Mr. President by Miguel Ángel Asturias

Author:Miguel Ángel Asturias [Asturias, Miguel Ángel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

xx

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Genaro Rodas’s tears couldn’t wash away his memory of the look in Pelele’s eyes. Appearing before the Judge Advocate, he could only look down at his shoes. The misfortunes at home, combined with the despondency that affects any calm man denied his freedom, destroyed his last ounce of courage. The Judge ordered his handcuffs off and told him to come closer.

After a long silence that was itself a kind of reprimand, he said: “Son, I know everything. I’m only questioning you because I want to hear, in your own words, how the beggar died in the Portal. In your own words, please.”

Genaro spoke in fits and starts, afraid of what he was going to say. “What happened . . . See, what happened . . . For the love of God, sir, please don’t hurt me. Please, sir. I’ll tell you the whole truth, but on your life, please don’t hurt me.”

“Don’t worry, son: the Law is harsh with hardened criminals, but it’s different with a guy like you. . . . Speak up, just tell me the truth.”

“Please don’t hurt me. Can’t you see I’m scared?” He cringed as he spoke, trying to protect himself from a threat against him floating in the air.

“Don’t worry.”

“What happened? Well . . . It was that night, you know, when I met Lucio Vásquez by the Cathedral and the Chinese shops. Sir, I need work, and this Lucio said he would get me a job with the Secret Police. We met, and glory be, soon enough he invited me for drinks at the Lion’s Awakening, a bar a little ways up from the Plaza de Armas. So one drink led to two, then three, four, five, and to make a long story short . . .”

“Yes, yes.” The Judge Advocate nodded, glancing at the freckle-faced clerk taking notes.

“So, you see, he didn’t get me the job he promised. I told him that was okay. Then . . . oh yes, now I remember! He paid for the drinks. We left together and walked toward the Portal, where Lucio said he was hoping to kill a mute with rabies. I told him I’d leave before that! So we went to the Portal. I was a few steps behind him. He crossed the street, but when we reached the other side, he took off running. I ran after him, thinking that someone was chasing us . . . But then . . . Vásquez pushed someone against the wall. Realizing he’d been caught, this Pelele screamed as if a wall had fallen on him. Vásquez pulled out a gun and, without a word, he fired once, twice . . . Sir, I swear I had nothing to do with it. Please don’t hurt me. I didn’t kill him! I just wanted a job . . . and see what’s happened to me . . . I should have stayed a carpenter . . . Who put the idea in my head to become a policeman?”

Pelele’s icy stare was still transfixed in Rodas’s eyes.

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