Excerpt
ATOCHA: Coronel Gandesa, the tall woman said, You have my thanks I owe you more, but, protocol The woman looked at him intently as if trying to decide something important. The Defense Ministry has assigned me as your official guide in Madrid. I hope that is agreeable with you? I am called Clara Huesca.
The perfume she wore was elegant. In his mind everything about her was distinctiveher confident manner, the way she carried herself, her modish dress. Keep things at an official level, Florentino told himself. I am called Florentino. He had not been aware that he still held her hand and released it.
Flo-ren-ti-no. Clara pronounced the name slowly as if savoring each syllable. Then, as an afterthought: The wound, it is well?
Yes, it is well. And you?
Only a bump to the head.
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THE POSTMASTER: In August, almost two months after the accident, a short muscular man with a mustache opened the gate at the street and hurried to the white-wash house. He walked with purpose and gave a loud knocked at the door. Dona Luz, leaning on her cane, thumped to the screen door, but didnt take the latch off. The man carried a plastic box with a bundle of mail in it.
I am Trinidad Lucas, the new postmaster, he announced. He had a serious look on his face. In settling into my duties this week, I found this box. Theyre old letters. Some date back to 1954, addressed to Elvia Menchaca by a Mr. Florentino Gandesa.
Dona Luz squinted and her jaw dropped slightly. After moment she said, Elvia died several years ago, but her daughter is here. She can accept them.
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QUISQUEYA: Sol watched him go as he buckled into the cockpit seat. He opened the forward viewport and scanned the void toward the distant solar rim. He saw no sign of the disturbance. One of these days, he said to himself. Sol was awed by the endlessness of space and by the millions of burning galaxies. His mind drifted. Thoughts of Ovna came to him, and the tightness in his chest seemed to fade.
He scrolled Ponces report, not surprised that crew communiqus referred to nightmares similar to the one that woke him. He switched-off. Instead, he activated the first computer and began the daily checklist: date, trajectory, environmentals, scheduled tasks but he couldnt concentrate. Thoughts of the disturbance flashed on his mind: the disappearance of the planet Pluto and the intensifying wobble in Neptune.
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MARIA PISTOLAS: The full moon was still rising when she heard the rustle of leaves and a man clearing his throat. Maria held the rifle across her chest, with the safety off, and felt her heart thumping. Then she saw Florentinos familiar broad-shouldered silhouette. She hesitated. Should she greet him as her superior and as chief of the band? Her heart told her to run to him, to tell him things a woman tells a man, but in the end, it didnt matter. Human nature prevailed. Florentino, she shouted. They took hurried steps toward each other, running blindly, until they embraced on the river bank. Their feelings acted on their own. Florentinos arms held her tightly in a clinch. They kissed and held each other for a long time before they said anything, but words were not needed. She smiled her happiness the bitter sweet smile of the first blush of love. Florentino leaned his head back and laughed with joy.
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ALMA: He waited for the bartender to turn to order a beer, but after a minute said, Ill have a Carta. Without looking at him, and after another awkward wait, the bartender snapped off the cap and slid the wet bottle across the bar, not asking for payment. Maybe he doesnt speak English, Lucas thought. Then in Spanish: been raining all day?
The bartender half-nodded and limped toward the cash register. A woman stood in the dim light at the far end of the bar. Oddly, Lucas could see her features clearly. She was the young woman, the one from the train. The woman looked intently at him with the same expression as before. He noticed the large earrings gleaming through the curls of her dark hair. He tilted his beer toward the thin, almost frail, woman in a silent hello. She nodded, ever so slightly; it was enough. Lucas rose from the stool at the bar, taking his drink, and stepped toward her.
Bad night to be out, Lucas said as if continuing a conversation rather than starting one.
What is bad Lucas?
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GOYO: Four days later, Goyo and Perla sat talking on the sofa, and none of the housework was being done.
My ex-boyfriend was so inconsiderate, she pouted. He preferred to go out with his friends and drink beer rather than to be with me.
I cant imagine anyone not being attentive to you, Goyo said gravely, shaking his head.
I do need someone who is attentive, she said, touching his arm.
Goyo nodded; overwhelmed that he was having such a conversation with the young woman.
I can tell youre attentive to your ladies, she winked.
Goyos blood raced hot. Suddenly, he wanted more than anything to protect Perla, to take care of her, and to keep all things hurtful away from her.
Pictures of his deceased wife flashed across his mind. They had never talked like this; and in nineteen years of marriage, he never saw her with all her clothes off.
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LEAVING BEFORE THE SNOW: In June, soon after the arrival of the Torres family at the Rheiner farm, two important things happened as far as Juanito was concerned. The family learned that his older cousin, Florentino, had been killed in the War; and the farmer gave him a fat little brown puppy.
This little dog needs a home, the farmer said. Do you want him? He took the frisky pup and sat him on Juanitos arms.
Juanito, his eyes beaming, turned to his mother with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
She nodded. What will you name him? she asked in Spanish.
Rusty, he replied immediately. He had heard that name in a movie. From that day, Juanito and Rusty were inseparable.
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