LUNA-CRECIENTE-3-Maqueta-Final

Luna creciente 3 (Fall, 2014) - 67“Yes, but it is my job. Besides, I havebeen taking care of him since he was a kid. Ithink it is a matter of justice to continue doing itnow.”The answer did not convince Robert. Itwas obvious Samuel seemed not verycomfortable talking about that issue. He, on theother hand, had never been able to understandthat loyalty toward a man that, systematically,had treated him almost in a medieval way,always reminding him his position of servant.Whereas any other person had gone away manyyears ago knowing how Joseph was, Samuel hadbeen educated under other criteria, and keepinga disconcerting fidelity and respect to him.“I see,” Robert concluded. “It’s worthyof admiration what you do, Samuel. Seriously.And more considering he’s never been very kindwith you.”“Yes. But despite his bad manners andhis character, I know him much better thananybody. And, of course, I do not think hedeserves what he is suffering. Or do you thinkhe really deserves it?”Robert did not answer. Direct question,he thought.“No,” he said, slightly bewildered. “Imean... Of course not. I’ll go home and I’ll seewhat I can do.”“Good. Here you have the box.”Robert took the box with thesandwiches. He finished the coffee and stood up.“Thanks, Samuel. For everything. Asusual. Please, call me if things get worse.”“Don’t worry. Now, be careful on theroad.”“Goodbye.”#After midnight, it started to rain.Joseph could not sleep. AlthoughSamuel had given him a pill to get to sleep, heknew that closing the eyes would mean that theperson in the painting (he -–“Jesus Christ! Itsounded totally unbelievable...”) would get out,and would try to finish what he had been tryingto do. He could see how he observed him.Robert had left open a small opening in thecover of the painting, and through it could beseen an eye (his eye) studying him.He knew that, in any moment, he wouldget out from the painting, and would go for him.He knew neither how nor when.He only knew that he would go for him,and he could not let him do it.#Robert was sleeping when the phonerang. It was Samuel. He sounded very anxious.Joseph, he said, had disappeared.#Robert and Samuel went into Joseph’sroom. The bed was empty and messy. There wasno trail of Joseph.“I came this morning at eight,” Samuelsaid, “just as usually I do, to leave the breakfast,and I saw he was not here.”Robert opened the drawer of the tablenext to the bed.“His driver’s license and his cards aren’t