Esteban crossed her legs with grace, then clasped her hands and took the two indexes to his lips, moistening slightly, as if to make his real thoughts. Antoni Gaudi
front of him was sitting on his bed, his back slightly bent, hands clasped between her thighs, look into the void. Resigned as he had found a few hours earlier, and acting within unmade dirty face. The bearded, disheveled and oblong.
In two hours he had tried to extort a few words of reference, only with a short report that would announce the return of his body. He insisted whisper, repeated aloud. But nothing. So
Gaudi was there for a while, 'as vegetable. Other than itself, by his genius. Every now and then lifted his head and looked around bewildered, before returning to lie down in what looked like a vacuum.
Esteban led him directly into his small apartment, without passing by the study, without stop in the house of his master, in which, he judged, would be left alone. Later, perhaps at night, to pick up some dress Antoni, his sketches home. Then, she thought frantically, he would go to the site and would recover all the slides, books of calculation and design. Meanwhile he had stolen from the coat of Antoni his notebook, his papers and the few personal items and had them placed in a wooden box under the cabinet, the one where there were "Caps" at his pleasure. Tucked neatly on top of each other "on blocks" and ready for use.
perform these operations had been sitting. Shimmering in its clarity. Freezing cold as iron.
"Well Mr. Labriola - had made the prelate wiry, the heavy silver cross around his neck - his reports are quite detailed. Nevertheless we miss something Labruna. There .. there are some discrepancies with other news that we have. It is frankly staggering. "
" Discrepancy. But ... "
" Discrepancy, Labruna. Do not really think that such a delicate task for the curia, the Catalonia has been entrusted only to her? "A few months earlier, during one of the regular monthly meetings, more and more military relations, Esteban had been chased, cornered.
"Alone no. But I carried what I know and I've seen ... "
" We may not see enough. Or perhaps he is married to this cause with the required concentration. We realize that it is not an easy task, but we also think it takes all his attention. A note that until now has not called. "
"Again, Your Eminence, I ..."
"You, Labruna, we must take action. We must say why the site is still far behind the work does not proceed. The workers, the unskilled workers - the tone of the man of the church had become arrogant - are days to move materials, the materials that we pay, we pay over time ... May the faithful Catalans have entrusted to us. She says and does not say. Explains and does not make us understand. Sketches, omits, distracts. It will end ... "
Esteban had looked the priest straight in the eye, as with a burst of pent-up anger and the prelate had softened the tone
" ... that we will finish off the work to Don Gaudi, in spite of Barcelona and its people. That we will eventually take away his job "
" I can do "He had done so
" We can not do? We can not? Look ... "
The man in black had returned, nervous behind his mahogany desk, opened the drawer and had inferred from some crumpled paper and began to read Ruby:
"Antoni Gaudi is sixteen hours ... sixteen hours to observe a bow Antoni Gaudi's east side ... about to kill and break the bank west side of the aisle ... Antoni Gaudi, talks to raise walls between the central nave ... And then: Antoni Gaudi is holding up the yard at night ... The enough? ... I'll explain What you can see the night in a yard? Me explain. And it also explains why these notes we took them too "
Esteban clenched his fists. He wanted take him by the neck and crush him against the wall, he wanted to shove two fingers under the chin and stop the spinning of foul language at the time repulsive to Christian ears.
He wanted to scream in my face. Once. To all:
"I am not a worm. I AM NOT A SPY. I LOVE THAT MAN ...
which has in itself the mystery of the changing nature. Canonized in the form of new parameters dictated by God that breaks down barriers and builds human divine measures. That is a whole city, consisting of many men. Many men and innocent children. Like me. Like you, that you are a filthy beast. "
He said nothing of this. He took one breath that he was perceived as a double, in asthma.
It was instead a breath that turned around.
'It is true. Eminence. He's right "
" I know I'm right. I know perfectly. So I want to tell you one thing I have here some of its latest accounts. I see that his libertine habits do not leave Labruna ... Not because of association with Don Gaudi. If her father saw her ... - smiled slimy and sticky, which remained attached to Esteban - owed money to the most prestigious venues in Barcelona. Restaurants, fashion studios, there is even a music shop. You buy records and gramophones or gives them Labruna ... But do not listen to the music that we want.
These accounts are ours. Now. The owners are faithful I gladly accepted to defer payments if we ask it. And we're going to ask. Every two months, as it is today ... "
Esteban smiled gratefully and opened her eyes wide in astonishment. And
cue, frank: "Don Gaudi is beloved by the people. Not a day goes by that someone will come to bring gifts, votive offerings for the yard, eating ... "
" Barcelona is a city with a big heart - he added, calm returned, the man of church -. A heart so large that it can bring to ruin. In the customs and faith. The detail with which we are referring to, there has been known for years. And we also know that this has increased recently and going, while our work .. Our works are stopped. Have not moved one iota in the last six months.
Antoni Gaudi has aged, the sick, is sick in the mind. This is an injury that we can not afford ... "The priest swallowed
anger and sat at his desk, then pulled a pen from a drawer and placed it on the table before you start talking.
"We are collecting documentation on him, to understand that its origin is absent, its slow. It is now clear that the architect needs care. In any case it is no longer able to carry on his work, his mission. What is our mission "
" How I can help you better, "he asked timidly Labruna
" We need evidence. Conclusive evidence of his madness. Must bring proof! Our original agreement is still valid. In addition there are these .. These accounts. We can settle them all. Bring us something concrete "
" Antoni Gaudi is loved by the people, Your Eminence. You can not step away from his work, the people of Barcelona do not approve ... will never accept "
" You can not? It must be! ... And then we will curare.E 'already prepared everything for him. I'll bring in Lisbon. There, Dr. Egas Moniz heal him with his new surgical methods. University of Lisbon are at the forefront in these things. Catalonia Barcelona ... understand. Understand why must understand. Needless to living saints in this city. We need believers who do their duty, they are able to do so. The poor Gaudi is no longer "
Esteban looked at the silver cross dangling on his chest man. He watched attentively, while his eyes grew slot.
then turned the gun, peaceful, and sull'eminenza smiled, approaching.
"Thanks for everything. Always at your service "and leaned over kissing the bony hand of the priest.
In taking leave, he stammered a "Quick and good" formula of varied
The same evening, he found the Rambla, questioning a doctor friend, what were the experimental nature of this Egas Moniz.
"Oh Esteban - the friend told him, half stunned by cerveza - What names do I? Tell me about lobotomy on a night like this? Think fun. " Esteban Labruna
That night, did not drink anything. Wriggles himself from the legacy of his company and went in the studio of his master. He stood in the dark, leaning against a column in front of the building, watching the light coming through the windows, until it went out.
He had no desire, nor had smoked hashish that solitary That night in winter, could alleviate that sense of determination that who knows what, and unexpressed latent struggled inside him. A determination esondante, which had in it the sense of dragging out every other instinct that led him there. As the river that stretches out and makes her own land should not belong to him, regardless of banks established by act of common sense, risk and emotion.
watched his teacher in that position, got up, put her hands on her head, peering closely at the back of his neck, his skin, the hollow of his eyes. With an infinite sweetness, while her eyes ran fast on every detail of his head. Antoni let do everything, like a succulent plant. The young Labruna then exhaled.
"Thank God. No one has touched it "and shook his head to his chest Elder full of vigor.
He went to study at night like a thief in their place of work. Rolled transparencies, stacking patterns, collected papers and documents. Then came the safe and drew from his vest pocket a piece of paper that he had taken to Anton. Snapped the combination.
Then came home and found him just as it was. He emptied his master, carefully washed it, put the gauze at the knees, soaking up iodine. So expected that the liquid was dry and dressed, floor, clean clothes, taken from the study. He made a bundle with the old ones.
At the first light of dawn two men under his arm, a tall young man, the mustache virtuous, the other senior and bushy white beard, walk through the city. Unknown at the sight of garbage collectors, bakers, fruit carts and the smell of summer, it was stated that, in a few weeks of a hot that made you feel good. Esteban
in that long walk, having thrown in a box of dirty clothes Antoni, began to talk to his teacher. While Don Gaudi supports him in the passage, surrounded by his embrace of life, with his eyes on the ground.
Don Gaudi came to himself, please ... come back to me. She leaned against me, serve me. " There was no complaining, just words
full paraded before dawn, in the yard. Esteban paused a moment and thought it clear that the majesty of that work was almost complete, in view of their passage, in the new play of light dawning. A prospect that thrilled him, perhaps for the first time since he had seen her since then, slippery, it was glued to the back of his brilliant master. Antoni he looked away for just a moment. Then he fell back into his world. Esteban
yanked imperceptible how to speed up the pace. Don seconded the Gaudi as an empty sack.
hour later, and began again to fill the streets, Labruna struck several times by the Gorgon pleasant facade of a building liberty. He waited and then heard a window open. He looked up and saw a woman's hand close its doors. He waited.
"Yeah I want?" He laughed, the young woman beyond the front door while he was opening with a rattle of locks
"And tell me '- was added first to throw open their view - am I to tell you where I went wrong I lived the other night? Or are you that you're never satisfied ... "
The last sentence fell stunned and bewildered at the sight of the woman who was found in front of her lover for a night, an old arm. Then once she recovered, ironic and insightful.
"Cute ... But does not it seem a bit 'soon let me know your father?"
"Estrela, I need your help"
"Amancio. I hope you did not create excessive illusions in this man ... Some things are only good for two "
" Come on ... "
The woman, the wife of a Portuguese sea captain Andalusian there was never, mind lively and irreverent, opened the door to door in the two swallow. Before asking for Antoni, the atrium Estrela feet from head to Esteban. The vest over a white shirt with round neck, a baggy black jacket, the hair standing up, a hint of unshaven.
"What happened? I have let this effect me, or is that you miss me already? "Mocking smile, he had already realized that the stones had come to help her lover.
Esteban explained, keeping silent about the name, that his master was on the run. Fled after an emotional meltdown by important people. Dangerous for him. Needless to say he needed a safe, secure accommodation for at least a couple of days. Waiting to fix things.
Estrela looked at him seriously for the first time and thought it might in a moment that for a Once those emotions could be right for you. Perhaps he thought that Don Gaudi was fleeing the law, a collapse so, but financial. He had no importance. Esteban liked, he aroused the old man with tenderness, it was already Monday morning and the following weekend was still so far away. For other emotions. So he made a sign with his head in two, as if to say: "Come with me"
In doing so gave relief to the young Labruna he could afford to see the robe Estrela and its beautiful decolletage. Climbing the stairs, the swaying of her hips, her face brighten solar Esteban, but he was like hearing a friend scent.
Antoni was placed in one of many empty rooms of the house. In a cozy room, but cold. Esteban stood for a while 'with him, made him lay on the bed and took off her shoes. Then he ran a hand through his hair stuck and he felt tired and hungry.
Estrela, I peered through the door and when he saw her, smiled with his eyes upward and cut his cheeks pink in the morning.
"Come Amancio" The hugging did
"My name is Esteban Esteban ..." he whispered
"I Estrela. I still call Estrela. I took her hand and together they slipped into the bedroom. He no longer felt hungry or tired.
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