Chapter 6 chapter Five

Many times in the long history of mankind it has been shown that talent is the legitimate daughter of need. In this way, the general returned to Turbaco again and lived in the same house.The rooms in this house are dark, with crescent-shaped arches, and French windows the size of a human body look out onto a gravel square, and the house has a courtyard leading to the monastery.In this courtyard he had seen the ghost of Antonio Caballero Gongora, the Church of the Archbishop and Governor of New Granada, who walked under the orange trees on moonlit nights to relieve himself of the many Guilt for faults and unpayable debts.Contrary to the usually hot and humid climate of the coast, Turbaco has a cool and healthy climate due to its high altitude.A large laurel tree with deep roots and lush leaves grows beside the small river, and soldiers often like to lie there and take a nap.

They had arrived in Turbaco from Nueva Barranca two days earlier, the last leg of their long-awaited water journey.They had to make do with sleeping in huts with reed and mud walls filled with sacks of rice and raw hides, because the local area had neither prepared rooms for them nor the mules they had ordered.The general's sweat soaked his clothes, his body ached, and he felt sleepy as soon as he arrived in Turbaco.But there is no trouble. The news of the general's arrival had already spread to Cartagena, which is only over 30 kilometers away, before the unloading of the ship was finished.General Mariano Montilla, commander of the garrison and governor of local financial affairs, has completed preparations for the public welcome meeting for the second day in Cartagena.But the general was reluctant to join in the festivities prematurely.To those who waited for him on the boulevard in the nasty drizzle, he simply greeted them warmly as if they were old friends.Then frankly ask them to leave and leave him alone.

In fact, his mood was much worse than it appeared on the surface, but he tried his best to hide it.Even his entourage noticed his deteriorating state of mind and his deteriorating health.He has been powerless, involuntary.The skin turned from light green to waxy yellow.He had been running a fever, and his headaches were always tormenting him.The pastor offered to get a doctor for him, but he was vehemently opposed: "If I had done what the doctors said, I would have been buried for years." He had planned to go to Cartagah the day after arriving in Turbaco But in the morning he got word that there was no ship in port for Europe, and that the last steamer had not brought him a passport.In this way, he decided to stay and rest for three days.His aides welcomed the decision, not only because it was good for the general's health, but also because the whispered news about the situation in Venezuela was not expected to have a good effect on his spirit.

But the general could not prevent the townspeople from continuing to set off firecrackers until they had finished, nor could a wind band set up camp near him and play until late at night.People also brought him a burlesque troupe composed of black men and women from the neighboring Maria Baja swamp, all dressed in the costumes of European court servants in the sixteenth century, playfully performing Spanish saloon dances with African art .During the last interview with the general, he watched the troupe's program and liked it very much. He asked Lai to perform several times, so he invited him again this time, but now he dismisses it. "Keep this rowdy crowd away," he said.

Caballero-Gongola, the governor, built the house and lived there for about three years, but the general attributed his disorientation and delirium to hauntings in the various rooms.The general didn't want to go to the room he stayed in last time, because in his memory, it was a room full of nightmares. Every night after he fell asleep, he dreamed of a woman with shiny hair tied around his neck. A red ribbon, until he woke him up.He repeated the nightmare again and again until dawn.So, this time he had a hammock hung from the hoop in the hall, and slept for a while without dreaming.The rain was pouring down, and a group of children stood under the window facing the street, leaning their heads to watch him sleep, and one of them whispered, "It's Bolivar, Bolivar." Looking for the child, the child asked him: "Do you like me?"

The general answered him in the affirmative with a trembling smile, but then ordered the hens who had been feeding around to be driven away, the children to stand down, and the windows shut.He fell asleep again.When he woke up again, it was still raining, and Jose Palacios was setting up a mosquito net in his hammock. "I dreamed that a street kid was leaning in the window and asking me strange questions." the general said to him. The general promised a glass of decoction, the first he had taken in twenty-four hours, but he did not finish it, and he lay in his hammock again, feeling weak all over.He was lost in thought for a long time, his eyes fixed on a row of bats hanging from the beams of the house.Finally, he sighed and said, "It looks like we're going to beg for food and walk into the grave."

Along the way, the old officers and ordinary soldiers he met told the general about their misfortunes. After hearing this, the general generously donated his money immediately. After arriving in Turbaco, he only had a quarter of his traveling expenses left.He would also see if there was any ready money in the limited coffers of the provincial government to pay his bills of exchange, or at least to deal with the speculators.If he intends to settle in Europe immediately, Britain can provide convenience for free, because he has brought many benefits to Britain. "The English are mine," he used to say.In order to maintain a dignified life as in the past and keep his minimum servants and entourage, he has always cherished the fantasy of selling the Arova copper mine.Having said that, if he really wants to go immediately, his and his entourage's tickets and the expenses on the way are urgent problems to be solved immediately, but the little money he has left can't imagine doing such a thing .What he needed most at this moment was to stop dreaming, but he couldn't.Although his eyes were no longer functioning due to fever and headache, and he saw bats where there were no bats, he still managed to get rid of the drowsiness that affected his senses, and dictated three letters to Fernando in one breath.

The first letter was addressed to Marshal Sucre, who thanked him heartily for his farewell.In this letter, he did not say a word about his illness.Although he should have talked about his illness under circumstances like that afternoon, and he also needed sympathy from others.The two letters were addressed to Don Juan de Dios Amador, Governor of Cartagena. He repeatedly demanded that Mr. Amador order the Provincial Treasury to pay him a money order of 8,000 pesos. "I'm terribly poor. I need this money to go abroad," he told him.The request was valid, and within four days he received a yes answer, and Fernando went to Cartagena to withdraw the money.The third letter was addressed to the Colombian ambassador in London, the poet José Fernandez Madrid.He asked him to pay a sum which he had wired to Robert Wilson and a sum to repay Jose Lancaster, the English technician.He owed the latter 20,000 pesos for setting up his novel mutual education system in Caracas. "It's about my reputation," he told him.He believed that by then, his old lawsuit would have been settled and the copper mine would have been sold.However, his efforts were fruitless, and when the letter reached London, Minister Fernández Madrid was dead.

Jose Palacios quietly signaled to the officers not to make a row while they were playing cards in the interior corridor, but they continued to quarrel, only less loudly, until the bells of the nearby church struck eleven. At 1:00, they stopped for a while.Later, the bagpipes and drums of the public entertainment died down, the distant sea breeze swept away the dark clouds that had accumulated after the heavy rain in the afternoon, and the moonlight melted in the yard full of citrus trees. Jose Palacios took good care of the general.After dusk the General kept burning and talking nonsense in his hammock.Jose Palacios prepared him the usual decoctions and gave him an enema, and waited for someone more authoritative to advise the general to call a doctor, but no one did.Until dawn, the general only slept for an hour in a daze.

On that day, General Mariano Montilla took his friends in Cartagena to visit the general.Among these friends were the three Juans of the Bolivarian faction known to everyone, namely, Juan García del Río, Juan de Francisco Martin and Juan de Dios Amador .All three were stunned by the man struggling in the hammock trying to get up.The general didn't even have the strength to hug everyone one by one.Visitors who had seen the General at the Admiral Rable Congress - for which he was a delegate - could hardly believe how weak he had been in such a short period of time .His bones were clearly visible through the skin, and his eyes could not be focused.He probably realized that the breath he exhaled was hot and smelly, so he always kept a certain distance from the other party when he spoke, and almost turned his face away.However, what impressed the guests the most was that his body shrank obviously. Even when General Montilla hugged him, he seemed to feel that his head only reached his waist.

He weighed only 88 pounds, and by the time he died, he was sure to lose another 10 pounds.His official height was 165 meters, but the height on his medical card did not match that recorded on his military card.Someday he will be four centimeters shorter on the dissecting table.His feet had grown to the size of palms on his body, and they seemed to have shrunk too.Jose Palacios has found that his trousers can almost come up to his chest, while his shirt has to be rolled up at the cuffs.The general, noticing the apprehensive stares of his visitors, had to admit that the size 35 French boots he had been wearing since January had grown too large.General Montilla was known for his tact and brilliance even in the most difficult of situations.But at this time, he finally had to say sadly: "Your Excellency, the most important thing is that you don't shrink down mentally." As usual, General Montilla burst out laughing himself after the wisecrack, and the General returned the old friend with a small smile before turning away.The weather had improved and it was comfortable to talk outside, but the general still preferred to receive guests in a hammock in the hall where he stayed. The topic of the conversation was still the national situation.The Bolivarians in Cartagena refused to recognize the new constitution and newly elected rulers, citing intolerable pressure on parliament by pro-Santander students.On the contrary, the soldiers loyal to the general followed his order and took a stand-by attitude. The rural priests who supported the general had no chance to mobilize. , almost launched an uprising, and is still on the verge of death.The General asks General Montilla to summon Carmona for him so that they can be appeased.Then, looking straight in the eye, he gave a candid summary of the new government in front of everyone: "Mosquera is a douchebag, Caicedo is a pushover, and both are intimidated by the children of San Bartolomé." Desperate." According to the Caribbean lingo, he meant that the president is very weak, and the vice president is an opportunist who can change the belief of the political party at will.The General also said, in the poignant and complex tone of a period of disappointment, that each of them could be a brother to the Archbishop.On the contrary, he felt that the new constitution was better than expected, because at this time in history, the danger was not the defeat of the elections, but the civil war provoked by Santander through a letter from Paris.The newly elected president has issued various appeals in Pobayan, calling on people to observe order and maintain unity, but he has not yet stated whether he will accept the presidency. "He is expecting Caicedo to do something shady," said the general. "Mosquera is probably in Santa Fe," said Montilla. "He left Pobayan on Monday." The general didn't know about it, but he wasn't surprised. "Just wait and see, when he has to do something, he's going to be like a pissed-off ball," he said. "This guy isn't even qualified to be a janitor in the government." A look of deep sadness. "It's a pity," he said, "the real great Sucre." "He is the most qualified general." De Francisco said, and smiled. Although the general tried everything to keep his words from getting out, word spread like wildfire and spread throughout the country. "It's the genius of Urdaneta," Montilla joked. The general didn't pay attention to other people's interruptions, but in a more joking tone than seriousness, he planned to learn about the inside story of local politics.However, Montilla suddenly said with the seriousness he had just diluted: "Please forgive me, Your Excellency, you know better than anyone else my admiration for Marshal Sucre, but he is not the real great man." Then, he said An actor-like gesture emphatically ends his words: "The real great is you." The general cut him off emphatically: "I no longer exist." He went on to tell how his request to Marshal Sucre to accept the presidency of Colombia was rejected.He is fully capable of saving us from anarchy," he said, "but he was mesmerized by the singing of the mermaids." Doesn't have the talent to hold power. But the general doesn't see any insurmountable obstacles to his presidency. "Many times in the long history of mankind, talent has been shown to be the legitimate daughter of need. ’ he said. In any case, it was a belated nostalgia and nostalgia, for the general knew as well as anyone else that the most capable generals of the Republic at that time belonged to other armies than to his fleeting one. . "Great talent lies in the power of love," said the general, before adding the quip: "Sukret himself said it." While the general was recalling Marshal Sucre in Turbaco, the generalissimo left Santa Fe and embarked on a journey to Quito.He was dejected and alone, yet he was in the prime of youth, in strength, in the prime of his glory.On the eve of leaving Santa Fe, the last thing he did was to quietly visit a famous witch who lived in the Egyptian Quarter and who had advised him many times during his war career.This time the witch saw from the witch card that even in that stormy period, the smoothest way for the Marshal to go to Quito was still by sea.But the Generalissimo of Ayacucho was in a hurry and felt that the sea route was too slow, so he disregarded the witch's solemn judgment and was willing to take the risk of taking the dry road. "Then we'll have nothing to do," said the General. "We're a terrible mess, and our best government is our worst government." He knows his local supporters.In the War of Liberation, they were all famous and outstanding pioneers.But when it comes to trivial political issues, they play tricks and pursue fame and fortune with the cunning of small businessmen.He even formed an alliance with Montilla against him.As with many others.He never rested until he confused them.So he asked them to support the current government, even at the expense of his personal interests, like every time.There was something prophetic about his reasons.The government, which he is now asking people to support, calls Santander back.Santander would return with honor and sweep away the general's remaining dreams.That is to say, the unified motherland established by his many years of fighting and great sacrifices will be disintegrated and destroyed, and all political parties will be torn apart. in people's memory.But, at that moment, all this was of no concern to him, as long as at least one new bloodshed could be avoided. "Uprisings are like the waves of the sea, and one wave always replaces another." He said, "So I never like to do such things." Faced with the astonishment of the visitors, he finally said, "When things come to an end How far, these days I even mourn our acts of righteousness against Spain." General Montilla and his friends felt that it was the end of everything.Before saying goodbye, they accepted a gold medal with his likeness from him.They can't help thinking.That was his last gift.As they made their way to the door, García del Río said in a low voice, "His face is as ugly as a dead man's." These words were echoed over and over again in the room, haunting the general all night long. But General Francisco Carmona was astonished the next day to see him in such high spirits.He saw him sitting in the citrus-scented yard on the hammock that the residents of a nearby town called San Jacinto had made for him and had his name embroidered on it with silk thread.Jose Palacios hung it among the orange trees.The general just got out of the shower.His hair was brushed back, and he wore a blue woolen uniform and a shirt, and he looked innocent.Rocking slowly in his hammock, he dictated to his nephew Fernando angrily a letter addressed to President Caicedo. General Carmona felt that he was not dying as others said, perhaps because Because he was in the midst of his famous rage. Wherever he was, Carmona was such a conspicuous figure that it was impossible not to attract the attention of those around him; but the general, who glanced at him, seemed to see nothing, and went on dictating his condemnation, A perfidious word from a detractor.It wasn't until he was about to finish dictating the letter that he turned to the person standing in front of his hammock who was looking at him without blinking, and asked without even saying hello, "Do you think I'm starting something too?" A rebellion? General Carmona also asked a little rudely because of the cold reception: "Where did you deduce this, my general?" "That's where it's supposed to come from," he said. He handed General Carmona some newspaper clippings he had just received from the postman in Santa Fe.Press clippings accused him of yet another secret grenadier rebellion against a parliamentary decision that would bring him back to power. "A shameless lie," he said, "that I am here to advocate solidarity and these fools accuse me of being a conspiracy." General Carmona was disappointed when he read the clippings. "I turned out not only to be convinced that you were organizing an insurrection, but to be very happy about it." He said. "I can imagine that," said the general. He did not show displeasure on his face, but asked General Carmona to wait until he had finished dictating the letter.In this letter, he again asked for formal permission to go abroad.Just like when he was furious when he read the newspaper clippings just now, after dictating the letter, he immediately regained his composure.Unsupported, he got out of the hammock and took General Carmona by the arm to take him for a walk by the pond. After three consecutive days of rain, the sun shines like gold powder through the gaps in the dense branches and leaves of the orange trees, and the little birds chirp happily among the orange blossoms.The general gazed at the birds for a moment, deeply moved, and almost said with emotion: "Fortunately, they are still singing." Then he explained to General Carmona why the Antilles Birds sing more beautifully in April than in June.Then, he turned to the topic.In less than ten minutes he had persuaded General Carmona to respect the authority of the new government unconditionally.After speaking, he sent the general to the door, and went back to the bedroom to write a letter to Manuela Saenz himself.She still complains that the government puts up barriers preventing her from communicating with him. At lunch, the general ate only a plate of green polenta that Fernanda Barriga had brought to his bedroom.He was still writing letters at the time.While taking a nap, he asked Fernando to read him a book on Chinese botany that he had started the night before.Later, when Jose Palacios came to the bedroom to bring oregano water for the hot bath, he saw Fernando falling asleep in a chair with the books spread across his lap.The general was still asleep in the hammock, and he put his index finger to his lips to silence Jose Palacios.It was the first time in two weeks that he was fever-free. In this way, as the letters came and went, time passed quietly, and the general stayed in Turbaco for 29 days.He's been to Turbaco twice, but in fact he really saw the healing power of the local weather on his second visit three years ago.He was returning to Santa Fe from Caracas to prevent Santander's secessionist plan.He had planned to stay here for two nights, but seeing how the town's climate suited him, he stayed ten days before leaving.In those days, there were daily celebrations commemorating the independence of the Americas.There was a lively bullfight at the end, but with young bulls instead of the big, brash bulls.The general had always hated bullfighting, but this time he went off to fight a young bull himself. As a result, the young bull took the cloak off his hand, and the people in the audience screamed in fright.Now for his third visit to Turbaco, his sad fate is sealed.As the days passed, things became clearer, which annoyed him a lot.There is no end to the bitter wind and rain.For him, the continuation of life was nothing more than waiting for the news of a new setback.One night, when he wasn't sleepy and his mind was clear, Jose Palacios heard him exclaim from his hammock, "God knows where Sucre is!" General Montilla came twice more and found him much better than he had been the first time.He even felt that the general had regained his old vigor, especially from his promise to Cartagena to vote for the constitution and to recognize the new government, which he had made at the last meeting.This is even more so in terms of repeatedly expressing dissatisfaction to him.General Montilla had no choice but to improvise the reason that they were waiting for news, and first of all they wanted to know whether Joaquin Mosquera had accepted the presidency. "It would be better if things were done ahead of time," said the general. When Montilla came to see him again, the general urged him to do so more firmly.He had known Montilla since he was a child, and he knew that when he said that others disagreed, he was actually resisting.The general and Montilla not only had class and professional friendship, but also shared joys and sorrows all their lives.For a time their relations grew cold, even to the point of ignorance, because Montilla, at one of the most dangerous moments of the campaign against Morillo, had left the general alone at Mompos.The general accused him of being a demoralizer and the culprit of all disasters.Montilla reacted so violently that he offered to fight him.But despite this personal vendetta, he stayed on to serve in the Revolutionary War. Montilla had studied mathematics and philosophy at the Madrid Military School.Before the news of Venezuela's liberation reached his ears, he had been an attendant to King Don Fernando VII.He had actively conspired in Mexico and skillfully smuggled large quantities of weapons in Curacao. After being wounded in battle at the age of 17, he continued to fight with great bravery. In 1821 he drove out all the Spaniards from Riohacha to the coast of Panama.He defeated a much larger and better equipped army than he, and took Cartagena.At that time, he took the initiative to ask for a reconciliation with the general in a high profile.He sent the general a golden key to the city of Cartagena.In return, the general promoted him to brigade commander.And ordered him to be in charge of the coastal region government.He was not a popular ruler, though he often tempered his excesses with humor.He owns the most luxurious residence in the city of Cartagena.His "Living Water" estate is one of the most envied estates in the province.People wrote signs on the walls asking him where he got the money to buy such a house and land.But after eight difficult and lonely years in power, he remained in that position, and Ju became a cunning, irresistible statesman. Every time the general made a request, Montilla refused with various reasons.Still, for once Montilla spoke the truth: Cartagena's Bolivarians were determined not to pledge allegiance to a compromise constitution or to recognize a weak and incompetent government that It is not based on the unity of everyone's thinking, but on the basis of differences.This is a typical local political government. Differences in this type of government have led to great tragedies in history many times. "If your lordship, the greatest of liberals, leaves us at the mercy of those who rob it of its name and its rights in order to destroy its cause, then Boli of Cartagena The actions of the Val factions are not unreasonable." Montilla said.Thus, the only solution was for the general to remain at home, in order to prevent the division of the country. "Well, if that's the case, tell Carmona to do it again, and we'll persuade him to rebel," retorted the general with his characteristic sarcasm. "It's less bloody than the civil war the people of Cartagena have recklessly lined up." However, before sending Montilla off, he had calmed down.He asked that the chiefs of his supporters be sent to Turbaco so that differences could be discussed and resolved.While he was waiting for these men to arrive, General Carreno brought him a rumor that Joaquin Mosquera had taken over the presidency.Hearing this, the general patted the forehead. "Bullshit dick!" he yelled. "Even if you kill me alive, I don't believe it!" That afternoon, General Montilla braved the pouring rain to go outside to inquire in order to confirm the news.At that time, not only was it raining heavily, but there was also a strong wind. Big trees were uprooted, half of the town was destroyed, every family's corral was destroyed, and drowned livestock were washed away.But the rain also offset the impact of that bad news.The efforts of those attendants, who were impatient with the emptiness of life, avoided the worse disasters that the rain might have caused.Montilla put on a military raincoat and personally directed the rescue work.The general was wrapped in a sleeping blanket and sat on the rocking chair in front of the window, with a pensive expression in his eyes. While breathing calmly, he watched the turbid torrent throw away the broken bricks, rotten tiles, debris and waste amidst the whistling wind and rain. Washed away scene.He had been used to the violent storms in the Caribbean since he was a child.Still, as the soldiers scrambled to clear the yard, he told Jose Palacios that he could never remember seeing a natural disaster of such magnitude.When the storm finally died down, Montilla walked into the hall splashing muddy water, his trousers wet to his knees.The general was still in deep thought, without moving a muscle. "Well, Montilla," he said, "that means Mosquera has become president, and Cartagena insists on not recognizing him." Montilla was not disturbed by the storm, he replied: "If your Excellency stays in Cartagena, then things will be much easier." "That would risk being said to me meddling. Honestly, I don't want to play a starring role in anything," he said. "And I'm not going to leave here until this is resolved." .” That night he wrote a conciliatory letter to General Moskra. "I was just surprised to learn that you accepted the presidency of the country. I'm happy for the country and I'm happy for myself," he told him, "but I'm sorry for you now and always will be. You are sorry." He added an ironic postscript at the end of the letter: "Because the passport has not arrived, I have not left yet. But as soon as the passport arrives, I will leave immediately." On Sunday, Daniel Florencio, the eminent man of the British Legion, General O'Leary rushed to Turbaco to join the general's entourage.He had been the general's bilingual aide-de-camp and clerk.General Montilla had accompanied him here from Cartagena with great joy, and the two had spent a pleasant afternoon among friends with the general under the orange trees.The general talked with him for a long time about the military affairs that O'Leary was performing, and then he changed the subject.He brought out his usual mantra again: "What are they talking about there?" "It's not true what they say about you going abroad," O'Leary said. "Aha," said the general, "how can you say that?" "Because Manuerieta stayed." The general retorted with astonishing candor: "But she stays every time!" Olia was a close friend of Manuela Saenz, and he knew the general was telling the truth.It is true that Manuela always stayed, but not because of her will, but because the general always found a reason to make her obey, in order to escape the shackles of proper love without difficulty. "I will never love another woman again," he once confessed to Jose Palacios, a secret of his own that he had never confided to anyone else. "Falling in love with a woman is equivalent to having two souls at the same time." Manuela has already made up her mind, even disregarding her own self-esteem. However, the more she wants the general to submit, the more the general will Want to get rid of her bondage.The general was always avoiding her.In Quito, after just two weeks of unrestrained love with her, he had to go to Guayaquil to meet General José San Martin, the liberator of the Rio de la Plata.And she asked herself, bewildered, what kind of lover is a man who leaves half-eaten a ready dinner and leaves to walk in a hurry?He promised to write to her wherever he went, and he swore to be faithful to her, saying that he loved her more than anyone else in the world.He did write her letters, sometimes in his own hand, but never sent them.During this period, he maintained a simultaneous love relationship with five inseparable women in the matriarchal society of the Galaykoa region.And he himself could never figure out which of them he chose: the 56-year-old grandmother or the 38-year-old daughter, or the three granddaughters in their prime.He left the women after his mission in Guayaquil was complete.Before leaving, it was natural to make another vow of eternal love, expressing his loyalty to their love and promising to come back soon.But as soon as he returned to Quito, he fell into the quicksand-like embrace of Manuela Saenz like glue. At the beginning of the second year, in the war to liberate Peru, he did not take Manuela with him.That war was a last-ditch effort to realize his ideals.Manuela waited for four months, and when the letter first arrived, she immediately boarded a ship for Lima.Some of those letters were written by the general himself, and some were written by the general's private secretary Juan Jose Santana according to the general's instructions.She found him in the mansion of pleasure at the country house at La Magdalena.At that time he enjoyed the supreme power entrusted to him by the Parliament, surrounded by beautiful and wanton women in the capital of the New Republic.There was such a foul atmosphere in the presidential palace that a colonel of the pikemen had to move in the middle of the night because the love-making moans from the bedrooms kept him awake.However, Manuela knows everything about the local area very well.She was born in Quito, the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy local landowner and a married man. At 18, she escaped from the windows of the convent where she was studying and eloped with an officer in the Spanish army.Nevertheless, two years later, she married James Thorne in Lima, wearing a mandarin flower symbolizing virginity.Thorne is a nice and likeable doctor twice her age.So when she returned to Peru to deliberately pursue the love of her life, she didn't need to ask anyone for advice to put down roots in that mess. O'Leary was the general's best second-in-command in these erotic wars.Manuela did not often live in the Villa Magdalena, but she could come and go through the gate whenever she wanted as a soldier.She is smart, smart, elegant and charming, and has a strong personality.Work is very capable, and can withstand any test.She had learned fluent English from her husband, and she spoke intelligible French.She could play the harpsichord like a novice nun.Her handwriting was illegible, her syntax obscure, and she nearly died laughing at the grotesque errors in her handwriting.将军为了让她呆在自己身边，任命她为档案保管员，这样他们可以随时随地寻欢作爱．尽管将军自己有一股象亚马逊地区动物似的欲火，但曼努埃拉每次都以自己的魅力征服了他，使他得到了满足。 虽然如此，当将军对仍处在西班牙人控制下的那片难以攻克的秘鲁土地发动进攻时，曼努埃拉没有能够使他把她作为参谋人员编进他的参谋部。在没有得到将军同意的情况下，她带着第一夫人的箱子、档案柜，以女奴般的殷勤和奉承，夹杂在哥伦比亚后卫部队中间追随着他。由于她懂当地语言，军人们都很尊敬她。她骑着一匹母骡子，在安第斯山令人头晕目眩的悬崖峭壁间走了1600 多公里。四个月中间，只跟将军睡了四个夜晚，其中一个夜晚还是以自杀来威胁将军而得到的。过了一段时向她才发现，当她赶不上将军的时候，他便在途中找个别的什么女人去寻欢作乐，逢场作戏地跟她们睡觉。其中有一个女人叫曼努埃利塔?马德罗尼奥，是个18 岁的野性十足的混血姑娘，她在将军失眠时不仅为他排忧解愁，而且给了他无限的欢乐。 自从将军从基多回来之后，曼努埃拉决定和他的丈夫分手。她说丈夫是一个平淡无味的英国人，他的爱情没有任何乐趣，说话也是干巴巴的，走路半死不活的样子，问候时点头哈腰，起坐时谨小慎微，甚至连自己说的笑话都笑不起来。但是将军还是说服了她，无论如何要维持那种婚姻关系，最后她听从了将军的话。 阿亚库乔战役胜利一个月之后，将军已成为半个世界的主人，此时他便去了秘鲁——也就是后来的玻利维亚共和国，这次离开时他非但没有带曼努埃拉，而且在临行前象处理国家大事那样向她提出他们应该彻底分手的建议。“我看没有什么理由可以使我们光明正大地呆在一起了，”他写信对她说：“将来你可以一个人生活，虽然你呆在你的丈夫身旁，而我将孤独一人浪迹天涯。只有这种天各一方的荣誉才能使我们得到安慰。”不到三个月，他收到了曼努埃拉的来信。她在信中告诉他，她将跟她的丈夫到伦敦去，当时将军正躺在勇敢的女军人费朗西斯卡?苏维亚加?德加马拉的床上，她是后来荣任共和国总统的一位元帅的妻子。将军得知曼努埃拉要走的这一消息后大吃一惊，当晚没有等到再跟那位情妇第二次作爱便立即给曼努埃拉写了回信。那与其说是信，不如说是一个作战命令：“您要说真话，您哪儿也不能去。”他在最后一句话上还加了着重号：“我对您的爱情忠贞不二。”曼努埃拉非常高兴地听从了他的话。 将军的梦想实现的那一天也就是开始破碎的那一天。他刚刚创建了玻利维亚和完成了秘鲁政府机构的改组，就不得不急急忙忙地赶回圣菲，因为派斯将军在委内瑞拉开始了分离活劝，桑坦德也在新格拉纳达玩弄政治阴谋。这一次曼努埃拉费了更多的口舌才说服将军允许她同往，但当他们终于生活在一起的时候，便开始了象吉卜赛人似的搬家。他们用12 头骡子驮着箱子，带着终生跟随他们的仆人，还有11 只猫，六条狗，三只懂得宫廷作爱艺术的长尾猴，一只训练得会穿针引线的熊和九笼会用三种语言信口开河地骂桑坦德的金刚鹦鹉。 曼努埃拉赶到圣菲时，在那个9 月25 日不祥的夜晚险些儿来不及挽救将军岌岌可危的生命。自他们相识起才过了五年，但是将军已变得是那样苍老和多疑，仿佛已经过去了50 年，曼努埃拉觉得他如同毫无目标地摸黑走路一样。没有多久，他又要到南方去制止秘鲁针对基多和瓜亚基尔的殖民主义野心，然而一切努力均属徒劳。那时，曼努埃拉留在了圣菲，她再也打不起精神跟他走了，因为她知道她那位一生逃亡的情夫再也无处可逃了。 奥利里在他的回忆录中说，将军从未象在图尔瓦科那个礼拜天的下午那样主动地回忆自己偷偷摸摸的爱情游戏。蒙蒂利亚认为那无疑是将军衰老的征候，后来他把这种见解写在了一封私人信件中。看到将军情绪很好又愿意吐露心中的秘密，蒙蒂利亚忍不住友善逗弄一下将军。“只有曼努埃拉一个人留下来吗？”他问将军。 “不，所有的情人都留下，”将军郑重其事地说，“但首先是曼努埃拉。” 蒙蒂利亚朝奥利里挤了挤眼，并对他说：“说实话，将军，您一共有多少情人呀？” 将军避开了具体数字。“比您想的要少得多。”他说。 晚上，在将军洗热水澡的时候，何塞?帕拉西奥斯打算把事情弄清楚，“据我的统计，是35 个，”他说，“当然，这还不算那些夜间随时飞来的小鸟。”何塞?帕拉西奥斯的数字和将军的估计是相符的，但是当着那些客人，他不想说出来。 “奥利里是个杰出的人物，是个出色的战士，也是个忠实的朋友，但他什么都做笔记。”他解释说，“没有比回忆录更危险的东西了。” 第二天，在一次从了解边界形势为目的的长时间的私人会见之后，他要求奥利里到卡塔赫纳去，表面上的差事是确定他乘船去欧洲的日期，而他的真正使命是为将军了解当地政治内幕的细节。奥利里一到，6 月12 日星期六那天卡塔赫纳议会便宣誓效忠新宪法．承认了新选的政府官员。蒙蒂利亚不仅把这一消息告诉了将军，还给他写了一封信说：“我们等着您。” 当蒙蒂利亚仍在等待将军到来的时候，忽然传来了将军去世的消息，把他吓得从床上蹦了下来。他没有来得及去证实这一消息的真假，便骑马朝图尔瓦科飞奔而去。可当他到达那儿的时候，却看到将军比任何时候都健康，而且正在和法国的雷格考特伯爵共进午餐。伯爵前来邀请将军跟他一起乘一条英国邮船赴欧，那条船将在下周抵达卡塔赫纳。那一天将军的气色非常好。他决心振作精神面对逆境，而谁也不能说他没有做到这一点。那一天他起得很早，然后在挤奶的时候去看了畜栏，接着又看了榴弹兵的宿营地。榴弹兵抱怨他们的生活条件不好，将军果断地下令改善他们的生活。回来的时候，他去商场的一家小饭店里喝咖啡。为了避免他离开后店主将杯子摔坏的侮辱，喝完咖啡后他带走了杯子。他正在回家去的时候，从学校出来的一群孩子在一个街角把他围住了，他们拍着巴掌唱道，“解放者万岁！解放者万岁！”将军被弄得十分尴尬，如果不是孩子们自动让开的话，他真不知道怎么办才好。 走进门后，他一眼便看到了雷格考特伯爵。伯爵没有通知便带着一个将军从未见过的最漂亮、最高雅、最傲慢的女人来了。那个女人身着骑马装，尽管实际上他们是乘驴拉敞篷马车来的。关于她的身份，她只说名叫卡米列，是马提尼克岛（17）人。伯爵没有补充任何材料，尽管在那一天可以清楚地看出他爱她简直到了发疯的地步。 卡米列的出现使将军又象昔日一般精神焕发起来。他盼咐立即准备丰盛午餐。尽管伯爵的西班牙语讲得无可挑剔，他们还是用法语交谈，因为那是卡米列的母语。当她告诉将军她生在三岛的时候，将军那无神的双目立刻闪出了光亮。“啊，”他说，“跟约瑟芬（18）出生在同一个地方。” 卡米列莞尔一笑。“求求您，阁下，我原本希望听到你有比别人更精辟的见解呢！” 这句话似乎使将军的感情受到了伤害，但是他并不示弱。他象背诵抒情诗似地回忆了约瑟芬的聪明才智，描述了法国皇后玛丽?约瑟芬的故居。他说那幢房子在附近20 公里之外，透过甘蔗田，凭着小鸟的欢闹和燕馏器散发出带有热气的味道便可找到。卡米列对将军如数家珍似地讲述那位美人的家世大为惊讶。 “说真话，我从未去过那儿，也没到过马提尼克岛的任何地方。” 将军说。 “这又有什么要紧？” “可是我多年以来都在潜心研究那儿的情况，”将军说，“因为我知道说不定什么时候，为了取得那些岛上最漂亮女人的欢心，我会用得着的。” 他滔滔不绝地讲着，虽然声音沙哑，然而却很有说服力。此时他穿着印花棉布裤子，丝绸上装，脚穿红色便鞋。弥漫于整个餐厅的香水味引起了卡米列的注意。将军向她承认这是他的一个弱点，甚至他的敌人也在指责他挥霍了8 万比索公款去购买香水。他仍然象前一天那样消瘦和憔悴，但他不时缓慢地移动着自己的身子，使人感到那简直是在残忍地折磨自己。 当只有男人们在一起的时候，将军才会象最能胡吹乱侃的盗与贼那样口若悬河地满嘴粗话，但一见到女人，他的举止、风度和语言甚至会文雅到矫揉造作的程度。他自己打开一瓶上等布尔戈尼亚红葡萄酒，尝了尝，进而喝了一杯。伯爵肉麻地把他那一连串的动作称作天鹅绒般的抚摸。正当他们喝咖啡的时候，伊图尔维德上尉走进来俯在将军耳边说了几句话。将军只是板着脸听着，然后在坐位上把身子往后一仰便开怀大笑起来。“喂，请你们听听，”他说“卡塔赫纳来了一个代表团出席我的葬礼。” 将军吩咐让代表团成员进来见面。蒙蒂利亚和他的陪同人员无奈，只好吩咐把戏继续演下去。副官们叫来了一些从前一天晚上就在当地演奏的风笛手，一些老年男女则为来宾们跳起了昆比亚舞。卡米列对这源于非洲的民间舞蹈惊叹不已，打算学会它。将军是有名的舞蹈能手，一些和他同过餐的人都记得，他上一次到图尔瓦科来时，他的昆比亚舞跳得象一位大师。但是，当卡米列邀他跳舞时，他却婉言拒绝了。“已经三年不跳了。”他笑容可掬地说。由于将军一再推辞，卡米列便一个人跳了起来。突然，在音乐间歇时，传来了欢呼声、震天动地的爆炸声和火器的鸣响声。卡米列不知究竟，吓得脸色煞白。 伯爵板着脸说：“天哪，又是一次革命！” “我们实在是太需要一场革命了。”将军笑笑说，“可惜，这只不过是一次斗鸡。” 将军几乎一口气喝完了咖啡，然后用手在空中作了个划圈动作，便邀请所有人去斗鸡场。 “蒙蒂利亚，咱们一块走，好让您知道我是否死了。” 就这样，下午两点钟，将军在以雷格考特伯爵为首的一大群人簇拥下去看斗鸡。由于这一次是众多男人在一起，谁都没有去注意将军，而是把目光投向卡米列。没有人能够相信那个令人眼花缭乱、心摇神荡的女人不是他无数情妇之一，尤其是出现在那个禁止女人进入的地方。当人们听说那个女人是跟伯爵在一起时，就更加相信他是将军的情妇了。众所共知，将军总是让别的男人陪他的情妇，以便混淆视听。 第二场斗鸡是凶残的，一只红公鸡用两只爪子准确无误地掏下了对手的眼睛，但失去双目的火鸡仍不屈服，继续跟它决战，直到把它的脑袋撕断，并且一口一口地将它啄食干净为止。 “我从未想到过有如此血淋淋的娱乐活动，”卡米列道，“但是我很喜欢。” 将军告诉卡米列，如果用淫荡的喊叫和对空鸣枪来为斗鸡加油，那场面就会更加残忍，更为壮观。但那天下午由于来了一个女人，而且姿色又是那么动人，斗鸡者们都感到拘谨。将军谄媚地朝卡米列看了一眼，并且对她说道：“就是说，这是您的过错。”卡米列高兴得笑了起来。 “应该说是您的过错，阁下，因为您统治了这个国家那么多年，却没有制定一条法律，强迫男人们在女人面前跟没有女人时表现一样。” 将军微露愠怒，“我请求您不要称我阁下，”他对她说，“按照正常的称呼我就够了。” 那天晚上，当侍候将军漂在浴缸里洗澡的时候，何塞?帕拉西奥斯对他说：“我们从未看到过如此动人的女人。”将军眼都没有睁开一下。 “她令人作呕。”他说。 据人们公认，将军去斗鸡场的行动是预先考虑好的，那是为了驳斥关于他病况的种种传闻。那些天己经到了关键的时刻，因为大家都相信他已离开人世。将军的举动取得了预期的效果，从卡塔赫纳出发的邮差把他健康伏况良好的消息带往四面八方，他的支持者们举行公众娱乐活动进行庆贺，那与其说是欢乐，不如说是咄咄逼人的挑战。 将军甚至骗过了他自己的身体，因为在以后的日子里，他仍然精神焕发，甚至又一次坐到了副官们玩牌的桌旁，为了打发百无聊赖的日子，他们没完没了地打牌。安德烈斯?伊瓦拉是副官中最年轻快活的小伙子，他依然保持着战争中的浪漫气派。那些天他写信给他基多的女友说：“我宁肯在你的怀抱里死去，也不愿过这种没有你的平静生活。”他们日以继夜地玩牌，有时握牌沉思，有时高声争吵，还要忍受着长脚蚊的侵扰。当时正直雨季，即使在大白天，也逃脱不了蚊子的叮咬，尽管勤务兵一直燃着马厩里的畜粪熏赶它们。自从在瓜杜阿斯度过那个不愉快的晚上之后，将军没有再玩牌。为了玩牌同威尔逊闹僵的尬尴场面给他留下了痛苦的回味，他企图从心灵中抹掉它。但是他经常听到威尔逊在吊床上的叫喊声，听到他吐露内心的秘密和在这种懒散的、逃避现实的和平中无限眷念战争的梦语。一天晚上，将军在屋中转来转去，情不自禁地在走廊里停下来。他朝着对面的人打了个手势，让他们不要说话，然后便绕到安德列斯?伊瓦拉身后，象猛禽捕食那样伸出两手按住了他的肩膀问道：“请告诉我一件事，表弟。你也认为我的脸象死人一样吗？” 伊瓦拉习惯于将军这种举动，他连转身看他一眼也役有，便说道：“我不这样着，我的将军。” “那您是瞎子，或者说是撒谎。”他说。 “或者因为我是背朝着您的。”伊瓦拉说。 将军对玩牌发生了兴趣，他坐下来，一直玩到最后。对所有人来说，似乎一切又恢复了正常，不仅那天晚上，以后的晚上也是如此。“在我们还没有拿到护照之前，我们只能这样将就着过下去。” 将军说。然而，何塞?帕拉西奥斯一再提醒他说，尽管有玩牌来排遣时间，尽管有他亲自关心，尽管他自己也生活在这种气氛里，可随从人员中的军官们对一无所获的往返已经厌倦到了极点。 没有谁比将军更关心军官们的命运、他们的日常琐事和他未来的命运了。但是当问题棘手到极点的时候，他便以自欺欺人的办法来解决。自从发生了同威尔逊之间不愉快的事儿以及沿河旅行中的种种事之后，他已经暂时忘掉了自己的痛苦，而去关心自己的军官，解决遇到的难题。威尔逊的行为是不可思议的，只有极度的失望才会引出他如此粗鲁的反应。“他跟他爸爸一样是个优秀军人，”将军在胡宁战争中看到他作战的情形时曾这样说道，“而且比他的爸爸更谦逊。”后来，在塔基战争之后，当苏克雷元帅要提升他为上校而却被他拒绝时，将军又补充了这句话。最后，将军强迫威尔逊接受了那个军衔。 不管在和平时期还是战争时期，将军为大家制订的制度不仅是一种铁的纪律，而且要求大家依靠自己的洞察力显示出对他的忠诚。他们都是军人，当然和兵营里的军人有所不同。他们一直过着戎马倥偬的生活，几乎从未有过休整的时间。他们中间有着各式各样的人，但是在独立战争中最接近将军的核心人物，他们都是在上层人物的子弟学校受过教育的美洲贵族精华。他们南征北战，远离家乡，远离妻子，远离儿女，远离一切，现实的需要使他们成了政治家，成了政府官员。除了伊图尔维德和欧洲副官们之外，他们都是委内瑞拉人，而且几乎都与将军有血缘关系或者有姻亲关系。费尔南多、何塞?劳伦西奥、伊瓦拉兄弟们、布里塞尼奥?门德斯都是如此。阶级关系和血缘关系使他们利言一致，将他们紧紧联在一起。 只有一个人例外，这便是何塞?劳伦西奥?席尔瓦。他是利亚诺省蒂纳克镇上一个接生婆和渔夫的儿子。由于这样的出身，他皮肤黝黑，属于黑白混血儿的下等阶层。但是将军让他的一个侄女费利西亚跟他结了婚。他18 岁那年自愿参加了解放者的队伍，此后一直追随将军，直至58 岁那年升为司令。他几乎参加了独立战争的所有战役，在52次军事行动中受了15次以上的重伤和无数次轻伤，而且是被各种不同的武器击伤的。他的下等人的身份给他带来的唯一不偷快是在一次豪华舞会上遭到了一位当地贵族夫人的拒绝。当将军看到那一场面，便要求乐队重奏华尔兹舞曲，以便他跟这位席尔瓦跳舞。 奥利里将军跟何塞?劳伦西奥?席尔瓦正好相反。他一头金发，身材魁梧，在那身佛罗伦萨制服的衬托下，显得英俊而潇洒。18岁那年，他作为红色轻骑兵的掌旗官到达委内瑞拉，而后便几乎参加了独立战争的所有战役，受到了多种训练。他跟所有人一样，也有过不幸的时刻。有一次，桑坦德跟何塞?安东尼奥?派斯发生争论，将军派他去找出一个调解的办法，而他却站在了桑坦德一边。将军气得不再理他，将他弃之一边达14 个月之久，直到将军怒气消失了为止。 他们每个人的个人功绩都是无可争议的。糟糕的是，将军自己从来意识不到他在他们面前所拥有的权力堡垒。这个堡垒越是坚不可摧，他越认为自己是一个易于接近和宽厚仁慈的人。但是，在何塞?帕拉西奥斯把军官们真实的精神状态告诉他的那天晚上，将军便完全以平等的态度跟他们玩牌，输了也高高兴兴，军官们都感到心情舒畅。 显然，军官们感受到的沮丧并不是往昔的失望。他们不在乎失败的情绪对他们的影晌，哪怕这种情绪出现在刚刚打过胜仗之后。他们不在乎强加于他们的缓慢晋升的规定，这样做是为了避免有人觉得晋级是种特权，他们已不在乎背乡离井的流浪生活，他们也不在乎有没有逢场作戏的一时艳遇。由于国家财政的拮据，军人的薪水已经降低到原来的三分之一。即使这样，还要拖迟三个月支付，而且付的是不能保证兑换的国家公债券，他们经常都是以低价卖给投机商人。然而他们对这一切毫不在乎，就象他们不把将军出门时那响彻整个世界的摔门声放在心上一样，他们甚至不在乎将军把他们丢下任敌人宰割。总之，他们什么都不在乎，反正光荣是属于别人的。他们所不能忍受的是，自从将军决定放弃政权之后，他给他们播下的那种茫然失措的情绪，而且，随着这种情况的继续和没有任何目标、任何方向的旅行被搁置，他们更加无法忍受了。 那天晚上将军神采飞扬，以至在洗澡的时候他对何塞?帕拉西奥斯说，他跟他的军官之间没有丝毫的阴影。话虽这么说，可军官们的印象是，他们的行为没有使将军产生好感或内疚，而是在他的心中播下了不信任的种子。 何塞?玛丽亚?卡雷尼奥也是这么认为的。自从那天晚上在舢舨上交谈之后，将军一直沉着脸，不与人接触，无形之中引起了这样的传闻，说是何塞?玛丽亚?卡雷尼奥正在跟委内瑞垃的分离主义分子接触，或者象当时另一个传闻说的那样，他在将军面前已经失宠。早在四年前，将军就从自己心中把他驱除掉了，正象驱除奥利里?蒙蒂利亚、布里塞尼奥?门德斯、桑塔纳和其他许多人一样，其理由很简单，那就是将军怀疑他企图以牺牲军队的利益为代价争取民心。象以前做的一样，将军派人对他进行盯梢，不放过他的任何行踪，搜集所有对他不利的传言，以图使将军在黑暗的疑团中看到一点光亮。 一天晚上，永远也弄不清楚当时将军是睡着还是醒着，他听到卡雷尼奥在隔壁房间里说，为了祖国哪怕去叛变也是合法的。那时，将军走过去抓住他的胳膊把他带到了院子里，对他象在极特殊的场合那样以“你”相称，终于用他那难以抵制的魔力和诱惑力征服了他。卡雷尼奥对将军道出了真情。的确，将军任随解放事业听天由命，不顾及大家陷人孤儿般无依无靠的境地，这使他非常伤心。他的叛变计划是诚实的。他对在那盲人般的旅行中寻求希望的计划已多厌倦了，他无法过失去灵魂的生括，所以他决定逃往委内瑞拉去领导一场维护美洲统一的武装暴动。 “我觉得没有比这更值得的事业了。”卡雷尼奥最后说。 “你认为委内瑞拉会比在这儿对你好吗？”将军问他。 卡雷尼奥不敢肯定。“怎么说呢，不过，那儿至少是祖国。”他说。 “你不要犯傻了，”将军说，“对我们大家来说，祖国就是美洲，而美洲到处都是一样：不可救药。” 将军没让他再说下去。他跟他谈了很久，每句话都仿佛是肺腑之言，尽管不管是卡雷尼奥还是任何人都永远不会知道事实是否如此。At last.将军在卡雷尼奥背上轻轻拍了一下，把他留在了夜的黑暗里，自己转身走了。 “你不要再胡说八道，卡雷尼奥。”将军一边离去一边说道，“这一切都已被鸡巴叼走了。”