The Days of the Rainbow by Antonio Skarmeta

Author:Antonio Skarmeta [Skarmeta, Antonio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59051-628-7
Publisher: Other Press
Published: 2013-06-10T18:15:00+00:00

* “Mala cueva” (literally bad cave) means bad luck in Chilean slang.

BETTINI’S FAVORITE LINE was by Camus: “Everything I know about morality and the duty of man I owe to soccer.” Especially, he added, that the ball never comes where one expects it to.

The bitter-faced man chosen by the parties’ delegates to be the spokesperson for all authorized the ambassador to put one more ice cube in his whiskey and then raised the glass to his lips.

“I think Olwyn was wrong, Bettini. You’re not the best anymore. You used to be the best.”

“Did you find the campaign that bad?”

“As harmless as a mint tea. That supposedly ironic parade of commanders, with Strauss’s little waltz as background music, makes even the military look nice.”

“Does it mean that you’re not going to approve it?”

“A little waltz by Strauss! We don’t have any time to change anything. We’re screwed!”

“ ‘A little waltz by Strauss,’ ” Bettini repeated while rubbing the glass of whiskey over his forehead to sooth the heat.

“I was expecting Troy to burn—you attacking Pinochet with the issue of the missing detainees, human rights, torture, exile, layoffs … And you come up with a little joke here, a little joke there … Strauss’s little waltz! Tell me, Bettini—”

“Mr.…?”

“Cifuentes. When, exactly, did you lose your way?”

“I really don’t know. I’ve been unemployed for so many years!”

“Pinochet may win the plebiscite just because he has balls. Instead, you seem to have only songs.”

The ad agent mumbled something so softly that Cifuentes had to lean forward to hear him.

“What did you say, Bettini?”

“Songs and broken collarbones.”

“Don’t talk rubbish, man!”

The ambassador hugged them both and walked them to the balcony. On Vicuña Mackenna Avenue, the traffic was moving very slowly.

“What a disaster!” the ambassador said. “It seems there are only red lights on this street!”

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