4th quarter readings

8/13/2019 4th Quarter Readings

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The Fourth Grading Period: The Contemporary Period

Reading Selections:

Poetry: Robert Frost Mending Wall

Nikki Giovanni ChoicesWH Aden !he "nkno#n Citi$en

%hort %tories: &a'es &oyce Araby(irginia Wool) Mo'ents o) *eingAlbert Ca's !he GestWillia' Falkner A Rose )or +'ily%hirley &ackson !he ,ottery-sabelle Allende An Act o) (engeanceFlannery ./ Connor A Good Man is Hard to Find

Non0Fiction: Philli1 Meyer -) Hitler Asked 2o to +lectrocte a %tranger333Michael %her'er Genesis RevisitedWillia' Falkner Man Will Prevail

Novel: &ohn %teinbeck .) Mice and Men

Bases of Grades:

4i$$es and +5ercises 678

,ong !est 98Periodic +5a' 98%1ecial Pro;ects 678


2/37

MEN!NG "#$$

Robert Frost

%o'ething there is that doesn?t love a #all@!hat sends the )ro$en0grond0s#ell nder it@And s1ills the 11er bolders in the sn@And 'akes ga1s even t#o can 1ass abreast3!he #ork o) hnters is another thing: - have co'e a)ter the' and 'ade re1airWhere they have le)t not one stone on a stone@*t they #old have the rabbit ot o) hiding@!o 1lease the yel1ing dogs3 !he ga1s - 'ean@No one has seen the' 'ade or heard the' 'ade@ 97*t at s1ring 'ending0ti'e #e )ind the' there3- let 'y neighbor kno# beyond the hillAnd on a day #e 'eet to #alk the lineAnd set the #all bet#een s once again3We kee1 the #all bet#een s as #e go3 9!o each the bolders that have )allen to each3And so'e are loaves and so'e so nearly balls

We have to se a s1ell to 'ake the' balance:?%tay #here yo are ntil or backs are trnedB?We #ear or )ingers rogh #ith handling the'3 =7.h@ ;st another kind o) ot0door ga'[email protected] on a side3 -t co'es to little 'ore:!here #here it is #e do not need the #all:He is all 1ine and - a' a11le orchard3My a11le trees #ill never get across =And eat the cones nder his 1ines@ - tell hi'3He only says@ ?Good )ences 'ake good neighbors?3%1ring is the 'ischie) in 'e@ and - #onder-) - cold 1t a notion in his head:?Why do they 'ake good neighbors -sn?t it 67

Where there are co#s*t here there are no co#s3*e)ore - bilt a #all -?d ask to kno#What - #as #alling in or #alling ot@And to #ho' - #as like to give o))ence3 6%o'ething there is that doesn?t love a #all@!hat #ants it do#n3? - cold say ?+lves? to hi'@*t it?s not elves e5actly@ and -?d ratherHe said it )or hi'sel)3 - see hi' there*ringing a stone gras1ed )ir'ly by the to1 D7-n each hand@ like an old0stone savage ar'ed3He 'oves in darkness as it see's to 'eENot o) #oods only and the shade o) trees3

He #ill not go behind his )ather?s saying@And he likes having thoght o) it so #ell DHe says again@ Good )ences 'ake good neighbors3


3/37

C%&!CES

Nikki Giovanni

-) i can?t do#hat i #ant to dothen 'y ;ob is to notdo #hat i don?t #antto do

-t?s not the sa'e thingbt it?s the best i cando

-) i can?t have#hat i #ant 3 3 3 then'y ;ob is to #ant#hat i?ve gotand be satis)iedthat at least thereis so'ething 'ore to #ant

%ince i can?t go#here i needto go 3 3 3 then i 'st 3 3 3 go#here the signs 1ointthrogh al#ays nderstanding1arallel 'ove'entisn?t lateral

When i can?t e51ress#hat i really )eeli 1ractice )eeling#hat i can e51ress

and none o) it is eal

- kno#bt that?s #hy 'ankindalone a'ong the ani'alslearns to cry


4/37

T%E 'N(N&"N C!T!)EN

W3 H3 Aden

North Rich'ond %treet@ being blind@ #as a iet street e5ce1t at the hor #hen the Christian *rothers?

%chool set the boys )ree3 An ninhabited hose o) t#o storeys stood at the blind end@ detached )ro' its neighbors ina sare grond3 !he other hoses o) the street@ conscios o) decent lives #ithin the'@ ga$ed at one another #ithbro#n i'1ertrbable )aces3

!he )or'er tenant o) or hose@ a 1riest@ had died in the back dra#ing0roo'3 Air@ 'sty )ro' having beenlong enclosed@ hng in all the roo's@ and the #aste roo' behind the kitchen #as littered #ith old seless 1a1ers3A'ong these - )ond a )e# 1a1er0covered books@ the 1ages o) #hich #ere crled and da'1: !he Abbot@ by Walter%cott@ !he Kevot Co''nicant@ and !he Me'oirs o) (idoc3 - liked the last best becase its leaves #ere yello#3!he #ild garden behind the hose contained a central a11le0tree and a )e# straggling bshes@ nder one o) #hich -)ond the late tenant?s rsty bicycle01'13 He had been a very charitable 1riest in his #ill he had le)t all his 'oneyto instittions and the )rnitre o) his hose to his sister3


5/37

When the short days o) #inter ca'e@ dsk )ell be)ore #e had #ell eaten or dinners3 When #e 'et in thestreet the hoses had gro#n so'bre3 !he s1ace o) sky above s #as the color o) ever0changing violet and to#ardsit the la'1s o) the street li)ted their )eeble lanterns3 !he cold air stng s and #e 1layed till or bodies glo#ed3 .rshots echoed in the silent street3 !he career o) or 1lay broght s throgh the dark 'ddy lanes behind the hoses@#here #e ran the gantlet o) the rogh tribes )ro' the cottages@ to the back doors o) the dark dri11ing gardens #hereodors arose )ro' the ash1its@ to the dark odoros stables #here a coach'an s'oothed and co'bed the horse orshook 'sic )ro' the bckled harness3 When #e retrned to the street@ light )ro' the kitchen #indo#s had )illed theareas3 -) 'y ncle #as seen trning the corner@ #e hid in the shado# ntil #e had seen hi' sa)ely hosed3 .r i)Mangan?s sister ca'e ot on the doorste1 to call her brother in to his tea@ #e #atched her )ro' or shado# 1eer 1and do#n the street3 We #aited to see #hether she #old re'ain or go in and@ i) she re'ained@ #e le)t or shado#and #alked 1 to Mangan?s ste1s resignedly3 %he #as #aiting )or s@ her )igre de)ined by the light )ro' the hal)0o1ened door3 Her brother al#ays teased her be)ore he obeyed@ and - stood by the railings looking at her3 Her dresss#ng as she 'oved her body@ and the so)t ro1e o) her hair tossed )ro' side to side3

+very 'orning - lay on the )loor in the )ront 1arlor #atching her door3 !he blind #as 1lled do#n to#ithin an inch o) the sash so that - cold not be seen3 When she ca'e ot on the doorste1 'y heart lea1ed3 - ran tothe hall@ sei$ed 'y books and )ollo#ed her3 - ke1t her bro#n )igre al#ays in 'y eye and@ #hen #e ca'e near the1oint at #hich or #ays diverged@ - ickened 'y 1ace and 1assed her3 !his ha11ened 'orning a)ter 'orning3 - hadnever s1oken to her@ e5ce1t )or a )e# casal #ords@ and yet her na'e #as like a s''ons to all 'y )oolish blood3

Her i'age acco'1anied 'e even in 1laces the 'ost hostile to ro'ance3 .n %atrday evenings #hen 'y

ant #ent 'arketing - had to go to carry so'e o) the 1arcels3 We #alked throgh the )laring streets@ ;ostled bydrnken 'en and bargaining #o'en@ a'id the crses o) laborers@ the shrill litanies o) sho10boys #ho stood ongard by the barrels o) 1igs? cheeks@ the nasal chanting o) street0singers@ #ho sang a co'e0all0yo abot .?KonovanRossa@ or a ballad abot the trobles in or native land3 !hese noises converged in a single sensation o) li)e )or 'e: -i'agined that - bore 'y chalice sa)ely throgh a throng o) )oes3 Her na'e s1rang to 'y li1s at 'o'ents in strange1rayers and 1raises #hich - 'ysel) did not nderstand3 My eyes #ere o)ten )ll o) tears and atti'es a )lood )ro' 'y heart see'ed to 1or itsel) ot into 'y boso'3 - thoght little o) the )tre3 - did not kno##hether - #old ever s1eak to her or not or@ i) - s1oke to her@ ho# - cold tell her o) 'y con)sed adoration3 *t 'ybody #as like a har1 and her #ords and gestres #ere like )ingers rnning 1on the #ires3

.ne evening - #ent into the back dra#ing0roo' in #hich the 1riest had died3 -t #as a dark rainy eveningand there #as no sond in the hose3 !hrogh one o) the broken 1anes - heard the rain i'1inge 1on the earth@ the)ine incessant needles o) #ater 1laying in the sodden beds3 %o'e distant la'1 or lighted #indo# glea'ed belo# 'e3- #as thank)l that - cold see so little3 All 'y senses see'ed to desire to veil the'selves and@ )eeling that - #as

abot to sli1 )ro' the'@ - 1ressed the 1al's o) 'y hands together ntil they tre'bled@ 'r'ring: ?. loveB . loveB?'any ti'es3

At last she s1oke to 'e3 When she addressed the )irst #ords to 'e - #as so con)sed that - did not kno##hat to ans#er3 %he asked 'e #as - going to Araby3 - )orgot #hether - ans#ered yes or no3 -t #old be a s1lendidba$aar she said she #old love to go3

?And #hy can?t yo? - asked3While she s1oke she trned a silver bracelet rond and rond her #rist3 %he cold not go@ she said@ becase

there #old be a retreat that #eek in her convent3 Her brother and t#o other boys #ere )ighting )or their ca1s@ and -#as alone at the railings3 %he held one o) the s1ikes@ bo#ing her head to#ards 'e3 !he light )ro' the la'1 o11ositeor door caght the #hite crve o) her neck@ lit 1 her hair that rested there and@ )alling@ lit 1 the hand 1on therailing3 -t )ell over one side o) her dress and caght the #hite border o) a 1etticoat@ ;st visible as she stood at ease3

?-t?s #ell )or yo@? she said3?-) - go@? - said@ ?- #ill bring yo so'ething3?

What inn'erable )ollies laid #aste 'y #aking and slee1ing thoghts a)ter that eveningB - #ished toannihilate the tedios intervening days3 - cha)ed against the #ork o) school3 At night in 'y bedroo' and by day inthe classroo' her i'age ca'e bet#een 'e and the 1age - strove to read3 !he syllables o) the #ord Araby #erecalled to 'e throgh the silence in #hich 'y sol l5riated and cast an +astern enchant'ent over 'e3 - asked )orleave to go to the ba$aar on %atrday night3 My ant #as sr1rised@ and ho1ed it #as not so'e Free'ason a))air3 -ans#ered )e# estions in class3 - #atched 'y 'aster?s )ace 1ass )ro' a'iability to sternness he ho1ed - #as notbeginning to idle3 - cold not call 'y #andering thoghts together3 - had hardly any 1atience #ith the serios #orko) li)e #hich@ no# that it stood bet#een 'e and 'y desire@ see'ed to 'e child?s 1lay@ gly 'onotonos child?s 1lay3

.n %atrday 'orning - re'inded 'y ncle that - #ished to go to the ba$aar in the evening3 He #as )ssingat the hallstand@ looking )or the hat0brsh@ and ans#ered 'e crtly:


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?2es@ boy@ - kno#3?As he #as in the hall - cold not go into the )ront 1arlor and lie at the #indo#3 - )elt the hose in bad

h'or and #alked slo#ly to#ards the school3 !he air #as 1itilessly ra# and already 'y heart 'isgave 'e3When - ca'e ho'e to dinner 'y ncle had not yet been ho'e3 %till it #as early3 - sat staring at the clock

)or so'e ti'e and@ #hen its ticking began to irritate 'e@ - le)t the roo'3 - 'onted the staircase and gained the 11er1art o) the hose3 !he high@ cold@ e'1ty@ gloo'y roo's liberated 'e and - #ent )ro' roo' to roo' singing3 Fro'the )ront #indo# - sa# 'y co'1anions 1laying belo# in the street3 !heir cries reached 'e #eakened and indistinctand@ leaning 'y )orehead against the cool glass@ - looked over at the dark hose #here she lived3 - 'ay have stoodthere )or an hor@ seeing nothing bt the bro#n0clad )igre cast by 'y i'agination@ toched discreetly by thela'1light at the crved neck@ at the hand 1on the railings and at the border belo# the dress3

When - ca'e do#nstairs again - )ond Mrs Mercer sitting at the )ire3 %he #as an old@ garrlos #o'an@ a1a#nbroker?s #ido#@ #ho collected sed sta'1s )or so'e 1ios 1r1ose3 - had to endre the gossi1 o) the tea0table3!he 'eal #as 1rolonged beyond an hor and still 'y ncle did not co'e3 Mrs Mercer stood 1 to go: she #as sorryshe coldn?t #ait any longer@ bt it #as a)ter eight o?clock and she did not like to be ot late@ as the night air #as bad)or her3 When she had gone - began to #alk 1 and do#n the roo'@ clenching 'y )ists3 My ant said:

?-?' a)raid yo 'ay 1t o)) yor ba$aar )or this night o) .r ,ord3?At nine o?clock - heard 'y ncle?s latchkey in the hall door3 - heard hi' talking to hi'sel) and heard the

hallstand rocking #hen it had received the #eight o) his overcoat3 - cold inter1ret these signs3 When he #as'id#ay throgh his dinner - asked hi' to give 'e the 'oney to go to the ba$aar3 He had )orgotten3

?!he 1eo1le are in bed and a)ter their )irst slee1 no#@? he said3

- did not s'ile3 My ant said to hi' energetically:?Can?t yo give hi' the 'oney and let hi' go 2o?ve ke1t hi' late enogh as it is3?My ncle said he #as very sorry he had )orgotten3 He said he believed in the old saying: ?All #ork and no

1lay 'akes &ack a dll boy3? He asked 'e #here - #as going and@ #hen - told hi' a second ti'e@ he asked 'e did -kno# !he Arab?s Fare#ell to his %teed3 When - le)t the kitchen he #as abot to recite the o1ening lines o) the 1ieceto 'y ant3

- held a )lorin tightly in 'y hand as - strode do#n *ckingha' %treet to#ards the station3 !he sight o) thestreets thronged #ith byers and glaring #ith gas recalled to 'e the 1r1ose o) 'y ;orney3 - took 'y seat in a third0class carriage o) a deserted train3 A)ter an intolerable delay the train 'oved ot o) the station slo#ly3 -t cre1t on#arda'ong rinos hoses and over the t#inkling river3 At Westland Ro# %tation a cro#d o) 1eo1le 1ressed to thecarriage doors bt the 1orters 'oved the' back@ saying that it #as a s1ecial train )or the ba$aar3 - re'ained alone inthe bare carriage3 -n a )e# 'intes the train dre# 1 beside an i'1rovised #ooden 1lat)or'3 - 1assed ot on to theroad and sa# by the lighted dial o) a clock that it #as ten 'intes to ten3 -n )ront o) 'e #as a large bilding #hich

dis1layed the 'agical na'e3- cold not )ind any si51enny entrance and@ )earing that the ba$aar #old be closed@ - 1assed in ickly

throgh a trnstile@ handing a shilling to a #eary0looking 'an3 - )ond 'ysel) in a big hall girded at hal) its heightby a gallery3 Nearly all the stalls #ere closed and the greater 1art o) the hall #as in darkness3 - recogni$ed a silencelike that #hich 1ervades a chrch a)ter a service3 - #alked into the centre o) the ba$aar ti'idly3 A )e# 1eo1le #eregathered abot the stalls #hich #ere still o1en3 *e)ore a crtain@ over #hich the #ords Ca)L Chantant #ere #rittenin colored la'1s@ t#o 'en #ere conting 'oney on a salver3 - listened to the )all o) the coins3

Re'e'bering #ith di))iclty #hy - had co'e@ - #ent over to one o) the stalls and e5a'ined 1orcelain vasesand )lo#ered tea0sets3 At the door o) the stall a yong lady #as talking and laghing #ith t#o yong gentle'en3 -re'arked their +nglish accents and listened vagely to their conversation3

?.@ - never said sch a thingB??.@ bt yo didB??.@ bt - didn?tB?

?Kidn?t she say that??2es3 - heard her3??.@ there?s a333 )ibB?.bserving 'e@ the yong lady ca'e over and asked 'e did - #ish to by anything3 !he tone o) her voice

#as not encoraging she see'ed to have s1oken to 'e ot o) a sense o) dty3 - looked h'bly at the great ;ars thatstood like eastern gards at either side o) the dark entrance to the stall and 'r'red:

?No@ thank yo3?!he yong lady changed the 1osition o) one o) the vases and #ent back to the t#o yong 'en3 !hey began

to talk o) the sa'e sb;ect3 .nce or t#ice the yong lady glanced at 'e over her sholder3- lingered be)ore her stall@ thogh - kne# 'y stay #as seless@ to 'ake 'y interest in her #ares see' the


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'ore real3 !hen - trned a#ay slo#ly and #alked do#n the 'iddle o) the ba$aar3 - allo#ed the t#o 1ennies to )allagainst the si51ence in 'y 1ocket3 - heard a voice call )ro' one end o) the gallery that the light #as ot3 !he 11er1art o) the hall #as no# co'1letely dark3

Ga$ing 1 into the darkness - sa# 'ysel) as a creatre driven and derided by vanity and 'y eyes brned#ith angish and anger3

M&MENTS &F BE!NG(irginia Wool)

%later/s 1ins have no 1ointsdon/t yo al#ays )ind that said Miss Craye@ trning rond as the rose )ellot o) Fanny Wil'ot/s dress@ and Fanny stoo1ed@ #ith her cars )ll o) the 'sic@ to look )or the 1in on the )loor3!he #ords gave her an e5traordinary shock@ as Miss Craye strck the last chord o) the *ach )ge3 Kid Miss Crayeactally go to %later/s and by 1ins then@ Fanny Wil'ot asked hersel)@ trans)i5ed )or a 'o'ent3 Kid she stand at theconter #aiting like anybody else@ and #as she given a bill #ith co11ers #ra11ed in it@ and did she sli1 the' intoher 1rse and then@ an hor later@ stand by her dressing table and take ot the 1ins What need had she o) 1ins Forshe #as not so 'ch dressed as cased@ like a beetle co'1actly in its sheath@ ble in #inter@ green in s''er3 Whatneed had she o) 1ins&lia Craye#ho lived@ it see'ed in the cool glassy #orld o) *ach )ges@ 1laying to hersel)#hat she liked@ to take one or t#o 11ils at the and only consenting Archer %treet College o) Msic as a s1ecial )avor to hersel)@ #ho had the greatest ad'iration )or her in every #ay3 MissCraye #as le)t badly o))@ Miss ingston #as a)raid@ at her brother/s death3 .h@ they sed to have sch lovely things@#hen they lived at %alisbry@ and her brother &lis #as@ o) corse@ a very #ellOkno#n 'an: a )a'os archaeologist3-t #as a great 1rivilege to stay #ith the'@ Miss ingston said @ bt a little )rightening )or a child one had to be care)l not to sla'the door or bonce into the roo' ne51ectedly3 Miss ingston@ #ho gave little character sketches like this on the)irst day o) ter' #hile she received chees and #rote ot recei1ts )or the'@ s'iled here3 2es@ she had been rather ato'boy she had bonced in and set all those green Ro'an glasses and things ;'1ing in their case3 !he Crayes#ere not sed to children3 !he Crayes #ere none o) the' 'arried3 !hey ke1t cats the cats@ one sed to )eel@ kne# as'ch abot the Ro'an rns and things as anybody3

Far 'ore than - didB said Miss ingston brightly@ #riting her na'e across the sta'1 in her dashing@cheer)l@ )llObodied hand@ )or she had al#ays been 1ractical3 !hat #as ho# she 'ade her living@ a)ter all3

Perha1s then@ Fanny Wil'ot thoght@ looking )or the 1in@ Miss Craye said that abot %later/s 1ins having

no 1oints@ at a ventre3 None o) the Crayes had ever 'arried3 %he kne# nothing abot 1ins@ nothing #hatever3 *tshe #anted to break the s1ell that had )allen on the hose to break the 1ane o) glass #hich se1arated the' )ro'other 1eo1le3 When Polly ingston@ that 'erry little girl@ had sla''ed the door and 'ade the Ro'an vases ;'1@&lis@ seeing that no har' #as done looked@ )or the case #as stood in the #indo#@at Polly ski11ing ho'e across the )ields looked #ith the look his sister o)ten had@ that lingering@ driving look3

%tars@ sn@ 'oon@ it see'ed to say@ the daisy in the grass@ )ires@ )rost on the #indo# 1ane@ 'y heart goesot to yo3 *t@ it al#ays see'ed to add@ yo break@ yo 1ass@ yo go3 And si'ltaneosly it covered theintensity o) both these states o) 'ind #ith - can/t reach yo- can/t get at yo@ s1oken #ist)lly@ )rstratedly3 Andthe stars )aded@ and the child #ent3 !hat #as the kind o) s1ell that #as the glassy sr)ace@ that Miss Craye #anted tobreak by sho#ing@ #hen she had 1layed *ach beati)lly as a re#ard to a )avorite 11il @ she had 1icked 1 so'e 1iece o) gossi1@ or it 'ightonly have been a s'ile@ or a tone #hen his na'e #as 'entioned@ #hich had given her a )eeling abot &lisCraye3 Needless to say@ she had never s1oken abot it to anybody3 Probably she scarcely kne# #hat she 'eant by it3*t #henever she s1oke o) &lis@ or heard hi' 'entioned@ that #as the )irst thing that ca'e to 'ind and it #as asedctive thoght there #as so'ething odd abot &lis Craye3

-t #as so that &lia looked too@ as she sat hal) trned on the 'sic stool@ s'iling3 -t/s on the )ield@ it/s on the1ane@ it/s in the skybeaty and - can/t get at it - can/t have it-@ she see'ed to add@ #ith that little cltch o) thehand #hich #as so characteristic@ #ho adore it so 1assionately@ #old give the #hole #orld to 1ossess itB And she


8/37

1icked 1 the carnation #hich had )allen on the )loor@ #hile Fanny searched )or the 1in3 %he crshed it@ Fanny )elt@vol1tosly in her s'ooth veined hands stck abot #ith #aterOcolored rings set in 1earls3 !he 1ressre o) her)ingers see'ed to increase all that #as 'ost brilliant in the )lo#er to set it o)) to 'ake it 'ore )rilled@ )resh@i''aclate3 What #as odd in her@ and 1erha1s in her brother@ too@ #as that this crsh and gras1 o) the )inger #asco'bined #ith a 1er1etal )rstration3 %o it #as even no# #ith the carnation3 %he had her hands on it she 1ressedit bt she did not 1ossess it@ en;oy it@ not entirely and altogether3

None o) the Crayes had 'arried@ Fanny Wil'ot re'e'bered3 %he had in 'ind ho# one evening #hen thelesson had lasted longer than sal and it #as dark@ &lia Craye had said it/s the se o) 'en@ srely@ to 1rotect s@s'iling at her that sa'e odd s'ile@ as she stood )astening her cloak@ #hich 'ade her@ like the )lo#er@ conscios toher )inger ti1s o) yoth and brilliance@ bt@ like the )lo#er@ too@ Fanny ss1ected@ 'ade her )eel a#k#ard3

.h@ bt - don/t #ant 1rotection@ Fanny had laghed@ and #hen &lia Craye@ )i5ing on her thate5traordinary look@ had said she #as not so sre o) that@ Fanny 1ositively blshed nder the ad'iration in her eyes3

-t #as the only se o) 'en@ she had said3 Was it )or that reason then@ Fanny #ondered@ #ith her eyes on the)loor@ that she had never 'arried A)ter all@ she had not lived all her li)e in %alisbry3 Mch the nicest 1art o),ondon@ she had said once@ @ she had saidonce3 .ne #as in the gardens in ten 'intesin the heart o) the contry3 .ne cold 'ake that yield #hat one liked@Fanny Wil'ot thoght@ single ot@ )or instance@ Mr3 %her'an@ the 1ainter@ an old )riend o) hers 'ake hi' call )orher@ by a11oint'ent@ one snny day in &ne take her to have tea nder the trees3

!he setting o) that scene cold be varied as one chose@ Fanny Wil'ot re)lected3 -t 'ight be Ravenna or +dinbrgh@ #here she had ke1t hose )or her brother3 !he scene cold be changedand the yong 'an and the e5act 'anner o) it all@ bt one thing #as constanther re)sal@ and her )ro#n@ and heranger #ith hersel) a)ter#ards@ and her arg'ent@ and her relie)yes@ certainly her i''ense relie)3 !he very ne5tday@ 1erha1s@ she #old get 1 at si5@ 1t on her cloak@ and #alk all the #ay )ro' ensington to the river3 %he #asso thank)l that she had not sacri)iced her right to go and look at things #hen they are at their bestbe)ore 1eo1le

are 1@ that is to say she cold have her break)ast in bed i) she liked3 %he had not sacri)iced her inde1endence32es@ Fanny Wil'ot s'iled@ &lia had not endangered her habits3 !hey re'ained sa)e and her habits #oldhave s))ered i) she had 'arried3 !hey/re ogres@ she had said one evening@ hal) laghing@ #hen another 11il@ agirl lately 'arried@ sddenly bethinking her that she #old 'iss her hsband@ had rshed o)) in haste3

!hey/re ogres@ she had said@ laghing gri'ly3 An ogre #old have inter)ered 1erha1s #ith break)ast inbed #ith #alks at da#n do#n to the river3 What #old have ha11ened had shehad children %he took astonishing 1recations against chills@ )atige@ rich )ood@ the #rong )ood@ draghts@ heatedroo's@ ;orneys in the !be3 )or she cold never deter'ine #hich o) these it #as e5actly that broght on thoseterrible headaches that gave her li)e the se'blance o) a battle)ield3 %he #as al#ays engaged in ot#itting the ene'y@ntil it see'ed as i) the 1rsit had its interest cold she have beaten the ene'y )inally she #old have )ond li)e a


9/37

little dll3 As it #as@ the tgOo)O#ar #as 1er1etalon the one side the nightingale or the vie# #hich she loved#ith 1assionyes@ )or vie#s and birds she )elt nothing less than 1assion on the other the da'1 1ath or the horridlong drag 1 a stee1 hill #hich #old certainly 'ake her good )or nothing ne5t day and bring on one o) herheadaches3 When@ there)ore@ )ro' ti'e to ti'e@ she 'anaged her )orces adroitly and broght o)) a visit to Ha'1tonCort the #eek the crocsesthose glossy bright )lo#ers #ere her )avorite#ere at their best@ it #as a victory3 -t#as so'ething that lasted so'ething that 'attered )or ever3 %he strng the a)ternoon on the necklace o) 'e'orabledays@ #hich #as not too long )or her to be able to recall this one or that one this vie#@ that city to )inger it@ to )eelit@ to savor@ sighing@ the ality that 'ade it nie3

-t #as so beati)l last Friday@ she said@ that - deter'ined - 'st go there3 %o she had gone o)) toWaterloo on her great ndertakingto visit Ha'1ton Cortalone3 Natrally@ bt 1erha1s )oolishly@ one 1itied her)or the thing she never asked 1ity )or


10/37

#here the 1latea began to slo1e to#ard the soth3 -n clear #eather cold be seen the 1r1le 'ass o) the 'ontainrange #here the ga1 o1ened onto the desert3

%o'e#hat #ar'ed@ Kar retrned to the #indo# )ro' #hich he had )irst seen the t#o 'en3 !hey #ere nolonger visible3 Hence they 'st have tackled the rise3 !he sky #as not so dark@ )or the sno# had sto11ed )allingdring the night3 !he 'orning had o1ened #ith a dirty light #hich had scarcely beco'e brighter as the ceiling o)clods li)ted3 At t#o in the a)ter0 noon it see'ed as i) the day #ere 'erely beginning3 *t still this #as better thanthose three days #hen the thick sno# #as )alling a'idst nbroken darkness #ith little gsts o) #ind that rattled thedoble door o) the class0 roo'3 !hen Kar had s1ent long hors in his roo'@ leaving it only to go to the shed and)eed the chickens or get so'e coal3 Fortnately the delivery trck )ro' !ad;id@ the nearest village to the north@ hadbroght his s11lies t#o days be)ore the bli$$ard3 -t #old retrn in )orty0eight hors3

*esides@ he had enogh to resist a siege@ )or the little roo' #as clttered #ith bags o) #heat that thead'inistration le)t as a stock to distribte to those o) his 11ils #hose )a'ilies had s))ered )ro' the droght3Actally they had all been victi's becase they #ere all 1oor3 +very day Kar #old distribte a ration to thechildren3 !hey had 'issed it@ he kne#@ dring these bad days3 Possibly one o) the )athers #old co'e this a)ternoonand he cold s11ly the' #ith grain3 -t #as ;st a 'atter o) carrying the' over to the ne5t harvest3 No# shi1loadso) #heat #ere arriving )ro' France and the #orst #as over3 *t it #old be hard to )orget that 1overty@ that ar'y o)ragged ghosts #andering in the snlight@ the 1lateas brned to a cinder 'onth a)ter 'onth@ the earth shriveled 1little by little@ literally scorched@ every stone brsting into dst nder one?s )oot3 !he shee1 had died then bythosands and even a )e# 'en@ here and there@ so'eti'es #ithot anyone?s kno#ing3

-n contrast #ith sch 1overty@ he #ho lived al'ost like a 'onk in his re'ote schoolhose@ nonetheless

satis)ied #ith the little he had and #ith the rogh li)e@ had )elt like a lord #ith his #hite#ashed #alls@ his narro#coch@ his n1ainted shelves@ his #ell@ and his #eekly 1rovision o) #ater and )ood3 And sddenly this sno#@ #ithot#arning@ #ithot the )oretaste o) rain3 !his is the #ay the region #as@ crel to live in@ even #ithot 'en00#ho didn?thel1 'atters either3 *t Kar had been born here +very#here else@ he )elt e5iled3

He ste11ed ot onto the terrace in )ront o) the schoolhose3 !he t#o 'en #ere no# hal)#ay 1 the slo1e3He recogni$ed the horse'an as *aldcci the old gendar'e he had kno#n )or a long ti'e3 *aldcci #as holding onthe end o) a ro1e an Arab #ho #as #alking behind hi' #ith hands bond and head lo#ered3 !he gendar'e #aved agreeting to #hich Kar did not re1ly@ lost as he #as in conte'1lation o) the Arab dressed in a )aded ble ;ellaba@ his)eet in sandals bt covered #ith socks o) heavy ra# #ool@ his head sr'onted by a narro#@ short cheche3 !hey#ere a11roaching3 *aldcci #as holding back his horse in order not to hrt the Arab@ and the gro1 #as advancingslo#ly3

Within earshot@ *aldcci shoted: .ne hor to do the three kilo'eters )ro' +l A'erB Kar did notans#er3 %hort and sare in his thick s#eater he #atched the' cli'b3 Not once had the Arab raised his head3

Hello@ said Kar #hen they got 1 onto the terrace3 Co'e in and #ar' 13 *aldcci 1ain)lly got do#n)ro' his horse #ithot letting go the ro1e3 Fro' nder his bristling 'stache he s'iled at the school'aster3 Hislittle dark eyes@ dee10set nder a tanned )orehead@ and his 'oth srronded #ith #rinkles 'ade hi' look attentiveand stdios3 Kar took the bridle@ led the horse to the shed@ and ca'e back to the t#o 'en@ #ho #ere no# #aiting)or hi' in the school3 He led the' into his roo' - a' going to heat 1 the classroo'@ he said3 We?ll be 'oreco')ortable there3

When he entered the roo' again@ *aldcci #as on the coch3 He had ndone the ro1e tying hi' to theArab@ #ho had sashed near the stove3 His hands still bond@ the cheche 1shed back on his head@ he #as lookingto#ard the #indo#3 At )irst Kar noticed only his hge li1s@ )at@ s'ooth@ al'ost Negroid yet his nose #as straight@his eyes #ere dark and )ll o) )ever3 !he cheche revealed an obstinate )orehead and@ nder the #eathered skin no#rather discolored by the cold@ the #hole )ace had a restless and rebellios look that strck Kar #hen the Arab@trning his )ace to#ard hi'@ looked hi' straight in the eyes3 Go into the other roo'@ said the school'aster? and-?ll 'ake yo so'e 'int tea3 ??!hanks@?? *aldcci said3 What a choreB Ho# - long )or retire'ent3 And addressing

his 1risoner in Arabic: Co'e on@ yo3 !he Arab got 1 and@ slo#ly@ holding his bond #rists in )ront o) hi'@ #entinto the classroo'3With the tea@ Kar broght a chair3 *t *aldcci #as already enthroned on the nearest 11il?s desk and the

Arab had satted against the teacher?s 1lat)or' )acing the stove@ #hich stood bet#een the desk and the #indo#3When he held ot the glass o) tea to the 1risoner@ Kar hesitated at the sight o) his bond hands3 He 'ight 1erha1sbe ntied3 %re@ said *aldcci3 !hat #as )or the tri13 He started to get to his )eet3 *t Kar@ setting the glass onthe )loor@ had knelt beside the Arab3 Withot saying anything@ the Arab #atched hi' #ith his )everish eyes3 .nce hishands #ere )ree@ he rbbed his s#ollen #rists against each other@ took the glass o) tea@ and scked 1 the brningliid in s#i)t little si1s3


11/37

Good@ said Kar3 And #here are yo headed*aldcci #ithdre# his 'stache )ro' the tea3 Here@ %on3.dd 11ilsB And yo?re s1ending the nightNo3 -?' going back to +l A'er3 And yo #ill deliver this )ello# to !ingit3 He is e51ected at 1olice

headarters3*aldcci #as looking at Kar #ith a )riendly little s'ile3What?s this story asked the school'aster3 Are yo 1lling 'y legNo@ son3 !hose are the orders3!he orders -?' not 3 3 3 Kar hesitated@ not #anting to hrt the old Corsican3 - 'ean@ that?s not 'y ;ob3WhatB What?s the 'eaning o) that -n #arti'e 1eo1le do all kinds o) ;obs3!hen -?ll #ait )or the declaration o) #arB*aldcci nodded3.3 3 *t the orders e5ist and they concern yo too3 !hings are bre#ing@ it a11ears3 !here is talk o) a

)orthco'ing revolt3 We are 'obili$ed@ in a#ay3Kar still had his obstinate look3,isten@ %on@ *aldcci said3 - like yo and yo 'st nderstand3 !here?s only a do$en o) s at +l A'er to

1atrol throghot the #hole territory o) a s'all de1art'ent and - 'st get back in a hrry3 - #as told to hand thisgy over to yo and retrn #ithot delay3 He coldn?t be ke1t there3 His village #as beginning to stir they #anted totake hi' back3 2o 'st take hi' to !ingit to'orro# be)ore the day is over3 !#enty kilo'eters sholdn?t )a$e ahsky )ello# like yo3 A)ter that@ all #ill be over3 2o?ll co'e back to yor 11ils and yor co')ortable li)e3

*ehind the #all the horse cold be heard snorting and 1a#ing the earth3 Kar #as looking ot the #indo#3Kecidedly@ the #eather #as clearing and the light #as increasing over the sno#y 1latea3 When all the sno# had'elted@ the sn #old take over again and once 'ore #old brn the )ields o) stone3 For days@ still@ the nchangingsky #old shed its dry light on the solitary e51anse #here nothing had any connection #ith 'an3

A)ter all@ he said@ trning arond to#ard *aldcci@ #hat did he do And@ be)ore the gendar'e hado1ened his 'oth@ he asked: Koes he s1eak French

No@ not a #ord3 We had been looking )or hi' )or a 'onth@ bt they #ere hiding hi'3 He killed his cosin3-s he against s- don?t think so3 *t yo can never be sre3Why did he killA )a'ily sabble@ - think one o#ned the other grain@ it see's3 -t?s not all clear3 -n short@ he killed his

cosin #ith a billhook3 2o kno#@ like a shee1@ kreeckB*aldcci 'ade the gestre o) dra#ing a blade across his throat and the Arab@ his attention attracted@

#atched hi' #ith a sort o) an5iety3 Ka' )elt a sdden #rath against the 'all@ against all 'en #ith their rotten s1ite@their tireless hates@ their blood lst3

*t the kettle #as singing on the stove3 He served *aldcci 'ore tea@ hesitated@ then served the Arab again@#ho@ a second ti'e@ drank avidly his raised ar's 'ade the ;ellaba )all o1en and the school'aster sa# his thin@'sclar chest3

!hanks@ kid@ *aldcci said3 And no#@ -?' o))3He got 1 and #ent to#ard the Arab@ taking a s'all ro1e )ro' his 1ocket3What are yo doing Kar asked dryly3*aldcci@ disconcerted@ sho#ed hi' the ro1e3Kon?t bother3!he old gendar'e hesitated3 -t?s 1 to yo3 .) corse@ yo are ar'ed- have 'y shotgn3Where

-n the trnk32o oght to have it near yor bed3Why - have nothing to )ear32o?re cra$y@ son3 -) there?s an 1rising@ no one is sa)e@ #e?re all in the sa'e boat3-?ll de)end 'ysel)3 -?ll have ti'e to see the' co'ing3*aldcci began to lagh@ then sddenly the 'stache covered the #hite teeth32o?ll have ti'e .33 !hat?s ;st #hat - #as saying3 2o have al#ays been a little cracked3 !hat?s #hy -

like yo@ 'y son #as like that3At the sa'e ti'e he took ot his revolver and 1t it on the desk3ee1 it - don?t need t#o #ea1ons )ro' here to +l A'er3


12/37


13/37

A)ter yo3 -?ll eat too3!he thick li1s o1ened slightly3 !he Arab hesitated@ then bit into the cake deter'inedly3!he 'eal over@ the Arab looked at the school'aster3 Are yo the ;dgeNo@ -?' si'1ly kee1ing yo ntil to'orro#3Why do yo eat #ith 'e-?' hngry3!he Arab )ell silent3 Kar got 1 and #ent ot3 He broght back a )olding bed )ro' the shed@ set it 1

bet#een the table and the stove@ 1er1endiclar to his o#n bed3 Fro' a large sitcase #hich@ 1right in a corner@served as a shel) )or 1a1ers@ he took t#o blankets and arranged the' on the ca'1 bed3 !hen he sto11ed@ )elt seless@and sat do#n on his bed3 !here #as nothing 'ore to do or to get ready3 He had to look at this 'an3 He looked athi'@ there)ore@ trying to i'agine his )ace brsting #ith rage3 He coldn?t do so3 He cold see nothing bt the darkyet shining eyes and the ani'al 'oth3

Why did yo kill hi' he asked in a voice #hose hostile tone sr1rised hi'3!he Arab looked a#ay3He ran a#ay3 - ran a)ter hi'3He raised his eyes to Kar again and they #ere )ll o) a sort o) #oe)l interrogation3 No# #hat #ill they

do to 'eAre yo a)raidHe sti))ened@ trning his eyes a#ay3Are yo sorry

!he Arab stared at hi' o1en'othed3 .bviosly he did not nderstand3 Kar?s annoyance #as gro#ing3 Atthe sa'e ti'e he )elt a#k#ard and sel)0conscios #ith his big body #edged bet#een the t#o beds3

,ie do#n there@ he said i'1atiently3 !hat?s yor bed3!he Arab didn?t 'ove3 He called to Kar:!ell 'eB!he school'aster looked at hi'3-s the gendar'e co'ing back to'orro#- don?t kno#3Are yo co'ing #ith s- don?t kno#3 Why!he 1risoner got 1 and stretched ot on to1 o) the blankets@ his )eet to#ard the #indo#3 !he light )ro' the

electric blb shone straight into his eyes and he closed the' at once3Why Kar re1eated@ standing beside the bed3

!he Arab o1ened his eyes nder the blinding light and looked at hi'@ trying not to blink3Co'e #ith s@ he said3

-n the 'iddle o) the night@ Kar #as still not aslee13 He had gone to bed a)ter ndressing co'1letely hegenerally sle1t naked3 *t #hen he sddenly reali$ed that he had nothing on@ he hesitated3 He )elt vlnerable and thete'1tation ca'e to hi' to 1t his clothes back on3 !hen he shrgged his sholders a)ter all@ he #asn?t a child and@ i)need be@ he cold break his adversary in t#o3 Fro' his bed he cold observe hi'@ lying on his back@ still 'otionless#ith his eyes closed nder the harsh light3 When Kar trned ot the light@ the darkness see'ed to coaglate all o) asdden3 ,ittle by little@ the night ca'e back to li)e in the #indo# #here the starless sky #as stirring gently3 !heschool'aster soon 'ade ot the body lying at his )eet3 !he Arab still did not 'ove@ bt his eyes see'ed o1en3 Alight #ind #as 1ro#ling arond the schoolhose3 Perha1s it #old drive a#ay the clods and the sin #oldrea11ear3

Kring the night the #ind increased3 !he hens )lttered a little and then #ere silent3 !he Arab trned over

on his side #ith his back to Kar@ #ho thoght he heard hi' 'oan3 !hen he listened )or his gest?s breathing@beco'e heavier and 'ore reglar3 He listened to that breath so close to hi' and 'sed #ithot being able to go toslee13 -n this roo' #here he had been slee1ing alone )or a year@ this 1resence bothered hi'3 *t it bothered hi' alsoby i'1osing on hi' a sort o) brotherhood he kne# #ell bt re)sed to acce1t in the 1resent circ'stances3 Men #hoshare the sa'e roo's@ soldiers or 1risoners@ develo1 a strange alliance as i)@ having cast o)) their ar'or #ith theirclothing@ they )raterni$ed every evening@ over and above their di))erences@ in the ancient co''nity o) drea' and)atige3 *t Kar shook hi'sel) he didn?t like sch 'sings@ and it #as essential to slee13

A little later@ ho#ever@ #hen the Arab stirred slightly@ the school'aster #as still not aslee13 When the1risoner 'ade a second 'ove@ he sti))ened@ on the alert3 !he Arab #as li)ting hi'sel) slo#ly on his ar's #ith al'ostthe 'otion o) a slee1#alker3 %eated 1right in bed@ he #aited 'otionless #ithot trning his head to#ard Kar@ as i)


14/37

he #ere listening attentively3 Kar did not stir it had ;st occrred to hi' that the revolver #as still in the dra#er o)his desk3 -t #as better to act at once3 2et he contined to observe the 1risoner@ #ho@ #ith the sa'e slithery 'otion@1t his )eet on the grond@ #aited again@ then began to stand 1 slo#ly3 Kar #as abot to call ot to hi' #hen theArab began to #alk@ in a ite natral bt e5traordinarily silent #ay3 He #as heading to#ard the door at the end o)the roo' that o1ened into the shed3 He li)ted the latch #ith 1recation and #ent ot@ 1shing the door behind hi'bt #ithot shtting it3 Kar had not stirred3 He is rnning a#ay@ he 'erely thoght3 Good riddanceB 2et helistened attentively3 !he hens #ere not )lttering the gest 'st be on the 1latea3 A )aint sond o) #ater reachedhi'@ and he didn?t kno# #hat it #as ntil the Arab again stood )ra'ed in the door#ay@ closed the door care)lly@ andca'e back to bed #ithot a sond3 !hen Kar trned his back on hi' and )ell aslee13 %till later he see'ed@ )ro' thede1ths o) his slee1@ to hear )rtive ste1s arond the schoolhose3 -?' drea'ingB -?' drea'ingB he re1eated tohi'sel)3 And he #ent on slee1ing3

When he a#oke@ the sky #as clear the loose #indo# let in a cold@ 1re air3 !he Arab #as aslee1@ hnched1 nder the blankets no#@ his 'oth o1en@ tterly rela5ed3 *t #hen Kar shook hi'@ he started dread)lly staringat Kar #ith #ild eyes as i) he had never seen hi' and sch a )rightened e51ression that the school'aster ste11edback3 Kon?t be a)raid3 -t?s 'e3 2o 'st eat3 !he Arab nodded his head and said yes3 Cal' had retrned to his )ace@bt his e51ression #as vacant and listless3

!he co))ee #as ready3 !hey drank it seated together on the )olding bed as they 'nched their 1ieces o) thecake3 !hen Kar led the Arab nder the shed and sho#ed hi' the )acet #here he #ashed3 He #ent back into theroo'@ )olded the blankets and the bed@ 'ade his o#n bed and 1t the roo' in order3 !hen he #ent throgh theclassroo' and ot onto the terrace3 !he sn #as already rising in the ble sky a so)t@ bright light #as bathing the

deserted 1latea3 .n the ridge the sno# #as 'elting in s1ots3 !alc stones #ere abot to rea11ear3 Croched on theedge o) the 1latea@ the school'aster looked at the deserted e51anse3 He thoght o) *aldcci3 He had hrt hi'@ )orhe had sent hi' o)) in a #ay as i) he didn?t #ant to be associated #ith hi'3 He cold still hear the gendar'e?s)are#ell and@ #ithot kno#ing #hy@ he )elt strangely e'1ty and vlnerable3 At that 'o'ent@ )ro' the other side o)the schoolhose@ the 1risoner coghed3 Kar listened to hi' al'ost des1ite hi'sel) and then )rios@ thre# a 1ebblethat #histled throgh the air be)ore sinking into the sno#3 !hat 'an?s st1id cri'e revolted hi'@ bt to hand hi'over #as contrary to honor3 Merely thinking o) it 'ade hi' s'art #ith h'iliation3 And he crsed at one and thesa'e ti'e his o#n 1eo1le #ho had sent hi' this Arab and the Arab too #ho had dared to kill and not 'anaged toget a#ay3 Kar got 1@ #alked in a circle on the terrace@ #aited 'otionless@ and then #ent back into the schoolhose3!he Arab@ leaning over the ce'ent )loor o) the shed@ #as #ashing his teeth #ith t#o )ingers3 Kar looked at hi' andsaid: Co'e3 He #ent back into the roo' ahead o) the 1risoner3 He sli11ed a hnting0;acket on over his s#eaterand 1t on #alking0shoes3 %tanding@ he #aited ntil the Arab had 1t on his cheche and sandals3 !hey #ent into theclassroo' and the school'aster 1ointed to the e5it@ saying: Go ahead3 !he )ello# didn?t bdge3 -?' co'ing@ said

Kar3 !he Arab #ent ot3 Kar #ent back into the roo' and 'ade a 1ackage o) 1ieces o) Rsk@ dates@ and sgar3 -nthe classroo'@ be)ore going ot@ he hesitated a second in )ront o) his desk@ then crossed the threshold and locked thedoor3 !hat?s the #ay@ he said3 He started to#ard the east@ )ollo#ed by the 1risoner3 *t@ a short distance )ro' theschoolhose@ he thoght he heard a slight sond behind the'3 He retraced his ste1s and e5a'ined the srrondingso) the hose@ there #as no one there3 !he Arab #atched hi' #ithot see'ing to nderstand3 Co'e on@ said Kar3!hey #alked )or an hor and rested beside a shar1 1eak o) li'estone3 !he sno# #as 'elting )aster and )aster andthe sn #as drinking 1 the 1ddles at once@ ra1idly cleaning the 1latea@ #hich gradally dried and vibrated like theair itsel)3 When they res'ed #alking@ the grond rang nder their )eet3 Fro' ti'e to ti'e a bird rent the s1ace in)ront o) the' #ith a ;oy)l cry3 Kar breathed in dee1ly the )resh 'orning light3 He )elt a sort o) ra1tre be)ore thevast )a'iliar e51anse@ no# al'ost entirely yello# nder its do'e o) ble sky3 !hey #alked an hor 'ore@descending to#ard the soth3 !hey reached a level height 'ade 1 o) cr'bly rocks3 Fro' there on@ the 1lateaslo1ed do#n@ east#ard@ to#ard a lo# 1lain #here there #ere a )e# s1indly trees and@ to the soth@ to#ardotcro11ings o) rock that gave the landsca1e a chaotic look3

Kar srveyed the t#o directions3 !here #as nothing bt the sky on the hori$on3 Not a 'an cold be seen3He trned to#ard the Arab@ #ho #as looking at hi' blankly3 Kar held ot the 1ackage to hi'3 !ake it@ he said3!here are dates@ bread@ and sgar3 2o can hold ot )or t#o days3 Here are a thosand )rancs too3 !he Arab tookthe 1ackage and the 'oney bt ke1t his )ll hands at chest level as i) he didn?t kno# #hat to do #ith #hat #as beinggiven hi'3 No# look@ the school'aster said as he 1ointed in the direction o) the east@ there?s the #ay to !ingit32o have a t#o0hor #alk3 At !ingit yo?ll )ind the ad'inistration and the 1olice3 !hey are e51ecting yo3 !heArab looked to#ard the east@ still holding the 1ackage and the 'oney against his chest3 Kar took his elbo# andtrned hi' rather roghly to#ard the soth3 At the )oot o) the height on #hich they stood cold be seen a )aint 1ath3

!hat?s the trail across the 1latea3 -n a day?s #alk )ro' here yo?ll )ind 1astrelands and the )irst no'ads3!hey?ll take yo in and shelter yo according to their la#3 !he Arab had no# trned to#ard Kar and a sort o)


15/37

1anic #as visible in his e51ression3 ,isten@ he said3 Kar shook his head: No@ be iet3 No# -?' leaving yo3 Hetrned his back on hi'@ took t#o long ste1s in the direction o) the school@ looking hesitantly at the 'otionless Araband started o)) again3 For a )e# 'intes he heard nothing bt his o#n ste1 resonding on the cold grond and didnot trn his head3 A 'o'ent later ho#ever he trned arond3 !he Arab #as still there on the edge o) the hill his ar'shanging no#@ and he #as looking at the school'aster3 Kar )elt so'ething rise in his throat3 *t he s#ore #ithi'1atience@ #aved vagely@ and started o)) again3 He had already gone so'e distance #hen he again sto11ed andlooked3 !here #as no longer anyone on the hill3

Kar hesitated3 !he sn #as no# rather high in the sky and #as beginning to beat do#n on his head3 !heschool'aster retraced his ste1s at )irst so'e#hat ncertainly then #ith decision3 When he reached the little hill he#as bathed in s#eat3 He cli'bed it as )ast as he cold and sto11ed3 .t o) breath at the to13 !he rock0)ields to thesoth stood ot shar1ly against the ble sky bt on the 1lain to the east a stea'y heat #as already rising3 And in thatslight ha$e Kar #ith heavy heart 'ade ot the Arab #alking slo#ly on the road to 1rison3

A little later standing be)ore the #indo# o) the classroo' the school 'aster #as #atching the clear lightbathing the #hole sr)ace o) the 1latea bt he hardly sa# it3 *ehind hi' on the blackboard a'ong the #indingFrench rivers s1ra#led the cl'sily chalked01 #ords he had ;st read3 2o handed over or brother3 2o #ill 1ay)or this3 Kar looked at the sky@ the 1latea and beyond the invisible lands stretching all the #ay to the sea3 -n thisvast landsca1e he had loved so 'ch@ he #as alone3

# R&SE F&R EM!$*

Willia' Falkner

-WH+N Miss +'ily Grierson died@ or #hole to#n #ent to her )neral: the 'en throgh a sort o) res1ect)l

a))ection )or a )allen 'on'ent@ the #o'en 'ostly ot o) criosity to see the inside o) her hose@ #hich no one savean old 'an0servant00a co'bined gardener and cook00had seen in at least ten years3

-t #as a big@ sarish )ra'e hose that had once been #hite@ decorated #ith c1olas and s1ires and scrolledbalconies in the heavily lightso'e style o) the seventies@ set on #hat had once been or 'ost select street3 *tgarages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the agst na'es o) that neighborhood only Miss+'ily?s hose #as le)t@ li)ting its stbborn and coettish decay above the cotton #agons and the gasoline 1'1s0aneyesore a'ong eyesores3 And no# Miss +'ily had gone to ;oin the re1resentatives o) those agst na'es #herethey lay in the cedar0be'sed ce'etery a'ong the ranked and anony'os graves o) "nion and Con)ederate soldiers#ho )ell at the battle o) &e))erson3

Alive@ Miss +'ily had been a tradition@ a dty@ and a care a sort o) hereditary obligation 1on the to#n@dating )ro' that day in 9JQD #hen Colonel %artoris@ the 'ayor00he #ho )athered the edict that no Negro #o'anshold a11ear on the streets #ithot an a1ron0re'itted her ta5es@ the dis1ensation dating )ro' the death o) her )atheron into 1er1etity3 Not that Miss +'ily #old have acce1ted charity3 Colonel %artoris invented an involved tale tothe e))ect that Miss +'ily?s )ather had loaned 'oney to the to#n@ #hich the to#n@ as a 'atter o) bsiness@ 1re)erredthis #ay o) re1aying3 .nly a 'an o) Colonel %artoris? generation and thoght cold have invented it@ and only a#o'an cold have believed it3

When the ne5t generation@ #ith its 'ore 'odern ideas@ beca'e 'ayors and alder'en@ this arrange'entcreated so'e little dissatis)action3 .n the )irst o) the year they 'ailed her a ta5 notice3 Febrary ca'e@ and there #asno re1ly3 !hey #rote her a )or'al letter@ asking her to call at the sheri))?s o))ice at her convenience3 A #eek later the'ayor #rote her hi'sel)@ o))ering to call or to send his car )or her@ and received in re1ly a note on 1a1er o) anarchaic sha1e@ in a thin@ )lo#ing calligra1hy in )aded ink@ to the e))ect that she no longer #ent ot at all3 !he ta5notice #as also enclosed@ #ithot co''ent3

!hey called a s1ecial 'eeting o) the *oard o) Alder'en3 A de1tation #aited 1on her@ knocked at the doorthrogh #hich no visitor had 1assed since she ceased giving china01ainting lessons eight or ten years earlier3 !hey#ere ad'itted by the old Negro into a di' hall )ro' #hich a stair#ay 'onted into still 'ore shado#3 -t s'elled o)dst and disse00a close@ dank s'ell3 !he Negro led the' into the 1arlor3 -t #as )rnished in heavy@ leather0covered)rnitre3 When the Negro o1ened the blinds o) one #indo#@ they cold see that the leather #as cracked and #henthey sat do#n@ a )aint dst rose slggishly abot their thighs@ s1inning #ith slo# 'otes in the single sn0ray3 .n atarnished gilt easel be)ore the )ire1lace stood a crayon 1ortrait o) Miss +'ily?s )ather3

!hey rose #hen she entered00a s'all@ )at #o'an in black@ #ith a thin gold chain descending to her #aistand vanishing into her belt@ leaning on an ebony cane #ith a tarnished gold head3 Her skeleton #as s'all and s1are1erha1s that #as #hy #hat #old have been 'erely 1l'1ness in another #as obesity in her3 %he looked bloated@


16/37

like a body long sb'erged in 'otionless #ater@ and o) that 1allid he3 Her eyes@ lost in the )atty ridges o) her )ace@looked like t#o s'all 1ieces o) coal 1ressed into a l'1 o) dogh as they 'oved )ro' one )ace to another #hile thevisitors stated their errand3

%he did not ask the' to sit3 %he ;st stood in the door and listened ietly ntil the s1okes'an ca'e to ast'bling halt3 !hen they cold hear the invisible #atch ticking at the end o) the gold chain3

Her voice #as dry and cold3 - have no ta5es in &e))erson3 Colonel %artoris e51lained it to 'e3 Perha1s oneo) yo can gain access to the city records and satis)y yorselves3

*t #e have3 We are the city athorities@ Miss +'ily3 Kidn?t yo get a notice )ro' the sheri))@ signed byhi'

- received a 1a1er@ yes@ Miss +'ily said3 Perha1s he considers hi'sel) the sheri)) 3 3 3 - have no ta5es in&e))erson3

*t there is nothing on the books to sho# that@ yo see We 'st go by the00%ee Colonel %artoris3 - have no ta5es in &e))erson3*t@ Miss +'ily00%ee Colonel %artoris3


17/37

her )ather #as not dead3 %he did that )or three days@ #ith the 'inisters calling on her@ and the doctors@ trying to1ersade her to let the' dis1ose o) the body3 &st as they #ere abot to resort to la# and )orce@ she broke do#n@ andthey bried her )ather ickly3

We did not say she #as cra$y then3 We believed she had to do that3 We re'e'bered all the yong 'en her)ather had driven a#ay@ and #e kne# that #ith nothing le)t@ she #old have to cling to that #hich had robbed her@ as1eo1le #ill3

---%H+ WA% %-C )or a long ti'e3 When #e sa# her again@ her hair #as ct short@ 'aking her look like a

girl@ #ith a vage rese'blance to those angels in colored chrch #indo#s00sort o) tragic and serene3!he to#n had ;st let the contracts )or 1aving the side#alks@ and in the s''er a)ter her )ather?s death they

began the #ork3 !he constrction co'1any ca'e #ith riggers and 'les and 'achinery@ and a )ore'an na'edHo'er *arron@ a 2ankee00a big@ dark@ ready 'an@ #ith a big voice and eyes lighter than his )ace3 !he little boys#old )ollo# in gro1s to hear hi' css the riggers@ and the riggers singing in ti'e to the rise and )all o) 1icks3Pretty soon he kne# everybody in to#n3 Whenever yo heard a lot o) laghing any#here abot the sare@ Ho'er*arron #old be in the center o) the gro13 Presently #e began to see hi' and Miss +'ily on %nday a)ternoonsdriving in the yello#0#heeled bggy and the 'atched tea' o) bays )ro' the livery stable3

At )irst #e #ere glad that Miss +'ily #old have an interest@ becase the ladies all said@ .) corse aGrierson #old not think seriosly o) a Northerner@ a day laborer3 *t there #ere still others@ older 1eo1le@ #ho saidthat even grie) cold not case a real lady to )orget noblesse oblige0 #ithot calling it noblesse oblige3 !hey ;st

said@ Poor +'ily3 Her kins)olk shold co'e to her3 %he had so'e kin in Alaba'a bt years ago her )ather had)allen ot #ith the' over the estate o) old lady Wyatt@ the cra$y #o'an@ and there #as no co''nication bet#eenthe t#o )a'ilies3 !hey had not even been re1resented at the )neral3

And as soon as the old 1eo1le said@ Poor +'ily@ the #his1ering began3 Ko yo s11ose it ?s really sothey said to one another3 .) corse it is3 What else cold 3 3 3 !his behind their hands rstling o) craned silk andsatin behind ;alosies closed 1on the sn o) %nday a)ternoon as the thin@ s#i)t clo10clo10clo1 o) the 'atched tea'1assed: Poor +'ily3

%he carried her head high enogh00even #hen #e believed that she #as )allen3 -t #as as i) she de'anded'ore than ever the recognition o) her dignity as the last Grierson as i) it had #anted that toch o) earthiness torea))ir' her i'1erviosness3 ,ike #hen she boght the rat 1oison@ the arsenic3 !hat #as over a year a)ter they hadbegn to say Poor +'ily@ and #hile the t#o )e'ale cosins #ere visiting her3

- #ant so'e 1oison@ she said to the drggist3 %he #as over thirty then@ still a slight #o'an@ thoghthinner than sal@ #ith cold@ haghty black eyes in a )ace the )lesh o) #hich #as strained across the te'1les and

abot the eyesockets as yo i'agine a lighthose0kee1er?s )ace oght to look3 - #ant so'e 1oison@ she said32es@ Miss +'ily3 What kind For rats and sch -?d reco'00- #ant the best yo have3 - don?t care #hat kind3!he drggist na'ed several3 !hey?ll kill anything 1 to an ele1hant3 *t #hat yo #ant is00Arsenic@ Miss +'ily said3 -s that a good one-s 3 3 3 arsenic 2es@ 'a?a'3 *t #hat yo #ant00- #ant arsenic3!he drggist looked do#n at her3 %he looked back at hi'@ erect@ her )ace like a strained )lag3 Why@ o)

corse@ the drggist said3 -) that?s #hat yo #ant3 *t the la# reires yo to tell #hat yo are going to se it )or3Miss +'ily ;st stared at hi'@ her head tilted back in order to look hi' eye )or eye@ ntil he looked a#ay

and #ent and got the arsenic and #ra11ed it 13 !he Negro delivery boy broght her the 1ackage the drggist didn?tco'e back3 When she o1ened the 1ackage at ho'e there #as #ritten on the bo5@ nder the skll and bones: Forrats3

-(%o !H+ N+! day #e all said@ %he #ill kill hersel) and #e said it #old be the best thing3 When she

had )irst begn to be seen #ith Ho'er *arron@ #e had said@ %he #ill 'arry hi'3 !hen #e said@ %he #ill 1ersadehi' yet@ becase Ho'er hi'sel) had re'arked00he liked 'en@ and it #as kno#n that he drank #ith the yonger'en in the +lks? Clb00that he #as not a 'arrying 'an3 ,ater #e said@ Poor +'ily behind the ;alosies as they1assed on %nday a)ternoon in the glittering bggy@ Miss +'ily #ith her head high and Ho'er *arron #ith his hatcocked and a cigar in his teeth@ reins and #hi1 in a yello# glove3

!hen so'e o) the ladies began to say that it #as a disgrace to the to#n and a bad e5a'1le to the yong1eo1le3 !he 'en did not #ant to inter)ere@ bt at last the ladies )orced the *a1tist 'inister00Miss +'ily?s 1eo1le


18/37

#ere +1isco1al00 to call 1on her3 He #old never divlge #hat ha11ened dring that intervie#@ bt he re)sed to goback again3 !he ne5t %nday they again drove abot the streets@ and the )ollo#ing day the 'inister?s #i)e #rote toMiss +'ily?s relations in Alaba'a3

%o she had blood0kin nder her roo) again and #e sat back to #atch develo1'ents3 At )irst nothingha11ened3 !hen #e #ere sre that they #ere to be 'arried3 We learned that Miss +'ily had been to the ;e#eler?sand ordered a 'an?s toilet set in silver@ #ith the letters H3 *3 on each 1iece3 !#o days later #e learned that she hadboght a co'1lete ot)it o) 'en?s clothing@ inclding a nightshirt@ and #e said@ !hey are 'arried3 We #ere reallyglad3 We #ere glad becase the t#o )e'ale cosins #ere even 'ore Grierson than Miss +'ily had ever been3

%o #e #ere not sr1rised #hen Ho'er *arron00the streets had been )inished so'e ti'e since00#as gone3We #ere a little disa11ointed that there #as not a 1blic blo#ing0o))@ bt #e believed that he had gone on to 1re1are)or Miss +'ily?s co'ing@ or to give her a chance to get rid o) the cosins3


19/37

Already #e kne# that there #as one roo' in that region above stairs #hich no one had seen in )orty years@and #hich #old have to be )orced3 !hey #aited ntil Miss +'ily #as decently in the grond be)ore they o1ened it3

!he violence o) breaking do#n the door see'ed to )ill this roo' #ith 1ervading dst3 A thin@ acrid 1all aso) the to'b see'ed to lie every#here 1on this roo' decked and )rnished as )or a bridal: 1on the valance crtainso) )aded rose color@ 1on the rose0shaded lights@ 1on the dressing table@ 1on the delicate array o) crystal and the'an?s toilet things backed #ith tarnished silver@ silver so tarnished that the 'onogra' #as obscred3 A'ong the'lay a collar and tie@ as i) they had ;st been re'oved@ #hich@ li)ted@ le)t 1on the sr)ace a 1ale crescent in the dst3"1on a chair hng the sit@ care)lly )olded beneath it the t#o 'te shoes and the discarded socks3

!he 'an hi'sel) lay in the bed3For a long #hile #e ;st stood there@ looking do#n at the 1ro)ond and )leshless grin3 !he body had

a11arently once lain in the attitde o) an e'brace@ bt no# the long slee1 that otlasts love@ that coners even thegri'ace o) love@ had cckolded hi'3 What #as le)t o) hi'@ rotted beneath #hat #as le)t o) the nightshirt@ hadbeco'e ine5tricable )ro' the bed in #hich he lay and 1on hi' and 1on the 1illo# beside hi' lay that evencoating o) the 1atient and biding dst3

!hen #e noticed that in the second 1illo# #as the indentation o) a head3 .ne o) s li)ted so'ething )ro' it@and leaning )or#ard@ that )aint and invisible dst dry and acrid in the nostrils@ #e sa# a long strand o) iron0gray hair3

T%E $&TTER*

%hirley &ackson

!he 'orning o) &ne =Ith #as clear and snny@ #ith the )resh #ar'th o) a )ll0s''er day the )lo#ers#ere blosso'ing 1ro)sely and the grass #as richly green3 !he 1eo1le o) the village began to gather in the sare@bet#een the 1ost o))ice and the bank@ arond ten o?clock in so'e to#ns there #ere so 'any 1eo1le that the lotterytook t#o days and had to be started on &ne 9=th@ bt in this village@ #here there #ere only abot three hndred1eo1le@ the #hole lottery took less than t#o hors@ so it cold begin at ten o?clock in the 'orning and still be throghin ti'e to allo# the villagers to get ho'e )or noon dinner3

!he children asse'bled )irst@ o) corse3 %chool #as recently over )or the s''er@ and the )eeling o) libertysat neasily on 'ost o) the' they tended to gather together ietly )or a #hile be)ore they broke into boisteros1lay@ and their talk #as still o) the classroo' and the teacher@ o) books and re1ri'ands3 *obby Martin had alreadyst))ed his 1ockets )ll o) stones@ and the other boys soon )ollo#ed his e5a'1le@ selecting the s'oothest androndest stones *obby and Harry &ones and Kickie Kelacroi500 the villagers 1rononced this na'e Kellacroy00eventally 'ade a great 1ile o) stones in one corner o) the sare and garded it against the raids o) the other boys3

!he girls stood aside@ talking a'ong the'selves@ looking over their sholders at rolled in the dst or clng to thehands o) their older brothers or sisters3

%oon the 'en began to gather@ srveying their o#n children@ s1eaking o) 1lanting and rain@ tractors andta5es3 !hey stood together@ a#ay )ro' the 1ile o) stones in the corner@ and their ;okes #ere iet and they s'iledrather than laghed3 !he #o'en@ #earing )aded hose dresses and s#eaters@ ca'e shortly a)ter their 'en)olk3 !heygreeted one another and e5changed bits o) gossi1 as they #ent to ;oin their hsbands3 %oon the #o'en@ standing bytheir hsbands@ began to call to their children@ and the children ca'e relctantly@ having to be called )or or )iveti'es3 *obby Martin dcked nder his 'other?s gras1ing hand and ran@ laghing@ back to the 1ile o) stones3 His)ather s1oke 1 shar1ly@ and *obby ca'e ickly and took his 1lace bet#een his )ather and his oldest brother3

!he lottery #as condcted00as #ere the sare dances@ the teen clb@ the Hallo#een 1rogra'00by Mr3%''ers@ #ho had ti'e and energy to devote to civic activities3 He #as a rond0)aced@ ;ovial 'an and he ran thecoal bsiness@ and 1eo1le #ere sorry )or hi'@ becase he had no children and his #i)e #as a scold3 When he arrivedin the sare@ carrying the black #ooden bo5@ there #as a 'r'r o) conversation a'ong the villagers@ and he

#aved and called3 ,ittle late today@ )olks3 !he 1ost'aster@ Mr3 Graves@ )ollo#ed hi'@ carrying a three0 leggedstool@ and the stool #as 1t in the center o) the sare and Mr3 %''ers set the black bo5 do#n on it3 !he villagerske1t their distance@ leaving a s1ace bet#een the'selves and the stool3 And #hen Mr3 %''ers said@ %o'e o) yo)ello#s #ant to give 'e a hand there #as a hesitation be)ore t#o 'en3 Mr3 Martin and his oldest son@ *a5ter@ ca'e)or#ard to hold the bo5 steady on the stool #hile Mr3 %''ers stirred 1 the 1a1ers inside it3

!he original 1ara1hernalia )or the lottery had been lost long ago@ and the black bo5 no# resting on the stoolhad been 1t into se even be)ore .ld Man Warner@ the oldest 'an in to#n@ #as born3 Mr3 %''ers s1oke)reently to the villagers abot 'aking a ne# bo5@ bt no one liked to 1set even as 'ch tradition as #asre1resented by the black bo53 !here #as a story that the 1resent bo5 had been 'ade #ith so'e 1ieces o) the bo5 thathad 1receded it@ the one that had been constrcted #hen the )irst 1eo1le settled do#n to 'ake a village here3 +very


20/37

year@ a)ter the lottery@ Mr3 %''ers began talking again abot a ne# bo5@ bt every year the sb;ect #as allo#ed to)ade o)) #ithot anything?s being done3 !he black bo5 gre# shabbier each year: by no# it #as no longer co'1letelyblack bt s1lintered badly along one side to sho# the original #ood color@ and in so'e 1laces )aded or stained3

Mr3 Martin and his oldest son@ *a5ter@ held the black bo5 secrely on the stool ntil Mr3 %''ers hadstirred the 1a1ers thoroghly #ith his hand3 *ecase so 'ch o) the rital had been )orgotten or discarded@ Mr3%''ers had been sccess)l in having sli1s o) 1a1er sbstitted )or the chi1s o) #ood that had been sed )orgenerations3 Chi1s o) #ood@ Mr3 %''ers had arged@ had been all very #ell #hen the village #as tiny@ bt no#that the 1o1lation #as 'ore than three hndred and likely to kee1 on gro#ing@ it #as necessary to se so'ethingthat #old )it 'ore easily into he black bo53 !he night be)ore the lottery@ Mr3 %''ers and Mr3 Graves 'ade 1 thesli1s o) 1a1er and 1t the' in the bo5@ and it #as then taken to the sa)e o) Mr3 %''ers? coal co'1any and locked1 ntil Mr3 %''ers #as ready to take it to the sare ne5t 'orning3 !he rest o) the year@ the bo5 #as 1t #ay@so'eti'es one 1lace@ so'eti'es another it had s1ent one year in Mr3 Graves?s barn and another year nder)oot inthe 1ost o))ice@ and so'eti'es it #as set on a shel) in the Martin grocery and le)t there3

!here #as a great deal o) )ssing to be done be)ore Mr3 %''ers declared the lottery o1en3 !here #ere thelists to 'ake 100o) heads o) )a'ilies@ heads o) hoseholds in each )a'ily@ 'e'bers o) each hosehold in each)a'ily3 !here #as the 1ro1er s#earing0in o) Mr3 %''ers by the 1ost'aster@ as the o))icial o) the lottery at oneti'e@ so'e 1eo1le re'e'bered@ there had been a recital o) so'e sort@ 1er)or'ed by the o))icial o) the lottery@ a1er)nctory3 tneless chant that had been rattled o)) dly each year so'e 1eo1le believed that the o))icial o) thelottery sed to stand ;st so #hen he said or sang it@ others believed that he #as s11osed to #alk a'ong the 1eo1le@bt years and years ago this 1art o) the rital had been allo#ed to la1se3 !here had been@ also@ a rital salte@ #hich

the o))icial o) the lottery had had to se in addressing each 1erson #ho ca'e 1 to dra# )ro' the bo5@ bt this alsohad changed #ith ti'e@ ntil no# it #as )elt necessary only )or the o))icial to s1eak to each 1erson a11roaching3 Mr3%''ers #as very good at all this in his clean #hite shirt and ble ;eans #ith one hand resting carelessly on theblack bo53 he see'ed very 1ro1er and i'1ortant as he talked inter'inably to Mr3 Graves and the Martins3

&st as Mr3 %''ers )inally le)t o)) talking and trned to the asse'bled villagers@ Mrs3 Htchinson ca'ehrriedly along the 1ath to the sare@ her s#eater thro#n over her sholders@ and slid into 1lace in the back o) thecro#d3 Clean )orgot #hat day it #as@ she said to Mrs3 Kelacroi5@ #ho stood ne5t to her@ and they both laghedso)tly3 !hoght 'y old 'an #as ot back stacking #ood@ Mrs3 Htchinson #ent on and then - looked ot the#indo# and the kids #as gone@ and then - re'e'bered it #as the t#enty0seventh and ca'e a0rnning3 %he driedher hands on her a1ron@ and Mrs3 Kelacroi5 said@ 2o?re in ti'e@ thogh3 !hey?re still talking a#ay 1 there3

Mrs3 Htchinson craned her neck to see throgh the cro#d and )ond her hsband and children standingnear the )ront3 %he ta11ed Mrs3 Kelacroi5 on the ar' as a )are#ell and began to 'ake her #ay throgh the cro#d3!he 1eo1le se1arated good0h'oredly to let her throgh: t#o or three 1eo1le said3 in voices ;st lod enogh to be

heard across the cro#d@ Here co'es yor@ Misss@ Htchinson@ and *ill@ she 'ade it a)ter all3 Mrs3 Htchinsonreached her hsband@ and Mr3 %''ers@ #ho had been #aiting@ said cheer)lly3 !hoght #e #ere going to have toget on #ithot yo@ !essie3 Mrs3 Htchinson said grinning@ Woldn?t have 'e leave '?dishes in the sink@ no#@#old yo3 &oe and so)t laghter ran throgh the cro#d as the 1eo1le stirred back into 1osition a)ter Mrs3Htchinson?s arrival3

Well@ no#3 Mr3 %''ers said soberly@ gess #e better get started@ get this over #ith@ so?s #e can go backto #ork3 Anybody ain?t here

Knbar3 several 1eo1le said3 Knbar3 Knbar3Mr3 %''ers conslted his list3 Clyde Knbar3 he said3 !hat?s right3 He?s broke his leg@ hasn?t he Who?s

dra#ing )or hi'Me3 - gess@ a #o'an said3 And Mr3 %''ers trned to look at her3 Wi)e dra#s )or her hsband3 Mr3

%''ers said3 Kon?t yo have a gro#n boy to do it )or yo@ &aney Althogh Mr3 %''ers and everyone else inthe village kne# the ans#er 1er)ectly #ell@ it #as the bsiness o) the o))icial o) the lottery to ask sch estions

)or'ally3 Mr3 %''ers #aited #ith an e51ression o) 1olite interest #hile Mrs3 Knbar ans#ered3Horace?s not bt si5teen yet3 Mrs3 Knbar said regret)lly3 Gess - gotta )ill in )or the old 'an this year3Right3 %r3 %''ers said3 He 'ade a note on the list he #as holding3 !hen he asked@ Watson boy dra#ing

this yearA tall boy in the cro#d raised his hand3 Here@ he said3 - ' dra#ing )or 'y 'other and 'e3 He blinked

his eyes nervosly and dcked his head as several voices in the cro#d said thanks like Good )ello#@ lack3 andGlad to see yor 'other?s got a 'an to do it3

Well@ Mr3 %''ers said@ gess that?s everyone3 .ld Man Warner 'ake itHere@ a voice said and Mr3 %''ers nodded3


21/37

A sdden hsh )ell on the cro#d as Mr3 %''ers cleared his throat and looked at the list3 All ready hecalled3 No#@ -?ll read the na'es00heads o) )a'ilies )irst00and the 'en co'e 1 and take a 1a1er ot o) the bo53 ee1the 1a1er )olded in yor hand #ithot looking at it ntil everyone has had a trn3 +verything clear

!he 1eo1le had done it so 'any ti'es that they only hal) listened to the directions: 'ost o) the' #ereiet@ #etting their li1s@ not looking arond3 !hen Mr3 %''ers raised one hand high and said@ Ada's3 A 'andisengaged hi'sel) )ro' the cro#d and ca'e )or#ard3 Hi3 %teve3 Mr3 %''ers said and Mr3 Ada's said3 Hi3&oe3 !hey grinned at one another h'orlessly and nervosly3 !hen Mr3 Ada's reached into the black bo5 and tookot a )olded 1a1er3 He held it )ir'ly by one corner as he trned and #ent hastily back to his 1lace in the cro#d#here he stood a little a1art )ro' his )a'ily not looking do#n at his hand3

Allen3 Mr3 %''ers said3 Anderson3333 *entha'3%ee's like there?s no ti'e at all bet#een lotteries any 'ore3 Mrs3 Kelacroi5 said to Mrs3 Graves in the

back ro#3%ee's like #e got throgh #ith the last one only last #eek3!i'e sre goes )ast 00 Mrs3 Graves said3Clark3333 Kelacroi5!here goes 'y old 'an3 Mrs3 Kelacroi5 said3 %he held her breath #hile her hsband #ent )or#ard3Knbar@ Mr3 %''ers said@ and Mrs3 Knbar #ent steadily to the bo5 #hile one o) the #o'en said3 Go

on3 &aney@ and another said@ !here she goes3We?re ne5t3 Mrs3 Graves said3 %he #atched #hile Mr3 Graves ca'e arond )ro' the side o) the bo5@

greeted Mr3 %''ers gravely and selected a sli1 o) 1a1er )ro' the bo53 *y no#@ all throgh the cro#d there #ere

'en holding the s'all )olded 1a1ers in their large hand3 trning the' over and over nervosly Mrs3 Knbar and hert#o sons stood together@ Mrs3 Knbar holding the sli1 o) 1a1er3

Harbrt3333 Htchinson3Get 1 there@ *ill@ Mrs3 Htchinson said3 And the 1eo1le near her laghed3&ones3!hey do say@ Mr3 Ada's said to .ld Man Warner@ #ho stood ne5t to hi'@ that over in the north village

they?re talking o) giving 1 the lottery3.ld Man Warner snorted3 Pack o) cra$y )ools@ he said3 ,istening to the yong )olks@ nothing?s good

enogh )or the'3 Ne5t thing yo kno#@ they?ll be #anting to go back to living in caves@ nobody #ork any 'ore@ livehat #ay )or a #hile3 "sed to be a saying abot ?,ottery in &ne@ corn be heavy soon3? First thing yo kno#@ #e?d allbe eating ste#ed chick#eed and acorns3 !here?s al#ays been a lottery@ he added 1etlantly3 *ad enogh to seeyong &oe %''ers 1 there ;oking #ith everybody3

%o'e 1laces have already it lotteries3 Mrs3 Ada's said3

Nothing bt troble in that@ .ld Man Warner said stotly3 Pack o) yong )ools3Martin3 And *obby Martin #atched his )ather go )or#ard3 .verdyke3333 Percy3- #ish they?d hrry@ Mrs3 Knbar said to her older son3 - #ish they?d hrry3!hey?re al'ost throgh@ her son said32o get ready to rn tell Kad@ Mrs3 Knbar said3Mr3 %''ers called his o#n na'e and then ste11ed )or#ard 1recisely and selected a sli1 )ro' the bo53

!hen he called@ Warner3%eventy0seventh year - been in the lottery@ .ld Man Warner said as he #ent throgh the cro#d3 %eventy0

seventh ti'e3Watson !he tall boy ca'e a#k#ardly throgh the cro#d3 %o'eone said@ Kon?t be nervos@ &ack@ and

Mr3 %''ers said@ !ake yor ti'e@ son3Sanini3A)ter that@ there #as a long 1ase@ a breathless 1ase@ ntil Mr3 %''ers@ holding his sli1 o) 1a1er in the

air@ said@ All right@ )ello#s3 For a 'inte@ no one 'oved@ and then all the sli1s o) 1a1er #ere o1ened3 %ddenly@ allthe #o'en began to s1eak at once@ saying3 Who is it Who?s got it -s it the Knbars -s it the Watsons!hen the voices began to say@ -t?s Htchinson3 -t?s *ill@ *ill Htchinson?s got it3

Go tell yor )ather@ Mrs3 Knbar said to her older son3Peo1le began to look arond to see the Htchinsons3 *ill Htchinson #as standing iet@ staring do#n at

the 1a1er in his hand3 %ddenly3 !essie Htchinson shoted to Mr3 %''ers3 2o didn?t give hi' ti'e enogh totake any 1a1er he #anted3 - sa# yo3 -t #asn?t )airB

*e a good s1ort@ !essie3 Mrs3 Kelacroi5 called@ and Mrs3 Graves said@ All o) s took the sa'e chance3%ht 1@ !essie@ *ill Htchinson said3


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Well@ everyone@ Mr3 %''ers said@ that #as done 1retty )ast@ and no# #e?ve got to be hrrying a little'ore to get done in ti'e3 He conslted his ne5t list3 *ill@ he said@ yo dra# )or the Htchinson )a'ily3 2o gotany other hoseholds in the Htchinsons

!here?s Kon and +va@ Mrs3 Htchinson yelled3 Make the' take their chanceBKaghters dra# #ith their hsbands? )a'ilies@ !essie@ Mr3 %''ers said gently3 2o kno# that as #ell

as anyone else3-t #asn?t )air@ !essie said3- gess not@ &oe3 *ill Htchinson said regret)lly3 My daghter dra#s #ith her hsband?s )a'ily that?s

only )air3 And -?ve got no other )a'ily e5ce1t the kids3!hen@ as )ar as dra#ing )or )a'ilies is concerned@ it?s yo@ Mr3 %''ers said in e51lanation@ and as )ar

as dra#ing )or hoseholds is concerned@ that?s yo@ too3 RightRight@ *ill Htchinson said3Ho# 'any kids@ *ill Mr3 %''ers asked )or'ally3!hree@ *ill Htchinson said3!here?s *ill@ &r3@ and Nancy@ and little Kave3 And !essie and 'e3All right@ then@ Mr3 %''ers said3 Harry@ yo got their tickets backMr3 Graves nodded and held 1 the sli1s o) 1a1er3 Pt the' in the bo5@ then@ Mr3 %''ers directed3

!ake *ill?s and 1t it in3- think #e oght to start over@ Mrs3 Htchinson said@ as ietly as she cold3 - tell yo it #asn?t )air3 2o

didn?t give hi' ti'e enogh to choose3 +verybody sa# that3

Mr3 Graves had selected the )ive sli1s and 1t the' in the bo5@ and he dro11ed all the 1a1ers bt those ontothe grond@ #here the bree$e caght the' and li)ted the' o))3

,isten@ everybody@ Mrs3 Htchinson #as saying to the 1eo1le arond her3Ready@ *ill Mr3 %''ers asked and *ill Htchinson@ #ith one ick glance arond at his #i)e and

children nodded3Re'e'ber@ Mr3 %''ers said3 !ake the sli1s and kee1 the' )olded ntil each 1erson has taken one3

Harry@ yo hel1 little Kave3 Mr3 Graves took the hand o) the little boy@ #ho ca'e #illingly #ith hi' 1 to the bo53!ake a 1a1er ot o) the bo5@ Kavy3 Mr3 %''ers said3 Kavy 1t his hand into the bo5 and laghed3 !ake ;st one1a1er3 Mr3 %''ers said3 Harry@ yo hold it )or hi'3 Mr3 Graves took the child?s hand and re'oved the )olded1a1er )ro' the tight )ist and held it #hile little Kave stood ne5t to hi' and looked 1 at hi' #onderingly3

Nancy ne5t@ Mr3 %''ers said3 Nancy #as t#elve@ and her school )riends breathed heavily as she #ent)or#ard s#itching her skirt@ and took a sli1 daintily )ro' the bo5 *ill@ &r3@ Mr3 %''ers said@ and *illy@ his )acered and his )eet overlarge@ near knocked the bo5 over as he got a 1a1er ot3 !essie@ Mr3 %''ers said3 %he

hesitated )or a 'inte@ looking arond de)iantly and then set her li1s and #ent 1 to the bo53 %he snatched a 1a1erot and held it behind her3

*ill@ Mr3 %''ers said@ and *ill Htchinson reached into the bo5 and )elt arond@ bringing his hand otat last #ith the sli1 o) 1a1er in it3

!he cro#d #as iet3 A girl #his1ered@ - ho1e it?s not Nancy@ and the sond o) the #his1er reached theedges o) the cro#d3

-t?s not the #ay it sed to be3 .ld Man Warner said clearly3 Peo1le ain?t the #ay they sed to be3All right@ Mr3 %''ers said3 .1en the 1a1ers3 Harry@ yo o1en little Kave?s3Mr3 Graves o1ened the sli1 o) 1a1er and there #as a general sigh throgh the cro#d as he held it 1 and

everyone cold see that it #as blank3 Nancy and *ill &r3 o1ened theirs at the sa'e ti'e and both bea'ed and laghedtrning arond to the cro#d and holding their sli1s o) 1a1er above their heads3

!essie@ Mr3 %''ers said3 !here #as a 1ase@ and then Mr3 %''ers looked at *ill Htchinson@ and *illn)olded his 1a1er and sho#ed it3 -t #as blank3

-t?s !essie@ Mr3 %''ers said@ and his voice #as hshed3 %ho# s her 1a1er3 *ill3*ill Htchinson #ent over to his #i)e and )orced the sli1 o) 1a1er ot o) her hand3 -t had a black s1ot on it@the black s1ot Mr3 %''ers had 'ade the night be)ore #ith the heavy 1encil in the coal co'1any o))ice3 *illHtchinson held it 1@ and there #as a stir in the cro#d3

All right@ )olks3 Mr3 %''ers said3 ,et?s )inish ickly3Althogh the villagers had )orgotten the rital and lost the original black bo5@ they still re'e'bered to se

stones3 !he 1ile o) stones the boys had 'ade earlier #as ready there #ere stones on the grond #ith the blo#ingscra1s o) 1a1er that had co'e ot o) the bo5 Kelacroi5 selected a stone so large she had to 1ick it 1 #ith bothhands and trned to Mrs3 Knbar3 Co'e on@ she said3 Hrry 13


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Mr3 Knbar had s'all stones in both hands@ and she said gas1ing )or breath3 - can?t rn at all3 2o?ll haveto go ahead and -?ll catch 1 #ith yo3

!he children had stones already3 And so'eone gave little Kavy Htchinson )e# 1ebbles3!essie Htchinson #as in the center o) a cleared s1ace by no#@ and she held her hands ot des1erately as

the villagers 'oved in on her3 -t isn?t )air@ she said3 A stone hit her on the side o) the head3 .ld Man Warner #assaying@ Co'e on@ co'e on@ everyone3 %teve Ada's #as in the )ront o) the cro#d o) villagers@ #ith Mrs3 Gravesbeside hi'3

-t isn?t )air@ it isn?t right@ Mrs3 Htchinson screa'ed@ and then they #ere 1on her3

#N #CT &F +ENGE#NCE

.n that glorios noonday #hen Klce Rosa .rellano #as cro#ned #ith the ;as'ines o) Carnival 4een@the 'others o) the other candidates 'r'red that it #as n)air )or her to #in ;st becase she #as the onlydaghter o) the 'ost 1o#er)l 'an in the entire 1rovince@ %enator Ansel'o .rellano3 !hey ad'itted that the girl#as char'ing and that she 1layed the 1iano and danced like no other@ bt there #ere other co'1etitors )or the 1ri$e)ar 'ore beati)l3 !hey sa# her standing on the 1lat)or' in her organdy dress and #ith her cro#n o) )lo#ers@ andas she #aved at the cro#d@ they crsed her throgh their clenched teeth3 For that reason@ so'e o) the' #ereover;oyed so'e 'onths later #hen 'is)ortne entered the .rellano/s hose so#ing sch a cro1 o) death that thirty

years #ere reired to rea1 it3.n the night o) the een/s election@ a dance #as held in the %anta !eresa !o#n Hall@ and the yong 'en

)ro' the re'otest villages ca'e to 'eet Klce Rosa3 %he #as so ha11y and danced #ith sch grace that 'any )ailedto 1erceive that she #as not the 'ost beati)l@ and #hen they retrned to #here they had co'e )ro'@ they alldeclared that they had never be)ore seen a )ace like hers3 !hs@ she acired an n'erited re1tation )or beaty andlater testi'ony #as never able to 1rove on the contrary3 !he e5aggerated descri1tions o) her translcent skin and herdia1hanos eyes #ere 1assed )ro' 'oth to 'oth@ and each individal added so'ething to the' )ro' his o#ni'agination3 Poets )ro' distant cities co'1osed sonnets to a hy1othetical 'aiden #hose na'e #as Klce Rosa3

R'ors o) the beaty #ho #as )lorishing in %enator .rellano/s hose also reached the ears o) !adeoCes1edes@ #ho never drea'ed he #old be able to 'eet her@ since dring all his t#enty0)ive years@ he had neitherhad ti'e to learn 1oetry nor to look at #o'en3 He #as concerned only #ith the Civil War3 +ver since he had begnto shave he had a #ea1on in his hands@ and he had lived )or a long ti'e a'idst the sond o) e51loding gn1o#der3He had )orgotten his 'other/s kisses and even the songs o) 'ass3 He did not al#ays have reason to go into battle@

becase dring several 1eriods o) trce there #ere no adversaries #ithin reach o) his gerilla band3 *t even inti'es o) )orced 1eace@ he lived like a corsair3 He #as a 'an habitated to violence3 He crossed the contry in everydirection@ )ighting visible ene'ies #hen he )ond the'@ and battling shado#s #hen he #as )orced to invent the'3He #old have contined in the sa'e #ay i) his 1arty had not #on the 1residential election3 .vernight@ he #ent)ro' clandestine e5istence to #ielding 1o#er@ and all 1rete5t )or contining the rebellion had ended )or hi'3

!adeo Ces1edes/ )inal 'ission #as the 1nitive e51edition against %anta !eresa3 With a hndred and t#enty'en@ he entered the to#n nder cover o) darkness to teach everyone a lesson and eli'inate the leader o) theo11osition3 !hey shot ot the #indo#s in the 1blic bildings@ destroyed the chrch door@ and rode their horses right1 to the 'ain altar@ crshing Father Cle'ente #hen he tried to block their #ay3 !hey brned the trees that the,adies/ Clb had 1lanted in the sare a'idst all the cla'or o) battle@ they contined at a gallo1 to#ard %enator.rellano/s hose #hich rose 1 1rodly on to1 o) the hill3

A)ter having locked his daghter in the roo' at the )arthest corner o) the 1atio and trned the dogs loose@the %enator #aited )or !adeo Ces1edes at the head o) a do$en loyal servants3 At that 'o'ent@ he regretted@ as he had

so 'any other ti'es in his li)e@ not having had 'ale descendants #ho cold hel1 hi' to take 1 ar's and de)end thehonor o) his hose3 He )elt very old@ bt he did not have ti'e to think abot it becase he had s1ied on the hillsidethe terrible )lash o) a hndred and t#enty torches that terrori$ed the night as they advanced3 He distribted the last o)the a''nition in silence3 +verything had been said@ and each o) the' kne# that be)ore 'orning he #old bereired to die like a 'an at his battle station3

All the 'en had been 1resent #hen Klce Rosa #as born and had held her on their knees #hen she #asbarely able to #alk they had told her ghost stories on #inter a)ternoons they had listened to her 1lay the 1iano andthey a11laded in tears on the day o) her coronation as Carnival 4een3 He )ather cold die in 1eace becase the girl#old never )all alive into the hands o) !adeo Ces1edes3 !he one thing that never crossed %enator .rellano/s 'ind#as that@ in s1ite o) his recklessness in battle@ he #old be the last to die3 He sa# his )riends )all one by one and


24/37

)inally reali$ed that it #as seless to contine resisting3 He had a bllet #ond in his sto'ach and his vision #asblrred3 He #as barely able to distingish the shado#s that #ere cli'bing the high #alls srronding his 1ro1erty@bt he still had the 1resence o) 'ind to drag hi'sel) to the third 1atio3 !he dogs recogni$ed his scent des1ite thes#eat@ blood@ and sadness that covered hi' and 'oved aside to let hi' 1ass3 He inserted the key in the lock andthrogh the 'ist that covered his eyes sa# Klce Rosa #aiting )or hi'3 !he girl #as #earing the sa'e organdydress that she had #orn )or the Carnival and had adorned her hair #ith the )lo#ers )ro' the cro#n3

-t/s ti'e@ 'y child@ he said@ cocking his revolver as a 1ddle o) blood s1read abot his )eet3Kon/t kill 'e@ )ather@ she re1lied in a )ir' voice3 ,et 'e live so that - can avenge s both3%enator Ansel'o .rellano looked into his daghter/s )i)teen0year0old )ace and i'agined #hat !adeo

Ces1edes #old do to her@ bt he sa# great strength in Klce Rosa/s trans1arent eyes@ and he kne# that she #oldsrvive to 1nish his e5ectioner3 !he girl sat do#n on the bed and he took his 1lace at her side@ 1ointing hisrevolver at the door3

When the 1roar )ro' the dying dogs had )aded@ the bar across the door #as shattered@ the bolt )le# o))@and the )irst gro1 o) 'en brst into the roo'3 !he %enator 'anaged to )ire si5 shots be)ore losing consciosness3!adeo Ces1edes thoght he #as drea'ing #hen he sa# an angel cro#ned in ;as'ines holding a dying old 'an inher ar's3 *t he did not 1ossess s))icient 1ity to look )or a second ti'e@ since he #as drnk #ith violence andenervated by hors o) co'bat3

!he #o'an is 'ine@ he said@ be)ore any o) his 'en cold 1t his hands on her3

A leaden Friday da#ned@ tinged #ith the glare )ro' the )ire3 !he silence #as thick 1on the hill3 !he )inal

'oans had )aded #hen Klce Rosa #as able to stand and #alk to the )ontain in the garden3 !he 1revios day it hadbeen srronded by 'agnolias@ and no# it #as nothing bt a t'ltos 1ool a'idst the debris3 A)ter havingre'oved the )e# stri1s o) organdy that #ere all that re'ained o) her dress@ she stood nde be)ore #hat had been the)ontain3 %he sb'erged hersel) in the cold #ater3 !he sn rose behind the birches and the girl #atched the #atertrn red as she #ashed a#ay the blood that )lo#ed )ro' bet#een her legs along #ith that o) her )ather #hich haddried in her hair3 .nce she #as clean@ cal'@ and #ithot tears@ she retrned to the rined hose to look )or so'ethingto cover hersel)3 Picking 1 a linen sheet@ she #ent otside to bring back the %enator/s re'ains3 !hey had tied hi'behind a horse and dragged hi' 1 and do#n the hillside ntil little re'ained bt a 1itiable 'ond o) rags3 *tgided by love@ the daghter #as able to recogni$e hi' #ithot hesitation3 %he #ra11ed hi' in the sheet and satdo#n by his side to #atch the da#n gro# into day3 !hat is ho# her neighbors )ro' %anta !eresa )ond her #henthey )inally dared to cli'b 1 to the .rellano villa3 !hey hel1ed Klce Rosa to bry her dead and to e5tingish thevestiges o) the )ire3 !hey begged her to go and live #ith her god'other in another to#n #here no one kne# herstory@ bt she re)sed3 !hen they )or'ed cre#s to rebild the hose and gave her si5 )erocios dogs to 1rotect her3

Fro' the 'o'ent they had carried her )ather a#ay@ still alive@ and !adeo Ces1edes had closed the doorbehind the' and nbckled his leather belt@ Klce Rosa lived )or revenge3 -n the thirty years that )ollo#ed@ thatthoght ke1t her a#ake at night and )illed her days@ bt it did not co'1letely obliterate her laghter nor dry 1 hergood dis1osition3 Her re1tation )or beaty increased as trobadors #ent every#here 1roclai'ing her i'aginaryenchant'ents ntil she beca'e a living legend3 %he arose every 'orning at )or o/ clock to oversee the )ar' andhosehold chores@ roa' her 1ro1erty on horseback@ by and sell@ haggling like a %yrian@ breed livestock@ andcltivate the 'agnolias and ;as'ines in her garden3 -n the a)ternoon@ she #old re'ove her trosers@ her boots@ andher #ea1ons@ and 1t on the lovely dresses #hich had co'e )ro' the ca1ital in aro'atic trnks3 At night)all@ visitors#old begin to arrive and #old )ind her 1laying the 1iano #hile the servants 1re1ared trays o) s#eets and glasseso) orgeat3 Many 1eo1le asked the'selves ho# it #as 1ossible that the girl had not ended 1 in a strait;acket in asanitari' or as a novitiate #ith the Car'elite nns3 Nevertheless@ since there #ere )reent 1arties at the .rellanovilla@ #ith the 1assage o) ti'e@ 1eo1le sto11ed talking abot the tragedy and erased the 'rdered %enator )ro' their'e'ories3 %o'e gentle'en #ho 1ossessed both )a'e and )ortne 'anaged to overco'e the re1gnance they )elt

becase o) the ra1e and@ attracted by Klce Rosa/s beaty and sensitivity@ 1ro1osed 'arriage3 %he re;ected the' all@)or her only 'ission on earth #as vengeance3

!adeo Ces1edes #as also nable to get that night ot o) his 'ind3 !he hangover )ro' all the killing and thee1horia )ro' the ra1e le)t hi' as he #as on his #ay to the ca1ital a )e# hors later to re1ort the reslts o) his1nitive e51edition3 -t #as then that he re'e'bered the child in the 1arty dress and cro#ned #ith ;as'ines@ #hoendred hi' in silence in that dark roo' #here the air #as i'1regnated #ith the odor o) gn1o#der3 He sa# heronce again in the )inal scene@ lying on the )loor@ barely covered by reddened rags@ snk in the co'1assionatee'brace o) nconsciosness@ and he contined to see her that #ay every night o) his li)e ;st as he )ell aslee13 Peace@the e5ercise o) govern'ent@ and the se o) 1o#er trned hi' into a settled@ hard0#orking 'an3 With the 1assage o)


25/37

ti'e@ 'e'ories o) the Civil War )aded a#ay and the 1eo1le began to call hi' Kon !adeo3 He boght a ranch on theother side o) the 'ontains@ devoted hi'sel) to ad'inistering ;stice and ended 1 as 'ayor3 -) it had not been )orKlce Rosa .rellano/s tireless 1hanto'@ 1erha1s@ he 'ight have attained a certain degree o) ha11iness3 *t in all the#o'en #ho crossed his 1ath@ he sa# the )ace o) the Carnival 4een3 And even #orse@ the songs by 1o1lar 1oets@o)ten containing verses that 'entioned her na'e@ #old not 1er'it hi' to e51el her )ro' his heart3!he yong #o'an/s i'age gre# #ithin hi'@ occ1ying hi' co'1letely@ ntil one day he cold stand it no longer3He #as at the head o) a long banet table celebrating his )i)ty0)i)th birthday@ srronded by )riends and colleages@#hen he thoght he sa# in the tablecloth a child lying naked a'ong the ;as'ine blosso's@ and nderstood that thenight'are #old not leave hi' in 1eace even a)ter his death3 He strck the table #ith his )ist@ casing the dishes toshake@ and asked )or his hat and cane3

Where are yo going@ Kon !adeo asked the Pre)ect3!o re1air so'e ancient da'age@ he said as he le)t #ithot taking leave o) anyone3-t #as not necessary )or hi' to search )or her@ becase he al#ays kne# that she #old be )ond in the sa'e

hose #here her 'is)ortne had occrred@ and it #as in that direction that he 1ointed his car3 *y then@ goodhigh#ays had been bilt and distances see'ed shorter3 !he scenery had changed dring the decades that had 1assed@bt as he ronded the last crve by the hill@ the villa a11eared ;st as he re'e'bered it be)ore his troo1s had taken itin the attack3 !here #ere the solid #alls 'ade o) river rock that he had destroyed #ith dyna'ite charges@ there theancient #ooden co))ers he had set a)ire@ there the trees #here he had hng the bodies o) the %enator/s 'en@ there the1atio #here he had slaghtered the dogs3 He sto11ed his vehicle a hndred 'eters )ro' the door and dared notcontine becase he )elt his heart e51loding inside his chest3 He #as going to trn arond and go back to #here he

ca'e )ro'@ #hen a )igre srronded by the halo o) her skirt a11eared in the yard3 He closed his eyes@ ho1ing #ithall his 'ight that she #old not recogni$e hi'3 -n the so)t t#ilight@ he 1erceived that Klce Rosa .rellano #asadvancing to#ard hi'@ )loating along the garden 1aths3 He noted her hair@ her candid )ace@ the har'ony o) hergestres@ the s#irl o) her dress@ and he thoght he #as ss1ended in a drea' that had lasted )or thirty years3

2o/ve )inally co'e@ !adeo Ces1edes@ she said as she looked at hi'@ not allo#ing hersel) to be deceivedby his 'ayor/s sit or his gentle'anly gray hair@ becase he still had the sa'e 1irate/s hands3

2o/ve 1rsed 'e endlessly3 -n 'y #hole

4th quarter readings

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