The Dead Command

ld not go fishing with him, for he considered his presence at mass in

sun like mirrors. Swarms of insects buzzed in the air. In the green shade of the spreading fig trees, low and round, like roofs of verdure resting on their circle of supports, figs opened by the heat, fell, flattening on the ground

ir gold chains glittering in the sun; near them walked the suitors, a tenacious and hostile escort that disputed for every glance or word of preference, several of them laying siege to the girl at the same time. The procession was closed by the girls' parents, aged befor

th the alcalde's office, the school and the tavern, grouped about the temple of worship. This rose stately and impo

f a small cloister before the church. Here he experienced the sensation of well being as does t

e resemblance to a fortress than a temple. Its roofs were concealed by the upper edge of the walls, a kind of redoubt over which fire-locks and catapults ha

in the parish; men carrying guns, women and children driving asses and goats or bearing on their backs all the fowls of their barnyards, their feet tied together like a bundle of faggots. The house of God was converted into a stable for the property of His followers. Off in one corner the priest prayed with the women, his prayers

the tower-loft. The church was almost full. A dense effluvium of hot breath, perspiration, and coarse clothing floated out to Jaime through the

d not go fishing for lack of a boatman, and the solitary fields, with their closed houses, the families being at mass or at the afternoon dance, gave him the painful impression of a stroll through a cemetery. He would spend the morning in San José, and one of his diversions consisted in standing under the arcade

ho, on seeing him out in the country opened their doors to him, but their affability went no further, for they could not get near to him. He was a "foreigner"

ng tones, with the harsh stridor of his toothless mouth. The people accepted the old man's officious interference without a smile, attributing it to senile aberration. They had been accustomed for years and years to hearing th

three cigarette stubs on the ground near his feet before a long drawn out murmur came from within the church, as from a thousand suspended breaths which finally exhaled a sigh

y saw one another for the first time as they met ou

ía! Bò

rushed their breasts and obliterated the prominent curves of their hips, displaying with stately pride, above the motley hued handkerchiefs, gold chains and enormous crucifixes

omanish fashion under their hats, below which fell long curls over their foreheads. It wa

and. The young men strolled from the porch and adopted ferocious attitudes, their hands in their belts, and their heads held high, before the groups of women,

mass of peop

ía! Bò

rt, moving slowly, as if dragging themselves along in the misery of old age; others energetic, with rustling skirts and flutterin

y were covered by the abrigais, the winter shawl, the coarse wool wrap of ancient usage, the very sight of which on that sultry summer morning aroused sensations of torment and asphyxia. Then followed some hooded m

Tradition demanded that they cover themselves with the ceremonial garments, their winter dress serving to shut them up as it were in casques of mourning. They wept and perspired inside their wraps, and as each recognized a relative whom he had not seen for several days, his grief burst forth anew. Sighs of agony issued from within

and where everyone was more or less united by ties of blood, the distant relationship, although it required that he participate in the mourning, did not oblige him to don the haik worn on solemn occasions. He was dressed in black, and covered with a light

were growing more and more vehement. Enough, enough! Let everyone retu

t again. Adios! Adios! They departed in groups, each taking a different direction, toward the pine-covered mountains, toward the distant white farmhouses half hidden among fig and almond trees, towa

puffed-up black lizard darting among the opuntia cactus. Little impression did death make upon him! Margalida walked at her mother's side, silent, abstracted, her eyes opened very wid

ional word to Febrer, as if he felt need

and surrounded by the waters, unable to escape, unable to defend ou

in the harbors, the passage might be closed against every living thing, the islands shut off from the rest of the world, but this signified nothing to the invincible mariner with the hairless head, to him who walks with fleshless legs, who rushes with gigantic strides over mountain and sea. No storm could detain him; no joy could make him forget; he was everywhere; he remembered everyone. The sun might shine, the fields might be in the fullness of their glory, the crops bountiful-they were deceptions to divert man in his tasks and to make these more endurable! Deceitful promises, like those made

n their ears; but gradually around the little low table, crowned with its great bowl of rice, joy began to spread. The Little Chaplain talked of the afternoon dance, absolutely forgetting his life in

?or! alas

anying her confused thoughts of joy o

s from the very vines which spread a leafy screen before the porch. His melancholy

f whenever he wished! Meanwhile, let a man live! And he manifested this desire to live by falling asleep on a

They had left the table that they might more freely discuss the dance, with the li

by people who respected him, who, perhaps, even loved him, but at the same time felt in irresistible attraction for th

he at last fell asleep. He awoke late in the afternoon when the sun was beginning slowly to descend beyond t

! His footsteps did not even arouse the dog that lived under the por

ce," thought Febrer. "Suppos

emselves. Should he, at his age, and with his austere appearance, that inspired only respect and chill, go and dance with an island maiden? He would have to keep near Pèp and the oth

preferred the dull, monotonous, conversation of the simple folk, a restful conversation, he said to

alcalde's office, while the hollow beating of a drum, the bucolic qu

The drummer, with his round instrument resting on one knee, beat the parchment with rhythmical strokes, while his companion blew on a long,

he center of the plaza, hands in belts, broad felt hats thrust back to show the curls hanging over their foreheads, embroidered kerchiefs or ribbon cravats

rocreation and the hardships of rural life, with eyes sunken in a blue circle that seemed to reveal internal disorders, wearing on their breasts the gold chains of their youthful da

eceived the gentleman from the tower with respectful silence, and after puffing a few mouthfuls of smoke from pipes filled with native tobacco

to the center of the plaza. The swains seemed to confer with indecision, as if each were afraid to venture

mous vèrro." He designated a youth of less than medium stature, but arrogant and ostentatious in his appearance. The young men were grouped around the hero. The Minstrel was talking

fternoon listening to the flute without dancing? He ran to the group of damsels and grasped the biggest one by the hands, draggin

y turning toward the musicians, the boy protested. He did not want to dance the "llarga"; he wanted to dance the "curta." The "long" and the "short" were the only t

traditional reel, invented, doubtless, by the first settlers of the island, lusty pirates of the heroic age, illustrated the eternal history of the human race, the pursuing and hunting of the female. She whirled, cold and unfeeling, with the asexual hauteur of a rude virtue, fleeing from his springing and contortions, presenting her back to him with a gesture of scorn, while his fatiguing duty consisted in placing h

ing, coldly, never accelerating her pace, while her companion, dizzy from his velocity, panted for breath with reddened face, at last retiring tremulous with fatigue. Every girl could dance with sever

f the pantaloons vibrated with the rapid movement of the springing or the energetic stamping which raised clouds of dust. Manly arms chose with gallant slap among the clustered maidens. "You!" And this monosyllable followed the tug of conquest, the blows which

ancer red-faced and perspiring, making every effort to continue, they approached him, grasping him by the arm and flinging him aside, and calling, "Leave her to me!" And they took his place with no

she was surrounded by her companions, bu

s flower-like delicacy, with the deep and brilliant eyes of a gentle little animal, her graceful figure, and even the softness of her hands, set her apart, as if s

she herself was unconscious. What a pity that she had been born in this island which she would never leave! And her beauty would be for some of those barbarians who

peasant women, a female skeleton, bent and knaggy, like the trunk of an olive tree. These thoughts saddened Febrer, as a great injustice. How had the simple Pèp, who stood beside him, produced this offspring

yes of all, an expression of defensive solidarity. The old men ceased their conversation, glancing in the direction of the women. "What is it? What is it?" The Little Chaplain ran about among the couples, whisp

o the se?or. "It is nothing; just what happens at every dance." There

ce of an aggressive heroism shining in their eyes. "These accursed times of impiety in which decent people are molested when they were following ancient customs! Here! Here!" And grasping the deadly weapons they hid them beneath the circle made by their innumerable layers of petticoats and skirts. The young mothers s

church. They were leather straps and guns, and above these the

riving too late. Jaime was the only one who looked at them; the rest pretended not to see, holding their heads low or looking in a different di

ernoon, g

by ceasing to beat and leaving the flute unaccompanied. This wh

ght "Tengui!" but they all pretended not to see, and glan

ce seemed to anno

ur diversion. Don't

uced a music more brisk and diabolically gay than before; but they might as well be playing to

ing of the flute, and the dry and strident laughter of the castanets,

d the leader with patern

e, and-to be searched. Noble inconveniences of being valorous, and of being held in a certain fear! Every youth seeing in the searching a testimony of his worth, r

of the Ironworker. They acted as if they did not recognize him; they t

ed that they had no fear of him; they set him apart from the rest, exempting him from an operation to which everyone else was compelled to submit. Whenever they met the vèrro in the company of other young

hands in his belt, looking at him fixedly, with an expression half threatening, half entreating. The man did not seem to see him; he looked for the others, but he

o the boy. "Search that vè

y after giving him a tickling in the stomach, but the boy still maintained his position as a man to be feared. Then he rushed toward a group of girls to boast of the

a trail. He knew well enough where the weapons were concealed, but let anyone venture to make the bronze matrons stir from thei

n, good a

they not all neighbors, living together on their little island? The guards, however, were firm in their refusal. "Thanks; it is against the rules." They strode away, p

ncers. The people crowded around him. The venerable matrons drew up their esparto-seated chairs in order to hear better. He was about to sing a romance of his own comp

w can I sing for you, friends, when my heart is broken?" began the recitative; and then, in the

ness for work. In their primitive minds stirred a vague something which impelled them to respect the words and complaints

with the flower of the almond, they turned their eyes to Margalida, who remained impassive, with no sign of

standing out in blue relief. In accordance with custom, he concealed part of his face under an embroidered kerchief, which he held with his arm resting on the drum. Febrer felt anxiety listening to this painful voice. It seemed to him that

proached the older men. They were in search of Se?or Pèp, of Can Mallorquí, to discuss an important matter. They turn

o speak of the "festeig" of Margalida; they reminded the f

t the group deliberately, a

any ar

d remained to hear the song. There were youths from every district. Even from Sa

atisfaction, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the friends sitting near him. What glory for Can Mallo

wenty of you

in mental calculation, murmuring the names of frien

aybe they thought he needed no rest, and that he was going to

mental calculations, while he repeated thoughtfull

a minute more! Thursday and Saturday would be courting nights. When he had gone courting his wife the suitors were many less, and yet his father-in-law, a man who had never been seen to smile, did not concede more time than this.

from his daughter's suitors, heaped bravado upon bravado, talking of killing anyone who should not keep

Febrer, who had heard the conversation, glanced at the vèrro, who held himself aloof, a

sic, crowing his last crow with a dolorous voice that seemed finally to rend his poor throat. He wiped away the perspiration, presse

vehement gesticulations, pushing her, and urging her to sing a

lossom, struggling to rid

ng her. Let her alone! Margalida had come to enjoy herself, and not to entertain th

began to beat it. The flute seemed to be gargling the rapid notes bef

short"; they all felt themselves strong and imperious again. The deadly steel had come forth from beneath the women's petticoats a

white hempen sandals began to spring, the whorls of green and blue skirts began to turn stiffly, while the points

rmed a circle around him. He seemed not to see the others, fixing his eyes on Margalida with a tense expression, as if he would conquer her with this stare whi

Ironworker's presence. The girls came out to dance, led by the young men, but Margalida remain

e loathed the vèrro; he felt the terror inspired by the man as a personal offen

lous after his exertion. He held himself erect, trying to give the lie to his weakness. The white Alm

y. He breathed laboriously, his legs began to tremble, but in spite of this he smiled, gratified at his triumph. He gazed te

yone expected to see him fall to the ground; but he went on dancing, displayi

felt a touch on his shoulder, according t

me that afternoon. His leaping was received with a murmur of applause. T

, barring her way, surrounding her in the complicated net of his movements, while Ma

a considerable height, as if the ground were elastic and his legs steel springs. This leaping made Jaime

n other cases the dancer had been substituted several times, but the vèrro conti

dash of envy the terrible vigor

thout ceasing his evolutions or his leaping. A cloud of smoke spread over the ground, and between it

ht; the men stood undecided, but soon all were reassur

artner's feet; the supreme gallantry of a valiant man;

plosion of the powder; giving the Ironworker a look of gratitude for the bravado which made him defy persecution fro

ion of Jaime, displayed pride over the

ho did not seem enthusias

ive of his fury, but it was something spontaneou