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ALEILTON FONSECA266“I just know. I have a feeling.”Nhô Guimarães was out there in the world, and we kept on waiting. Whatelse could we do? Yes, but the truth is that there was at least one day, thatact. Or wasn’t there? A quick visit, he came by for Manu’s warm welcome, toget a little advice. He said something about being honored by a famous house,somewhere in the big city. I was chasing after a lost rooster. When I got back,without knowing exactly what happened, I only got the details. There you are, sir,a fair judge. Everyone is amazed: we’re always flabbergasted. Let’s talk about thatdialogue, and that’s it, then we can have another cup of coffee.I wish I had at least one grandchild, there in the corner, listening to ourconversation. Ah, well, there is only one Nature and we are several. Here we are,always reliving the act. Isn’t that true? Don’t get bogged down, life is a flowingriver. I saw it with my own eyes, as I live and breathe. But I’m not sure either.Did I dream it? The two friends, Manu and Nhô Guimarães, carrying on thatlast conversation. If you want, you can write it down, sir. First, Manu said: “Nhôshouldn’t enter, I think, I don’t know...”“But why not?” Nhô inquired.“As Nhô himself said, you tried it once, and it was no good.”“Everyone in the house wants me to enter,” he explained. Manu went on:“That is, you, a man from around here, you’re an honest person. But there, theothers, not everyone has that sufficiency. Falsehood is a hidden evil.”“What do you have to say about it, safely speaking?”“Nhô, nothing at all. That thing about giving the right account of the way welive, with your palaver, that’s a gift.”“Really?”“If Nhô takes part in something doubtful, won’t he lose that gift?”“But if I lose the gift, will I die?”“I don’t know, sir, you tell me. In fact, make your own destiny, but first meditatea lot for a few years. Everyone has their time, and Nhô Guimarães does too. Whowrites straight with crooked lines? Good fruit takes time to ripen.”Manu said all that, the two fell silent. This conversation was the mostserious business of all. The coffee, now forgotten, gave up sketching its vaporsin the air. I was there, they didn’t see me, they were so overcome. I was on theoutside, so I couldn’t tell which knots were being loosened. So Manu suddenlyslumped, crestfallen, then looked at him with a moist light in his eyes. And heimposed himself, on the pondered point of their conversation, as it should be,once and for all. The two faced each other in earnest. And each had a word,finishing up:“So, will I die?”“Nhô Guimarães, a man of your quality never dies...”Nhô responded with a deep sigh, while Manu added these words:“You become enchanted!”