2
From the formidable carriage came down two young women of exceptional beauty. They had a hard time getting out through the narrow door of the vehicle, due to the large size of their suits. The one who was older wore a long blonde, beautifully braided and combed hair; and her luxurious suit, full of lace, of cobblestones of jewels and pearls, of encrusted ruffles and needlework, left to suppose that she concealed a body of few and proportional meats, but with large breasts, unfit for such thinness. The possibility that there was a false filler at the height of the neckline was not ruled out, but Mario Toulon did not seem to be seduced by this kind of deception and kept thinking that everything was real. The youngest female had, however, everything that the thief liked in a woman. Everything in her was stylized without anything greater or less, more striking or more hidden, more smooth or more curved, more beautiful or uglier than desired; or at least that impression she gave to the thief. She was the woman that a man wants to have by his side throughout his life, although to Mario that type of relationship not only did not interest him, but it was contrary to his unfaithful, free and rogue nature. How it could not be otherwise in the thief, the reasoning that his mind wielded almost automatically was foreseeable and foolish: "I must own that woman whatever."
The two ladies, who were none other than Irene and Laura Lopezosa Quesada, Sir Higinio’s daughters, passed in front of the thief and the youngest one seemed to look at him insinuatingly; or at least that was what Mario Toulon imagined, who could not help but notice the corpulent bodice that fitted her body like an asphyxiated claw. Such was the problem that it seemed that the tight could have the power to break or divert a rib, although she seemed to wear it as if it were a nightgown, without any apparent annoyance. Her waist was so thin that Mario calculated with a good eye that it would not be much bigger than her own neck. In addition, the wench exposed a generous cleavage, but without exaggeration, where one of the breasts sported a striking velvet black polka dot in a shape of a heart.
“A delicious detail. Who could remove it with his hand, or better with his mouth?” Mario Toulon dared to say, speaking in a low voice, thus surpassing the height of ordinariness and lack of decency, without suspecting that showing his natural awkwardness probably it would be that after the operation, he would choke without remedy with the false mole.
Thinking about these things the thief was walking when, suddenly, an ugly woman in her forties, thin and short, maybe something malnourished and dressed in very old and patched clothes, pushed through the people like a madwoman, stood in front of the blonde female who seemed older, and in this way prevented her step by saying:
“Bitch!” You perverted my Felician in my own house yesterday. Let the whole world know! Do not think I did not see you on your run. Harpy!”
"Madam, you're confused," the blond young woman with the bulging breastplate replied calmly. “Stand aside and stop bothering me with your nonsense.”
“It was you!” The ugly woman repeated with all her fury. “I could see how she came out of one of the windows of my house,” she shouted so everyone who was nearby and eager to gossip would come to see what was happening.
"That child of yours has said my name.”
“All the people know that my poor son is mute”
“Maybe he wrote it?” She asked, unable to avoid sketching her typical smile.
It was evident that he could not write either and Irene Lopezosa knew this detail. In any case, even if the mute had the best calligraphy, there was no money to pay for something as useless and crazy as a piece of parchment; so Felician's mother did not respond and continued with her story:
"Only you could have taught him the things that I saw this morning that he was doing secretly. He, on his own, would never have been able to ...!”
“What things do you mean, good woman?” She asked laughing.
The forty-year-old began to get mad for real. Sir Higinio's eldest daughter laughed quietly when she saw that the ugly and enraged woman did not seem to want to describe what her son had learned so well. Finally, she said:
“You know what I mean!”
The girl laughed again in a creeping way and ordered:
“Step away. You get me bored. I have things to do.”
However, the forty-year-old continued with her arguments, shouting louder so no one would lose interest and take her side.
“What a shame! Take advantage of my poor son, who is a little retarded, and can neither defend himself nor know what he is doing.” She paused, waiting for the crowd to grow. “This woman has no forgiveness! She is a whore and a demon! She is the plague of this town! We would have to burn her like a witch!”
“It is necessary to kick her out of the region with stones!” Someone added among the crowd, it is unknown if to engaged even more the two women, by hate to Irene Lopezosa or by contempt to his father, because almost nobody there did not know that she was Sir Higinio’s first-born daughter.
“Irene, you do not have enough with the healthy ones, now you use even the abnormal ones!” another one yelled to sow more discord, but Irene recognized in that voice of one’s of the lovers who was no longer getting her attention.
“Abnormal? You really are a real retarded in bed, Cosme de Flores!” Irene yelled, exposing the old lover.
People started laughing at poor Cosme. Laura kept a distance from her sister, her face turned to red with embarrassment. Mario Toulon did not take his eyes off her, but neither neglect Irene, who spoke again to the woman who never stopped insulting her.
“We all know that Felician the Dink is a complete idiot, who never had anything inside his big head. In that sense, no one can deny that he is your son." She laughed, distancing the woman with her arm.
“Irene Lopezosa Quesada. You will pay for this! I swear I will move heaven and earth if necessary to make you pay, you miserable!” Felician's mother said in a tone that pretended to be honest.
“Madam, it seems a lie that a lady like me has to explain it to you, but anyway, so be it: that bastard of yours is a retard, and the retarded ones usually play with their ... with their miseries” Irene said, who did not even laugh her last grace so seemed to want to settle the matter. “It is the only way they have to have fun. Understand! Besides, they like it like all men. Be silly or not. But as your son is and to a large extent” —she pointed out, emphasizing her last words— “he does not know how to contain himself...”
“You miserable!” The woman shouted, almost screaming, but Irene followed her speech:
“Who can believe this story? I would never approach an abnormal, not even for charity.” She laughed in a creepy way. “This woman invents things. I am afraid that you need more care than your own son, who seems to demonstrate, by what I see, more sanity than his mother.” And she finished: "Leave me alone, lady! Disturb the stones if that pleases you that hold it all!”
The horrid woman could not contain herself anymore and began to pull the young Irene’s long blonde hair, while throwing kicks without control, which did not always hit her target.
The crowd of people expanded in anticipation of a good fight. Laura approached the two women to try to separate them, but could not, because she was pushed and shaken by the crowd, showing an enormous fragility that Mario Toulon found charming.
Although her round skirt, finished in a large tail, did not leave much freedom of movement, Irene Lopezosa launched a claw that caused a good scratch on the face of her opponent. The woman in her forties separated from her enemy for a moment, letting go her hair. Her attacker had taken something from the flesh of her cheek in her nails. The people applauded when they saw that the dispute was going on and the blood was coming out. Immediately a murmur of bets was heard.
“Go for her, Fernanda!” Shouted someone who must have bet in favor of the forties one.
Felician's mother did not listen to the rabble. She touched her face and felt her blood —it slid until it dirtied the front of her dress—. She glared at the expression of
satisfaction and superiority that her opponent showed. This caused that her anger was maximum and her thoughts were directed to a single objective: Irene Lopezosa’s death; but then Mario Toulon appeared, like an idiotic hero that nobody has called. With an accurate kick in the stomach, taking advantage of his own onslaught, he threw the ugly forty-year-old woman to the ground. The woman writhed screaming, lying on the cobblestones. She saw a stone. She picked it up and threw it at the man quickly. Although she wanted to give in the head gave below where the body are almost legs. The crowd cheered the good guess of the woman and the young woman who was defended smiled mischievous and dissimulated, covering her lips with her hand very finely. Mario Toulon shuddered in pain and the woman took the opportunity to get up. She was going to give a kick in the same place to leave the meddler definitely out of combat, but this one was faster and with a huge punch he threw the woman back to the ground again, leaving her nose bleeding and perhaps broken. Felician's mother, more horrible than ever, her face full of blood and her nose a little disfigured, rose again from the floor, holding her hands to her face. She studied her possibilities given the look that had taken the fight and seeing that she could not win, decided to leave.
"I'll catch you again, Irene Lopezosa Quesada; and you, bastard. Someday when you least expect it! You will have to pay dearly!” she roared in anger, as she ran away and splashed blood.
"You give me a terrible fear!” Irene replied, to stay on top, laughing loudly. “I do not know if I can sleep the rest of my life.”
The crowd was disappointed. The fight was over very soon, so people dissipated, muttering, as they threw looks of disapproval towards the thief. Mario Toulon had won, so the results of the possible bets agreed during the fray were not very clear. As a result, a group of low-spirited men moved away arguing heatedly, while resting their hand on the knob of their respective swords as everything indicated that sooner or later each one would have to defend htheir position with other reasons.
Soon the market once again took on its original appearance as a jumble of people going from one place to another. When there was enough space, the man appeared, short and dark, who was driving the carriage in which the two women had arrived.
"There's no need for Gonzalez to come," Irene cried, very authoritative before the man said anything. “It's already late, do you not think?"
"I'm so sorry, Lady Irene," the man said, with his eyes on the boots of his ridiculous and old-fashioned uniform.
"My father will be informed of your attitude.” Irene thought that it would not either be a bad idea to talk about a certain woman, an abnormal one’s mother. “Now get your dirty ass back to the davit you like so much," she ordered so improperly that it did not seem to be able to leave a lady dressed so fine and richly’s lips.
"But Lady Irene, I tried to pass but people did not let me...
“I do not want to hear another comment. Get out of my sight!"
"Yes, ma'am," Gonzalez answered, understanding that his future was going to be very black.
3
"Thank you, gentleman," Irene said when Gonzalez took a few steps away. “You were very kind and courageous man to come to my aid and save me from that crazy woman. Without you, I do not know what would have happened,” she commented, although she was not the first woman with whom she had fought and won in a forceful way.
"It was nothing," the thief admitted and then introduced himself: "Sir Mario Toulon Middle-Voice Rabid, to serve you beautiful ladies.
Then he greeted himself by taking off his hat and revealing his ridiculous white lock on the left side of his black hair. In fact, the lock was gray because of the poor hygiene of his hair.
The two women gave a sweet smile, and said their names. Mario Toulon kissed their hands as in a real reception. The one who called herself Laura looked at the man as a weirdo, but curious. He was the first unknown person to kiss her in the hand. A small, inopportune blush rose to both of her cheeks.
“Well Laura, I leave you with this gentleman’s company while I buy the fabrics in that post,” Irene said, straightening her hair and recomposing as far as possible her dress, which had some stains of splashes of blood.
“But I want to choose some of the fabrics,” protested Laura.
“Don't worry and let your sister choose. Take care of this handsome gentleman.”
The blond woman went to a stall twenty paces away, without saying anything else. Before arriving, she placed her imposing chest with both hands, again employing unimaginable ways at first sight. The youngest woman followed her with her eyes, regretting that the older one had left her with this stranger.
“You are very courageous!” the girl finally said, being this nonsense the first thing that seemed best to break the uncomfortable silence.
“And you very beautiful.”
“You flatter me.”
Laura now had a distinctly embarrassed look on her face.
“I limit myself to describe the reality.”
Mario Toulon was so close to Laura that he could smell her perfume of many silver Alexandrians. It seemed to be in front of a fresh bunch of roses. He peeked into the neckline with some effrontery, wondering if that scent could come from such a desired place. The man imagined funny what it would be like if he did not see the notch.
The young woman took a step back.
“You are going to make me blush!” She exclaimed, although she had felt the warmth of her cheeks for some time.
-“So be it then. You will be doubly beautiful.” He said at the same time that he continued to scrutinize her with his eyes.
“Please, do not continue!” Laura protested, making a funny hand gesture.
“I can not do it. Stop looking at me that way. Do not treat me like a stranger.” Mario Toulon changed his way of speaking for what he would use with someone he has known all his life. With enormous impudence, he said, "you are so beautiful!”
“Gentleman, stop now!” Ordered Laura, who was red as a tomato, now more out of irritation than shyness or embarrassment.
“Don't make me stop. Ask me anything less than stop admiring your beauty. You've left me spellbound since I've seen you for the first time, just now.”
"You ... You're also very handsome," Laura said, for saying something that corresponded to the words of the charlatan, although evidently she did not believe anything of what she had just said. She had not even considered discovering any beauty in that individual, who should not have many.
“Thanks, my Lady! Thank you very much! But I could never match a beauty as generous as yours.”
"I do not know what to say to you to shut up," the girl confessed.
“Say. What could you say? Tell me, for example, that you love me," Mario Toulon said with some freshness.
“But how dare you! Moderate your words!”
“You do not love me.”
“Well, no! Of course not!
Laura Lopezosa, after the quick response, looked at her interlocutor with surprise and indignation.
“You can not really say that.” He shook his head. “It is still early for you to realize your true feelings for me. At least let me hope that you will come to love me some day not too far away" He paused. “Maybe tomorrow.”
"No ... I do not know if I'll love you," It was the insecure response. “We just met! Stop either going down that road or force me to march with my sister!”
"No, please, do not leave me orphaned of your preciousness," Mario pleaded, for the slapdash, the gossips and the simplicities seemed to be especially gifted.
“Stop it now!” She repeated.
However, Mario Toulon continued with his riffraff comments; and so a stupid conversation went on until it was finally interrupted:
“I've already made the purchase. Let's go Laura!” The older sister ordered something that the younger one greatly appreciated, as she was tired of hearing so many balony from that strange man's mouth.
The thief said goodbye to the two ladies kissing their hands even
more sloppy than the previous time. The youngest, Laura, returned a smile and a not very well calculated look of complicity, more by habit, good education and by the nature of the previous conversation, than by desire to do so.
The float began its journey as soon as Irene gave the order to the downcast Gonzalez. The two sisters laughed like girls —the youngest one of pure nervousness— when they closed the door of their vehicle, and the older girl mocked and mocked some of the gestures, postures and comments of her new acquaintance.
“Why did you leave me with that man?” Laura asked.
"I thought you liked him," his sister taunted.
"Well, I do not know why you believed it," she reproached her indignantly. “Do not do it again.”
“Okay, it's fine. But you will recognize that he was a good lad...”
“How!
“Yes, Laura, yes. He may not be handsome, but he has something different.” Irene paused a few seconds while making a very intimate reflection. “I do not know, but he does not look too much like the men we know in La Alpurría.”
“Absolutely. He differs in insolence and dirt...”
“No, it's not that. I can not explain what... What is clear is that outside this damn town there is much to discover," Irene said, thinking aloud of the idea that they had been too many years in that place; they had never left.
Laura kept grumbling looking without looking through the window of the vehicle.
"Go on, do not be a girl and tell me what you've talked about," Irene asked. “You seemed engaged in an interesting conversation.”
Laura Lopezosa confessed the incredible nonsense that the supposed gentleman had said. Irene, very calm and confident, assured her sister that she had heard worse things and that did not prevent her from doing her holy will with the men who had spoken them.
“Who is capable of such audacity just know a lady, is then the dumbest and most manageable of men,” she trusted it when they reached the hundred fires street. “However, who hides his thoughts is the most unpredictable and dangerous.”
The Kingdom of the Damned Page 5