Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas

Author:Reinaldo Arenas [Arenas, Reinaldo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New York University
Published: 1992-06-20T19:00:00+00:00

THE FLIGHT

There was no bathroom in the cell—it was outside—and the detainees were constantly asking for permission to go. The police officer stood by the cell door, padlock in hand, to watch the others. On one of those occasions, while the officer was waiting by the cell door, another officer arrived and announced that he had brought hot espresso, a privilege in Cuba, where coffee is rationed at three ounces a month per person. The announcement started a great commotion at the station; all the police officers rushed to the coveted Thermos bottle. The officer guarding the gate also went, leaving the open padlock on the gate. I quickly unbolted the lock and, crouching, escaped from prison.

I ran out through the back door, which led to the shore, freed myself of my clothes, and jumped into the water. I was a good swimmer then. I swam away from shore and to Patricio Lumumba Beach, near my aunt’s house. Once there, I saw a friend with whom I had had a few erotic adventures. I told him what had happened, and he managed to get me a pair of shorts from one of the lifeguards. Dressed that way, I immediately showed up at my aunt’s house. She was absolutely flabbergasted to see me there; it was only a short time since I had been arrested and taken away in a patrol car. I told her it had all been a mistake that was cleared up right away and I only needed to pay a fine; I had come home to get the money. But my money was no longer there; my aunt had taken it. I demanded, somewhat violently, that she return it. A little intimidated, she gave me back only half of it.

I ran toward the beach to meet my black friend, but it was swarming with policemen. They were evidently searching for me. Luckily, it did not occur to them at first to look for me at home, which enabled me to pick up the money and destroy everything there that might compromise me. The friend who had gotten me the shorts hid me in one of the booths at the beach, then checked my house and confirmed that it was surrounded by policemen with guard dogs. He told me to jump into the water and hide behind a buoy, where the dogs would not be able to find me. I stayed there all day, and in the evening my friend signaled me to come out of the water. He bought me a pizza with his own money; mine was completely soaked. He then hid me in the lifeguard’s booth. The following day the beach was crawling with policemen looking for me; I could not come out of my hiding place. My friend provided me with an inner tube, a can of beans, and a bottle of rum. In the evening we walked through the pines to La Concha Beach. He had also gotten me a pair of swim fins, and the only solution seemed to be that I leave the country on an inner tube.

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