The women together separately, soft, andas if
HIDDEN, wrapped tight in their dark rebozos. In a shed in one corner, four
half-naked men were packing bunches of bananas.
She stood on the terrace, looking out past the
mango-trees at thelake. And she rocked herself in a sudden access of agitation. And
she wanted to be able to provoke thatanger, of which she felt a certain abject
twinge of fear. They could not abstract themselves to aroutine.
There was no money:the young ménage lived on about
five American cents a day.
Each one isolated in his own fate, his eyes black
andquick like a snakes, and as blank. Underneath, powerful and inscrutable, he made
no connection withthem.
But now he is incommand of the Guadalajara
division, he is not very often able tocome out. How dare he take such nonsense
seriously! He brought down two Indians from the north todo that. She took Kates
hands and led her across the open terrace at thetop of the stairs.
Julio would come striding in at midday and
atevening; he was looking for work.
She would have no use for a Niña of whom shewas not
a bit afraid.
He brought down two Indians from the north todo
that. It was onlyfour miles, and surely she would be safe, with Juana. But, then,
Kate was not responsible for that.
The subtle smile of satisfaction lurked under
thebronze tarnish of Juanas face.
They had to carry all water from the lake to
theirhouses. There must be a newSaviour with a new vision.
Once they were put away, their malevolence subsided
and theyremembered what Kate wanted.
Idanced a dance round the drum with the Men of
Quetzalcoatl.
Idanced a dance round the drum with the Men of
Quetzalcoatl. An elderly man, withgrey in his moustache, he had bright young eyes
and seemed full ofenergy. It seemed the waste, unwanted babies could be delivered in
at thedoor of the Cuna, like parcels. It was Don Ramón, drawn unconsciously by the
emotional disturbanceof the two women. And standing silent anderect not far from the
hole of the doorway, the man, handsome andimpassive.
I would like to change my shoes, said Kate. Now, he
had only somethree hundred acres.
On the patches of the mountain slope little patches
of maizewere to be seen.
We cant be responsible, even forour husbands. It
was Don Ramón, drawn unconsciously by the emotional disturbanceof the two women.