"N O O N E WRITE S TO TH E C O LO N E L" "You mean y ou are afrai d?" "Li Ke s ome ord i nary pet." "You ' re a battle cock." "Don 't be a co ward." "It's on ly m ice." "I scared them off." "Q u let n o w." "Don 't wake her." "What about y ou?" "I al rea dy ha d m i ne." "There was en ou g h left." "There was a bi g spoonfu I." "It's about t o rai n agai n." "I w on der if m y asth ma wi I I su rv ive the rai ns." "You r asth ma an d m y g uts." "Don 't forget t o st op b y the wake." "They' re bu ryi n g h i m at n oon, before it rai ns." "If y ou take the u m brel la, d on 't open it." "S omeone m i g h t n otice." "Th is h u m i d ity consu mes everyth i n g, even the u m brel la." "He was born on Apri I 9th." "E xactly one m onth after ou r s on." "Alway s Ag usti n..." "Before Ag usti n..." "After Ag usti n 's death..." "When wi I I y ou get h i m out of y ou r hea d?" "N ot u nti I m y m ou rn i n g is o ver." "Never." "M ou rn i n g..." "M ou rn i n g..." "A I n these rags?" "N ot on m y I ife." "An yway, the next one wi I I be m y o wn." "An d m i ne?" "You r ba d I ucK." "You ' re health ier than I am." "TaKi n g it out on the cock agai n?" "A cock sitti n g on the t oi let?" "It's u n heard of." "C an 't y ou see?" "Th is cock is al I we have." "A brood i n g fo wl perched on m y t oi let seat." "That's what I see." "I see there's n o i od i ne t o d ry u p m y ph leg m." "I see it rai ns an d rai ns." "An d I see what y ou care for is that rooster." "When wi I I we get t o use the lav at ory agai n?" "Al I the nei g h bors can see what y ou ' re u p t o i n there." "E ven these sn otty Ki ds." "C al m d o wn!" "An d d on 't stare at the cock." "You ' I I J i nx h i m!" "Get al on g, n o w!" "Get g oi n g!" "It's F ri day." "It's y ou r day." "N oth i n g, C ol onel." "I wasn 't expecti n g an yth i n g." "I J ust d ropped b y." "P O S T O F F IC E" "look h o w han ds ome they left m y s on, C ol onel." "It's Don Di mas' w ork." "The barber." "He I ooKs health ier n o w than when he was al ive." "He sm i les n o w, an d everyth i n g." "But please, come i n." "C ome i n." "He real ly d oes seem t o be sm i I i n g." "P oor Ki d." "It came t o h i m t oo early, as it d i d t o Ag usti n y ou r s on, an d m y g ods on, may he rest i n peace." "They I ook al i Ke beca use Don Di mas d i d thei r make u p." "He uses the same rou ge for every one." "Be that as it may, he leaves the dea d t o rest i n peace." "J ust I ook, health ier n o w than al ive." "H is health fi I Is me with en vy, with al I d ue respect." "P riest-bash i n g as ever, C ol onel?" "N o matter where the wi n d bl o ws." "The ti mes may chan ge, but m y coat d oes n ot." "You see." "Wel I...?" "Wel I what?" "Wel I, the gamecock!" "The gamecocK?" "J ust there." "The same as me." "An other dea d bo y." "They en d u p getti n g i nt o s q uabbles, scrapes with the u n i ons, q uarrels..." "Then thei r n u m ber comes u p;" " Li Ke Ag usti n." " O h, come n o w." "My u n I ucKy g ods on q uarreled o ver cocKfi g h ti n g." "O ne of th ose n ormal th i n gs that can happen." "An affai r of men." "It was h is ti me, that's al I." "My s on ha d i deals." "N o d ru n Ken brawl t ook h i m t o h is g rave." "N ot at al I." "Ri d icu I ous!" "Whatever y ou say, C ol onel." "But d on 't let it get y ou." "C al m d o wn, y ou ' re even bi ush i n g." "Try t o see a d oct or, com padre." "You I ook I i Ke a d ry twi g." "See h o w y ou r jacket han gs on y ou." "O ne of these day s, Sabas." "O ne of these day s." "Listen t o me." "take care of y ou rself." "An d take care of that gamecocK." "Rest here." "Q u let n o w." "N ice an d q u let." "Tw o d rags, n o w." "Then, after d i n ner, tw o m ore." "To make it last." "J ust I isten t o th is:" "...a nd th us, the nation 's Senate besto w s a fu I I pension... eq ua I to 76º/o o f their month I y sa lary... to a I I Federa I army v ets w ho foug h t... i n the rev ol utionary war i ncl ud i ng tho se w ho foug h t... i n the rel ig ious ho sti I ities o f the 1920 's." "Rel i g i ous h osti I ities!" "Today that's what they cal I that bu nch of priests an d thei r i d olaters." "You sh ou I d have seen them t oday." "A mass, prayers..." "J ust I i Ke that." "I n broa d dayl i g h t." "E ven blessi n gs i n Lati n!" "An d t o th i n K h o w once we fou g h t them..." "They wh o t ol d the people that ou r g o vern ment was C om m u n ist an d ha d n o legal a uth ority." "We fou g h t agai nst i g n orance, an d we w on." "An d I ook h o w th i n gs are n o w." "E veryth i n g is as it was." "An d I ' m waiti n g for a pensi on that never comes." "Th ree years of the Cristero rev olt." "Th ree years of faith m on gers..." "Masses but n ot a si n g le pes o of m y pensi on." "N ot one m iserable pes o." "There's n o J ustice." "Agai n?" "27 years waiti n g for that pensi on." "C an 't I com plai n?" " To the rooster?" " Lf n ot t o h i m, t o wh om?" "To me." "Wh o else?" "J ust I ook at y ou." "Dressed for the bal I an d... al I y ou get is g reat with th is ol d man." "As alway s." "The years haven 't d u I led the genti I ity of m y y ou n g la dy from Ma d ri d." "An d y ou went an d married a S pan lard." "You, the g reat nati onal ist!" "To con q uer the con q uerors." "N ot agai n!" "F ou r bel Is!" "F or a d u lts on ly." "F orbi d den for pern ici ous content." "It's a mel od rama, t o be su re." "The real tearjerker is F ather An gel censu ri n g the m o v ies." "He proh i bits them but he su re watches them." "He's a priest n ot a sai nt." "The poor fel I o w en J o y s fi I ms, J ust I i Ke I d o." "I ' m n o m y way." "If I d on 't h u rry, it wi I I have started." "I d i d n 't Kn o w y ou I o ved me s o." "Agai n!" "You stru g g le an d scrape, then these gate crashers sh o w u p." "I meant y ou t oo, s o d on 't play d u m b!" "Q u ite the S pan ish la dy..." "But y ou ' re sti I I a freel oa der!" "Don 't sh o w u p t om orro w;" "I w on 't abs olve y ou." "I was certai n." "It's n ot the fon d I i n g I m i n d, it's the m o v ie!" "Am I i n v isi ble?" "I ma de it very clear..." "Four Bel Is Picture Pro h i b ited b y the Vatica n." "U nti I the bo y leaves her, d on 't th i n K I ' I I be m o v i n g." "You can watch concu piscence, beca use y ou ' re n o spri n g ch icKen if y ou ' I I ex cuse m y sayi n g s o." "Alth ou g h, y ou ' re n ot yet out of m ou rn i n g." "My m ou rn i n g is i nsi de." "Don 't spol I m y even i n g." "Laris al rea dy ca u g h t me sneaKi n g i n." "It's h is busi ness." "C oncu piscent an d al I, sti I I, it's a I iv i n g." "An d me, F ather?" "H o w d o I make a I iv i n g?" "J ust I ook at th is." "Li Ke reapi n g the wi n d." "The ci nema is fu I I, ch u rch bel Is an d al I." "Let's h ope I 've ban ned s ometh i n g w orth the si n." "S he's a cou ntry g i rl." "S he has a half-wit bo yfrien d." "Lame, t oo." "I mag i ne that." "S he gets t o the city." "S he wants t o dance..." " With the lame g uy?" " N o!" "With an other." "S he' I I en d u p a tram p." "You ' I I see." "Tom orro w is F ri day." "It's y ou r day." "N oth i n g t oday, either." "Doct or." "It's g ood for maki n g cou g h s yru p." "It's med ici nal." "It's n o ord i nary ru m." "Rather early t o be maKi n g y ou r s yru p, isn 't it?" "I n the m orn i n gs, it t ones u p the m i n d." "These come t o me... but here... y ou Keep them." "Wh y w ou I d I want t o Kn o w wh y the nati on en ded u p I i Ke me?" "An ol d rag." "That's wh y." "Women please y ou, d on 't they?" "If n ot, I w ou I d n 't be a d oct or." "That's beca use y ou ' re a cyn ic, n ot beca use y ou ' re a d oct or." "I was born a cyn ic an d d isbel lever." "You r si n is that y ou ' re cred u I ous." "We' re a ba d match." "That's wh y d om i n oes d on 't su it us." "It d oesn 't beca use I haven 't played with y ou i n years." "Do y ou Kn o w wh y?" "Beca use I play with the priest." "But he play s better than y ou." "Let's J ust say I offered y ou a d ri n K." "Let's say I let y ou en J o y it al one." "take care of y ou r wife." "E ver si nce th is m ortgage deal, her asth ma has g otten w orse." "An d...?" "Wh y sh ou I d I rea d u p on the m is deeds of that pack of th ieves?" "Better th is way." "N ot Kn o wi n g i n wh ose pockets m y m oney en ded u p." "They fi I led thei r coffers." "They d iv i ded u p the m oney b y the han ds fu I I." "A positi on for th is one..." "A han d out of that one..." "E very one but y ou... wh o sti I I waits for a m iser's pensi on twenty-seven years o verd ue." "Twenty-six." "It's al m ost Au g ust." "Twenty-six years an d ei g h t m onths." " Di d they say an yth i n g?" " About what?" "What else?" "About the pensi oners." "What w ou I d they say?" "There can 't be m ore than five left al ive i n the cou ntry." "Wel I, th ose five have a ri g h t t o Kn o w." "The years haven 't d u I led y ou r stu bborn S pan ish natu re." "There's n oth i n g there." "There never wi I I be." "What's th is about a m ortgage?" " Wh o t ol d y ou?" " The d oct or." "Wh o else?" "They posted a n otice." "The payment is d ue i n Oct ober." "Oct ober Twenty-fou rth." "N ot one day m ore." "N ot one day less." "The date is i rrev ocable." "If m y pensi on is rev ocable, wh y n ot the m ortgage?" "Beca use the tax col lect ors came." "They brou g h t the order, an d I si g ned it an d sh o wed it t o the d oct or." "E ven he ag reed that th is ti me they mean it." "An d beca use I ife is u n J ust an d u nfai r." "Wh y ha d n 't y ou t ol d me?" "Beca use..." "I expected that F ri day w ou I d come... an d that the mai I... an d that maybe..." "You see, y ou ' re the same as I am." "N o w, can y ou tel I me what y ou ' I I d o?" "We have the cock." "It can pay the m ortgage." "The cock!" "The fam ous cock!" "Do y ou bel ieve that wretched an i mal wi I I get us out of the h ock?" "It was the same with Ag usti n." "That an i mal t ook h is I ife." "Let the dea d rest i n peace." "You d i d n 't tel I me h o w we' I I pay the m ortgage or what we' re g oi n g t o eat." "I eat, t oo." "J ust I i Ke the rooster." "J ust the same." "He I ooKs cocKier every day." "If Ag usti n cou I d on ly see h i m n o w." " An y news?" " Same ol d." "The en d of N o vem ber, the cocKfi g h ti n g 's beg i n." "It's al I set." "The o wners get 20º/o of the bets." " Same as alway s." " He m ust be trai ned, C ol onel." "You can 't be t oo su re." "An yth i n g can happen." "Life's a real bitch." "Watch y ou r t on g ue, la d." "S h o w s ome respect." "The Ki ds can take the cock for wal Ks an d I ' I I make su re he gets su n an d fresh ai r." "An d g ood feed, C ol onel!" "You d on 't I ive on brea d al one an d he needs m ore than strol Is." "Where wi I I I get the m oney t o buy g ood food?" " You d o what y ou can" " An d what y ou can 't t oo." "He has t o be con d iti oned b y an expertise." "He can 't let us d o wn." "Us..." "Ag usti n the people." "S u ppose I can get an a d v ance." "E very one Kn o ws he' I I fi g h t here, I ' d say." "E very one Kn o ws he's a pu rebred." "My com padre i n q u i red about h i m." "That ol d fo x never takes a false step." "You Kn o w he's g ot h is eye on ou r cock." "Ti mes are hard." "That's w orse." "If he suspects y ou ' re on the ropes, he' I I expl oit that." "F or su re." "N o one gets rich for free." "E very rich man t ook m oney from an other's pocket." "Worse sti I I, i n th is forsaken cou ntry." "Th is "forsak en cou ntry is that cou ntry that gave us the Rev ol uti on." "O u r Rev ol uti on." "C arefu I of y ou r com padre." "N ot on ly d oes he want y ou r bi rd, but he's sneaky as wel I." "The day they rai ded the u n i on press, he was sn oopl n g arou n d." "He ha d one of th ose newspapers that we gave y ou." "He's the G o vern or's sn itch, on h is payrol I." "N o w he fancies h i mself as a cocker." "G ive us a I ittle m ore ti me." "I have a dea d I i ne." "My m ortgage dea d I i ne." "That comes d ue before N o vem ber." "Before the game seas on." "You Kn o w fu I I wel I we al rea dy have a lawyer." "What g ood has he d one us?" "Th is one on ly charges a percentage." "What can y ou I ose?" "My ti me." "I waste m y ti me." "I 've reached a decisi on." "I ' m chan g i n g lawyers." "I need m oney." "It's n oth i n g pers onal." "It's J ust that..." "I m ortgaged m y h ouse when m y s on d ied an d that is com i n g d ue." "You Kn o w h o w they can be." "Years have passed an d n oth i n g." "Al I that happened was that m y com ra des d ied waiti n g for thei r pensi ons." "That's the way of it, ri g h t?" "Wel I, there may be s ome way." "You d on 't want way s, y ou want m i racles." "I d on 't Kn o w h o w t o d o m i racles." "E very last cent went t o co ver cou rt costs." "I ' I I need al I m y d ocu ments." "That w on 't be possi ble." "You r fi les have been passed from han d t o han d." "They' re com pl icated acti ons." "I ' I I track them d o wn, but I ' I I have t o charge y ou a sti pen d t o h i re an agent i n Jalapa... or maybe even Mexico C ity." "They' re very i m portant papers." "E ven h ist oric." "O ne establ ished s ocial ist an d sex ed ucati on back when we stru g g led agai nst the clerg y, priests servers an d su perstiti ons." "N o poi nt i n speaKi n g of that an y I on ger, C ol onel." "Du ri n g the Cristero rev olt, man y people d ied." "Man y ha d t o be baptized i n cel lars." "N obody I i Ked that." "E very one was appal led." "Wh y para de about, C ol onel?" "You d on 't I i Ke it;" "I d on 't either." "But th is is a C ath ol ic, Apost ol ic an d Roman cou ntry." "To m y d isg race, an d every one else's." "I fou g h t that for 3 years an d 5 m onths." "But that was years ag o." "Ad m i n istrati ons ag o." "These are new ti mes." "An d th ose ti mes past, n o one can be bothered t o remem ber." "I can." "You ' re the on ly one." "G ood I ucK, C ol onel." "An d Keep waiti n g." "I ' I I wait." "Get out of there!" "Rice isn 't for beasts!" "An d than K y ou r sai nts." "If is were u p t o me, y ou ' d be stew." "I was I ooKi n g for d oña Amal ia." "You were I ooKi n g, but y ou w on 't fi n d her." "You 've fou n d me, n ot m y m other-i n -law." "I ' I I be back when I can fi n d her." "That w on 't be possi ble." "S he's ha d a stroke." "The d oct or has ordered rest." "Then, when wi I I I fi n d her?" "F or freel oa ders, she w on 't be back at al I." "C an I d o an yth i n g for y ou?" "O r d i d y ou J ust d rop b y?" "I J ust d ropped b y... t o i n q u i re about the health of d oña Amal ia." "Then no th i ng?" "N oth i n g." "An d d oña Amal ia?" "Her da u g h ter-i n -law was there with an other st ory." "That one is s o nasty." "S he's y ou n g." "But d on 't w orry about me." "You Kn o w h o w asth matics I oose ou r appetites." "H o w I ucKy, d on 't y ou th i n K?" "An d the pot on the fi re?" "C abbage stew." "B oi led leaf, as we say i n m y t o wn." "I n such a bi g pot?" "It's J ust for sh o w." "Wh y make others feel s orry for us?" "Yes, wh y arouse the pity of others." "We' re s orry en ou g h on ou r o wn." "I have an i dea." "The German pay s fai rly." "He may I i Ke the cl ock." "It hasn 't w orked i n years." "Al I the m ore reas on." "It's J ust i n the way." "May I hel p y ou, C ol onel?" "It's very m u d dy." "It's J ust the rai n." "E very year we get m ore rai n an d m u d." "It may need a d J ustment." "Where are y ou taKi n g it?" "To the German." "He Kn o ws about th is." "He Kn o ws about everyth i n g, an d he charges t oo." "Maybe I can fix it for y ou." "There, y ou see!" "It ha d g otten stuck here." "But, I sh ou I d warn y ou, th is cl ock is fal I i n g apart." "My m other say s, "Wh y th ro w g ood m oney after ba d?"" "That's ri g h t, wh y d o that?" " Than K y ou." " You ' re welcome." "Comes the Sacred Ho st!" "Comes the Sacred Ho st!" "I ' I I wal K with y ou, C ol onel." "Comes the Sacred Ho st!" "C omes the Sacred H ost!" "You see that!" "Sti I I proclai m i n g i n the streets as if it were n oth i n g." "It's cyn ical." "It's agai nst the law." "It's a layman 's cou ntry." "3 years I fou g h t s o th ose i d olaters w ou I d real ize that from n o w on th is w ou I d be a free cou ntry, a nati on of reas on." "An d J ust I ook." "I ' m sti I I waiti n g for m y pensi on, an d the priest struts th rou g h the streets." "That's n ot ri g h t." "An d w orse, they've g ot that bo y i n a d ress." "Li Ke s ome siss y." "When the S pan lard comes, what d oes she buy?" "The C ol onel 's wife." "Doña Lola?" "What's she g on na buy?" "They can 't even afford t o d rop dea d." "Al I ri g h t, but when they cou I d, what d i d they buy?" "S i nce I was born, they've never ha d an yth i n g." "Then, g ive me s ome tu na, s ome sard i nes..." "C offee... g uav a fru it." "N o, better th is g uav a can dy." "It's n ou rish i n g." "S he I i Kes it." "A I ittle I ux u ry, ri g h t?" "Don 't w orry." "We streetwal Kers alway s pay." "Beca use we alway s col lect." "What's th is?" "It w orks n o w." "The i dea was t o sel I it n ot t o fix it." "The German was su pposed t o buy it." "Wel I, I d i d n 't sel I it, but it w orks n o w." "Weren 't y ou u pset beca use y ou d i d n 't Kn o w the ti me?" "You ran i nt o s omeone... then g ot ashamed they fou n d y ou were sel I i n g it." "I Kn o w y ou s o wel I." "I h ope y ou d i d n 't pay a n icKel t o fix th is th i n g." "S he's I i Ke a s oothsayer." "S he alway s Kn o ws." "Alway s." "J ust I ook at th ose sh oes." "Al I h oles." "Th is way the foot breathes." "If I cou I d, I ' d buy y ou new ones;" "When the pensi on arrives, the fi rst th i n g..." "The very fi rst..." "Let me, I ' I I d o it." "Li Ke we used t o." "Li Ke we used t o." "Tom orro w is F ri day!" "It's y ou r day." "Aren 't y ou g oi n g t o ask me about the mai I?" "N o." "Sel I that rooster, ri g h t n o w!" "take it eas y BI on d ie." "take it eas y." "Pay n o attenti on t o her wh i ms." "Asth ma exasperates her nerves." "O ne m oment ba d, the next m oment w orse." "Life is hard a nd friends are few." "You 've become a stran ger C ol onel." "look at me." "SticKi n g th is pesky contrapti on i n m y ass, as y ou w ou I d say s o as n ot t o offen d." "Jaci nta, d on 't be such a I out!" "stick th is i n me!" "Wash y ou r han ds, dam m it!" "O ffer s ometh i n g t o m y com padre." "We d on 't seem s o com padres as before." "N o w y ou r wife d oesn 't come arou n d." "S he used t o d rop b y for the Ma d M on K sh o w." "S he's d u m ped me." "S he on ly g oes t o m o v ies." "Watch it!" "You can 't get en ou g h pai n an d i n d i g n ity." "If on ly I wasn 't s o fat, I ' d d o it m y self." "I yearn for that." "What I w ou I d n 't g ive t o have y ou r health, C ol onel." "I get arou n d, but that's it." " S o, h o w about a coffee?" " Than K y ou, com padre." "Jaci nta is ri g h t." "You never sh o w y ou rself an y I on ger." " What bri n gs y ou arou n d?" " My battle cock." "He's a I ittle..." "crestfal len." "O ne w orries about people, n ot about beasts." "It's n ot a beast." "He's m y battle cock." "That's ri g h t, he's m y com padre 's gamecocK." "An d m ore s o m y g ods on 's." "I was J ust sayi n g t o say s o." "Have a I ittle n i p." "To bri g h ten u p the s ou I." "The sh o w is about t o start." "Wh y n ot stay?" "S o y ou can tel I d oña Lola al I about it." "Between us, she's ri g h t." "You speak about that cock as if it was a pers on." "It's that, he's n o ord i nary rooster." "E very one Kn o ws that." "I ' m th i n Ki n g of trai n i n g h i m." "Teach i n g h i m the P russian attack." "The one t o the flan Ks." "I d on 't mean t o offen d, com pa d re but y ou Kn o w n oth i n g about it." "You ' d never been i nsi de a game pit u nti I y ou reco vered Ag usti n 's body." "Th is is an art." "A tra de." "Sel I the cock before it's t oo late." "You ' re n ot for that game." "The bi rd is getti n g awfu I ly rag ged." "look here." "Ri g h t n o w..." "I Kn o w wh o w ou I d g ive y ou th is." "Maybe even m ore." "Do y ou r arith metic." "I Kn o w h i m." "I cou I d speak t o h i m." "P resent y ou r case." "You ' d d o that?" "Are we com padres, or n ot?" "Di d we fi g h t the Cristero s t ogether, or n ot?" "Di d we g ro w ol d t ogether, or n ot?" "We o we it t o each other." "F or ol d ti mes' sake." " That's what he sai d." " Real ly?" "H is w ord on it." "H is w ord!" "You r w ord is g ood, C ol onel." "N ot that faKer's." "He's ri g h t." "He's J ust lyi n g when he say s he's g ot a buyer." "He wants it for h i mself." "An d he's y ou r com padre." "Bel leve h i m if y ou want, it's y ou r ri g h t." "Stay with us, C ol onel." "We' I I buy y ou a d ri n K." "A wh i le out of y ou r h ouse w on 't d o y ou an y harm." "Place y our bets!" "C ome on, play one for Ag usti n." "He ha d a debt with me an yh o w." "O n the n i ne." "It was h is bi rth day." " C heers, C ol onel." " Than Ks." "F ifteen!" "O h wel I, C ol onel." "Maybe the next ti me arou n d." ""U n I ucKy i n m oney;" "I ucKy i n I o ve."" "Than K y ou." "Rea d it." "Ag usti n wrote for th is one." "Hey there, bo y s!" "We' re back agai n." "N ogales is here." "Dri n Ks al I arou n d!" "Pean ut I i q u or sh ots." "Here, J u I ia, t o y ou r health." "My health d oesn 't depen d on y ou r d ri n Ks." "S o I stay away for a year, an d she gets u ppity." "Ri g h t?" "There m ust be s ome reas on wh y y ou r conscience bothers." "What's he d oi n g here?" "It's n ot ci rcus seas on yet." "He d oes smal I ti me J obs n o w." "Di rty J obs for the G o vern or an d h is cron ies." "S o he comes back here!" "To the same place!" "S h ut u p, he' I I hear y ou." "A rou n d for every one." "C om pl i ments of me, N ogales." "It's n ot for n oth i n g, I ' m the best acrobat i n al I the S outh." "G ood n i g h t." " You ' I I ex cuse me." " O f cou rse, C ol onel." "What?" "Is it m y fa u It that I bu m ped i nt o h i m here?" "I d i d n 't mean t o." "You sh ou I d have warned me." "O ne of y ou sh ou I d have t ol d me." "What is m y s on 's m u rderer d oi n g here?" "The ci rcus is com i n g." "N ogales is sti I I with them." "The ci rcus isn 't u nti I N o vem ber." "N ogales is alway s u p t o s ometh i n g." "maki n g h is deals." "I w on dered h o w y ou r wife was d oi n g?" "H o w w ou I d a dea d bo y's m other be?" "O I der an d th i n ner b y the day." "Do y ou need an yth i n g?" "N o I d on 't need an yth i n g." "You were h is m y s on 's w oman ri g h t?" "Wel I..." "The reas on I ask is..." "You ' I I probably say, "The th i n gs that cross y ou r m i n d..."" "But at ti mes I 've asked m y self if maybe y ou ha d a ch i I d b y h i m." "You Kn o w, th i n gs happen." "N o..." "My Ki n d aren 't g iven m uch t o that." "It u psets the cl ients an d then..." "H o w t o Kn o w wh o the father is?" "Wel I maybe they' re the m usi n gs of an ol d man, but m y bl ood has d ied." "My bi ood I i ne is fi n ished." "S uch a pity." "I ' d I o ve t o have g iven y ou that pleasu re, C ol onel." "S uch a pity." "C ol onel!" "At least I ' d I i Ke y ou t o Kn o w that it wasn 't m y fa u lt." "It was desti n y." "Desti n y is alway s t o blame." "J u I ia!" "What's th is?" "look here." "You r g uav a can dy is tu rn i n g t o J u ice." "What's it t o y ou?" "I was J ust sayi n g." "I was J ust sayi n g." "O ut!" "O ut!" "Get out!" "S heesh!" "Wh o can make a I iv i n g I i Ke th is?" "Ma'am please..." "It seems I ' I I never see h o w it en ds." "The other day the fi I m broke, an d t oday Laris ru ns me out." "Here!" "take it." "There's g uav a can dy i nsi de." "It's a I ittle m ush y, but if y ou put it u n der the fa ucet an d wash it, it wi I I be fi ne." "take it." "You need it." "Do it for y ou r h usban d." "If y ou ' re s o concerned g ive it t o h i m." "H o w can y ou say that?" "Men d on 't accept g ifts from w omen I i Ke me." "Especial ly s omeone I i Ke y ou r h usban d." "A respected man, an d al I." "We' re n ot I i Ke that." "We w omen are d ifferent." "We fi n d a way." "We d o what we m ust." "Here, d on 't be fool ish." "N o one wi I I fi n d out." "I ' d be fool ish, as y ou say." "But y ou r cou rse an d m i ne, crossed on ly one n i g h t." "That accu rsed n i g h t m y s on d ied." "An d they' I I never cross agai n." "N o matter h o w h u n g ry I get." "S o chan ge y ou r cou rse." "Th i n K about y ou r h usban d." "Al I ri g h t..." "It's plai n y ou ' re both needy." " Leave us a sh red of decoru m." " Leave decoru m t o the men." "Woman t o w oman, take it." "N o one wi I I Kn o w, n o one wi I I fi n d out." "At least the g uav a can dy." "He I i Ked it s o m uch." "I mean..." "You I i Ke it." "S o, I 've heard." "They say it has a I ot of ascorbic aci d." "look Ma'am, I mean wel I." "It's n ot t o h u m i I late y ou an d it's n oth i n g t o d o with g u i lt." "You d on 't real ly bel ieve an y one Ki I Is for the I i Kes of me?" "You Kn o w m y Ki n d can 't say, "I I o ve y ou."" "The w ord sticks here, i n ou r chests." "That happened t o me with y ou r s on." "I never t ol d h i m an d he d ied on me." "He d ied on me J ust as he d ied on y ou." "He an d I la u g hed t ogether." "We ha d g ood ti mes." "That's I o v i n g, isn 't it?" "Ag usti n an d I..." "H ush!" "Decoru m?" "N o way!" "Th ose were the m ortgagers." "What are we g oi n g t o d o?" "What are y ou g oi n g t o d o?" "F i n d an other att orney." "Li Ke y ou sai d the other day." "That was the other day." "You wrote, an d there's been n o response." "I was wron g." "You were wron g." "We were wron g;" "An d y ou ' I I wait an other th i rty years wh i le they conti n ue t o cheat y ou." "We sti I I have the rooster." "It's al I we have left." "An d y ou Kn o w that." "I 've g ot a I ittle s ometh i n g special for y ou." "Let's say we m oisten it a bit, an d it wi I I be I i Ke nectar from the g ods." "I ' m s orry." "Don 't th i n K the w orst of me." "What m ust be d one m ust be d one." "Com padre..." "Com padre, y ou sure don 't waste a si ng le m i n ute." "I n o s ooner tel I y ou of an i nterested party" "I n o s ooner tel I y ou of an i nterested party then tw o day s later, y ou ' re here with that an i mal." " It's been tw o weeks." " It's J ust a sayi n g, C ol onel." " You can be s o ri g i d." " A s ol d ier's habits." "Th is comes on a ba d day." "My bi ood su gar is u p." "look!" "Di lated pu pi Is an d al I." "I get w orse an d y ou d on 't come." "You r patients wi I I d ie at th is rate, dear Doct or." "An d there y ou are, fl utteri n g about." "Don 't com plai n." "take a less on from the C ol onel." "A s ol i d oak." "I 've never seen a sick ski n n y man." "Wh o w ou I d n 't?" "I was tel I i n g m y com padre the ski n n y one he's come at a ba d ti me." "The la ds i n t o wn are al I ex cited about the fi g h ti n g cock." "They cal I it, the "To wn C ock"." "I ' m debati n g whether t o g ive it t o them or t o that cl ient y ou sai d." "I sai d, I sai d..." "Pay h i m n o m i n d, Doc." "The C ol onel is t oo ol d for bei n g s o g u I I i ble." "It seems ri g h t for y ou t o Keep y ou r w ord." "You o we h i m the truth an d y ou r career as wel I." "You r g u I I i bi I ity is J ust as si nfu I. C ome on, stick me!" "I can 't spen d al I day with a stretcher bearer with a boozer's breath." "look, C ol onel." "Red der than a bab y's fu fri g g i n g m other." "With al I d ue respect." "Th is su gar is Ki I I i n g me before m y ti me." "F at, ru d dy an d flabb y." "That's wh y n o one takes me seri ously." "F or an y one t o feel s orry for y ou" "I g uess y ou need a g ruff com plexi on." "Regard i n g y ou r busi ness, I spoke t o the i nterested party." "He d i d h is arith metic." "N o w, he fol I o ws bo xi n g on the ra d i o." "Hard ly an y one g oes t o the cocK-matches an y m ore." "He' I I pay half of what he sai d." "You Kn o w atten dance is d o wn, but betti n g is u p." "Keepi n g a battle cock costs a I ot." "I ' d g ive y ou fou r ti mes that am ou nt, but..." "But y ou ' re speaKi n g for y ou r frien d with a med lat or i I I." "The on ly i I I I 've g ot is the one y ou Kn o w." "What d o y ou say, C ol onel?" "But..." "There are n o "buts" i n busi ness." "look." "Ri g h t n o w, I ' I I g ive y ou an a d v ance t o n ou rish y ou as G od wishes." "An d b y m i d" "Decem ber," "I ' I I pay y ou the balance i n m y frien d 's name." "Al I ri g h t." "I ' I I leave h i m t o y ou." "He I i Kes h is wal Ks." "H is name is Ta deo." "He's very sensitive." "I cal I h i m BI on d ie." "N o w I ' I I tel I y ou h o w far the d iabetes has a d v anced." "As the sayi n g g oes..." ""Let me d ie a d i mwit."" "He cheated y ou." "I d on 't Kn o w a peep about cocKfi g h ti n g." "N ot a peep." "We d o what we m ust." "You sai d s o y ou rself, m ore than asth ma, m y wife is h u n g ry." "There are ba d men." "But ba d men, th i n ly d isg u ised, exist on ly i n bal la ds." "Hel I o, Doc." "Same as alway s?" "An d for y ou, C ol onel?" "The same as alway s." "Yes, m y water." "As alway s." "Al I beca use I sit here an d d ri n K h is water." "As if water cost m oney." "Never trust red hea ds." "That's wh y they were Ki I led i n the dark Age." "H is hai r is bro wn." "Red d ish -bro wn." "That's red en ou g h." "Doct or, the C ol onel can sit o ver here." "I ' m n ot weari n g m y cass ock." "Th is ti me, bet s ometh i n g." "Otherwise, it's n o fu n." "You have y ou r a d v ance." "If I bet it, m y wife wi I I Ki I I me." "If y ou 've J ust s ol d y ou r rooster, y ou sh ou I d at least en J o y it." "Leave h i m al one." "Doña Lola wi I I g ru m ble if he bets." "I w on." "You see." "You sh ou I d have bet." "You have the s ou I of a Ki I IJ o y, Doct or." "You m ust rel ish g iv i n g i n Jecti ons." " H o w cou I d y ou tel I?" " It's the years." "I ' m g oi n g; there are t oo man y v u ltu res here." "My wife is waiti n g for me." "Don 't tel I her." "S he' I I scol d y ou for n ot betti n g." "You r tu rn, m y s on." "H o w I on g before y ou get off w ork?" "A wh i le." "The same wh i le as alway s." "Doc!" "Doc!" "H is sh ift en ds when it en ds." "An d if s ome preten der, or frien d wants t o wait for h i m he' I I have t o d o it i n the al ley out back." "That's h o w it is, Doc." "You Kn o w th is is a fam i ly establ ish ment." "You ' re married an d al I." "Wh y, Doc?" "Wh y?" "I'v e 3 y ears w orth o f pension i n my ha nds." "And the med ici ne the doctor gav e y ou." "I hav e co ffee for the morn i ngs." "Iood co ffee, a nd a I I that." "I hav e shoes." "Fi nery as y ou ca I I them." "And I hav e the mortgage or a I mo st" "Whatever we' re m issi n g, we can exten d u nti I after the gam i n g seas on." "When d i d y ou say that was?" "Arou n d C h ristmas, ri g h t after the ci rcus." "I 've spent m y I ife i n th is t o wn an d I d on 't Kn o w when the ci rcus beg i ns." "As if there was s o m uch t o d o." "N o w... sh o w me th ose sh oes once agai n." "You I ook s o han ds ome." "You m iss that an i mal." "The th i n gs y ou th i n K u p." "I was picKi n g u p the feathers s o y ou w ou I d n 't com plai n." "It's been 2 weeks si nce I picked u p the last feather." "Yes, I d o m iss h i m." "But I ' I I get o ver it." "If Ag usti n 's death hasn 't Ki I led me th is I on g i n g wi I I su rely pass, t oo." "G o get h i m." "It bothers me t o see y ou g riev i n g s o." "It bri n gs on m y asth ma." "Are y ou seri ous?" "Wou I d I waste m y m orn i n g on J oKes?" "G o on!" "Get u p an d g o deal with Sabas." ""I ' I I take care of the cock i n the meanti me."" ""I ' I I take care of the cock..."" "I ' I I take care of the an i mal u nti I the seas on." "You ' re su re it's m ol d?" "Do y ou s wear it, S otero?" "30 years i n the busi ness, of cou rse I Kn o w." "It's what they cal I Wh ite Li ly." "It's a terri ble d isease." "I ' I I han d le h is trai n i n g." "The Ki ds an d I wi I I." "If we d o n oth i n g, with i n 3 day s, we' I I be u p t o ou r ears i n it." "The sparri n g partner is al I set t o g o." "Wh o' d bel ieve it?" "A fi g h ti n g cock con d iti oned b y th ree u nsu I I led ch i I d ren an d an ol d pensi oner." " They' I I mess h i m u p." " Di d s omeone ask y ou?" "C ol onel, real ly..." "Wh y d o y ou want h i m?" "The h ouse is I onely with out h i m." "Sa d." "He Keeps me com pan y." "You sh ou I d have sai d s o at fi rst." "take h i m." "I J ust want y ou t o Keep h i m i n shape for me, com padre." "F ed an d trai ned." "Jaci nta, the gamecock!" "You ' re g iv i n g it back?" "The an i mal is spoken for." "You have h i m an a d v ance." "J ust on I oan, C ol onel." "BI on d ie!" "BI on d ie!" "Get g oi n g!" "Get g oi n g!" "Let that an i mal be." "The C ol onel asked us t o ex ercise h i m." "Besi des, he's the To wn C ock." "He n o w bel on gs t o s omebody else." "S o, be off with y ou." "Don 't make me I ose m y tem per s o early." "You ' re an g ry al I day I on g." "You ' re a s ou rpuss." "Ba d I ucK has a h ol d on y ou." "It's y ou r fa u It!" "You r rotten I ucK Ki I led Ag usti n." " Di rty rotten S pan lard!" " Get out of here!" "What d i d I tel I y ou?" "Get out!" "O ut!" "Woe t o th ose wh o cross me agai n." "C ross me, or the mem ory of m y s on." "Woe t o them an d the wh ole t o wn!" "Th is S pan lard gets her d ue." "I wish y ou ' d al I rotted i n y ou r m others' w om bs." "I h ope y ou r m others fi n d y ou d isem bo weled i n an al ley." "I h ope I ' I I be there t o en J o y it." "It's y ou r fa u It!" "You have them al I u n der y ou r spel I. H i m, t oo." "H ush!" "He can 't fi n d out about th is." "It's en ou g h that I have problems with the nei g h bors m ore than en ou g h." "Best y ou n ot even I ook." "S ome th i n gs are better left u nsai d." "What was that racket?" "I heard y ou scol d i n g the Ki ds." "They can 't come arou n d an y m ore." " They' re out t o get me." " What an i mag i nati on y ou have." "Besi des, they' re ex ercisi n g the cock for me." "They' re bri n g i n g a sparri n g s o he' I I master the attack." "You trai n h i m." "But I d on 't Kn o w about gamecocKs." "That's wh y I asked them." "They can 't fi n d out I Kn o w n oth i n g about it." "I ' m a fu I I C ol onel, an d al I." "Th ose bo y s wi I I n ot come here agai n!" "I want it u n derst ood," "I ' m len d i n g her t o y ou for a wh i le." "If an yth i n g happens t o her, y ou pay." "I gave y ou m y w ord." "Wh o's ever seen a hen used as a sparri n g t o trai n a rooster." "You trai n th ose with fi g h ti n g cocks." "Wh o w ou I d ask y ou?" "Are y ou a cock fi g h ter?" "The C ol onel wi I I Kn o w h o w." "You d o Kn o w, d on 't y ou?" "See y ou i n a wh i le." "Here, I 've brou g h t y ou the enem y." "You ' I I see." "C ome on." "N o w, y ou ' I I attack on the flan Ks." "J ust I i Ke y ou d o i n the m i rror." "P reten d y ou ' re n ot y ou." "You ' re the opponent." "Th is is I i Ke war." "He wh o stri Kes fi rst, wi ns." "The law of strateg y, the P russian law." "That's it." "There." "Here's the enem y." "attack!" "attack!" "P russian law, I t ol d y ou!" "Where d i d y ou get that m orose hen?" "F rom d oña Amal ia." "A pu rchase?" "N o, on I oan." "I d i d n 't spen d a cent." "You ma de me come here t o I ook for y ou?" "Here, where he d ied." "I n the same place?" "As if it were n oth i n g t o y ou." " N o one t ol d y ou t o come." " I ha d a prem on iti on." "P rem on iti ons are on ly that." "That n i g h t, I ha d a prem on iti on." "As y ou 've ha d on s o man y n i g h ts." "But that n i g h t, it came true." "Tel I me where y ou fou n d h i m." "Tel I me." "O ver there." "J ust u n der the car." "Th ose hea d I i g h ts were sh i n i n g on h i m." "Li Ke th is?" "Li Ke that." "Leave." "G o on n o w." "Don 't t orment y ou rself an y I on ger." "I t ol d h i m, clearly." "I warned h i m." "When I saw h i m leave, al I pri m ped an d perfu med," "I t ol d m y self, "He's g oi n g out with her."" "An d he d i d." "Beca use of her an d beca use of that rooster y ou ' re s o i n I o ve with, they Ki I led h i m." "They Ki I led h i m on me." "You 've started agai n." "Yes an d I ' m never g oi n g t o st op." "Never!" "Leave!" "G o away." "C arry on with y ou r st ories s omewhere else." "Torment y ou rself al one." "Beca use of that J u I ia w oman..." "That one was als o seei n g N ogales." "You ma de me say h is name." "N ogales." "They t ol d me that one the one wh o Ki I led m y s on, arrived wel I d ressed." "He came I ooKi n g for that J u I ia w oman." "He brou g h t h is rooster." "As if one cou I d real ly I o ve th ose w omen." "Th ose wh o charge." "I ' m spel I i n g it out for y ou beca use m y h usban d isn 't here." "The s o ws." "Th is one was the w orst." "S he ma de h i m bel ieve it's d ifferent with h i m." "If they' d on ly taken a d ri n K, n oth i n g w ou I d have happened." "But that one was buzzi n g arou n d, buzzi n g I i Ke a fly." "S he brou g h t h i m her ba d I ucK." "My s on ha d arran ged her t o be the han d ler i n the cockpit." "Then he..." ""that one," cial med she ha d fix ed the fi g h t with m y s on." "That he was her pi m p." "That she ha d stuck a hai rpi n i n the rooster's bel ly." "The fool probably d i d." "S he wanted t o trap h i m." "Her Ki n d wi I I d o an yth i n g t o trap a man." "To stick a hai rpi n i n the rooster as if the other fel I o w w ou I d n 't n otice." "They say her han d was bl oody." "C ock's bl ood." "What else?" "My s on 's bl ood fl o wed later." "I Knew when I saw h i m leav i n g the h ouse al I g ussied u p." "S ometi mes I tel I m y self," ""If I on ly ha d n 't sewn that butt on, he w ou I d n 't have g one an d he w ou I d n 't have been Ki I led."" "It's a si n t o I ive I on ger than one's ch i I d ren." "A si n t o wake u p al ive each m orn i n g." "Me an d that J u I ia w oman sti I I al ive." "That's wh y it h u rts me when m y h usban d g reets her." "It's n ot Jeal ous y, it's rage." "Rage t o sti I I be al ive." "An d t oday, I g o t o the game pit, an d fi n d h i m with a hen an d I get the same feel i n g." "The same prem on iti on." "The same rage." "An d y ou, n ot a w ord!" "It's m y an ger." "It's a si n, an d I d on 't care." "look here!" "I spit on G od." "I spit on fate." "An d then...?" "An d then, they came t o tel I me." "Di d I tel I y ou it rai ned d u ri n g the fu neral?" "Yes, y ou t ol d me." "If y ou d on 't want the Ki ds t o come here an d ex ercise h i m" "I ' I I have t o d o it m y self." "It's for y ou that I g ot the hen." "F or y ou." "F or y ou, I trai n h i m." "F or y ou." "You I o ve that rooster m ore than y ou I o ve me." "It's al I we have left of ou r s on." "Bel leve me, I hate th is." "Let's g o." "The m ortgage people stuck the ev icti on n otice on the d oor." "They say they hate t o d o it." "Hy pocrites." "They d on 't want m oney;" "they want the h ouse." "You see spooKs beh i n d every tree." "I see the G o vern or an d y ou r com padre picKi n g o ver each an d every property i n t o wn for thei r fact ory." "Then, there's n o other way." "N o there's n o other way." "I I ooKed for y ou everywhere, an d they t ol d me y ou were here." " I came t o d iscuss the m ortgage." " You Kn o w the ru les, C ol onel." "Ru les are for breaKi n g." "H o w cou I d y ou consi der taKi n g out a m ortgage i n these ti mes?" "They sai d they were about t o bu ry m y s on i n the com m on g rave." "S o, if one can 't afford t o bu ry h is o wn s on, where d oes one stan d?" "Where?" "It's for 3 m onths." "The cock is al rea dy s ol d." "They've g iven me an a d v ance." "look, I ' m even weari n g new sh oes." "Then, tel I the buyer t o pay y ou the rest of y ou r m oney." "You ' I I have t o ex cuse me, C ol onel, I ' m bus y." "The cock is a I iv i n g creatu re." "S u ppose m y frien d pay s y ou off then the an i mal d ies before the fi g h t?" "An d n o w that y ou 've taken h i m i nt o y ou r care, wh o's responsi ble?" "An d y ou, col onel, y ou spen d m oney fast." "New sh oes, an d al I." "I Kept m y w ord, an d y ou t ook the cock." "Between com padres, I ' I I see what can be d one." "But u p front, I ' m tel I i n g y ou, it wi I I be very d ifficu lt." "Dam n, S otero, y ou can 't even s olve problems." "I 've t ol d y ou, act I i Ke we I ive i n a civ i I ized s ociety." "Otherwise, there's n o prog ress, there J ust isn 't." "C ol onel..." "People can buy sh oes when they blessed wel I feel I i Ke it." "An d si nce when the wheelchai r?" "Wel I, si nce the rai ns started." "I n o s ooner put the cl othes out t o d ry then su d den ly there's a d o wn pou r." "Th is is n o way t o get b y." "What's happened t o y ou?" "What's the matter?" "You can 't d ie!" "N ot y ou!" "N ot y ou, treacherous bi rd." "Don 't y ou Kn o w the fi g h t seas on isn 't here yet?" "If y ou d ie, he' I I d ie al on g with y ou." "Get better even if it's J ust for h i m." "You have t o get better, al I ri g h t?" "I ' I I take y ou t o the d oct or." "That's it." "I ' I I take y ou t o the d oct or." "That's it." "Doct or!" "Doct or!" "Doña Lola, y ou ' I I get s oaKed!" "C ome i n." "H o w cou I d y ou g o out on a day I i Ke th is?" " Where's the d oct or?" " He went t o the m ou ntai ns." "S ometh i n g about a h ouse cal I..." "That he m i g h t stay the n i g h t..." "He d oesn 't bother com i n g arou n d here an y m ore." "The cock w on 't last u nti I m orn i n g." "He's a d oct or, n ot a veteri narian." "I d i d n 't d o an yth i n g t o y ou." "N oth i n g." "He's been I i Ke th is si nce m i d -aftern oon." "The I i g h tn i n g..." "The d oct or is i n the m ou ntai ns." "Do s ometh i n g!" "S i nce when d o y ou care about the rooster?" "I nsu I i n?" "The d oct or su g gested it." "That wi I I raise even the dea d." "Then, he w ou I d have g iven it t o y ou." "Wel I, h is wife su g gested it, that's al m ost the same th i n g." "The d oct or is u p t o h is usual m isch ief." "O ne g ru bb y d oct or i n th is t o wn an d he's ru n n i n g arou n d I i Ke a fai ry i n the bushes." "That's n o way t o d o th i n gs." "An d what's al I th is about i n Jecti n g a cock?" "That's for h u mans." "I nsu I i n for an an i mal?" "What's next?" "A d ri n K, com padre." "Don 't even I isten t o her." "S he gets crasser b y the day." "But an i n Jecti on..." "You ' I I have t o pay h i m back." "Th i n gs get m ore expensive every day." "I mag i ne!" "There are day s when Sabas takes as man y as tw o." "That's a I ot of m oney." "The Ma d M on K sh o w is about t o start." "C ome on, then y ou can tel I y ou r wife al I about it." "J ust d on 't let that ol d hag see." "S he butts i nt o everyth i n g." "S he cou nts m y i n Jecti ons." "I ' m su pposed t o obey her every n oti on." "If I cou I d on ly d o m ore, com padre." "I often wish I ' d get arou n d al one." "O ffer n o ex cuses t o an ybody." "C hat." "Do whatever I please." "Breathe i n the m ou ntai n ai r." "Tal K t o frien ds." "To m y com padres." "To y ou, I i Ke when we were warri ors." "We've g otten ol d, C ol onel." "When y ou left Tabasco, y ou were a I ittle sn ot an d about one han d tal I. N o w y ou ' re ol d an d fat." "E n ou g h!" "I ' I I get n ostal g ic." "N ostal g ic about me." "N ostal g ic about y ou." "About then." "Mean i n g less n ostal g ia." "I h ope y ou r cock gets wel I." "F rom m y heart." "F or y ou r sake." "I 've come t o th i n K of h i m as a Ki n d of s on." " C an I hel p?" " N o!" "You make h i m nerv ous." "He Kn o ws y ou d isl i Ke h i m." "Don 't be si I ly." "I cou I d have d one it al one." "It's been years si nce y ou 've d one an yth i n g y ou rself." "It's o ver n o w, BI on d ie." "Al I o ver." "Here." "If they are real rev ol uti onaries, they sh ou I d learn about pri nti n g." "J ust I ook at th is." "Al I the letters have fa ded." "The letterary as Ag usti n used t o say." "C ome, n o w." "That's what Ag usti n used t o rea d..." "P ol itics." "I deals an d pri nci ples." "As I was sayi n g..." "A ba nd o f w h ite I uards i n the Io v ernor's serv ice attack ed the u n ion loca I a nd the constab les attack ed the u n ion men." "The constables..." "J ust I i Ke that day." "J ust I i Ke..." "J ust I i Ke that n i g h t." "An d h i m i n m y h ouse!" "J ust I i Ke that n i g h t." "Hear me!" "I ' m n ot g oi n g t o d ie J ust t o deprive y ou of the pleasu re of ru bbi n g me with y ou r oi Is." "He came al on g beca use we' re playi n g d om i n oes." "I d on 't enter where I ' m n ot su m m oned." "Li Ke that n i g h t." "I d i d n 't su m m on y ou t on i g h t." "He's blasphem i n g agai n." "He's on the roa d t o reco very." "Al I ri g h t, d oña Lola." "S i nce y ou ' re al rea dy here, let's clear th i n gs u p, F ather." "You saw it t oo." "I fou n d the body about tw o h ou rs later." "You ' re there." "They m ust have sai d," ""Wh y the d oct or?" "C al I the priest, n o w."" "If y ou ' re w orried that I gave h i m the last rites." "I arrived t oo late even for that." "N o, that's n ot what I want t o tal K about." "When y ou arrived, the body was sti I I there." "N ogales was sti I I there, s o com placent." "If there ha d been a real brawl d u ri n g the cocKfi g h t d o y ou th i n K N ogales w ou I d have stayed?" "Ans wer me." "Don 't be s o q u let." "N o, he w ou I d n 't have stayed." "You saw it, t oo." "I saw Ag usti n sl i ppi n g the newspaper u n der h is sh i rt." "I saw that, an d t ol d h i m," ""At the dance, the i n K wi I I ru n from the propagan da then y ou ' I I have the ev i dence pri nted on y ou r chest."" "An d he la u g hed, the way he alway s d i d... a bit t o the si de I i Ke m y wife d oes." "The same la u g h." "J ust the same." "An d he sai d, "I ' m n ot danci n g t oday," "I ' m a han d ler at the cocK-match."" "But b y fi g h t ti me, he was s weati n g." "Maybe y ou haven 't n oticed, but at that game pit they have n o perm it s o they use car hea d I i g h ts for I i g h ti n g." "Al I the han d lers wh o w ork with gamecocKs s weat." "look, if y ou d on 't bel ieve me." "It's the same th i n g on the bath room m i rror." "I n d i g o bl ue." "The same i n K that ran from the same newspaper." "They never learned t o pri nt." "Never." "If y ou d on 't cal m d o wn, the d oct or wi I I g ive y ou a sh ot of m orph i ne then s weet peace." "Peace?" "There's been n o peace si nce that n i g h t." "You Kn o w it." "You saw it." "My bo y was i n v olved i n pol itics." "I ha d t o si g n the death certificate." ""Altercati on at the cocKfi g h ts."" "Li Ke he was s ome com m on d ru n K." "You si g ned that death certificate beca use for a chan ge, the d oct or was i n the m ou ntai ns." "You Kn o w as wel I as I d o." "The bo y is dea d it d oesn 't matter." "N o, it d oes matter." "Don 't take th is as m y confessi on." "It ha d n 't crossed m y m i n d." "An yway, Keep it as secret as a confessi on." "He's ri g h t." "It d oes matter wh y they Ki I I one's s on." "Al I th is o ver a cock." "They get themselves al I w ou n d u p." "Di d n 't I bri n g y ou the sh i rt?" "Wasn 't it stai ned with i n K?" "It was stai ned with bl ood." "It was stai ned with bl ood an d i n K." "An d once an d for al I, I ' m tel I i n g y ou, y ou r s on was Ki I led for h is i deals an d for n oth i n g else." "N o matter what, y ou w on 't have the rooster blamed for the fu neral." "O u r fu neral." "C ome n o w, fi n d y ou r sewi n g an d start w orKi n g next t o me." "That's comforti n g." "It cal ms me." " I 've n o sewi n g t o d o." " Then make s ome t o d o." "Th is way I can see y ou better." "You Kn o w, wh ich is the on ly fu neral we' I I g o t o t ogether?" "O u r o wn fu neral." "The circus is here!" "It's the p henomena I circus o f the Amazi ng Qu i nta n i I la Bro thers no w on their a n n ua I tour o f the m id la nds o f the Repu b I ic!" "The circus is here!" "It's the p henomena I circus o f the Amazi ng Qu i nta n i I la Bro thers no w on their a n n ua I tour o f the m id la nds o f the Repu b I ic!" "The circus is here!" "The ci rcus is here." "It's here, an d Au g ust isn 't o ver yet." "C o ver u p." "You ' I I get pneu m on ia i n th is h u m i d ity." "It's al I the same i n the bath tu b, or i n the bed." "Are y ou tryi n g t o fri g h ten me t o death, or Ki I I me with rage?" "Let's g o t o bed." " Today is F ri day." " Yes but y ou have a wh i le yet." "But I fi led an appeal, an d I ' m waiti n g for an ans wer." "It's n o I on ger an ord i nary proced u re." "If y ou I i Ke, I ' I I repeat..." "N o one writes t o the C ol onel." "I have s ometh i n g t o tel I y ou." "I heard the ci rcus ha d arrived, an d then..." "I want t o Keep the cock." "To cal I off the sale." "C al I off the sale?" "But we've spent al I the a d v ance m oney." "German is ri g h t." "Sabas can 't Keep the cock." "He can 't fi nag le Ag usti n 's battle cock." "He's g iv i n g it t o N ogales." "H ush!" "That name is n ot spoken here." "Sabas wi I I g ive it t o h i m." "Ag usti n 's cock w on 't en d u p i n h is han ds." "I want y ou t o Kn o w, I ' m off t o see Sabas an d retu rn h is m oney." "I ' I I wash the sh oes with sa d d le s oap, then retu rn them or I ' I I sel I the cl ock." "Ag usti n 's cock is the best i n the t o wn." "The cocker wh o wi ns gets 20º/o of the betti n g stakes." "Tri ple what Sabas offers!" "I ' m n ot asKi n g y ou." "I ' m tel I i n g y ou." "I ' m warn i n g y ou." "I ' m d oi n g th is for h i m..." "F or y ou..." "F or me..." "As far as I ' m concerned, that's wh y I ' m a C ol onel." "I ' I I have t o men d y ou r pants with wh ite th rea d s o they w on 't n otice." "C ocKers d on 't d ress i n rags." "H o w m uch for the ri n g?" "G o away!" "I d on 't d o th ose th i n gs!" "F ather An gel, h o w m uch?" "H o w m uch?" "The C h u rch forbi ds these Ki n d of th i n gs." "An yway, I ' m a priest." "A priest, n ot a pawn broker." "E ven if a black legen d befal Is us." "F i n d s omeone else." "A m oneylen der." "I am a priest, but I ' m als o y ou r frien d." "That's wh y I dare, beca use y ou are m y on ly frien d." "If n ot y ou, then with wh om?" "P lease take pity." "F or al I th ose ti mes we've g one t o the m o v ies." "Then, what d o I d o with the ri n g?" "Do I sel I it?" "It has y ou r name etched i n it." "Here they fi n d out about everyth i n g." "Then y ou r h usban d wi I I come an d bu rn the ch u rch for the secon d ti me with me i nsi de." "He' I I u n derstan d." "H o w m uch?" "Than K y ou, F ather." "I d on 't Kn o w h o w t o beg." "They never ta u g h t me." "O n ly I ife teaches that." "G ood -b ye." "S he w ou I d n 't let me abs olve her." "An eye for an eye." "I wasn 't able t o retu rn the sh oes." "But y ou w on 't Kn o w the ti me an y I on ger." "What's th is?" "I ' m s o th i n n o w, it was bou n d t o fai I off one day." "N o w I can take a I o ver, C ol onel." "N o one wi I I Kn o w I ' m married." "What d i d y ou d o?" " I v isited F ather An gel." " The cass ocKed one." "I h ope he' I I Keep th is as a confessi on secret." "Where are y ou g oi n g i n th is rai n?" "To settle m y cocKfi g h ti n g accou nts." "I ' m here t o settle s ome busi ness." "I ' m n ot here t o see m y com padre." "But a com ra de i n arms." "Where d o y ou th i n K y ou ' re g oi n g?" "What ri g h t d o y ou have t o come i n here?" "Stan d asi de, I ' m asKi n g y ou." "I ' m beg g i n g y ou." "I warn y ou." "That cock wi I I n ot leave as I on g as I ' m al ive." "Don 't make me h u rt y ou, y ou ' re Ag usti n 's m other." "Wel I, d o it." "That cock is m i ne!" "An d m y h usban d 's, the C ol onel." "S h ut u p an d take it eas y." "It bel on gs t o the people an d we' I I take it!" "Ki I I me, then!" "They t ook it b y force." "I t ol d them the rooster w ou I d n 't leave here as I on g as I I ived." "But y ou ' re sti I I al ive." "You weren 't h ome." "Th is has n oth i n g t o d o with the ci rcus." "They wanted t o use the ci rcus tent as thei r game pit." "I ' m the on ly one han d I i n g th is cock." "The one, wh o cared for h i m, is me." "The one wh o trai ned h i m is me." "The one wh o pai d for h i m is me." "N ot Sabas, m y com padre." "N ot an y of y ou." "N ot even Ag usti n 's mem ory." "It's me." "Tel I h i m the truth." "N ogales, was there boasti n g strutti n g about i n front of every one." "S o then we chal len ged h i m with Ag usti n 's cock." "There was n o other way, C ol onel." "My cock d oesn 't en gage th is one." "As I on g as there is a breath of I ife left i n me m y cock wi I I n ot co ver itself i n h is bl ood." "It's al I i n g oodwi I I C ol onel." "I 've n o g oodwi I I t o wards y ou." "I d i d n 't break i nt o y ou r h ouse I i Ke a bu rg lar t o take h i m." "It was y ou r s on 's s o-cal led frien ds." "I o we y ou." "I Kn o w that." "But it wasn 't m y fa u It al one." "We both were armed." "B oth of us." "I al m ost g ot Ki I led i nstea d." "But h is death was al I he needed t o become a sai nt." "Sti I I I am i n y ou r debt." "I may be on ly a ci rcus man, but I ' m forth ri g h t." "Here, take th is for y ou r rooster." "An d, m y con necti ons." "I have frien ds contacts." "Tom orro w I can arran ge for y ou r pensi on." "You r g od -forsaken pensi on the wh ole t o wn Kn o ws about." "I n the bl i n K of an eye, C ol onel." "I n a si m ple stroke of mag ic." "Al I beca use I o we it t o y ou." "Al I beca use I have a father." "Al I beca use I ' m senti mental." "look..." "I d o mag ic for y ou, an d y ou ' I I never agai n I i n ger at the post office." "N ot for y ou r stroke of mag ic." "N ot for y ou r con necti ons." "N ot for al I the g ol d i n the w orl d." "N oth i n g." "Let's g o, BI on d ie." "G ood even i n g Gentlemen." "It wi I I happen agai n." "O ver an d o ver agai n." "They wi I I en d u p taKi n g h i m agai n." "The next ti me y ou w on 't be able t o Keep h i m with y ou." "The cock is n ot for sale." "You ' re m ore stu bborn than a m u le." "An d meanwh i le, what?" "What?" "You ' I I J ust sit here, an d wait for that pensi on." " That pensi on w on 't come." " It wi I I come." "C ome t o y ou r senses." "You ' re ol d." "Today, y ou g ot a break beca use y ou ' re ol d." "You su rprised them." "Tom orro w, they' I I put a Kn ife i n y ou beca use y ou ' re ol d." "They' I I en d u p with the cock an d I ' I I en d u p al one." "N o w, I 've come t o real ize it." "You have, t oo." "Reconsi der." "I w on 't reconsi der." "You haven 't reconsi dered i n twenty years." "Then it wi I I be twenty m ore." "You ' re stu bborn an d i nconsi derate." "My I ife is bu rn i n g away sl o wly I i Ke a can d le." "An d there's stu bborn y ou, an d y ou r rooster." "An d if the cock d oesn 't wi n?" "What if y ou d on 't get y ou r fam ous 20º/o?" "That's on ly if it wi ns." "What if it I oses?" "Have y ou th ou g h t about what we' I I d o if it I oses?" "That cock can 't I ose." "S u ppose it d oes." "I have forty-five day s t o su ppose that." "An d u nti I then, what are we g oi n g t o eat?" "Ans wer me." "C ome on, tel I me!" "Don 't J ust sit there si lent." "After al I, y ou ' re m y h usban d." "Tel I me what we' I I eat." "Tel I me." "S h it."