\u201ePlou\u0103 \u0219i nu avem unde s\u0103 dormim, domnule\u201d, a spus mama\u2026 \u0218i ceea ce a spus fermierul a f\u0103cut-o s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ploaia c\u0103dea cu at\u00e2ta furie \u00eenc\u00e2t p\u0103rea c\u0103 vrea s\u0103 spele drumul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cerul de deasupra Guanajuato trosnea \u00een fulgere albe, iar fiecare bubuitur\u0103 de tunet o f\u0103cea pe In\u00e9s s\u0103 tremure \u00een timp ce mergea, str\u00e2ng\u00e2nd fusta ud\u0103 a mamei sale. \u00cen bra\u021bele Amparo Guti\u00e9rrez, micu\u021bul Nicol\u00e1s pl\u00e2ngea slab \u0219i obosit, prea rece pentru un bebelu\u0219 de \u0219apte luni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eMam\u0103, nu mai pot\u201d, a suspinat In\u00e9s, cu picioarele afund\u00e2ndu-se \u00een noroi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo voia s\u0103-i spun\u0103 c\u0103 nu va dura mult, c\u0103 totul va fi bine, c\u0103 trebuiau doar s\u0103 mai reziste pu\u021bin. Dar era at\u00e2t de epuizat\u0103, at\u00e2t de ud\u0103 \u0219i at\u00e2t de speriat\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t nu putea g\u0103si o minciun\u0103 suficient de puternic\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNici eu nu pot, copilul meu\u201d, a \u0219optit ea. \u201eDar trebuie s\u0103 mergem mai departe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Avea dou\u0103zeci \u0219i opt de ani \u0219i \u00ee\u0219i \u00eengropase so\u021bul, Esteban, un t\u00e2mplar priceput, cu doar patruzeci de zile \u00eenainte. Acesta murise de febr\u0103 \u00een mai pu\u021bin de o s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103. Mai \u00eent\u00e2i a sim\u021bit o tuse, apoi o senza\u021bie de arsur\u0103 \u00een piept, apoi o t\u0103cere at\u00e2t de rapid\u0103 \u00eenc\u00e2t Amparo nici m\u0103car nu a avut timp s\u0103-\u0219i ia r\u0103mas bun cum se cuvine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moartea lui Esteban nu numai c\u0103 l-a luat pe b\u0103rbatul pe care \u00eel iubea. I-a luat \u0219i casa, mijloacele de trai \u0219i locul ei \u00een lume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Proprietarul camerei \u00een care locuiau le-a dat dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNu e din rea-voin\u021b\u0103, Amparo\u201d, i-a spus el, \u201edar am nevoie de venituri, nu de lacrimi\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i-a c\u0103utat de lucru \u00een sat. Sp\u0103l\u0103toreas\u0103, buc\u0103t\u0103reas\u0103, croitoreas\u0103, orice. Dar toat\u0103 lumea o privea la fel: o t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 v\u0103duv\u0103 cu un copil mic \u0219i un bebelu\u0219 \u00een bra\u021be era mai degrab\u0103 o problem\u0103 dec\u00e2t un ajutor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\u0219a c\u0103 a decis s\u0103 mearg\u0103 pe jos p\u00e2n\u0103 la Le\u00f3n, unde se spunea c\u0103 familiile bogate angajau femei s\u0103 lucreze ca servitoare \u00een casele lor mari. \u0218i-a v\u00e2ndut patul, dou\u0103 oale, o mas\u0103 \u0219ubredoas\u0103 \u0219i uneltele vechi ale lui Esteban. Cu c\u00e2teva monede, dou\u0103 haine de schimb \u0219i un \u0219al, a pornit la drum \u00een zori cu copiii ei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Primele trei zile au fost suportabile. Au dormit \u00eentr-un hambar, apoi sub acoperi\u0219ul unei capele, apoi la casa unei b\u0103tr\u00e2ne care le-a dat terci fierbinte. Dar \u00een a patra zi, noaptea i-a cuprins \u00een mijlocul pustiet\u0103\u021bii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i apoi a venit furtuna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo mergea aproape orbe\u0219te, str\u00e2ng\u00e2nd copilul la piept. In\u00e9s se \u00eempiedica la fiecare c\u00e2\u021biva pa\u0219i. C\u0103rarea se transforma \u00eentr-un r\u00e2u de noroi. Frigul \u00eei mu\u0219ca p\u00e2n\u0103 la m\u0103duva oaselor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atunci Amparo a v\u0103zut o lumin\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Era mic\u0103, galben\u0103 \u0219i tremur\u00e2nd\u0103. O lamp\u0103 \u00een spatele unei ferestre. O cas\u0103 mare \u0219i solitar\u0103 la cap\u0103tul unei c\u0103r\u0103ri m\u0103rginite de mesquite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Uite, In\u00e9s \u2014 spuse el, sim\u021bind c\u0103 \u00eel doare speran\u021ba \u2014. Uite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A ajuns la u\u0219\u0103 aproape c\u0103z\u00e2nd. A b\u0103tut cu m\u00e2na deschis\u0103, o dat\u0103, de dou\u0103 ori, de trei ori. Nu \u0219tia dac\u0103 b\u0103tea la u\u0219a oamenilor buni sau la ultima u\u0219\u0103 \u00eenainte de a renun\u021ba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U\u0219a s-a deschis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Un b\u0103rbat \u00eenalt a ap\u0103rut cu o lamp\u0103 cu ulei \u00een m\u00e2n\u0103. P\u0103rea s\u0103 aib\u0103 \u00een jur de patruzeci de ani. Barba lui \u00eenchis\u0103 la culoare \u00eei acoperea o parte din fa\u021b\u0103, iar ochii lui serio\u0219i \u0219i obosi\u021bi s-au mutat de la Amparo la copil, apoi la feti\u021b\u0103 care tremura ca o frunz\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eV\u0103 rog, domnule\u201d, spuse Amparo cu vocea sl\u0103bit\u0103. \u201eNu avem unde s\u0103 dormim. Doar p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een zori. Copiilor mei le este friguros.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B\u0103rbatul nu a r\u0103spuns imediat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentru o secund\u0103, Amparo s-a temut c\u0103 va \u00eenchide u\u0219a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar a deschis mai mult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eN-o s\u0103 dormi afar\u0103 at\u00e2ta timp c\u00e2t am un acoperi\u0219 deasupra capului\u201d, a spus el. \u201eIntr\u0103 \u00een\u0103untru. Acum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo s-a uitat la el, ne\u00een\u021beleg\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Domnule, eu\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eIntra\u021bi\u201d, repet\u0103 el, mai bl\u00e2nd. \u201eAici e foc, m\u00e2ncare \u0219i paturi. Vom vorbi despre restul m\u00e2ine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo a f\u0103cut un pas \u00een cas\u0103 \u0219i a cedat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu a pl\u00e2ns de triste\u021be. A pl\u00e2ns pentru c\u0103 se a\u0219teptase la respingere \u0219i primise \u00een schimb umanitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numele b\u0103rbatului era Juli\u00e1n C\u00e1rdenas. Era proprietarul fermei San Miguel del Mezquital. Locuia singur de opt luni, de c\u00e2nd mama sa, Do\u00f1a Adela, femeia care \u00eel crescuse dup\u0103 ce tat\u0103l s\u0103u murise \u00eentr-o c\u0103dere de pe un cal, murise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do\u00f1a Adela fusese puternic\u0103, inteligent\u0103 \u0219i dreapt\u0103. Administra mo\u0219ia cu m\u00e2n\u0103 ferm\u0103 \u0219i inim\u0103 generoas\u0103. \u00cenainte de a muri, i-a luat m\u00e2na lui Juli\u00e1n \u0219i l-a pus s\u0103 promit\u0103 dou\u0103 lucruri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAi grij\u0103 de p\u0103m\u00e2nt\u201d, i-a spus el. \u201e\u0218i nu-\u021bi l\u0103sa sufletul s\u0103 moar\u0103 de singur\u0103tate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julian s-a \u021binut de prima promisiune. Pe a doua, nu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De c\u00e2nd murise mama lui, casa mare devenise t\u0103cut\u0103. Lucra din zori p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een amurg, verific\u00e2nd garduri, animale, recolte \u0219i conturi. Dar c\u00e2nd se \u00eentorcea acas\u0103 noaptea, era \u00eent\u00e2mpinat de vase murdare, mobil\u0103 pr\u0103fuit\u0103 \u0219i o buc\u0103t\u0103rie rece. M\u00e2nca p\u00e2ine veche cu cafea re\u00eenc\u0103lzit\u0103. Dormea \u200b\u200bprost. Era viu, dar f\u0103r\u0103 via\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
P\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een noaptea aceea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juli\u00e1n le-a dat haine uscate. O rochie veche de-a mamei sale pentru Amparo, o c\u0103ma\u0219\u0103 larg\u0103 pentru In\u00e9s, p\u0103turi curate pentru Nicol\u00e1s. A \u00eenc\u0103lzit ap\u0103 \u00eentr-o cad\u0103 de metal \u0219i i-a l\u0103sat s\u0103 se spele \u00een intimitate. Dup\u0103 aceea, a preg\u0103tit fasole, orez, ou\u0103 \u0219i tortilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In\u00e9s a m\u00e2ncat ca \u0219i cum n-ar fi gustat m\u00e2ncare de zile \u00eentregi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eE delicios\u201d, a spus el cu gura plin\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julian a z\u00e2mbit pentru prima dat\u0103 dup\u0103 luni de zile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Atunci m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103 mai mult, scunciogule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo \u0219i-a cobor\u00e2t privirea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Nu \u0219tiu cum s\u0103 te r\u0103spl\u0103tesc pentru asta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Nu i-am cerut plat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014Dar eu nu accept caritate f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 fac nimic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julian o privea. Da, sim\u021bea oboseal\u0103, dar \u0219i m\u00e2ndrie. O m\u00e2ndrie curat\u0103 \u0219i demn\u0103, cea a cuiva care a pierdut aproape totul, cu excep\u021bia voin\u021bei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAtunci odihne\u0219te-te pu\u021bin \u00een seara asta\u201d, a spus el. \u201eVorbim m\u00e2ine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A doua zi diminea\u021b\u0103, Julian a cobor\u00e2t sc\u0103rile a\u0219tept\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103-\u0219i g\u0103seasc\u0103 oaspe\u021bii dormind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El a gre\u0219it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sufrageria era m\u0103turat\u0103. Ferestrele erau deschise. Praful disp\u0103ruse de pe mobil\u0103. \u00cen buc\u0103t\u0103rie, masa era pus\u0103 cu cafea proasp\u0103t preparat\u0103, p\u00e2ine \u00eenc\u0103lzit\u0103, ou\u0103 cu chili \u0219i o mic\u0103 farfurie cu fructe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amparo era l\u00e2ng\u0103 aragaz, cur\u0103\u021b\u00e2nd o tigaie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eBun\u0103 diminea\u021ba, Don Juli\u00e1n\u201d, spuse ea timid. \u201eAm f\u0103cut micul dejun. Nu e mult, dar\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
S-a uitat \u00een jur, incapabil s\u0103-\u0219i ascund\u0103 surpriza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n