excerpt
“Gerry, may the devil take you. Are we going to hear the Same
story again?” Someone shouted from the other end of the coffee shop.
Gerry paid no attention to the man. He took two mushrooms from
the brazier, gave one each to Hermes and Demetre, and they clinked
their glasses.
“Viva! And here is to life, and a curse to death!” he said, and
they all drank the brandy in one gulp.
“As I was saying, the dog picked up a smell, and I followed. Then
he stopped in front of this small bush, he wagged his tail and growled.
He must have picked up on a rabbit trail, so I went near and saw this
rabbit inside the bush, in his den, not more than five yards away. I
aimed, but then a thought came to me: why don’t I aim at the tip of his
head, so I don’t ruin the head, which is the tastier part of the rabbit?
So, I took aim again, but before I took a shot, the rabbit jumped out of
his den and raced for the grape grove. The dog ran after him, but the
rabbit can run a lot faster than a dog in a grape grove, I will have you
know. That’s how I lost a rabbit from five yards in front of me. I got so
upset that I aimed at a pear tree and unloaded my gun at it.”
His eyes were dark and full of fire from excitement, the heat of
the brandy in his guts, and the brazier next to him. His brows were
raised expressively, giving his face an animated beauty and sweetness,
one old men retain in their old days, sweetness emanating from
their true humane form and clear attitude.
Hermes found the story very funny, but he controlled himself
not to laugh, and Gerry ordered another round of brandies.
Foti filled up their glasses one more time; they ate another
mushroom each and clinked again.
“To the health of the tired bodies,” Gerry cheered, and the
others repeated.
Hermes was a bit puzzled about the strange cheer.
“He meant the health of the distressed body which suffers the
toiling of the field every day,” Demetre told him.
Libros Libertad 