Chapter 35 third party

2 Samuel 1:26 Some people say that this story was told by the Nelson brothers' second child, Eduardo, when he was keeping watch for the elder Christian.Christian died in Moron in 1890.Reasonably, this theory is unlikely; but what is certain is that in the long lonely night, while drinking yerba mate and chatting, someone heard this and told Santiago Dabo Dabovi told me again.A few years later, in Turdela, where the story took place, someone told me again, this time in more detail, except for some inevitable small differences and distortions, it is generally consistent with what Santiago said.I am writing it now because, if I am not mistaken, I think the story is a tragic epitome of the old suburban character.I try my best to say one thing and say another, but I also foresee that I will inevitably do some literary processing, and some small points will be emphasized or added.

The people of Turdela call them the Nelson Brothers.The parish priest told me that his predecessor once remarked with amazement that he had seen an old Bible in their house, with a black cover and cursive printing; the last few white pages had handwritten family The names and dates of birth and death of the members are blurred.It was the only book ever written by the Nelsons.It is also a chronicle of their family's many disasters, which will eventually be lost in obscurity.They lived in an unpainted brick house that no longer existed, and from the foyer they could see two courtyards: one had a red fine brick floor and the other had a dirt floor.Few people visited their home; the Nelson brothers were lonely and socialized with no one else.There were only two cots in the barren room; their valuables were horses, saddles and bridles, short-bladed daggers, fine Saturday clothes, and schnapps.As far as I know, they are tall and have red hair.The two native Caucasians may have Danish or Irish ancestry, they just never heard of it.The neighbors were afraid of them as if they were afraid of the Red Party; it was not out of thin air that they were killed.Once, the two brothers had a fight with the police.It is said that the second child also fought with Juan Ibera and did not suffer. For those who know Ibera's strength, this is very telling.They drove cattle, harnessed carts, stole horses, and for a time made a living by gambling.They are notoriously stingy, generous only when drinking and gambling.It is not known that they have any relatives, and it is not clear where they came from.They also had a cart and two oxen to draw it.

They were brothers, not in the same alliance as the outlaws who fled to the shores of the Mediterranean.This, and other reasons unknown to us, help us understand their monolithic relationship.If you offend one of them, you will attract two enemies. Nelson was a rascal, but their affairs had long been limited to sneaking around or visiting brothels.So when Christian brought Juliana Burgos home to live with him, there was a lot of buzz.In this way, it is true that he earned a maid, but it is also true that he gave her a lot of vulgar and cheap accessories, and took her to show off at entertainment parties.In those days, at the shabby gatherings held in the courtyard, the lights were very bright during the dance, and the body was not allowed to twist violently or stick too tightly.Juliana was dark-skinned and had narrow eyes, and she smiled when anyone glanced at her.In the slums, where women tend to age due to fatigue and lack of grooming, Juliana is considered good-looking.

Eduardo accompanied them at first.Later, I went to Arecifes to do some business; when I returned home, I brought a girl who I found on the road, and within a few days, I kicked her out again.He became more sullen; alone in the grocery store, drunk and ignored.He is in love with Christian's woman.The neighbors probably knew about it earlier than he himself, gloating over the potential crisis of the rivalry between the two brothers. One day, Eduardo came home late from the street and saw Christian's black horse tied to a stake.The boss was waiting for him in the yard in his best clothes.Women came in and out with yerba mate tea tins.Christian said to Eduardo:

"I'm going to play with Farias. I'll leave Juliana to you; if you like her, use her." His tone was commanding, but sincere.Eduardo stared at him blankly for a while, not knowing what to do.Christian stood up, bid farewell to Eduardo, got on his horse, and trotted away without haste. He did not greet Juliana, and only regarded her as an object. From that night on, the brothers shared that woman.The kind of dirty sex is so out of tune with local decency that no one wants to know the details.It was fine for the first few weeks, but in the long run it was not an option.Juliana was never mentioned among the brothers, not even by her name.But the two deliberately found fault and always had conflicts.On the surface it appeared to be arguing about the sale of leather, but in reality they were talking about something else.During the quarrel, Christian's voice was always high, while Eduardo was silent.They hide from each other, they just don't know it.In the indifferent suburbs, apart from satisfying a man's sexual desires and being possessed by him, women are not in his eyes at all, and are not worth mentioning, but both of them fell in love with that woman.In a sense, this shames them.

One afternoon Eduardo met Juan Ibera in Plaza de Lomas, and Ibera congratulated him on his acquisition of a beautiful woman.I think that's when Eduardo picked him up hard.No one would dare to make fun of Christian in front of Eduardo in the future. Juliana served both brothers obediently; but she could not conceal that she was more fond of the second, who did not refuse to intervene, but did not affect her either. One day, the two brothers told Juliana to move two chairs and put them in the red-brick courtyard, and then hide away because they had something to discuss.She estimated that this conversation would not be short, so she went to take a nap, but she was woken up not long after.They told her to stuff all her clothes in a bag, not forgetting a glass rosary and a small crucifix left by her mother.They didn't give any explanation, just let her get into the cart, and the three of them set off on the road in silence.It had rained some time ago; the road was muddy and tiring, and it was five o'clock in the morning when they reached Moron.She was sold to the madam of a brothel there.The deal had been negotiated beforehand; Christian took the money and they split.

Until then, the Nielsen brothers had been caught up in the mess (and routine) of that grotesque love affair, and when they returned to Tourdela they hoped to resume their former manly existence.They returned to gambling, cockfights and the occasional fight.Sometimes they may think that they have got rid of their troubles, but the two often find some flimsy or overly sufficient reasons to go out separately.When the Chinese New Year was approaching, the second child said that he was going to the capital to do some errands.Christian went straight to Moron; at the stake in front of the house already mentioned, he recognized Eduardo's pinto horse.He entered the house; found another inside, waiting in line.Christian said to him:

"In the long run, our horse will be exhausted, so we might as well keep her with us." He consulted with the madam, took some coins out of his pocket, and got Juliana out.Juliana and Christian were on the same horse; Eduardo, unwilling to look, kicked his pinto with his spurs. They are back to the previous situation.The humiliating solution was ineffective; both brothers were tempted to cheat.The ghost of Cain haunts--but the bond between the Nelson brothers is deep--who can tell the hardships and dangers they have passed together! —they would rather take their anger out on someone else.On a stranger, on the dog, on Juliana who had brought their feud.

March is almost over, and the fever has not subsided.One Sunday (people go to bed early on Sunday), Eduardo came home from the grocery store and saw Christian harnessing the ox cart.Christian said to him: "Come on, it's time to go to Pardo and sell some leathers; I've loaded the car, and we'll hit the road while the night is cool." The Pardo Bazaar was to the south; they took the Caravan Road;As the night deepened, the fields appeared wider. They came to the edge of a stigrass field; Christian threw away his cigarette butt and said slowly: "Go to work, brother. The long-legged eagle will come to help us in a moment. I killed her today. Let her stay here with her clothes. She will never trouble us again."

The two brothers almost cried bitterly and hugged tightly.Now there is another bond that binds them together: the murdered woman and the obligation to erase her from memory.