Along came Gregory
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That was the month of May, with a week or so to spare. The weather continued beautifully and the seas were calm. We had heard from both Cinmar and Kirtimuh on this coast that they were coming up for our next sailing date but we couldn’t wait for them: it would be too long before another opportunity presented itself.
I wished, however, that I had been able to spend a little more time ashore in Cinmar; if not for anything else than because my father’s house was there and I could have visited him once again.
But even though I did not enjoy going back, as well as being a bit awkward since I knew nothing about their customs, at least one advantage existed: it gave me an excuse to spend some time looking for Malichan.
But where should I begin? And how many times must I ask people who might know something without finding out what he had told them before they start calling him “a stranger,” which is the worst insult among the Beldenians?
On top of this problem, not only did most of those I asked not speak any Portuguese but also very few spoke much English. At last, in an attempt to get some information, I went to pay a visit to Captain Paniez, since his ship had passed by.
He explained that Malichan had gone off somewhere alone in order to relieve himself after eating (for I had pointed out that when you eat alone at sea, particularly with vegetables, you often need to do so).
To make sure of catching up with him, he went on deck and took note of all ships until he saw a big white cloud ahead; then he stopped dead in his tracks: for a minute he looked around him like someone who has suddenly woken up and whose eyes are still adjusting.
When he finally noticed me standing there, he made the sign of the cross and then whispered that he would call me right away. Afterward, during the trip downriver, I went over this incident in detail several times to try to understand why he had done it.
In my opinion, it was quite simple: either because he thought I had recognized him or simply for the sake of appearances; but if that were so, he ought to have asked me the reason. But perhaps it meant something else?
His behavior suggested rather strongly that he didn’t want anyone to see him talking to me. Therefore I began to suspect the existence of a secret. And whatever that secret might be, it wouldn’t be mine.
I left Manaus in a state of uncertainty, trying not to think of Malichan and what he could possibly have said. The new sailing date arrived and after three days I came across the two ships that would take us back to Paraty.
During these same three days, during my visits along the shore, I made inquiries concerning Malichan and learned that no one seemed to have seen him anywhere along the coast. I almost suspected him of having hidden, for it would not surprise me if he wanted to leave the country now and reach Nipe as quickly as possible.
My arrival coincided with the departure of my father’s party and, after greeting him, I asked him if he had news of Malichan. For a while he tried to deny knowing anything; but then, when I told him of the visits I had paid in various places, he confessed he was convinced he had seen him close to his house in the evening.
Finally, seeing that I wasn’t joking and really believed he was missing, he gave me detailed directions on the way to Cinmar.
He assured me that in case he hadn’t been able to find him, we would continue looking for him in the village of São Pedro do Sul—but I doubted that this latter place was as important as Cinmar and I already felt certain that Malichan was hiding there.
Having verified my suspicions, I told him my plan, hoping that he would accept to come with me to search. Since he had never set foot outside his own region, he found the idea strange. Nevertheless, when he realized what I was suggesting, he told me firmly that he would accompany me provided I give him sufficient instructions beforehand so that he would be able to follow them in the forest.
So I called on Joaquin—the doctor’s assistant whom I had met once at my father’s—and asked him to go and tell Malichan that I had come and would like to look for him. Joaquin was the kind of person who would prefer not to say no if he can help it and, moreover, it was very unlikely that Malichan would refuse such an offer.
So with the help of a servant of mine who knew the road better than I, we proceeded toward Cinmar. Along the way, I discussed with Malichan the means of approaching Cinmar from the woods.
There were three paths leading to the outskirts of town: one ran directly through the main street of the villages, which led to a square near the cathedral; another entered from the side, under the shade of a wooded area; while the third was blocked by dense vegetation, behind which was a wall and gate.
It turned out that I was bound to find him somewhere on this last path. I started there, but first I was obliged to pass a group of men standing talking together, who didn’t seem to know each other and whose conversation wasn’t making much sense to me.
When I came closer, I realized that they were discussing the land in general, as well as current events and future plans. All of a sudden one of the men asked me for my name; upon learning that I was Joaquim, he told me that he knew me, introduced himself as Luiz Amorim, and explained that he lived at the edge of the forest.
I answered that I also resided nearby and, as he asked about my business in Cinmar, I told him that I was looking for someone.
He laughed and replied that there was nothing more to seek on those lands because everyone had already fled for fear of the troops. Suddenly I saw Malichan walking rapidly out of the crowd and hurrying toward me. He told me how good it was to see me again.
I explained that I’d found the village deserted and that all inhabitants had either fled or taken refuge in the interior of the state. “I’m glad,” he said, “that you’ve come to find me because the military police were keeping watch over everything.”
I inquired whether he knew the place where we had to search, but his answer confirmed my fears. “The only place is the fortresses; nobody will let anyone enter except for soldiers, and if you are caught inside, they’ll kill you!”
At that moment, the man whom I had just questioned saw us talking and came up to ask what was going on. At first, I didn’t recognize him at all, since his beard had grown long and thick. Then, recognizing his eyes and voice, I remembered him as Joao Fonseca—the fellow who had sold us the rope with which we had tied our hammock at the time when I was detained in the prison. My surprise was complete when I learned he was the son of Colonel José Fonseca!
Not only that; he had inherited the same ability to guess people’s secrets that his father had since he recognized me right away and asked me why I was seeking Malichan. I told him that I had come to look for him because he had disappeared and feared that he might have fallen into trouble.
The colonel’s son warned us of the danger of staying too long in the woods and suggested we stay the night at the inn his father managed and spend tomorrow searching the fortress.
“It seems your friend has done well,” remarked the boy with a smile, after having ascertained that none of us intended to leave town immediately. “He said that with every passing day, things became worse here.”
That evening, accompanied by the colonel’s son and some others, I went to pay the innkeeper a visit before retiring. We took refreshments, had dinner, then sat down in the parlor to talk. In view of the serious nature of the question I was investigating, I felt obliged to relate certain facts to them, about which they reacted with astonishment.
When I got to the part concerning the identity of the mysterious woman who had been seen talking to Mariel in front of the church, both the boy and one of the senior servants burst out laughing.
“You don’t mean to say,” said the lad, “that this strange woman could actually have the courage to speak to Mariel?” His companion joined in, remarking that I had said something quite unexpected.
“But how could she?” he asked with a surprised expression, “since nobody knows her? She must be an extraordinary personage indeed.” “Yes,” I agreed, “she is certainly very brave, although there is no need to tell everybody just yet since I haven’t discovered exactly what’s happened between them yet.” That settled it; they would continue their gossip until morning.
In the meantime, I spoke to the lad, whose name was Luis, telling him that we were anxious to learn the exact location of the fortress and of the girl in order to plan our approach. Fortunately, the innkeeper told us that there was a map of the area that he kept in his office, and I undertook to borrow it so that I could study it carefully later.
Before leaving, we asked the colonel’s son to help us locate the fortress and determine its position.
He promised to do so, adding that the next day he would start off alone and find out what sort of situation there was on the ground. Meanwhile, it being late and getting dark, he invited us to go straight to bed. In fact, none of us had any intention of doing otherwise since our spirits were so low that sleep seemed likely to prove impossible.
We talked until midnight, during which we learned from the host about the situation in the region. It appeared that many peasants had left their land under threat of punishment if they failed to accept new conditions imposed by the government.
However, the roads leading into the countryside were now closed to all traffic, and only soldiers were allowed to pass along them, and even these had strict orders not to allow anyone into the country.
These instructions were causing much annoyance among landowners, who insisted that the peasants should be permitted to travel unimpeded through their territory since the government’s action prevented them from using the road.
All they received in response was silence. No one knew where the governor or the army commander lived or what their exact status was. But everyone believed they were members of the same party and hoped that when the time came, they would make a gesture in favor of the ordinary people.
The colonel’s son was determined to discover more information the following day and set off at dawn for the town, taking with him two servants and several pieces of hunting gear, including rifles and guns. After asking us to remember to bring the map we had borrowed, he drove back into town for breakfast before mounting his horse again and starting for the village of Vermelho.
Meanwhile, we made ourselves comfortable in the rooms allotted to us, consisting of three small chambers adjoining a spacious central room. As soon as I had unpacked my belongings and locked the door, I went to inspect the chamber assigned to Luz and Maria, who were happy to see me.
To judge by the way they responded, I felt sure they would take it amiss if I told them about the man named Malichan. Instead, I gave them the impression that they were friends of mine who had returned from a pleasant trip outside the city. Indeed, their behavior suggested that they already understood exactly what I had in mind.
My questions put them on guard, but nevertheless, they did nothing to discourage my inquisitiveness. However, neither of them said anything more than necessary, while Luz remained unusually reticent throughout dinner. He could hardly refrain from asking me why I didn’t eat with them and, seeing that I still refused to answer, finally asked in such a friendly tone of voice that I answered readily enough.
By that evening, however, he was once again reserved, and even though I tried to draw him out, he did not give in. Later, when he noticed that I had begun to read a book, he asked me what it was called.
Knowing well that it wouldn’t please him to know that I had come back with a woman, I replied innocently, “The History of the Algarve,” to which he expressed great surprise and interest. I explained that it was written by someone named Ruy Lopes da Silves, whom I’d never met personally but who was well known in Lisbon. Then I added:
“Luz, you can ask me as many questions as you like, although perhaps some are better left unanswered. I have no fear of dying, but your mother may suffer terribly because of this meeting.”
He listened to my explanation without showing any concern or curiosity, and then I took advantage of the opportunity presented to me to tell him something of how things stood between us and other matters that might interest him.
When I finished speaking, he looked at me intently for several minutes and then turned toward Maria, saying: “I am very pleased to make the acquaintance of an intelligent young lady like yourself. Tell me, child, do you understand Portuguese?”
She shook her head slowly.
“Very well, then,” he went on, “let’s see how far our common language will carry us. Your father told me that you are engaged to Malichan, is that right? What can you say about him? Does he look after you properly? Do you think him a good man?”
Maria did not reply immediately, but instead, she became unusually agitated and fidgety. Her face brightened visibly and suddenly she replied in a shrill voice. “Mama, what is he talking about? Why does he keep staring at me? I don’t understand!”
“It’s all right, Maria,” I said reassuringly. “Don’t worry—you’ll understand later on.”
“That’s right, Mother,” Maria exclaimed. “Perhaps he means that he wishes to kiss us!”
Her words were so unexpected that Luz frowned slightly and, after another glance at me, said: “Well, I’m going to try it anyway!” And when I started to protest, he laughed aloud and continued:
“Is there something wrong with a simple kiss on the lips? Isn’t it true that every normal person does that with his beloved? You know I love you both very much, don’t you? Of course, you must recognize that. In fact, I loved you the moment I saw you
” He paused, watching carefully for reaction, before adding: “But I never dared to speak of this to anyone. No one ever suspected it.
The End