someone continued bathing in the<br />
courtyard, splashing lots of water from<br />
the trough. The corner door of the store<br />
was once again gently shut, keeping<br />
in the smells: smells of millet and new<br />
straw mat; smells of coarse cotton<br />
fabric and painted cloth, smells of soap,<br />
cinnamon and aniseed, and the smell<br />
of essence of orange blossom.
eN la lÍNea<br />
Todos los días pasaba la ciudad cuatro<br />
veces, dos <strong>de</strong> ida, dos <strong>de</strong> vuelta. Paraba<br />
allí un momento, con su vocerío y su<br />
ven<strong>de</strong>r y comprar, con su cosa <strong>de</strong> clases<br />
y alcurnias y con sus lenguas exóticas.<br />
Cuando se alejaba la estación quedaba<br />
otra vez en el grato abandono <strong>de</strong>l<br />
campo, solita a la sombra <strong>de</strong> la montaña,<br />
con sus plátanos <strong>de</strong> hojas dormilonas<br />
en la brisa, y sus madrecacaos vestidos<br />
<strong>de</strong> encaje. La paz contaba gotas en el<br />
verti<strong>de</strong>ro cercano, entre quequeishques<br />
<strong>de</strong> gran<strong>de</strong>s hojas, envidiadas por el<br />
elefante negro <strong>de</strong>l tanque bebe<strong>de</strong>ro,<br />
que no tenía orejas para sacudirse los<br />
mosquitos.<br />
Cuando el tren se había perdido en el<br />
recodo; cuando sólo se oía ya el rodar<br />
sordo <strong>de</strong> torrentera y apenas, al cruzar<br />
un corte lejano, se miraba el bíceps<br />
apurado <strong>de</strong> la locomotora color <strong>de</strong><br />
clarinero, que iba hundiéndose en el<br />
viento con su cola <strong>de</strong> rojo-quemado, la<br />
sombra enfrente <strong>de</strong> la estación se hacía<br />
más ancha y más fresca, volvían a oírse<br />
los gallos y el chiflido <strong>de</strong>l viento en los<br />
alambres <strong>de</strong>l teléfono.<br />
El volcán estaba enfrente, enmontañado<br />
y silencioso; las nubes inclinadas<br />
miraban indolentes, perezosas y<br />
adormiladas los cuadritos <strong>de</strong> los<br />
sembrados y aradas; y en la oquedad<br />
<strong>de</strong> la casita <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra y lámina se oía el<br />
78<br />
oN THe TraIN<br />
TracKS<br />
It passed through the city four times<br />
a day: two going into the city and<br />
two going out. It stopped there for a<br />
moment, amidst all the shouting, all<br />
the selling and all the buying, bringing<br />
people with class and lineage, and with<br />
exotic tongues. When the train left the<br />
station the building felt abandoned in<br />
countrysi<strong>de</strong>, lonely in the shadow of<br />
the mountain with its sleepy plantain<br />
leaves swaying in the breeze, and its<br />
gliricidias dressed in flowers. Peace<br />
counted drops in the nearby spillway,<br />
between the big-leaved quequeshque<br />
trees. The drinking trough that looked<br />
like a black elephant that did not have<br />
ears to scare away the gnats envied it.<br />
When the train passed around the<br />
bend, it was gone. Only the <strong>de</strong>af turn<br />
of the channel was heard. The only<br />
thing that was left to be seen was the<br />
speedy bicep of the grackle-colored<br />
locomotive, its burnt-red tail sinking<br />
in the wind. The shadow in front of<br />
the station grew wi<strong>de</strong>r and fresher.<br />
Roosters and the whistle of the wind on<br />
the telephone cables could be heard<br />
again.<br />
The volcano that sat in front of the<br />
station was hid<strong>de</strong>n in the mountains,<br />
silent. The lazy and sleepy sloping<br />
clouds indolently gazed at the<br />
patchwork squares of the plantations<br />
and plowing fields. In the cavity of the
aparatito <strong>de</strong>l telégrafo, picando letras,<br />
como paloma mensajera <strong>de</strong> ávido<br />
buche.<br />
Había <strong>de</strong>trás una hortaliza que el viejo<br />
Jefe <strong>de</strong> Estación, lampiño y célibe,<br />
regaba balanceando la rega<strong>de</strong>ra con<br />
la unción <strong>de</strong> quien fumiga un altar.<br />
Un mozo dormía <strong>de</strong>spernancado en<br />
la banca <strong>de</strong> la plataforma; y allá, junto<br />
al cerco <strong>de</strong>l potrero, que se perdía en<br />
lejanas hondonadas, un caballo blanco<br />
dormitaba <strong>de</strong> pie, esperando la caricia<br />
cuotidiana <strong>de</strong>l viejo, quien al pasar con<br />
la rega<strong>de</strong>ra vacía, le palmeaba la tabla<br />
reluciente <strong>de</strong>l cuello.<br />
Había para el Jefe <strong>de</strong> Estación largas<br />
horas <strong>de</strong> recreo, como para los niños<br />
<strong>de</strong> escuela. Él jugaba entonces a regar;<br />
a sembrar nuevas eras; a llenar el filtro;<br />
a poner fruta en la jaula <strong>de</strong> las chiltotas;<br />
a coger la toalla, el guacal <strong>de</strong> lata y el<br />
jabón diolor y meterse en la caseta<br />
<strong>de</strong> lámina sin techo, don<strong>de</strong> había un<br />
barril <strong>de</strong> hierro rebalsando <strong>de</strong> frescura;<br />
a sentarse en la perezosa <strong>de</strong> lona<br />
mugrienta, para leer con sus anteojos<br />
rajados el diario tardío; a contemplar,<br />
puesto en jarras153 y la cabeza echada a<br />
la espalda, cómo pasaban las manchas<br />
<strong>de</strong> pericos bulliciosos, o a dormir en<br />
la hamaquita, con sueño alígero <strong>de</strong><br />
cumplidor <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>beres. Era un buen<br />
hombre y un hombre feliz.<br />
79<br />
little house ma<strong>de</strong> of wood planks and<br />
tin sheets the telegraph was heard<br />
chopping letters like a carrier pigeon<br />
with an eager crop.<br />
The Chief of the Station, hairless and<br />
celibate, ten<strong>de</strong>d his vegetable gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />
behind the station. He watered his<br />
gar<strong>de</strong>n balancing a watering can with<br />
the unction of one who fumigates an<br />
altar. A bow-legged porter slept on the<br />
bench of the plattform. There, near the<br />
pasture fence that was lost in its distant<br />
hollows, a white horse was sleeping<br />
standing up, waiting for the usual caress<br />
of the old man who, when passing by<br />
with his empty watering can, patted his<br />
shiny neck.<br />
Like school children the Chief of Station<br />
had long hours for recess. He played by<br />
watering the gar<strong>de</strong>n, preparing planting<br />
mounds, filling up the filter, feeding<br />
fruit to his streak-backed orioles jailed<br />
in a cage, picking up the towels, the tin<br />
guacal 154 and the shower soap. He then<br />
went to the roofless tin booth that had<br />
a metal water cistern overflowing with<br />
freshness. He grabbed his eye-glasses<br />
so he could read the newspaper while<br />
he sat in his old rocking chair with a<br />
grimy coarse-cotton seat. His arms<br />
akimbo and his head tilted back, he<br />
contemplated the passing noisy flocks<br />
of parrots. After that he would take a<br />
rest in the little hammock like someone<br />
who had plowed in the fields. He was a<br />
good man and a happy man.<br />
153. RAE: jarra. 1. locs. advs. Dicho <strong>de</strong> disponer el cuerpo: Poniendo las manos en la cintura.<br />
154. A dipper used to scoop water from a barrel to bathe.
* * *<br />
Un día, acababa <strong>de</strong> nacer la manada <strong>de</strong><br />
pollos, cuando no había aún llegado el<br />
primer tren, mientras se sacaba <strong>de</strong> la<br />
planta <strong>de</strong>l pie una espina <strong>de</strong> ishcanal<br />
que le había atravesado la suela, sonó<br />
el timbre <strong>de</strong>l teléfono. Renqueando se<br />
acercó al aparato y dio varias vueltas<br />
a aquella manivela, que zumbaba<br />
siempre como abejorro <strong>de</strong> alarma<br />
que acongoja el corazón. Le hablaban<br />
<strong>de</strong> la estación terminal, y <strong>de</strong> or<strong>de</strong>n<br />
<strong>de</strong>l Gerente pasaría el lunes a otra<br />
estación.<br />
Colgó el audífono con la lentitud y<br />
parsimonia <strong>de</strong> quien coloca una corona<br />
sobre una tumba. Todo aquel amor <strong>de</strong>l<br />
paisaje y <strong>de</strong>l hogar estaba <strong>de</strong>struido;<br />
<strong>de</strong>struido como por un huracán,<br />
como por un terremoto, como por un<br />
incendio, sin que pasara nada... Cuando<br />
el pito <strong>de</strong>l tren sonó en la distancia, él<br />
lo confundió con un sollozo <strong>de</strong>masiado<br />
retenido, que se hace grito en las<br />
entrañas. Luego comprendió. Se enjugó<br />
los ojos con la manga negra; hizo, a su<br />
pesar, unos cuantos pucheros con su<br />
boca sin dientes, y se preparó a recibir<br />
el convoy, la ciudad errante <strong>de</strong> los que<br />
no compren<strong>de</strong>n ni aprecian la paz y la<br />
soledad.<br />
80<br />
* * *<br />
One day, just before the first train arrived,<br />
a brood of chicks hatched. The phone<br />
rang while he was pulling out a thorn<br />
of the ishcanal bush from the bottom<br />
of his foot that had poked through<br />
his shoe. Limping he approached the<br />
apparatus and whirled the handle<br />
several times. Its heart-distressing<br />
alarm buzzed like a bumblebee. The<br />
call was from the terminal station. The<br />
Manager or<strong>de</strong>red that he leave his<br />
post for another station beginning on<br />
Monday.<br />
He hung up with the slowness and<br />
parsimony of one who puts a wreath on<br />
a tomb. All his love for the landscape and<br />
for his home was <strong>de</strong>stroyed, <strong>de</strong>stroyed<br />
as if by a hurricane, or an earthquake,<br />
or a fire... without anything happening<br />
really. When the train whistled in the<br />
distance, he mistook it for a repressed<br />
sob that turns into a gut-wrenching<br />
scream in the entrails. Then reality hit<br />
him. He wiped away his tears with his<br />
black sleeve. The lips of his toothless<br />
mouth quivered, pouting several times,<br />
and he prepared to receive the convoy,<br />
the wan<strong>de</strong>ring city of those who neither<br />
un<strong>de</strong>rstand nor appreciate peace and<br />
solitu<strong>de</strong>.
el coNTaGIo<br />
Después <strong>de</strong>l aguacero <strong>de</strong> la noche, había<br />
clareado gris, mojado, encharcado,<br />
invernicio... Venía la mañana en ondas<br />
frescas, anegando la oscuridad. Todavía<br />
no daban sombra las cosas; las sombras<br />
eran diluyentes, borrosas como luz<br />
golpeada, como humedad <strong>de</strong> sal. Se<br />
venía el olor jelado <strong>de</strong>l cielo, con algo<br />
<strong>de</strong> amoníaco y algo <strong>de</strong> ropa limpia.<br />
Silbaba, único, un pajarito invisible en<br />
un árbol frondoso; silbaba con dulzura<br />
<strong>de</strong> agüita plateada. Las hojas nadaban<br />
en los remansos <strong>de</strong> brisa, como<br />
pececitos oscuros. Iba clareando... Y<br />
el alma, como los matorrales, estaba<br />
empapada <strong>de</strong> felicidad.<br />
En la casa <strong>de</strong> la finca, el patio cuadrado<br />
dormía aún. Por el lodito habían pasado<br />
los chuchos. Una teja salediza se había<br />
quedado contando gotas azules,<br />
sobre un charquito que, abajo, bailaba<br />
trompos diagua. Salía el humo <strong>de</strong> la<br />
galera, como una parra celestial. <strong>Don</strong><br />
Nayo, enrollada en la nuca una toalla<br />
barbona, venía por el corredor. Con el<br />
bastón abría un hoyito, y sembraba una<br />
tos; abría un hoyito, y sembraba una<br />
tos. Los murciégalos se iban enchutando<br />
en las rendijas oscuras <strong>de</strong>l tabanco158 ,<br />
como pedradas <strong>de</strong> noche.<br />
81<br />
THe aPPle DoeSN’T<br />
fall far froM THe<br />
Tree 155<br />
After the downpour of the prior<br />
evening, the morning was gray,<br />
wet, waterlogged, winter-like... 156<br />
The morning light arrived in fresh<br />
waves flooding the darkness. Things<br />
hadn’t given birth to their shadows<br />
yet. Shadows were blurry, fa<strong>de</strong>d like<br />
subdued light, like clumps of dirty<br />
snow. 157 Cold aromas wafted from the<br />
sky with the odor of ammonia and smell<br />
of fresh laundry. A single unseen bird in<br />
a leafy tree whistled singing with the<br />
sweetness of silver water. The leaves<br />
were swimming in the backwaters of<br />
the breeze, like dark little fish. It was<br />
getting lighter... And her soul, like<br />
the bushes, was overflowing with<br />
happiness.<br />
At the farmhouse, the square yard was<br />
still asleep. Dogs had walked in the<br />
mud. A dripping bay tile 159 had been<br />
counting blue drops in a tiny puddle on<br />
the ground, forming circles that looked<br />
like spinning tops. Steam rose from the<br />
loft like a heavenly vine. Señor Nayo<br />
was coming down the corridor with<br />
his neck wrapped in a thick towel. As<br />
he walked his cane poked a hole in the<br />
ground and planted a cough; poked<br />
another hole and coughed again.<br />
The bats were flying through the dark<br />
cracks of the barn, like stones hurled at<br />
night.<br />
155. The original story is called “The Contagion.” Tradition says that parents should warn their daughters against<br />
sex so that they don’t get “the infection.”<br />
156. In this context, winter-like means rainy, in the rainy season.<br />
157. Literally, like clumps of wet salt.<br />
158. Desván.<br />
159. Architecture: a protruding rooftile
A lo lejos, lejos, los gallos abrían puertas<br />
chillonas. El día se tambaleaba in<strong>de</strong>ciso,<br />
bajo la nubazón sucia, como carpa <strong>de</strong><br />
circo pobre.<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Nayo llegó al portón. No podía<br />
en<strong>de</strong>rezar la cabeza, porque su nuca<br />
estaba paralizada; lo cual le daba un<br />
vago aspecto <strong>de</strong> tortuga mareña. Miró<br />
al cielo <strong>de</strong> reojo; aspiró el olor <strong>de</strong> los<br />
limones; se puso el palo bajo el brazo y<br />
llamó aplaudiendo.<br />
—¡Can<strong>de</strong>!...<br />
La Can<strong>de</strong> gritó <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> la cocina:<br />
—¡Mandé!...<br />
—Date priesa...<br />
La Can<strong>de</strong> atravesó el patio <strong>de</strong>jando su<br />
priesa pintada en el suelo. Era quinzona,<br />
rubita, gordita, nalgona, chapuda y<br />
sonreiba constantemente. Daba la<br />
impresión <strong>de</strong> bañada, <strong>de</strong>ntro <strong>de</strong>l traje<br />
pushco160 y jediondo.<br />
—¿Qué quiere, tata?...<br />
El viejo le alcanzó la oreja al tanteyo.<br />
—Babosa, no téi dicho que cuando<br />
vengas a trer lagua, cerrés bien la<br />
palanquera!<br />
82<br />
In the distance, far away, the roosters<br />
opened the squeaky doors. The day,<br />
in<strong>de</strong>cisive, staggered un<strong>de</strong>r the dirty<br />
clouds like a cheap circus tent.<br />
Señor Nayo reached the gate. He wasn’t<br />
able to keep his head straightened up<br />
because his neck was paralyzed, which<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> him look vaguely like a sea turtle.<br />
He glanced at the sky out of the corners<br />
of his eyes, inhaled the smell of limes,<br />
put his cane un<strong>de</strong>r his arm, and clapped<br />
his hands as he yelled:<br />
“Can<strong>de</strong>!”<br />
She respon<strong>de</strong>d from the kitchen:<br />
“Yes?”<br />
“Come here now...”<br />
Can<strong>de</strong> ran through the yard leaving<br />
her hurried footprints painted on<br />
the ground. She was about fifteen,<br />
blondish, pleasantly chubby, with a<br />
nicely roun<strong>de</strong>d bottom, rosy-cheeked,<br />
and she smiled often. Although her<br />
clothes were stinky and dirty, she gave<br />
the impression of being showered.<br />
“Whatcha want, Pa?”<br />
The old man reached out and wrenched<br />
her ear.<br />
“You fool! Haven’t ah told ya to make<br />
sure the pump handle is closed tight<br />
after you go git water?”<br />
160. Sucio. Schultze (183) regoje “pusháua” para ennegrecido; Campbell, “puk-na” para sucio.
La campaneó tantito y, arreándola, con<br />
el palo enarbolado, la siguió hasta el<br />
platanar.<br />
—¡No cierre, animala, espere que salgan<br />
las yeguas!: ¿no ve que están allá?...<br />
Tres yeguas secas estaban olisqueando<br />
en la huerta. Sobre las eras <strong>de</strong> nardos se<br />
veían los hoyos <strong>de</strong> los cascos. Se fueron<br />
aculando <strong>de</strong>spacio contra la cerca;<br />
y, cuando la Can<strong>de</strong> les cortó el paso,<br />
saliendo <strong>de</strong>l breñal con un chirrión en<br />
alto, las tres bestias dieron un respingo<br />
nervioso y huyeron por la puerta hacia<br />
el potrero. A lo lejos, seguía oyéndose<br />
el galope con su patacón, patacón,<br />
patacón...<br />
Había amanecido. El viento madruguero<br />
había ido cogiendo cada estrella con<br />
dos <strong>de</strong>dos, soplándolas como mota<br />
<strong>de</strong> ángel, hasta <strong>de</strong>saparecerlas. Por un<br />
<strong>de</strong>scascarado <strong>de</strong> nubes, se miraba la<br />
paré <strong>de</strong>l cielo, ricién untada <strong>de</strong> azul. Los<br />
volcanes bostezaban, en camisón <strong>de</strong><br />
dormir. Pringaba.<br />
—Traiga el canasto, Can<strong>de</strong>: vamos a<br />
pepenar los nances y los limones.<br />
83<br />
He tugged her ears like a bell, and<br />
drove her ahead with his cane raised,<br />
following her all the way to the<br />
banana161 plantation.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t close it, you dumb animal! Wait<br />
‘til the horses leave. Can’t you see they<br />
still <strong>de</strong>r?”<br />
Three skinny mares were sniffing in<br />
the orchard. Hoof prints could be seen<br />
throughout the beds of lilies. They<br />
slowly backed up towards the fence,<br />
and when Can<strong>de</strong> blocked their way<br />
with a raised stick, the three beasts<br />
jerked nervously and fled through the<br />
gate to the pasture. Their gallop could<br />
be heard in the distance their clickityclack!<br />
clickity-clack! 162<br />
The day had dawned. The earliest wind<br />
had plucked every star with two fingers,<br />
blowing them like cottonwood seeds<br />
until they disappeared. In between<br />
the clouds you could see the wall of<br />
the sky freshly painted of blue. The<br />
volcanoes were yawning in their misty<br />
nightgowns. It was drizzling.<br />
“Bring the baskets, Can<strong>de</strong>. We have<br />
to pick up the locust berries and the<br />
lemons.”<br />
161. Plantain plantation.<br />
162. The onomaetopeia for galloping in Salvadoran Spanish contains 9 sounds /pa-ta-cán/; syllabification<br />
in English: /cli-cki-ty-clack/ (8 sounds).
La Can<strong>de</strong> fue por el canasto. Bajo<br />
el limonero, el suelo doraba. Olía a<br />
mañana. Daba lástima <strong>de</strong>sarreglar<br />
el paisaje enfrutado. <strong>Don</strong> Nayo y la<br />
Can<strong>de</strong> fueron pepenando, uno a uno,<br />
los limones. Más abajo, al haz <strong>de</strong> un<br />
granado, estaba el nance. El suelo<br />
aparecía cundido. La la<strong>de</strong>ra había<br />
llevado rodando los nances hasta bien<br />
lejos. Parecía como si a la planta se le<br />
hubiera roto el hilo <strong>de</strong> un inmenso<br />
collar.<br />
—Tempapádo el monte, tata.<br />
—Cuidá <strong>de</strong> no empuercar el vestido.<br />
—Afíjese<br />
Contagio...<br />
que anoche soñé el<br />
—¿Eh?...<br />
—Era un endizuelo así, sapito, con<br />
buche y con una cosa feya aquí.<br />
—¿On<strong>de</strong>?<br />
—Aquí...<br />
Seguían cayendo limones, que<br />
quedaban medio hundidos en el lodo<br />
negro. A orillas <strong>de</strong> la acequia se oía<br />
una fiesta <strong>de</strong> sanates. Bajo los charrales<br />
empezaron a rascar las gallinas,<br />
haciendo sonar las hojas marchitas. Los<br />
grillos se habían ido consumiendo en el<br />
claror.<br />
84<br />
Can<strong>de</strong> went to fetch the basket. Un<strong>de</strong>r<br />
the tree the ground was gol<strong>de</strong>n yellow<br />
with lemons. It smelled like morning. It<br />
was a shame to have to ruin the fruited<br />
landscape. Señor Nayo and Can<strong>de</strong><br />
picked up the lemons, one by one.<br />
Down further, next to the pomegranate<br />
tree, there was a locust berry tree. The<br />
ground was covered with fruit. The<br />
slope of the land had carried the locust<br />
berries so far away. It seemed as if the<br />
tree had an immense necklace of fruit<br />
and that its thread had been broken.<br />
“The bushes are wet, Pa.”<br />
“See that you don’t soil your dress.”<br />
“So, last night I had a dream about<br />
getting the infection.”<br />
“What?”<br />
“He was one of them Indians, short,<br />
with a big belly, and an ugly thing<br />
down here.”<br />
“Where?”<br />
“Here.”<br />
Lemons kept falling and got half stuck<br />
in the black mud. On the banks of the<br />
canal the Great-tailed Grackle had<br />
their own loud party. Hens began to<br />
scratch un<strong>de</strong>r the scrubbrush, making<br />
a sound in the dry leaves. The crickets<br />
languished in the radiance of the day.
—Mero horrible, el indizuelo; y me<br />
chunguiaba.<br />
—¿Te qué?...<br />
—Me guasiaba y me chunguiaba, en<br />
un cuento como cuarto oscuro... ¡Uy!...<br />
Es que comí chacalines...<br />
—De juro que eso jue...<br />
—Écheme una mano, tata.<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Nayo le ayudó, como pudo, a<br />
ponerse el canasto en la cabeza. La<br />
Can<strong>de</strong> lo sostenía con ambas manos;<br />
las mechas le caiban por la cara; con<br />
un respingo se afirmó, equilibró el<br />
espinazo; sacó la puntita roja <strong>de</strong> la<br />
lengua y se alejó hacia la casa, con<br />
rítmico andar.<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Nayo miraba alejarse a su hija.<br />
Pensó: «Es guapa, es güena163 , la<br />
chelona»; se sonrió, con sonrisa <strong>de</strong><br />
arruga. Los gallos abrían a lo lejos<br />
fantásticas puertas; por ellas entró<br />
bruscamente un chorro <strong>de</strong> sol.<br />
* * *<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Nayo paró a su mujer en la mitad<br />
<strong>de</strong>l dormitorio.<br />
85<br />
“Kinda horrible, the Indian. And he<br />
teased me.”<br />
“He what?”<br />
“He bantered with me and teased me,<br />
in some kind of dark room. Maybe I<br />
dreamed this because I ate shimp.”<br />
“Ah bet it was...”<br />
“Gimme a hand, Pa.”<br />
Señor Nayo tried to help her, as much<br />
as he was able, to get the basket over<br />
her head. Can<strong>de</strong> was holding it with<br />
both hands; streaks of hair fell over her<br />
face. She straightened up with a start,<br />
adjusted her spine, stuck out the red<br />
tip of her tongue, and left for her house<br />
with a rhythmic gait.<br />
Señor Nayo saw his daughter walk<br />
away. He thought, “my girl is pretty,<br />
good looking with light skin.” 164 Then he<br />
smiled a wrinkly smile. In the distance,<br />
the roosters were opening fantastic<br />
doors, and through them, a stream of<br />
sunlight burst in.<br />
* * *<br />
Señor Nayo stopped his woman in the<br />
middle of the bedroom.<br />
163. Quizás “buena”. Otra interpretación es la referencia al Río Güeña en el Principado <strong>de</strong> Asturias. Güeña<br />
equivale a ser Europeo. Hay que recordar que los asturianos son los más rubios <strong>de</strong> la península porque<br />
no hubo influencia <strong>de</strong> los moros.<br />
164. Light skin, or resembling European ancestry. Güeña in Spanish is an area in Asturias, Spain that did<br />
not have influence of the Moors.
—Mirá, Lupe —le dijo—, andá con<br />
cuidado con la Can<strong>de</strong>: ya maliseya...<br />
—¿Eh?...<br />
—No me gustan tantito, sus caidas<br />
diojos, sus pandiadas al pararse. Méi<br />
fijado que <strong>de</strong>ja a ratos <strong>de</strong> moler y se<br />
come las uñas; a<strong>de</strong>más, le on<strong>de</strong>ya el<br />
pecho como a las palomas. Andá con<br />
cuidado, te digo...<br />
—Dice bien, Nayo; yo también la héi<br />
oservado. Se chiqueya, sin querer;<br />
se mira nél espejo, cada vez quentra<br />
aquí; y, a ratos, da brincos <strong>de</strong> calofriyo.<br />
También no me gustan las cosas que<br />
me cuenta. Dice quel otro día, cuando<br />
Nicho la tentó jugando, sintió un<br />
burbujeyo extraño. A<strong>de</strong>más se le van<br />
los ojos, coge juergo a cada rato, le pica<br />
la palmelamano.<br />
—Pa que veyás. Andále con tiento, no<br />
se nos <strong>de</strong>scantiye con algún malvado.<br />
—Decíle al Nicho que no liaga tanta<br />
fiesta.<br />
—Se lo vuá poner en conocimiento, a<br />
ese infeliz.<br />
* * *<br />
165. Archaic spelling of pigeon.<br />
86<br />
“Look, Lupe,” he told her, “be careful<br />
with Can<strong>de</strong>, she is acting all flirty.”<br />
“What?”<br />
“I don’t like it at all when her eyes<br />
are flirting, and the way she stands.<br />
I noticed that she stops her chores<br />
and that she bites them nails of hers.<br />
Besi<strong>de</strong>s, her chest is waving as if she<br />
were a pidgeon. 165 Just be careful, I<br />
say.”<br />
“You right, Nayo. I also seen her. She<br />
gets quiet for no reason, she looks in<br />
the mirror everytime she comes in here,<br />
and sometimes she gets the shivers.<br />
Besi<strong>de</strong>s, ah don’t like the things she tell<br />
me. She says that the other day, when<br />
Nicho touched her while they were<br />
playin’, she felt a strange tinglin’. Her<br />
eyes can’t be quiet; she dances around<br />
all the time, her palms itch.<br />
“Now you know. Be tactful so that she<br />
don’t run away with some jerk.”<br />
“Tell Nicho not to tell her she’s so<br />
pretty.”<br />
“I’m a talk to that son of a bitch.”<br />
* * *
Zarceaba el viento en la palazón <strong>de</strong><br />
los conacastes, como en una guitarra<br />
<strong>de</strong>stemplada; el sol entraba ya en la<br />
hindidura dialcancía <strong>de</strong>l horizonte.<br />
En el cielo, las nubes mostraban<br />
choyones <strong>de</strong>sangrados. Las golondrinas<br />
inspeccionaban el velamen166 recién<br />
izado <strong>de</strong> la tar<strong>de</strong>; en el callar, la tierra<br />
daba bordazos <strong>de</strong> sombra.<br />
Por el camino venía <strong>Don</strong> Nayo, lento<br />
y tosigoso. La Lupe lo esperaba en la<br />
palanquera.<br />
—¿Qué lihubo, Nayó?...<br />
—Los casaron. Los juí a <strong>de</strong>jar al terreno.<br />
Tan contentos.<br />
—¿Le arvertiste a Nicho <strong>de</strong> lo que te<br />
dije?...<br />
—Más valiera no me bieras dicho jota,<br />
miás azorrado con el yerno.<br />
—¿Eh?... ¿Por qué?...<br />
—Cuando lo llamé aparte y le<br />
recomendé que la tratara con primor,<br />
no fuera ser que se asustara, se echó a<br />
rír y me dijo: «No siaflija por babosadas,<br />
esa yés cosa antigua: asigún colijo167 , la<br />
tengo ya empreñada <strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> hace un<br />
mes».<br />
87<br />
The wind moved the elephant ear trees<br />
to and fro, roughly like a guitar out of<br />
tune. The sun was ready to sli<strong>de</strong> into<br />
what looked like a slot in the piggy<br />
bank at the horizon. The sky ran red and<br />
the clouds showed bleeding lines. The<br />
swallows inspected the newly hoisted<br />
sail of clouds in the afternoon. In the<br />
silence, the land was blessed with a<br />
generous sha<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Señor Nayo was walking along the way,<br />
slowly and with his usual cough. Lupe<br />
waited for him at the fence<br />
“What’s up, Nayó?”<br />
“They got married. I took them to their<br />
lot. 168 They happy.<br />
“Did you warn Nicho about what I<br />
said?” “You’d have better not told me<br />
anything, now he’s mad at me.”<br />
“Huh? Why?”<br />
“When I talked to him in private and<br />
told him that he treat her ten<strong>de</strong>rly so<br />
she don’t get scared, he began laughin’<br />
and said, ’”<strong>Don</strong>’t ya worry for little things,<br />
that’s an old story: according to my<br />
calculations, she’s been knocked up for<br />
about a month now.’”<br />
166. Conjunto <strong>de</strong> velas<br />
167. RAE: colegir. (Del lat. colligĕre). 2. tr. inferir (‖ sacar consecuencia <strong>de</strong> otra cosa).<br />
168. It is customary for parents to give their just-married children a plot of land
—¡La Virgen <strong>de</strong>l Martirio!<br />
—Y parecía que no quebraba un<br />
plato...<br />
—Güeno, <strong>de</strong>spués <strong>de</strong> todo,<br />
arrecuér<strong>de</strong>se, Nayo, <strong>de</strong> nosotros, cómo<br />
hicimos...<br />
—Decís bien, es el Contagio...<br />
La tar<strong>de</strong> se había perdido a lo lejos,<br />
<strong>de</strong>jando como estela un espumarajo<br />
<strong>de</strong> estrellas; sobre la arena <strong>de</strong>l mundo,<br />
los árboles negros se movían como<br />
cangrejos.<br />
169. John Heywood (1546: 46)<br />
88<br />
“Holy Virgin Martyr!”<br />
“And she looked as if butter wouldn’t<br />
melt in her mouth169 ...”<br />
“A’wright, after all, remember Nayo that<br />
we did the same thing...”<br />
“True. The apple doesn’t fall far from<br />
the tree...”<br />
The afternoon was lost in the distance,<br />
leaving in its wake froth of stars over<br />
the sand of the world, and the black<br />
trees were dancing like crabs.
el eNTIerro<br />
Cumbreaba la tar<strong>de</strong>, cuando <strong>de</strong> las<br />
últimas casas salía el entierro <strong>de</strong> ño<br />
Justo. Todos iban achorcholados y<br />
silencios. Una nube corrediza había<br />
regado el camino, perfumándolo,<br />
esponjándolo, refrescándolo. Se<br />
mezclaba el olor <strong>de</strong>l suelo, con el tufito<br />
<strong>de</strong> las can<strong>de</strong>las que llevaban las viejas.<br />
El renco Higinio caminaba <strong>de</strong>lante <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cajón. A cada paso parecía que iba a<br />
arrodillarse; daba la impresión <strong>de</strong> llevar<br />
meciendo un incensario.<br />
Todos iban achorcholados; el arrastre <strong>de</strong><br />
los caites cepillaba los credos, que salían<br />
como <strong>de</strong> un cántaro a medio llenar.<br />
“Chorchíngalo171 ” llevaba el racimo <strong>de</strong><br />
sombreros; cargaban Atanasio, Catino,<br />
don Juan y don Daví.<br />
Cumbreaba la tar<strong>de</strong>, chispeando en<br />
lo ricién mojado. Los cerros barbudos<br />
se ahogaban en la sombra, sacando<br />
apenas las narices para respirar. La brisa<br />
mecía las frondas, que asperjeaban el<br />
cajón como un hisopo. A lo lejos, lejos,<br />
lejos, allá por las Honduras, llovía ceniza<br />
caliente.<br />
89<br />
THe BurIal<br />
The afternoon was fading away as<br />
people were leaving the last houses<br />
for the funeral of Señor Justo.<br />
Everyone walked somberly, in silence.<br />
A cloud sliding by had watered the<br />
road, making it fragrant and spongy,<br />
refreshing it. The scent of the ground<br />
was mixed with the foul smell 170 of the<br />
candles that the old women carried.<br />
Higinio, who was lame, hobbled ahead<br />
of the coffin. At every step, he swayed<br />
as if he was going to kneel, giving the<br />
impression of swinging a censer. All<br />
walked downhearted.<br />
The sound of their rustic caite sandals<br />
being dragged brushed against the<br />
chanting creeds coming out of their<br />
throats that echoed like the wind<br />
passing over a half-empty jug. A<br />
man nicknamed Lizard 172 carried the<br />
sombreros of Anastasio, Catino, Señor<br />
Juan and Señor Daví as they carried the<br />
coffin on their shoul<strong>de</strong>rs.<br />
The afternoon was fading away as the<br />
raindrops sparkled over the recently<br />
wet ground. The bear<strong>de</strong>d hills were<br />
drowning in the shadows, barely<br />
sticking out their noses to breathe. The<br />
breeze swayed the fronds that caressed<br />
the coffin like a cotton swab. Far away,<br />
towards Honduras, it was raining hot<br />
ashes.<br />
170. Possibly “foul” because they were ma<strong>de</strong> ouf of animal’s fat.<br />
171. Tenguereche, cherenqueque. Mini lagarto muy flacucho.<br />
172. Or more faithfully “Chorchíngalo” is a very skinny lizard called “basilisk lizard.” Also called the “Jesus<br />
Christ Lizard” because it can run over water.
Atrás jue quedando el grito herido <strong>de</strong> la<br />
Tana; la casa chele <strong>de</strong> Juan Barona; los<br />
tapiales <strong>de</strong> adobe, cundidos <strong>de</strong> reseda;<br />
la pilita seca; la caseta <strong>de</strong> la ronda, con<br />
su cruz ver<strong>de</strong> pegoteada <strong>de</strong> papeles <strong>de</strong><br />
color. El camino empezaba a bajar por<br />
el barrial. Al fondo atravesaba, sobando<br />
los talpetates173 , el riíto <strong>de</strong> Mia<strong>de</strong>güey.<br />
A los lados, en el explayado <strong>de</strong> arena,<br />
crecían berros. Pasó el amatón <strong>de</strong> la<br />
Fermina; el rancho <strong>de</strong> Lolo; subieron<br />
la cuesta <strong>de</strong>l Chichicastal, y entraron<br />
<strong>de</strong> nuevo en tierra llana. A lo lejos,<br />
cabezonas, se miraban las ceibas <strong>de</strong>l<br />
pantión174 , ya borrosas en el callar.<br />
Felipe aventuró:<br />
—¿Juiste anoche al velorio, oyó?...<br />
—Sí jui...<br />
—Yo no jui, pero vengo al entierro <strong>de</strong>l<br />
juneral.<br />
Caminaban cada vez más a prisa, por<br />
la noche que se <strong>de</strong>smoronaba poco<br />
a poco sobre el campo. Pararon para<br />
cambiar los cargantes, porque ya<br />
pujaban mucho. Los dos alambres <strong>de</strong>l<br />
telégrafo iban siguiéndolos <strong>de</strong> poste<br />
en poste; se <strong>de</strong>tenían, curiosos, en los<br />
aisladores, mirándoles con los ojos<br />
ver<strong>de</strong>s; a veces, se enmontaban por las<br />
90<br />
Tana’s woun<strong>de</strong>d house was left behind,<br />
and so was Juan Barona’s white house,<br />
the adobe walls rife with mignonette,<br />
the empty cattle trough, and the<br />
guard’s hut with its green cross adorned<br />
with color papers glued on it. The road<br />
as it dipped down became muddy. The<br />
small Pee-of-an-Ox river crossed the<br />
back of the property from si<strong>de</strong> to si<strong>de</strong><br />
barely touching the volcanic tuff. 175<br />
Watercress grew on the si<strong>de</strong>s on the<br />
sandy riverbed. The road continued<br />
by Fermina’s big fig-tree, Lolo’s shack,<br />
the Chichicastal 176 hill and came back<br />
to level ground. In the distance the<br />
cemetery’s large-hea<strong>de</strong>d ceiba trees<br />
could be seen, almost fuzzy in the<br />
silence.<br />
Felipe spoke:<br />
“Did you go to the wake last night?”<br />
“I did…”<br />
“I ain’t go, but I’m here now for the<br />
burial of the funeral.”<br />
They walked faster and faster through<br />
the middle of the night that was<br />
falling over the field little by little.<br />
They stopped to change pallbearers<br />
because they were struggling. The<br />
two telegraph lines were following<br />
them from post to post. They stopped,<br />
curious, looking at the insulators that<br />
173. RAE: talpetate. (Del nahua tlalli, tierra, y petlatl, estera). 1. m. El Salv. y Hond. Tierra caliza y arenosa<br />
que se emplea para pavimentos <strong>de</strong> carreteras.<br />
174. Igual que cementerio.<br />
175. Spanish “talpetate” volcanic soil used to compacting roads; not suitable for agriculture.<br />
176. Flowering plant acting like poison ivy.
arrancas, e iban a salirles a<strong>de</strong>lante.<br />
Parecía como si quisieran pasar al otro<br />
lado <strong>de</strong>l camino y el entierro se lo<br />
impidiera, llegando siempre en aquel<br />
momento preciso.<br />
Cada vez se oía más el golpe <strong>de</strong> los<br />
tacones sobre la panza <strong>de</strong>l camino.<br />
Las llamitas <strong>de</strong> las can<strong>de</strong>las se habían<br />
volado, haciéndose estrellas. Poco a<br />
poco oscurecía; no se vio ya sino el<br />
brocal pasmado <strong>de</strong>l cielo. Sólo se oía el<br />
cepillar <strong>de</strong> los caites; el golpetear <strong>de</strong> los<br />
tacones; el rechinar <strong>de</strong>l cajón; el pujar<br />
<strong>de</strong> los cargantes, y aquel credo que<br />
seguía el entierro como una cola <strong>de</strong><br />
moscarrones. De cuando en cuando se<br />
trompezaba alguien, y se oía un brusco:<br />
“¡piedra hijesesenta mil!...”. También<br />
se oía una que otra escupida, con su<br />
húmedo ¡jaashup!..., o la tos cascada <strong>de</strong><br />
alguna vieja.<br />
Ya no se veiya. Por ratos, en los claros,<br />
se pintaban las curvas prietas <strong>de</strong> los<br />
alambres, que no habían aún logrado<br />
pasar.<br />
Ya cuando era imposible ver, don Daví<br />
encendió el farol. Iba con el trapo <strong>de</strong> luz<br />
por el pelado camino. Sus calzones178 blancos se miraban moverse en la<br />
lumbre, como ánimas en pena. De<br />
cuando en vez saltaba una piedra, en<br />
medio <strong>de</strong> la luz, con el hocico abierto<br />
177. Moscarrón: giant green fly.<br />
178. Pantalones.<br />
91<br />
looked at the wires with their green<br />
eyes. Sometimes they dipped into<br />
the bushes down the ravines only to<br />
reappear ahead of them everytime. It<br />
seemed as if they wanted to pass to<br />
the other si<strong>de</strong> of the road but the burial<br />
procession prevented them from doing<br />
so.<br />
Lou<strong>de</strong>r and lou<strong>de</strong>r, the heels of the<br />
shoes beat over the paunch of the road.<br />
The little flames of the candles had<br />
already flown away, turning into stars.<br />
It was getting darker; the only thing<br />
that could be seen was the stunned<br />
parapet of the sky. The only thing that<br />
could be heard was the brushing of<br />
the caite sandals, the drumming of the<br />
shoe heels, the creak of the coffin, the<br />
moaning of the pallbearers, and the<br />
hum of the people that followed whose<br />
prayers reverberating like swarm of<br />
buzzing flies. 177 Ocassionally someone<br />
would trip on a rock and swear. The<br />
noises of people hurling gobs on the<br />
ground… or the <strong>de</strong>cayed cough of an<br />
old lady were also heard.<br />
It was total darkness. At times the<br />
black curves of the wires that had not<br />
yet been able to pass were painted by<br />
the moonlight.<br />
When it was no longer possible to see,<br />
Señor Daví lit the lantern. He walked<br />
within the cloth of light in the naked<br />
road. His white peasants’ clothes<br />
seemed to hover in the light, like souls
y amenazador. En un <strong>de</strong>scruce,<br />
relampaguearon los ojos <strong>de</strong> brasa <strong>de</strong><br />
un chucho, que se aculaba aterrorizado.<br />
Como diablos negros iban bailando<br />
los troncos, <strong>de</strong>trás <strong>de</strong>l cerco. Por fin<br />
llegaron a las tapias <strong>de</strong>l pantión. Otro<br />
farol esperaba en la puerta.<br />
—¿Qué jue que les cogió la noche,<br />
hombré?<br />
—Cabsa la Tana... 179<br />
—¡A la gran babosa! Ya mero nos<br />
íbamos: hemos óido ruidos en los<br />
mucsoleyos.<br />
—¿Eeee?...<br />
Entraron. A la luz ladrante <strong>de</strong> los faroles,<br />
las tumbas tendían sábanas repentinas,<br />
algunas <strong>de</strong> ellas <strong>de</strong>sgarradas o sucias.<br />
Bajo el pino gran<strong>de</strong>, estaba el hoyo <strong>de</strong><br />
ño Justo. Lo jueron bajando con lazos.<br />
El cajón crujía, lastimero. Los faroles,<br />
bajeros, alumbraban un mundo <strong>de</strong><br />
pies curiosos, al bor<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>l hoyo. Topó.<br />
Sacaron los lazos a choyones. Después,<br />
la pala implacable empezó a tirar tierra.<br />
Cáiba la tierra negra, con sordo aporreo.<br />
La pala chasqueaba la lengua, al coger;<br />
y el hoyo oblongo eructaba al recibir.<br />
Los pies se habían ido saliendo <strong>de</strong> la<br />
luz, como cusucos asustados.<br />
179. Por culpa <strong>de</strong> Tana. “cabsa” es “causa”.<br />
92<br />
in purgatory. Out of the middle of the<br />
light, once in a while a pallbearer would<br />
kick a rock causing it to jump ahead<br />
of the people with its muzzle open,<br />
threatening. At a crossing, the emberlike<br />
eyes of a terrified dog flashed like<br />
lightning. The tree trunks behind the<br />
fence were dancing like black <strong>de</strong>vils.<br />
The procession finally arrived at the<br />
mud-wall of the cemetery. Another<br />
lantern awaited at the gate.<br />
“Why are you so late?”<br />
“It’s Tana’s fault…”<br />
“Holy shit! We were about to leave<br />
because we heard noises in the<br />
mausoleums.”<br />
“What? Were you scared?”<br />
The procession entered the cemetery.<br />
The barking light of the lanterns<br />
bathed the tombs making them look<br />
like blankets, some of them torn and<br />
dirty.<br />
The recently dug grave of Señor<br />
Justo was un<strong>de</strong>r the big pine tree.<br />
They lowered his casket down with<br />
ropes. The coffin creaked, pitifully. The<br />
lowered lanterns lit the world of the<br />
feet of the curious bor<strong>de</strong>ring the hole.<br />
It bottomed. They pulled back the ropes<br />
yanking them from around the coffin.<br />
Then, the implacable shovel filled the<br />
grave with dirt. The black soil fell with<br />
a muted thud. The shovel clicked its
De dos en dos, <strong>de</strong> tres en tres, <strong>de</strong><br />
cuatro en cuatro, las gentes habían<br />
ido regresando. Regresaban animadas.<br />
Alguno cantaba. Los <strong>de</strong>udos<br />
gimoteaban al haz <strong>de</strong>l hoyo, ya casi<br />
colmado. Las dos enormes ceibas se<br />
lazaban en la oscuridad, como un<br />
solo coágulo <strong>de</strong> noche. Las estrellas,<br />
encorraladas ya, rumiaban orito.<br />
93<br />
tongue when it ate the dirt, and the<br />
oblong hole burped when receiving it.<br />
Feet abandoned the light like scared<br />
armadillos.<br />
Small groups of people, animatedly,<br />
hea<strong>de</strong>d back home. Someone sang.<br />
The relatives sobbed by the grave now<br />
almost full to the brim. The two huge<br />
ceiba trees merged into the darkness<br />
like a single clot of night. The stars,<br />
already enshrou<strong>de</strong>d, ruminated gold.
HaSTa el cacHo<br />
Los nu<strong>barro</strong>nes ensuciaban las tres <strong>de</strong><br />
la tar<strong>de</strong>, como <strong>de</strong>dazos <strong>de</strong> lápiz. A lo<br />
lejos, en las aradas que iban bajando<br />
<strong>de</strong> los cerros pelones, se miraban las<br />
tierras como pintadas con yeso. En<br />
aquel paisaje, dibujado sobre pizarra<br />
<strong>de</strong> escuela, la montaña era como una<br />
resquebradura. Venía lloviendo por<br />
todos lados. El viento balanceaba<br />
su rega<strong>de</strong>ra sobre aquellos plantíos<br />
<strong>de</strong> tristeza. El polvo, <strong>de</strong>spertado<br />
bruscamente, se <strong>de</strong>sperezaba y se<br />
echaba a volar, como un fantasma. En la<br />
lejana azulidad <strong>de</strong> la costa, la tormenta<br />
iba empujando sus cortinas.<br />
Pedrón y su hijo, <strong>de</strong>jando el arado y la<br />
yunta a merced <strong>de</strong> la lluvia, alcanzaron a<br />
llegar bajo un amate. Las primeras gotas<br />
palmeaban la tierra, precipitadamente<br />
y a tientas, como un ciego que ha<br />
perdido algo en el suelo. El terrón<br />
<strong>de</strong>sflorado sonaba como un cuero,<br />
y olía como flor <strong>de</strong> tierra. Las hojas<br />
se enmantecaron <strong>de</strong> yá, agobiadas<br />
con el raudal cristalino. Los truenos<br />
pasaban, rodando como piedrencas en<br />
la barranca <strong>de</strong> la quebrada. De cuando<br />
en cuando el rayo encendía, <strong>de</strong> un<br />
fosforazo, su puro escandaloso.<br />
—¡Qué aguacero, hijó!...<br />
—¡Mire... tata, cómo sihacen los cocos...<br />
allá!...<br />
180. Fig tree.<br />
94<br />
all THe WaY<br />
The storm clouds stained the early<br />
afternoon sky like finger smudges of<br />
lead from a pencil. In the distance, the<br />
plowed fields came down from the bald<br />
hills and looked like colored with chalk.<br />
The mountain in that landscape was like<br />
a line drawn on a school chalkboard.<br />
It had been raining everywhere. The<br />
wind balanced its watering can over<br />
those plantations of sadness. The dust,<br />
abruptly awakened, was stretching and<br />
getting ready to flutter like a ghost. In<br />
the far away blue of the coast the storm<br />
was billowing its curtains.<br />
Abandoning the plow and the yoke<br />
to the mercy of the rain, Big Pete and<br />
his son were able to reach an amate 180<br />
tree. The first drops slapped the<br />
ground, hurriedly, like a blind man that<br />
has lost something and reaches down<br />
to retrieve it. Pummeled by the rain, a<br />
mound of soil soun<strong>de</strong>d like the swat on<br />
a cow’s hi<strong>de</strong>, and smelled like an earthy<br />
flower. The leaves got soaked quickly,<br />
overwhelmed by the crystal-like<br />
torrent. The thun<strong>de</strong>r passed overhead<br />
rolling like big rocks down the ravine<br />
to the stream. Burst of lightning lit up<br />
its scandalous cigar like the flame of a<br />
match.<br />
“What a downpour, my son!”<br />
“Look at the coconut trees over there!”
Pedrón se pegó más al tronco <strong>de</strong>l<br />
amate, con su brazo amplio protegía<br />
al cipote; una que otra gota, llena <strong>de</strong><br />
colores, venía meciéndose <strong>de</strong> hoja<br />
en hoja, hasta caer en el aro viejo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
sombrero. Las ramas, bajeras y anchas,<br />
dibujábanse en seco, sobre el terreno.<br />
Había en aquel refugio una suavidad<br />
hogareña.<br />
—Cuando vos naciste taba lloviendo<br />
tieso...<br />
—¿Eeee?...<br />
—Meramente como hoy... Tu nana tenía<br />
friyo; jue como a las diez <strong>de</strong> la noche.<br />
—¡Pobrecita mi nana!...<br />
—Sí pué, pobrecita...<br />
Había ido <strong>de</strong>cayendo la lluvia; aflojando,<br />
langui<strong>de</strong>ciendo, agonizando. Una brisa<br />
<strong>de</strong> tar<strong>de</strong> dorada sacudía el agua <strong>de</strong> los<br />
matorrales. A lo lejos, los eucaliptos<br />
negros y secos se a<strong>de</strong>ntraban en el<br />
cielo gris, como rayos negativos. Como<br />
espuma lambía la neblina las lomas<br />
olvidadas. Rojos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>, iban los<br />
regueritos buscando su salida por los<br />
surcos. Los bueyes, pintados allí por<br />
la frescura, rumiaban recordando... Al<br />
haz <strong>de</strong> la piedra <strong>de</strong> la tormenta, nacía<br />
el crepúsculo, como una florcita. Un<br />
sol mieludo untaba los cerros, que se<br />
agachaban <strong>de</strong>snudos y en grupo.<br />
95<br />
Big Pete glued his body to the trunk of<br />
the amate tree; with his ample arm he<br />
protected his son. Every other colorful<br />
drop swung from leaf to leaf until it<br />
reached the old brim of his sombrero.<br />
The branches, low and wi<strong>de</strong>, were<br />
outlined in dry paint over the land. A<br />
homy softness was felt in this refuge.<br />
“When you was born it was rainin’ like<br />
this.”<br />
“What do you mean?”<br />
“Yep, just like today. Your ma was so<br />
cold. It musta been about ten at night.”<br />
“Poor ma!”<br />
“Yeah, poor thing...”<br />
The rain was <strong>de</strong>caying, slackening,<br />
languishing, agonizing. An afternoon<br />
gol<strong>de</strong>n breeze shook the water from<br />
the thickets. Farther away, dark and dry<br />
eucalyptus reached <strong>de</strong>ep into the gray<br />
sky, like negative rays. The foam-like<br />
fog licked the forgotten hills. Looking<br />
for their exit through the furrows little<br />
trickles of water traveled red with clay.<br />
The oxen, as if painted into the fresh<br />
scenery ruminated lost in thought…<br />
Upon the stony face of the storm the<br />
twighlight was born like the blossoming<br />
of a small flower. The sun, like a beehive<br />
dripping with honey, bathed the naked<br />
hills that tried to dodge its light.
—Amonós, vos; ya se calmó.<br />
—Mempapé el lomo...<br />
—Ojalá no te vaya a repetir el paludís.<br />
—Primero Dios...<br />
Cruzaron el campo raso, hundiendo en<br />
el <strong>barro</strong> pegajoso los pies oscuros. En<br />
aquel golfo <strong>de</strong> tierra negra, eran como<br />
dos agüegüechos181 heridos.<br />
* * *<br />
El shashaco184 Ta<strong>de</strong>yo llegó apriesa<br />
on<strong>de</strong> Pedrón.<br />
—Pedrón —le dijo—: <strong>Don</strong> Juan José<br />
tiene mercé <strong>de</strong> verte: sestá muriendo y<br />
te quiere hablar.<br />
—¡Eeee?...<br />
—Andá, hombre, el <strong>de</strong>seyo <strong>de</strong> los<br />
murientes hay que cumplirlo. Ya casi no<br />
pispileya, y sólo a vos te aguarda.<br />
—¡Achís!...<br />
maishtro?<br />
¿Y qué me querrá el<br />
—¡Antojos!...<br />
—¿No mestás tirando, hombré?...<br />
96<br />
“Let’s go. It stopped raining.”<br />
“My back is soaked...”<br />
“Let’s hope that you don’t get<br />
paludism 182 again.”<br />
“God forbid!”<br />
They crossed the plains sinking their<br />
dark feet in the sticky mud. In the<br />
abundance of black dirt they looked<br />
like two woun<strong>de</strong>d turkeys. 183<br />
* * *<br />
Ta<strong>de</strong>yo crater-face hurried towards Big<br />
Pete.<br />
“Big Pete,” he said, “Señor Juan José has<br />
asked to see you. He’s dying and he<br />
wants to talk to you.”<br />
“About what?”<br />
“Hurry. The wishes of the dying must be<br />
fulfilled. He’s hardly blinking anymore,<br />
and he’s just hanging on just waiting<br />
for you.”<br />
“Shit! What does he want with me?”<br />
“His last wishes.”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t fuck with me, fella.”<br />
181. Güegüecho o pavo. Del pipil “wewechu” que significa “chompipe varón” (Campbell: 684)<br />
182. An uncommonly used word for malaria.<br />
183. From Pipil: male turkeys.<br />
184. Posible voz indígena: persona que tiene la cara con cicatriz <strong>de</strong> viruela.
—¡Agüén!... ¡Por estas!...<br />
Fueron apriesa por el caminito. La<br />
noche era oscura y los pies iban al<br />
tanteyo por el pedregal. En una vuelta,<br />
apareció la puerta en luz <strong>de</strong> la casa<br />
<strong>de</strong> don Juan José, el maestro albañil.<br />
Entraron, agachándose.<br />
Des<strong>de</strong> allí se alvertía el ronquido <strong>de</strong>l<br />
moribundo. Los familiares ro<strong>de</strong>aban<br />
la cama. Pedrón se acercó, con el<br />
sombrero en la mano. Se paró agarrado<br />
<strong>de</strong> la cabecera. Miró, tímido, los ojos<br />
pelados <strong>de</strong>l enfermo.<br />
—Si le puedo ser <strong>de</strong> servicio...<br />
—Que me <strong>de</strong>jen solo con Pedro...<br />
—pidió, con temblorosa voz, el viejo—.<br />
Arrimáte, hermano; óime tantito, antes<br />
<strong>de</strong> dirme...<br />
Salieron todos. Pedrón se sentó, jalando<br />
un taburete. El viejo empezó a llorar<br />
sobre su estertor185 .<br />
—Perdonáme, hermano!...<br />
—¡Agüén!... ¿Y yo <strong>de</strong> qué? No siazareye,<br />
que liace daño.<br />
—Tengo un pecado feyo, que no quiero<br />
dirme sin confesar...<br />
97<br />
“I swear to God!”<br />
They hurried down the little path. The<br />
night was dark and their feet were<br />
blindly running over the rocky ground.<br />
At the turn, the light came through the<br />
door of the head mason Señor Juan<br />
José’s house. They entered the house<br />
ducking their heads.<br />
They could hear the <strong>de</strong>ath rattle of the<br />
moribund. His relatives surroun<strong>de</strong>d his<br />
bed. Big Pete edged closer, with his<br />
hat on his hand. He stood grabbing<br />
onto the frame of bed. Reluctantly, he<br />
peered into the open eyes of the dying<br />
man.<br />
“What can I do for you?”<br />
“I want to speak with Peter, alone,”<br />
<strong>de</strong>clared the old man in a trembling<br />
voice. “Come closer, brother. Hear me a<br />
little before I go…”<br />
Everyone left. Pulling up a stool Big<br />
Pete sat down. The old man began to<br />
cry overshadowing his <strong>de</strong>ath rattle.<br />
“I’m sorry, brother!”<br />
“Shit! What’s up with you? <strong>Don</strong>’t get all<br />
worked up startle cuz it ain’t no good<br />
for ya.”<br />
“I got an ugly sin. I can’t leave without<br />
confessing it…”<br />
185. RAE: estertor. (Der. <strong>de</strong>l lat. stertĕre, roncar). 1. m. Respiración anhelosa, generalmente ronca<br />
o silbante, propia <strong>de</strong> la agonía y <strong>de</strong>l coma. 2. m. Med. Ruido <strong>de</strong> burbuja que se produce en ciertas<br />
enfermeda<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong>l aparato respiratorio y se percibe por la auscultación.
—Si quiere, le llamo al padre.<br />
—No. Es con vos, Pedro; porque a vos<br />
te se jue hecha la ofensa.<br />
—¿A yo?...<br />
—La Chica se metió conmigo. Nos<br />
véyamos <strong>de</strong>scondidas tuyas. El Crispín<br />
es mijo...<br />
Fue tan rudo el golpe asestado en<br />
el pecho <strong>de</strong> Pedrón, que éste no se<br />
movió; abrió un poco la boca. Sentía<br />
que una espada diaire le había pasado<br />
<strong>de</strong> óido a óido, al tiempo que un<br />
tenamaste186 le caiba en el estómago.<br />
Se puso cherche, cherche187 . El enfermo<br />
clavó sus lágrimas en aquel rumbo, y<br />
pidió perdón. No obtuvo respuesta;<br />
sólo un silencio puntudo, que le dio<br />
un frío violento. El pecado, rodando <strong>de</strong><br />
la garganta al pecho, atravesó sus dos<br />
puntas, haciendo sentarse <strong>de</strong> golpe<br />
al maishtro. Dio un gruñido; buscó a<br />
tientas el bor<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> la vida, y cayó en<br />
brazos <strong>de</strong> sus familiares que llegaron<br />
corriendo.<br />
Pedrón aún estaba mudo, apoyado<br />
en la vista como en un bordón. De la<br />
gran escurana llegaban a su corazón<br />
aquellas palabras <strong>de</strong> alambre espigado:<br />
98<br />
“If you want I can call the priest.”<br />
“I commited a sin against you, Peter.”<br />
“Against me?”<br />
“Chica had an affair with me. We hid it<br />
from you so we could see each other.<br />
Crispin is my son…”<br />
The blow to Pete’s heart was so hard<br />
that he could not move his mouth was<br />
agape. He felt that an air sword had cut<br />
him from ear to ear at the same time<br />
that a big burning coal crushed his<br />
gut. Pete turned pale, pale. The dying<br />
man directed his teary eyes towards<br />
Pete and begged for forgiveness. His<br />
plea was unanswered. There was only a<br />
cutting silence that gave him a violent<br />
chill. The mason sat up, his sin rolling<br />
from his throat to his chest, went from<br />
top to bottom. He moaned. He stared<br />
blindly at the precipice of life, and fell<br />
into the arms of relatives that rushed to<br />
his bedsi<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Big Pete still unable to speak, resting<br />
on his sight as if he were resting<br />
on a cane. Those words ma<strong>de</strong> out<br />
of barbed wire kept jabbing his<br />
heart out of the vast darkness:<br />
186. RAE (Del nahua tenamaxtli). 1. m. Am. Cen. y Méx. Cada una <strong>de</strong> las tres piedras que forman el fogón<br />
y sobre las que se coloca la olla para cocinar.<br />
187. Pálido.
“El Crispín es mijo”... Sobre la cama<br />
<strong>de</strong>scansaba ya muerto el morigundo.<br />
Le habían cerrado los ojos con los<br />
<strong>de</strong>dos, y la boca con un pañuelo azul.<br />
Alre<strong>de</strong>dor <strong>de</strong> la cama empezaron las<br />
mujeres a verter rezos y lágrimas. Con<br />
ojos como botones, los hombres le<br />
miraban la boca traslapada. Nai<strong>de</strong> supo<br />
exactamente lo que allí pasó: un gritar<br />
<strong>de</strong>stemplado, un empujar, un “¡Jesús,<br />
Jesús!”, un crujir <strong>de</strong> cama, un puñal<br />
<strong>de</strong> cruz ensartado hasta el cacho en<br />
el corazón <strong>de</strong>l muerto. El muerto bía<br />
sido asesinado. Dijeron que Pedrón<br />
se había trasjuiciado. El Comisionado<br />
no lo arrestó: en primer lugar, porque<br />
el muerto yastaba dijunto cuando el<br />
asesinato; y en segundo, porque el<br />
autor <strong>de</strong>l sacrilegio taba loco.<br />
Para no <strong>de</strong>sangrar el cadábere <strong>de</strong>l<br />
finado, no le quisieron sacar el cuchillo;<br />
se fue al sepulcro como tapón <strong>de</strong> odio:<br />
ensamblado hasta el cacho, como<br />
crucita <strong>de</strong> maldición. Tierra prieta le<br />
cubrió amorosa; sobre el suelo se<br />
enterró la cruz grandota, la cruz <strong>de</strong><br />
bendición, con su “Descanse en Paz”.<br />
* * *<br />
El Crispín, el hijo <strong>de</strong>l muerto y <strong>de</strong> la<br />
muerta, andaba echado e la casa hacía<br />
tres días. Su propio llorar lo había<br />
llevado al bor<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong> la quebrada: allí<br />
silencioso, allí sombrío; allí, don<strong>de</strong><br />
lloraba el suelo. Sentado en el hojerío,<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> los charrales, se quería morir<br />
99<br />
“Crispin is my son…” On the bed,<br />
the moribund rested already <strong>de</strong>ad.<br />
They had closed his eyes and placed<br />
a blue handkerchief over his mouth.<br />
Around his bed women began to pour<br />
out prayers and tears. With eyes like<br />
buttons, the men stared at his covered<br />
mouth. Nobody knew exactly what<br />
happened then: a sharp scream, a<br />
shove, a “Jesus, Jesus!,” a creak of the<br />
bed, a cross-shaped dagger was buried<br />
all the way into the heart of the <strong>de</strong>ad<br />
man. The <strong>de</strong>ad man had been killed.<br />
They said that Big Pete had lost his<br />
mind. The Commissioner did not arrest<br />
him: in the first place, because the<br />
<strong>de</strong>ad man was already <strong>de</strong>ad when the<br />
assassination occurred; and second,<br />
because the perpetrator of the sacrilege<br />
was insane.<br />
So that the corpse would not bleed,<br />
no one wanted to take out the knife.<br />
The dagger went to the grave like a<br />
lid of hatred: all the way in like a cross<br />
of damnation. Black dirt covered him<br />
lovingly. On the ground they placed a<br />
big cross, the cross of blessing along<br />
with the words “Rest in Peace.<br />
* * *<br />
Crispín, now the son of a <strong>de</strong>ad man<br />
and of a <strong>de</strong>ad woman had been kicked<br />
out of his house for three days now. His<br />
own sob had taken him to the edge<br />
of the creek: it was quiet and gloomy.<br />
The ground cried there. Sitting on the
diambre. Sentía que se ahogaba, en<br />
un dolor amoroso que le llegaba a la<br />
coronilla. Su amado papa lo bía sacado<br />
diarrastradas, aquella tar<strong>de</strong> maldita; lo<br />
bía ido empujando parajuera: “¡Váyase,<br />
<strong>de</strong>sgraciado, váyase; usté nues mijo,<br />
váyase; no güelva, babosada, no seya<br />
que se me vaya la mano!”.<br />
Por dos veces, su papa le bía<br />
encumbrado el corbo. Allí se estuvo<br />
llorando, sin comer, sin dormir... Tenía<br />
hinchados los ojos, la boca pasmada, la<br />
mente vacía.<br />
Aquella atar<strong>de</strong>cida, cuando ya las<br />
sombras estaban maduras y se<br />
<strong>de</strong>sprendían; cuando los toros pasaban<br />
empujando un alarido, y las estrellas<br />
se <strong>de</strong>spenicaban como florecillas sobre<br />
el patio <strong>de</strong>l cielo, Pedrón surgió <strong>de</strong> la<br />
breña y cayó sobre su hijo, como un<br />
jaguar hambriento <strong>de</strong> amor. Le corría<br />
el llanto por la cara y por la camisa. Se<br />
hundió al hijo en el pecho, sofocando<br />
sus sollozos.<br />
—¡Mijo, mi lindo!... Perdonáme, cosita;<br />
taba como loco!...<br />
Le sobaba la crencha lacia, ebrio <strong>de</strong><br />
compasión.<br />
—¡No cue<strong>de</strong> ser, Crispito e mialma;<br />
no cue<strong>de</strong> ser, no cuedo vivir sin vos!...<br />
¡Estos diyas negros mián quitado la<br />
vida! He sentido que tenía trabado al<br />
corazón, el puñal que le <strong>de</strong>jé al dijunto;<br />
yo mesmo me bía hecho el maldiojo. Al<br />
fin juimos con Ta<strong>de</strong>yo, y se lo quitamos;<br />
hora te siento mijo otra güelta...<br />
100<br />
tangle of leaves, un<strong>de</strong>r the thickets, he<br />
hoped to starve himself to <strong>de</strong>ath. He<br />
felt that he was drowning in a loving<br />
pain that covered him from head to toe.<br />
His <strong>de</strong>ar dad had dragged him outsi<strong>de</strong><br />
that damned afternoon. He pushed<br />
him away: “get out, motherfucker, get<br />
out! You ain’t mine son. Get out and<br />
don’t come back, little shit, before it’s<br />
too late.”<br />
Twice his dad had threatened him<br />
with a machete. There he was, he cried<br />
and cried, without eating, without<br />
sleeping… his eyes were puffy, his jaw<br />
sobbed, and his mind was empty.<br />
That afternoon, when the shadows<br />
were already ripe and were dropping<br />
down, when the oxen were passing by<br />
pushing a shriek, and the stars were<br />
plucked like insignificant flowers in the<br />
backyard of the sky, Big Pete emerged<br />
out of the shrubs and fell over his son,<br />
like a love-starved jaguar. His tears ran<br />
down his face and onto his shirt. He<br />
buried his son in his chest, snuffing his<br />
sobs.<br />
“My son, my treasure! Forgive me my<br />
beloved, I was crazy!”<br />
He caressed his son’s straight coarse<br />
hair, inebriated with compassion.<br />
“It can’t be, Crispín you is a part of my<br />
soul. It cannot be, I can’t live without<br />
you! These dark days have taken my<br />
life! I felt that the dagger that I left in<br />
the <strong>de</strong>ad man was stuck in my own<br />
heart. I ma<strong>de</strong> myself miserable. Ta<strong>de</strong>yo<br />
and me finally went over to the grave<br />
and removed the dagger. I now feel<br />
that you are my son again...
Despegándose <strong>de</strong>l pecho <strong>de</strong> Pedrón,<br />
con un dolor que retorcía su cara como<br />
un trapo, para estrujar las últimas gotas,<br />
el niño le miró fijo y, tras un esfuerzo<br />
inmenso, logró gotear:<br />
—¡Pa...pa!....<br />
101<br />
When he was able to <strong>de</strong>tach himself<br />
from Big Pete’s chest, a pain twisted his<br />
face like a wrung out rag squeezed to<br />
take out his last drops. Crispin looked<br />
him straight in the eye, and with an<br />
enormous effort his voice trickled out:<br />
“D-ddd-dad!”
la PeTaca<br />
Era pálida como la hoja-mariposa;<br />
bonita y triste como la virgen <strong>de</strong> palo<br />
que hace con las manos el bendito; sus<br />
ojos eran como dos gran<strong>de</strong>s lágrimas<br />
congeladas; su boca, como no se había<br />
hecho para el beso, no tenía labios, era<br />
una boca para llorar; sobre los hombros<br />
cargaba una joroba que terminaba en<br />
punta. La llamaban la peche María.<br />
En el rancho eran cuatro: Tules, el tata;<br />
la Chón su mama, y el robusto hermano<br />
Lencho. Siempre María estaba un grado<br />
abajo <strong>de</strong> los suyos. Cuando todos<br />
estaban serios, ella estaba llorando;<br />
cuando todos sonreían, ella estaba<br />
seria; cuando todos reían, ella sonreía;<br />
no rió nunca. Servía para buscar huevos,<br />
para lavar trastes, para hacer rír...<br />
—¡Quitá diay, si no querés que te raje<br />
la petaca!<br />
—¡Peche, vos quizás sos lhija el cerro!<br />
Tules <strong>de</strong>cía:<br />
—¡Esta indizuela no es feya; en veces<br />
mentran ganas <strong>de</strong> volarle la petaca,<br />
diún corvazo!<br />
Ella lo miraba y pasaba <strong>de</strong> uno a otro<br />
rincón, doblada <strong>de</strong> lado la cabecita,<br />
meciendo su cuerpecito en<strong>de</strong>ble, como<br />
si se arrastrara. Se arrimaba al baúl, y<br />
con un <strong>de</strong>dito se estaba allí sobando<br />
102<br />
THe HuMP<br />
She was pale like a leaf butterfly; pretty<br />
and sad like the praying hands of a<br />
woo<strong>de</strong>n virgin. Her eyes were like two<br />
big frozen tears. Her mouth, since it<br />
wasn’t ma<strong>de</strong> for kissing, had no lips;<br />
it was a mouth for crying. Over her<br />
shoul<strong>de</strong>rs she carried a hump that had<br />
a pointy edge. Everyone called her<br />
Skinny Maria.<br />
Four people lived in her shack: Tules,<br />
the dad; her mom Chon, and the robust<br />
brother Lencho. Maria was always an<br />
emotional <strong>de</strong>gree below the rest of<br />
her family. When everyone was serious,<br />
she cried; when they smiled, she was<br />
serious; when they laughed, she smiled;<br />
she never laughed. She was useful for<br />
insignificant chores: looking for freshly<br />
laid eggs, washing the dishes, and<br />
making others laugh…<br />
“Move over, unless you want me to<br />
crack your hump!”<br />
“Skinny, maybe you is the daughter of<br />
the hill!” Said Tules<br />
“She ain’t ugly for a hillbilly. Sometimes<br />
I want to cut off her hump with my<br />
machete!”<br />
She looked at him and paced back and<br />
forth from one corner to another, with<br />
her head turned si<strong>de</strong>ways, swinging<br />
her feeble body as if she were dragging<br />
her body. She sidled towards the chest<br />
and leaned against it. She would draw
manchitas, o sentada en la cuca 188 , se<br />
estaba ispiando por un hoyo <strong>de</strong> la paré<br />
a los que pasaban por el camino.<br />
Tenían en el rancho un espejito nublado<br />
<strong>de</strong>l tamaño <strong>de</strong> un colón y ella no se<br />
pudo ver nunca la joroba, pero sentía<br />
que algo le pesaba en las espaldas, un<br />
cuenterete que le hacía poner cabeza<br />
<strong>de</strong> tortuga y que le encaramaba los<br />
brazos: la petaca.<br />
* * *<br />
Tules la llevó un día on<strong>de</strong> el sobador.<br />
—Léi traido para ver si usté le quita la<br />
puya. Pueda ser que una sobada...<br />
—Hay que hacer perimentos <strong>de</strong>fíciles,<br />
vos, pero si me la <strong>de</strong>jás unos ocho días,<br />
te la sano todo lo posible.<br />
Tules le dijo que se quedara.<br />
Ella se jaló <strong>de</strong> las mangas <strong>de</strong>l tata; no se<br />
quería quedar en la casa <strong>de</strong>l sobador y<br />
es que era la primera vez que salía lejos,<br />
y que estaba con un extraño.<br />
—¡Papa, paíto, ayéveme, no me <strong>de</strong>je!<br />
—Ai tate, te digo; vuá venir por vos el<br />
lunes.<br />
103<br />
circles on it with her finger or sit on the<br />
little stool to look through the tiny hole<br />
in the wall at those who walked by on<br />
the road<br />
The family only owned a little foggy<br />
mirror of the size of a silver dollar, so<br />
she wasn’t able to ever see her hump.<br />
She felt that something heavy sat on<br />
her back, something that gave her a<br />
turtlehead and that hiked up her arms.<br />
* * *<br />
Tules took her to the witch doctor.<br />
“I brung her here to see if you can<br />
make her thorn go away. Maybe with a<br />
sobada 189 massage…”<br />
“We will need to perform complicated<br />
experiments, but if you leave her with<br />
me for eight days I will try to heal her as<br />
much as possible.”<br />
Tules or<strong>de</strong>red her to stay.<br />
She grabbed onto her pa’s sleeves. She<br />
didn’t want to stay in the medicine<br />
man’s house. It was the first time away<br />
from home and she was going to be<br />
with a stranger.<br />
“Dad, daddy, take me with ya. <strong>Don</strong>’t<br />
leave me!”<br />
“Stay! I’ll come git ya on Monday.”<br />
188. Silla cuadrada <strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra sin respaldo.<br />
189. A “sobada” is a kind of massage in which herbs, ointments or other medicinal plants are used. It<br />
usually requires a ritual that inclu<strong>de</strong>s prayers.
El sobador la amarró con sus manos<br />
huesudas.<br />
—¡Andáte ligero, te la vuá tener!<br />
El tata se fue a la carrera.<br />
El sobador se estuvo acorralándola por<br />
los rincones, para que no se saliera.<br />
Llegaba la noche y cantaban gallos<br />
<strong>de</strong>sconocidos. Moqueó toda la noche.<br />
El sobador vido quéra chula.<br />
—Yo se la sobo; ¡ajú! —pensaba, y se<br />
reiba en silencio.<br />
Serían las doce, cuando el sobador se<br />
le arrimó y le dijo que se <strong>de</strong>snudara,<br />
que liba a dar la primera sobada. Ella<br />
no quiso y lloró más duro. Entonces el<br />
indio la trincó a la juerza, tapándole la<br />
boca con la mano y la dobló sobre la<br />
cama.<br />
—¡Papa, papita!...<br />
Contestaban las ruedas <strong>de</strong> las carretas<br />
noctámbulas, en los baches <strong>de</strong>l lejano<br />
camino.<br />
* * *<br />
El lunes llegó Tules. La María se le<br />
presentó, gimiendo... El sobador no<br />
estaba.<br />
104<br />
The witch doctor wrapped his bony<br />
hands around her, tying her up.<br />
“Go away fast. I will keep her here for<br />
you.”<br />
Her dad left in a hurry.<br />
The witch doctor kept rounding her up,<br />
chasing her into every corner so that<br />
she wouln’t get away.<br />
When the night arrived unseen roosters<br />
crowed. She sobbed all night. The witch<br />
doctor noticed that she was pretty.<br />
“I will give her a massage, yay!” He<br />
thought and laughed in silence.<br />
It was about midnight when the witch<br />
doctor came to her and told her to get<br />
naked, that he was giving her the first<br />
treatment. She didn’t want to and cried<br />
lou<strong>de</strong>r. Then the witch doctor forcefully<br />
grabbed her putting his hands over her<br />
mouth, and threw her on the bed.<br />
“Dad, daddy!”<br />
But her only answer was the wheels<br />
of the nocturnal ox carts hitting the<br />
potholes in the distant road.<br />
* * *<br />
Tules returned to fetch her on Monday.<br />
Maria came to him moaning. The witch<br />
doctor was not there.
—¿Tizo la peración, vos?<br />
—Sí, papa...<br />
—¿Te dolió, vos?<br />
—Sí, papa...<br />
—Pero yo no veo que se te rebaje...<br />
—Dice que se me vir bajando poco a<br />
poco...<br />
Cuando el sobador llegó, Tules le<br />
preguntó cómo iba la cosa.<br />
—Pues, va bien —le dijo—, sólo quiay<br />
que esperarse unos meses. Tiene<br />
quírsele bajando poco a poco.<br />
El sobador, viendo que Tules se la<br />
llevaba, le dijo que por qué no la <strong>de</strong>jaba<br />
otro tiempito, para más seguridá; pero<br />
Tules no quiso, porque la peche le hacía<br />
falta en el rancho.<br />
Mientras el papa esperaba en la<br />
tranquera <strong>de</strong>l camino, el sobador le dio<br />
la última sobada a la niña.<br />
Seis meses <strong>de</strong>spués, una cosa rara se<br />
fue manifestando en la peche María.<br />
La joroba se le estaba bajando a la<br />
barriga. Le fue creciendo día a día <strong>de</strong> un<br />
modo escandaloso, pero parecía como<br />
si la <strong>de</strong> la espalda no bajara gran cosa.<br />
105<br />
“Did he operate on you?”<br />
“Yes, Pa.”<br />
“Did it hurt?”<br />
“Yes, Pa.”<br />
“But this ain’t coming down…”<br />
“He said it will go down little by little.”<br />
When the witch doctor arrived, Tules<br />
asked him about the operation.<br />
“It’s going well,” he said. “You just need<br />
to wait a few months. Her hump will go<br />
down a little at a time.”<br />
When Tules was ready to take her<br />
home, the witch doctor told him that to<br />
be safe it would be better if he left her<br />
a little longer but Tules did not agree to<br />
that. He missed Skinny at the shack.<br />
As Tules waited by the cattle gate the<br />
witch doctor was giving the girl his last<br />
treatment.<br />
Six months later a weird thing began<br />
happening to Skinny Maria<br />
The hump was moving down to her<br />
belly. It was growing day by day in a<br />
scandalous way, but it didn’t seem<br />
that the one on her back was getting<br />
smaller at all.
—¡Hombré! —dijo un día Tules—, esta<br />
babosa tá embarazada.<br />
—¡Gran po<strong>de</strong>r <strong>de</strong> Dios! —dijo la nana.<br />
—¿Cómo jue la peración que tizo el<br />
sobador, vos?<br />
Ella explicó gráficamente.<br />
—¡Aijuesesentamil! —rugió Tules—<br />
¡Mianimo ir a volarle la cabeza!<br />
Pero pasaba el tiempo <strong>de</strong> ley, y la peche<br />
no se <strong>de</strong>socupaba.<br />
La partera, que había llegado para<br />
el caso, uservó que la niña se ponía<br />
más amarilla, tan amariya, que se taba<br />
poniendo ver<strong>de</strong>. Entonces diagnosticó<br />
<strong>de</strong> nuevo.<br />
—Esta lo que tiene es fiebre pútrida,<br />
manchada con aigre <strong>de</strong> corredor.<br />
—¿Eee?...<br />
—Mesmamente; hay que darle una<br />
güena fregada, con tusas empapadas en<br />
aceiteloroco, y untadas con kakevaca.<br />
106<br />
“Man,” said Tules. “This girl is pregnant.”<br />
“God Almighty!” said her mom.<br />
“What kind of operation did he<br />
perform?”<br />
She explained graphically.<br />
“What a motherfu…!” roared Tules. “I<br />
feel like going there and chopping his<br />
head off!”<br />
It was almost her time and Skinny could<br />
not <strong>de</strong>liver.<br />
The attending midwife observed that<br />
the girl was turning more and more<br />
yellow, so yellow that she was now<br />
turning green. Then she gave them her<br />
diagnosis.<br />
“What she has is typhus, stained with<br />
air from the corridor.”<br />
“What?”<br />
“That’s right. We have to give her a good<br />
massage with husks soaked in oil of<br />
loroco flowers190 and191 cow manure.”<br />
190. According to PracticallyEdible, “Loroco tastes ‘green’ with overtones of nuts. The closest taste perhaps<br />
to compare the “green” part to is chard, or a cross between mild broccoli and squash. It is used in salads,<br />
rice dishes, stews and sauces. In El Salvador and in Honduras, it is ad<strong>de</strong>d to the fillings in ‘pupusas.’”<br />
191. According to Robb Walsh, the USDA Nutrient Composition Book of Latin America calls it Fernaldia
Así lo hicieron. Todo un día pasó<br />
apagándose; gemía. Tenían que estarla<br />
voltiando <strong>de</strong> un lado a otro. No podía<br />
estar boca arriba, por la petaca; ni boca<br />
abajo, por la barriga.<br />
En la noche se murió.<br />
Amaneció tendida <strong>de</strong> lado, en la cama<br />
que habían jalado al centro <strong>de</strong>l rancho.<br />
Estaba entre cuatro can<strong>de</strong>las. Las<br />
comadres <strong>de</strong>cían:<br />
—Pobre; tan güena quera; ¡ni se sentía<br />
la indizuela, <strong>de</strong> mansita!<br />
—¡Una santa! Si hasta, mirá, es<br />
meramente una cruz!<br />
Más que cruz, hacía una equis, con la<br />
línea <strong>de</strong> su cuerpo y la <strong>de</strong> las petacas.<br />
Le pusieron una coronita <strong>de</strong><br />
siemprevivas. Estaba como en un sueño<br />
profundo; y es que ella siempre estuvo<br />
un grado abajo <strong>de</strong> los suyos: cuando<br />
todos estaban riendo, ella sonreía;<br />
cuando todos sonreían, ella estaba<br />
seria; cuando todos estaban serios,<br />
ella lloraba; y ahora, que ellos estaban<br />
llorando, ella no tuvo más remedio que<br />
estar muerta.<br />
107<br />
So they did. She spent a full day<br />
flickering away. She moaned. They had<br />
to flip her from one si<strong>de</strong> to the other.<br />
She could not be facing up because of<br />
the hump; she couldn’t be facing down,<br />
because of her belly.<br />
That night she died.<br />
The dawn witnessed her laying on<br />
her si<strong>de</strong>, on the bed that they had<br />
moved to the middle of the shack. She<br />
was surroun<strong>de</strong>d by four candles. The<br />
godmothers commented:<br />
“Poor girl. She was so good. You couldn’t<br />
even tell she was around. So tame!”<br />
“A saint! Look at her, she is in<strong>de</strong>ed a<br />
cross!”<br />
More than a cross, the lines of her body<br />
and the hump ma<strong>de</strong> her resembled an<br />
X.<br />
They put a wreath of strawflowers on<br />
her. She seemed as if she were in a<br />
<strong>de</strong>ep sleep, and again, she was a <strong>de</strong>gree<br />
below her family: when everyone<br />
laughed, she smiled; when they smiled,<br />
she was serious; when everyone was<br />
serious, she cried; and now that they<br />
were crying, she had no other recourse<br />
but to be <strong>de</strong>ad.
la ZIGuaNaBa<br />
Pedro estaba metido dos veces en la<br />
noche; una, porque era noctámbulo,<br />
y otra, porque era pescador. La noche<br />
prieta se había hundido en la poza,<br />
y Pedro, metido en el agua hasta la<br />
cintura, arronjaba la atarraya. Cuando<br />
la malla caiba, los plomos chiflaban<br />
al hundirse. Una luz <strong>de</strong> escurana, luz<br />
acerosa y helada fingía pescados. Hacía<br />
frío. Pedro iba recogiendo, recogiendo.<br />
Algún chiribisco aparecía primero,<br />
negrito y puyudo. Pedro se estaba<br />
<strong>de</strong>senredándolo. Su paciencia rimaba<br />
con el callar. Las hojas, trabadas,<br />
mentían pepescas. Cerca <strong>de</strong> los plomos<br />
venía la plata vivita y coleando. Un<br />
pocuyo enhebraba su “¡caballero,<br />
caballero!” <strong>de</strong>trás <strong>de</strong> la palazón tupida<br />
<strong>de</strong> los huiscoyoles.<br />
Pedro llamó al ayudante. Era el cipote<br />
<strong>de</strong> Natividá.<br />
—¡Oyó... tréme la bolsa!<br />
El cipote se metió al río; y, empujando<br />
el agua con las rodillas, llegó hasta el<br />
pescador y le alargó la matata.<br />
—¿Cayen, O?<br />
—¡Sí, O!..., chimbolos y juilines, nomás.<br />
108<br />
la SIGuaNaBa 192<br />
Pedro went <strong>de</strong>ep into the night twice:<br />
the first, because he was a night owl, and<br />
the other, because he was a fisherman.<br />
The dark night had sunk into the pond,<br />
and Pedro, having wa<strong>de</strong>d into the water<br />
up to his waist, was throwin’ the fishnet.<br />
When it touched the water its weights<br />
whistled as they sank. A dim light, a<br />
shiny, cold light, preten<strong>de</strong>d to be fish.<br />
It was cold. Pedro pulled and tugged<br />
the fishnet in again and again, but his<br />
first catch was a small black and pointy<br />
stick. Pedro unraveled it. His patience<br />
was in sync with the silence. The leaves<br />
stuck on his net also feigned small fish.<br />
Alive and flopping the silver weights<br />
were being pulled in. A Whippoorwill<br />
bird was singing his song 193 behind the<br />
palisa<strong>de</strong> full of palms of huiscoyol.<br />
Pedro called his helper, Natividá’s kid.<br />
“Hey kid... bring me the bag!”<br />
The kid went into the river and, pushing<br />
the water ahead of him with his knees,<br />
went over towards the fisherman and<br />
held out the bag.<br />
“Hey, are they bitin’?”<br />
“Yep, buddy... but just small fish and<br />
juilines 194 ”<br />
192. To avoid mispronunciation of the word, the translator <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to drop the ‘Z’ and keep the name<br />
as it sounds.<br />
193. Sounds like “ka-ba-ye-ro, ka-ba-ye-ro.”<br />
194. “Juilines” are the most common fish. Like catfish
—¡Ya quizá va maneciendo, O!...<br />
Pedro metió la mano llena <strong>de</strong> luz en la<br />
ceba<strong>de</strong>ra, mientras miraba las estrellas,<br />
con la boca abierta.<br />
—Ya mero son las cuatro, vos.<br />
—¡Tá haciendo friyo, O!...<br />
—Es que está golpiada lagua...<br />
—¡Sentí que me soplaban la nuca!...<br />
—¿Eee?...<br />
—¡Horita!...<br />
—¡Yastás vos con miedo!...<br />
—¡Me da miedo la Zigua...<br />
—¡Qué cobija sos, oyó! ¿Quién siasusta<br />
por babosadas?<br />
El cipote temblaba, un poco <strong>de</strong> frío, un<br />
poco <strong>de</strong> miedo.<br />
—Monós, oyó; miacaban <strong>de</strong> soplar otra<br />
vuelta. ¡Monós, te digo!<br />
Se puso a gemir. Pedro <strong>de</strong>senredó, con<br />
el último pescado, un poco <strong>de</strong> alarma.<br />
—¡No siás cobija, vos; ya no te güelvo<br />
a trer!...<br />
109<br />
“Maybe it’s because it’s getting light...”<br />
Pedro put his hand full of light into the<br />
bait bag while looking at the stars with<br />
his mouth agape.<br />
“It’s almost four in the morning, pal.”<br />
“It’s cold now!”<br />
“It’s ‘cause the wind’s comin’ off the<br />
water...”<br />
“It felt like somebody was blowing on<br />
my neck!”<br />
“What?”<br />
“Just now!”<br />
“Can’t believe you is scared!”<br />
“I’m scared of the Sigua...”<br />
“You’re such a whimp, kid! Who gets<br />
scared of such worthless crap?”<br />
The kid was shaking, partly from the<br />
cold, partly from fear.<br />
“Let’s go, man. I just felt the blowin’ on<br />
my neck again. C’mon, let’s go!”<br />
Pedro started to grumble as he pulled<br />
in the net. Along with the last fish came<br />
a feeling of alarm.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t be such a scaredy cat. I’ll never<br />
bring you again!”
En aquella noche casi oscura, constelada<br />
arriba cobar<strong>de</strong>mente, constelada abajo<br />
por las escamas <strong>de</strong> los peces y por el<br />
silencioso telar <strong>de</strong> luz <strong>de</strong> las luciérnagas,<br />
un ruido extraño, estri<strong>de</strong>nte como la<br />
carcajada <strong>de</strong> una vieja, puso toques<br />
eléctricos <strong>de</strong> pavor en los nervios <strong>de</strong><br />
los pescadores. Después, todo quedó<br />
mudo. El cipote se había agarrado,<br />
temblando, <strong>de</strong> los brazos <strong>de</strong> Pedro.<br />
—¡Agüén, qué fuéso?.. . ¡Amonós, vos!<br />
El muchacho lloraba. Pedro se echó la<br />
atarraya al hombro; cogió el sombrero<br />
que había <strong>de</strong>jado en la arena, y llevando<br />
casi a rastras al cipote, emprendió<br />
carrera, vereda arriba. Al llegar al<br />
camino <strong>de</strong> los llanos, un bostezo azul<br />
<strong>de</strong>l día los paró. Clareaba<br />
—¡Achís, O, ya maneció!...<br />
El miedo se había <strong>de</strong>shecho, dulzoso,<br />
como un terrón <strong>de</strong> azúcar en un guacal<br />
<strong>de</strong> agua fresca. Suspiraron.<br />
—¿Y vos crés en la Zigua, O?<br />
—Yo no, ¿y vos?<br />
—¡Yo no creyo! Si querés, vamos a ver<br />
qué jue eso.<br />
—Andá vos, aquí tespero.<br />
110<br />
In the darkness of that night a few dim<br />
stars above reflected on the scales of the<br />
fish below and also from the weaving of<br />
light of the fireflies. Sud<strong>de</strong>nly, a strange<br />
noise, stri<strong>de</strong>nt as the cackle of an old<br />
woman, gave electric shocks of fear to<br />
the nerves of the fishermen. After that<br />
everything was silent. The kid, shaking,<br />
grabbed Pedro’s arms.<br />
“Holy crap, what was that? Let’s get the<br />
heck out of here!”<br />
The boy was crying. Pedro threw the<br />
fish net over his shoul<strong>de</strong>r, grabbed the<br />
sombrero that he had left on the sand,<br />
and almost dragging the kid, he beat a<br />
retreat up the trail. When they reached<br />
the plains the blue yawn of the morning<br />
stopped them. It was getting light out.<br />
“Holy shit, it’s light out!”<br />
The fear had vanished, sweet, like a<br />
lump of sugar in a bowl of fresh water.<br />
They sighed.<br />
“And you, do you believe in the Sigua?”<br />
“I don’t, do you?”<br />
“I don’t belive in it! If you want, let’s go<br />
find out what that was.”<br />
“You go, I’ll wait for you here.”
El cipote se sentó en una piedra y se<br />
puso a chiflarle un son al manecer.<br />
Pedro bajó valientemente al río. Aún<br />
quedaban tasajos <strong>de</strong> noche en los<br />
barrancos. Caminó río abajo. Sobre<br />
unos peñascos, <strong>de</strong>scubrió un chilamate<br />
que tenía una rama <strong>de</strong>sgajada. Era una<br />
rama gruesa. El blanco corazón <strong>de</strong>l<br />
palo, había quedado al <strong>de</strong>scubierto y<br />
vomitaba hormigas.<br />
Cuando el muchacho le vio llegar,<br />
sonriente, le preguntó:<br />
—¿Qué jue, O?<br />
—¡Es un palo que siá reído, O!...<br />
111<br />
The kid sat on the rock and started<br />
to whistle a song to the dawn. Pedro<br />
valiantly went down the river. There<br />
were still some remnants of the night<br />
in the ravines. He continued down<br />
towards the river. On some boul<strong>de</strong>rs he<br />
discovered a chilamate tree with a torn<br />
limb. It was a thick branch. The white<br />
core of the tree had been left exposed<br />
and was vomiting ants.<br />
When the kid saw him coming, smiling,<br />
he asked:<br />
“What was it?”<br />
“It’s a tree that laughed, kid!
VIrGeN De luDreS<br />
En el suave momento en que la tar<strong>de</strong><br />
se bía puesto a sonrír, la virgen blanca<br />
que estaba en un hueco <strong>de</strong> la peña, se<br />
puso amariya, amariya <strong>de</strong> una luzazón<br />
dorada, que cáiba <strong>de</strong>l cielo, sin que se<br />
viera <strong>de</strong> qué sol. Pringaba. Las hojas<br />
<strong>de</strong> los quequeishques taban llorando,<br />
tal vez <strong>de</strong>friyo, tal vez <strong>de</strong> tristes, por<br />
el temporal que no amenguaba. El<br />
farolito colorado quiantes no se veiya,<br />
siba haciendo flor en la escurana: flor<br />
tinta como la jila195 , como la pascua,<br />
como la flor <strong>de</strong> fuego.<br />
La Can<strong>de</strong>laria siarrimó a la baranda <strong>de</strong><br />
la gruta. Se bía tapado la cabeza con el<br />
chal <strong>de</strong>steñido; tenía apretado entre<br />
las manos el pañal que le servía <strong>de</strong><br />
pañuelo; como en los quequeishques<br />
por su cara barriosa se <strong>de</strong>slizaban<br />
lágrimas. Ispió, tímida, pa todos lados;<br />
se hincó... Nai<strong>de</strong> pasaba... Miró para<br />
arriba, hasta la virgen, mientras mordía<br />
la punta <strong>de</strong>l chal.<br />
—Virgen <strong>de</strong> Ludres —murmuró—<br />
hacéme la mercé que te pido; vos bien<br />
tas al tanto e la pobreza diúno; ha caido<br />
el otro con un dolor, el mesmo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
muerto; alentálo, madre, por el amor<br />
<strong>de</strong> Dios.<br />
195. O Xila.<br />
112<br />
THe VIrGIN of<br />
lourDeS<br />
In the soft moment in which the<br />
afternoon began to smile, the white<br />
virgin that was in the cave in the si<strong>de</strong><br />
of a cliff was turning yellow, like the<br />
yellow of a gol<strong>de</strong>n light that fell from<br />
heaven. Nobody knew from which sun<br />
it came. It was drizzling. The leaves of<br />
the arum were crying, maybe because<br />
of the cold, maybe because they were<br />
sad since the rain wouldn’t let up. The<br />
colored little lantern that couldn’t be<br />
seen before began blossoming in the<br />
darkness like a red flower from the<br />
tassel tree, like the poinsettia, like the<br />
fire flower.<br />
Can<strong>de</strong>laria approached the handrail of<br />
the grotto. She had covered her head<br />
with a fa<strong>de</strong>d shawl. Pressed between<br />
her hands, she had a cloth that served<br />
as a handkerchief. Like from the arums,<br />
tears slid down her muddy face. She<br />
glanced, timidly, all around, she knelt<br />
down… no one was around… she<br />
looked up towards the virgin while she<br />
bit the end of her shawl.<br />
“Virgin of Lour<strong>de</strong>s,” she murmured.<br />
“Grant me the favor I’m asking of<br />
you. You’re well aware of our poverty.<br />
Another one is sick with a pain, the<br />
same pain as the one that died. Make<br />
him better, Mother, for the love of<br />
God.”
Se creyó obligada a permanecer <strong>de</strong><br />
rodillas todavía un gran rato. Seguía<br />
pringando. Ya la luz dorada, aquella luz<br />
<strong>de</strong> lejana quemasón, se bía extinguido.<br />
La virgen blanca, que tenía las manos<br />
juntas, bía quedado en el hoyo oscuro,<br />
como una luna enferma. El farol <strong>de</strong><br />
vidrio echaba sangre sobre las peñas.<br />
La Can<strong>de</strong>laria se persinó <strong>de</strong>spacito;<br />
dulce y humil<strong>de</strong>, se alejó, pegadita<br />
al cerco, por el camino oscuro. Ya no<br />
lloraba y apresuraba cada vez más el<br />
paso, para llegar al pueblo. Sombras<br />
con zapatos pasaban presurosas a su<br />
lado, haciéndola estremecerse <strong>de</strong> temor<br />
por un <strong>de</strong>smando <strong>de</strong> los hombres. A la<br />
entrada <strong>de</strong>l pueblo, frente a la puerta<br />
en luz <strong>de</strong> la primera casa, se <strong>de</strong>tuvo.<br />
—Noches le dé Dios, ña Tona...<br />
—Noches te dé Dios, Can<strong>de</strong>.<br />
¡Avemariapurísima, hastoy venís?<br />
—Sí pué; es que se me ojreció pasar a<br />
la gruta, pa pedirle a la virgen, porque<br />
¡emagínese que se mestán muriendo<br />
los cuchitos!...<br />
196. Ma<strong>de</strong> the sign of the cross.<br />
113<br />
She felt obligated to remain on her<br />
knees for a long while. It continued<br />
drizzling. The gol<strong>de</strong>n light, that massive<br />
and distant light, was fading. The white<br />
Virgin, with her hands together, stayed<br />
in the dark cave, like a sick moon. The<br />
glass lantern cast blood over the cliffs.<br />
Can<strong>de</strong>laria slowly persignated, 196 sweet<br />
and humble, she went away along the<br />
fence by the dark path. She no longer<br />
cried and she hurried faster with each<br />
step to get to the town. Shadows with<br />
shoes were passing by in a hurry at her<br />
si<strong>de</strong> making her tremble with fear from<br />
the audacity of men. At the entrance of<br />
the town, at the lighted door of the first<br />
house, she stopped.<br />
“Evenin’, Señora. Tona…”<br />
“Good evening, Can<strong>de</strong>. Hail Mary! Why<br />
so late?”<br />
“Well, it occurred to me to go to the<br />
grotto, to pray to the Virgin because,<br />
you won’t believe this… all my little<br />
piggies are dying!
SerrÍN De ceDro<br />
Aquella julunera <strong>de</strong> montaña, como<br />
la montaña <strong>de</strong>nantes: tupida, oscura,<br />
llena <strong>de</strong> lianas y casi sin monte, parecía<br />
un gran caserón con pilares: la iglesia<br />
<strong>de</strong> la sombra. La montaña era como<br />
cosa <strong>de</strong> en los sueños: una gran callazón,<br />
y ruidos que caiban por ratos; como<br />
el chillido <strong>de</strong> los micos, la risa <strong>de</strong> los<br />
characuacos, el traquido <strong>de</strong> alguna<br />
rama mal aceitada, o la jerigonza <strong>de</strong> las<br />
loras. Se vivía como en un bajodiagua,<br />
don<strong>de</strong> sobrenadaran pájaros. En aquel<br />
silencio que oprimía el corazón, casi se<br />
nadaba.<br />
De cuando en cuando se oiba el<br />
¡pum!... <strong>de</strong> alguna fruta, que sonaba<br />
como almágana en la tierra prieta y<br />
húmeda <strong>de</strong>l suelo. El sol, doradito, se<br />
<strong>de</strong>spenicaba por todos lados, como jlor<br />
<strong>de</strong> guachipilín198 . Los chejes llamaban a<br />
puertas y ventanas <strong>de</strong> casitas que nadie<br />
abría nunca: “tak, tak,”...<br />
En un <strong>de</strong>scampado estaba la casa <strong>de</strong><br />
Macario, el aserrador. Era una mediagua<br />
<strong>de</strong> teja, sin pare<strong>de</strong>s, solita y aflegida en<br />
el corazón <strong>de</strong>l Chunqueque199 .<br />
114<br />
ceDar SaWDuST<br />
That ancient mountain was like a ferret<br />
hole: <strong>de</strong>nse, dark, full of lianas and<br />
without much un<strong>de</strong>rbush. It looked<br />
like a big house with pillars: the church<br />
of the shadow. The mountain was like<br />
in one’s dreams: a great silence and<br />
noises that quieted at times. Like the<br />
screech of a monkey, the laughter<br />
of the characuaco bird, 197 the crack<br />
of a branch poorly lubricated or the<br />
chattering of the parrots. We lived as if<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r the water where the birds were<br />
swimming over us. In that silence that<br />
oppressed the heart one could almost<br />
swim.<br />
Once in a while we heard the poom!<br />
of a ripe fruit dropping that soun<strong>de</strong>d<br />
like a large hammer on the wet and<br />
dark soil of the ground. The gilding<br />
sun was spreading everywhere like the<br />
yellow flower of guachipilin tree. The<br />
woodpeckers knocked on doors and<br />
windows that nobody ever opened:<br />
“tap, tap…”<br />
In the clearing sat the house of Macario,<br />
the sawyer. It had a gabled roof with<br />
Spanish tile, without walls, lonely and<br />
grieving in the heart of a plush-crested<br />
jay.<br />
197. Marine bird.<br />
198. RAE: guachipilín. (Del nahua cuahuitl, árbol, y tzipitl, amarillo). 1. m. El Salv., Hond. y Nic. Árbol <strong>de</strong><br />
las Papilionáceas, <strong>de</strong> flor amarilla, fruto en legumbre y semillas <strong>de</strong> color café claro. Su ma<strong>de</strong>ra, fuerte,<br />
amarilla y <strong>de</strong> corazón duro, se emplea en la construcción por ser dura<strong>de</strong>ra y resistente a la humedad. cf.<br />
Campbell “kwawit.” cf. Campbell (1985) and Lemus (1997): “tultik.” Otra <strong>de</strong>finición es “cuachtlipilli” que<br />
significa “árbol <strong>de</strong> los cascabeles”.<br />
199. Cuervo azul.
En aquel tuco <strong>de</strong> cielo el sol metía<br />
un hombro. El platanar se apoyaba<br />
<strong>de</strong>snudo al haz <strong>de</strong>l tejado; sus<br />
carnes eran carnes tiernas <strong>de</strong> niño,<br />
comparadas con las roñosas y aceradas<br />
musculaturas <strong>de</strong> los voladores, los<br />
cedros, los conacastes y los zorras que<br />
lo ro<strong>de</strong>aban.<br />
Detrás <strong>de</strong> la casa <strong>de</strong> Macario estaba el<br />
foso <strong>de</strong>l aserra<strong>de</strong>ro, colorado <strong>de</strong> serrín<br />
seco y oloroso. Sobre dos gruesas<br />
vigas colocaban las trozas dijuntas<br />
para tabliarlas con la sierra roncadora:<br />
“¡Jrum... Jrum... Jrum...!”. En cada aliento<br />
se llevaba una cuarta. Como polvo <strong>de</strong><br />
ladrillo el serrín volaba, manchando<br />
<strong>de</strong> rojo la tierra oscura. Macario y el<br />
compa Cirilo sudaban tieso. Desnudos<br />
hasta el umbligo, se abrían y se<br />
cerraban, bregando por rajar <strong>de</strong> largo<br />
los enormes troncos. Macario, que<br />
estaba en el hoyo siempre, por más<br />
joven y más fuerte, aguantaba la calor<br />
<strong>de</strong>l juraco y la polvazón <strong>de</strong> la ma<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
Con carreta llevaban a Lempa la tabla<br />
en verano, cuando el fangal mermaba<br />
tantito; y todo el ivierno lo pasaban<br />
encerrados en la montaña, cortando a<br />
ronquidos la troza enorme <strong>de</strong>l silencio.<br />
* * *<br />
200. Without any fruit.<br />
201. In Spanish: the length of a hand.<br />
202. Using an ax.<br />
115<br />
In that piece of heaven, the sun was<br />
nudging a shoul<strong>de</strong>r in. A clump of<br />
plantain trees stood naked200 near the<br />
roof. Its flesh was the young flesh of a<br />
child, compared to the dirty and waxy<br />
muscles of the flying trees, the cedars,<br />
the elephant ear trees and the foxtail<br />
palms that surroun<strong>de</strong>d it<br />
Reddish with dry and aromatic<br />
sawdust, the sawmill’s ditch was behind<br />
Macario’s house. They placed uneven<br />
pieces of wood over two thick beams to<br />
cut them with the chainsaw… vroom,<br />
vroom, vroom! With every breath it cut<br />
about seven inches. 201 Like brick dust<br />
the sawdust flew staining the dark soil<br />
red. Macario and his compadre Cirilo<br />
were sweating a lot. Shirtless, they<br />
opened and closed202 fighting to crack<br />
the enormous trunks. Macario, who<br />
was always in the ditch, because he<br />
was younger and stronger, bore the<br />
brunt of the heat of the hole and the<br />
dust of the wood. In the summer when<br />
the slough of the river was small, they<br />
transported the wood to the Lempa<br />
river by ox cart. They spent the whole<br />
rainy season in the mountain, cutting<br />
with heavy snores the enormous chunk<br />
of silence.<br />
* * *
Pero, un día, Macario no regresó <strong>de</strong>l<br />
Lempa. Vendió su carga y sejue <strong>de</strong>jando<br />
en la montaña a la Tina y al cipote, al<br />
compa y a su hermana. Se jué con la<br />
Cholita, una brusquita <strong>de</strong> trece años.<br />
Llevaba pisto en puerca y la llevó al<br />
Salvador, on<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>cían quera alegre con<br />
ganas y galán <strong>de</strong> vivir.<br />
Allí se lió a puñaladas con un chofer;<br />
y fue a parar a la península204 , con tres<br />
años encima.<br />
* * *<br />
En el tranquil <strong>de</strong> la celda, en el friyo<br />
<strong>de</strong> la madrugada, soñaba a veces con<br />
su casa en la montaña; oiba clarito el<br />
“¡Jrum... Jrum... Jrum...!” <strong>de</strong> la sierra; el<br />
grito <strong>de</strong> las loras; el crujido <strong>de</strong> las ramas<br />
y el “tak, tak,” <strong>de</strong> los chejes llamando a la<br />
puerta <strong>de</strong> una casita, cerradita y llena<br />
<strong>de</strong> amor como su corazón arrepentido.<br />
Sentía mesmamente el olor <strong>de</strong>l aserrín<br />
<strong>de</strong> cedro: un olor que le hacía llorar por<br />
la Tina y el cipote.<br />
Cuando <strong>de</strong>spertaba y se veiya en la<br />
escurana <strong>de</strong> la cárcel, continuaba<br />
llorando y se arrodillaba para pedir al<br />
Señor su libertad. Dos años le faltaban,<br />
¡dos años!... Cada vez que pasaba por<br />
la carpintería <strong>de</strong>l plantel, se robaba<br />
una puñada <strong>de</strong> serrín <strong>de</strong> cedro: y por<br />
la noche se estaba en su celda oliendo,<br />
oliendo...<br />
203. The peasant’s knowledge of the proper name for San Salvador.<br />
204. Cárcel, penitenciaría.<br />
116<br />
But one day Macario did not return<br />
from the Lempa. He sold his shipment<br />
and took off. He left Tina, his child,<br />
his compadre and his sister alone in<br />
the mountain. He left with Cholita, a<br />
thirteen year old floozy. He had tons of<br />
money and he took her to Salvador, 203<br />
where people said it was a happy place<br />
and it was a nice place to live.<br />
There he got into a fight with a driver<br />
and stabbed him. He en<strong>de</strong>d up in jail<br />
for three years.<br />
* * *<br />
In the silence of his cell, in the cold of<br />
the morning, he dreamed sometimes<br />
of his house in the mountain. He clearly<br />
heard the vroom of the chainsaw, the<br />
scream of the parrots, the creak of<br />
the branches and the “tap tap” of the<br />
woodpeckers knocking at the door of a<br />
little house that was locked and full of<br />
love, like his repentant heart. He could<br />
truly smell the aroma of the cedar<br />
sawdust: a smell that ma<strong>de</strong> him cry for<br />
Tina and for his child.<br />
When he woke up and he found<br />
himself still in the darkness of the jail,<br />
he continued to cry and he knelt down<br />
to ask the Lord for his freedom. Two<br />
more years to go, two more! Everytime<br />
he walked by the carpenter’s shop of<br />
the prison he stole a handful of cedar<br />
sawdust. At night, he stayed in his cell<br />
sniffing, sniffing…
Se jue apagando como candil reseco.<br />
La melarchía lo postró muy pronto. Se<br />
quejaba, se quejaba y no podía dormir.<br />
El enfermero le puso morgina; y él soñó<br />
clarito, clarito, que llegaba a su casa y<br />
que Cirilo y su mujer cortaban con la<br />
sierra un tronco prieto, quera él mismo.<br />
No le dolía, sólo lihacía cosquillas. De<br />
su cuerpo caiba un aserrín colorado,<br />
colorado, más que el <strong>de</strong>l cedro; y vio<br />
que la Tina pepenaba una puñada y lo<br />
olía y <strong>de</strong>cía: “Jie<strong>de</strong>... núes palo duro,<br />
no aguanta, jie<strong>de</strong>... Güeliera, si juera<br />
<strong>de</strong> palo valiente. Tiene shashaco el<br />
corazón!”...<br />
Y Macario amaneció dijunto.<br />
117<br />
He was vanishing like a fading fire in<br />
a lantern. Melancholy soon prostrated<br />
him. He moaned, and moaned and<br />
could not sleep. The nurse gave him<br />
morphine, and he vividly dreamed that<br />
he was coming home and that Cirilo<br />
and his wife were chainsawing the dark<br />
chunk of wood that he was. It didn’t<br />
hurt, it just tickled him. A red sawdust<br />
oozed out of his body, even more red<br />
than the cedar, and he saw Tina pick<br />
up a handful and say “it stinks, it ain’t<br />
a good tree, it’s a coward, it stinks… it<br />
would give a pleasant smell if it was a<br />
valiant tree. It has a wormeaten heart!”<br />
In the morning Macario was <strong>de</strong>ad.
el VIeNTo<br />
La palazón se bañaba, alegre y <strong>de</strong>snuda,<br />
en el viento. El sol era mareño 205 , en<br />
la mañana azul. La basura iba y venía,<br />
arrastrada por la mecida <strong>de</strong>l aire. Hojas<br />
que rodaban como caracoles, polvo<br />
como espuma sucia en aquella marea.<br />
Los charcos, en medio <strong>de</strong>l camino<br />
barrioso y barrido, se secaban <strong>de</strong>jando<br />
prieta la tierra, y blandita como para<br />
meter el pie. Un ruidal <strong>de</strong> ramadas<br />
llenaba la costa entera, <strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> aquí<br />
quera ver<strong>de</strong>ante hasta allá lejoslejos<br />
quera azul.<br />
También las yeguas sintieron <strong>de</strong>ntrar<br />
el viento en su alegrón y se echaron<br />
a correr por el llano. A la par <strong>de</strong> las<br />
yeguas <strong>de</strong> viento, iban las yeguas <strong>de</strong><br />
sangre, atropellándose unas con otras,<br />
soplando las narices valientes, la crin<br />
al cielo y el casco al suelo: ¡patacán,<br />
patacán, patacán! Dejaban jumazón en<br />
la fueya, como si quemaran su libertá.<br />
Paraban su <strong>de</strong>sboco, cuando ya no<br />
sentían el suelo, por miedo al vuelo<br />
<strong>de</strong>sconocido. El heroísmo es un exceso<br />
<strong>de</strong> vida que pue<strong>de</strong> a veces producir la<br />
muerte.<br />
A ratos, el norte ponía mujeres <strong>de</strong> polvo,<br />
bailando vertiginosas por las veredas;<br />
118<br />
THe WIND<br />
The forest bathed, happy and naked, in<br />
the wind. The sun was sailing upon the<br />
sea in the clear morning. Garbage came<br />
and went, dragged by the rocking of<br />
the air. Leaves were rolling like snails,<br />
as did the dust like dirty foam in the<br />
ti<strong>de</strong>.<br />
The puddles, in the middle of the<br />
empty clayish road, were being dried<br />
leaving the soil dark and soft to walk<br />
on. A huge noise of palm huts filled the<br />
whole coast, which from here it looked<br />
greenish, to over there, far far, fa<strong>de</strong>d to<br />
blue.<br />
The mares also felt the wind come<br />
overjoyed, and broke into a run across<br />
the plains. Alongsi<strong>de</strong> the mares of<br />
wind, the mares of blood were also<br />
racing, trampling one another, flaring<br />
their brave nostrils, their manes to the<br />
sky and their hooves to the ground:<br />
clickity-clack! clickity-clack! They<br />
were leaving a cloud of dust in their<br />
hoofprints as if burning their freedom.<br />
Their wildness stopped when they no<br />
longer felt the ground fearful of the<br />
unknown flight. Heroism is an excess<br />
of life that can sometimes cause <strong>de</strong>ath.<br />
At times, the wind turned women into<br />
205. “Mareño”: que viene <strong>de</strong>l mar; that is like saying “it is the appropriate time to go for a walk un<strong>de</strong>r the<br />
sun by sea.”
ailando en puntas y cogiendo al<br />
paso mantos <strong>de</strong> nube, para enrollarse<br />
girámbulas.<br />
Venía el chuchito perdido, arrastrando<br />
una larga pita por el camino. Era negro,<br />
lagartijo, encogido y <strong>de</strong>spavorido.<br />
Echaba las orejas hacia atrás, la cola<br />
entre las patas; un vivo amarillo <strong>de</strong><br />
espanto le ro<strong>de</strong>aba los ojos polvosos.<br />
En aquella anchísima soledad,<br />
ensor<strong>de</strong>cida por el viento, era como un<br />
dolor extraviado. La fuerza <strong>de</strong>l oleaje le<br />
hacía tambalearse. Se paraba y ponía<br />
vanos empeños por amarrar el cabo<br />
<strong>de</strong>l olfato. Volvía tímido la cabeza, para<br />
mirar cuán solo estaba. Entonces su<br />
grito lastime ro hacía un rasguño en el<br />
viento. Volvía atrás con igual premura,<br />
miran do al andar hacia el cielo, como<br />
si nadara. La pita suelta lo seguía dócil,<br />
marcando un surco en el polvo por<br />
un instante. Era como un amor náufrago.<br />
Buscaba al amo, perdido en el<br />
ventarrón. A lo lejos, como un punto<br />
negro en la explanada, iba nadando<br />
hacia lo incierto. Aquella cosa tan<br />
mísera, bajo el furor <strong>de</strong>l cielo, era un<br />
dolor grandioso.<br />
* * *<br />
Entre ma<strong>de</strong>jas <strong>de</strong> polvo y cáscaras<br />
doradas, apoyado al tanteyo en el palo<br />
119<br />
dust, vertiginously dancing on the<br />
paths; dancing on tiptoe and grabbing<br />
cloaks of clouds as they passed by as if<br />
to become phila<strong>de</strong>lphus flowers. 206<br />
Chuchito207 the pup, was walking along<br />
disoriented, dragging a long rope<br />
along the road. He was a black, lizardlike,<br />
shrunken, scared creature. His ears<br />
turned back, his tail between his legs;<br />
a bright scary yellow surroun<strong>de</strong>d his<br />
dusty eyes. In that immense solitu<strong>de</strong>,<br />
<strong>de</strong>afened by the wind, he was like a<br />
wan<strong>de</strong>ring pain. The might of the waves<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> him stagger. He stood up and<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> vain efforts to recover his sense of<br />
smell. He turned his head timidly to see<br />
just how alone he was. Then his woeful<br />
howl nipped at the wind. He turned<br />
back, with the same urgency, looking<br />
up at the sky as he walked, it seemed<br />
as if he were swimming. The loose rope<br />
followed him obediently, creating a<br />
temporary crease in the dust. It was<br />
like love that had been shipwrecked.<br />
He was looking for his owner, lost in the<br />
gale. Far away, like a black dot in the<br />
plains, he swam towards uncertainty.<br />
The swimming un<strong>de</strong>r the heaven’s fury,<br />
such a miserable thing to do, was an<br />
enormous pain.<br />
206. Also “girandole,” “mock orange” and “syringa.” This is an ornamental shrub with fragrant, sweetscented<br />
snow white flowers.<br />
207. “Chuchito” is an en<strong>de</strong>arment term for “puppy”, and it often has familiar and sentimental value. I<br />
<strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d to keep “Chuchito” instead of puppy, and “he” instead of “it” to provoke in the rea<strong>de</strong>r a feeling<br />
that Chuchito has human characteristics.<br />
* * *
y al tanteyo la mano en el cielo, el viejo<br />
ciego topó a una alambrada y llamó ya<br />
sin esperanza:<br />
—¡Mirto, Mirto!...<br />
120<br />
Among hanks of dust and gol<strong>de</strong>n<br />
shells, leaning on his cane and sizing up<br />
the hand in the sky, the old blind man<br />
stopped when he arrived at a barbed<br />
wired fence and called without hope<br />
anymore:<br />
“Mirto, Mirto”
la eSTrelleMar<br />
Genaro Prieto y Luciano Garciya<br />
estaban sentados en un troncón tris te<br />
cadávere <strong>de</strong> árbol, medio aterrado en<br />
la playa, blanco en lo gris <strong>de</strong> la arena,<br />
y con ramas que eran brazos como<br />
<strong>de</strong> hombres que se meten cami sas.<br />
Empezaba el sol <strong>de</strong>l estero a dorar las<br />
puntas <strong>de</strong> los manglares. Era parada<br />
diagua; por eso, en golfo <strong>de</strong> azul<br />
tranquilo, el estero taba como dormido,<br />
ro<strong>de</strong>ado <strong>de</strong> negros manglares, en cuyas<br />
cumbres el sol ponía a secar sus trapos<br />
dioro.<br />
Laisla, en medio, bía fondiado con<br />
sus peñascales nevados <strong>de</strong> palo mas<br />
mareñas; y era mesmamente la cabeza<br />
<strong>de</strong> un gigante bañándose y quitándose<br />
el jabón. Empujando, ya sin juerzas,<br />
la inmensidá, pasó una garza: blanca,<br />
blanca, como luna bajera: triste, triste,<br />
como ricuerdo, y silencia como nube.<br />
El viento se sienta y se <strong>de</strong>spereza<br />
<strong>de</strong>snudo; y el agua da un tastazo en<br />
la orilla llegando, como quien escribe,<br />
a mojar el pie achatado <strong>de</strong> Genaro.<br />
Al mismo tiempo una malla <strong>de</strong> plata<br />
on<strong>de</strong>a, lumino sa y veloz, sobre la linfa<br />
<strong>de</strong>l estero.<br />
—¡Mire qué flus208 mano!...<br />
<strong>de</strong> chimbera,<br />
—Ya la vi<strong>de</strong>, vos, siés la mera cosecha.<br />
121<br />
STarfISH<br />
Genaro Prieto and Luciano Garciya<br />
were sitting on a sad trunk, a carcass of<br />
a tree that was half buried on the beach.<br />
The trunk was white in the grey of the<br />
sand and with branches that were arms<br />
like arms of men putting on shirts. The<br />
sun of the marsh began to gild the<br />
peaks of the mangrove swamps. The<br />
waves were calming down, so in the<br />
gulf of tranquil blue, the marsh was<br />
like sleeping, surroun<strong>de</strong>d by black<br />
mangrove swamps in which peaks the<br />
sun dried its gil<strong>de</strong>d laundry<br />
The island in the middle had anchored<br />
with its beach doves that looked<br />
like rocky mountains of snow, and<br />
it certainly was the head of a giant<br />
bathing and wiping off the soap. A<br />
heron, white like a low moon, sad like<br />
a memory, and quiet like a cloud was<br />
pushing the immensity, almost without<br />
strength. The wind sits and stretches<br />
out naked. As when someone writes,<br />
the water was spanking the shore until<br />
it touched the small feet of Genaro. At<br />
the same time, a silver mesh is waving,<br />
luminous and rapid, over the marsh<br />
lilies.<br />
“Look at the tons of fishies, pal!”<br />
“I seen’em! It’s harvest time.”<br />
208. RAE: Del fr. flux, flujo. Note that Salarrué did not italice this word even though it was incorrectly<br />
spelled.
Volvió a relampaguear la plata <strong>de</strong><br />
aquella mancha <strong>de</strong> chimberas,<br />
poniendo en el agua teclados <strong>de</strong> luz.<br />
—¡Qué cachimbazo, mano! Vaya a<br />
trerse la tarraya.<br />
Luciano se puso en pie, obediente; <strong>de</strong>jó,<br />
<strong>de</strong> un golpe, clavado, el machete en una<br />
rama y se alejó, pintando arena, hacia<br />
el manglar. En un <strong>de</strong>scampado estaba<br />
el rancho <strong>de</strong> palma. De una ramada <strong>de</strong><br />
varas <strong>de</strong> tarro, extendida sobre el cielo<br />
como una telaraña, pendía, oriándose,<br />
la tarraya, con su chimbolero <strong>de</strong> plomos<br />
cayendo a modo <strong>de</strong> rosario.<br />
* * *<br />
Con el agua hasta el encaje, Genaro,<br />
abiertos los brazos y mordida lorla <strong>de</strong>l<br />
vuelo, iba al va<strong>de</strong>yo, al va<strong>de</strong>yo, presto el<br />
ojo y el óido atento. Luciano le seguía <strong>de</strong><br />
cerca, con la ceba<strong>de</strong>ra209 <strong>de</strong> pitematate.<br />
—Sian juído estas babosas. Ya mey<br />
rendido <strong>de</strong> la brazada, con esta<br />
plomazón.<br />
—Démela, mano; cambeye, a ver si yo<br />
tengo mejor dicha.<br />
—¡Apartate, baboso, apartate!<br />
122<br />
The silver of that fish stain was lightning<br />
again, putting keyboards of light over<br />
the water.<br />
“Too many, bud! Go get the fish net.”<br />
Luciano stood up and, obediently, he left<br />
his machete anchored on a branch and<br />
went away, painting the sand, towards<br />
the mangrove grove. In the clearing,<br />
there was the shack ma<strong>de</strong> out of palms.<br />
The fish net was hanging, saluting the<br />
sun with its lead beads lying down like<br />
a rosary. It was suspen<strong>de</strong>d on a ramada<br />
of tarro vines, exten<strong>de</strong>d over the sky<br />
like a spi<strong>de</strong>rweb.<br />
* * *<br />
With the water all the way up to his<br />
waist, Genaro, with his arms open<br />
biting the edge of the flight, was in his<br />
element, attentive with both his sight<br />
and ear. Luciano was following right<br />
behind, with the twine bag.<br />
“These suckers are gone. My arms are<br />
getting tired of holding the fishnet.”<br />
“Let’s switch. Give it to me, maybe I<br />
have better luck.”<br />
“Move over, fool, move over!”<br />
209. RAE: ceba<strong>de</strong>ra1. (De cebada). 1. f. Morral o manta que sirve <strong>de</strong> pesebre para dar cebada al ganado<br />
en el campo. 2. f. Arca o cajón en que los posa<strong>de</strong>ros y mayorales <strong>de</strong> labor tienen la cebada para las<br />
caballerías. ceba<strong>de</strong>ra2. (De cebar). 1. f. Ingen. En las minas, caja <strong>de</strong> palastro que no tiene tapa ni uno<br />
<strong>de</strong> los costados, y sirve para introducir la carga en el horno a través <strong>de</strong>l ceba<strong>de</strong>ro. 2. f. Mar. Vela que se<br />
envergaba en una percha cruzada bajo el bauprés, fuera <strong>de</strong>l barco.
En el propio instante en que el sol<br />
asomaba su fogazón sobre el manglar<br />
<strong>de</strong> laisla, la culebra <strong>de</strong> brillo <strong>de</strong><br />
la chimbera cruzó entre dos aguas,<br />
curveante y repentina. La malla, veloz,<br />
se abrió en el aire a modo <strong>de</strong> flor volante<br />
y traslúcida, graciosa y trágica, voraz y<br />
anfibia y, haciendo chi flar los plomos,<br />
se hundió en la linfa con la seguridad<br />
<strong>de</strong>l felino que cae sobre la presa. Todo<br />
quedó en suspenso. Había ojos en cada<br />
onda espe rando, esperando, mientras<br />
se recogía la tarraya. En la punta venía la<br />
col mena <strong>de</strong> espejuelos <strong>de</strong> la chimbera.<br />
Era como un sol <strong>de</strong> plata, brillando al<br />
sol <strong>de</strong> oro; bolsa <strong>de</strong> azogue210 , corazón<br />
<strong>de</strong> estero. Las chimberas caiban en la<br />
matata, como gotas <strong>de</strong> acero <strong>de</strong>rretido,<br />
chisporroteantes y enredadizas.<br />
De pronto, Genaro se quedó en<br />
suspenso. Entre las últimas chimberas<br />
venía una estrellemar <strong>de</strong> seis puntas.<br />
La cogió con los <strong>de</strong>dos y le empezó a<br />
dar vueltas.<br />
—¡Una estreyemar <strong>de</strong> seis puntas,<br />
baboso: ya jodí!...<br />
—¿Por qué, vos?<br />
—No tiagás el bruto; ¿no sabés ques un<br />
ambuleto? ¿Quel que lo carga no lentra<br />
el corvo?<br />
123<br />
At the same instant in which the sun was<br />
bringing his bonfire over the mangrove<br />
swamp in the island, the shiny snake of<br />
fish crossed between two waters, curvy<br />
and sud<strong>de</strong>n. The net, quick, opened in<br />
the air like a flying flower, translucent,<br />
graceful and tragic, voracious and<br />
amphibious, and, making the leads<br />
whistle, sank down in the lilies with the<br />
confi<strong>de</strong>nce of the feline that jumps over<br />
the prey. It was all in suspense. There<br />
were eyes on every wave, waiting, while<br />
they pulled back the net. The behive of<br />
bait for the fish was on the other si<strong>de</strong> of<br />
the boat. It was like a silver sun, shining<br />
to the gol<strong>de</strong>n sun; restless bag, heart<br />
of marsh. The little fish were dropping<br />
on the bag like drops of melted iron,<br />
spluttering and confusing.<br />
Sud<strong>de</strong>nly, Genaro was in suspense.<br />
Among the last fish there was a starfish<br />
of six points. He picked it up with his<br />
fingers and began to turn it around.<br />
“A starfish of six points, pal. I’m done!”<br />
“Why is that?”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t act like a fool. <strong>Don</strong>’t you know<br />
what an ambulet is? That he who owns<br />
it can stand the wrath of the machete?”<br />
210. RAE: azogue1. (Del ár. hisp. azzáwq, este <strong>de</strong>l ár. clás. zāwq o zā’ūq, y este <strong>de</strong>l pelvi zīwag). 1. m. Quím.<br />
mercurio. 2. m. Cada una <strong>de</strong> las naves que se <strong>de</strong>stinaban al transporte <strong>de</strong> azogue <strong>de</strong> España a América.<br />
ser un ~. 1. loc. verb. coloq. Ser muy inquieto.
—¡Agüén, entonces lo vamos a partir<br />
mitá y mitá, mano!<br />
—¡No seya pen<strong>de</strong>jo, mano!, ¿no ve que<br />
yo luei incontrado? Si lo par timos, ya<br />
núes <strong>de</strong> seis puntas ¿entien<strong>de</strong>?<br />
—Entonces, juguémola; a los dos nos<br />
toca en suerte, <strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> el momento en<br />
que los dos nos hemos metido a pescar<br />
juntos.<br />
—¡Coma güevo! Y déjese <strong>de</strong> babosadas,<br />
si no quiere pasar a más...<br />
Discutiendo habían llegado a la playa.<br />
Genaro Prieto se había guar dado<br />
la estrella en la bolsa <strong>de</strong>l pantalón.<br />
Luciano García, con voz más cal mada,<br />
insistía en que ambos tenían iguales<br />
<strong>de</strong>rechos sobre el hallazgo.<br />
—Aquí tengo el chivo, Genaro,<br />
juguémola...<br />
—¡No me terqueye!<br />
—Juguémola.<br />
—No la juego, y ¿quiay?<br />
Luciano Garciya, en un momento<br />
<strong>de</strong> ceguera, se arrojó sobre el corvo,<br />
que había <strong>de</strong>jado clavado en la rama<br />
haciendo cruz. Genaro echó mano al<br />
cuchiyo que llevaba en el cinto, mas no<br />
tuvo tiempo <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>snudarlo: el corvo<br />
<strong>de</strong>l amigo le había cortado <strong>de</strong> un golpe<br />
la vida.<br />
124<br />
“Well, then we can cut it half and half,<br />
bro!”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t be stupid. <strong>Don</strong>’t ya see that I<br />
have fin<strong>de</strong>d it? If we cut it, then it no<br />
longer haf six points, got it?”<br />
“Well then let’s gamble for it since we<br />
both found it. It’s ours since we both<br />
came to fish together.”<br />
“Go fuck yourself! And stop the bullshit<br />
if you don’t want to see more…”<br />
They continued arguing until they<br />
arrived at the beach. Genaro Prieto had<br />
put the starfish in his pocket. Luciano<br />
García, with a calmer tone, insisted that<br />
they both had the right to the finding.<br />
“I have the coin here. Let’s flip it, Genaro,<br />
let’s do this...”<br />
“Cut it out.”<br />
“Let’s gamble for it.”<br />
“I don’t wanna, so what?”<br />
Luciano Garciya, in a moment of<br />
blindness, jumped over his machete<br />
that he had left nailed like a cross on<br />
the branch of the tree. Genaro grabbed<br />
the knife he carried on his belt, but<br />
he didn’t have time to take it out: on<br />
a whim the machete of the friend had<br />
cut his life.
El matador estuvo allí, fijo, mientras duró<br />
la transición <strong>de</strong> la cólera al temor. Luego<br />
se echó sobre el cuerpo ensangrentado<br />
y, cogiendo el ambuleto, huyó entre los<br />
manglares.<br />
En el tranquil <strong>de</strong> la mañana una garza<br />
pasó, empujando, ya sin juerzas, la<br />
inmensidá.<br />
125<br />
The matador was there, still, while the<br />
transition from anger to fear lasted.<br />
Then he jumped on the bloody corpse<br />
and, picking up the ambulet, fled<br />
among the mangrove swamps.<br />
In the calm of the morning a heron<br />
passed by pushing the immensity with<br />
no strength.
la BraSa<br />
En la cumbre más cumbre <strong>de</strong>l volcán,<br />
allá don<strong>de</strong> la tierra <strong>de</strong>ja <strong>de</strong> subir<br />
buscando a Dios; allá don<strong>de</strong> las nubes<br />
se <strong>de</strong>tienen a <strong>de</strong>scansar, Pablo Melara<br />
había parado su rancho <strong>de</strong> carbonero.<br />
Medio rancho, medio cueva, en una<br />
falla <strong>de</strong>l acantilado aquel nido humano<br />
se agazapaba. De la puerta para afuera,<br />
empezaban las la<strong>de</strong>ras a <strong>de</strong>scolgarse,<br />
terribles, preci pitadas; en <strong>de</strong>slizones<br />
bruscos; abismándose, rodando,<br />
agarrándose aflegidas. Los pinos,<br />
enormes, eran nubes obscuras entre las<br />
nubes; humazos negros entre la niebla.<br />
Mecían al viento, lentamente, sus<br />
enormes cabe zas, como si oyeran una<br />
música dulce, salida <strong>de</strong> lo gris y <strong>de</strong> lo<br />
frío. Las ramas chiflaban tristemente,<br />
llevando en ritmos nasales una melodía<br />
<strong>de</strong> inmensidad. Era la cumbre una isla<br />
en el cielo; y el cielo, un mar <strong>de</strong> viento.<br />
En las noches tranquilas, como por<br />
alta mar, pasaba silenciosa la barca<br />
<strong>de</strong> la luna nueva. A veces el horizonte<br />
fosforecía.<br />
El carbonero iba apilando los leños,<br />
en pantes enormes. De cruz en cruz,<br />
formaba una torre; como un faro que,<br />
en las noches largas, llenas <strong>de</strong> ausencia,<br />
ardía, ardía rojo y palpitante, señalando<br />
126<br />
THe eMBer<br />
On the summit of the highest peak of<br />
the volcano; there, where the earth<br />
stops climbing in search of God; there,<br />
where the clouds stop to rest, Pablo<br />
Melara had erected his shack to work<br />
as a charcoal-burner. 211 Half shack, half<br />
cave, in a fault of the cliff, that human<br />
nest was snuggled. From the door to<br />
the outsi<strong>de</strong>, the hills were beginning<br />
to <strong>de</strong>tach like bats, terrible, sud<strong>de</strong>n,<br />
in brusque sli<strong>de</strong>s, plunging, tumbling,<br />
and worried, trying to grab onto<br />
something.<br />
The enormous pines were dark clouds<br />
among the clouds; black clouds of<br />
smoke amidst the fog. The pines<br />
were dancing towards the wind their<br />
enormous heads, cocked as if they were<br />
listening to sweet music, emerging<br />
out of what was gray and cold. The<br />
branches whistled sadly, carrying in<br />
nasal rhythms an immense melody. The<br />
peak was an island in the sky; and the<br />
sky, an ocean of wind. On tranquil<br />
nights, like on the high ti<strong>de</strong>s, the boat<br />
of the new moon silently passed by.<br />
Sometimes the horizon would glow<br />
with a phosphorescent light.<br />
The charcoal-burner was stacking up<br />
logs, in enormous heaping piles. He<br />
was making a tower, shaping the logs<br />
like a cross; like a lighthouse that would<br />
burn on long nights full of loneliness.<br />
211. Carbonero or charcoal-burner is the person who burns wood to produce charcoal. Grey Fox on<br />
wordreference.com comments “Charcoal burners were an age-old part of many landscapes and always<br />
on the edge of society, with a very unsocial lifestyle based on such thankless labour! c/f Thomas Hardy<br />
‘The Woodlan<strong>de</strong>rs.’”
el rumbo a los barcos <strong>de</strong> silencio con<br />
sus gran<strong>de</strong>s velámenes <strong>de</strong> sombra.<br />
Solo y negro en la altura, el carbonero<br />
iba viviendo como en un sueño. Tenía<br />
un perro mudo y una gran tristeza.<br />
Acurrucado y friolento, encendido<br />
siempre el puro y el corazón, se estaba<br />
allí mirando el abismo, sin remedio.<br />
Como a los pantes <strong>de</strong> leña oscura, la<br />
brasa <strong>de</strong>l corazón le iba <strong>de</strong>vo rando las<br />
entrañas; y aquel resplandor <strong>de</strong> misterio<br />
se le iba subiendo a la concencia.<br />
Una noche, qflegido, lió sus trapos y se<br />
marchó pá nunca...<br />
—¡Puerca, mano, méi juido dialtiro e<br />
la cumbre! Miatracaba un pen sar y un<br />
pensar...<br />
127<br />
It would burn red and palpitating,<br />
signaling the course to the silent boats<br />
with their big, shadowy sails.<br />
Alone and black in the heights, the<br />
charcoal-burner was living as if [living]<br />
in a dream. He had a mute dog and<br />
a great sadness. Curled up and cold,<br />
his cigar and his heart were always<br />
burning; he would stay there watching<br />
the abyss, without consolation.<br />
Like the dark piles of logs, the embers<br />
of his heart were <strong>de</strong>vouring his insi<strong>de</strong>s;<br />
and that mysterious glow continued<br />
rising in his conscience.<br />
One night, heartbroken, he picked up<br />
his stuff and left for good…<br />
“Holy cow! I finally left the peak once<br />
and for all and these thoughts that have<br />
been attacking me over and over…”
el PaDre<br />
La iglesia <strong>de</strong>l pueblo era pesada,<br />
musgosa y muda como una tumba.<br />
Detrás estaba el convento, encerrado<br />
entre tapiales, con su gran arboleda<br />
sombría; con su corredor <strong>de</strong> ladrillo<br />
colorado; <strong>de</strong> tejado bajero, sostenido<br />
por un pilar, otro pilar, otro pilar...;<br />
pilares sin esquinas, embasados 212 en<br />
pie dra tallada y pintados <strong>de</strong> un antiguo<br />
color.<br />
El patio era <strong>de</strong> un <strong>barro</strong> blanco y barrido,<br />
propicio a las hojas secas. Las sombras<br />
y las luces <strong>de</strong> las hojas ponían agüita en<br />
el suelo; en aquel suelo pelón lleno <strong>de</strong><br />
paz, por el cual pasaban, gritonas, las<br />
gallinas gui neas<br />
Largo era el corredor: la mesa, el<br />
kinké 213 , una silla, un sofá, un barril, una<br />
<strong>de</strong>stila<strong>de</strong>ra, un viejo camarín, unos<br />
postes durmiendo; otra silla, la hamaca,<br />
el cuadro bíblico; un cajón; un burro<br />
con una montura; un freno colgado <strong>de</strong><br />
un clavo 216 y al final, ya para salir a las<br />
gradas, unos manojos <strong>de</strong> pasto ver<strong>de</strong>,<br />
el pica<strong>de</strong>ro y la cutacha 217 . Después<br />
212. RAE: embasamiento. (Del it. imbasamento).1. m. Arq. Basa larga y continuada sobre la que estriba<br />
todo el edificio o parte <strong>de</strong> él.<br />
213. RAE: quinqué. (Del fr. Quinquet, nombre <strong>de</strong>l primer fabricante <strong>de</strong> esta clase <strong>de</strong> lámparas). 1. m.<br />
Lámpara <strong>de</strong> mesa alimentada con petróleo y provista <strong>de</strong> un tubo <strong>de</strong> cristal que resguarda la llama.<br />
214. A lamp using an Argand burner. The Encyclopædia Britannica <strong>de</strong>fines it as “the first scientifically<br />
constructed oil lamp, patented in 1784 in England by a Swiss, Aimé Argand. The first basic change in<br />
lamps in thousands of years, it applied a principle that was later adapted to gas burners. The Argand<br />
burner consisted of a cylindrical wick housed between two concentric metal tubes. The inner tube<br />
provi<strong>de</strong>d a passage through which air rose into the centre to support combustion on the inner surface<br />
of the cylindrical flame in addition to that on the outer surface. A glass chimney increased the draft,<br />
allowing more complete burning of the oil.”<br />
215. SpanishDict: Place behind an altar where the images are dressed, and the ornaments <strong>de</strong>stined for<br />
that purpose are kept.<br />
216. RAE: freno. (Del lat. frēnum). 2. m. Instrumento <strong>de</strong> hierro que se compone <strong>de</strong> embocadura, camas y<br />
barbada, y sirve para sujetar y gobernar las caballerías.<br />
217. Machete o a veces es más corto.<br />
128<br />
THe PrIeST<br />
The town’s church was heavy, mossy<br />
and mute, like a tomb. The convent was<br />
behind the church enclosed insi<strong>de</strong> mudwalls<br />
with shadowy trees, its corridors<br />
of red bricks. A low roof was held up by<br />
a pillar, and another pillar and another<br />
pillar… pillars without corners, their<br />
plinths were ma<strong>de</strong> of carved stone and<br />
painted an ancient color.<br />
The backyard, of white clay, was swept<br />
often because it was susceptible to the<br />
dry falling leaves. The shadows and the<br />
lights of the leaves ma<strong>de</strong> it look as if<br />
there was water on the ground; on that<br />
bare ground full of peace pierced by<br />
the noisy guinea hens passing by.<br />
Placed in the long corridor were a<br />
table, an Argand lamp 214 , a chair, a sofa,<br />
a barrel, a vessel for distillation, an old<br />
closet, 215 some sleeping posts; another<br />
chair, a hammock, a bible stand; a chest;<br />
a donkey with a saddle; a bit hanging<br />
from a nail, and finally, on the way out<br />
to the stairs, some bales of green hay, a<br />
scythe and a machete. Just beyond, the
empezaba la alfombra <strong>de</strong>l sol hasta la<br />
cocina; y allá, contra la tapia, como una<br />
casita <strong>de</strong> juguete, con su chimenea <strong>de</strong><br />
lata azul, el excusado.<br />
El padre se paseaba en la tar<strong>de</strong>. Era<br />
la hora en que la paz le traía el cielo;<br />
el cielo <strong>de</strong> agradables matices, que<br />
llegaba a sentarse en la montaña<br />
lejana, pensativo como un hombre;<br />
pensativo hasta quedarse dormido,<br />
soñando en las estrellas, cada vez más<br />
profundamente.<br />
El sacristán tocaba el ángelus para que<br />
todo se callara. Y todo se callaba.<br />
La Coronada llegaba entonces<br />
penosamente, con su riuma y sus platos,<br />
a ponerle la mesa. Se sentaba<br />
el padre, siempre mirando el cielo,<br />
con su cara igual <strong>de</strong> triste. Con un<br />
pespuntar 218 <strong>de</strong> máquina <strong>de</strong> coser,<br />
sus labios hilvanaban 219 una larga<br />
oración <strong>de</strong> gratitud. Humillaba los<br />
párpados y se persignaba. Luego, cogía<br />
calmosamente la cuchara y empezaba<br />
a probar la sopa. Estaba caliente. La<br />
Coro encendía el kinké. Las gallinas<br />
empeza ban a volar <strong>de</strong> rama en rama,<br />
con torpes aleteos. A lo lejos se oía<br />
pasar el tren por el puente <strong>de</strong> hierro,<br />
como una amenaza <strong>de</strong> tormenta.<br />
* * *<br />
129<br />
carpet of the sun stretched out all the<br />
way to the kitchen, and there against<br />
the stone wall, like a toy house with its<br />
chimney of blue tin, stood the toilet.<br />
The priest strolled in the afternoon. It<br />
was the hour in which the sky brought<br />
him peace; the sky of friendly sha<strong>de</strong>s<br />
that came to sit on a mountain far<br />
away, thoughtful like a man; thoughtful<br />
until falling asleep, dreaming about the<br />
stars, every time more <strong>de</strong>eply.<br />
The sacristan rang the angelus so<br />
that everything became quiet. And<br />
everything did get quiet.<br />
Shy and rheumatic Coronada brought<br />
the plates to serve him the table. The<br />
priest sat always looking at the sky, with<br />
a sad face like hers. Like the back-stitch<br />
of sewing machine his lips basted a long<br />
thankful prayer. He humbly lowered his<br />
eyes and persignated. Then, he calmy<br />
grabbed the spoon and began to sip<br />
the soup. It was hot. Coronada lit the<br />
Argand lamp. The hens started to fly<br />
from branch to branch, wings clumsy,<br />
flapping. In the distance he heard the<br />
train pass over the iron bridge, like the<br />
threat of a storm.<br />
218. RAE: pespunte. (De pespuntar). 1. m. Labor <strong>de</strong> costura, con puntadas unidas, que se hacen volviendo<br />
la aguja hacia atrás <strong>de</strong>spués <strong>de</strong> cada punto, para meter la hebra en el mismo sitio por don<strong>de</strong> pasó<br />
antes.<br />
219. RAE: hilvanar. 1. tr. Unir con hilvanes lo que se ha <strong>de</strong> coser <strong>de</strong>spués. 2. tr. Dicho <strong>de</strong> una persona que<br />
habla o escribe: Enlazar o coordinar i<strong>de</strong>as, frases o palabras.<br />
* * *
La Chana era una cipota chulísima.<br />
Había crecido <strong>de</strong> dia<strong>de</strong>ntro, al servicio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l cura. Hacía mandados, lavaba<br />
los trastos, les daba <strong>de</strong> comer a las<br />
gallinas y se comía lazúcar. Cuando el<br />
padre estaba bravo, como no tenía en<br />
quien <strong>de</strong>scargar, regañaba a la Chana.<br />
La Chana no se quedaba chiquita y le<br />
contestaba cuatro carambadas.<br />
—¡Agüén, usté! ¡Asaber qué lián<br />
confesado las biatas y <strong>de</strong>scarga en<br />
yo!...<br />
El padre, en vez <strong>de</strong> enojarse, la<br />
estrechaba contra su pecho y le daba<br />
un beso en la frente. Se estaba viendo<br />
en ella, como <strong>de</strong>cía la Coro.<br />
En un dos por tres se había hecho<br />
mujer. De la mañana a la tar<strong>de</strong> echó<br />
rollo, se cantonió y le brillaron los ojos.<br />
Ya se trababa una flor en el <strong>de</strong>lantal,<br />
con un gancho, muy alto, muy alto,<br />
para podérsela oler ponien do cara<br />
interesante. Seguido se cachaba logas;<br />
por el tacón muy encum brado, por<br />
unos papeles colorados para untarse<br />
los labios, por andar sus pirando muy<br />
duro. El cura la miraba <strong>de</strong> lejos. La<br />
miraba pasar, disimula damente, y<br />
alejarse. Se cogía el mentón azul y su<br />
cara <strong>de</strong> cuarentero se ponía grave.<br />
130<br />
Chana was a very beautiful girl. She<br />
had been raised within the walls to be<br />
of service to the priest. She ran errands,<br />
did the dishes, fed the hens and ate the<br />
sugar. When the priest was angry, since<br />
he did not have anyone to vent on, he<br />
yelled at Chana. Chana did not stay<br />
quiet and she yelled back in kind.<br />
“What’s wrong with you? Who knows<br />
what these so-called holy women220 have confessed to you and you vent on<br />
me!”<br />
The priest, instead of getting mad,<br />
hugged her against his chest and<br />
kissed her on her forehead. “He was<br />
seeing himself in her,” like Coronada<br />
used to say.<br />
Sud<strong>de</strong>nly she had become a woman.<br />
She matured overnight. Her hips<br />
danced and her eyes turned bright. She<br />
even put a flower on her apron with a<br />
very, very long hook so that she could<br />
smell it and have a happy face. She soon<br />
got yelled at; because of the high heels,<br />
because of the red papers she used to<br />
red<strong>de</strong>n her lips, and because of sighing<br />
too <strong>de</strong>eply. From a distance the priest<br />
surrepticiously eyed her come and go.<br />
He grabbed his blue chin on his fortysomething-face<br />
and his expression<br />
turned grave.<br />
220. SpanDict: 1. Woman who wears a religious habit, and is engaged in works of charity. (f)
Temblaba por ella. Hubiera querido<br />
podarla un poco. Se paseaba, se paseaba<br />
por el largo corredor, campaneando la<br />
lustrosa sota na vieja, como si en ella se<br />
hamaqueara su inquietud. Apretaba, sin<br />
que rer, el crucifijo <strong>de</strong> plata que llevaba<br />
siempre colgado <strong>de</strong>l cuello. Si hubiera<br />
sido <strong>de</strong> cera, lo habría convertido<br />
pronto en una hostia. Allá a lo lejos,<br />
la risa <strong>de</strong> la Chana sonaba como una<br />
campanilla mundana. Cuando pasa ba a<br />
su lado, apagaba los olores <strong>de</strong>l incienso<br />
con un fuerte aroma <strong>de</strong> jabón diolor.<br />
Por el corredor silencioso, sus tacones<br />
pasaban, clavando la tranquilidad.<br />
* * *<br />
La niña Queta y la niña Menches, la una<br />
fea <strong>de</strong> tan vieja, y la otra vieja <strong>de</strong> tan fea,<br />
entraron apuradas en busca <strong>de</strong>l padre<br />
para un asunto urgente. La puerta<br />
estaba entreabierta y empujaron. Y<br />
fue como si hubie ran empujado su<br />
alma en un abismo. El padre estaba<br />
todo él sentado en un sillón y la Chana<br />
estaba toda ella sentada en el padre. Su<br />
cachete rosado se posaba dulcemente<br />
en el cachete azul <strong>de</strong>l cura, como una<br />
madrugada sutil se posa sobre áspera<br />
montaña.<br />
—¡Virgen pura!...<br />
* * *<br />
131<br />
She ma<strong>de</strong> him tremble. He wished he<br />
would have trimmed her a little. He<br />
walked and walked along the long<br />
corridor, swaying his lustrous old<br />
cassock as if he were hammocking<br />
his inquietu<strong>de</strong> insi<strong>de</strong> it. His fingers<br />
involuntarily squeezed the silver<br />
crucifix that he always wore around his<br />
neck. If the crucifix would have been<br />
ma<strong>de</strong> out of wax, he would have soon<br />
flattened it into a host. There, in the<br />
distance, Chana’s laughter soun<strong>de</strong>d<br />
like a mundane bell. When she passed<br />
by his si<strong>de</strong>, she ma<strong>de</strong> the incense<br />
smells disappear with her strong aroma<br />
of shower soap. Through the silent<br />
corridor, her heels passed by nailing<br />
the tranquility.<br />
* * *<br />
Señora Queta and Señora Menches,<br />
the first being was ugly because she<br />
was old, and the other was old because<br />
she was ugly, entered hurriedly looking<br />
for the priest to discuss an urgent<br />
matter. The door was semi open and<br />
they pushed it. And it was as if they<br />
had pushed their souls into an abyss.<br />
The priest was seated on a couch<br />
and Chana was seated on the priest.<br />
Her pink cheeks were sweetly posing<br />
against the priest’s blue cheek, like<br />
when a subtle dawn poses on a rough<br />
mountain.<br />
“Holy Virgin!”<br />
* * *
El obispo, <strong>de</strong> pie ante él, se enjabonaba<br />
las manos en su duda y en su rango.<br />
Pujó.<br />
Dos lágrimas corrían por las mejillas<br />
marchitas <strong>de</strong>l padre. Repitió su excusa:<br />
—Un afán, un vago <strong>de</strong>seo <strong>de</strong> ser padre.<br />
Es como mi hija.<br />
Su voz era oscura.<br />
—Los niños <strong>de</strong>spertaron siempre en mi<br />
alma una dulce inquietud...<br />
—¡Hm!...<br />
Apretó el obispo sus labios temibles y<br />
lanzó al cura su más irónica mirada. Pero<br />
ante él se irguió austero, nobilísimo y<br />
puro, el rostro <strong>de</strong>l acu sado, encendido<br />
en radiante sinceridad; irresistible en<br />
su sencillez: tal si el mismo Dios mirara<br />
por sus ojos húmedos, abatiendo al<br />
instante la aus teridad, la insolencia y el<br />
rango.<br />
132<br />
The bishop, standing in front of the<br />
priest, was washing his hands to<br />
<strong>de</strong>monstrate his doubt and impose his<br />
rank. He cleared his throat.<br />
Two tears rolled down the marcid<br />
cheeks of the priest. He repeated his<br />
excuse:<br />
“An urge, a vague <strong>de</strong>sire to be a father.<br />
She is like my daughter.”<br />
His voice was dark.<br />
“The children always awakened a sweet<br />
anxiety in me…”<br />
“Hm!”<br />
The bishop squeezed his fearsome lips<br />
together and gave the priest his most<br />
ironic look. But before him the face<br />
of the <strong>de</strong>fendant stood austere, very<br />
noble and pure, lit in radiant sincerity;<br />
irresistible in his humbleness: as if God<br />
himself were looking through his wet<br />
eyes, instantly knocking down the<br />
bishop’s austerity, the insolence and<br />
the rank.
la rePuNTa<br />
—Mama, mama, el poyo me quitó la<br />
tortiya e la mano!...<br />
—¡Istúpida!<br />
La istúpida tenía siete años. Era gordita<br />
y ñatía; su cara amarilla moqueaba y<br />
su boca <strong>de</strong>spintada, siempre abrida<br />
y triste, mostraba dos dientes anchos<br />
e inexpresivos. Lamiéndole la frente<br />
le bajaba el montarrascal <strong>de</strong>l pelo,<br />
canche y marchito. Vestía mugre larga<br />
y vueluda, torna solada <strong>de</strong> manteca. Se<br />
llamaba Santíos.<br />
La nana recogió <strong>de</strong>l suelo un olote y se<br />
lo tiró al poyo, con todas sus juerzas <strong>de</strong><br />
molen<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
—¡Poyo baboso!... ¡Encaramáte al baúl,<br />
jepuerca! ¡Si tiartan la torti ya, no te doy<br />
más!<br />
La Santíos se encaramó en el baúl.<br />
Venía lloviendo tieso por los potreros.<br />
El cerro pelón, parado en medio <strong>de</strong><br />
los llanos, gordo y cobar<strong>de</strong>, no halló<br />
dón<strong>de</strong> meterse y se quedó. Llovió<br />
sin pringar, <strong>de</strong> golpe, a torren tes; con<br />
un viento encontrado, que corría<br />
atropelladamente en todos los rumbos,<br />
como si llevara un tigre agarrado a la<br />
espalda.<br />
133<br />
THe flaSH flooD<br />
“Ma, ma, the chicken snapped the<br />
tortilla out of my hands!”<br />
“Stupid!”<br />
Stupid was seven years old. She was<br />
chubby with a flat small runny nose.<br />
Her face was yellow and her mouth<br />
was colorless, always open and sad.<br />
She was always showing two wi<strong>de</strong> and<br />
inexpressive teeth. The thicket of hair<br />
licked down on her forehead, yellow<br />
and lifeless. She was used to wearing a<br />
long and layered skirt, always filthy and<br />
iri<strong>de</strong>scent with grease. Her name was<br />
Santíos.<br />
Her ma picked up a corn cob from the<br />
ground and hurled it at the chicken<br />
with all the might of a miller<br />
“Stupid chicken! And you, get on your<br />
dresser, little shit! If they eat your tortilla<br />
again, there is no more for you!”<br />
Santíos climbed up her chest. It had<br />
been raining hard all over the pasture<br />
grounds. The bald hill, standing in the<br />
middle of the plains, fat and cowardly<br />
did not find a place to hi<strong>de</strong> and stayed<br />
there. It poured without drizzling, all at<br />
once, in torrents, in a swarming wind<br />
that ran tumultuously in all directions,<br />
as if carrying a tiger on its back.
El hojarasquín mísero, <strong>de</strong> pare<strong>de</strong>s<br />
<strong>de</strong> palma, se tambaleaba chiflante,<br />
<strong>de</strong>splumado, entregado a la voluntá <strong>de</strong><br />
Dios.<br />
—¡Istúpida, tapá ligero el hoyo con el<br />
costal!<br />
La Santíos puso el pedazo <strong>de</strong> tortiya en<br />
el saliente <strong>de</strong>l horcón y jue a zocoliarle221 el costal al juraco. La piel <strong>de</strong>l cielo<br />
tembló ligeramente <strong>de</strong> terror, y el rayo,<br />
con un alarido salvaje, le estampó su<br />
jierro caliente que tenía la forma <strong>de</strong> un<br />
palo seco. Un berrido <strong>de</strong> dolor llenó los<br />
ámbitos oscuros. La istúpida no tapaba<br />
bien el hoyo, y la nana la arronjó <strong>de</strong>l<br />
pelo y lo tapó.<br />
—¡Quita, en<strong>de</strong>zuela emierda, bís nacido<br />
para muerta!<br />
La Santíos se jue a sentar en la cuca y<br />
se quedó mirando, con los ojos y con<br />
la boca, por la puerta. El viento bía<br />
menguado, aplastado por lagua. En<br />
el patio, y al ras <strong>de</strong> la corriente, iban<br />
saltando pa la calle un montonal <strong>de</strong><br />
inanitos <strong>de</strong> huishte, a toda virazón, unos<br />
<strong>de</strong>trás diotros. De los alam bres <strong>de</strong>l cerco<br />
cáiban, <strong>de</strong>sguindándose, unos miquitos<br />
platiados. La Santíos se <strong>de</strong>spabiló con la<br />
escupida <strong>de</strong> una gotera.<br />
134<br />
The <strong>de</strong>ad leaves were weak; their palm<br />
walls were whistling as they wobbled,<br />
stripped of its feathers, surren<strong>de</strong>ring to<br />
the willingness of God.<br />
“Stupid! Hurry up and cover the hole in<br />
the roof with the sack!”<br />
Santíos put the piece of tortilla on the<br />
end of the beam and left to fasten<br />
the sack onto the hole. The skin of<br />
the sky shook lightly of terror, and<br />
the lightning, with a savage shriek,<br />
stamped its burning brand in the shape<br />
of a dry stick. A painful howl filled the<br />
surrounding darkness. Stupid could<br />
not fix the hole so her ma grabbed her<br />
by the hair and did it herself.<br />
“Go away, you Indian piece of shit. You<br />
were born a <strong>de</strong>adhead!”<br />
Santíos left and sat on the stool and<br />
she stared at the door with her eyes<br />
and mouth. The wind had calmed<br />
down, crushed by the water. In the<br />
frontyard and by the current pieces of<br />
broken glass were jumping towards<br />
the road, full speed, one after the other.<br />
From a barbed wire some silver-back<br />
monkeys were letting go, dropping to<br />
the ground. Santíos woke up with the<br />
spit of a leak<br />
221. RAE: atarugar. 1. tr. Dicho <strong>de</strong> un carpintero: Asegurar un ensamblado con tarugos, cuñas o clavijas.<br />
2. tr. Tapar con tarugos o tapones los agujeros <strong>de</strong> los pilones, pilas o vasijas, para impedir que se escape<br />
el líquido que contengan.
—Mama, aquiés on<strong>de</strong> chingasteya 222<br />
lagua, mire...<br />
Iba, gota a gota, llenando su manita<br />
acucharada; cuando le rebalsó, diun<br />
manotazo se la metió en la boca.<br />
—¡Istúpida, bien bís óido que tenés<br />
catarro! ¿No sabés que lagua yovisa<br />
es mala? Te pue<strong>de</strong> quer al pecho,<br />
animala...<br />
Pasado el aguacero, la Santos salió para<br />
el río con la tinaja.<br />
—Güelva luego, carajada, si no quiere<br />
que la tun<strong>de</strong>ye como ayer.<br />
La Santos voltió a ver y siguió su<br />
camino. Iba, humil<strong>de</strong> y shuca224 en la<br />
frescura dorada <strong>de</strong> la tar<strong>de</strong>, <strong>de</strong>jando<br />
pintada en el <strong>barro</strong> la flor <strong>de</strong> su pati ta.<br />
El río venía hediondo y colorado y su<br />
ruidal llenaba la barranca, haciéndola<br />
más oscura. Humil<strong>de</strong> y shuca, bajó <strong>de</strong><br />
piedra en piedra, suje tando con mano<br />
temblorosa la tinaja, sobre la cabeza<br />
canche.<br />
Llegó al ojo diagua encuevado, límpido<br />
y lloviznoso, y con el guacalito fue<br />
llenando, llenando la tinaja, <strong>de</strong> aquel<br />
amor.<br />
135<br />
“Ma, it’s here where the leak is, look…”<br />
Her cupped hand was being filled<br />
drop by drop. When it overflowed she<br />
promptly brought it to her mouth.<br />
“Stupid! Haven’t you heard that you’ve<br />
got a cold? <strong>Don</strong>’t you know that the<br />
rainwater223 is bad? It can freeze your<br />
lungs, you animal!”<br />
After the downpour stopped, Santíos<br />
left for the river with a jug.<br />
“Shake a leg; you little shit, unless<br />
you want me to beat you like I did<br />
yesterday.”<br />
Santíos turned to look at her but<br />
continued walking. She walked, humbly<br />
and dirty in the gol<strong>de</strong>n freshness of the<br />
afternoon, leaving her footprint like a<br />
flower in the clay. The river was flowing<br />
stinky and red, and its noise was filling<br />
up the ravine, making it seem even<br />
darker. Humble and dirty she climbed<br />
down from stone to stone, holding<br />
with her shaky hand the jug she was<br />
carrying over her blon<strong>de</strong> head.<br />
She arrived at the hid<strong>de</strong>n eddy in the<br />
river, limpid and misty, and she ten<strong>de</strong>rly<br />
filled up the jug with the little cup.<br />
222. RAE: chingaste. (Quizá <strong>de</strong>l nahua xinachtli, semilla). 1. m. El Salv. y Hond. Residuo <strong>de</strong> los granos<br />
molidos o quebrados, como los <strong>de</strong>l maíz o <strong>de</strong>l café.<br />
223. For generations Salvadorans have believed that rain water makes people sick.<br />
224. Sucia.
Un trueno lejano venía arrastrando<br />
la noche por la barranca. Era como<br />
el rugido <strong>de</strong> una montaña herida <strong>de</strong><br />
muerte. Des<strong>de</strong> una altura, un indio<br />
<strong>de</strong> manta agitaba los brazos, gritando<br />
<strong>de</strong>sesperado:<br />
—¡Istúpida, babosa, la repunta, ái viene<br />
la repunta! ¡Corra, istúpida, corra!<br />
La niña, sin oír, seguía llenando<br />
tranquila la tinaja.<br />
En el momento en que la repunta<br />
voltió en el recodo <strong>de</strong>l río, espumo sa<br />
y furibunda, arrasando a su paso los<br />
troncos y las piedras, la altísima muralla<br />
que estaba a espaldas <strong>de</strong> la niña, en la<br />
margen opuesta, altísima y solemne<br />
como un ángel <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>, abrió sus alas<br />
y se arrojó al paso.<br />
Su <strong>de</strong>rrumbe, acallando todos los<br />
ecos borrachos, había sonado a un<br />
NO profundo y rotundo. La repunta<br />
se <strong>de</strong>tuvo. Y no fue sino cuando la<br />
Santíos había entrado ya en el patio<br />
<strong>de</strong> su rancho, pintando en el <strong>barro</strong> la<br />
flor <strong>de</strong> su patita, que el río abrió <strong>de</strong> un<br />
puñetazo su paso hacia la noche.<br />
136<br />
A distant thun<strong>de</strong>r was dragging the<br />
night throughout the ravine. It was<br />
like the roar of a mountain that has<br />
been fatally woun<strong>de</strong>d. From on high<br />
a peasant dressed all in white was<br />
signaling with his arms, shouting<br />
<strong>de</strong>sperately:<br />
“Stupid! You fool! The water is coming,<br />
the water is coming! Run, stupid girl,<br />
run!<br />
The girl, unable to hear, kept calmly<br />
filling her jug.<br />
At that moment the rushing water came<br />
around the bend of the river, foamy<br />
and raging, bringing along tree trunks<br />
and rocks. The highest wall that was<br />
behind the girl, on the opposite si<strong>de</strong>,<br />
most high and solemn like an angel of<br />
clay opened its wings and collapsed on<br />
the wall of water.<br />
The landsli<strong>de</strong>, quieting all the drunken<br />
echoes, soun<strong>de</strong>d like a categorical and<br />
<strong>de</strong>ep NO. The rushing water stopped.<br />
And it wasn’t until Santíos had already<br />
entered the frontyard of her shack,<br />
painting on the clay her footprint like<br />
a flower, that the river thumped its fist<br />
and opened its way towards the night.
el cIrco<br />
Se azuló la noche. En medio <strong>de</strong>l solar<br />
oscuro, el circo era como una luna<br />
<strong>de</strong>sinflada. Parecía la chiche <strong>de</strong> la<br />
noche, on<strong>de</strong> mama luz el cielo. Un<br />
chilguete225 manchaba <strong>de</strong> norte a sur<br />
el espacio y las gotitas zarpiaban226 el<br />
horizonte hasta la oriya <strong>de</strong>l mundo.<br />
Mito y Lencho, los dos hermanitos,<br />
miraban asombrados, por un juraco,<br />
cómo aquel siñor que le <strong>de</strong>cían Irineyo<br />
Molina, se bía hecho payaso en un dos<br />
por tres. Taba sentado en un cajón,<br />
jumándose un puro, y con cara enojosa<br />
<strong>de</strong> hombre. Por el hoyito se véiya bien<br />
que le daba la luz <strong>de</strong> un carburo227 en la<br />
cara chelosa <strong>de</strong> harina.<br />
Abajo, junto a la goliya plisada, asomaba<br />
el cuello prieto <strong>de</strong> su propio cuero.<br />
Más allá, el negro Jackson sembraba<br />
una estaca, con una almágana. A cada<br />
golpe <strong>de</strong> juelgo, la esta ca se hundía<br />
un jeme228 . Recostado en unos lazos<br />
templados como cuerdas <strong>de</strong> violón,<br />
estaba un volatín229 .<br />
225. See Brewer 1959: 40. It was erroneously classified as the Quichua word chillpi or the South American<br />
Spanish word chilpe, piece of old clothing or part of a dry leaf.<br />
226. Rociar.<br />
227. Lámpara <strong>de</strong> carburo/carbi<strong>de</strong> lamp.<br />
228. RAE: jeme. (Del lat. semis, mitad). 1. m. Distancia que hay <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> la extremidad <strong>de</strong>l <strong>de</strong>do pulgar a<br />
la <strong>de</strong>l índice, separado el uno <strong>de</strong>l otro todo lo posible. 3. m. Hond. Medida <strong>de</strong> longitud para plantas,<br />
equivalente a unos doce centímetros.<br />
229. Volatinero.<br />
230. Golilla: SpanishDict: 1. A kind of collar, forming part of the dress of the magistrates of some superior<br />
courts of justice in Spain. (f)<br />
231. Geme: SpanishDict: 1. The distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the forefinger (both<br />
exten<strong>de</strong>d).<br />
137<br />
THe cIrcuS<br />
The night turned blue. In the middle<br />
of the dark lot, the circus was like a<br />
<strong>de</strong>flated moon. It seemed like the teat<br />
of the night from which the sky nurses<br />
light. A spatter of light stained the night<br />
sky from north to south, and the small<br />
drops sprinkled the horizon to the end<br />
of the world.<br />
Mito and Lencho, the two little<br />
brothers, were peeping through a hole;<br />
they were astonished at how that man<br />
people called Irineo Molina turned into<br />
a clown so fast. He was sitting on a box,<br />
smoking a cigar, and with the face of an<br />
angry man. Through the hole it could<br />
be seen that the light of a carbi<strong>de</strong> lamp<br />
hit him on his white face, full of flour.<br />
Beneath the fancy pleated collar 230<br />
he showed the black neck of his own<br />
hi<strong>de</strong>. A little further, the black Jackson<br />
poun<strong>de</strong>d in a tent stake with a large<br />
hammer. At every hit of his breath,<br />
the stake went five inches <strong>de</strong>eper. 231 A<br />
tightrope walker was reclining on some<br />
stretched ropes as if they were strings<br />
of a violin.
—Apartáte, baboso.<br />
—Peráte, quiero ver.<br />
—Te vuá zampar una ganchada,<br />
Chajazo.<br />
—¡Achís!, sólo vos querés mirar...<br />
—A yo no mián <strong>de</strong>jado...<br />
—¡Baboso, baboso, ayí entró una<br />
piernuda vesti<strong>de</strong>dorado. Sestá componiendo<br />
la ata<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
La cipotada on<strong>de</strong>ó, como un tumbo<br />
<strong>de</strong> carne; reventó en empujones y se<br />
vació sobre la carpa, <strong>de</strong>rrumbando al<br />
lado dia<strong>de</strong>ntro un rimero <strong>de</strong> sillas. Se<br />
oyeron voces <strong>de</strong> hombre, furibundas,<br />
y pasos amenazadores. La cipotada se<br />
dispersó a la carrera, haciendo sonar<br />
con sus talones la panza <strong>de</strong> tambor<br />
<strong>de</strong>l <strong>de</strong>scampado. Se confundió entre<br />
el güevazo232 e gente silbando y riendo.<br />
Un sapurruco233 en camiseta, con<br />
unos gran<strong>de</strong>s gatos234 que parecían<br />
<strong>de</strong> ma<strong>de</strong>ra, salió encachimbado235 por<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> la lona, con un acial236 en la<br />
mano.<br />
138<br />
“Move away, sucker!”<br />
“Hold on. Wanna see.”<br />
“Gonna punch you, Scarface!”<br />
“You are the only one watching.”<br />
“It’s my turn…”<br />
“Hey, hey... the nice-legs dressed in<br />
green just came in! She is fixing her<br />
belt.<br />
The bunch of kids became a human<br />
wave. They all pushed each other<br />
and fell on the insi<strong>de</strong> of the tent, over<br />
a pile of chairs. The furious voice of<br />
a man and threatening steps were<br />
heard. The children, dispersed in a<br />
heartbeat, making the drums of the<br />
har<strong>de</strong>ned soil sound with their heels.<br />
There was confusion among the crowd<br />
that laughed and whistled. A midget<br />
wearing a sleeveless shirt, showing off<br />
his enormous muscles that looked like<br />
wood, came out from un<strong>de</strong>r the tent<br />
with a whip in his hand.<br />
232. Cantidad.<br />
233. De sapo, estatura pequeña.<br />
234. Músculo: bíceps braquial.<br />
235. Encolerizado, furioso.<br />
236. RAE: acial. (De aciar). 1. m. Instrumento con que oprimiendo un labio, la parte superior <strong>de</strong>l hocico, o<br />
una oreja <strong>de</strong> las bestias, se las hace estar quietas mientras las hierran, curan o esquilan.2. m. Am. Cen. y<br />
Ec. Látigo que se usa para estimular el trote <strong>de</strong> las bestias.
Llegó hasta el andén, mirando <strong>de</strong> riojo;<br />
escupió un salivazo con tabaco, y se<br />
metió otragüelta por <strong>de</strong>bajo. Dos o tres<br />
chiflidos le con<strong>de</strong>coraron el fundiyo237 .<br />
El humo <strong>de</strong> los candiles y <strong>de</strong> los<br />
puestos <strong>de</strong> pupuseras ponía llanto en<br />
los ojos <strong>de</strong> aquella alegría. La manteca,<br />
ricién echada en las sartenas <strong>de</strong> las<br />
pasteleras, se oiba escandalosa, como<br />
cuando meya239 el tren. Las garrafas,<br />
en los mostradores <strong>de</strong> los chi namos240 parecían jícamas241 <strong>de</strong> vidrio, que se<br />
bieran convertido en cocos. El guaro<br />
clarito temblaba a<strong>de</strong>ntro y <strong>de</strong>jaba<br />
<strong>de</strong>scurrir242 su tujito243 embolón244 .<br />
Las gentes iban entrando, guasonas249 ,<br />
al circo. Daban su tiquete y levantaban<br />
la cortinenca250 <strong>de</strong> añididos, on<strong>de</strong> había<br />
unas letras que nai<strong>de</strong> entendía, porque<br />
nai<strong>de</strong> leyiya en el pueblo.<br />
139<br />
He went all the way to the si<strong>de</strong>walk,<br />
looking out of the corner of his eye.<br />
He spit a tobacco loogie and went<br />
back un<strong>de</strong>r the tent. Two or three<br />
whistles of appreciation flollowed him,<br />
<strong>de</strong>corating 238 him.<br />
The smoke of the oil lamps and of the<br />
pupusa 245 grills ma<strong>de</strong> people’s eyes<br />
water amidst their happiness. The fat 246<br />
that was just put in the pans of the corn<br />
fritters was being noisy, just like when<br />
the train hits the brakes. The carafes on<br />
the counters of the make-shift tables<br />
looked like a glass jicama 247 turned into<br />
coconuts. The homema<strong>de</strong> booze 248<br />
shook insi<strong>de</strong> and let the drunken aroma<br />
waft free.<br />
People talked loudly as they entered<br />
the circus. They han<strong>de</strong>d out their<br />
tickets and lifted the curtain ma<strong>de</strong> out<br />
of multiple pieces of clothing. Nobody<br />
un<strong>de</strong>rstood what the sign behind the<br />
curtain said because nobody in the<br />
town knew how to read.<br />
237. RAE: fundillo. (De fondillo). 1. m. trasero (II nalgas).<br />
238. Military term<br />
239. Mella: cambio semántico: el sonido <strong>de</strong>l tren.<br />
240. RAE: chinamo. (Del nahua chinamitl, seto o cerca <strong>de</strong> cañas). 1. m. Hond. champa (II ten<strong>de</strong>rete<br />
improvisado). RAE: champa: 2. f. El Salv. y Hond. Ten<strong>de</strong>rete improvisado hecho con cuatro ma<strong>de</strong>ros<br />
verticales a modo <strong>de</strong> columnas y un techo <strong>de</strong> ramas <strong>de</strong> árboles o <strong>de</strong> hojas <strong>de</strong> palmera, que se utiliza en<br />
las fiestas <strong>de</strong> los pueblos como puesto <strong>de</strong> venta o como lugar <strong>de</strong> juegos <strong>de</strong> azar.<br />
241. RAE: jícama. (Del nahua xicamatl). 1. f. Cuba, Ec., El Salv., Hond. y Méx. Tubérculo comestible o<br />
medicinal, sobre todo el <strong>de</strong> forma parecida a la cebolla aunque más gran<strong>de</strong>, duro, quebradizo, blanco y<br />
jugoso, que se come a<strong>de</strong>rezado con sal y limón.<br />
242. Usado por escurrir1 RAE: (Del lat. excurrĕre). 4. intr. Dicho <strong>de</strong> una vasija: Destilar y <strong>de</strong>jar caer gota a<br />
gota el líquido que contiene.<br />
243. Tufito, tufo.<br />
244. Embriagante.<br />
245. Typical Salvadoran food: a stuffed tortilla that is cooked like a tortilla.<br />
246. Butter, lard.<br />
247. Pachyrhizus erosus, yam bean.<br />
248. Ma<strong>de</strong> with fermented fruits.<br />
249. RAE: 4. f. El Salv. Bulla o conversación ruidosa y frívola.<br />
250. Salarrué: aumentativo <strong>de</strong> cortina. Neologismo.
Una bandita <strong>de</strong>scosida empezó a<br />
sonarse, allí <strong>de</strong>ntro, <strong>de</strong>bajo diaquel<br />
gran pañuelo. La buyanga251 sizo mayor,<br />
y las gentes empezaron a co<strong>de</strong>ar se por<br />
entrar a coger puesto.<br />
Por tercera vez sonó la campanilla;<br />
aquella campanilla que daba<br />
güeltegatos <strong>de</strong> plata en la aljombra <strong>de</strong><br />
la ansiedad. Un silencio profundo se<br />
agachaba, cargado <strong>de</strong> corazones, como<br />
una rama <strong>de</strong> mango. De una pata da<br />
se abrió el telón <strong>de</strong> los secretos; una<br />
pelota <strong>de</strong> colores vino rodando hasta<br />
el centro <strong>de</strong>l pica<strong>de</strong>ro252 , y, con un grito<br />
<strong>de</strong> sollozo burlón, el payaso se irguió<br />
amelcochado253 , bonete en mano, con<br />
algo <strong>de</strong> piñata y algo <strong>de</strong> barrilete. De<br />
golpe se <strong>de</strong>scolgó, en el redon<strong>de</strong>l, la<br />
cortina <strong>de</strong> tablitas <strong>de</strong>l aplauso.<br />
Vestidos a medias y <strong>de</strong> medias, los<br />
volatines y volatinas, en escua drón,<br />
avanzaron marciales, con los brazos<br />
cruzados sobre el pecho y son riendo<br />
con sonrisa postiza. Detrás, en dos<br />
caballencos ahumados como los <strong>de</strong>l<br />
carrusel, que llevaban colas <strong>de</strong> gallo en<br />
la frente, venían las masonas, vestidas<br />
<strong>de</strong> espumesapo y sentadas, con una<br />
nalga, en el mero chunchucuyo <strong>de</strong><br />
los caballos. Cerrando chorizo, iba<br />
un chele vestido <strong>de</strong>ntierro, con un<br />
chiliyo bien largo; y un viejo bigotudo<br />
140<br />
An amateur band began to play insi<strong>de</strong>,<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r the big handkerchief-like tent.<br />
The noise grew lou<strong>de</strong>r and the people<br />
began elbowing each other, fighting to<br />
get a good seat.<br />
The bell rang for the third time. The<br />
little bell was ringing over the carpet<br />
of anxiety, as if performing cartwheels.<br />
Hearts full of anticipation where as<br />
quiet as a branch full of mangoes. 254<br />
The curtain of secrets was sud<strong>de</strong>nly<br />
opened. A colorful ball came rolling to<br />
the center of the sandy ground. With<br />
a mocking sob the sweet clown stood<br />
up with a bonnet in his hand, waving<br />
it like a kite, like a piñata. A curtain<br />
of applause broke out at once in the<br />
roundabout.<br />
Half dressed and in tights the squad<br />
of tightrope walkers moved forward,<br />
like soldiers, with their arms crossed<br />
over their chests and smiling with<br />
fake smiles. The equestrians were<br />
coming behind them, on two big<br />
smoke-colored horses like those in<br />
the carrousel carrying roosters’ tails on<br />
their forehead. The equestrians were<br />
dressed in green255 sitting with one<br />
haunch on the very butt of the horses.<br />
At the end of the line, there was a white<br />
guy dressed in funeral attire, with a<br />
very long stick; and an old man with<br />
251. Bullanga.<br />
252. RAE: 6. m. Arg. y Ur. Pista <strong>de</strong> arena en el circo.<br />
253. RAE: 3. prnl. Col., Cuba, El Salv., Guat., Hond., Méx., Nic., Perú y Ven. Acaramelarse, <strong>de</strong>rretirse<br />
amorosamente, mostrarse extraordinariamente meloso o dulzón.<br />
254. Or “A profound silence docked full of hearts like a branch full of mangoes.”<br />
255. Foam of toads.
jalándole las narices a un pobre<br />
oso medio bolo. Más <strong>de</strong>trás iban los<br />
guachis, con cotones <strong>de</strong> colo res llenos<br />
<strong>de</strong> chacaleles. La música sonaba, toda<br />
ella, chueca y <strong>de</strong>stem plada, como<br />
mocuechumpe.<br />
* * *<br />
En aquel pueblo <strong>de</strong> niños, sólo los<br />
cipotes se bían quedado ajuera.<br />
Ispiaban por on<strong>de</strong> podían, subiéndose<br />
algunos hasta las puntas <strong>de</strong> los cercanos<br />
jocotes, contentándose con ver<br />
el bailoteo <strong>de</strong> uno quiotro trapo <strong>de</strong><br />
color, o el relámpago misterioso <strong>de</strong><br />
las lentejuelas en las mecidas <strong>de</strong> los<br />
trapecios.<br />
Los niños ajuera, los gran<strong>de</strong>s a<strong>de</strong>ntro...<br />
El circo era como la felicidá, que se la<br />
cogen aquellos que menos la quieren.<br />
Los cipotes se conjormaban viendo la<br />
alegriya luminosa, por un hoyito, entre<br />
tablas y piernas oscuras. Mito y Lencho,<br />
los dos hermanitos, se bían retirado<br />
dion<strong>de</strong> bían miradores, porque les<br />
taban rompiendo toda la camisa. Sin<br />
embargo, cada granizada <strong>de</strong> aplausos<br />
los empujaba <strong>de</strong> nuevo a la carpa. De<br />
chiripa se hallaron un juraquito bajero,<br />
que los otros no bían incontrado. Con<br />
el <strong>de</strong>dito inano lo jueron haciendo más<br />
gran<strong>de</strong>, y miraban por turnos.<br />
256. Spanish Plum.<br />
141<br />
a big mustache was pulling the nose of<br />
a poor bear that was half drunk. Right<br />
behind them were the guards with<br />
colorful shirts full of big buttons. The<br />
music, played badly and out of tune,<br />
soun<strong>de</strong>d like the gobble of a turkey.<br />
* * *<br />
In that town of many children, only<br />
the kids were left outsi<strong>de</strong>. They peeked<br />
insi<strong>de</strong> anywhere they could peek. Some<br />
climbed to the peaks of the nearby<br />
jocote256 trees, being happy just to see<br />
the dancing of a colorful cloth, or the<br />
mysterious lighting from the sequins<br />
on the swing of the trapezes.<br />
The children outsi<strong>de</strong>, the big people<br />
insi<strong>de</strong>... The circus was like happiness<br />
which gets taken by those who want<br />
it least. The kids were happy looking at<br />
the luminous happiness through the<br />
hole, among wood boards and dark<br />
legs. Mito and Lencho, the two little<br />
brothers, had withdrawn from where<br />
the other watchers were because their<br />
shirts were being torn. However, every<br />
hailstorm of applause pushed them<br />
again towards the tent. Luckily they<br />
found a little hole at the ground level,<br />
one that the others had not found. They<br />
wi<strong>de</strong>ned it with their pinky fingers and<br />
took turns looking through it.
Cuando más extasiados estaban,<br />
mirando, mitá y mitá que la piernuda<br />
caminaba sobre el alambre como sobre<br />
el viento, un guachi, con una tablita,<br />
los cogió <strong>de</strong> culumbrón, soñadores<br />
e in<strong>de</strong>fensos. Les dio con todas sus<br />
juerzas, el bandido jalacolchones; y<br />
ellos, dando alaridos, salieron corriendo<br />
y sobándose la nalga, ardida como con<br />
plancha caliente. Fueron a contarle a la<br />
mama; y la mama cogiéndolos <strong>de</strong>bajo<br />
<strong>de</strong> sus alas <strong>de</strong>splu madas, maldijo al<br />
miserable:<br />
—¡Disgraciado, quiá <strong>de</strong> pagarlas un<br />
diya en los injiermos!<br />
Lencho rumió, en su corazón <strong>de</strong> niño<br />
perdonero, aquella frase; y, tras un rato<br />
<strong>de</strong> silencio, preguntó:<br />
—Mama, ¿yen el injierno habrán hoyitos<br />
para mirar lo que andan haciendo en el<br />
cielo?...<br />
142<br />
They were full of esctasy watching<br />
the nice-legged woman walk over the<br />
tightrope like over the wind. A guard<br />
with a board found them peeking,<br />
dreaming and <strong>de</strong>fenseless. The guard,<br />
the type who loved to pull hair, beat<br />
them on their butts. Screaming, the<br />
kids left running and rubbing their<br />
butts which were burning like from a<br />
hot iron. They went home to tell their<br />
mom, and their mom, taking them<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r her featheless wings, damned<br />
the miserable man:<br />
“Son of a gun! He will someday pay for<br />
this in hell!”<br />
Lencho ruminated on that phrase in his<br />
forgiving child’s heart. After a moment<br />
of silence, he asked:<br />
“Ma, will there be holes in hell to see<br />
what they are doing in heaven?”
la reSPueSTa<br />
No llovía. En el cantón 257 , <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> las<br />
dos <strong>de</strong> la tar<strong>de</strong>, se oyó el saltito <strong>de</strong><br />
duen<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>l tambor, llamando a los <strong>de</strong><br />
la rogación: “tom, tom, tom; tototom,<br />
tom, tom; tototom, tom, tom...”.<br />
El calor estaba estacado en el llano,<br />
como un cuero <strong>de</strong> res. “Tom, tom, tom,<br />
tototom, tom, tom...”.<br />
Todo se doraba; todo se caía; todo se<br />
tostaba. En un remiendo <strong>de</strong> talpetate, la<br />
culebra dormía enroscada y era como<br />
el yagual <strong>de</strong>l pesado cán taro <strong>de</strong> la sed.<br />
Ligeros cirros 258 medían el cielo. Las<br />
leguas huían hacia las montañas <strong>de</strong>l<br />
contorno, lejanas y azules, sentadas y<br />
pensativas como dio ses.<br />
El viento yacía muerto en el polvo.<br />
Arrodillados <strong>de</strong> sed, los jiotes 263 <strong>de</strong><br />
bronce y los jocotes, elevaban sus<br />
nervudos brazos implorantes. Las piedras<br />
sacaban sus cabezas <strong>de</strong>l suelo, para<br />
respirar. Rápidos pasaban los rie les <strong>de</strong>l<br />
tren, huyendo <strong>de</strong> aquel infierno; abrían<br />
los llanos en línea recta, apartando los<br />
pajonales 264 calcinados, en busca <strong>de</strong><br />
los azules frescos <strong>de</strong> lon tananza 265 . El<br />
143<br />
THe aNSWer<br />
It didn’t rain. The spirit of the drum<br />
of the hamlet could be heard calling<br />
the faithful to prayer: “tom, tom, tom;<br />
tototom, tom, tom; tototom, tom,<br />
tom...<br />
The heat was stuck to the plains like the<br />
hi<strong>de</strong> on a cow. “Tom, tom, tom, tototom,<br />
tom, tom...”<br />
All was turning gol<strong>de</strong>n. All was fainting.<br />
All was toasting. In a patchwork of a<br />
volcanic tuff the snake slept twisted<br />
and was like the yagual 259 of the heavy<br />
thirsty cántaro. 260 Swift cirrus clouds 261<br />
were measuring the sky. The far and<br />
blue leagues 262 were fleeing towards<br />
the surrounding mountains that sat<br />
pensive like gods.<br />
The wind laid its remains in the dust.<br />
Bowed down by thirst, the bronze<br />
jiote 266 and jocote trees raised their<br />
nervous imploring arms. The rocks<br />
poked their heads out of the ground<br />
to breathe. The rails of the train quickly<br />
passed by fleeing from that hell. The<br />
plains were clearing in a straight line,<br />
blowing the coarse-straw fields out of<br />
257. Pueblo rural pequeño.<br />
258. RAE: cirro 2 . (Del lat. cirrus, rizo, sortijilla <strong>de</strong> pelo). 2. m. Meteor. Nube blanca y ligera, en forma <strong>de</strong> barbas <strong>de</strong><br />
pluma o filamentos <strong>de</strong> lana cardada, que se presenta en las regiones superiores <strong>de</strong> la atmósfera.<br />
259. Yagual is a piece of cloth or strawmat in the shape of a turbin. Women wear it on top of the head for<br />
carrying goods.<br />
260 Large clay jug narrow-mouth pitcher usedto store drinking water.<br />
261. Wispy, fibrous-like clouds generally located above 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) and composed of ice crystals.<br />
vpl.astro.washington.edu/epo/glossary.html<br />
262. Measurement usually of water.<br />
263. Árbol usado para formar cruces en la celebración <strong>de</strong>l Día <strong>de</strong> la Cruz en mayo.<br />
264. Terreno cubierto <strong>de</strong> pajón: RAE: Caña alta y gruesa <strong>de</strong> las rastrojeras.<br />
265. RAE: lontananza. (Del it. lontananza). 1. f. Pint. Términos <strong>de</strong> un cuadro más distantes <strong>de</strong>l plano principal. en<br />
~. 1. loc. adv. a lo lejos. U. solo hablando <strong>de</strong> cosas que, por estar muy lejanas, apenas se pue<strong>de</strong>n distinguir.<br />
266. Bursera Simaruba. Umberto Quattrocchi: West Indian elemi, West Indian birch, incense tree, American<br />
elemi, aerial yam. Henriette’s Herbal Website: American gum tree.
sol abría un gran boquete en el azul,<br />
por don<strong>de</strong> caía a torren tes la gloria <strong>de</strong><br />
Dios.<br />
* * *<br />
A las tres salió la rogación, por el camino<br />
<strong>de</strong> “El Pedregal”. Era una chusma <strong>de</strong><br />
colores, que cantaba salmos tristes y<br />
llorones. Delante, en unas andas267 , San<br />
Isidro, envuelto en manto <strong>de</strong> antiguos<br />
ver<strong>de</strong>s, iba mirando con sus ojos dulces,<br />
resignados, cuán chico parecía al lado<br />
<strong>de</strong> sus <strong>de</strong>votos. Era un inanito <strong>de</strong> palo,<br />
<strong>de</strong> a vara268 , con flores <strong>de</strong> trapo en la<br />
mano, un clavo en la coronilla y la nariz<br />
manchada <strong>de</strong> kakemosca.<br />
“Tom, tom, tom, tototom, tom, tom...”.<br />
Despertados los pájaros, cruzaban los<br />
claros <strong>de</strong>l cielo. Los chuchos tísicos<br />
salían <strong>de</strong> los ranchos, a regañar a los<br />
rogantes.<br />
Iba la rogación por la calle rial. Cruzó<br />
la palanquera <strong>de</strong>l conacaste y siguió a<br />
la orilla <strong>de</strong>l cerco, rondando el potrero<br />
enorme. Todos llevaban los ojos y<br />
144<br />
the way in search of the fresh blue sky<br />
in the distance. The sun opened its big<br />
mouth in the blue sky through which<br />
the glory of God fell impetuously.<br />
* * *<br />
At three o’clock the prayers traveled<br />
down the road of “El Pedregal.” 269 A<br />
colorfully dressed mob of people sang<br />
sad and weepy Psalms. Ahead, Saint<br />
Isidor Farmer was carried on a portable<br />
platform. He was wrapped in old<br />
green clothes and gazed ahead with<br />
his sweet resigned eyes. How small he<br />
seemed next to his <strong>de</strong>votees. He was<br />
a woo<strong>de</strong>n midget, three feet high, at<br />
the most. 270 He carried flowers ma<strong>de</strong> of<br />
cloth in his hand, a nail on his forehead,<br />
and his nose was stained with the dung<br />
of flies.<br />
“Tom, tom, tom, tototom, tom, tom...”<br />
All the birds were awakened and crossed<br />
the light of the sky. The coughing mutts<br />
came out of the shacks to yell at the<br />
praying people.<br />
The procession passed by Real Street. It<br />
crossed in front of a group of conacaste<br />
267. RAE: andas. (Del lat. amĭtes, pl. <strong>de</strong> ames, angarillas). 1. f. pl. Tablero que, sostenido por dos varas<br />
paralelas y horizontales, sirve para conducir efigies, personas o cosas.<br />
268. WR: IPFR dice “La medidas <strong>de</strong> cualquier tipo, anteriores al sistema internacional (SI), no se pue<strong>de</strong>n<br />
traducir. La razón es que aunque había medidas similares en otros países, los valores no eran los mismos.<br />
Así, una vara correspon<strong>de</strong> a una “yard” y una “toise” a un “fathom” o una “braza”. Pero incluso el pié o la<br />
libra, que nos vienen <strong>de</strong> Roma, tienen valores diferentes en cada país o región. Yo creo que hay que<br />
<strong>de</strong>jarlas con su nombre original y, si es necesario, poner una nota con su equivalencia o la explicación”.<br />
269. Stony road.<br />
270. In Spanish, the unit of measurement “vara” can have several interpretations. It is smaller than a<br />
“yard.” Wikipedia’s <strong>de</strong>finition is the closest: An ell (from Proto-Indo-European *el- “elbow, forearm”), is a<br />
unit of measurement, approximating the length of a man’s arm.
las narices fijas en el cíelo, como si<br />
husmearan la lluvia <strong>de</strong> ben dición.<br />
Fueron alejándose, por los sembrados;<br />
cruzaron la quebrada seca y continuaron<br />
por el piñal. A lo lejos, la rogación se<br />
<strong>de</strong>slizaba como una cromática cola<br />
<strong>de</strong> barrilete, que se hubiera hecho<br />
culebra.<br />
“Tom, tom, tom; tototom, tom, tom...”<br />
* * *<br />
Allá por las cuatro y media, el día traquió<br />
y se paró en seco. Como si le hubieran<br />
aplicado un fósforo, el cielo tilinte271 se<br />
quemó. La llama se corrió hasta el suelo<br />
y allí brotó la jumazón. Fue una nube<br />
prieta y veloz, que invadió el mundo<br />
como una noche extraviada. Venía<br />
huyendo, llena <strong>de</strong> terror, bramando y<br />
trompezándose en los cerros. Pasó, con<br />
un remoli no <strong>de</strong> viento que enloquecía<br />
las palazones, amarradas sin remedio<br />
a la tie rra, sin esperanza <strong>de</strong> huida. Los<br />
techos <strong>de</strong> las casas, asustados, abrieron<br />
sus alas y se volaron. El polvo, sediento,<br />
subió a beber agua por el cami no <strong>de</strong><br />
caracol. Con paletas invisibles, batían<br />
la sopa <strong>de</strong> hojas en la olla <strong>de</strong>l mundo.<br />
La tormenta, borracha, primero<br />
lloró; <strong>de</strong>spués babeó y, por últi mo,<br />
vomitó su negrura. Eran torrentes<br />
incontenibles que brotaban <strong>de</strong> todas<br />
145<br />
trees and continued to the edge of the<br />
fence that surroun<strong>de</strong>d the enormous<br />
pastures. The people had their noses<br />
and their eyes turned towards the sky<br />
as if they smelled the blessing rain.<br />
They moved onwards through the<br />
fields. They crossed the dry stream<br />
and continued towards the pineapple<br />
plantations. The prayer slithered away<br />
in the distance like a colorful tail of a<br />
kite that turned into a snake.<br />
“Tom, tom, tom; tototom, tom, tom...”<br />
* * *<br />
Around four thirty, the day ma<strong>de</strong> a<br />
huge noise and stopped at once. The<br />
stretched sky got burned as if a giant<br />
match was thrown into it. The flame<br />
ran all the way to the ground and the<br />
smoke began. It was a fast black cloud<br />
that inva<strong>de</strong>d the world like a lost night.<br />
It came fleeing, full of terror, bellowing<br />
and stumbling on the hills. It passed<br />
with a whirlwind that drove the trees<br />
crazy; the trees that were rooted to<br />
the earth without remedy, without<br />
hope of running away. The frightened<br />
roofs of the houses opened their<br />
wings and flew away. The thirsty dust<br />
rose up to drink water alongsi<strong>de</strong> the<br />
snail road. With invisible spatulas they<br />
beat the leaf soup in the pot of the<br />
world. The drunken storm cried at first,<br />
then salivated, and finally vomited its<br />
blackness. Uncontainable streams burst<br />
everywhere, sweeping up everything.<br />
271. Campbell: “tilinia”. RAE: tilinte. (Del nahua tilinquí, estirado). 1. adj. C. Rica, El Salv., Hond. y Nic.<br />
Estirado en su grado máximo <strong>de</strong> tensión y a punto <strong>de</strong> romperse.
partes, arrasándolo todo. Las ramas<br />
se quebraban y huían <strong>de</strong> sus madres,<br />
y las madres se retorcían gimiendo y<br />
alargando los brazos impo tentes.<br />
Fue un verda<strong>de</strong>ro <strong>de</strong>sastre. Cuando<br />
amaneció, en calma los cielos ver<strong>de</strong>s,<br />
dos viejos indios, <strong>de</strong>sgreñados y<br />
transidos272 , estaban sobre un árbol<br />
caído y miraban con resignación las<br />
barbaries <strong>de</strong>l cielo.<br />
—Señor Goyo: siel santo llega a ser <strong>de</strong>l<br />
alto diusté, nostaríamos con tando el<br />
cuento.<br />
—¡Pa que veya; <strong>de</strong>masiado milagrero el<br />
hijuepuerca!...<br />
146<br />
The branches broke and ran away<br />
from their mothers. The mothers were<br />
tangled up moaning and stretching<br />
their helpless arms.<br />
It was a true disaster. In the morning,<br />
the green skies were calm again.<br />
Overwhelmed and in the midst of a<br />
complete mess, two peasants sitting<br />
on a fallen tree looked with resignation<br />
at the barbaric acts of Heaven.<br />
“Señor Goyo, had the saint been taller<br />
the disaster would’ve been bigger and<br />
we wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”<br />
“Now you know, that darned saint really<br />
likes to perform miracles.”<br />
272. RAE: transido, da. (Del part. <strong>de</strong> transir). 1. adj. Fatigado, acongojado o consumido <strong>de</strong> alguna<br />
penalidad, angustia o necesidad. Transido <strong>de</strong> hambre, <strong>de</strong> dolor.
la cHIcHera 273<br />
La barranca <strong>de</strong>l Berrido era sumida<br />
hasteldiablo, y pasaba todo el día <strong>de</strong><br />
tar<strong>de</strong>. Amanecía tapada con nubes;<br />
allá por las diez, se <strong>de</strong>spejaba dialtiro<br />
y se véiyan clarito los morados <strong>de</strong>l<br />
guarumal, y el ver<strong>de</strong> prieto <strong>de</strong> los<br />
sunzas274 , jabillos275 y manuelión; y por<br />
allá, ispiones, uno quiotro mulato o<br />
guachipilín en flor. Al puro jondo, allá<br />
on<strong>de</strong> se oiba roncar el río, se api ñaba el<br />
güishcoyolar cimarrón, entreverado <strong>de</strong><br />
ishcanales bravos, eriza dos <strong>de</strong> cachos<br />
filudos y cundido <strong>de</strong> hormiga perra.<br />
Aquella palazón en la escurana taba<br />
siempre sin viento, quedita, oyendo,<br />
como si jugara <strong>de</strong>scon<strong>de</strong>lero con el<br />
sol. Agazapada, contenía el juelgo, y<br />
al verla parecía como el cadávere <strong>de</strong><br />
una montaña. Los querques281 volaban<br />
147<br />
THe MooNSHINe<br />
facTorY 276<br />
The ravine that was called the Bellow<br />
was located so far away, and it was<br />
afternoon all day. In the morning<br />
the ravine was covered with clouds.<br />
By ten o’clock the clouds started to<br />
<strong>de</strong>part and one could see the purple<br />
of the Trumpet trees, the dark green<br />
of the sansapote 277 trees, and also the<br />
sandbox and lionpaw 278 trees. Over<br />
there, mulatto trees 279 or Guachipilin<br />
trees were covered in yellow flowers.<br />
Far in the distance, where the river was<br />
heard snoring, the wild Guiscoyol 280<br />
trees were huddled together. There<br />
were some stunted bullhorn wattle<br />
trees with angry and sharp horns, full<br />
of fire ants.<br />
The thick vegetation in the darkness was<br />
always without wind, quiet, listening,<br />
273. En El Salvador la chicha es una bebida alcohólica <strong>de</strong> fabricación artesanal. Se fabrica con uno o más<br />
ingredientes fermentados: maís, piña, arroz, caña, etc. RAE: chicha2. (De la voz aborigen <strong>de</strong>l Panamá<br />
chichab, maíz). 1. f. Bebida alcohólica que resulta <strong>de</strong> la fermentación <strong>de</strong>l maíz en agua azucarada, y que<br />
se usa en algunos países <strong>de</strong> América.<br />
274. Abreviatura <strong>de</strong> zunzapote o sunzapote. RAE: sonzapote. (Del nahua tezontzapotl, zapote como<br />
piedra). 1. m. Hond. Árbol <strong>de</strong> las Rosáceas, <strong>de</strong> hasta 30 m <strong>de</strong> altura, <strong>de</strong> hojas simples, alternas, flores en<br />
panículas terminales, pubescentes, <strong>de</strong> color pardo verdoso y aromáticas, fruto en drupa gran<strong>de</strong>, con<br />
pulpa amarilla y semilla cubierta <strong>de</strong> pelos. Es nativo <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> México hasta Colombia.<br />
275. Salarrué notó esta <strong>de</strong>finición en su glosario. RAE: jabillo. (De jabí 2 ). 1. m. Árbol <strong>de</strong> América tropical,<br />
<strong>de</strong> la familia <strong>de</strong> las Euforbiáceas, <strong>de</strong> más <strong>de</strong> quince metros <strong>de</strong> altura, muy ramoso, con hojas alternas,<br />
pecioladas, flores monoicas y fruto en caja que se abre con ruido. Contiene un jugo lechoso muy<br />
<strong>de</strong>letéreo, y su ma<strong>de</strong>ra, blanda, muy fibrosa y <strong>de</strong> mucha duración <strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong>l agua, se emplea para hacer<br />
canoas.<br />
276. Chichera: a place where chicha is ma<strong>de</strong>. Chicha: liquor ma<strong>de</strong> illegally out of fermented corn and<br />
other fruits.<br />
277. Purdue: Licania platypus<br />
278. Tree of white soft wood with lobulated leaves.<br />
279. Triplaris surinamensis. Long John. In Portuguese: Pau Formiga: Antwood.<br />
280. A thin palm with long and sharp thorns.<br />
281. RAE: querque. 1. m. El Salv. y Hond. carancho (II ave falconiforme). Carancho: 1. m. Arg., Bol., Perú<br />
y Ur. Ave <strong>de</strong>l or<strong>de</strong>n <strong>de</strong> las Falconiformes, <strong>de</strong> medio metro <strong>de</strong> longitud y color general pardusco con<br />
capucho más oscuro. Se alimenta <strong>de</strong> animales muertos, insectos, reptiles, etc. Vive <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> el sur <strong>de</strong> los<br />
Estados Unidos <strong>de</strong> América hasta Tierra <strong>de</strong> Fuego.
sobre ella, olisquiando el jediondo <strong>de</strong>l<br />
río shuco 282 y podridoso.<br />
El sargento Vanegas paró <strong>de</strong> bajar; y,<br />
recostado en el tronco oloroso <strong>de</strong> un<br />
bálsamo, miró pa bajo, buscando entre<br />
las ramazones el miedo diun trapo.<br />
Nada se movía, ni nada se óiba. Sólo el<br />
golpear <strong>de</strong>l río, en la panza <strong>de</strong> tarro <strong>de</strong>l<br />
eco; y el grito <strong>de</strong>shilachado <strong>de</strong> algún<br />
guauce que llamaba a su pareja.<br />
—¿No sienten uste<strong>de</strong>s un cierto tujo <strong>de</strong><br />
piro?<br />
Los soldados aletiaron las narices, y uno<br />
<strong>de</strong> ellos respondió, no muy seguro:<br />
—En<strong>de</strong>veritas, mi sargento...<br />
—Nos vamos a <strong>de</strong>scolgar ái parabajo.<br />
Me quito una oreja si no halla mos<br />
mamazo. Este juraco tiene todo el<br />
talante diuna saca<strong>de</strong>ra gorda, y que<br />
vastar chilosa <strong>de</strong> sacar.<br />
Empezaron a bajar, por los<br />
<strong>de</strong>rrumba<strong>de</strong>ros <strong>de</strong> tierra <strong>de</strong>slizosa,<br />
negra y olorosa a hoja podrida. Se<br />
apoyaban a ratos en la culata <strong>de</strong>l<br />
calibre284 ; o se agarraban <strong>de</strong> las<br />
puntas <strong>de</strong> los guayabos y <strong>de</strong> los<br />
cojones, que crecían en abundancia<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> aquellos enormes<br />
282. Sucio. RAE: chuco, ca. (Voz indígena). 1. adj. Guat. sucio.<br />
283. In Spanish: Spicy hot.<br />
284. Fusil.<br />
148<br />
as if it were playing hi<strong>de</strong>-and-seek with<br />
the sun. Sneaky, it held its breath and<br />
if you looked at it, it seemed like the<br />
cadaver of a mountain. The vultures<br />
flew over it sniffing the stench of the<br />
rotten and dirty river.<br />
Sargeant Vanegas halted his <strong>de</strong>scent.<br />
Reclining on the smelly trunk of a<br />
Balsam tree he looked downward<br />
seeking among the branches the<br />
blanket of fear. Nothing moved.<br />
Nothing was heard except for the<br />
pounding of the river like the echo on<br />
someone beating on the stomach of<br />
a jug and the screech of a Guauce bird<br />
that was calling his mate.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t you smell the stench of the dregs<br />
of moonshine?”<br />
The soldiers sniffed with their noses<br />
like dogs and one of them, not very<br />
sure, answered:<br />
“Of course, my sergeant!”<br />
“Let’s head down in that direction. I’ll<br />
cut off one of my ears if we don’t find<br />
booze there. This place has the look of a<br />
huge factory. It’s going to get hot. 283<br />
They began their <strong>de</strong>scent through<br />
the slippery-si<strong>de</strong>d ravines, black and<br />
smelling of dirt and <strong>de</strong>cayed leaves.<br />
They used their rifles for support. They<br />
had to grab onto the branches of the<br />
Guava trees, which grew abundantly
matapalos 285 , apercoyados aquí y allá, en<br />
la sombra llena <strong>de</strong> mosquitos, zancudos<br />
y hormigas, y olorosa a telepate.<br />
Al jondo se oyó <strong>de</strong> pronto un disparo.<br />
Fue como si se rajara un conacaste:<br />
los ecos hirvieron, y <strong>de</strong> espumarajo<br />
en espumarajo lo levantaron con<br />
quebrido <strong>de</strong> tablitas, hasta que rebalsó<br />
y la barranca se chupó <strong>de</strong> nuevo el<br />
silencio.<br />
Los soldados se pararon, ensamblando<br />
los tacones para enraizarse. Se quedaron<br />
esperando, mientras tiraban el óido al<br />
tranquil que siguió, como se avienta<br />
una atarraya. El sargento Vanegas los<br />
empujó con un gesto.<br />
—Ese jue tiro <strong>de</strong> escopeta...<br />
—Algún venadiante...<br />
—An<strong>de</strong>nle con tanteyo, muchá; si tiran,<br />
<strong>de</strong> necesario, que seya al bulto, sin<br />
asco.<br />
* * *<br />
Estaban en el fondo <strong>de</strong> la barranca.<br />
Parados en los pedregones azules <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cauce, miraban, idos, la correntada<br />
olisca que pasaba juerte entre las peñas,<br />
dando saltos como si jugara pelota<br />
285. RAE: matapalo.1. m. Árbol americano <strong>de</strong> la familia <strong>de</strong> las Anacardiáceas, que da caucho, y <strong>de</strong> cuya<br />
corteza se hacen sacos. 2. m. C. Rica y El Salv. Planta epifita que ataca y mata el árbol don<strong>de</strong> se extien<strong>de</strong>.<br />
cf. Salarrué: moraceae.<br />
149<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r those enormous amate trees<br />
that strangled other trees here and<br />
there. There were lots of those killer<br />
trees un<strong>de</strong>r the shadow, full of gnats,<br />
mosquitoes and ants, stinking like<br />
bedbugs.<br />
Deep in the ravine a shot was heard.<br />
It was like a Conacaste tree was being<br />
cracked open. The echoes boiled and<br />
they pushed and shoved until they<br />
picked it up with the cracking boards.<br />
The noise overflowed and the ravine<br />
swallowed the silence again.<br />
The soldiers stopped, sinking their<br />
heels to take root. They waited as they<br />
listened to the tranquility that followed<br />
like after someone casts a fishnet.<br />
Sergeant Vanegas pushed them<br />
forward with a signal.<br />
“That was a rifle.”<br />
“Maybe someone hunting <strong>de</strong>er…”<br />
“Be very careful, very careful. If you fire,<br />
make sure you hit the target. Have no<br />
compassion.”<br />
* * *<br />
They were at the bottom of the ravine.<br />
Standing on the big blue rocks of the<br />
riverbed, they contemplated the smelly<br />
rapids that were rushing through the<br />
rocks, jumping as if they were playing
con los gatos. La chorrentera 286<br />
interminable les había tapado las<br />
bocas con una mano terca, <strong>de</strong> ruido.<br />
Un remolino, projundo como el umbligo<br />
<strong>de</strong>l Diablo, caminaba por lo largo <strong>de</strong><br />
la poza hasta meterse en las cuevas<br />
<strong>de</strong>l pa<strong>de</strong>rón, para salir otra vez, como<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo diagua, en el mismo lugar.<br />
Con un bramido <strong>de</strong> perolón, que llevaba<br />
por <strong>de</strong>ntro gritos <strong>de</strong> cipote, risas<br />
<strong>de</strong> vieja, serruchos y martillos, trenes,<br />
lloridos y uyasón <strong>de</strong> chuchos, la chorrera<br />
caiba <strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> bien alto, en gra das <strong>de</strong><br />
vidrio, hasta lo más encuevado <strong>de</strong> la<br />
poza. Llovía eterno, sobre las gran<strong>de</strong>s<br />
hojas <strong>de</strong> los quequeishques y sobre el<br />
talpetatal picado <strong>de</strong> virue la, on<strong>de</strong> cada<br />
juraco era un espejito diacuis287 .<br />
Los raizales formaban tra mazones,<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong> las cuales el agua aletiaba<br />
como murciégalo morigundo.<br />
Saltando <strong>de</strong> piedra en piedra, a guiños<br />
<strong>de</strong> ráiz y trepazón <strong>de</strong> breñales, los<br />
seis soldados llegaron a un <strong>de</strong>svío<br />
cortado a pico, en una escurana jría que<br />
<strong>de</strong>sembocaba en el río. Con una seña,<br />
el sargento los enzanjó289 por aquella<br />
traga<strong>de</strong>ra <strong>de</strong>l infierno.<br />
Caminaban en blando, sobre<br />
arenita fina. Arriba, el cielo<br />
286. Torrentera, cauce <strong>de</strong> un torrente.<br />
287. Cuartillo, moneda <strong>de</strong> 1/4 <strong>de</strong> real (Este último vale 12 1/2 centavos).<br />
288. Spanish “cuis”: coin that was used in Spain in the 18th Century. It was the size of a U.S. nickel or<br />
€0.10.<br />
289. La palabra proviene <strong>de</strong> “zanjar”, excavar.<br />
150<br />
ball flexing their biceps. The noise of a<br />
never-ending torrent in effect covered<br />
the soldiers’ mouths like a stubborn<br />
hand. A whirlwind, <strong>de</strong>ep like the <strong>de</strong>vil’s<br />
bellybutton, walked wan<strong>de</strong>ring around<br />
the pond until it found the caves in the<br />
wall. It arose once again in the same<br />
place as if emerging from un<strong>de</strong>r water.<br />
With a roar of a huge saucepan<br />
that contained the cries of children,<br />
laughs of old women, handsaws and<br />
hammers, trains, sobs and the howling<br />
of dogs, the torrent <strong>de</strong>scen<strong>de</strong>d from<br />
up above, on glass stairs, all the way to<br />
the most hid<strong>de</strong>n places of the pond.<br />
The storm poured over the big leaves<br />
of quequeshque trees and over volcanic<br />
tuff that looked like it had measles.<br />
Every hole was a mirror the size of a<br />
nickel. 288<br />
The roots of the mangrove looked like<br />
fallen trees un<strong>de</strong>r which the water<br />
flapped its wings like a dying bat.<br />
Jumping from rock to rock, the six<br />
soldiers used the gaps between the<br />
roots and branches like a lad<strong>de</strong>r. They<br />
arrived at a hand-ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>tour in the<br />
midst of a cold darkness that flows into<br />
the river. With a signal, the sergeant sent<br />
them through that hell of an abyss.<br />
They walked over fine soft sand.<br />
Up above, the sky showed its
mostraba su reventadura <strong>de</strong> caimito 290<br />
dulzón, en la cual pringaba ya la<br />
primera estrella como semilla briyosa. Al<br />
recuesto291 <strong>de</strong> la escurana, embolando el<br />
tetuntal, corría entre el agua llorona un<br />
piro que jedía a rojo, como en cluaca <strong>de</strong><br />
curtiembre292 . La humedá y la sombra<br />
subían en llamas negras hasta muy<br />
alto, lambiendo los muros <strong>de</strong>l cañón y<br />
ahumando los charrales en lo alto <strong>de</strong>l<br />
precepicio. Apersebido293 el calibre, los<br />
seis <strong>de</strong> la chichera avanzaban valientes,<br />
empujando una cortina <strong>de</strong> sor<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
Trepaba y trepaba el arenal; y Vanegas,<br />
que iba al frente, al <strong>de</strong>scruzar un recodo,<br />
mandó hacer alto. Ya casi no se véiya.<br />
La última clarencia <strong>de</strong> la tar<strong>de</strong> se bía<br />
ido diluyendo en la tinta <strong>de</strong>l sombrial<br />
espeso; y apenas una mora<strong>de</strong>z <strong>de</strong> arena<br />
quedaba, como cuando queda azúcar<br />
al jondo <strong>de</strong>l café. Un bulto cheloso<br />
acababa <strong>de</strong> sumirse en la cantera, como<br />
una araña <strong>de</strong> pañal.<br />
—¡Alistéyense!<br />
Lo dijo bajito y sereno. Se veiya nomás<br />
que aquel era su ojicio. En aquel aguar<strong>de</strong><br />
breve, se oyó, claramente, cómo las<br />
seis lenguas <strong>de</strong> acero <strong>de</strong> los calibres se<br />
151<br />
first star that drizzled like a shiny seed<br />
of a ripe sweet star apple. 294 With the<br />
complicity the darkness, the discar<strong>de</strong>d<br />
moonshine ran with the crying water<br />
making the stones dizzy. It had a red<br />
stench like a butcher’s sewer. Humidity<br />
and darkness climbed up high in black<br />
flames, licking the walls of the canyon<br />
and filling the shrubs in the high parts<br />
of the precipice. Grabbing their rifles,<br />
the six moonshiners advanced valiantly,<br />
pushing a curtain of <strong>de</strong>afness.<br />
The sandy road climbed higher and<br />
higher. After rounding a turn, Vanegas,<br />
who was in front or<strong>de</strong>red his men to<br />
stop. It was almost impossible to see<br />
ahead. The last afternoon light had<br />
been diluting in the ink of the thick<br />
shadows. Only the purple color of sand<br />
was left behind like sugar at the bottom<br />
of a coffee cup. Like a spi<strong>de</strong>r wearing a<br />
diaper, a white shape just ducked into<br />
the quarry.<br />
“Get ready!”<br />
He said it quietly and calmly. One could<br />
tell that this was his job. During the<br />
short wait it was clearly heard how the<br />
six iron tongues of the rifles swallowed<br />
290. RAE: caimito. (De or. arahuaco). 1. m. Árbol silvestre <strong>de</strong> América Central, Antillas, Colombia y<br />
Venezuela, <strong>de</strong> la familia <strong>de</strong> las Sapotáceas, <strong>de</strong> corteza rojiza, ma<strong>de</strong>ra blanda, hojas alternas y ovales,<br />
flores blancuzcas y fruto redondo, <strong>de</strong>l tamaño <strong>de</strong> una naranja, <strong>de</strong> pulpa azucarada, mucilaginosa y<br />
refrigerante.<br />
291. A favor <strong>de</strong>.<br />
292. RAE: Sitio o taller don<strong>de</strong> se curten y trabajan las pieles.<br />
293. Arcaismo: apercibir.<br />
294 Or gol<strong>de</strong>nleaf tree. Chrysophyllum cainito. When the fruit is ripe, the fruit cracks.
tragaban la bala, chasqueando, sin<br />
mascarla. Dos jlores <strong>de</strong> fuego brotaron<br />
al cruce <strong>de</strong> la garganta, rajando con<br />
su estrépito el vidrio <strong>de</strong> la montaña.<br />
Los ecos fueron arrimerando las<br />
<strong>de</strong>tonaciones con jactancia, como<br />
monedas <strong>de</strong> plata.<br />
A una seña <strong>de</strong>l sargento, todos se<br />
echaron <strong>de</strong> panza, al <strong>de</strong>sperdigo,<br />
escogiendo al azar la mampuesta. Fue<br />
aquella barranca como una guari da<br />
<strong>de</strong> rayos en brama, <strong>de</strong>spedazándose<br />
unos a otros a mordidas por la hembra,<br />
aquella raya oscura trazada firme en la<br />
montaña por el puñal <strong>de</strong> los siglos.<br />
* * *<br />
Saliendo a la orla295 <strong>de</strong>l embudo <strong>de</strong><br />
aquella tremenda barranca <strong>de</strong>l Berrido<br />
que una hora antes hiciera honor<br />
al nombre, cuatro hombres en fila,<br />
ja<strong>de</strong>antes y ensangrentados, pararon al<br />
pie <strong>de</strong> los pinos. Traiban las manos a la<br />
espalda y los <strong>de</strong>dos gordos bien socados<br />
con pita. Sosteniendo al último, que<br />
apenas caminaba, el sargento Vanegas,<br />
calibre en bandole ra, los pastoriaba<br />
<strong>de</strong>lgado y sereno, echado atrás el<br />
quepis y un puro entre los dientes.<br />
—Arrepónganse tantito, <strong>de</strong>sgraciados.<br />
152<br />
the bullets, clicking, without chewing<br />
them. Two flowers of fire sprouted<br />
when passing through the throat of<br />
the rifle, shattering the glass of the<br />
mountain with its racket. The arrogant<br />
<strong>de</strong>tonations built up echoes like<br />
clanking silver coins.<br />
At the sergeant’s signal, they all threw<br />
themselves on the ground, dispersed,<br />
choosing their positions at random<br />
behind a row of bricks. The ravine was<br />
like the lair of lightning in heat, like two<br />
lions tearing each other apart over a<br />
female. The lioness was the dark cleft<br />
etched firmly in the mountain by the<br />
dagger of the centuries.<br />
* * *<br />
Four men, panting and covered in<br />
blood, came out towards the rim of the<br />
funnel of that tremendous ravine called<br />
the Bellow. It had paid homage to its<br />
name an hour ago. The men stopped<br />
at the botton of the pine trees, their<br />
hands behind their backs and their<br />
thumbs tied tight with twine. Grabbing<br />
onto the last one who could barely<br />
walk, sergeant Vanegas shepher<strong>de</strong>d<br />
them, guiding them with his rifle on<br />
his bandoleer. He was thin and calm.<br />
With his kepi 296 turned backwards<br />
and with a cigar between his teeth he<br />
comman<strong>de</strong>d:<br />
“Hold on, you bastards.”<br />
295. Adorno que va a la orilla <strong>de</strong> las cosas.<br />
296. Wikipedia explains: “The kepi is a cap with a flat circular top and a visor (American English) or peak<br />
(British English). The word came into the English language from French.”
Jalando un macho barcino 297 , cargado<br />
con ollas y trebejos, asomó un soldado.<br />
Amarró y se tiró en la grama a la<br />
bartola.<br />
—¡A la gran babosa, mi sargento, es<br />
bien jodida esta lagor!...<br />
—Date por suertero, <strong>de</strong>sgraciado... ¿No<br />
bis visto cómo quedaron panzarriba<br />
tus cheros?<br />
—Dice bien, Vanegas, ya vi<strong>de</strong> que Dios<br />
nos quiere...<br />
—O no nos quiere... asigún...<br />
El viento <strong>de</strong> la noche chiflaba<br />
tristemente en los pinares.<br />
297. Una béstia color gris oscuro, blanco y pardo, y hasta rojizo.<br />
153<br />
A soldier, pulling a reddish donkey<br />
loa<strong>de</strong>d with pots and utensils<br />
approached the sergeant. He tied up<br />
the beast and lay down on the grass to<br />
relax.<br />
“Shit, my sergeant, this is hard work!”<br />
“You’re lucky, shithead. Didn’t you see<br />
your buddies lying on the ground with<br />
their bellies facing up?”<br />
“You right, Vanegas. I see that God still<br />
love us…”<br />
“Or not. It <strong>de</strong>pends...”<br />
The wind of the night whistled sadly<br />
among the pine trees.
el MaISHTro 298<br />
Terminada la faena <strong>de</strong> escuela, don<br />
Tacho cerraba el zaguán. Un frescor<br />
oloroso a tierra <strong>de</strong> rincón barrido,<br />
llenaba el sombrío portalón. Apretaba<br />
la tranca; y, ya solo, aislado en la frescura<br />
<strong>de</strong> las cuatro <strong>de</strong> la tar<strong>de</strong> —tar<strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong><br />
pueblo encumbrado y ñeblinoso—, iba<br />
por las poda<strong>de</strong> ras y entraba al jardín.<br />
El jardín estaba en el traspatio. Junto al<br />
tapial <strong>de</strong> la casa vecina, cre cía la parra<br />
<strong>de</strong> jazmín, anidada toda ella, anidada y<br />
dormida en el tapexco <strong>de</strong> bambú. Dos<br />
rosales, una gemela, un matocho <strong>de</strong><br />
jacintos, unos platanillos pringados;<br />
unas chinas, dos naranjitos; un icaco,<br />
un borbollón <strong>de</strong> zacatelimón y uno<br />
quiotro montecito, no arrancado por<br />
no i<strong>de</strong>ntificado. En un barril, hundido<br />
hasta la mitad en el suelo, estaba el<br />
agua llovida para el riego.<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Tacho sabía bien qué hacer. Iba<br />
y venía; se acucharaba; se ponía en<br />
puntillas, aterraba o escarbaba según<br />
el caso. En la galera aledaña, la mula<br />
zonta299 le miraba trabajar, con un<br />
placer rayano300 en amor. Se sacudía<br />
las ancas, flacas y canosas, y se dormía<br />
viendo al amo en su tarea.<br />
154<br />
THe TeacHer<br />
Having finished his work at school,<br />
Señor Tancho closed the gate. An<br />
aromatic freshness like dirt from a<br />
recently swept dirt floor filled the dark<br />
entry way. He barred the door. It was<br />
four in the afternoon. He was now alone<br />
in the freshness of it. The afternoon,<br />
high and cloudy, crept by the gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />
shears and entered his gar<strong>de</strong>n.<br />
His gar<strong>de</strong>n was in the backyard. The<br />
jasmine bush grew next to the fence<br />
of the neighboring house. It nestled in<br />
the bamboo fence, sleeping. Two rose<br />
bushes, a twinflower, a hyacinth bush,<br />
a scarlet milkwood, a China pink, two<br />
small orange trees, a cocoplum bush,<br />
a clump of lemon grass, and some<br />
wild bushes here and there that were<br />
left untouched. A barrel, half buried in<br />
the ground, contained rain water for<br />
irrigation.<br />
Señor Tacho knew well what to do.<br />
He went back and forth around his<br />
gar<strong>de</strong>n. He bent over. He knelt on<br />
tiptoe and scratched or covered the<br />
ground <strong>de</strong>pending on the situation. In<br />
the nearby barn, the one-eared mule<br />
watched him work, with a pleasure<br />
that was almost love. It shook its skinny<br />
and gray haired haunch and fell asleep<br />
looking at its master as he worked.<br />
298. Representing the Nahuat pronunciation.<br />
299. RAE: zonto, ta. (Del nahua cuatezontic, cabeza rapada). 1. adj. El Salv. y Hond. Dicho <strong>de</strong> una persona<br />
o <strong>de</strong> un animal: Que le han cortado una o las dos orejas.<br />
300. RAE: rayano, na. 1. adj. Que confina o linda con algo. 2. adj. Que está en la raya que divi<strong>de</strong> dos<br />
territorios. 3. adj. Cercano, con semejanza que se aproxima a igualdad.
<strong>Don</strong> Tacho era bajito, carnudo; dulce,<br />
moreno y calvo. Andaba siem pre en<br />
camisa, con la correya angosta bien<br />
ceñida bajo el ombligo. Su calva relucía<br />
como una berenjena; era una berenjena<br />
<strong>de</strong> treinta colones mensuales,<br />
impagables.<br />
Vecina vivía la niña Meches, hija <strong>de</strong>l<br />
agente <strong>de</strong>l “Diario”. Como el tapial302 era bajito, ella se subía en unos adobes;<br />
y, <strong>de</strong> codos sobre el pretil303 , miraba<br />
sonriente a don Tacho. Esta vez no<br />
tardó.<br />
—¿Cómo van sus jlores?...<br />
—¡Ah, niña Meches..., no dan; no dan,<br />
no sé qué pasa!... Quizá el zompopo304 ,<br />
o quizá lagua es mala, o la tierra; todo<br />
se va en vicio y no flo rea. Mire ésta, mire<br />
aquí: están todos mero chipes...<br />
—Abónelos con kakevaca.<br />
155<br />
Señor Tacho was short and fleshy;<br />
kind, dark and bald. He was always<br />
wearing a t-shirt, with the thin belt<br />
tightened un<strong>de</strong>r his bellybutton. His<br />
bald head was shiny like an eggplant.<br />
It was an expensive eggplant, worth 30<br />
colones 301 a month, more than anyone<br />
could afford.<br />
Miss Merce<strong>de</strong>s, the newspaper agent’s<br />
daughter, was his neighbor. Since the<br />
adobe wall was not tall, she was able<br />
to step on some bricks and, putting her<br />
elbows on the parapet, looked at Señor<br />
Tacho who was smiling. This time she<br />
came right to the point.<br />
“How are your flowers?”<br />
“Oh, Miss Merce<strong>de</strong>s... they don’t prosper<br />
at all. I don’t know what’s going on!<br />
Maybe the big leafcutter ants or maybe<br />
the water is bad, or the soil. It’s all for<br />
nothing and there are no flowers. Look<br />
at this, look here: they are all weak and<br />
sick…<br />
—¡Si los abono! Todo el barrido <strong>de</strong> “You should get some manure.”<br />
la mula se los echo: ya usté ve cómo<br />
“I do that! I use all of the mule’s manure.<br />
los cuido todas las tar<strong>de</strong>s y por las<br />
You know how I care for this gar<strong>de</strong>n,<br />
mañanas. Tengo mala mano...<br />
morning and afternoon. I just don’t<br />
have a green thumb…<br />
301. 30 Colones back in the 1930’s was an unpayable amount for a peasant who earned ¼ of a Colón<br />
per day.<br />
302. Muro <strong>de</strong> ladrillos <strong>de</strong> adobe.<br />
303. RAE: pretil. (Por *petril, <strong>de</strong>l lat. *pectorīle, <strong>de</strong> pectus, -ŏris, pecho). 1. m. Murete o vallado <strong>de</strong> piedra u<br />
otra materia que se pone en los puentes y en otros lugares para preservar <strong>de</strong> caídas.<br />
304. RAE: zompopo. (Del maya zonm, hormiga, y popo, gran<strong>de</strong>). 1. m. Am. Cen. Nombre genérico <strong>de</strong><br />
varias especies <strong>de</strong> hormiga <strong>de</strong> color café o rojizo, que tienen dos nódulos o ensanchamientos y tres o<br />
cuatro pares <strong>de</strong> espinas en el dorso <strong>de</strong>l tórax. Solamente la reina y los zánganos tienen alas. Viven en<br />
el suelo en colonias <strong>de</strong> miles y hasta millones <strong>de</strong> individuos, en hormigueros con varias entradas en<br />
forma <strong>de</strong> volcán y un laberinto <strong>de</strong> túneles que llegan hasta las cámaras. Se alimentan <strong>de</strong>l follaje <strong>de</strong> varias<br />
plantas.
—Es que se le va el jluido en los niños.<br />
—¿Cree?...<br />
—El jardín luagarra cansado.<br />
—Miagarra cansado y...<br />
“Y con hambre”, iba a <strong>de</strong>cir, mas se<br />
<strong>de</strong>tuvo. Miró a la niña Meches con su<br />
cara buenota <strong>de</strong> luna negativa; por<br />
sus dientes anchos corrió una miel<br />
paternal:<br />
—Usté sí que es chulísima305 . Pegó bien<br />
a la tierra.<br />
—¡Ah, usté!...<br />
Él sacó <strong>de</strong>l trasero su amplio pañuelo<br />
amarillo y se lo pasó por el crá neo, sin<br />
<strong>de</strong>jar <strong>de</strong> mirarla.<br />
—¡Ay... qué felicidá es verla a usté! ¡Tan<br />
fresca, tan joven, tan chula!...<br />
—Si mestá enamorando, me voy.<br />
—No se vaya. Es láura <strong>de</strong>l <strong>de</strong>scanso.<br />
—Siés que usté mestá chuliando. ¿Se<br />
va estar en juicio?<br />
<strong>Don</strong> Tacho se rió <strong>de</strong> buena gana.<br />
Guardó su pañuelo en el trasero, se<br />
305. Muy chula, muy bonita.<br />
306. Perhaps the film negative of a photograph.<br />
156<br />
“The problem is that all your goodness<br />
is drained by your young stu<strong>de</strong>nts.”<br />
“You think so?”<br />
“Then when you come to the gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />
you’re already tired.”<br />
“Yes, I’m already tired and…”<br />
He was about to say “and hungry,” but<br />
he refrained. He looked at Merce<strong>de</strong>s<br />
with her pretty face of a negative<br />
moon. 306 A paternal honey ran through<br />
his wi<strong>de</strong> teeth:<br />
“You are very pretty. In your case, the<br />
soil that you grew in was good soil...”<br />
“Oh, you!”<br />
He took out his huge yellow<br />
hanckerchief from his back pocket<br />
and he wiped his cranium as he kept<br />
looking at her.<br />
“How happy I am when I see you! So<br />
fresh, so young, so pretty!”<br />
“If you’re hitting on me, I’m leaving.”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t leave. It’s my break.”<br />
“But you are flirting with me. You gonna<br />
behave?”<br />
Señor Tacho laughed happily. He<br />
replaced his hanckerchief in his back
acercó al tapial y tomó en las suyas la<br />
mano pálida, fina, tibia <strong>de</strong> la joven.<br />
—¿A que le digo la suerte?...<br />
—¡Vaya!...<br />
Del pecho <strong>de</strong> la camisa sacó las gafas<br />
y se las puso; le dio vuelta a la mano,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scubriendo la palma sonrosada;<br />
cogió aquella hoja <strong>de</strong> carne por la<br />
punta, hizo presión para pan<strong>de</strong>arla y la<br />
miró fijo.<br />
—¡Qué mapa <strong>de</strong>l cielo tiene usté aquí!<br />
Este es el río <strong>de</strong> la Virgen...<br />
Le clavó los lentes a un palmo <strong>de</strong> la<br />
cara.<br />
—No me chiste; dígame la suerte.<br />
Volvió a mirar, pasó el índice muy suave<br />
y lentamente por la página trémula.<br />
Como si hubiera echado raíces, por las<br />
piernas le subía <strong>de</strong> la tie rra dulce savia,<br />
que embriagaba como vino. Llegaba al<br />
corazón y hacía marea. Todo el mundo<br />
se <strong>de</strong>shacía alre<strong>de</strong>dor como una nube;<br />
sentía que iba a florecer palabras <strong>de</strong><br />
amor. Ella comprendía y, sin embargo,<br />
estaba clavada sin remedio. Ya a punto<br />
<strong>de</strong> hablar, le <strong>de</strong>tuvo el clarín <strong>de</strong> un<br />
gallo. Las cosas se cuajaron en torno.<br />
Volvió a sentirse calvo, viejo y pobre.<br />
De sus ojos cayó a la palma <strong>de</strong> la mano<br />
una lágrima gruesa.<br />
157<br />
pocket. He came closer to the wall and<br />
grabbed her child-like pale, fine and<br />
warm hands.<br />
“I can read your future.”<br />
“Really?”<br />
From the breast pocket of his shirt he<br />
took out his glasses and put them on.<br />
He turned her hand over uncovering<br />
her blushing pink palm. Tacho grabbed<br />
that leaf of flesh by the tips, pushed to<br />
bend her hand and stared at it.<br />
“What a map of heaven I see here! This<br />
is the river of the Virgin…”<br />
He moved closer, his glasses just a few<br />
inches away from her face.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t make fun of me. Tell me my<br />
future.”<br />
He looked again, passing the in<strong>de</strong>x<br />
finger softly and slowly over the<br />
tremulous page. As if he had grown<br />
roots, a sweet sap that inebriated like<br />
wine climbed up his legs from the<br />
ground. It went all the way to his heart<br />
and ma<strong>de</strong> him dizzy. As if he were in<br />
a cloud, the whole world vanished<br />
around him. He felt that he was about to<br />
blossom words of love. She un<strong>de</strong>rstood<br />
but couldn’t move. He was about to<br />
say something when the crowing of a<br />
rooster stopped him. Evething became<br />
frozen around him. Once again he felt<br />
bald, old and poor. From his eyes a thick<br />
tear fell onto the palm of her hand.
—¡Queseso!...<br />
Reaccionó bruscamente, tragó saliva;<br />
volvió a correr por sus dientes una miel<br />
paternal y dijo, señalando con firmeza:<br />
—Eso, eso, hija mía..., es el río <strong>de</strong>l<br />
tiempo...<br />
158<br />
“What’s this?”<br />
He reacted abruptly and gulped his<br />
saliva. The paternal honey again ran<br />
through his teeth and said, pointing it<br />
out firmly:<br />
“That? That, my child, is the river of<br />
time…”
De caZa<br />
Al pie <strong>de</strong>l palón quemado, que era<br />
como una astilla <strong>de</strong> noche en medio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l llano pelón don<strong>de</strong> la rastrojera tenía<br />
un dorar <strong>de</strong> kakevaca, los dos tiradores<br />
se acurrucaron, agarrados a las<br />
escopetas; y allí, sumergidos en el agua<br />
grata <strong>de</strong> aquella sombra <strong>de</strong> esqueleto,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scansaron <strong>de</strong> matar.<br />
El mediodía caiba <strong>de</strong> lado, por ser<br />
verano. Del cielo blanco bajaba,<br />
on<strong>de</strong>ante, una atarraya <strong>de</strong> plata<br />
caliente. Las montañas, a lo lejos,<br />
se<strong>de</strong>a ban 307 azul-violeta. Sobre el llano,<br />
en el aire, y en sombra sobre el suelo,<br />
la zopilotada volteaba: mariposones<br />
negros, quemándose la vida en la llama<br />
<strong>de</strong>l sol.<br />
El viejo Calistro se entretenía en puyar<br />
con un palito la pechuga gris <strong>de</strong>l conejo<br />
muerto. El chele Damacio jumaba<br />
lentamente el <strong>de</strong>scanso.<br />
—Tá gordo este baboso. Y se riye, el<br />
hijuepuerca.<br />
—¡Ajú!... <strong>de</strong> satisfecho...<br />
—Te lo cambeyo por las cinco<br />
palomas.<br />
—¡No joda, compadre!, ¿cinco<br />
cartuchos por uno, no?<br />
159<br />
GoNe HuNTING<br />
Two hunters grabbed their rifles and<br />
ducked down at the base of the big<br />
burnt 308 tree which was like a splinter of<br />
night in the middle of the naked plain.<br />
The stubble in the field was gol<strong>de</strong>n like<br />
cow’s dung. The hunters, submerged<br />
in the cool water of the skeletal sha<strong>de</strong>,<br />
took a rest from killing.<br />
Because it was summer, noon was<br />
falling si<strong>de</strong>ways. A fishnet of molten<br />
silver was falling down from the white<br />
sky, undulating. In the distance the<br />
mountains were polished like violetblue<br />
jewels. Vultures like big black<br />
butterflies soared over the flats and<br />
over the sha<strong>de</strong>d ground. They were<br />
burning their lives un<strong>de</strong>r the flame of<br />
the sun.<br />
Old Calistro killed time by poking the<br />
gray chest of a <strong>de</strong>ad rabbit with a stick.<br />
Damacio, the white guy, slowly smoked<br />
his way through the break.<br />
“This motherfucker is fat. And still<br />
laughs this son of a bitch.”<br />
“Yep. He’s satisfied.”<br />
“Give me the five pigeons and he’s all<br />
yours.”<br />
“Fuck, compadre! I used five bullets,<br />
you just used one? Fuck, no!”<br />
307. RAE: se<strong>de</strong>ar. (De seda, cerda). 1. tr. Limpiar alhajas con la se<strong>de</strong>ra.<br />
308. My mother recalls that hunters burned off the whole hill at night so that the <strong>de</strong>er had no place to<br />
hi<strong>de</strong>.
—Pero hijo, tentá, tentá...<br />
Le hundía los <strong>de</strong>dos huesudos en la piel<br />
suave, que se escurría rugo sa.<br />
—Tres le doy, compa.<br />
—¡Achís!...<br />
A lo lejos se oyó un disparo. Luego otro.<br />
El silencio <strong>de</strong>l mediodía se <strong>de</strong>sgarraba,<br />
como una película <strong>de</strong> coágulo<br />
sobre un estanque; poco a poco las<br />
<strong>de</strong>sgarraduras iban cerrándose, hasta<br />
que la cerrazón <strong>de</strong> calma reco braba su<br />
pesantez.<br />
—Esos han <strong>de</strong> ser Mateyo y Julián.<br />
—O Fila<strong>de</strong>lfo, que agarró dése lado.<br />
—Palomas han <strong>de</strong>star matando, los<br />
babosos.<br />
—No creya, compa: en esa montañita<br />
hay mucho conejo.<br />
Náufrago, en el viento perezón, llegó un<br />
grito.<br />
—¡Aíjaaa!...<br />
Luego palabras, con las letras borradas.<br />
—¿Qué dice, oyó?<br />
—Es Mateyo.<br />
160<br />
“But son, touch him, touch him, he’s<br />
worth it...”<br />
He sank his bony fingers in the rabbit’s<br />
soft fur causing the skin to wrinkle.<br />
“I’ll give you three.”<br />
“No way!”<br />
They heard a shot in the distance. Then<br />
another. The silence of the midday,<br />
like a film of coagulated blood over a<br />
pond, was being torn. Little by little<br />
the lacerations healed until the closing<br />
calm recovered its heaviness.<br />
“That must be Mateo and Julian.”<br />
“Or Fila<strong>de</strong>lfo who went that way.”<br />
“They must be hunting doves,<br />
suckers!”<br />
“Maybe not, compadre. There’s lots of<br />
rabbits in them little hill.”<br />
A scream came, lost in the lazy wind.<br />
“Ai-haaa”<br />
Then some words followed with erased<br />
letters.<br />
“What was that?”<br />
“It’s Mateo.”
El chele Damacio <strong>de</strong>jó la escopeta<br />
apoyada en el morral; se puso en pie;<br />
hizo una concha con la mano y gritó<br />
engallado:<br />
—¡Ooiii!... ¡Mateyóoo!...<br />
Bien distintas llegaron <strong>de</strong>l monte estas<br />
palabras:<br />
—¡Aivelvenado!...<br />
El viejo Calistro se puso en pie.<br />
—¿Brán hallado venado esos<br />
<strong>de</strong>sgraciados, hombre?<br />
—Lo vienen sabaniando 309 .<br />
Se óiba quebrazón <strong>de</strong> ramas y choyeo<br />
<strong>de</strong> hojarascas.<br />
—Aprepárese, compa, que viene por<br />
aquí.<br />
—¿Nos tarán tirando esos jodidos,<br />
vos?<br />
—No creya, pue<strong>de</strong>n ber <strong>de</strong>sescondido<br />
algún cabrón désos.<br />
La tronazón <strong>de</strong> ramas venía cerquita,<br />
por la ceja <strong>de</strong>l monte. El viejo Calistro<br />
corrió a todo correr, haciendo sonar los<br />
cartuchos <strong>de</strong> la bolsa. El chele liba a la<br />
zaga.<br />
161<br />
Damacio left his rifle planted in the<br />
shrubs. He stood up, formed the shape<br />
of a shell with his hand and screamed<br />
like a rooster:<br />
“Oi, 310 Mateo!”<br />
From the bushes these words were<br />
clearly heard:<br />
“A <strong>de</strong>er’s comin’ your way!”<br />
Old Calistro stood up.<br />
“Man, those fuckers found a <strong>de</strong>er?”<br />
“They’re drivin’ it, tryin’ to blanket it in.”<br />
Branches were snapping and the dry<br />
leaves were screaming.<br />
“Get ready, compadre. It’s comin’ this<br />
way.”<br />
“You think they’re pullin’ our legs?”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t think so. They coulda discovered<br />
one of them fuckers.”<br />
The crunching of the branches was<br />
nearing by the brow of the bushes. Old<br />
Calistro ran full speed, his cartridges in<br />
his bag clanking. The white guy was<br />
right behind.<br />
309. RAE: sabanear. 1. intr. Am. Recorrer la sabana don<strong>de</strong> se ha establecido un hato, para buscar y reunir<br />
el ganado, o para vigilarlo.<br />
310. “Oi“ means “hello“ in Portuguese. From Still used as the main greting in rural El Salvador.
Un último grito, cercano, se oyó:<br />
—¡Ai va, O!...<br />
Bruscamente, con irrumpe <strong>de</strong> ventarrón,<br />
volante como sombra <strong>de</strong> raudo gavilán,<br />
un venado brotó, eléctrico, <strong>de</strong>l ramazal<br />
al rastrojo, tambo rileando su terror<br />
en el suelo polvoso y tirándose al<br />
<strong>de</strong>scampado como a la muerte. Detrás<br />
<strong>de</strong> él venía la bala. Humo, gritos, polvo,<br />
hojas al vien to. El venado se hundió<br />
en la cueva <strong>de</strong>l eco, arrebatado por<br />
un terror avaro. En el suelo, y en su<br />
propia sangre, se <strong>de</strong>vanaba el viejo<br />
Calistro comiéndose la tierra caliente a<br />
bocaradas, bajo el sol.<br />
Mateyo, al darse cuenta, tiró la escopeta<br />
y huyó por el bosque. Los otros dos se<br />
miraban, aterrados, a uno y a otro lado<br />
<strong>de</strong> aquel abismo <strong>de</strong> agonía. El polvo<br />
se bía ido asentando. De bruces en los<br />
terrones ennegrecidos por la sangre,<br />
el cuerpo <strong>de</strong>l viejo se estremecía,<br />
intermitentemente. Cuando quedó al<br />
fin quieto, ya nadie había alre<strong>de</strong>dor;<br />
sólo al pie <strong>de</strong>l palón quema do, que era<br />
como una astilla <strong>de</strong> noche en medio<br />
<strong>de</strong>l llano pelón, el conejo sedoso y<br />
tranquilo se reiba, mostrando al cielo<br />
sus afilados dientecillos roe dores, <strong>de</strong><br />
satisfecho...<br />
162<br />
A last scream was heard, nearby:<br />
“It’s comin’ O’ 311 ...!”<br />
311. You, you guys. An exclamative word to call someone’s attention.<br />
Abruptly, like a violent wind, flying like<br />
the shadow of a swift sparrowhawk, an<br />
electric <strong>de</strong>er burst out of the bush into<br />
the stubble. The animal was drumming<br />
his terror on the dusty ground and<br />
jumping towards the clear space as if<br />
towards <strong>de</strong>ath. A bullet pursued the<br />
<strong>de</strong>er. Smoke. Screams. Dust. Leaves in<br />
the wind. The <strong>de</strong>er sank in the cave of<br />
the echo, overwhelmed by a greedy<br />
terror. On the ground Old Calistro<br />
thrashed around in his own blood,<br />
eating a mouthful of the sun-baked<br />
soil.<br />
Mateo, realizing what he had done,<br />
tossed away his rifle and fled through<br />
the woods. The other two stared at<br />
each other full of fear in that abyss of<br />
agony. The dust was settling down. Face<br />
down, on the clots of dirt blackened<br />
by the blood, the body of the old man<br />
trembled, intermittently. When the<br />
body stopped twitching, there was<br />
nobody around. At the base of the big<br />
burnt tree which was like a splinter of<br />
night in the middle of the naked plain,<br />
the silky and calm rabbit laughed,<br />
showing the sky sharp ro<strong>de</strong>nt teeth of<br />
a satisfied rabbit.
la TINaJa<br />
Junto al remanso <strong>de</strong>l crepúsculo,<br />
los volcanes eran tetuntes oscuros.<br />
Como una tinaja <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> quemado,<br />
la noche se hundía en el agua dorada,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scurriendo estrellas por el flanco.<br />
En aquel callar <strong>de</strong> tren <strong>de</strong>scarri lado,<br />
los árboles se oiban shushushar con<br />
un frescor melodioso <strong>de</strong> pasa <strong>de</strong>ro <strong>de</strong><br />
acequia312 . Viraba el mundo <strong>de</strong> bordo,<br />
como para echar el ancla en el tranquil<br />
projundo <strong>de</strong>l corazón.<br />
—Pabla...<br />
La Pabla hundió más la cabeza en el<br />
refajo314 . Sus trenzas prietas res balaron<br />
hasta tocar el suelo, dion<strong>de</strong> chupaban,<br />
como ráices, la i<strong>de</strong>a <strong>de</strong> un morir, con<br />
mucha tierra.<br />
—Testoy hablando...<br />
—¡Irte, irte <strong>de</strong> mi lado, engrato que me<br />
bis arruinado!<br />
—¡Pero, si nues nada, usté; no<br />
siamelarchiye, ya le va pasar!...<br />
—¡Sí, pue, le va pasar pue!, ¿y nués<br />
casado, pue?...<br />
163<br />
THe<br />
earTHeNWare Jar<br />
The volcanoes seemed like dark<br />
mounds by the still pool of the<br />
crepuscule. 313 Like a large earthenware<br />
clay jar burned in the kiln, the night<br />
sunk into the gil<strong>de</strong>d water, leaking<br />
stars on one flank. Like the silence of<br />
a <strong>de</strong>railed train the trees whispered a<br />
melodious freshness of water passing<br />
by in the ditch. The world on board<br />
turned around as if dropping its anchor<br />
in the tranquil <strong>de</strong>pth of the heart.<br />
“Pabla…”<br />
Pabla sunk her head down further into<br />
her peasant’s skirt. Her dark braids like<br />
long roots dangled down. They touched<br />
the ground from which they absorbed<br />
the i<strong>de</strong>a of dirt-la<strong>de</strong>n <strong>de</strong>ath.<br />
“I’m talkin’ to you...”<br />
“Away, get away from me, bastard.<br />
You’ve ruined me!<br />
“Oh, it’s nothin’. <strong>Don</strong>’t make a big <strong>de</strong>al<br />
about it. You’ll get over it.”<br />
“Yea, right. I’ll get over it, awight. Ain’t<br />
you married? How ah’m supposed to<br />
git over it?”<br />
312. RAE: acequia. (Del ár. hisp. assáqya, y este <strong>de</strong>l ár. clás. sāqiyah, irrigadora). 1. f. Zanja o canal por<br />
don<strong>de</strong> se conducen las aguas para regar y para otros fines.<br />
313. Twilight.<br />
314. RAE: refajo. 1. m. En los pueblos, falda corta y vueluda, por lo general <strong>de</strong> bayeta o paño, que usan las<br />
mujeres encima <strong>de</strong> las enaguas. 2. m. Zagalejo interior <strong>de</strong> bayeta u otra tela tupida, que usan las mujeres<br />
para abrigo. 3. m. En las ciuda<strong>de</strong>s, falda interior que usaba la mujer para abrigo.
—Sí, pero yo a vos te quiero y tiastimo,<br />
no siapesare por babosadas.<br />
El llorido arrastrón <strong>de</strong> la india corría,<br />
como un hilito <strong>de</strong> dolor, sobre el<br />
silencio ricién arado. El lucero, sobre el<br />
cerro cercano, mirándolo fijo, gotiaba<br />
sangrita.<br />
El indio la envolvió por la espalda y<br />
confundió con las <strong>de</strong>ya sus cren chas<br />
lacias. Al óido, muy bajito, le dijo:<br />
—¿No me quiere, pue?<br />
El llanto se agravaba. Los pechos <strong>de</strong><br />
mango maduro <strong>de</strong> la Pabla, bogaban<br />
<strong>de</strong>bajo <strong>de</strong>l huipil315 , subiendo y bajando<br />
tembeleques, como las frutas que el río<br />
mete en las cuevas <strong>de</strong> las pozas.<br />
—¿No me quiere, pue?... ¿No me quiere,<br />
pue?...<br />
Las manos alfareras <strong>de</strong>l indio iban<br />
apretando, torneando, <strong>de</strong>slizándose<br />
inspiradas sobre el <strong>barro</strong> cálido <strong>de</strong><br />
la esclava. Ella, ya sin gemir, alzaba la<br />
cabeza llorona y abría anhelosa la boca,<br />
con un pasmo <strong>de</strong> renuevo, <strong>de</strong>jándose<br />
llevar por la corriente, en vuelcos <strong>de</strong><br />
ahogada. Se <strong>de</strong>smayó en sus hombros,<br />
entornados los ojos borrachos <strong>de</strong><br />
lágrimas, y <strong>de</strong>sflorada la boca <strong>de</strong> fruta<br />
picada por los pájaros. Él la <strong>de</strong>sgajó <strong>de</strong><br />
164<br />
“Yes, but you’re the one I love and<br />
adore. <strong>Don</strong>’t you worry about little shit<br />
like this.”<br />
Her lingering cry ran like a small thread<br />
of pain over the recently plowed<br />
silence. The morning star, above the<br />
nearby hill, dripped blood as it stared<br />
at him.<br />
The man embraced her from behind<br />
and his straight hair merged with hers.<br />
Whispering in her ear he asked:<br />
“You love me, don’t ya?”<br />
Her crying got worse. Pabla’s breasts,<br />
like ripe mangoes, rowed away down<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r her peasant dress were shaking,<br />
rising and falling, like the fruits that<br />
the river puts in the hollows of the<br />
puddles.<br />
“You love me, don’t ya? You love me,<br />
don’t ya?”<br />
Finding inspiration in the warm clay<br />
of his slave, the hands of the peasant<br />
like a potter, were pressing, turning,<br />
and caressing. No longer moaning,<br />
she lifted her crying face and opened<br />
her anxious mouth, in total shock. She<br />
let the current take her like a drowning<br />
person. She fainted into his shoul<strong>de</strong>r.<br />
Her half-closed eyes were drunken with<br />
tears. Her mouth, like fruit pecked by<br />
birds was <strong>de</strong>flowered. He plucked her<br />
off the ground like picking something<br />
315. RAE: huipil. (Del nahua huipilli). 1. m. El Salv., Guat., Hond. y Méx. Especie <strong>de</strong> blusa adornada propia <strong>de</strong><br />
los trajes indígenas. 2. m. El Salv. Enagua o falda que usan las mujeres indígenas.
la tierra como <strong>de</strong> un racimo y, con la<br />
precisión <strong>de</strong> la costumbre, tomándole<br />
el refajo por la punta, la mondó316 como<br />
a un plátano. Su <strong>de</strong>snu<strong>de</strong>z era apretada<br />
y mielosa.<br />
* * *<br />
La tinaja <strong>de</strong> la noche se había rajado<br />
al flanco y el agua <strong>de</strong> oro <strong>de</strong>scurría,<br />
encharcándose al oriente. Una brisa<br />
morada bailaba <strong>de</strong>snuda en la playa<br />
oscura, antes <strong>de</strong> echarse al agua. La<br />
frente <strong>de</strong>l cerro pali<strong>de</strong>cía, avi zorante<br />
ante la inundación <strong>de</strong>l cielo. Un projundo<br />
frescor oloroso, brota ba a borbollones<br />
<strong>de</strong> la tierra. La Pabla se tapó la cara con<br />
el yagual more no <strong>de</strong> su brazo:<br />
—¡Irte, irte <strong>de</strong> mi lado, engrato que me<br />
bis arruinado!<br />
165<br />
from a bunch. With his usual precision<br />
he grabbed her skirt by the end and he<br />
husked her, peeling her like a plantain.<br />
Her naked body was tight and tasted<br />
like honey.<br />
* * *<br />
The jar of the night had been cracked on<br />
one si<strong>de</strong>, and the gol<strong>de</strong>n water leaked<br />
flooding east. A purple breeze, before<br />
casting over the water, danced nu<strong>de</strong><br />
on the dark beach. The forehead of<br />
the hill grew pale, watching attentively<br />
before the sky floo<strong>de</strong>d. A <strong>de</strong>ep fresh<br />
fragrance gushed out from the earth.<br />
Pabla covered her face with her dark<br />
arm like a yagual:<br />
“Away, git away from me, bastard.<br />
You’ve ruined me!<br />
316. RAE: mondar. (Del lat. mundāre). 1. tr. Limpiar o purificar algo quitándole lo superfluo o extraño<br />
mezclado con ello.
el MISTIrIcuco 317<br />
El antiguo tronco <strong>de</strong> la ceiba madre <strong>de</strong><br />
la hacienda, se hundía, como inmensa<br />
pata <strong>de</strong> gallina, en el estercolero <strong>de</strong>l<br />
corral. Era verano. La rama zón escueta<br />
se abría en el azul <strong>de</strong>l cielo, como una<br />
extraña flor <strong>de</strong> hierro. De las vainas<br />
reventadas, volaba el algodón: vellón <strong>de</strong><br />
nube, gracia <strong>de</strong> la brisa costeña... Cada<br />
arruga <strong>de</strong>l tronco era como un nervio<br />
<strong>de</strong> montaña. En los nudos hechos por<br />
los siglos, había cabezas <strong>de</strong> monstruos<br />
terrorífi cos: pensativas gárgolas, no<br />
extrañas en aquella catedral <strong>de</strong> pájaros,<br />
románica en el tronco y bizantina en la<br />
copa. En el ábsi<strong>de</strong>318 roñoso tenía una<br />
ventana oscura, ojival319 , a la cual ponía<br />
vitral <strong>de</strong> ver<strong>de</strong>s y brillantes hojas, una<br />
parásita prendida guindo abajo.<br />
Luciano Pereira quería trepar, a ver qué<br />
había allí <strong>de</strong>ntro. Moncho, el corralero,<br />
con el bal<strong>de</strong> a media leche y el rejo322 en el hombro, trataba <strong>de</strong> disuadirlo:<br />
—Te va jo<strong>de</strong>r una culebra, gran<br />
baboso...<br />
166<br />
THe MISTIrIcuco 320<br />
The old trunk of the largest ceiba tree<br />
was sinking, like an inmense chicken<br />
leg in their excrement-la<strong>de</strong>n run. It was<br />
summer. A bunch of branches opened<br />
to the blue sky like a strange iron flower.<br />
Cotton flew out of the open pods: like<br />
clouds of fleece, grace of the coastal<br />
breeze... Every wrinkle of the trunk was<br />
like a nerve of the mountain. Heads of<br />
terrifying monsters appeared in the<br />
knots formed over centuries. Pensive<br />
gargoyles were no strangers in that<br />
cathedral of birds, romanesque in the<br />
trunk and byzantine at the top. As in<br />
the central arch of a church, the scabby<br />
tree seemed to have a dark stained<br />
glass ogival window 321 ma<strong>de</strong> by green<br />
and shiny leaves. The window was like<br />
a parasite hanging down.<br />
Luciano Pereira wanted to climb up<br />
the tree there to see what was insi<strong>de</strong>.<br />
Moncho was in charge of the farm.<br />
Carrying a bucket half filled with milk<br />
and a whip on his shoul<strong>de</strong>r, he tried to<br />
dissua<strong>de</strong> him:<br />
“So stupid! A snake will fuck you up!”<br />
317. RAE: tecolote. (Del nahua tecolotl). 1. m. Guat., Hond. y Méx. búho (II ave rapaz).<br />
318. RAE: ábsi<strong>de</strong>. (Del gr. nudo o clave <strong>de</strong> la bóveda). 1. amb. Arq. Parte <strong>de</strong>l templo, abovedada y<br />
comúnmente semicircular, que sobresale en la fachada posterior, y don<strong>de</strong> se instalaban el altar y el<br />
presbiterio.<br />
319. RAE: ojival. 1. adj. De forma <strong>de</strong> ojiva. 2. adj. Arq. Se dice <strong>de</strong>l estilo arquitectónico que dominó en<br />
Europa durante los tres últimos siglos <strong>de</strong> la Edad Media, y cuyo fundamento consistía en el empleo <strong>de</strong><br />
la ojiva para toda clase <strong>de</strong> arcos.<br />
320. A kind of owl with mythical powers.<br />
321. Arch windows. Architectural arches used in windows during the second half of the Middle Ages.<br />
322. RAE: rejo. (De reja1). 8. m. Am. Cen., Col. y Ven. látigo (II azote).
Luciano subía ya, por la doble cuerda<br />
<strong>de</strong> una persoga 323 que había logra do<br />
trabar en un gancho.<br />
—Ai state; no te vayás, O; guá encen<strong>de</strong>r<br />
un jójoro y te guá <strong>de</strong>cir qué veyo.<br />
Sin soltar el bal<strong>de</strong>, entreabierta la boca<br />
y arrugada la frente por el cla ror <strong>de</strong>l<br />
manecer, Moncho lo miraba trepar sin<br />
gran esfuerzo y sonreiba al carcular la<br />
travesura.<br />
Llegó Luciano al juraco; en una mecida<br />
alcanzó el bor<strong>de</strong>, don<strong>de</strong> aga rró con su<br />
pie <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong> valiente; y en un momento<br />
estaba acondicionado, ispiando pabajo,<br />
curioso y cabeceante como un oso<br />
colmenero.<br />
—¿Qué mira, cheró?<br />
Luciano se dignó sacar la cabeza y mirar<br />
al corral.<br />
—No veyo tantito, hombré, por la<br />
escurana; pero se oye un cuchareyo<br />
como rascádue cusuco.<br />
—Veya no lo joda una culebra, por<br />
baboso...<br />
Luciano Pereira encendió un jójoro, y<br />
miró tieso. Luego que se hubo apagado<br />
la llama, se volvió hacia Moncho y le<br />
dijo, feliz:<br />
167<br />
Luciano was climbing up with the<br />
double rope that he managed to fasten<br />
on a branch that looked like a hook.<br />
“Stay put. <strong>Don</strong>’t go nowhere. I’ma<br />
gonna light a match and I’ma tell ya<br />
what I see.”<br />
Without putting down the bucket,<br />
Moncho looked at Luciano effortlessly<br />
climb. With his mouth agape and<br />
forehead wrinkled because of the<br />
brightness of the morning, he smiled<br />
calculating their mischief.<br />
Luciano finally discovered the bottom<br />
of the hole. Swinging he grabbed the<br />
edge with his foot of brave clay. In a few<br />
seconds he was positioned, curiously<br />
peering down and nodding like a<br />
honey bear. 324<br />
“What you see, pal?”<br />
Luciano stuck his head out and looked<br />
toward the pasture.<br />
“I don’t see nothing, man. It’s dark. All<br />
I can hear is a sound like a scrapping<br />
spoon, like the scratch of an armadillo.”<br />
“Watch out for snakes! <strong>Don</strong>’t be<br />
stupid!”<br />
Luciano Pereira lit a match and stared.<br />
Once the flame died he came back to<br />
talk to Moncho. He said happily:<br />
323. Not in RAE or other dictionaries. Cuerda larga, soga.<br />
324. In Spanish “Oso Colmenero” is a kind of anteater called “Northern Tamandua.”
—Es un mistiricuco.<br />
Desapareció en la cueva; y a poco<br />
volvió a mostrarse, trayendo en la<br />
camisa un envoltorio misterioso. Se<br />
montó en la ojiva y, tirando <strong>de</strong> un<br />
extremo <strong>de</strong> la cuerda, ató el envoltorio<br />
y lo fue bajando con cautela. Moncho<br />
había soltado el bal<strong>de</strong> a media leche y<br />
esperaba, con los brazos en alto.<br />
—No lo <strong>de</strong>jés dir, baboso.<br />
—No, O...<br />
Desenvuelto con precaución, <strong>de</strong>spués<br />
<strong>de</strong> atada una pata, el mistiricu co quedó<br />
parado en una piedra <strong>de</strong>l corral. No<br />
intentaba volarse, porque nada veían,<br />
en la lumbre <strong>de</strong>l día, sus ojos <strong>de</strong> bamba<br />
piruja325 , abiertos y fijos como ojos <strong>de</strong><br />
venado: désos que cayen <strong>de</strong>l bejuco y<br />
se quedan mirando el cielo, <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> el<br />
potrero, con un terror sin pispileyo. De<br />
vez en cuando un ligero tastaseyo le<br />
venía en los cachetes y hablaba palabras<br />
sin sonido, girando la cabeza sobre los<br />
hombros, como un títere <strong>de</strong> cor<strong>de</strong>l.<br />
—Pobrecito, oyó... Devolverlo al hoyo.<br />
—Devolverlo vos, si tanta gana tenés;<br />
yo no me incaramo otra vuelta.<br />
—¿Y qué vas hacer con él?...<br />
168<br />
“It’s one of them mistiricuco owls.”<br />
Luciano disappeared back into the<br />
cave. In a little bit he returned with<br />
something mysterious wrapped in his<br />
shirt. He ro<strong>de</strong> the ogiva and pulling one<br />
end of the rope he tied the package<br />
and laid it down cautiously. Moncho<br />
had set down his bucket as he waited.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t let it get away!”<br />
“Got it!”<br />
Having carefully unwrapped the bird,<br />
the mistiricuco remained standing on<br />
a stone in the pasture, one leg tied.<br />
Since these animals can’t see in the<br />
brightness of the day, it did not try to<br />
escape. Its piruja 326 eyes were open and<br />
staring like buck’s eyes: like those bucks<br />
in the pasture that fall from the liana 327<br />
and stare at the sky in terror. Once in a<br />
while a clucking came to its cheeks and<br />
it spoke words without sounds, turning<br />
its head above its shoul<strong>de</strong>rs like a<br />
puppet on a string.<br />
“Poor little guy, put him back.”<br />
“You put him back if you want! I won’t<br />
go back up there.”<br />
“Whatcha gonna do with him?”<br />
“Leave him here!”<br />
325. Salarrué: “bamba piruja”: tela con dibujos a círculos <strong>de</strong>l tamaño <strong>de</strong> monedas.<br />
326. Coarse cloth with imprints the size of a half-dollar.<br />
327. A twining or climbing rope-like plant of the tropical forest
—Ái que se que<strong>de</strong>.<br />
—Trayen la suerte, hombré; llevátelo.<br />
—Lo guá <strong>de</strong>scabezar diún machetazo.<br />
—No seya bárbaro, compañero;<br />
adémelo a mí...<br />
—¿Qué vas hacer con él?...<br />
—Eso es cosa miya: adéjemelo.<br />
Cuando Luciano Pereira se hubo<br />
alejado, cantando, por el ixcanalar que<br />
da al río, Moncho se quedó mirando<br />
el mistiricuco, mientras se ras caba la<br />
crencha. Tomó una resolución. Tanteó<br />
una persoga al gancho, varias veces,<br />
hasta que logró trabarla; y <strong>de</strong>spués <strong>de</strong><br />
envolver el ave ago rera con su camisa,<br />
como había hecho el otro, empezó a<br />
subir, llevándo la en los dientes.<br />
Por fin pudo llegar al hoyo; <strong>de</strong>sató el<br />
lío y <strong>de</strong>jó el pájaro en el fondo. Cuando<br />
iba a <strong>de</strong>scen<strong>de</strong>r, oyó el graznido trágico<br />
<strong>de</strong>l mistiricuco; y recor dó al momento<br />
que “cuando el tecolote canta el indio<br />
muere”. Empezó a bajar con miedo.<br />
Se dio cuenta <strong>de</strong> lo mal que había<br />
enganchado la perso ga. Cerró los ojos.<br />
Cayó...<br />
Abrió, por última vez, los párpados<br />
mansos, y miró las caras inclina das<br />
sobre él.<br />
169<br />
“They bring you luck, man. Take him<br />
with you.”<br />
“I’ll chop off his head with my<br />
machete.”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t be barbaric, partner. Just give<br />
him to me.”<br />
“Whatcha gonna do with him?”<br />
“That’s my problem. Leave him.”<br />
When Luciano Pereira was far away,<br />
singing by the ishcanal rees that lead<br />
one towards the river, Moncho stared at<br />
the mistiricuco while scratching his own<br />
mane. He ma<strong>de</strong> a resolution. He tossed<br />
the rope toward the hook several times<br />
before he was able to hook it. Then he<br />
wrapped the bird, prophet of doom,<br />
with his shirt, just like Luciano did.<br />
He began to climb, carrying the bird<br />
between his teeth.<br />
He was finally able to get to the hole.<br />
He unwrapped the bundle and left the<br />
bird at the mouth of the cave. When<br />
he was about to <strong>de</strong>scend, he heard<br />
the mistiricuco’s tragic squawking and<br />
remembered instantly “when the owl<br />
sings the peasant dies.” Now he was<br />
<strong>de</strong>scending fearfully. He realized that<br />
he had fastened the rope poorly. He<br />
closed his eyes. He fell…<br />
He opened his eyelids for the last time<br />
and saw faces above turned down<br />
looking at him.
—Quedó paradito el pobrecito, en su<br />
nido... —dijo sonriendo, y cerró los<br />
ojos.<br />
Entuavía alcanzó la voz <strong>de</strong> ño Macario,<br />
que <strong>de</strong>cía:<br />
—Traye la suerte y traye la muerte. Tal<br />
vez la suerte es una muerte; tal vez la<br />
muerte es una suerte.<br />
170<br />
“The poor guy will be fine, in his nest.”<br />
Said Moncho smiling, and he closed his<br />
eyes.<br />
He was still able to hear the voice of<br />
Señor Macario saying:<br />
“It brings luck and it brings <strong>de</strong>ath.<br />
Maybe luck is <strong>de</strong>ath; maybe <strong>de</strong>ath is<br />
luck.”
el BruJo<br />
—¿Ya salió la luna, vos?...<br />
—Creyo que no...<br />
Con los ojos <strong>de</strong>slumbrados por el<br />
candil, Chema salió <strong>de</strong>l caidiso <strong>de</strong>l<br />
rancho y afrentó la noche. La tinta <strong>de</strong>l<br />
cielo había ido <strong>de</strong>stiñéndose poco a<br />
poquito, mientras que la <strong>de</strong> los árboles<br />
había permanecido firme; por lo cual<br />
las ramas secas <strong>de</strong> los chilamates y las<br />
mangas <strong>de</strong>shilachadas <strong>de</strong> las hojas <strong>de</strong><br />
plátano, <strong>de</strong>stacaban juerte su silueta<br />
sobre el celestito <strong>de</strong>spejado, on<strong>de</strong><br />
las estreyas parpareaban friolentas.<br />
También el alero <strong>de</strong>l caidiso, en el<br />
rancho, dibujaba negras sus pestañas <strong>de</strong><br />
zacate y su <strong>de</strong>ntadura <strong>de</strong> teja senefiada<br />
y cholca328 . Como el rancho estaba<br />
escondido en medio <strong>de</strong>l plata nar, el<br />
suelo seguía oscuro, afondado en aquel<br />
silencio clareante. Chema se fue, como<br />
quien se <strong>de</strong>sentume329 , por la veredita<br />
que serpeaba entre el boscaje. Al poco<br />
rato <strong>de</strong>sembocó en el potrero abierto<br />
y llano hasta topar. Allí era como el día:<br />
un día azulito y fresco, tiernito, pegado<br />
a la noche como <strong>de</strong>scondidas. La luna,<br />
enorme, venía acabando <strong>de</strong> arrancar<br />
<strong>de</strong>l cerro, dormido <strong>de</strong> culumbrón330 como un cipote.<br />
171<br />
THe Sorcerer<br />
“Is the moon out yet?”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t think so.”<br />
With his eyes dazzled from of the<br />
lantern, Chema left the porch of the<br />
shack and faced the night. The ink of<br />
the sky had been fading out little by<br />
little, while that of the trees had stayed<br />
firm. Through it the dry branches of<br />
the I trees and the shred<strong>de</strong>d leaves of<br />
the plantain trees strongly highlighted<br />
its silhouette agains the clear sky. In<br />
the blue the cold stars blinked. The<br />
overhanging eaves of the porch drew<br />
black grass eyelids, and its broken and<br />
toothless tile <strong>de</strong>ntures. The shack was<br />
hid<strong>de</strong>n in the middle of the plantain<br />
grove, the ground continued to be<br />
dark, foun<strong>de</strong>ring in the clearing silence.<br />
Chema stretched then left via the little<br />
path that snaked through the forest. A<br />
little later he arrived at the open and<br />
plain pasture. There the morning was<br />
more like morning: blue and fresh,<br />
young, hiding from the night. The<br />
enormous moon had just <strong>de</strong>tached<br />
from the hill that slept on its knees with<br />
the elbows on the ground, just like a<br />
child.<br />
328. Sin dientes.<br />
329. Por <strong>de</strong>sentumece.<br />
330. RAE: culumbrón. a, o <strong>de</strong>, ~. 1. locs. advs. El Salv. De rodillas, con los codos apoyados sobre el suelo<br />
y con las nalgas hacia arriba.
—¡Veya, qué luna!... —se dijo casi entre<br />
dientes.<br />
Agarrado <strong>de</strong>l cerco, con un caite en<br />
la alambrada, Chema le chifló un son<br />
a la luna. A lo lejos, se oiba clarito<br />
bajar el río. Como rogantes, arrodillados<br />
y cabizbajos en medio <strong>de</strong> la<br />
pra<strong>de</strong>ra, había dos o tres caulotes331 ; en<br />
cambio el tronco escueto y quemado<br />
<strong>de</strong>l volador, amenazaba con sus<br />
muñones impotentes al cielo. Una brisa<br />
chiquiadora estremecía el pajo nal como<br />
una piel <strong>de</strong> gato. Se venían caracoles <strong>de</strong><br />
olor, que hacían suspi rar: olor a monte<br />
extraviado, a noche ricién bañada, olor<br />
a caminito (qués con anisiyo); olor a<br />
perdi<strong>de</strong>ro (qués con albajaca)...<br />
La luna iba trepando <strong>de</strong>spacito; uno<br />
quiotro chucho ladraba al <strong>de</strong>s perdigo y<br />
en el lejano camino carretero, el polvo<br />
volaba alirroto y caiba otraagüelta<br />
<strong>de</strong>sfallido334 .<br />
Chema paró <strong>de</strong> chiflar y continuó<br />
cantando una versaina335 . Paso a paso<br />
172<br />
“What a moon!” he said to himself,<br />
almost between his teeth.<br />
Grabbing the fence with a caite sandal<br />
on the barbed wire, Chema whistled a<br />
song to the moon. In the distance, the<br />
river flowing down was clearly heard.<br />
On the prairie two or three Cuaulote 332<br />
trees were on their knees and with their<br />
heads down as if praying. In contrast, the<br />
svelte and burnt trunk of the flying tree<br />
with its impressive trunnions reaching<br />
towards the sky. A small breeze brushed<br />
the coarse straw field like petting the<br />
fur on a cat. The snail-like wind brought<br />
different smells; those smells that make<br />
you sigh; smell of tumbleweed; smell of<br />
night just bathed; smell of a little path<br />
(with anise); smell of a briar bushes 333<br />
(with basil)…<br />
The moon was rising slowly. Random<br />
dogs barked into the scattered silence<br />
and into the distant cart path, the dust<br />
flew with a broken wing and fell again<br />
weakly.<br />
Chema stopped whistling and began<br />
singing the verses of a berciana song. 336<br />
331. RAE: caulote. (Del nahua quauhxiotl, herpes <strong>de</strong> árbol). cf. Campbell: “kwalu”: infestado <strong>de</strong> insectos.<br />
1. m. El Salv. y Hond. Árbol <strong>de</strong> las Esterculiáceas <strong>de</strong> América tropical, <strong>de</strong> hasta 20 m <strong>de</strong> altura, con ramas<br />
ampliamente extendidas, hojas tomentosas, alternas, aserradas y <strong>de</strong> ápice agudo, flores pequeñas<br />
blanquecinas o amarillentas, y fruto en cápsula, <strong>de</strong> color negro. En la medicina tradicional se utiliza<br />
contra la disentería. 2. m. El Salv. y Hond. Fruto <strong>de</strong> este árbol.<br />
332. Guazuma ulmifolia, West Indian Elm.<br />
333. RAE: per<strong>de</strong><strong>de</strong>ro. 1. m. Ocasión o motivo <strong>de</strong> per<strong>de</strong>r. 2. m. Lugar por don<strong>de</strong> se zafa la liebre<br />
perseguida.<br />
334. Por <strong>de</strong>sfallecido.<br />
335. RAE: berciano, na. 1. adj. Natural <strong>de</strong>l Bierzo. U. t. c. s. 2. adj. Perteneciente o relativo a este territorio<br />
<strong>de</strong> la provincia <strong>de</strong> León, en España.<br />
336. Music from the region of Bierzo in the province of León, Spain.
se volvió al rancho por entre el manoteo<br />
<strong>de</strong>l platanar, ya clareante y pla tero con<br />
los filos <strong>de</strong> la luna.<br />
—¡Felipió!... Ya asomó la luna...<br />
—Amonós, pue. Son mero las nueve.<br />
—¿No será pecado, mano?...<br />
—¡Si quiere qué<strong>de</strong>se, yo no lo juerzo,<br />
babosada!...<br />
Los dos hermanos ensillaron, entre<br />
una música insípida <strong>de</strong> albardas337 tamborileras y frenos tintineantes;<br />
alejándose luego por el camino blan co,<br />
don<strong>de</strong> el polvo se había hecho pesado.<br />
El blancor <strong>de</strong> aquella fueya cruzaba el<br />
llano. Las estrellas titilando, los pocuyos<br />
en el aire, las ranas en el agua <strong>de</strong> los<br />
regadíos y los cascos en la tierra fofa,<br />
parecían concer tarse en un solo e<br />
infinito palpitar monótono <strong>de</strong>l corazón<br />
<strong>de</strong> los elemen tos. Fuego, aire, agua y<br />
tierra aunaban sus pulsaciones en la<br />
noche, agravando el silencio.<br />
La soledad era completa. Llegados al<br />
pie <strong>de</strong> las tres ceibas <strong>de</strong>shoja das, <strong>de</strong><br />
ramazones bajeras y agujereadas o<br />
carcomidas por los siglos, pararon sobre<br />
el enrejado <strong>de</strong> sombra y <strong>de</strong>smontaron.<br />
El cerro redondo <strong>de</strong>s<strong>de</strong> allí aparecía<br />
como una piedrenca musgosa, a la vera<br />
<strong>de</strong> un muy ancho y <strong>de</strong>solado camino.<br />
173<br />
Step by step he returned to the shack<br />
nestled among the plantain trees. The<br />
silver-like strokes of the moon lighted<br />
his way.<br />
“Felipe! The moon is up!”<br />
“Let’s go then. It’s almost nine.”<br />
“Isn’t this a sin, bro?”<br />
“You can stay if you want. I’m not<br />
making you go, little shit!”<br />
The two brothers saddled up among the<br />
insipid music of the drumming packsaddle<br />
and jingling reins. They then<br />
ro<strong>de</strong> away on the white road, where<br />
the dust became thicker. The whiteness<br />
of the wind crossed the plains. The<br />
stars were flickering; the Whippoorwill<br />
birds were in the air. The frogs in the<br />
puddles of the irrigated land and in the<br />
hoofprints left in the soft ground: all of<br />
this seemed to synchronize on a single<br />
and infinite beating of the heart of<br />
the elements. Fire, air, water and earth<br />
combined their pulsations in the night,<br />
aggravating the silence.<br />
Solitu<strong>de</strong> was absolute. Having arrived<br />
at the three leafless ceiba trees with<br />
low branches pierced with holes and<br />
wormeaten by the centuries, they<br />
<strong>de</strong>smounted. From there the roun<strong>de</strong>d<br />
hill appeared like a big mossy rock, at the<br />
edge of a very wi<strong>de</strong> and <strong>de</strong>solate road.<br />
337. RAE: albarda. (Del ár. hisp. albárda‘ah, y este <strong>de</strong>l ár. clás. barda‘ah). 1. f. Pieza principal <strong>de</strong>l aparejo <strong>de</strong><br />
las caballerías <strong>de</strong> carga, que se compone <strong>de</strong> dos a manera <strong>de</strong> almohadas rellenas, generalmente <strong>de</strong> paja<br />
y unidas por la parte que cae sobre el lomo <strong>de</strong>l animal. 3. f. Am. Cen., Bol., Cuba, Ec. y Méx. Especie <strong>de</strong> silla<br />
<strong>de</strong> montar, <strong>de</strong> cuero crudo o curtido.
* * *<br />
Felipe y Chema eran hermanos a la<br />
pura juerza; hubieran <strong>de</strong>seado no<br />
serlo. Chema era el menor y por tanto<br />
aguantaba más la hermandad. Vivían<br />
solitarios en el rancho <strong>de</strong> aquella joya y<br />
la fatalidad los había unido al fin en un<br />
solo interés. Estaban enamorados <strong>de</strong><br />
dos hermanas y las fuerzas empleadas<br />
en el asedio habían fracasado por<br />
completo. La Chabela no miraba mal<br />
a Chema, pero no lo <strong>de</strong>jaba pasar <strong>de</strong><br />
ciertos lími tes; en cambio, la Lorenza<br />
rechazaba <strong>de</strong> plano las pretensiones<br />
<strong>de</strong> Felipe. Ahora iban ellos a quemar el<br />
último cartucho. Felipe había oído una<br />
vez, <strong>de</strong> labios <strong>de</strong>l brujo Manuel Mujica,<br />
que en cuestión <strong>de</strong> amores nunca<br />
fallaba la oración <strong>de</strong>l puro, cuando se<br />
ejecutaba <strong>de</strong> ley. A eso había arras trado<br />
esta noche al hermano, haciéndole<br />
beber cuatro leguas <strong>de</strong> temor y <strong>de</strong><br />
esperanza.<br />
La casa <strong>de</strong> Manuel Mujica estaba<br />
encumbrada en el hombro <strong>de</strong>l cerro,<br />
entre papayos que iban <strong>de</strong> romería, en<br />
ringla, bajando la loma con sus alforjas<br />
al hombro. En la inmensidá <strong>de</strong>l mundo,<br />
eran como cirios ver <strong>de</strong>s y grumosos<br />
ante el altar <strong>de</strong>l cielo; altar ennubado,<br />
don<strong>de</strong> la Virgen <strong>de</strong>l maleficio pone su<br />
pie <strong>de</strong> plata sobre la luna.<br />
A pie habían llegado hasta allí, por<br />
veredas acharraladas y pedrego sas, tan<br />
empinadas que las bestias no hubieran<br />
podido trepar sin peligro. Habían<br />
174<br />
* * *<br />
Felipe and Chema weren’t brothers<br />
by choice. If they had their way, they<br />
wouldn’t be. Chema was the youngest<br />
and thus he tolerated the brotherhood<br />
better. They lived alone in the shack of<br />
that jewel and fate had joined them for<br />
their common interest. They were in<br />
love with two sisters, and their tactics<br />
employed in the siege had completely<br />
failed. Chabela did not think poorly of<br />
Chema, but she woudn’t let him go<br />
beyond certain limits. On the contrary,<br />
Lorenza completely rejected Felipe’s<br />
aspirations. They were now going to<br />
fire their last bullet. Felipe had heard<br />
once from the mouth of Manuel Mujica,<br />
the sorcerer, that in matters of love,<br />
the “cigar prayer” was infallible if done<br />
correctly. To this end, he had dragged<br />
his brother this night, making him drink<br />
four leagues of fear and hope.<br />
Manuel Mujica’s house was stuck in the<br />
shoul<strong>de</strong>rs of the hill, among papaya<br />
trees that were on a pilgrimage, in line,<br />
going down the slope carrying their<br />
saddlebags on their shoul<strong>de</strong>rs. In the<br />
inmensity of the world, they were like<br />
green and lumpy wax candles placed<br />
before the altar of the sky. A clou<strong>de</strong>d<br />
altar where the Virgin of Witchcraft<br />
steps her silver foot over the moon.<br />
They trekked all the way there,<br />
along bushy and rocky paths, so<br />
steeped that the beasts woudn’t<br />
have been able to climb without<br />
danger. They had climbed on the
subido <strong>de</strong>l lado <strong>de</strong> la sombra y, cuando<br />
cumbrearon al jaz <strong>de</strong> la paré <strong>de</strong> adobe<br />
<strong>de</strong> la casa <strong>de</strong>l brujo, la luna los pintó<br />
<strong>de</strong> yeso y <strong>de</strong> carbón. Rondaron la casa<br />
hasta dar con la puerta <strong>de</strong> tablas, que<br />
estaba cerrada, pero con luz en las<br />
heridas. Felipe llamó, golpeando con el<br />
<strong>de</strong>do. La voz <strong>de</strong> Mujica se oyó friolenta<br />
<strong>de</strong> vejez:<br />
—Rempujá, Felipió...<br />
Felipe empujó y entró, seguido <strong>de</strong><br />
Chema, quien llegaba aflegido a la vez<br />
que curioso.<br />
El brujo estaba sentado en una calavera<br />
<strong>de</strong> vaca y envuelto en un perraje<br />
colorado. Tenía por <strong>de</strong>lante un hornillo,<br />
sobre una mesita; y en él echaba, al<br />
<strong>de</strong>scuido, granitos <strong>de</strong> una resina que<br />
jedía a cacho. Era consu mido y <strong>de</strong> ojos<br />
ñublados, prieto como laja <strong>de</strong> dulce<br />
amelcochado y con bigote gris en<br />
las puntas <strong>de</strong> la boca. Al mirarle con<br />
cuidado la nuca y las manos, parecía<br />
como hecho <strong>de</strong> hule en bruto. Les<br />
ofreció taburete.<br />
—¿Qué les sirvo, muchá, la oración <strong>de</strong>l<br />
puro o el muñeco <strong>de</strong> cera?<br />
Chema no comprendía. Felipe se puso<br />
grave.<br />
—Para éste —dijo con voz temblona—<br />
la oración; para mí, una muñeca con<br />
aljiler en el mero corazón.<br />
175<br />
shady si<strong>de</strong> and when they reached the<br />
summit the moon painted them with<br />
coal and chalk on the si<strong>de</strong> of the wall of<br />
the adobe house of the sorcerer. They<br />
walked around the house until they<br />
found the woo<strong>de</strong>n door. It was closed,<br />
but with light emerged in the wounds.<br />
Felipe knocked on the door with his<br />
knuckles. Mujica’s voice, frozen with<br />
age, answered:<br />
“Push the door, Felipe.”<br />
Felipe pushed and entered, followed by<br />
Chema, who was nervous and curious<br />
at the same time.<br />
The sorcerer, seated on a cow’s skull,<br />
was wrapped in a red shawl. In front<br />
of him there was a small stove on a<br />
small table. He put grains of resin that<br />
smelled like a bull’s horn. The sorcerer<br />
was very skinny with cloudy eyes, dark<br />
like a piece of molasses candy. His gray<br />
mustache trailed down the si<strong>de</strong>s of his<br />
mouth. Taking a closer look, he seemed<br />
like ma<strong>de</strong> out of rough rubber. He<br />
offered them stools.<br />
“What would you like boys, the cigar<br />
prayer or the wax figure?”<br />
Chema did not un<strong>de</strong>rstand. Felipe’s<br />
voice turned grave.<br />
“For this one,” he said with shaky voice<br />
pointing at his brother “the prayer. For<br />
me, a doll with pins stabbing right into<br />
the heart.”
Un ligero ruido que venía <strong>de</strong>l techo<br />
sobresaltó al hermano menor. Miró las<br />
vigas. A la luz temblona <strong>de</strong>l fuego, vido,<br />
horrorizado, que las varas se bían hecho<br />
culebras y siban <strong>de</strong>slizando <strong>de</strong>spacito,<br />
con vueltas <strong>de</strong> trépano. Se puso <strong>de</strong> pie<br />
espantado.<br />
—No se espante, hijito: son las<br />
masacuatas que tengo para que se<br />
coman los ratones. Nuacen nada, son<br />
mansas como gatos.<br />
* * *<br />
—¡Aunque no me quiera, yo nuago esa<br />
papada!<br />
—No seya pen<strong>de</strong>jo, lo va querer esa<br />
babosa pa que liarda a lotra, qués la<br />
consejista <strong>de</strong> que no lo tope.<br />
—¡Mire, Felipe, mi nana no nos crió pa<br />
malos: arrecuer<strong>de</strong> sus conse jos!<br />
—¡Pues váyese al chorizo, istúpido, y<br />
jódase!...<br />
Des<strong>de</strong> aquel día se separaron para<br />
siempre. Felipe empezó a poner en<br />
práctica las lecciones <strong>de</strong> Manuel<br />
Mujica. Pa la Lorenza la muñeca; y pa la<br />
Chabela, y a su propio favor, el puro.<br />
* * *<br />
338. A hand-powered drill for wood-working.<br />
176<br />
A sud<strong>de</strong>n noise coming from the roof<br />
scared the younger brother. He looked<br />
up at the beams. With the flickering<br />
light of the fire he saw, horrified, that<br />
the rafters had become snakes and that<br />
they were slithering slowly, turning like<br />
a trepan. 338 He jumped up, scared.<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t you worry, son. Those are the<br />
snakes I keep to eat the mice. They are<br />
tame, like cats.”<br />
* * *<br />
“Even if she don’t love me, I will not do<br />
this.”<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t be stupid. She’s gonna love you<br />
and the sister, who advises her against<br />
you, will be hurt.”<br />
“Look, Felipe, ma didn’t raise us to be<br />
bad, remember her advice!”<br />
“So fuck off you idiot. Fuck you!”<br />
Since that day they separated forever.<br />
Felipe began to put into practice the<br />
lessons of Manuel Mujica, the sorcerer.<br />
For Lorenza the doll; and for Chabela, at<br />
his own request, the cigar prayer.<br />
* * *
Un día Chema los topó en el ojo diagua,<br />
diciéndose secretos, senta dos en la ráiz<br />
<strong>de</strong>l tamarindo. Taba puesta la tormenta<br />
y había un oscuro lleno <strong>de</strong> inquietud.<br />
Se habían parado las hojas, como si el<br />
aire se biera coagulado. Entre los besos<br />
<strong>de</strong>l agua en el pedrero, se oiban besos<br />
<strong>de</strong> labio. No pudo contenerse. Una<br />
nube espesa <strong>de</strong> celos, más tormentosa<br />
y relampagueante que la <strong>de</strong>l cielo, le<br />
cegó un instante. Llegó, trémulo, por la<br />
espalda y clavó su daga <strong>de</strong> un golpe.<br />
* * *<br />
La tormenta llenó el mundo con su furia<br />
imponente. Como un látigo, caiba el<br />
rayo sobre las espaldas impotentes <strong>de</strong><br />
los volcanes encogidos, que huían en<br />
grupos. El río rugidor arrastraba, entre<br />
el lodo y la leña, un muñeco infeliz, con<br />
un aljiler clavado en el mero corazón.<br />
177<br />
One day Chema saw them sitting at<br />
the root of a tamarind tree by the pond<br />
telling each other secrets. The storm<br />
was coming and there was an unsettling<br />
darkness. The leaves had stopped<br />
rustling as if the air had coagulated.<br />
Among the kisses of the water over<br />
the stones, kisses of lips were heard.<br />
He could not contain himself. A thick<br />
cloud of jealousy, more turbulent and<br />
with more lightning than that of the<br />
sky, blin<strong>de</strong>d him in an instant. Chema<br />
arrived tremulously behind him and he<br />
stabbed Felipe with his dagger.<br />
* * *<br />
The storm filled the world with its<br />
imposing fury. Like a whip, the lightning<br />
fell over the imposing backs of the<br />
shrunken volcanoes that were fleeing<br />
in groups. The roaring river carried away<br />
firewood and mud and a miserable<br />
doll with a pin nailed right in his heart.
el NeGro<br />
El negro Nayo había llegado a la costa<br />
<strong>de</strong>n<strong>de</strong> lejos. Sus veinte años, morados y<br />
murushos, reiban siempre con jacha339 fresca <strong>de</strong> jícama pelada.<br />
Tenía un no sé qué que agradaba,<br />
un dón <strong>de</strong> dar lástima; se sentía uno<br />
como dueño <strong>de</strong> él. A ratos su piel tenía<br />
tornasombras azules, <strong>de</strong> un azulón<br />
empavonado341 <strong>de</strong> revólver. Blanco<br />
y sorprendido el ojo; <strong>de</strong>steñidas las<br />
palmas <strong>de</strong> las manos, como en los<br />
monos; gachero el hombro izquierdo,<br />
en gesto bonachón. El sombrero <strong>de</strong><br />
palma dorada le servía para humillarse<br />
en saludos, más que para el sol,<br />
que no le jincaba el diente342 . Se reiba<br />
cascabelero, echándose la cabeza a<br />
la espalda, como alforja <strong>de</strong> regocijo,<br />
<strong>de</strong>scupiéndose toduel y con gárgaras<br />
<strong>de</strong> oes enjotadas.<br />
El negro Nayo era <strong>de</strong> porái...: <strong>de</strong> un porái<br />
dudoso, mezcla <strong>de</strong> Honduras y Berlice,<br />
Chiquimula y Blufiles <strong>de</strong> la Costelnorte.<br />
De indio tenía el pie achatado, caitudo,<br />
raizoso y sin uñas —pie <strong>de</strong> jengibre—;<br />
y un poco la color bronceada <strong>de</strong> la piel,<br />
que no alcanzaba a velar su estruc tura<br />
grosera, amasada con brea y no con<br />
<strong>barro</strong>.<br />
178<br />
THe BlacK MaN<br />
Nayo, the black man, had arrived at<br />
the coast from far away. He was in his<br />
twenties, and for these twenty years he<br />
had a purple tone to his dark skin and<br />
curly hair. He was always smiling with<br />
fresh teeth like a peeled jícama. 340<br />
He had a certain something that ma<strong>de</strong><br />
people like him, a [divine] gift and<br />
people felt sorry for him. People felt<br />
like they owned him. At times, his skin<br />
had blueish sha<strong>de</strong>s, melted blue like<br />
a revolver. His eyes were white and<br />
surprised; his palms were fa<strong>de</strong>d like<br />
a monkey; his left shoul<strong>de</strong>r bowed<br />
down making him seem like a kindly<br />
person. He used his gol<strong>de</strong>n-straw hat<br />
to humble himself in greetings, rather<br />
than to protect himself from the bite<br />
of the sun. He was always laughing,<br />
always in a good mood, throwing his<br />
head back like a knapsack full of joy,<br />
spewing his hardy o-shaped gargles<br />
that always contained an h: ho, ho, ho.<br />
Nayo was from ovethea, from a dubious<br />
ovethea, a mixture of Honduras and<br />
Belize, Chiquimula and Blufiles from<br />
the Northern Coast. He had coarse feet<br />
like the indigenous peasants, gnarly<br />
ginger root-like feet without nails. His<br />
tanned skin showed his ancestry a little<br />
that was normally hard to see because<br />
of his rough build, knea<strong>de</strong>d with tar<br />
and not clay.<br />
339. Dentadura.<br />
340. Yam bean.<br />
341. RAE: pavonar. (De pavón, por el color <strong>de</strong>l plumaje). 1. tr. Dar pavón al hierro o al acero.<br />
342. Quizás <strong>de</strong> la expresión “hincar el diente” Eng: “can’t wait to do do sth.” Lit. “sink its teeth”
Le habían tomado en la hacienda como<br />
tercer corralero. No podía negársele<br />
trabajo a este muchacho, <strong>de</strong> voz<br />
enternecida por su propio <strong>de</strong>s tino.<br />
Nada podía negársele al negro Nayo: así<br />
pidiera un tuco e dulce, como un puro<br />
o un guacal <strong>de</strong> chicha. Pero, al mismo<br />
tiempo, era —pese a su negrura—<br />
blanco <strong>de</strong> todas las burlas y jugarretas<br />
<strong>de</strong>l blanquío; y más <strong>de</strong> alguna vez lo<br />
<strong>de</strong>jaron sollozante sobre las mangas,<br />
curtidas con el <strong>barro</strong> <strong>de</strong>l cántaro y la<br />
grasa <strong>de</strong> los bal<strong>de</strong>s.<br />
Su resentimiento era pasajero, porque<br />
la bondad le chorreaba <strong>de</strong>l corazón,<br />
como el suero que escurre la bolsa <strong>de</strong><br />
la mantequilla. Se enojaba con un “no<br />
miablés”... y terminaba al día siguiente el<br />
enojo, con una palmada en la paletiya 344<br />
y su consiguiente: “¡veyan qué chero,<br />
éste!”... y la tajada <strong>de</strong> sonrisa, blanca y<br />
temblona como la cuajada.<br />
* * *<br />
Chabelo “boteya”, el primer corralero,<br />
era muy hábil. Tenía partido entre las<br />
cipotas <strong>de</strong>l caserío, por arriscado y finito<br />
<strong>de</strong> cara; por miguele ro y regalón; pero,<br />
sobre todo, porque acompañaba las<br />
guitarras con una su flauta <strong>de</strong> bambú<br />
que se había hecho, y que sonaba<br />
dulce y tristosa, al gusto <strong>de</strong>l sentir<br />
campesino.<br />
179<br />
At the hacienda he was hired as the<br />
junior farmhand. Nobody could <strong>de</strong>ny a<br />
job to this boy, who had a ten<strong>de</strong>r voice<br />
because of his own <strong>de</strong>stiny. Nothing<br />
could be <strong>de</strong>nied to Nayo, whether it be<br />
a piece of candy or a cigar or a glass of<br />
moonshine. At the same time, in spite<br />
of his jovial black nature, he was the<br />
brunt of jokes 343 and a lot of mockery<br />
by the whites. More than once he was<br />
left sobbing into his sleeves that were<br />
dirty with the clay from the jug and the<br />
grease from the buckets.<br />
His resentment was only temporary<br />
because goodness dripped from his<br />
heart, like whey that drips from a bag<br />
of curd. When he got mad, he would<br />
say “don’t talk to me” but it en<strong>de</strong>d the<br />
very next day when others would pat<br />
him on the back and consequently say:<br />
“what a guy.” His slice of smile was white<br />
and jiggly like cuajada 345 cheese.<br />
* * *<br />
Chabelo, nicknamed “Bottle,” the senior<br />
farmhand was a very skillful man. He<br />
was popular among the girls of the<br />
town not only because he was always<br />
well-groomed and well dressed, looked<br />
like Adonis and was a good-time Charlie,<br />
but above all because he accompanied<br />
the guitars with his bamboo flute that<br />
he had ma<strong>de</strong> himself. The flute soun<strong>de</strong>d<br />
sweet and sad, the way the peasants<br />
liked it.<br />
343. Salarrué was playing with black/white racial issues. There is no English idiom that translates his<br />
intention.<br />
344. Omóplato.<br />
345. A compact soft, grainy mildly salty cheese similar to cottage cheese, usually spread over tortillas<br />
as a meal.
Nadie sabía cuál era el secreto <strong>de</strong> aquel<br />
carri zo llorón. Bía <strong>de</strong> tener una telita <strong>de</strong><br />
araña por <strong>de</strong>ntro, o una rendija falsa,<br />
o un chaflán carculado... La fama <strong>de</strong>l<br />
pitero346 Chabelo, se había cundido <strong>de</strong><br />
jlores como un campaniyal. Lo llamaban<br />
los domingos y ya cobraba la vesita,<br />
juera <strong>de</strong> juerga o <strong>de</strong> velorio, <strong>de</strong> bautizo<br />
o <strong>de</strong> simple pasar.<br />
Un día el negro Nayo se arrimó tantito<br />
a Chabelo «boteya», cuando éste<br />
ensayaba su flauta, sentado en el cerco<br />
<strong>de</strong> piedras <strong>de</strong>l corral. Le son rió amoroso<br />
y le estuvo escuchando, como perro<br />
que mueve el rabo.<br />
—¿Oyí, negró, querés que tenseñe a<br />
tocar?...<br />
Por la cara pelotera <strong>de</strong>l negrito, pasó un<br />
relámpago <strong>de</strong> felicidad.<br />
—Mire, chero, y yo le vuá pagar el<br />
sábado, pero no me vaya a tirar...<br />
* * *<br />
Después <strong>de</strong> las primeras lecciones,<br />
Chabelo el pitero le arquiló la flauta<br />
al negro para unos días. El negro se<br />
<strong>de</strong>svelaba domando el carrizo; y lo<br />
domó a tal punto, que los vecinos más<br />
vecinos, que estaban a las tres cuadras,<br />
paraban la oreja y <strong>de</strong>cían:<br />
346. Flautista.<br />
347. As a term of en<strong>de</strong>arment.<br />
180<br />
Nobody knew the secret of that crying<br />
reed. It must’ve had a little spi<strong>de</strong>r web<br />
on the insi<strong>de</strong>, or a false crack, or a<br />
calculated bevel. The fame of Chabelo<br />
the flutist had flourished like Bellflowers<br />
blossoms. People called him every<br />
Sunday and he charged for the visit,<br />
whether it be for a party, a funeral, a<br />
baptism or any passing occasion.<br />
One day, Nayo “the black man” came<br />
to Chabelo “Bottle” while he was<br />
practicing with his flute sitting on the<br />
stone fence in the pasture. Nayo smiled<br />
at him lovingly and listened like a dog<br />
wagging his tail.<br />
“Hey negro, 347 do you want me to teach<br />
you how to play?”<br />
A lightning of happiness came to the<br />
ball-like face of the black man.<br />
“I’ll pay you on Saturday but look<br />
buddy, don’t you fail me...”<br />
* * *<br />
After the first few lessons, Chabelo,<br />
the flutist, agreed to rent his flute to<br />
the black man for a few days. The<br />
Blackman stayed up late taming the<br />
reed, and he tamed it to the point that<br />
the neighboring neighbors, who lived<br />
three blocks away, pricked up their ears<br />
and said:
—¡Oiga, pitero ese Chabelo! Es<br />
meramente un zinzonte348 el infeliz...<br />
—Mesmamente: diayer paroy, le arranca<br />
el alma al cristiano como nunca.<br />
Callaban... y embarcaban su silencio<br />
en el cayuco bogante349 <strong>de</strong> aquella<br />
flauta apasionada, que los hundía en la<br />
dulzura <strong>de</strong> un recordar sin recuer dos,<br />
<strong>de</strong> un retornar sin retorno.<br />
* * *<br />
En poco tiempo, el negro Nayo<br />
sobrepasó la fama <strong>de</strong> Chabelo.<br />
Llegaban gentes <strong>de</strong> lejos para oírlo; y<br />
su sencillez y humildad <strong>de</strong> siempre se<br />
coloreaban <strong>de</strong> austeridad y po<strong>de</strong>río,<br />
mientras su labio cár<strong>de</strong>no352 soplaba el<br />
agujero milagroso.<br />
El propio Chabelo, que creyó conocer<br />
todos los secretos <strong>de</strong>l carrizo, se<br />
quedaba pasmado, escuchando —con<br />
un sí es, no es, <strong>de</strong> <strong>de</strong>specho—, el fluir<br />
maravilloso <strong>de</strong> un sentimiento espeso<br />
que se cogía con las manos.<br />
* * *<br />
181<br />
“Listen up! That flutist is Chabelo! That<br />
sonabitch is truly a zinzonte350 bird!<br />
“No kiddin’! Overnight he touches the<br />
soul every Christian like never before.”<br />
They became quiet and launched their<br />
silence in their cayuco351 boat rowed by<br />
the passionate flute that emersed them<br />
in the sweetness of a memory without<br />
memories, of a return without returns.<br />
* * *<br />
In a short time, Nayo “the Blackman”<br />
overshadowed the fame of Chabelo.<br />
People from far away came to listen<br />
to him. His usual humbleness and<br />
humility were colored with austerity<br />
and power, while his purple lips blew<br />
into the miraculous hole.<br />
Chabelo, himself, who thought he knew<br />
all the secrets of the reed, became<br />
astonished when listening jealously to<br />
the marvelous flow of a thick sentiment<br />
that could be caught with the hands.<br />
348. RAE: cenzontle. (Del nahua centzuntli, que tiene cuatrocientas [voces]). 1. m. Pájaro americano <strong>de</strong><br />
plumaje pardo y con las extremida<strong>de</strong>s <strong>de</strong> las alas y <strong>de</strong> la cola, el pecho y el vientre blancos. Su canto es<br />
muy variado y melodioso.<br />
349. Bote <strong>de</strong> remo.<br />
350. A greyish-brown bird with white chest with a melodious singing. From the Nahua centzuntli: “with<br />
four houndred voices”<br />
351. Rowboat.<br />
352. De color morado.<br />
* * *
Una tar<strong>de</strong> dioro en que el negro estaba<br />
curando una ternera trincada, con una<br />
pluma <strong>de</strong> pollo untada <strong>de</strong> creolina,<br />
Chabelo se <strong>de</strong>cidió por fin; y, un tanto<br />
encogido, se acercó y le dijo:<br />
—Mirá, negro, te pago dos bambas<br />
si me <strong>de</strong>cís el secreto <strong>de</strong> la flau ta. Vos<br />
le bis hallado algo que le pone esa<br />
malicia... Seya chero y me lo dice...<br />
El negro se en<strong>de</strong>rezó, <strong>de</strong>sgreñado,<br />
blanca la boca <strong>de</strong> dientes amigos y<br />
franca la mirada <strong>de</strong> niño. Tenía abiertos<br />
los brazos como alas rotas, sos teniendo<br />
en una mano la pluma y en la otra el<br />
bote.<br />
Miró luego al suelo empedrado y meditó<br />
muy duro. Luego, como satisfecho <strong>de</strong><br />
su pensada dijo al pitero.<br />
—No me creya egóishto, compañero, la<br />
flauta no tiene nada: soy yo mesmo, mi<br />
tristura..., la color...<br />
182<br />
A gol<strong>de</strong>n afternoon in which “the<br />
Blackman” was trying to cure a sick calf<br />
that he had lying on the ground by<br />
using a chicken feather smear<strong>de</strong>d with<br />
creoline, 353 Chabelo approached him:<br />
“Hey negro, I’ll pay you two bambas354 if<br />
you tell me the secret of the flute. You<br />
have found that certain something... be<br />
a pal and tell me...”<br />
“The Blackman” stood up, with his<br />
messy hair, his mouth white with<br />
friendly teeth and with a earnest look of<br />
a child. His arms were open like broken<br />
wings, holding in one hand the feather<br />
and the bottle in the other.<br />
He glanced at the cobbled ground and<br />
meditated hard. Then, satisfied with his<br />
thinking, he said to the flutist:<br />
“<strong>Don</strong>’t think me selfish, partner. The<br />
flute ain’t got nothing. It’s just me, my<br />
sadness... my color...<br />
353. In this context, creoline is a pestici<strong>de</strong> product used to make wounds heal faster by killing larvas or<br />
other insects that may have entered it. In Latin America, Creolina is an inexpensive bathroom (septic<br />
tank) cleaner. Amigofoods.com advertises it as “Coal Tar Deodorant Cleaner. Cleans bathrooms, floors,<br />
garbage cans and other applications.”<br />
354. Coins used in the XIX century. They were the size of a silver dollar.
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The Voice of the Pipil<br />
The translation of Tales of Clay (Cuentos <strong>de</strong> <strong>barro</strong>), by Salarrué (Salvador Salazar<br />
Arrué) into English of the Americas makes available for the first time an ingenious<br />
literary feat, the commemoration of the horrendous event perpetrated in 1933 by<br />
a dictator, a caudillo whose name has been unknown to most of us. Salarrué’s<br />
achievement was, through a subtle use of non-standard language and style, to recall,<br />
right un<strong>de</strong>r the nose of Salvadoran dictator-presi<strong>de</strong>nt General Maximiliano Hernán<strong>de</strong>z<br />
Martínez, the unspeakable bloody massacre of the Pipil.<br />
In his analysis of the discourse in Salarrué’s stories, Nelson López discovered two<br />
critical aspects of the language. First, Salarrué “resurrected” the peasants of the<br />
massacre by using actual names of the <strong>de</strong>ad for the characters in his stories. Then,<br />
he created a new “literary” language by mixing regional language (including Pipil) with<br />
Spanish. The result was that, at least partly through class prejudices, rea<strong>de</strong>rs thought<br />
they were reading quaint and sometimes humorous tales of “peasant” life. Because of<br />
this unusual variety of literary discourse, the political import of the stories did not leap<br />
out, even to Salvadoran rea<strong>de</strong>rs and, more particularly, it elu<strong>de</strong>d the attention of the<br />
perpetrator of the massacre.<br />
Nelson López Rojas came to this translation with rich linguistic skills: not every firstlanguage<br />
speaker of Spanish could cope with the richness and diversity of Salarrué’s<br />
written language, which, along with its use of a non-Spanish lexicon, inclu<strong>de</strong>s the<br />
names of plants, birds, and animals–the bane of most translators, whether they are<br />
<strong>de</strong>aling with Central America, Caribbean islands, Africa or other regions with diverse<br />
and localized plant and animal life. The hours he spent in researching that aspect<br />
and in interviewing of Pipil speakers, Salarrué’s own family, and even people who had<br />
known the writer, un<strong>de</strong>rlie the success of this translation. We can only hope that it will<br />
find appreciative rea<strong>de</strong>rs and bring this most famous of Salvadoran writers back into<br />
focus on an international scale.<br />
—Carrol F. Coates<br />
Binghamton, New York<br />
Bastille Day, 2011