"What?" "Dionis' wagon fell down into the woods." "What are talking about?" "And Culet?" "They're on the ground." "They look dead." " Where are they?" " Just around the Pallera." "As you sow, so shall you reap." " How are you?" "OK." "We're going straight home." "Your mother's very worried." "Farriol, wait!" "Here!" "Stop by the garrison tomorrow." "The Mayor and Judge will take the boy's statement." "He's been very good." "Paperwork, you know?" "Today there's no end to paperwork." " You shouldn't have stopped!" " But dad..." "Don't dad me, you'll see the headaches we have now." "Go on in!" "So?" "What happened?" "They say a landslide accident." "My God!" "What a sad death!" "And poor Culet didn't have time to even start his life." "The woods are cursed since the war." "Florencia!" "Don't scare the boy even more!" "Dad, should I put the clothespin on?" " Dad?" "What?" "The clothespin." "They always knock the food over." "You notice everything, don't you?" "Put it on." "And Culet and his dad's birds?" "Who'll take care of them now?" "Pauleta, I guess." "Problem's who'll take care of her." "Andreu!" "Andreu!" "Come on, you'll be late for school." "We have to go see the Mayor and Capt. Clotet." "I can't wait." "I should be at the factory already." " Who signs, him or me?" " Both." "Andreu." "This is everything you told us." "You can write your own name, can't you?" "If you're such a good student..." "Sign it." "Poor woman." "Andreu, here it says the boy wasrt dead when you found him." " He didn't have time to say anything?" " No." "A name, anything..." "It could be important to us." "Well... he said something weird." "I think it was Pitorliua." "Does that mean anything to you?" "There's a bird named that." "A little, tame one." "Yes, yes, but besides the bird?" "They say in the Baumes cave there's like a ghost called Pitorliua." "Take the boy to the other room, give him a coffee, he's been good." "And you wait, we're not done yet." "Though it looks like an accident, it's hard to believe." "We think someone pushed Dionis Segui off." "Childrers fantasies apart, all that makes us think about this Pitorliua story." "Don't worry about a thing, kid." "What did you say?" "Don't worry about a thing." "We'll bring you some breakfast." "The white bread's not for you." "Take the other one." "You and Dionis were inseparable." "Too much business together:" "Birds, trade unions, dirty work that's better not to discuss..." "I'd be careful if I was you." "Too many people have it in for you." "Done lecturing me?" "Ljust want to warn you." "There are still a lot of reds to purge." "You wouldn't want to wind up like Dionis." "Not for you, forthe kids and widows who never meddled." "Andreu." "Andreu, come on, leave it, we're going." "You're different from your dad." "I hope you pick a better path." "He'll do what we want." "You have no damn say in it!" "Florencia didn't choose so well." " So she should've chosen you!" " She'd be much better off." "Those clowns, a bunch of losers!" "What are you doing?" "Packing, can't you see?" "Where are you going?" "To France." "The Captain suspects Dionis Segui was killed." "What?" "Who was it?" "I don't know." "Could've been anyone." "Even one of those Town Hall traitors." "I'm afraid they'll go after me." "But why?" "Because Dionis and I represented too much." "You shouldn't have gotten into politics." "I was defending my ideas." "And look where you ideas got us." "Me, I work like crazy." "Look what you got with your bird mania and ideals." "All I've ever done was so you'd never lack anything at home." "And now too." "I'll talk to the owners of mother's farm to see if they can help you." "Those Manubens!" "They ruin everything they touch in town." "Are you forgetting Pitorliua's mishap?" "Goddam it!" "With you always reminding me?" "You can't get it out of your head." "I'm sick of hearing it." "I'm leaving and that's it!" "If you walk out that door" "I'll kill all your birds." "Because I won't go up to give them anything." "No water, no millet, no seeds, nothing!" "Just one dead bird, and pay close attention, Florencia, just one and you'll remember it the rest of your life." "Get out!" "I'm sorry." "Don't take it like that." "I said get out!" "Can't you see I love you more than anything?" "Come on, don't make it harder for me." "There's a bundle in the wagon with everything you might need." "I've got lots of work and can't be there for you." "You'll have fun at grandma's." "Playing with Quirze and Nuria." "She's here visiting." "Nuria who?" "Uncle Fonso's girl." "He went to France." "Careful on the stairs, Andreu." "Go sit down." "Wait for me here." "I'll be right back." "Here, that's for grandma to make herself a suit." "Be good at your new school and study a lot." "So you don't end up in some shitty factory." "It's enough for me to be in one." "I'll go see you every Sunday." "I can't more often, it's many hours away." "Your father must leave, but he loves us." "Don't forget that." "You have to be a man now and bear it." "What will you do in France?" "I don't know." "Go see uncle Fonso and then we'll see." "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." "Then you'll come with me." "Father, does Pitorliua from the cave really exist?" "That's just silly!" "Couldrt that be who killed Culet and his father?" "How can you be so grown up and believe in ghosts?" "And the screams factory workers hear from the Baumes cave?" "Nonsense!" "Don't try to learn so much or you'll go blind like that king in grandma's tale." "Take the reins." "Look, Andreu, Pitorliua was a guy who hid in the Baumes for political reasons." "No ghosts, no stories." "OK?" "Yes, father." " Can I have your glasses?" " No, glasses aren't to play with." "OK, here." "You just be well." "That's the only obligation kids should have." "The kids are coming down for school." "They shouldn't see you." "Here, take this too." "Come, let's go, mother." "Oh, Cio!" "First Bernat's death, then your husband;" "Fonso lost up in France and now Farriol, the only son I had left..." "Farriol, what a scatterbrain!" "We need men, not more children and headaches." "Leave your brother alone." "Andreu is ours now and he'll stay here as long as he needs." "Florencia has to work all day and hold the fort." "No, it's like this!" "Quirze, say hi to your cousin." " Hey." "How are you?" "OK." "And don't you remember Nuria?" "How could he if Fonso spent half his life in Manlleu?" "Nuria came to live here recently." "Andreu's going to stay with us a while." "And a hello for aunt Enriqueta?" "Come here, handsome!" " You're so grown-up!" " You coming with us?" "Not yet." "We'll go talk to the teachertomorrow." "Come on, off to school." "What's wrong with her hand?" " None of your business." "Cio." "A bomb exploded when she was playing by the river and she lost her fingers." "But don't mention it to her." "She doesn't like to talk about it." "I'll be late today." "All of Vic teamed up to come have their clothes made." "Now go say goodbye to your father." "Look, Andreu," "I won't be around now and people are evil." "Always hold your head high." "And if they say ugly things about me or our family, pay them no mind." "Everything I'm doing is for you." "What's all the nodding mean?" "It means me too, father." "PORTRAIT OF A BIRD KILLER" ""Victory is never neutral or undeserved." "Victory is never neutral or undeserved." "You must avoid the defeated..." "You must avoid the defeated..."" "Shit!" ""..." "like you would the plague"." "You dropped this." ""..." "like you would the plague"." ""Vae victis", which means "Woe betide the defeated!"" "The defeated have no right to even a small footnote in the great book ofhistory, because history is always written by winners." "But I am always in favor of victors because they're more won'thy." "Anyone know why?" "Me." "They're braver." "No." "Because they've known how to win." "And only those who know how to win can win." "Like the rich are more won'thy than the poor." "Anyone know why?" "Their money." "Almost, you're close." "What a shitty teacher, on and on about the same thing." "Mr. Madern is a drunk, but he's right about what he says." "About what, smarty-pants?" "That you're dumberthan a fly?" "That you should avoid louses like you like the plague." "Then go!" "Or are you scared to be in the woods alone, you little rat?" "You're the rats!" "You reds will end up like Pitorliua, hiding in a cave like "monsters"." "He isn't a monster." "My father told me." "He doesn't know anything." "He became a monster from being in the cave so long." "You can still see him run naked in the woods." "That's nonsense!" " What kind of monster is he?" " Aweird bird." "Well, half human, half bird, but one of those birds you can't tell what it is until they mate." "You're dumberthan dumb." "Sure, I'm not as well trained as you." "What do you mean?" "Teacher pays more attention to you." "You're worse than the flu!" "The teacher who teaches me tra-la-la-la- la-la-lee," "The teacher who teaches me is in love with me." "You're a filthy pig and a liar!" "You're all useless!" "Like dogs!" "With no mother or father." "Nuria, you'll wind up running around the woods naked like a whore!" "Like your aunt Enriqueta and her bicycle, who said to hell with mourning to do it in the bushes with Guards." "Whores, you're all just a bunch of shameless whores!" "Good morning!" "Hurry up, the surs up already and if you're late, I get scolded." "What the hell?" "So early?" "You never let me sleep." "And you?" "I can't sleep with you snoring all day." "What?" "What are you doing, you filthy girl?" "Get inside!" "You're going to be late!" " What were you doing on the balcony?" " Nothing." "You were half naked." " You spying on me or what?" " No, but I've seen you othertimes." "What are you doing?" "My chilblains hurt." " That's disgusting!" " Shut up, halfwit!" "Get out of here!" "Hey, aren't you afraid they'll tell your dad when he gets back?" " They can't tell him anything." " Oh, no?" "Why not?" "Because they can't." "My father's dead." "Dead, dead?" "Dead and gone." "Isn't he in France?" "It's what they want us to believe and I pretend I don't know, but I do." " Swear you won't tell anyone this." " I swear." "Father hung himself from a rafter." "He destroyed the towrs bridges so the Fascists couldn't arrive and when he was done, he went home and hung himself." "I found him in the morning, alone, and I was so sad I didn't know what to do." "I took off my clothes, went out on the balcony and later I felt..." "my head was cleared." "That's why now, when I miss him, I do the same." " And your mother?" " She hid it from me." "Then she left the village with a married man and left me behind with a relative who was neverthere, until grandma said enough and took me with herto the farm." "Now you know, open your mouth and I'll cut off your balls." "Got it?" "I trust you." "You're different." " What do you mean you love me?" " I've fallen in love with you." "What am I supposed to say?" "Come and live with me." "Gudiol, I can't live with you." "I'm needed here." "Don't you see?" "I have to feed the animals, go to Vic every day to sew." "Find someone who loves you." "I have money." "Stuff your money up your ass." " Enriqueta!" " What?" "Don't treat Gudiol that way." "He's a good man." " Then you keep him." " I don't need him." "Me neither." "I go blind sewing to make a day's pay." "That's no problem." "The whole town talking about you is." "They love to badmouth dressmakers." "Whatever!" "It will stop once you get married." " To that hunchbacked old man?" " He's right for you." "You need a man and he needs a nanny for his kids." "What are you staring at?" "Grab that basket and come with me." "Don't touch those blankets!" "Don't." "They're infected!" "You want to get sick like the consumptives?" "Get out of here." "You have to wash, boil and scrub them well, even then they still smell of death." "Ave Maria!" "These damn monks!" "The sick will die, but they put the blankets to good use." "Good morning!" "Leave the blankets here and wait in the kitchen." "Hey, you!" "Give me a couple cookies." " These?" " Yes, of course." "Don't come too close, I'm sick and it's contagious." "Leave them here." "Thank you." "You live at the farm near here?" "Bring me some food one day, OK?" "When I'm in the meadow." "Not here." "These monks starve us to death." "Why did you do that the other day?" "That what?" "This..." "Ah, this..." "I was moving my wings." "Don't you feel sometimes, when you're bored and tired, like throwing it all into the fire?" "No..." "Well, maybe." "Well it happens to me and when it does, I grow wings here from my back," "they start flapping and I begin to fly." "Up and up, as if I had a growing fever, like I could erase everything..." "And you know what I think?" "What?" "What do you think?" "That right then if I wanted to, if I said yes, with a good flap of my wings I'd go on to another world." "Andreu!" "She's looking for you." "Andreu!" "Come, let's go!" "...when that deformed creature was well inside the castle, where it was dark, dark, dark, suddenly a white owl flew past him." "And he also heard people coming with bells and rattles and carbide lamps." "And he was scared 'cause he knew they were coming to kill him." " Are you listening to me or not?" " Yes." " So why did they want to kill him?" " He was a monster." " Because he was different." " And he'd gobbled up a girl, grandma." "That too, but especially because he was different." "Now listen closely, we're all going to go to bed now because the ghosts will be out soon." "You see?" "This house is full of them." "Those are just stories." "Right, stories..." "They're everywhere." "And they see and hear everything." "Especially at night, when they move around the most." "Nothing, a copper pot fell." "...and I saw him come out, all black, going upstairs, to the loft." "Did grandma see him?" "No." "She said what's he look like and laughed." "Sure, silly." "Can't you see it was a dream?" " Quirze, go get water from the well." " No it wasrt!" "Merce!" "Merce, come on out!" "Mother, they're calling for you." "Come on, come on." "It's to the loft." "Go up one night and you'll see." "Andreu, Andreu!" "Jan will come get you on Sunday." " Why?" " To go to town to see your mom." "Wort know where you're from if you never see your home." "Hurry, you'll be late to school." " And that?" " For a snack." " Let's go?" " No, you wait for Quirze." "Why do you give them food?" "Can't you see they're rotting?" " What do you mean?" " Rotting means... rotting, like apples or pears, that look good outside but are full of shit inside." "Their lungs are dirty." "From eating little and working lots." "You think any of them ever lifted a sack of potatoes?" " Then how'd they get sick?" " They're infected by vice." "They look like angels, but I bet they go bed hopping at night." "What for?" "Are you daft or just pretending?" "Because they're horny..." "Some die from stroking theirthings so much." "But they're all men!" "So?" "There are men who turn around and play the part of women." "Like Pitorliua." "Or you've never heard of fags?" "I heard they choke coughing up blood." "And 'cause they dry out from coming so much." "They have enough problems with their disease!" "You might end up like those puny guys with so much studying and nonsense." "So?" "Is that hot chocolate good?" "Yes." "You write like a notary." "You like coming up here to see all this splendor." "You're not like Quirze and Nuria." "We don't have these things at home." "The owners used to spend summers here, but now... now nothing, they have so many houses." "And if you could see their bathrooms, you'd love that." "They even have this porcelain thing they call a bidet they use just to wash their ass." "What are you doing?" "I told you not to do homework here, you draw on the table!" "And careful with those plates." "The Manubens might ask forthem." "They hardly even come for some of the crops and livestock." "Time for dinner, the kids are waiting." " Andreu, come down here." " Coming!" "Come on, Andreu, hurry up." "Jan will be here soon with the wagon." "Don't hold him up, it'll be dark when you get back." "I have to go to the Town Hall." "To take some of your dad's papers." "That insignificant Mayor has feathers for brains" " and one idea:" "To never lose." "Werert you marrying him?" "I had many suitors." "I was quite pretty back then." "Afterthe 1st time I saw your dad, there were no more." "I would have followed him to the end of the world." "Here, for you," " to keep you company." " Why'd he have to run away?" "Pure envy!" "Too good, too handsome, too much politics." " And this angel?" " Hey!" "Don't touch that!" "They're mine and not your business." "What did dad do?" "Nothing, he didn't want to be a farmer..." "He wanted to learn at night school, like you want to be a doctor." "His teacher was the most revolutionary of all." "He joined a left-wing party and the other shopkeepers boycotted him." "What's boycott?" "Mess things up for us." "So much so we had to close the butcher's shop." "To make money he teamed up with Dionis, then his bird mania, the chirping contests all that nonsense." "I'm going to lie down." "The night shift starts today and I'm exhausted before starting." "Andreu?" "Andreu!" "What are you doing up here?" "I thought you were a ghost." " How did you get in?" " The key was in the lock." "Come here." "Up you go." "Wow, how you've grown!" " Are you OK?" " I am, father." "What are you doing here?" "I had to come back." "I got sick when I was in the mountains and... anyway." "Can't you see a doctor?" "Doctors and medicines can't cure my illness." "What is it?" "Bring me that cage." "The red one." "Look." "See this chaffinch?" "They're the jumpiest birds of all, they always want to escape." "He'd destroy his beak and wings in a cage not made of small sticks." "It's the same with me." "You understand?" "Birds are made to be free and fly, Andreu." "Like angels, they have no borders." "We can cage them, but can't change the way they are." "People's ideals, the things one loves, the places we want to reach, that's how we are too." "But if they don't come true, people can become very evil." "That's why we must fight for ideals." "Each for his own." "Listen, the owl..." "Enough!" "Grab that sack and help me." "How's the new school?" "I hear you're doing well." " I don't like that school." " No?" "Why not?" "They're always talking about who won and who lost, and they point at us like we're the plague." "Feel no shame!" "Hold your head high, we never hurt anyone." "They're the agitators but they'll change... right?" " Didrt you want to be a doctor?" " Yes, father." "For a family of farmers like ours, studying is a luxury, but we'll do what we must for you." "Time heals everything." "That's what grandma says." "But I think the more it goes on, the worse." "You might be right, maybe time should go in reverse." "You see?" "The owl announced it." "They're giving the last rites to someone dying at the convent." "Some animals sniff out death." "Others' ortheir own..." "Let's go or it'll get light out." "Can I come back?" "When you want." "Don't tell your cousins or anyone." " What's the 1st condition of a secret?" " No one can know it." "Did you go up to see the ghost?" "No need to keep it quiet." "I know your dad's hiding there." "It'll be the same as with mine." "Adults hide everything with lies." "Hey, hey, come here." "See?" "I told you so." "Bet she's with a Civil Guard." " Let's see what auntie's doing." " Leave her alone!" " I wanna see what they're up to." " What do you think?" "Fucking!" "Fucking?" "You know what fucking is?" "Of course I know what it is!" "You don't know anything." "Lie down." "Dead hand, dead hand, knock on this door." "Teacher says it's the nightingale's nest orthe cuckoo's lair." "Mr. Madern?" "So it's true what Roviretes says?" "Mr. Madern is a pig." "He's the only person who's treated me well." "That's what you say!" "How long's it been?" "Since Corpus Christi." "The boys at school, since I got naked on balconies, gave me stickers to show them my privates." "He found out, but instead of scolding me, he gave me money." "Doesrt it bother you?" "Me?" "I couldn't care less." "He says I'm like a tree or a stone because I don't ask for anything..." "Then why do you do it?" "Because I like it." "But... it's different with you," "I do it with you because I love you." " You're such a slut." " And you're a coward like your dad!" "Leave me alone!" "Cripple!" "Rotten hand!" "Here." "Kiss it." "Pitorliua." " What are you doing here so late?" " Shut it, Cio!" " Good thing I got here before them." " Before who?" " The Guards want to search the house." " So?" "To look for Farriol." "They know he's not in France." "They'll blame him for Segui's death." " Are the keys here?" " Yes, up on the shelf." "He should leave the farm, and the sooner the better." "What are you doing?" "Come on, go wake up your aunt Enriqueta." "Go!" "And don't go outside." " What's wrong?" " Where's auntie?" "I don't know." "Farriol, hurry." "The Guards will be here any second." " Go now while it's dark." " Where?" "Try to make it to Gudiol's farm, and afterthat we'll see." "They're coming for you." "A Guard just told me." " Where are they?" " At the fence." "Don't go out." "Stay up in the loft." "It's the safest place, son." "They're here." "And you get back in your damn room!" " What's all this?" " Statutory search." "Our house and stables are open to all." "Come when you like." "You heard her." "Carry on!" "Now?" "The sooner the better." "To put an end to the reports." "What reports?" "With this family's record, we're sure to find hidden things." " We don't have anything." " We'll find something." "What are they looking for?" " Hell if I know!" "Inexistent things." "They must think we sell black market flour or smuggle tobacco from Andorra." "Rumors from people who hate us." "The loft is locked." " Where are the keys?" " The owners have them." "Break the door down." "Harder, dammit, harder!" "Come on!" "Can I kiss my son goodbye?" "Tell your mom not to be so stubborn and talk to the Manubens." "Here, drink this." "We can't stop this." "We can't save him." "Yes, Florencia." "We can lodge appeals, talk to lawyers, the Town Hall, the Union, the "Movimiento"." "Move heaven and Earth." "They made all this up, he was too important to pardon." "Florencia." "What did your father whisperto you?" "For you not to be stubborn and talk to the Manubens." "We won't get anywhere with them." " Don't be like that." "I prefer not to." "There's something about them." "These are mers affairs..." "You want me to go running to kiss their ass?" "If they can help your husband, it's more than won'th it." "We'll be OK, Andreu." "Not everything can turn out so wrong." "I'm cast from a different mold." "Your dad will get ill in that hellhole." " Here, put these socks on." " I don't want to." "They have holes." "They want our heads bowed?" "Fine." "Now they'll see we're poor." "There's no need to dress the part." "It's not enough to be poor, we have to prove it." "Come on." "Father wouldn't like this." "He already had his way." "Look what it got him." "Mrs. Manubens is very rich and she likes children because she doesn't have any." "So be nice and make a good impression, OK?" "Now make that pitiful face I showed you." "Come on!" "Get up, get up!" "You can go." "How are you, Florencia?" "You can't even imagine, ma'am." "I feel so bad for you." "This must be Andreu..." "He looks so much like Farriol!" "The same eyes... identical." " This boy needs a good steak." " You're right, ma'am!" "Poor thing, it's not his fault." "I don't know if I can be both mother and father." "Achild needs a father nearby to grow up honest." "You're influential, the authorities listen to you." "Look, Florencia, let's get this straight." "What did your husband do?" "Nothing, ma'am!" "He wouldn't hurt a fly!" "He had to do something bad if the prosecutor wants the death penalty." "They say he killed Dionis Segui, but that's the shopkeepers who hate him, they can't forgive him for being the competition or his politics." "What's wrong with this boy?" "I have to pee." "Come." "Come with me." "When you're done go to the kitchen." "The maid will fix you a snack." "Girl!" "Take him to the bathroom." "Then fix him some hot chocolate, OK, son?" "You come with me." "We shouldn't talk about this in front of him." "Sit down." "It's a snack for you." "Florencia, here." "Take this to the Mayor and he'll know what to do." "Thank you, ma'am." "I don't know how to repay you." "Farriol is a good man." "Don't start again." "I'll do what's necessary, but you know what I think." "Dionis Segui was bad company." "And forgive me for saying so, but you loving your man doesn't mean he's innocent." "I have a letter from Mrs. Manubens." "Come on in." "Come on, get up." "Leave the boy." "It's better if we talk alone." "Wait for me here." "You should have chosen better, Florencia." "Now I have better livestock." "I'm sick of my mom dragging me around to make people feel sorry." "Is it true your dad killed that guy?" "Lies!" "Pitorliua killed him." "I know it." " That can't be." " Why can't it?" "Mr. Madern says Pitorliua has been dead for years." "And the screams from Baumes cave?" "Yarns!" "Pitorliua is dead and buried in your village cemetery." "Arert the festivities in your village on Sunday?" "Yes." "So I'll come with you when you go see your mother." "Who's that?" "Dionis Segui's wife." "Poorthing's not all here." "Look, it's that one!" "How do you know it is?" "Mr. Madern told me it's the only one with an archangel." "A silver one at that." "My mother has a photo of a boy with that name." "And the flowers are fresh." "Your mother puts them there." "My mother?" "Why?" "Must be to help him purge his sins." "What sins?" "Lmpure sins against nature." "Poorthing..." "If they hadrt damaged him..." "What happened to him?" "You know what a castrate is?" " Afag that doesn't have any balls." " Exactly!" "They have no use forthem so they rip them off." "Like they did to him." "But why?" "He played the dyke for Manubens' brother and stayed with him in Baumes... until they taught him a lesson one day." "They just wanted to haze him, but it seems someone brought pig castration cord and they tied it to his privates." "To frighten him, for laughs... but things started to warm up and with a strong tug... they tore them right off." "Who was it?" "A bunch of village men." "But the real work was done by two." " Who were they?" " Two rats." "One is buried here back over there and the other..." "He'll also be here soon." "That's a lie." "My father says Pitorliua's alive, hiding in a cave." "There you have it." "Don't believe what your fathertells you." "You'll open your eyes some day." "All that's left in the cave is Pitorliua's blood and his cursed shadow." "To hell with the story of the bird from the cave." "Where's Nuria?" "In church." "She wanted to see the festivities." "Come on in and eat something." "I brought some figs." "Why do you have a photo of Pitorliua?" "They show you that at school?" "To pry into other's things?" "You nevertell me anything!" "You want to know my things but I can't know yours!" "Look, Andreu..." "I have photos of Marcel Sauri because he gave them to me when he left town." " Why?" "Was he your boyfriend?" " No, please..." "Marcel was..." "the nicest person I ever met... and cheerful!" "We loved each other like brother and sister, but he was too delicate." "He wasrt cut out forthis and they made his life hell." "By doing what?" "They kicked him out of town..." "that's it!" "All those things are over and behind us." "But you know something?" "Now I'm proud I kept his portraits." "It's not wrong to have photos of a friend who gave you flowers, who treated you like a princess." "It's comforting to me when I think about how the others treated him." "You think nobody else ever entered it?" "Yeah, right!" "I bet there are still blood-stained rocks." "And knives." "Don't be stupid." "They did it with a cord." "And if they killed him later?" "He didn't die here." "He ran away from town." "This is where they castrated him." "It's incredible he could live without..." "Orthat you've lived in the country all your life!" "What about pigs and horses?" "Sure, but a person..." "Come on, light it." "Look." "It was here." "Pitorliua..." "Look," "Dionis, Pauleta's husband." "Look, the other starts with an F..." "Francesc or Ferran or..." "Or Farriol." "It's dark out." "We should go..." "Nuria?" "Nuria." "Look at the faggot!" "Faggot!" "Andreu!" "Andreu." "Where are you going like that?" "You'll catch cold." "Now what's wrong?" "What's wrong?" "Go get dressed." "We have a permit to see your father." " I won't go to the prison." " What's wrong with you?" " I know what he did to Pitorliua." "What do you know?" "Don't pretend." "He castrated him like a pig." " Says who?" " Pauleta was at the cemetery..." "You think you should listen to her?" "Don't you see she's nuts?" " And only wants to hurt people?" " Don't lie to me, dammit!" "Come here." "Look, Andreu." "These years were hard for your father." "We were living on my pay only and almost lost the house." " Dionis offered him a job." " And that has to do with?" "It was to scare him into leaving." " Mrs. Manubens would pay them." " To castrate him?" "No, just for the hazing with grease." "Thing is, Dionis was a brute and," "God forgive me for badmouthing the dead, he was heartless too." "But I swear your father had nothing to do with how it all ended." "Don't judge him." "He's suffered so much seeing me work like a slave, hearing you want to be a doctor and not being able to give us anything." "Maybe your father made mistakes, but he did it for us, especially for you." "If you fail him now, he'll go to pieces." "Look, they're coming out!" "Andreu, up you go!" " Is that him?" "You see him?" " I don't know." "I'm not sure." "Come!" "How are you?" "OK." " Has your wound healed?" " What?" "Your wound." "Is it healed?" "Yes, yes, it's healed." "I brought you clothes and food." "I gave it to a guard." "Everyone sends their love." "They're fattening a pig for when you get out." "No, Florencia." "It's all over." "You hold on." "It will be OK, you'll see." "How's the boy doing?" "Fine, he doesn't miss a day of school and he's doing well." "Give your father a kiss." "Give this to your mother." "Tell herto get it to the Manubens." "Lady!" "I'll kick that kid back in place!" "Andreu, come!" "What did your father give you?" "Hide it, hide it." "Mrs. Manubens is very bossy, right, grandma?" "With all that money she can be." "But she looks sad, doesn't she?" "I don't think so." "Poor people." "They lost a son not even 1 and never had more." "And this is Pere, her brother." "They made him marry a woman he didn't love and sent him to France." "May he be in Heaven." "He could have had everything, you see." "Whereas we, who have nothing... well, we're still alive." " Can I go?" " Wait, we haven't finished." "When you're finished, come to my room." " OK." " I'll be waiting." "Hey, Andreu!" "I'd like to know why all the portraits!" "They're only good to use in obituaries." "Come in." "Sit, sit." "I didn't know your father was in jail." "The Manubens told me." "They asked about you, your ability, your knowledge, your behavior." "And to ask you if you want them to take care of your studies, if you'd like to get a degree." "It seems your father's case isn't going too well." "My mother said the lawyer will fix it." "Sure, you never know until the last minute, right?" "But they say that if it doesn't go well, your mother could get along better." "I mean... without you..." "What do you think?" "I don't know." "Look, the Manubens don't have children, and want to adopt someone." "I already have parents." "Andreu, you have to be sure about this." "You can continue studying, or stay here working in the fields or a factory." "That's all there is." "Wait." " What?" " They've come for Andreu." "That's a very important decision." "Think it over, it's a good opportunity." "Know that I'm telling you this because I love you and your cousins." "Well don't love us so much." "Go on, they're waiting for you." "Andreu." "Look, I lost my parents when I was very young, so I had to do what I'm doing and not what I wanted." "If I'd had an opportunity like you, I'd have taken it." "You're you and I'm me." " What did he want?" " Nothing." "Andreu, let's go." " Your mom's waiting for you." " What's wrong?" "She got a permit to go to thejail." "But we went last week." "They're taking him to Barcelona." "Oh, bad sign." "It's what they do with those who don't return." "Are you stupid or what?" "Come here." "Come, sit, I'm tired of sitting all day." "They asked me if you want a priest." "No priests." "They're all leeches and traitors." " Hey, Andreu?" " Yes." "Know what?" "I heard that owl singing last night, and knew he was singing for me." "But I'm not sad, so you shouldn't be either." "We won't see each other again, will we?" "No." "Now, Andreu, listen closely." "We don't have much time." "The war has hurt us all badly." "But the worst part of war isn't that people go hungry or have to escape, or even that they kill us." "The worst part of war is they make us forget our ideals, because without ideals a person is nothing." "So to me the most important thing is what's here" "and in here." "You must protect that like a treasure." "Will you do that?" "And now go, your mom and I have a lot to talk about before ourtime runs out." "I brought you something." "To keep you company." "Not much time left for company." "You'd better take him home with you." "Look after him, OK?" "And your mothertoo, take good care of her." "You have to mourn for a year." "Your mother, the rest of her life." "Poorthing..." "Executed like a criminal." "They didn't let me see him even in his last moment." "Quirze, sit overthere." "Don't shed a single tear." "No need to make them feel sorry." "I'm in charge of the funeral." "We had no time to make cards." "Next Sunday we'll hand them out if they let us do the burial." "Say hello to Macia." "He's letting us bury your father in his niche." "Or we'd bury him in the ground like a dog." "You come with me." "What do I tell that poor woman?" "Tell her what I told you before." "Damn priest!" " Why isn't he starting?" " I don't know." "What's wrong?" "We're all here." "The priest says there's no sense to a funeral for a man who cursed priests to the end." " We can pray together if we want." " To hell with praying!" "Andreu, we're leaving." "120 kilos of fat and nothing more!" "No room for what you call Christian charity." "Don't listen to her." "She's crazy." " Come back!" " I want them to hear me!" "Florencia." "Not now!" " Leave it be!" " I can't." "Don't you see I can't?" "So he's dead!" "You're happy now." "Is his death good for anything?" "Is not burying him properly good for anything?" "I'll tell you what it's good for." "To trample those who won't bow down to you." "Don't make me talk." "You should kill me too, next to him." "Arert I red enough?" "Don't mind her." "She's lost her head." "I'm aware of her condition." "We'll talk later." "You ruined my life." "You hear me?" "We've done too much for you." "All of you." "Sure!" "Black bread and red sugar, with the ration book and waiting hours in line!" "That's all you've given us." "Bread with no soul or virtue; dead, like all of you, because of this goddamn war that's killed us all." "All who deserved it." "Mother, let's go." "When you were in your mother's womb, they should have thrown her in the pigs' trough to be eaten alive." "Let's go, we have no more business here." "Let's go." "Pauleta, why are you here?" "To offer my condolences." "Andreu, go put the cages on the porch." "Let him stay." "Young people need to get used to hearing serious words." "14 times the judge called me to ask if I distrusted someone, ifDionis' death had to do with Pitorliua..." "You have to bring all that up again?" "See how they're all dead?" "Pitorliua, our husbands." "All!" "All except Pere Manubens' wife, who's very much alive." "What are you getting at, Pauleta?" "After Pitorliua's misfortune," "Pere went to France, but they made him marry before." "When he died last year, his sister, Mrs. Manubens, told Dionis to steal her brother's marriage certificate to nullify the marriage and keep the entire fortune." "Why don't you tell the judge and not me?" "You can be on the Manubens' side, but never against them." "I told Dionis that often, but him, being so stubborn, he blackmailed Mrs. Manubens once he had the papers." "And the damn bitch got rid of him." "Like she did with your man." "Farriol was executed for being red." "Farriol was garroted because he had no red left in him." "He was like my man:" "A lout, a traitor and a hired killer... but worse, because Dionis, despite what he was, could never have killed a boy." "What do you mean?" "Shall I spell it out for you?" "Tell you who they paid this time to finish it all off?" "That I won't tolerate!" "Yes you will tolerate it!" "I owe it to my son!" "Get out!" "Your father, always talking about ideals." "Look what shitty ideals he had." "I said get out!" "What I don't understand is Farriol's silence." "With nothing to lose, it's like he let himself be killed." "Pauleta, you gave us your condolences." "You can leave." "And don't ever come back." "Good night!" "Now go to sleep if you can." "How could father kill Culet?" "Forgive us, Andreu." "You have to forgive your father and me." "We didn't know how to do a better job." "Don't touch me!" "No more ghosts, huh?" "Why'd you take off the mourning bracelet?" "I won't have anything to do with my father." "Or my mother." "Aunt Cio wants me to work at the factory." "The Manubens want to take me to Igualada." "They want to hook you." "Listen, Andreu, why don't we run away together?" "Us two?" "Where?" "To Vic, on the train." "Nobody knows us there." "What do you think?" "I've thought about it a lot." "We'll set fires in town at siesta time." "When they're all running to put them out, we'll escape." "Let's make a pact?" "Deal." "But before, we'll cast a spell." "And here's the rabbit." "Made with onions as you like it." " Now that is a sin!" " You deserve the best." "You're so understanding with us." "Forget it..." "Come in." "The Manubens were just talking about you." "How you and your mother suffered with your father's death." "But that's all over, right son?" "Here, this is for you." "Chocolate." "Thank you." "We think you could help out your mother." "Another mouth at home is always a burden, especially with no wages." "Would you like to start high school next year in Igualada?" "Later you could get a degree." "Your mother would have no expenses or headaches." "And you'd have space to study and everything at home." "For God's sake, say something." "Leave him, Cio, it's logical he has to think about it." "It's good he hasn't had his wings clipped." "It will be like now, Andreu, but different." "You and your motherthink about it." "We've already discussed it." "Come here." "She'll do what you say, whatever's best for you." "We'll sign him up so he won't lose his place and later he'll say yes." "What are you doing?" "I buried two serins." " You buried them alive?" " So what?" "You kill them too." "You think we didn't know?" "Look." "And what did you bring of yours?" "What's so funny?" " This shitty globe." " What should they have put there?" "Don't you like birds?" "Then lots of birds." "Dead, stuffed." "That would be your portrait:" "Portrait of a bird killer." "When the bomb blew off my hand, the gang gathered all the little pieces in a shoe box and one day I went to get it." "Dead hand, dead hand, knock on this door." "Leave me alone." "There's just no kidding with you." "You know what?" "I'd like to set a bird on fire one day." "A ball of fire flying in the air, squawking, until it falls to the ground." "Ashower of ashes is all that would be left of it." "Did you ever want to die?" "Well I'll never die completely;" "I'll die little by little, first one hand, then the other..." "Remember I'm already a little buried." "And when I'm really dead, to hell with the living!" "Dead hand, dead hand," "Now I can't ever die." "You're crazy!" "What's that?" "Chocolate." "For you." "The owners gave it to me." "What do they want?" "To go with them to continue my education." " That's what you wanted." " I want to get my own life together." "What are you going to do?" "Run away!" "With my cousin." "But first we're going to burn everything." "You be careful, Andreu!" "That girl's mad at the world." "And she's evil-minded." "What should I do?" "Go to the factory?" "With the owners?" "You fly too low, Andreu." "So low it seems like you'rejust walking." "Fly high and don't let anyone catch you." "And how can I do that?" "Thinking." "With your head." "And choosing what you like most." "Then come with me." "I can't." "Why can't you?" "Because one of these days I'll spread my wings, spread them wide, completely." "Don't come any closer." " Where were you?" " Around." "Your mother's waiting for you." "She came forthe thing with the Manubens." "Andreu, come in!" "It all went well." "The owners and your mother agree." "Right, Florencia?" "Of course, poorthing can barely stand up straight." "We've discussed it." "What's so bad about it?" "All your life moaning about the owners' conditions, now you agree to everything." "With him it's different." "An education." "They'll take him away like he was livestock!" "What should we do?" "Get out of this land that's not ours." " So now we have to leave?" " Shut up or you'll get slapped." "Look, Enriqueta, in what stuffy apt." "In what lousy town would we all fit, animals, old folks, aunts, uncles, etc?" "Here even those who had nothing have eaten." "I've worked like mad to help." "When it suited you, with the schedule and life you wanted." "We should have bridled you before!" "Do what you will with the boy," "I won't be at your orders waiting for a groom on a plate." "I'll pick him and if he knows how to raise my skirt, better." "Stop it!" "We're here to talk about Andreu." "What do you say, mother?" "I can't understand anyone leaving his village and family, but if it's for his own good..." "What about me?" "No one's going to ask me?" "Wasrt I supposed to choose?" "Andreu's right." "Say what you think, son." "I don't want to live like this or be pointed at or more lies." "I don't want to be like you." "Come with me." "We'll do what you want, son, but I want to be sure you realize the people who want to be your parents are..." " Do you realize?" " Yes." "I know it's their fault father's dead." "Andreu is leaving." "His father would have wanted it." "No, mother." "It's what I want." "You traitor!" "You promised me." "How can you leave me alone?" "If I can leave my mother, why wouldn't I leave you?" "Put that in here." "So, ready to go?" "If you forgot something, we'll stop back to get it." "Now go say goodbye to your family." "...Polyphemus in "The Odyssey" represents what is monstrous because it only has one eye and is a giant." "Also, and this is important, because its human nature was corrupted until becoming a being of a nature different from the one it had orthat was hidden within..." "Yes?" "Visit for Andres Manubens." "You, face the wall!" "How are you?" "So, studying a lot?" " Do they treat you OK?" " Yes, very well." "I want no complaints about you." "Show them we taught you well, you have good manners." "You can sit, mother." "I brought you sausage and everything you like." "I had to change shifts at the factory, change trains, take 2 buses." "You have no idea." "If it's so hard, don't come anymore." "That's not why I said it, silly." "You feel that's the way to treat me?" "You know, Andreu?" "I wish things had gone differently too." "I swear I've worked myself to the bone." "I've done nothing but work and work for you for your father... for everyone." "And I will till the day I die..." "I'll cover my own face with the sheet just so I won't have to trouble anyone." "Your dad would be so happy to see you here, so many books." "Forget about father." "I have to get back to class." "You like being here?" "Yes." "I like it a lot." "I want you to know you're here thanks to him." "Rememberthe letter he gave you in prison forthe Manubens?" "It said he wouldn't report them if they gave you everything you need." "You understand?" "He let himself be killed so you could be here." "I've forgiven your father." "Maybe you should forgive him too." " Hey, Andreu!" " What?" "Who was that weird woman?" "Someone from my town with a package for me."