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  • Guimaraes Rosa - My Uncle, The Jaguar

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    Mariana de Heredia
    645 vizualizări19 pagini
    Complete short story translated to English by Giovanni Pontiero

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    Complete short story translated to English by Giovanni Pontiero

    Drepturi de autor:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Descărcați ca PDF sau citiți online pe Scribd
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    645 vizualizări19 pagini

    Guimaraes Rosa - My Uncle, The Jaguar

    Încărcat de

    Mariana de Heredia
    Complete short story translated to English by Giovanni Pontiero

    Drepturi de autor:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Descărcați ca PDF sau citiți online pe Scribd
    Indicator pentru conținut neadecvat
    din 19
    sible to keep him quit, making him think of the future (this fs what Tic sid late, aif she or Johnny had ever had the slightest idea of the future). In the middle of television program which Johny was enjoy. ing, he started to cough ll at once he slumped down all of» sudden, ete. Lim not all that sure that death was a instantaneous as Tica declared to the police Johnny’s death in her apartment had put her in an unusually tight spot she was trying to get out of, pot wae always within reach, and probably @ stash of heroin somewhere, poor Tice had several other bad scenes there, and the not completely convincing results ofthe autopsy. One can imagine completely what a doctor would find in Johnny's lungs and liver). “ou wouldnt want to know how painful his death isto me, although I could tell you some othe ching,” sweet Baby added gently, but sometime when I eel beter Il write you or tell you (it looks ike Rogers wants to et me contacts in Pris and Berlin) everything you need to know, you were Johnny/s best frend.” And after a page dedicated to insulting Tica, you'd believe she nat only caused Johnny death but was responsible forthe attack on Peat! Harbor and the Black Plague, poor Baby ended up: "Before I forge, one lay in Bellevue he asked after you lot, he was mixed up and thought you were in New York and didnt want o come see him, he was aking the time about fields flo things, and after he was calling for you, sven cussing you out, poor baby. You know what a fever’ ike, Tica tld ob Carey that Johnny’ last words were something like: ‘Oh, mike me | mask; but you can imagine how at thet moment ..." I sure could magne it “He'd gotten very fa,” Baby added atthe end of her leter, ‘end panted out of breath when he welked.” These were details you might expect from a personas senupulous as Baby Lennox. All this happened at che same time thatthe second edition of my pook was published, but lully I had time to incorporate an obituary note edited under full steam and inserted, along with a newsphoto of he funeral in which many famous jazmen were identifiable. In thet jrmat the blography remained, so to speak, intact and finished, Pthaps its not right tha I say this, but natrally Iwas speaking fom a merely esthetic pont of view. Theyre already talking ofa new transle- ion, ito Swedish or Norweyian, I think. My wife is delighted atthe My UNCLE, THE JAGUAR by Joao Guimaraes Rosa translated by Giovanni Pontiero Huse ... Yea, OF COURSE, SiR. Auth, YOU WANT TO COME IN, COME in then -». How did you know live here? How did you find out? Eh, No, si... Is that the only horse you've got? bel The horse's lame and dseased. Is finished. Ax. Sure. Hum, hum. Did you see this Tie fie of mine from a distance? Yeah, Come on in then, youre wel come to stay laha, This fit a house... Hove. [wish it were. Tim nota farmer, Justa tenant ... not ever a tenant. n—all over the place. Im here, ‘when I fel like iT move on Yeah, [sleep here. Hum. Nhem? You were ‘saying, No, sit... Are you coming or going? Bring your things inside, Ere! il help you to unsaddle the hors. Lat me give you a and to hob ble the horse... Bring the saddle-bag inside, bring the sack and your blankets. Hum, hum! OF course you ean. You've come to see me 0 visit ‘me: Good. Fine, Why dont you sit down, stretch out an the bunk? The bunk iit mine, [ve got a hammock. Thats where I sleep. The bunk ‘belongs to the black man. 'm going to squat down here. Its jst as com- fortable Il blow on the fie. Nhemn? The hammocks mine. Yesh. No, sit. Hum ...-Now then, why dont you open the sack, sort your things fou Adel Youre a fat wolf... Ate Ts any of this for me? What's this fot to do with me? I won steal your things, Tm nota thie. A-hé, yes, i, {would like it. You ean pour it in the gourd. [lowe the stuff.» Nice Fine. cil This rum of yours i great could drink it by thelr... Ah, rmunbi-manha: Tm joking. Tm only joking, munhamunhando. 1 fel food. Ape! Youre a fine man and so rch. No, si. Sometimes. I enjoy it. Almost never. I now how to make rum: I make it with cashew nuts, wld berries and maize. Bu its not much good. It dont give you this ‘warm Feeling. Is hard work. I havent go any tday. Ive run out. You ‘woulda ike it fs thy ram, onl fit fora poor man ‘Abi, the black man wont be coming beck. The black mans dead. sos Masterworks of Latin American Short Fction How do I know? He did somewhere around here, died frm some di- case. Disease soon wore him dawn, That's the truth. fm not ying Hum... Il take your friend some ime to et here, he wont ave unt late tomorrow, Some more? Yes sir, I enjoy a drink. Apel This is great tum. Is this the ony big botle you brought? Eh, eh. Is your mate driving here tomorrow? Is he? Have you gota fever? Your fiends sure to bring some medicine. Hum-hum, No, st I drink herbal tea, The rot of a plant. I know where to find it, my mother showed me and I know how to prepare it Im never il. Except fora touch of scabies, an uleer on my fc the od infection or blisters. 1m hardy Im a beast of the jungle Hum, dont bother searching any more... The animals ate fr way, Your friend shouldit have lec them go. Your fiends no good. No, sc They bolted in hur 3s you'd expect. The worlds big place: nothing put grassy plains out there, nothing but cerub, all Indian teritory Tomorrow your fiend will be back with more'snimals. Hum, hum, horse inthe mide ofthe jungle. I know how to find them, I can hear hem moving, I listen with my ear to the ground. A horse running, popdre-.. Tan fllow ts tril... Right now I cant, ifs no good, too many tril here. Theyve gone faraway. Jaguars eating them... Does hat make you sad? Is not my fault; what have I done? Dont be sed lout rch, you've plenty of horses. But you can forget those ones, the aguar's already eaten them, atical Any horse that wanders into the ungle is as good as eaten ... The monkeys have been screeching iat means the jaguars on the prove Eh, some more, yes, sit I like it. Tesific rum, Have you some obacco as well? That’ right, tobacco for chewing, for smoking. Have ou any more, have you alot? Har, les good. Nie tobacco, nice and trong, Yes, sit, with pleasure IF you're giving it to me, I wont say no, I ke it Is @ nice smoke. Is this tobacco chico-sla? A fine day today, vould you say? Do you feel like eating something? There's meat and cassava. Eh ch, agora. Lots of pepper Ive no salt. There’ no more, The mest smells cally ood, I¢S an anteater I caught. Wont you have ste? Anteaters ery tasty. There's some cornmeal and brown sugie You can finish i of, omorrow Tl do some more hunting ile deer. No, I wont kil a deer here's no need. The jaguar has already caught your horse, jumped on it, ed ic dry... The big beast couldn't be more dead and she sill won't cave it alone, she's ontop of it... Shes broken the horse's ead, ten s neck... Broken its head! Broken it)... She's sucked all ts blood, get | eased tas sk a My Uncle, he Jaguar EJ the edge ofthe jungle, dragged it with her teeth. She covered it with Teaves. Now shes sleeping in the bush ... The spotted Jaguar eats the rump fist. then the haunch The suagirana starts withthe Brees. Its ‘tapi, the woof them star wih the belly the skin i thick... Would {you believe it? The pina jaguar il; che pine is my relation! ‘Nhern? Tomorrow morning shell be back there, shel et alte and 0 off to drink some water TH gt there, together with the vultures Filthy ereetures those vuleures, they nest inthe Lape do Bat... go there and cut myself apiece of meat. Now then, you dont need to tell tne: the jaguar hunts for me whenever she can. Jaguars are my relations. My relations, my relation, ai, a, al... I'm not laughing at you. Ym ‘munhamunhendo to myself. The hors’ flesh wl keep until tomorrow: Horse meat is vey tasty very good. [dont eat rotten meat, axe! The jaguar dont eat it elther. When the animal’ been killed bya suaguran, Ton enjoy the meat so much: she buries the horse in sand, even in the coil "There isnt any coffee. Hum, the black man used to drink eofee, he really enjoyed his coffee. I don't want to lve with a black man any note, never again .-. nothing but big gorlla. Te black man smells ‘something awful... But the black man usd to say that I smell just 28 much: «diferent smell a sour smell Nhem? No, the shack is mine, the shack does have an owner: No, it didnt helong tothe black man either The thatched roof has rotted away but che ran doesnt come in, only the odd leak here and there. xe, when 1 move avy from this place, Ill set fire to the shack so that nobody else ean live here. [Nobodys going to lve on top af my smell Bat up, this ist anteoter’s flesh. Is good meat, its armadillo. 1 Filled myself. didnt steal from a jaguar. They don keep small ani- rma: they eat the lot. There's plenty of pepper... Nhem? Ac, yeah, its dark, The moon is up yet. The moon's taking ts time but il soon be up. Hum, chee int any Theres no oil-amp, no light of any Kind Tl blow on the fre. It won't do any harm, the shack won‘ estch fe, Tm watching my eyes are wie open. les nice to fel a warm fire under your hammock, it lights the place up and keeps you warm. Ther’ fire= ‘wood here, twig, they burn nicely When Tim on my own, I dont need ny light can manage in the dark. T can seein the middle ofthe jun fle. Fi, there’ a light shining in the bushes: youll see, no, i's not an yes moisture fom the cassava, a drop of water, resin from the tre, fa gasshopper, a big spider .. Are you frightened? Well you cant bea joquer then .. You cant understand a jeguar. Can you? Speak! I can 310 Masterworks of Latin American Short letion stand the heat, I can put up with the cold. The black man used to grumble about the cold, The black man worked hard, he realy di and he enjoyed his work. He used to gather fxewood, do the cooking, He planted cass. When the cassava runs out, I move from here. Eh, this is ally nice rum! Nhenhem? {se hunted so many aguas. tm always hunting them. 1 came here to hunt jaguars, todo nothing but hunt jaguars. Nk® Nhuso Guede brought me here. Fe paid me. Iwas given the skins, paid money for every jaguar I killed. Good money clinkclink ... Im the only one who knew how to hunt jaguars. That’ why Nho Nhuto Guede made me stay here to rd the whole place of jaguars. Anhum, all on my ox, is tre. T sold the ski, earned some more mane. I bought lad ballets, gunpowder I bought salt, | bought ammunition. Eh I travelled a long way from hereto buy everything, Even brown sugar... long way off. 1 can wall for mies, walk forages, I an go fast, now how to walk and not ge red, I travel in staght line and I can keep on walking allright Once I even gota far as Boi do Uruesia That’ right. On foot I dont need a horse, [dont want one. ence had a horse, i ed, dane fr, gone, had an abscess on its back. Te died from the infection. Honesty Tm telling the truth... I dant want a dog ether. Dogs make a temble noise, jaguars kl them Jaguar ike king eventing sight. ‘tie Atimbora! Dent you say Tllledajagua, you musta. Yes ea, But not you. Ino longer kil jaguars, not any more, Is wicked—that | killed. Jaguars ate my relations. Ile, led lots of them. Can you count? Count four ten times, uhas about right: then take that amount four times. So many? For every one I led, I put a small stone in the gourd. In now going to throw the gourd ful of stones into the river. wish [hada Killed any jaguars IE you tell anyone [killed jaguar, I tum nasty. Dont ever say I killed them, tha? Were you sying some- thing?. God, fine, it’s true. Youre my friend! Yes sit, Im helping myself to enother drink Good ram, really special Why not Join me: the rum’ yours a swig of rumis bike medicine Youte looking at me. What about giving me that watch? Ah, you cant, you dont want to. Okey then... that’s okay forge it! I dont want your watch. Forget it dhought you wanted to be my fiend... Hum-hum. Yeah. Hum. If ax. Nope, I dont want a fick-aife. I don't want your money. Tm going outside. Dott you go thinking the jegust won't come near the shack or eat this lame horse of yous. Shell he coming all ight. Putting out her reat big paw. The grass moves, you can esti using, softly, slowly, gently: that’s her. She's getting close. Her jaguar’s claws My Uncle, the agaar am jaguars paw—jaguars til... She's ereeping up, she wants something to eat. You ought to be scared! Are you? If she stars roaring, ch, mocan hemo, youll be scared allright. She snarls—she roars until her chat swells and takes in all the ac... Urrured—rerre Almost like thunder. Everything shakes. You ean get a lt into that big mouth, her ‘mouths the sizeof two! Apé! Feeling seared? Come on, I know you'e hot frightened, I know you lke a bit of adventure, youre so good, so fine, so brave. But now you can give me your flic-knife and some ‘money, just a litle, No, I don't want your wate, forget it, Twas only joking. What do I want a watch fo? I dant need one Ei Tim no fol either. Would you ike a oguars skin? H—hs, look at this. Poetry skin, dont you think? I hunted it myself a long time ago ‘Those ones I stopped selling, I didnt want to any more. These ones here? A male cangusts I killed on the bank of the River Sorongo. 1 Killed it after stabbing it once with my spear so as not to spoil the skin (oh, witch doctor! monster ofa beast He bt the tp ofthe spear, left the mark of his teeth, That big jaguar then rolled up into ball, wuning ‘over slowly, suddenly turned into an enormous snake, thrashing about ‘with rage under my spear. He twisted and turned, furious, clawing and frowling, snarling something awful, even tried to drag me into the bushes with all those thors ... He had me woried fora bit! "That other one, also covered with great big sprs, a pina gus, big east with aloud rou I shot her while she was sitting up ina ee Perched on one of the branches. She sat chee, her head crouched doen. She seemed to be asleep. But she vas watching me ... She Tooked at me almost as if she could’t have cared less. didnt even give baer time to prick up her eas: so there, so there, booml—I fied a shot straight into her mouth so a8 not to spoil the skin. Ace, she was stl eying to get her claws rund the branch below-—where di she get the strength? She ended up hanging head down then Fel, broke off ewo branches... Landed with thud on the ground, "Nhe? Black jguars? Here there ae lots of them and lots of puna Jaguars, as well, [used tll. Hum, hur, the Black jaguar crssbreeds ‘with the spotted jaguar. They came swimming one behind the other, ther heads and shoulder blades sticking out of the water. [climbed up ‘tree on the riverbank, Killed each with one shot. But first the mele, the pinima jaguar that swam in front. Can jaguars swim? Sure, is an imal dat swims! I can eros a wide iver, ean swim in a stright bine come out where it wants... The suagurana also swims but she doesnt like ezossing rivers The pair 'm talking about, that was on the stretch an Masterworks of Lata American Shor Fletion below, onthe other river, does have a name, a mucky river... The female was a phuna but she wasnt exactly black: more the color of co fee. I dragged the two dead jaguars onto the embankment, I dda want to lose the skins... But dont you go saying I lille jaguar. Just listen and say nothing, Nota word. H? Realy? Hus! Oi, do | like rum! You already know that Good Il have another drink. Us, I drink el I start sweating, el 1 feel as if my tongue’ on fre... Cf uinhudor! I ned a drink to cheer ‘me up. I need one to get me talking. Unless Ihave a god drink, can't talk, don know why, [feel so tired... Never mind, tomorrow youll be ‘gone il be left here on my oven, enhum. What do I eare? Yeah, that's 2 ‘ood skin, taken from a smal jaguar with a big heed. Do you want that ‘one? Take it Are you going to leave me the rest af the rum? Stretch out ‘on the bunk, weap youself in your cape, cover yourself with the skin, set some sleep. Why dont you? Take your clothes off, put your watchin the armadillo skull, your revolver as well, nobodyll touch them. You ‘wont find me touching your things. I put some mote wood on the ire, look after things, Keep the fice going, you try and get some sleep. ‘There's nothing but a bit of soap in the armadillo skull No, st isnt ‘mine, it belonged to the black man. I dont use soap, Why dont you try toget some sleep? Okay okay [didnt sy a word, not a word You want to know about the jaguars? Uhh, chey've got such a temper, they dont talk like other people ... [hunted as many as three ‘in one day. Yeah, that wes a suagurans, red like a fx, a big et all ne color She would slep by day hidden in the long gras. The suagurana Isnt easy to hunt she can run fas, climb trees. She wanders quit a bit, but lives inthe bush on the plateau. The pinima doesnt let the swap rans settle on the edge of the marshes, the pinima chases the suagurana away ... Tve eaten her meat I's good, tasty and tender. I cooked it with vegetables and peppers. Lots ofslt end strong pepper. As forthe pinima, I've only eaten her heat, fred and preserved in lad, I've eaten it roasted, dried, all sorts of ways, And used to rub the fat allover my body. So that never get frightened! SU? Yes, sir For years and years, Tve been wiping out fguars i three lferent places. Over there is the river Sucuri that run into the River Sorongo. Over there is a wldemess. But on this side is the River Ururu, then ewenty leagues further on you come to the Barra do Frade, there youll find @ ranch and cattle. Ive killed off all the jaguars Yeah, nobody can last out here unless he's somebody like me. Eh, ‘nhem? Ahi... There arent any houses here. The only house you! My Uncle, the epee aa find fs behind those palm tes, si leagues avay and in the middle of the bush, A farmer lived there, Seo Rauremiro, He died, and his wife, his daughters and litle bo. Deas killed them all off. That’ the truth Believe me... Nobody comes around here ifs very hard, 1s oo fa for people to come, The only people who come here are wealthy hunters, zen oho hunt jaguars as well as pumas and who come every yer inthe month of August. They come from faraway, it takes them a week, "They bring their dogs, big dope for hunting jaguars. Each man caries good tif, shotgun, Ud lve to have one myself... Hum, hum, the Saguars arent stupid, they flee from the dogs, climb up tees. The dogs batk their heads of, pick up the seent again If the jaguar can find = ‘way it makes for the wild forest where the undergrowth is dense, ch, there its not easy for a man to see where the jguar’s hiding The dows comer her then she goes wild, she hisses, rages, strikes out, attacks tevery dog insight, sure, she can move whatever way she likes... She Ties in wait and that's when she’ at hee most dangerous: she wants to Kill or die once and forall... Yea, she grunt ike a pig, the dogs don pet neat er Nowhere neat her. One blow with her paw and that’ that. She strikes out and gives a vicious slap... She tums and jumps to one side, you cant see where she comes fom ... Pall! Even when she's injured and dying, she can sil attack and kil a big dog, And how she roars and grunts. She can tip ofF a dog’ head. Are you frightened? Let ime show you, eh; you can see fom this side where there's no wind blowing-keep watching over there for that where the jaguar can sud- — wy date mio Ta Het sce my face» Ts, 9 at Tet san Eh hs is ow lok te sit 8 vic year beng epee then se respects you Fou “Wc heyate seme yo ae od ded You msn show ole eae jae ca else ws ow you fel nde, Thats easy and a tke fom me. Hum. She eas eee Seas ye tite movement And whe cones fllovng# a, einem al ening She dosnt hee gol sere of nell, ae ta she hans wht er ening, an ox sms nt slp ‘hee heat sound of anhing mornin the ash he guaran Aah atte legac avay bot Bet you col. The gat i pees aking ounce 1 x he ssa tt pes Sa seething moneys. The sara jumps te top of TTS bees nr ot ump: he sated gn canes seep ewe lave you ever sen 2h, ey cin wos ee ae to goon. Ye, esr easier to spy fam op ther Nibogy cone whi What hos ght me Bs as ow Nobody rt und to gt nett your prey She moves slowly tha you dont se he eaming You have : Soe shun, ean tel how You me Your hand how cds hw you ore oor Fead up and own, aw how lng it would take you fo jump i You fe elm ich yan i want ou? Go ahead See on as ie: wll this moni the pps ae sue tobe hunting esa ar nig Mens da thy dot ha ony when tet is ng ev nd trond dew. Tey spond the dy sleeping nthe bai ores on the ee of tc mare er Menthe sy amon the copes te ia sh N oe en e ne Inga hs but They une wi malig any ae, Day ld Before you would hear single mew. What you heard ust aw as the crete sveaner_- Ham, Come in St oh the unk Wald yu leith mod Tee sn use it. I have some cassava, Ill make you thi A ; meting et ul es tc Then I have ahr dp om Ifyou dnt ach eT the bottle dry. N't, m'p ab : ee ‘Wet da ero han? eae ng ay fom ee, where shee eater ve men at fees as me. They et me owe tow aspen Ucn Mass ad Capt Masao es Ape te hs wh end amar en ial gas cote the Nh Indl doe he ld Nhu inte was Black bury cudnt have wid fer ricer ma, abc, bana nc no rig wen me sg pu Cl sh nating bu so pear, he wuld ply he Joao 1 he vers ‘brother, Rei Indcio with his crossbow... ae Son? Fa, Decne on par dd lteter hey dt Tow i come hereto sh them of They didnt supet anything ‘sniffed at me as if I were their relation . .. Eh, the jaguar's my uncle, {Tejera of om, Thy dat of ne Then net ned hem They only found eu ere, hen 1 es to Ue and they wee foos. "Bee me Iv ero lng joa Tio no more lng Tet sh meer have done mes pe the mptack chage there eso ton me dot oink The led my om rans aw cul hve dove that Asa my cman et eo rh oe sa sonny th gs caught me Theo my es, take lok Nok lt happen hee an the pri tvs rr onthe Gers of th ter The ether Ellon wit me mise, ht edi Peel hed ee lhae rons parr) My Uncle, the age a8 ‘with us on the ground. She went wild. She clawed one man on the vie tore at his flesh unt you could see his heart inside beating wey sarong all that blod. She sipped the skin from anotber mans face saree Fonseca, She seatched this cross on ry forehead, made = adap ach on my leg with er claws, tore dhe skint shreds, mucus reer e ch festering wound. Her claws are not pointed or shar, but Tronou which i why they do so much damage an cuss infection ree eth gs wel Pali ch, alow fom jaguar can knock the spe, From yourland --. They stabbed her some tity to fry times! Hum if ere been there yd be dead by nove. Se almost hl five men Bee tore all the flesh from one hunter arm, all that was left wes bone eter and the wens sticking out. Thi behind epalm-tee, with a gery hand. The pinima sw me, grabbed me, I was under her the of ws hugging each other Hum it was hard yng to get old of be Tee sin i at lippery as soap, as smooth 2 quabo, se squirm let and Tight ost ikea snake, eb snake... She was tying pre apart at Fe peting ted, shed lot alt of blood. eld het mouth so that Ae alt bite. She clawed at my chest and Ive no nipple left on this ease he scretched with three paws! She tore open my arm, clawed iy Meets died holding onto me, she had so many stab wounds cet she ped al her blood ... she was some jaguar that Manhusg She had ‘XGbeted all over my head and fo days on end Icoukdnt get that awful smell out of my hair om, hum, Yer, ie Those jaguars know Tin one of them. The fist jjguae Tver sv and dill was Maria Maria, ws leping i he errr oe far fom bere, besde a lle fire 1d Wit At daybreak was meep Se eae up tome Woke me up, started sifing at me, Looked sre howe prety eyes, yellow eyes wit Ile black fleks ckering in wae ight 0 I preended Iwas dead I could do anphing ce. She wie me, went on sniffing me all over, one paw in the ait {thought She was ining for my throat. An uracuea chirped, a tnd croaked and oe Wed here ay listening to the animals in he bush fr what seemed he apes. Tit move 1 as hing nance, comfortable spot among {Be ercmary The fire had gone out but the ashes were still warm. arosMaria started rubbing up against me, she was watching me, Her djer net ine, her eyes were fashing—pin ping se sad at me Mey wih sharp lookin her ee she was to muita: she woul iergoat me. Fr some ime she dint do anything. Then she put er porn onto my chest very gently. tbought—Tm a good as dead fr she Tar vthet was where shed find my heat. But she ony pressed me very ey anew of Lat Aner short eon sey wth oe pow and pated me wth he ae she was ing © ‘ate up wi sovoc, Ey cy ey son goto kno = het soe gi arth see me Tsong fo = Tope ty ees lake io asin whisper, Mai MaDe 2 gd, MaMa.” Eh, she gol and seemed pled, she sted hing up agin! me once more, mio mi She was ang o Ins gnkeem, gunn Hel ad pone, wa kn, tectscan,» opel i not neve sl. OF she went, moved ime gk nf St ond vn tne rm wher Iwan, hing on my back, ceed on ling tt lokng at hr | spake coting her to be god. When | stpped spelng, se pve lie mown ber bely wa al, the liked he ps heed her nese She ad Sy spoon het feed apo stare round berms. Then se ey dow Ianng against me, ping me lay a the face ih eral She eed down to ley bee me She steve up he peso hc Ghee Slepngn anf wth her head own er os eng om one po that er ik warding, Teel sce the rps of her {oa Herel had ed who ns wh led then? Now shel have rw more cbs neon, eve ln she wot Nhe Aer ths Aer tase slept She sored with er esd ering oe sid, showing toe tebe fans hers, ha eared Sack That was because she ould ear a sunpren coming A ht brown sajna, te abr of mae. The sngurana sapped in he tracks, Shes roa wicked, Bech rete 1 se thee bi igen ees ther shiing So ound chy lid sf ty mere png Chop of umf, Maia Masa sored he seaseana fed ety hy ct, fe end prey, portyrnga—the bet ofall. Maia Mara st up aone, oced ber eas hy she sated walling wy ‘aching her ing hoop herd oie youd nk she wes hea tush ane fat en liht on eet hen she wan eo ces Imre ns har She sap ley when she wal, says much You coulnt ie hex she slot ofhar end so paws She came he tance te, eared up ug hes aye ppd ie op fo Sotom, she wa sherpening he cles catching othe pro, Then then «goat el, She left he hw aks tou at tds for ourself fw much damage he can ‘Ant are, could ae ted et Bu Id wan, How iia Sears eed ws ll ake as oes etter ce Fe — x {eng ei bral on myo, shu I fling een der fee eee lle per hd eng. om St dy | Sree pas The atone leds th sugar wih Heer ie orth sng et yates cea eee nde apted ene edhe snuano se he i ee mga a enc wd dec fished ei se ed et rd ptt he pth Ts ping SF eae the nba er a noting but top eh 1 So hop, the lr wo lee oe mest "Cae wee Ml prey you shld sce he Petes thn ny onan Set af grr So er he in, She ntl Te, Sh sang ih iy ad and cep fo Ee 4, agi gh ello Ao er pos, none of he BELTGG EL thee tay darth, eeddphbrom. She dost sa dhe ar eeting He you et compae he gts nd a eae cout them and yl se: hfe 0 ire hat a tthe some MaMa has lot iy PA ry ety el eed ke tj ke tt Ay aa ee ther auth oe behind her le ea. The ese Phen a lek oto, Her bal wl He ely sot sec and on the nse hres ean ply i et TRE elves She eke my had, he Hels very gel the nde hey ick the bn ci jst wel fr iy cam abst by tha hiktonge of er ick, coat th efthe sambat,who kx bw he manos hot ei wih ta tong fers wut seing them Tlie? Dost MaMa havea mate? No she hs yma ol nb! ay mate ue up, FH ahi of, en hey elato! Seer bate get sone sp. Me wo. OF eng 1a a ap inthe a nk trie sts». Nol sae Bey tie tpt ot the, ihe el evry ning, Pee at to and pt nie. Why dt Jou ie vm? CSE ouie ony saying ole fo hep rg me ier. sk hen you ask me soeing ce What thi? And what sh op dking al your un ay, hu, dt war ‘oor a nly pt dk when inkl ad as fend ro pel uk eae hig no how ae a aca segue sep, can dew two ces 2 m Masterworks of Latin American Short Flction the ground i you want me to—thove ae your eye FT ep on them yol goo sleep at nce». Es but oe rave well and an sand upto np mane go fee eck, You cul even hut joer enon oe my end ‘Nei? Noy sf dont know anything about. nk knw abot jar Tk ting sou ent, Cate ae nye etn Or om Pac, My here yates vat id nda yer wa wie ran white ie yo, ny thr vas Chico Pe inbmmne hraarn a covboy le any thes Wolent man, He ded in Tage Tung on the pas of Golson the ete of Cacho Bm He weed Tha a ly He seni ae A spd an Si Hh, yeni Sh might gt clr, she mit srt prow rund he hack The shan the Pe ech er kop ttl fer mot fhe er You nvr pa of ten tng tape Ate tine only or aoth ss ony the patie, he igo cat when pi Ith alt of th ny ber ib herbi T don il any oe ths jpmctana, the ld of the Jars nathing bg an tke om me, no al of them, No moe oat allowed inthe nes tha oe beret et thet come cate there int mach fed Ie to hue 1 do mo more lig no al he ps ve a name id ge them te ames? A Nona on ny om, fot happen to row dr names, AE Well hts ot yw cone ou wan toe? Why ae ou ak ing ve yo oping ob? Yu keen oo ving on sean wth jag? Teese. you ned elle ut Tate Low otha ou canbe en moped of tem ha? iy god, Oi ins cae over on the other side, nea fre he int Mops eal canst She wa ng ith she as 2 yong ct, iguana Mopac i a god wale, she ht args toved sound wither cbs emg the bay aguihe Now shes setded dow the gpd pt Ske sere ee ees the place, neve gis neh a eat. She net never eaves ce place Only in water Now hat shes gen ih sh hin, real thin, shot alee thiny, aye The abun ep ab th aby jan there are ofthe He wo lea any igs tn scary ale move Te mops lot of milks er ong never aupsckng Nh Eh are there any the? ter on nthe same dis frais ee Lees ge eb pacer My Uncle, the a2 ofall, she rules, fights with the thers, takes them on. On the other fide, on the edge ofthe marshes, there's spoted Porreteira, she’ enor ‘mous, you should see the sie of her paws, her claws, her flat paws ‘Then even further on there's Tatacics, black, really black, a jaguareté- nana; she has long egs and she's prety suvage. This one catches lots Sif... Hem, any more black ones? There's Uinhda, she’ got a nice Gen, a hole on the slope of the revine, beneath a fgatee ... Then theres Rape-Rapa an ol! spotted pinimjaguar and very cunning: she teaels far from here, hunts up 0 twenty leagues away, wanders all ver the place. Rape-Rapa lives in a tiny eave—jaguars love cave, they enioy being in there. Mis well s Nha-é were chased well avay from here, the others drove them out because there wasn't enough food Yeah, they akways changing thet den because ofthis... [dont know any ‘more about them for thee no longer here. Tikitaba saw canguss— ‘hes a jaguar with eyebrows: lok for yourself, she's over there, stretched fut ontop ofthe ravine, right on the edge, her paws hanging over the Sil, Tm telling you "There were others but not any more: Coema- Piranga, # big red cat, she met her death when she choked on = bone .The jguer Putucs, old and decrepit with her sibs sticking out, she’ always hungry, starving, wandering through the bush ... Hum, Thum, Maris-Marie, no, I wont tell you where she lies. How can 1 be sure you dont want to kill her? What do I know ...? Hirhl. And the tom-cats? There ate lots of them, ih plenty of them. You should see Papo-Gente, an enormous spotted tomcat, so big you'd die of fight. His fangs are like « butchers knife, a dirty yellow as if he'd chewed tobaceal There's one ealed Ptacara, also very old, his big molars at the back for biting into Rlesh have already rotted awey. Sus-Sut is = Jaguaretépiuna as block as night, he snarls something awful, # you Feard it you auld shake from head eo foot... He kes the Jeguar Mopoca. Apipongs isnt @ pixina at all, he's the nicest spotted male jaguar you've ever seen, and he has a big nose. Not only does he sways Took welhfed, but he’ the best hunter of al. Then there's a male can- gust Petecata who's half crazy, weong inthe heed, he only goes about by day, prowls around, looks as if his mouth i twisted. then there's tne called Uitauérs, Uataura isthe othe, and they'e brothers, eh but Its me who knows because they don't know Well enough of tht. No more chat. For ill soon be daybreak and you wort have slept, your fiend wil be turning up with the horses and Sou wont be fit to travel because youre 100 tired. Get some rst now. “Are you gong to sleep? Would you ike me to move out so that you can 4 Short Flan x“ Masterworks of Latin Ame lep here on your own? Im of, You want me to stay? All ight, but TH cep quiet. I keep my mouth shut, shut tight. The shack belongs to ne. Hun-hum. Why do you keep asking questions instead of going to lep? I dant know No, the suacurans hasnt got a name. The suacu ana isnt my relation, she's a coward. Only the one with the back pateh her back is svage. Suacurans plays with her cubs. Yea, her coat i cd but the cubs are spotted... Hum, I've dane enough talking, 'm ning to keep quiet, leave you in peace. Forget it! You tr to get some lep now, okay? That right. Humhur. No, sit: Hum-hum 'Nhem? Any chance of another bottle of rum? Willy give it tome? 1s... Apé! You want to know? Il tll you. You'te a decent fellow, ice, youre my friend, When do the jaguars marr? Ie, is that what you al 2 Filth... You should come here when the cold weathers nearly ver and the calabash tree is in bloom, then you'd see for yourself. They mad. Theyre in heat they roar and howl, never stop mewing and ranting: they almost give up hunting for food, they get thin, wender nto the jungle, go crazy, pss all over the place, at night the stink is wful, enough to knock you out .. The female jaguar in heat mews ven mor, its a diferent mew, sounds funny. She tums up with the air on her back biting, she rubs herself against the trees, ies onthe round with her belly inthe aig, arué! Nothing but arr-anr...arat- uu... You have to run for your life or shel eat you alive “The male chases after het, he travels for league ater league. IF two nales come? Or three? Eh, you'd get a fright iF you saw the way they aht, you really would .. The fur starts fying, Until theres only ane pale left with the female. Then the fun begins. They explode. They tart wailing and mewing again the whole night long, they rll om the round and start fighting The grass get all rampled, bamboos are bro- en, shrubs are flatened tothe ground, they tear up bushes, break off ranches. The male goes bersetk, is body goes stiff, he stretches his sh bares his fangs. Of: his tall gets hard and ashes the at ike & hp. You would run, lee. Are you listening? Me—I follow the rail seat big paw marks, no trace of any claws... Tm olf. One day I won't ome back, Eh, no, the male and female dont go hunting together. They go off thei own. But they keep each other company dring the dy, stretch ut together and sleep. Put their heads together. The male facing one ile, the Female the other... Oi: Tm going to bring the jaguar Maria- aria here, Tim not leaving her with any male. Would you like to see x? You won't try to shoot her with that revolver of yours, will you? Ei, me anast a ‘who knows, that revolver of yours could be unlucky, ha? Let me see if there's jinn on it maybe Tcould put ight... Alb, you dont want me to You wont let me touch your revolver? Your eyes have closed three times, youve already opened your mouth and yewmed. If goon count- ing fora bit more, do you think you might fll slep? Eh, whenever they breed, [can always find the Iai. Teir denis slays hidden away where the forest isa ts thickest, a great big hole Inside cave. In the middle of the jungle. The mothe jaguar turns into a she-devl. When list used to kil jaguar, 1 would wat for sic months to meke sure the cubs dda go without food. Then I killed the mother tad left the cubs to grow up. Nhem? Nope, 1 didnt feel sory for them, Thad to make money and sell the skins ... Sure, I cam miow jst like ny cub that bring its mother running in desperation. There was one Saguar with her litter, a great big joguaret@-pixuna real beauty and very rast. | miaowed and miaowed, jaguarainhém, jaguaranhinhenhém She came rushing like @ wild thing, hissing with anger, not knowing, ‘where to turn. I ws miaowing here inside the shack, the mother pina “ame up tothe door begging me to go back to the den. She opened her prow to me ... No, not because she wanted to kil, because she didnt rant to lose her cus, £0 see them seattered. I stopped miaowing, fred Inthe oz, The phtuna ran away, led at once, moved her young half a Teague fom here, found anather lair inthe Jungle swamp. Her cubs werent pixunas, they were spotted jaguars, pinimas ... She picks up tach cub bythe seruf ofthe neck, caries it of, jumps the ravine eaps ‘over any bushes .. Eh stupid beast! But dont you go saying shes se pid That’ for me to sy. Yes, sz Tim drinking all our um. Yeoh, bums {your throat, makes you feel warm inside. I fel happy eally hppy hem? Dont know. I like going around without any clothes on, except for an old pair of pants and a belt round my wast. There's nothing soft about my kin. Ach not that {haven't got clothes to wear, Ive plenty of food clothes, «shit a nice hat. I wear them on Sundays {dont wear boots, dont want them! T don ike having anything on my eet, ike going around in my bate fet, ie, If. Na, there are no feastdays here. ‘hem? No, you wont find mass being sid around here! I vant to g0 to beaver allright, but no priests or missionaries, I dont trust chem, dont want anything to do with them, Tear a litle medal round my neck, T like saints. What suits? Wel, theres Sio Bento who keeps away the snakes ... but snake poison cant do me any harm—Ive gota deers horn, [hol it to the snakebite and it heals up. There arent any dead ‘soul, tagoatbes or ghosts, you dont find them in these parts, atleast a Masterworks of Latin American Shor Fleion Ive never seen any, There’ the devil, but ve never seem him ether Hum-hum "Nhenhémn? What bout me? Youre the one whos ashing, But [axow why you'te asking. A-ha, because Ive go cis hai, chese tiny eyes Sure. No, not fom my father. He was white, he wasnt an Indian. No, ‘not from the Cara tribe. My mother was Péus from the Tacunapéua tbe, faraway from here. But not Carag, the Cardo are cowards. The ‘whole tribe are aa of jaguars. My mother was ealed Marara Mis, he was Indian, Then I lived with the Cara6 tribe, I lived with them, [My gnod, pretty mother give me food, gave me the best of fod, plenty of food, all the food I wanted ... I tavelled a lo, travelled long dis tances, The Caraé tbe used spear, only the Caraé hunters know how to il jguare with spears. Aud? Nhoe-quim Perera Xapudo, sometimes called Quim Crénhe, was afraid of nothing. My friend! A bow, an arrow, «long arrow, Nhem? Al, Ive got more than one name. My mother ‘named me Bacuriquirepa, Breé Bero a well. My father tok re tothe missionary. He baptized me, yeah, he baptized me. Gave me the name “Tonio, do you think that’s nice name? Antonho de Eiess ... Then they started calling me Macunctza ... it was the name ofa farm that belonged to somebody ele, is «place they call Macunedzo ... Now I dont have any name at all, I dant need one. Nh’ Nhuto Guede brought me here, me nhum, all on ray own. He hed no eight! Now I havent gota name [No that’s not a jaguar making that nose. I's tapir teaching her young to swim. Thete are lot of tapirs around here. Tapir meat tastes ‘good, On a hot day the tapi does all ts thinking and knowing in the water Eh, no, the pinima jaguar eats tapes, every one of them. The tapir doesn fight, the tapir uns, escapes. When the jaguar has jumped. to he, she cant run wih the jaguar on her back, nota chance, she hasa't sot the strength, When the pia jaguar jumps on the tapi she bil it Fight aay the taps as good as deed. The Jauarete bleeds the eapir dry, OF, a clear night, good for hunting jaguars! No, sig that’s the noise of other animals, the nighe-swellow, the night, the wood-ow,rwitering away. That animal you heard crying ‘out was the otter saying she's hungry. She cred-—Inal The ater goes ‘swimming upstream. Eh, she comes out of any water with her eoat dry "The guines-pgs? You can hear them from 2 distance feeding, hal in tnd half out of the water... When the jeguar roars let you know. EE, there’ no need. If she roars or yous, youll now at once... She ‘yowls as if she were suffocating, the noise comes from the back of the My uncle, the gu ni thvoat, and what a dhroat ... Hees... Apel Are you frightened? You'e not frightened, are you? But you willbe. The whole jungles arid. The Jaguar can be vicious. Tomorow youl see il show you its tal, pipura ‘One day when there's full moon, you come here, you come and see my tall, just like a jaguars trail, eb, Tm a jaguar! Hur, you don't believe me, do you? Hey, crazy man ... Hey, crazy man... Me jaguar! Nhur? No, Ym no devil. You're the devil with that twisted mouth of yous. You're bbe, vil, ups: Am Ithe der? I could be... [ive in shack without walls." Tin always swimming. Ive even caught a Bladder infection Noequim Caraé wore a cap with a hawk’ feather, The feather of a macaw and flamingo as well. And ostrich feathers round his knees, ankles and waist. But Tm a jaguar The Joguareté is my uncle, my mother’ brother, rai .... My relations| My relations... i, stretch tout your hand ... Give me your hand, let me hold it. Just fra sec- ond Eh, youre holding a revoler? Hum-hum. No need to reach for your revolver... Are you afaid the jaguar is coming tothe shack? Hic, the Jaguar Uinha has crossed the mashes, I can tell she's coming to Ihunt a guines pig, she's creping through the long gras. She crawls ‘long on her belly with her ents pricked up—her eas pop, quaquave the jaguar Uinhia is black, a black del that shines in the moon- light. She stretches out on the ground. The blades of gross tickle inside her nostrils, annoy her, make her sneeve. She eats fish, waterfowl, herons, crake. Listen tothe ufut of the snipe fying away, the snipe Ble left and right... A litle bird Des off in fright without making a sound. The jaguar Uinka sn he least it interested. But the guinea pig has been frightened, has taken a jump. Have you ever heard water splashing? The jaguar Uinhéa must be in a rage. Soaking wet aftr being inthe grass, covered in the white mud from the river bank. Here she comes... She knows you're here, its that horse of yours. Here she comes ... tka morubisa. Here she comes... sweating, she's so hot! (0, your hore is stamping with feat. Eh, there's no need. Uinta has stopped in her tracks. Is she coming? No, she's not coming, that was the tataca or some toad ... Dorit be frightened. Dont be frightened, if ‘he comes Il shoo her avay, chase her out, crive her away. Tm keeping very quiet, I mustn't move; she cant see me. Let che horse neigh it must be trembling ts ears ae pricked up Is the hobble any good? Is, the rope strong enough? Te wont escape. Anyhow, chat horse of yours, hhas seen better days. Wait... cur your revolver away, ih! ne Masterworks of Latin American Short Fetion She won't come now The Uinhia wasnt brave enough ¢o come today. Dorit wor, lee her be: she won't die of hungershe can catch any guines-pig that happens tobe around, a rat, some tiny animal. She even eats porcupine ... Tamortow morning youll se her eal. The Jaguar leaves stink behind that you can easly pick up when she goes by Fist thing in the morning we can go for a bathe. Would you lke ‘hat? Nhem? The smell is at its worst where they've given bh and brought up their young, there it stinks ke anything, like the smell inyself... You can setle down now stop worrying, put your revolver sway The jaguar Uinhia wont come now. She doesnt even belong on this side. She must have crossed the marshes, unless Matamonhangara has invaded her terior and Uinhia got annoyed and moved avay Everything has its own place: take the place for drinking water—the ‘Tbitaba goes ino the lle pool where theresa burt pal-tre; Papa- Gente drinks in the same place along with SuSui in the steam Verednha ... In the middle of the wide river there’ @ boulder. Papa- Gente swims there, climbs onto the boulder, looks a if he's standing up ‘on the water, looks really fierce. He shakes one paw, then the other, shakes his body dry. Staes at everything, stares at the moon... Papa Gente likes living on an island, being capoama of the island, ache [Nhem? Not Pape? Aull The jaguar stack her paw through a hole in «hut, tabbed a small child from his bunk, nipped open his ile belly. 'No, it wasn here, i happened on the plains of Chapada Nove, eh She was an old jaguar, the mate of a wellknown jaguar aguarpiima, 2 realy big beest people had nicknamed Pé-de-Panela. The lite boys father worked on the land, he took his nifle and went after the jaa, sacaquera, sacaquera. The jaguar Péde-Panela hd killed the litle bey, hha killed a mule, Any jaguar that comes close to where people are l= ing ft scared of being chased away, an old jaguar, a jaguar chief eats people, isa dangerous beast, almost a5 wicked as a cruel man, The farmer followed her tall, sacaquera,sacaquera. The pinima can walk for hours, cover long distances, travel all dhrough the night. But Pé-de- Pala had eaten and eaten, she had drunk the mules blond, drunk water, left her tral, gone off to sleepin the heart ofthe jungle, in a hol, al sprawled out. I picked up her tril, sad nothing, told nobody Didi the farmer say the jaguar was his? The farmer went to fetch his ‘dogs, the dogs picked up the scent and found the jaguar. They followed het: The farmer arved, shouted with rage, the rifle wouldnt fie. Pé dde-Panela mauled the farmer, tore his head open, stuffed his hait into hhis brains. They buried what was left of the farmer along with the corpse of is litle boy. I went there, I went to watch, They gave me food, tur, good fod [also wepe with the others Eh, they were offering money to anyone who could kill Pé-de Panels. Ife lke having a go. They talked about tacking her down, Hlum-hum ... How can they uack her down, find her by fllosrng her trai? She was far away ... How can ic be done? Hum, it cant. But 1 know how. I didnt do any searching lay down on the spot, sniffed out her sent. [tur into a jaguar Then (actualy turn into agua, ha ‘mew ..- And all at once I know: I headed towards the mill on the welt, ‘And there she was: Pé-de-Panela had arived early that morning, eaten ‘pia, the man who owned the pig was Rima Toruquato, @ farmer in Sa6. The farmer also offered me money if 'd kil Pé-de-Pancla. 1 agreed. asked for another pig just on loan, ted it to the foot of the pepperttee. As night fll, Péde-Panela didit suspect I was thete, so she set out £0 lok forthe other pg But she didn’t appear. She only rived early next morning as it was geting light. She grunted, opened hher mouth as she came up to me, I fied into her throat and shouted— “Lat this, unelel.." Then [collected my money from everybody was given lots of food, enough to last me for day. They ent me «horse and Saddle. Then Nh Nhuio Guede sent me here to hunt jaguars. A real ‘sine! horrible man! But I came. T shouldnt have done i Aa, T know, I should never have come here in the first place, The jaguars are my people, my relations. They didnt know. Eh, Tim smart, cunning. Tm not frightened. They dda know that I was cruel relation, ready to betray them. I was only fri of one day coming across big jaguar walking with its paws tured in, coming ‘out of the jungle ... Could that happen? Hum-hum. No, no jaguar tppeered, Tin not frightened any more. There's no joguar thre. The jaguar Maneta also used to break into huts Just lke Pé-de-Panela People were frightened to stay in thei own homes. Until one day the jaguar got her pave stack and they were able to go out and kl her from the outside, Everybody was terfied and they only managed to cut her ‘paw with thee scythe, The jaguar roared. They hacked her wrist. She ‘was e black guar. I didnt know hee. They hacked her paw off and she tras able to escape, Then she began terrorizing the people, she started cating humans, liestack, would leave © tril of piss three eet long, feawled around lame, And nobody could manage to catch het: They promised good money: but she couldnt be found. I didnt know her. All {ler was that she was a jaguar called Manet, Untl one day she dis appeared off the Face ofthe earth. It's really weird 2» Masterworks of Latin American Shor Fletlon 1, did you hear that? That sound, something yowling, Listen Yowling way in the distance. Is the mele Apiponga. He must have ‘aught «big animal, wild pig, He's filling his belly He’ lled it onthe ‘edge ofthe forest, down in che ravine where he's ripped ie apart. go ‘there tomorow: Eh. No, you don't know Apipangs: He's the one that makes the most awful nols, gives the loudest roar youve ever head Eh—How he can jump ... He goes on hunting and Kling all night He can kill without leaving any mess! He eats and off he goes; and soon comes back, He sleeps during the day, ying in the sun, sleeps all sprawled out. IF mosquito bothers him, eh, he ges very annoyed. Go tnd see Apiponga for yourself... during the day he sleeps nea a spring inthe bush whete the shrubs ae really thick and cheré’s a query [Nhem? You want to know where Maria-Maria sleeps during the dy, ‘ha? What do you want to know for? What far? Her lai is among the ‘rosemary in clearing inthe bush, not fr from here, so there! So what? You sll don't know where is, ebvehve.. Fyou were to meet Maria- Maria, you would die of fght—even if she is the pretest Jaguar sound, Oi: open your eyes: here she comes, she's coming, she’ com ing. with her mouth half-open, rolling her tongue .... She gives lite g2eps wien the weather's hot, rolls her tongue backwards and forwards, but it never leaves the oof of er mouth. She taps the ground with her pv, very gently then she stretches out, Hat eu, closes her eyes. Eh, she puts her paws infront of her, spread her claws—each claw’ bigger than your litle Binge. AX, she's looking at me, she's looking at me She likes me I were to let her eat you, she'd gobble you up “Take # Jook outside. The moon's so round. im not saying anything. “The moon's not my godfather Rubbish. You're not drinking, Tim offended, drinking here all om my own, Tm Binshing of your rum. Is the moon the godfather of the earad? The careé was talking nonsense. ‘Aus? The caraé called Curiua wanted to marty a white woman. He brought her things, gave them to her a pretty mat, a bunch of bananas, ‘tame toucan vith a yellow beak, the skin ofa Jabut! repale, 2 white stone with a bhie stone inside. The woman had a husband. Ah, i was ike this: the white woman liked the things the caraé Curiua brought ther. But she didnt want to marry him for that would be asin. The caras CCuriua burst out laughing, sid he was sik, that he would only ge bet- terif the white woman joined him inthe hammock. She didnt have to mary him, just ta sleep with him once. He put up his hammock nearby, ft did eat anything. The woman's husband arzved, the woman told him what had happened. The white man flew into a rage. He | | | Dy Une, he Jaguar a pointed his rifle at the caraé Curiua alming for his heart. The earas Started eeyng but the white man shot him he was so angry urn-hum. Oi Iwas there, [never killed anyone. {did kill anyone In the Socé-Bol either Tve never kiled people, I couldnt, my mother warned me never 0 kl. Iwas afzaid of soldiers. 1 cant stand being Tocked up if they were to lock me up, 14 die—for Iwas born during the cold season, at an hour when the sejuga was right in the middle of the ty. Take @ look, the sega bas four litle stars, and two mote. Good row ean you see the one thats missing? You cant see i That other fne—is me... My mother told me. My mother belonged to an Indian tre, she was good to me, £0 good, just lke a jaguar with her eubs, Saquareim. Have you ever seen a jaguar with her cubs? You haven't? The Tmother licks them and licks them, takes care of them. The mother jaguar is ready to die for them, she wont let anybody get near them, no fhe won't... Its only the suagurana that's cowardly, she runs away, Teaves her young othe mercy of anybody who wants them. TE, the joguer’s my relation, the jaguaret® are my people. My mother used to ay, my mother knew how to call ub-ut ... The jaguaret® my ince, an uncle of mine. A-ha, Nhem? You want to know if killed any jaguars? Tklled them, okay 0 I led them. But I dont kl them any ‘more, no { dont! In Soe6-Boi that Pedro Pumpolino asked me, hired me {oil the othe Fellow to settle old scores. I didnt want to. Ev, not me So that some soldiers can arest me? But Tiaguim agreed and eamed the money that was meant for me, he waited forthe man atthe side of the oad». Nhem, what happened? I doit know, I cant remember: | ‘id have anything to do with i, [aid give him any help. 1 wanted nothing to do with it... Tigi along with Missino killed lots of peo- ple. Then he went for an old man, The old man in a rage swore he'd fink the young man's blood. 1 heard everything, They tied up the {young man, the old man eu his throat with aif, drained the blood into & basin... dropped everthing tok myself off, ended up in the (Chapada Nova “That Nib Nhudo Guede, the father of the fat gi, the worst man that ever was, dumped me here, He tld me:—"Kil ll the jaguars!” He left me here on my ovm, hem, on my own so that all {could do was Tisten t my own voice... On my owm the whole time, a parakeet Mies past squaviking, a ericket hiep all night lng, cant stop chirping. The fain comes and it goes on taining and raining. Ive neither father nor ‘mother I only killed jaguars. I shouldnt have done if. The jaguars so pretty and my relation. That Pedro Pampoino said 1 was useles. a Masterworks of Latin Americ Short Fiction wore boot, boots made from snake-skin. ‘The od man with the boos car- ried cre baw. He was heading with his sons and the dunken woode rman for the other side towards the Sera Bonita, they were passing ‘through on thie side to get there... Black Bio was «coward he did't Tike to travel alone, he was returning to some place—who knows where— far away... The black man was seated, he knew the jaguar was yng in wait the jaguar came, asacaquera, all that night I knew i was prowling stound, uuaca, near the campfire, near the huts “Then [spoke tothe black man, tld him that I was going to go with him as far as Formoso. He didnt need any weapon, I had a pistal, a rifle, had a flick-knife, «dagger and my spear | was lying: what I was

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