by Diane Baumer
“What would you like to do?”
Mai went to the kitchen. There, she would look like an old lady after spending her whole life cooking. During her childhood, she had been so hungry that, at night, she would fall asleep as she pictured herself preparing tasty recipes. Mercedes accepted her as a cook on the condition that every day she would devote some time to studying. The Vietnamese agreed provided she was allowed to do so in the house. She was terribly afraid of the outside world. Mercedes agreed to compromise.
Mai was terrified of men. Dealing with them on her own was such an ordeal. Staggered on the dubious-back couch in amusement, François wondered if Mai’s hostility was only toward him or simply part of her personality.
Mercedes entered the room.
“Are you ready to go to the auction?”
They returned at noon with two new paintings titled Do-178 and Do-179. In William’s view, the titles were missing an o. What a doo-doo!
François received a call from one of the Mexican agents. Ugh, I need to get rid of him. If he finds out another canvas on the market like the one I sold him, I’ll get in trouble, even if his is the original. Drug dealers don’t go messing around.
His intentions changed when he heard of the amount of money that Chulo Torres wanted to launder. Once again and it’s over.
29. A cycling trip
Brother Lucas put a bottle of medicine, fruits, and vegetables inside the cloth bag. When Cinnamon caught sight of him leaving the building, he took for granted he would go wherever his friend went and began to bark in excitement, urging the Mexican to set off on their journey.
“You can’t come today. I’m traveling very far and don’t want you to get lost. Maybe if you were more well-behaved... But you never listen...”
The animal did not care about human reasons. Its joy turned into a vehement protest as it understood those words meant that it was supposed to stay.
“Woof!, woof!, woof!, woof!, woof...!”
“Cut it out – be quiet!”
“Woof!, woof!, woof!, woof!, woof...!”
“Don’t hold your breath – you can’t come with me.”
“Woof!, woof!, woof!, woof!, woof...!”
The Mexican sighed in resignation. “Whether I take him or not, it’ll be a bad decision either way.”
For the last time, Brother Miguel went over the map he had drawn by hand. The references would be useful as a guideline to reach Lina Maldonado’s house. Brother Bartolo inspected the old bicycle for the last time.
“Here you are some patches, in case you get a flat tire. What you’re about to do sounds crazy to me. You can still change your mind. I can drive you there.”
Brother Lucas declined the offer. Exercise would feel good on his convulsed mind and, furthermore, he had always looked forward to going cycling. Since in Spain one did not risk being kidnapped on the road, he was definitely going for it.
The custodian had agreed to the young man’s journey. Anything was better than seeing him in taciturnity, day after day. His only condition was that he should eat properly and get some training on the days preceding the journey. The famished appearance of the Mexican had begun to be alarming.
Cinnamon stressed his arguments in a final attempt to persuade his friend.
“Woof!, woof!, woof!, woof...!”
How disappointed Cinnamon had been as he saw the friar leave without him! He voiced his absolute disagreement by barking at the fence for a long time. Afterward, he whimpered for a while and curled up by the entrance, in case his buddy would regret his decision and return for him.
Brother Lucas proceeded slowly. He needed to store some energy in order to endure the long journey. The route was becoming harder than he had first imagined because of an uneasy icy wind pushing him backward. He was grateful that Brother Bartolo had forced him to wrap up as though he was setting off on an expedition to the North Pole.
Two hours later, the friar stopped to check the map. The cork forest which Brother Miguel had indicated was nowhere near to be seen.
I’m lost. I can’t even make out the main road. I’m surrounded by identical-looking mountains. It is impossible to get my bearings.
Brother Lucas decided to turn around to the previous indication.
He was not able to find that place either. Let’s examine the situation. I’m in the middle of a ravine where there isn’t a soul around; my cell phone has no coverage, and my stomach has been asking for food for a long time. For now, the latter is the only thing I can solve. I’ll eat lunch peacefully. As Saint Francis of Assisi would say, “a man can manage to be as patient as he is when he comes in the sole face of difficulty.”
He sat by the side of the road. The potato and pepper omelet was delicious. The tea thermos had proved to be a great idea. It helped him warm up and regain energy. I already feel better. I’ll resume my pedaling and, if I manage to get cell coverage somewhere, I’ll ask Brother Bartolo to come get me. The trip has been a failure. My head is thicker than that forest I can’t manage to find.
Shortly after resuming the journey, an eagle made its royal appearance through the sky. The friar greeted it with his hand.
“Good morning! I advise you to choose a different meal today. Can’t you see I’m nothing but skin and bones?”
The animal, who either had not understood the remark or just preferred to ignore it, turned around his head several times.
“I was just thinking... – could you possibly show me the way to Lina Maldonado’s house?” he asked in amusement, though not really expecting an answer.
To his astonishment, the eagle moved eastward. Did it understand my words? Brother Lucas briefly hesitated about heading that way. He told himself that he had nothing to lose by following the animal.
Half an hour later, the friar distinguished the cork forest in astonishment. Oh! It was eastward, indeed! Thank you, God, for creating the animals.
From there, it was easy to reach his destination.
“Wow...” he exclaimed in astonishment at the sight of the huge mansion.
I can’t understand how it took me so long to find something as humongous. It may even be seen from space.
Belén was very pleased when she opened the door and saw him.
“Are you crazy? You came all the way here in this cold weather just to bring the medicine?”
“Lina says it soothes her pain, right? Well, here it is. We also included some fruit.”
“Thank you so much. Please come in – I’ll go wake her up right now.”
Brother Lucas did not allow her to interrupt the pianist’s rest. In addition, he needed to start his way back the sooner the better. It was getting late.
“I would just like to ask you for a favor. Do you happen to have a newspaper from this week so I can take a look? In the monastery we have no contact whatsoever with the outside world.”
“I do have one from a couple of days ago. Is that one fine?”
“Sure. Thank you.”
Belén went and fetched it.
“Here you are. Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
“Maybe another time – I should be on my way back by now.”
She stood in the porch watching him go. Look at him – being so young... Wasting his life on an isolated mountain, and also praying in vain! It is obvious that either his God doesn’t exist, or is a capricious deity who decides whom to save ad lib. I find it inconceivable that so many people nowadays still believe in doctrines whose reasoning has been proven wrong. Of course, religions will claim all logical evidence is blasphemous...
As Belén entered the house, she heard Lina’s drowsy voice.
“I heard someone knocking on the door. Did anyone come?”
“You’re going to kill me for not waking you up. Your friend the friar brought you some medicine and fruits. He didn’t come in because he neede
d to go back. Can you believe it? He came cycling!”
“Cycling? His monastery is too far for that! He’s so kind... I keep getting more emotional every time I think about all the recent events. It was the dog, Belén – the dog showed him the way twice so he could help me!”
“Yes. This is a beautiful story and a great lesson of humbleness for us humans.”
“As a student, you attended a Catholic school yourself – did you ever consider God’s existence?”
“Religions were created to subdue men through fear – and also women, who usually get the worst of all this. The Bible says, ‘for just as moths come from garments, so harm to women comes from women,’ ‘better a man’s harshness than a woman’s indulgence, and a frightened daughter than any disgrace,’26 ‘sinful woman must be punished,’ ‘if evidence of the girl’s virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her father’s house and there her townsmen shall stone her to death.’27 It is shameful to call these texts sacred. What about yourself? Do you have doubts? Are you planning on becoming religious?” she said fondly.
“No. I swear. I only have two choices – either not believing in God, or being angry with him for not preventing so much injustice from happening. I prefer the first one. Besides, that way, I’ll avoid listening to your whining, Miss science lady. Oops! I just spoke like François,” she said half-jokingly.
Belén snorted.
“You didn’t mention the satrap. Every time I remember... The best way to live is the one I used to have back in Boston – free, no strings attached, enjoying the moment. My body was on while my heart was off – that was my idea when I was young, you know. Yet Sergio Comares would cross paths with me and... he turned on all the switches,” she said laughing.
“He may have lost his mind to leave someone as wonderful as you are.”
“He fell in love. And if one doesn’t lose their mind a little under those circumstances, where is the charm? Anyway, thank you so much for the compliment. I love you...”
“Don’t say you love me – it makes me scared.”
“Oh, sure, I’m sorry – I just remembered you can actually reason about others, but not when you’re overcome by your superstition.”
“Like everyone else.”
Brother Lucas chose not to read the news until he would arrive in the monastery, just in case it could cause another nervous breakdown. When he entered the convent, the muscles in his legs had taken on a life of their own and begun to dance out of fatigue. How much they are trembling! I think they’ll be sore for a week.
All the same, the trip had paid off. Fatigue seemed to have soothed the swirl of anger and pain that would mercilessly upset the Mexican, night and day.
Brother Bartolo poured himself some delicious hot chocolate with some oven-fresh ladyfingers.
“You can help yourself again, if you want.”
He did not need to insist. Brother Lucas drained two full cups. I can either go to my cell or stay here asleep. Plus, I want to read the news to see if there are any more hints about Diego’s murderers.
He rested on the bed holding the newspaper in his hand. As soon as he opened the international section, he stood up with a disheveled face. Brother Lucas was about to spit up the chocolate. There was a picture of his friend Diego. The headline read, ‘Mexico Searches for the Traitor.’ They referred to him as Alfonso Torres Robledo, the son of drug dealer Chulo Torres. They had not found the twelve bodies of the youngsters traveling together on that fateful day. There was one missing – that of Judas. The government had offered a reward of one million Mexican pesos to whomever could disclose his whereabouts.
“Diego is alive...”
And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table.28
“He is alive!” Brother Lucas exclaimed to the crucifix on the wall, as if He had known the truth all along.
The friar thought he had heard the whisper of a sinister voice.
“He’s a drug dealer...”
Brother Lucas turned to stand up for his friend’s honor.
“He isn’t! I know him well. He is incredibly kind. This must be a mistake.”
Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me. He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.29
Brother Lucas knelt before the crucifix with an imploring gaze.
“LORD, deliver me from lying lips, from treacherous tongues.”30
The two opposing forces pressed his weak body until they eventually managed to cause it to burst. He had to protect his head. The devil was kicking it.
Leave! Get out of me! You coward! Can’t you see that I’m unable to defend myself if I’m locked up in here?
Remorse continued to bind him mercilessly.
How stupid I’ve been! Why did I let myself be fooled! Not even for a second did I doubt the noble intentions of Diego, or rather Alfonso Torres, which is his real name. Poor old Brother Simón... He was removed from his duties because of my ignorance and impulsiveness. I must talk to him and reveal everything. I can’t keep being quiet for another minute. This issue is getting out of control.
The bell announced it was dinner time.
I don’t feel like getting up or seeing anyone, but if I don’t go downstairs, they’ll worry about me. What can I do?
The young friar did not have to decide. Brother Pedro knocked on the door.
“May I come in?”
“Go ahead.”
Brother Lucas was struck by the custodian’s pale face.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, not imagining for a moment the terrible response he was about to hear.
“I’m afraid I have very bad news. Brother Simón got killed. I’m terribly sorry.”
30. Gebre
The black-and-white paraglider raised Doctor Ledesma to freedom. Below remained the living, the dead, the disabled, and the orthopedic matter – so much suffering, helplessness, and anger. How paradoxical it is for me to need to keep my distance from the world in order to be at peace with it!
The Monegros desert was ideal for him for the isolation he was in serious need of. The atmospheric vast expansion of a death-resigned nature reminded him of Lina. He was sure that, like this place, she had once been gleaming with life.
The wind was raising dust over two miles below his feet. As he was observing the phenomenon, Doctor Ledesma thought of the living beings that survived in extreme conditions under the sand. It’s all about the survival instinct. Lina also has it, no matter how battered she may feel. There is certainly more than meets the eye! Her life has been such an ordeal. I made an unforgivable mistake by prejudging her.
He was deep in such thoughts when a sudden gust of playful wind caused him to tilt to one side. In a flash, the wing crunched, and Doctor Ledesma began to fall. Initially, he abruptly tried to bring it to a halt, though it did not take long for him to compose himself. If I can’t keep my emotions at bay, I won’t be able to control this thing. Accustomed though he was to keeping his surgeon’s head cool in times of great tension, he managed to control his nervousness and tried to slowly straighten the paraglider.
More wind came to make things even worse. The distance above ground became dangerously shortened. He was running out of time. Doctor Ledesma needed to open the parachute and jump, yet he was too stubborn to surrender. The doctor began to feel dizzy. As he was going through a fog bank, he heard a voice.
“Jump using your parachute right now, or you’ll crash!”
“No!” he responded instinctively.
“Are you trying to commit suicide, or what? Jump! Please don’t make me pick you up once you’ve turned to mush – I’ll spit up my lunch.”
Doctor Ledesma saw the earth spinning out of control. It seemed to be absorbing the distance between them. Undoubtedly, he did not want to kill himself, but did not want to give up ei
ther. I think I can handle this.
The radio voice acquired a dramatic tone.
“Jump! For heaven’s sake! Jump right now, madman! – you are going to crash!”
Doctor Ledesma managed to stop the paraglider and slightly stabilize it before he sensed a powerful impact on the ground.
The radio voice was shaky and frightened.
“Are you okay?”
The doctor looked up. Above his head flew a blue-and-red paraglider.
“Yes, or so I think. Thank you,” he answered, stunned.
“You scared me to death! Obstinate people should be forbidden from leaving their houses. You are such a walking danger.”
Doctor Ledesma returned home limping, his body packed with emerging bruises. While he was eating dinner, his head went over the accident again and again, trying to figure out how he could possibly have avoided it. Afterward, the doctor crawled into bed. He had been suffering from too many sleepless nights. He was muddled. It’s certainly dangerous to practice extreme sports when exhausted. Had he taken a few more seconds to react, he would have crossed the thin border between life and death. Let’s see if I can get some sleep today. Tomorrow will be a really busy day. I’m scheduled to operate on the Ethiopian kid.
To tell the truth, he had not given much thought to his recent insomnia. Apparently his brain, tired of being ignored, had ceased from giving him orders to rest.