cw.blackalibi-第12节

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have　mercy　on　me。〃
　　Somehow　she　got　it　inside　the　lining　of　her　glove；　refolded；　by　thumb　motion　alone。　Then　she　dipped　her　face　to　the　violets　once　more。　As　the　Seсora　Viuda　had　said；　one　couldn't　change　the　world。
　　They　came　out　of　the　older　part　of　town　with　its　tortuous；　cobbled　streets；　where　respectable；　conservative　families　like　hers　lived；　into　one　of　the　new　semi…suburban　sections；　favored　by　foreigners　and　the　more　flashily　prosperous　who　copied　their　ways…even　to　letting　their　daughters　run　around　without　an　older　woman　in　attendance。　They　traversed　this　along　a　straight；　broad　asphalted　driveway；　and　beyond　emerged　into　open　country　for　awhile。　Then　in　the　distance　ahead　a　symmetrical　line　of　dark…green　poplars　began　to　peer　over　an　intervening　rise　of　the　ground　and；　when　they　had　topped　it；　suddenly　seemed　to　spring　forward　to　join　the　road；　behind　a　stone　wall　that　ran　back　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。
　　It　turned　and　followed　the　roadside　for　a　while。　All　Saints　Cemetery　was　known　as　the　largest　in　the　city；　if　not　anywhere　in　the　world。　It　was　said　of　it　that　it　was　big　enough　to　acmodate　all　the　world's　dead　at　one　time。
　　On　the　opposite　side　of　the　road；　buildings　had　sprung　up　once　more；　called　into　being　to　acmodate　the　living　who　on　Sundays　and　certain　religious　holidays　came　out　here　in　such　shoals　to　pay　their　respects　to　the　dead。　A　headstone　carver's　shop　and　workyard；　littered　with　ornamental　urns；　cherubs；　mourning　angels；　and　crosses；　a　refreshment　and　eating　pavilion；　and　others　such。　They　were　intermittent；　with　large　gaps　between；　and　the　whole　atmosphere　was　one　of　abandoned　desolation　rather　than　life…quickened　activity；　somehow。
　　The　carriage　drew　up　at　the　main　entrance；　marked　by　a　pair　of　massive　bronze　doors　set　within　a　stone　arch；　and　they　got　out。　〃e　back　for　us　within　a　half…hour；　no　more；〃　Marta　instructed　the　driver。
　　The　carriage　ambled　aimlessly　off　on　some　mission　best　known　to　its　driver…perhaps　the　nearest　cantina　at　the　next　crossroads　ahead。　As　it　left　them；　Conchita　held　back　in　seeming　irresolution　a　minute。
　　〃Marta；　before　we　go　in；　can't　we　go　over　to　that　place　across　the　way　and　sit　down　for　a　minute？　I'm　so　thirsty。〃
　　Marta　objected　querulously；　flattening　the　sheaf　of　flowers　so　that　she　could　look　at　her　clearly　over　their　tops；　〃No；　nina。　How　can　we？　Your　mother　told　me　to　bring　you　right　back。　Look；　the　sun's　already　far　down。　Night　will　be　upon　us　before　we　can　get　back　to　the　house。〃
　　〃How　long　will　it　take？〃　the　girl　coaxed。
　　〃But　did　we　e　out　here　to　visit　your　father's　grave　or　did　we　e　out　here　to　have　refrescos？　〃　the　old　woman　said　with　peevish　stubbornness。
　　〃Just　a　cup　of　mint　tea。　You　know　how　you　love　your　mint　'tea。　You　always　take　it　at　this　hour　at　home。〃
　　The　chaperon　wavered；　obviously　tempted。　She　cast　a　look　across　the　road；　as　though　judging　how　long　it　would　detain　them　to　go　over　and　back。　〃But　isn't　it　better　to　go　in　first　and　pay　our　respects；　and　then　have　it　when　we　e　out？　The　place　may　close。〃
　　〃I'm　faint；　Martita。　Why　do　you　refuse　me？〃
　　Her　panion　was　at　once　all　whimpering　solicitude。　〃Oh　my　light；　why　didn't　you　tell　me　sooner？　What　am　I　thinking　of；　standing　here　wrangling？　e；　my　heart；　take　me　by　the　arm；　we'll　go　right　over。〃
　　They　inched　across　the　road；　held　to　a　painfully　reduced　gait　more　by　the　stout　figure's　slowness　of　limb　than　by　the　slender　one's　weakness；　if　the　truth　had　been　known。　The　devoted　Marta　even　had　to　caution　her　charge；　〃Not　so　fast；　linda。　You　may　get　dizzy。〃
　　The　establishment　was　bare　of　customers　at　this　hour。　A　waiter　with　a　tray　tucked　under　his　arm　came　attentively　to　the　door；　waiting　to　see　where　they　would　decide　to　sit　before　moving　any　further。　There　was　a　terrace　strip　of　terra…cotta　mosaic　tiling　laid　out　in　front　of　the　place；　holding　a　row　of　reedy；　forlorn…looking；　wafer…sized　iron　tables；　each　one　with　more　wire…legged　chairs　wedged　around　it　than　it　could　acmodate。
　　〃Let's　go　inside　out　of　the　glare；〃　Conchita　suggested　demurely。
　　They　continued　on　into　an　interior　of　cavelike　dimness；　after　the　outer　brightness；　in　which　a　sea　of　other　equally　reedy；　equally　untenanted　iron　tables　could　be　made　out。　A　loosely　strung　pasteboard　sign　proclaiming　ASK　FOR　EL　SOL　BEER　brushed　against　Marta's　head　as　she　passed　below　it。　She　swept　it　indignantly　aside。
　　They　seated　themselves　opposite　one　another　in　a　small　booth　against　the　wall；　duenna　and　massed　flowers　on　one　side　of　the　table；　young　mourner　on　the　other。　The　waiter　approached。　〃Buenos　dias。〃
　　〃Buenos　dias；〃　Marta　grunted；　with　the　curtness　one　employee　often　has　for　another。
　　Conchita　waited　until　he　had　gone　away　again；　then　tipped　the　veil　from　her　face　with　an　air　of　angelic　primness。
　　The　visibility　lightened　up　a　little　around　them　as　their　eyes　grew　accustomed　to　the　place；　though　not　much　beyond　the　blue…green　transparency　of　a　submarine　deep　from　first　to　last。　Then　too；　the　daylight　outside　was　fast　toning　down；　losing　its　contrasting　vividness。
　　They　sat　for　a　moment　or　two。　〃We'll　be　locked　out；〃　Marta　mourned。　〃We'll　have　had　the　whole　trip　out　for　nothing。〃　She　shifted　her　head　and　shoulders　outward　along　her　seat　to　scan　the　seemingly　lifeless　rear　of　the　establishment。　She　shattered　the　silence　with　an　explosive　double　smack　of　her　cupped　hands。　〃Muchacho！　We're　in　a　hurry！〃　she　called　imperatively。
　　The　waiter　returned　at　a　trudging　walk；　his　excuse　for　not　hurrying　any　faster　the　brimming　cup　of　strongly　aromatic　tea　and　glass　of　lemonade　he　bore　on　the　tray。
　　Marta　ducked　her　chin　to　the　cup；　smacked　her　lips　expressively　as　she　raised　it　again。　Conchita；　who　was　sitting　facing　the　thoroughfare　outside；　kept　scanning　it；　more　as　though　she　were　on　the　lookout　for　something　to　e　along　and　catch　her　eye　than　because　something　had。　Suddenly　she　gave　a　little　sob　of　suppressed　laughter；　flexed　one　finger　toward　the　outer　panorama。
　　〃You　should　have　seen　that！　The　funniest…looking　man　just　went　by。　I　wonder　what　he　was。〃
　　Marta；　who　was　sitting　back　to　the　road；　laboriously　swiveled　herself　around　and　tried　to　peer　out　past　the　edge　of　the　booth　partition　behind　her。
　　She　turned　back　in　a　moment；　shrugged。　〃I　don't　see　anyone。〃
　　A　little　ripple　was　going　around　in　her　cup。
　　〃You　missed　him。　He's　gone　past　now。〃
　　Marta　said；　〃You　do　look　pale；　nina。〃
　　Conchita　did　look　pale。　She　wasn't　used　to　acts　of　overt　treachery　against　members　of　her　own　household。　Against　anyone；　for　that　matter。
　　Another　minute　or　two　went　by。　Marta　put　down　her　drained　cup。
　　〃e　pequena；　we　must　go。〃
　　〃Just　let's　sit　a　minute　longer。　It's　so　nice　here。　I　haven't　quite　finished　my　lemonade　yet。〃
　　〃The　sun　is　almost　all　gone。　It'll　be　dark　before　we　know　it。　We　can't　go　in　there　in　the　dark。〃
　　〃You　look　tired；　Marta。〃
　　As　though　she　had　only　realized　it　now　that　the　thought　had　been　suggested　to　her；　Marta　admitted：　〃I　am　tired。　I　went　'to　six…o'clock　Mass　this　morning。〃　She　sighed　self…indulgently。　〃When　one　gets　to　be　my　age…〃
　　〃Put　your　head　back　a　minute　against　the　leather　padding；〃　the　girl　suggested。
　　〃It　wouldn't　look　right；　out　in　public　like　this。〃
　　〃There's　no　one　but　us　here　to　see。〃
　　The　old　woman's　head　went　back　almost　of　its　own　accord；　she　closed　her　eyes　gratefully；　and　gave　a　deep　sigh　of　relaxation。　Her　head　stayed　straight　for　a　minute；　erect　on　her　shoulders。　Then　it　slanted　over　until　it　had　found　the　angle　between　the　two　walls　of　the　partment；　remained　leaning　against　it；　supported　by　one　of　them。　Her　breathing　started　to　bee　more　gritty。　Her　lips　parted　pany　slightly；　just　in　the　middle。
　　The　girl　sat　quietly　on　opposite　her　a　moment　longer。　Then　she　shifted　outward　along　the　seat　until　the　impediment　of　the　table　had　ended；　stood　up；　never　taking　her　eyes　off　her　deputy　guardian's　face。　The　heavy　jowls　were　shaking　a　little　now；　with　each　breath。
　　She　reached　cautiously　downward　for　the　mass　of　flowers　beside　Marta；　scooped　them　up　in　the　crook　of　one　arm；　careful　to　keep　them　from　rustling　too　flagrantly。　She　got　them　all　but　one；　a　long…stemmed　white　rose　which　escaped　her。　She　let　that　remain　where　it　was。　To　have　tried　to　retrieve　it　might　have　cost　her　all　the　others。
　　She　picked　her　way　through　the　shoal　of　spool…topped　tables；　moving　like　a　black…garbed　wraith　against　the　dying　brightness　of　the　day　outside。　When　she　had　gained　the　lateral　aisle　of　clearance　that　led　to　the　front　and　out；　she　motioned　the　waiter　toward　her　before　proceeding　along　it；　at　the　same　time　cautioning　him　with　finger　to　lips。
　　〃　Si；　seсorita？　〃
　　〃My　nodriza's　very　tired；　pobrecita。　I'm　going　to　leave　her　here　for　a　few　minutes。　Don't　wake　her　up；　please；　until　I　get　back。　I'm　just　going　across　the　street。　I'll　be　back　for　her　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃
　　〃Just　as　the　seсorita　orders　it；〃　he　murmured　respectfully。　A　refined　young　girl　in　mourning　from　head　to　foot；　an　armful　of　flowers　obviously　destined　for　a　grave…who　could　think　anything　amiss？
　　She　moved　decorously　enough　until　she　had　gained　the　terrace　outside　and　the　street　beyond　that。　Then；　because　the