cuentos de barro - DSpace Universidad Don Bosco

—Ái que se quede.
—Trayen la suerte, hombré; llevátelo.
—Lo guá descabezar diún machetazo.
—No seya bárbaro, compañero;
adémelo a mí...
—¿Qué vas hacer con él?...
—Eso es cosa miya: adéjemelo.
Cuando Luciano Pereira se hubo
alejado, cantando, por el ixcanalar que
da al río, Moncho se quedó mirando
el mistiricuco, mientras se ras caba la
crencha. Tomó una resolución. Tanteó
una persoga al gancho, varias veces,
hasta que logró trabarla; y después de
envolver el ave ago rera con su camisa,
como había hecho el otro, empezó a
subir, llevándo la en los dientes.
Por fin pudo llegar al hoyo; desató el
lío y dejó el pájaro en el fondo. Cuando
iba a descender, oyó el graznido trágico
del mistiricuco; y recor dó al momento
que “cuando el tecolote canta el indio
muere”. Empezó a bajar con miedo.
Se dio cuenta de lo mal que había
enganchado la perso ga. Cerró los ojos.
Cayó...
Abrió, por última vez, los párpados
mansos, y miró las caras inclina das
sobre él.
169
“They bring you luck, man. Take him
with you.”
“I’ll chop off his head with my
machete.”
“Don’t be barbaric, partner. Just give
him to me.”
“Whatcha gonna do with him?”
“That’s my problem. Leave him.”
When Luciano Pereira was far away,
singing by the ishcanal rees that lead
one towards the river, Moncho stared at
the mistiricuco while scratching his own
mane. He made a resolution. He tossed
the rope toward the hook several times
before he was able to hook it. Then he
wrapped the bird, prophet of doom,
with his shirt, just like Luciano did.
He began to climb, carrying the bird
between his teeth.
He was finally able to get to the hole.
He unwrapped the bundle and left the
bird at the mouth of the cave. When
he was about to descend, he heard
the mistiricuco’s tragic squawking and
remembered instantly “when the owl
sings the peasant dies.” Now he was
descending fearfully. He realized that
he had fastened the rope poorly. He
closed his eyes. He fell…
He opened his eyelids for the last time
and saw faces above turned down
looking at him.