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“That you’re Haya de la Torre’s right-hand man? ” Ludovico asked. “That you’re the real headman of APRA and Haya de la Torre is your flunky, Trinidad? ”

“Of course, son, all the time, ” Ambrosio says. “He’d give the landlady a tip so she wouldn’t tell you. ”

“Espina’s a hopeless dumbbell, ” Senator Landa said. “He evidently thinks there’s someone who swallowed the tale of a plot. Even my maid knows that Montagne was put in jail to leave the field to Odrí a. ”

“Don’t kid us like that, pappy, ” Hipó lito said. “Do you want me to stick my prick in your mouth, or what, Trinidad? ”

“The boss thought you’d get mad if you found out, ” Ambrosio says.

“The truth is that arresting Montagne was a bad step, ” Senator Aré valo said. “I don’t know why they allowed an opposition candidate if they were going to take a step backward at the last minute and put him in jail. The political advisers are to blame. Arbelá ez, that idiot Ferro, and even you, Fermí n. ”

“You can see how much your papa loved you, son, ” Ambrosio says.

“Things didn’t turn out the way they were expected to, Don Emilio, ” Don Fermí n said. “We could have had a scare with Montagne. Besides, I wasn’t in favor of putting him in jail. In any case, now we have to try to patch things up. ”

He was shouting now and his arms were like those of a windmill, and his voice rose and thundered like a great wave that suddenly broke Long live Peru! A volley of applause on the platform, a volley on the square. Trifulcio was waving his banner, Long Live Don Emilio Aré valo, now a lot of banners did appear among the heads, Long Live General Odrí a, now they did. The loudspeakers scratched for a second, then they flooded the square with the National Anthem.

“I told Espina what I thought when he announced to me that he was going to arrest Montagne on the pretext of a plot, ” Don Fermí n said. “Nobody’s going to swallow it, it’s going to hurt the General, don’t we have people we can trust on the Electoral Court, at the polling places? But Espina’s an imbecile, no political tact. ”

“So, the headman, so, a thousand Apristas are going to attack Headquarters and rescue you, ” Ludovico said. “You think that by acting crazy you’re going to make fools out of us, Trinidad. ”

“I’m not being nosy, but why did you run away from home that time, son? ” Ambrosio asks. “Weren’t you well off at home with your folks? ”

Don Emilio Aré valo was sweating; he was shaking the hands that converged on him from all sides, he wiped his forehead, smiled, waved, embraced the people on the platform, and the wooden frame swayed as Don Emilio approached the steps. Now it was your turn, Trifulcio.

“Too well off, that’s why I left, ” Santiago says. “I was so pure and thick-headed that it bothered me having such an easy life and being a nice young boy. ”

“The funny thing is that the idea of putting him in jail didn’t come from the Uplander, ” Don Fermí n said. “Or from Arbelá ez or Ferro. The one who convinced them, the one who insisted was Bermú dez. ”

“So pure and so thick-headed that I thought that by fucking myself up a little I would make myself a real little man, Ambrosio, ” Santiago says.

“That all of it was the work of an insignificant Director of Public Order, an underling, I can’t swallow either, ” Senator Landa said. “Uplander Espina invented it so he could toss the ball to someone else if things turned out badly. ”

Trifulcio was there, at the foot of the stairs, defending his place with his elbows, spitting on his hands, his gaze fanatically fastened on Don Emilio’s feet, which were approaching, mixed in with others, his body tense, his feet firmly planted on the ground: his turn, it was his turn.

“You have to believe it because it’s the truth, ” Don Fermí n said. “And don’t tar him so much. Whether you like it or not, that underling is becoming the man the General trusts the most. ”

“There he is, Hipó lito, I’m making a present of him to you, ” Ludovico said. “Get those ideas of being headman out of his brain once and for all. ”

“Then it wasn’t because you had different political ideas from your papa? ” Ambrosio asks.

“He believes him implicitly, he thinks he’s infallible, ” Don Fermí n said. “When Bermú dez has an opinion, Ferro, Arbelá ez, Espina and even I can go to the devil, we don’t exist. That was evident in the Montagne affair. ”

“My poor old man didn’t have any political ideas, ” Santiago says. “Only political interests, Ambrosio. ”

Trifulcio took a leap, his feet were already on the last step, he gave a shove, another, and he crouched down and was going to lift him up. No, no, friend, a smiling, modest and surprised Don Emilio said, thank you very much but, and Trifulcio let go of him, drew back confused, his eyes blinking, but, but? and Don Emilio seemed confused too, and in the group tight around him there were nudges, whispering.

“The fact is that even though he may not be infallible, he does have balls, ” Senator Aré valo said. “In a year and a half he’s wiped the map clean of Apristas and Communists and we were able to hold elections. ”

“Are you still the headman of APRA, pappy? ” Ludovico asked. “Fine, very good. Go right ahead, Hipó lito. ”

“The Montagne affair was this way, ” Don Fermí n said. “One fine day Bermú dez disappeared from Lima and came back two weeks later. I’ve covered half the country, General, if Montagne runs in the election, you’ll lose. ”

What are you waiting for, you imbecile, said the man who gave the orders, and Trifulcio shot an anguished glance at Don Emilio, who made him a signal of quick or hurry up. Trifulcio’s head lowered rapidly, crossed the fork made by his legs, and he lifted Don Emilio up like a feather.

“That was nonsense, ” Senator Landa said. “Montagne never had a chance of winning. He didn’t have the money for a good campaign, we controlled the whole electoral apparatus. ”

“And why did you think my old man was such a great person? ” Santiago asks.

“But the Apristas would have voted for him, all the enemies of the government would have voted for him, ” Don Fermí n said. “Bermú dez convinced him. If I run under these conditions, I’ll lose. That’s how it ended up, that’s why they arrested him. ”

“Because he was, son, ” Ambrosio says. “So intelligent and such a gentleman and so everything else. ”

He heard applause and cheers as he went along with his load on his back, surrounded by Té llez, Urondo, the foreman and the man who gave the orders, he also shouting Aré valo-Odrí a, secure, tranquil, holding the legs tight, feeling Don Emilio’s fingers in his hair, seeing the other hand that was giving thanks and shaking the hands that reached out to him.

“Leave him alone now, Hipó lito, ” Ludovico said. “Can’t you see that you’ve already sent him off to dreamland? ”

“I didn’t think he was a great man, I thought he was a swine, ” Santiago says. “And I hated him. ”

“He’s faking, ” Hipó lito said. “Let me show you. ”

The National Anthem had finished when they were through walking around the square. There was a roll of drums, silence, and a marinera started up. Among the heads and the food and drink stands Trifulcio saw a couple dancing: O. K., take him to the black truck, boy. To the truck, sir.

“The best thing would be for us to talk to him, ” Senator Aré valo said. “You tell him about your talk with the Ambassador, Fermí n, and we’ll tell him that the elections are over, poor Montagne is no danger to anybody, let him go and that gesture will win him support. That’s the way you have to work with Odrí a. ”

“Child, child, ” Ambrosio says. “How can you say that about him, son? ”

“You really do know peasant psychology, senator, ” Senator Landa said.

“You can see he’s not faking, ” Ludovico said. “Leave him alone now. ”

“But I don’t hate him anymore, not anymore now that he’s dead, ” Santiago says. “He was one, but he didn’t know it, it was unconscious. Anyway, there’s a surplus of swine in this country, and I think he paid for it, Ambrosio. ”

Put him down now, said the man who gave the orders, and Trifulcio squatted down: he watched Don Emilio’s feet touch the ground, watched his hands brush off his pant legs. He got into the van and behind him Té llez, Urondo and the foreman. Trifulcio sat in front. A group of men and women were looking, open-mouthed. Laughing, putting his head out the window, Trifulcio shouted at them: Long live Don Emilio Aré valo!

“I didn’t know that Bermú dez had so much influence in the Palace, ” Senator Landa said. “Is it true that he’s got a mistress who’s a ballerina or something like that? ”

“All right, Ludovico, don’t carry on so much, ”’ Hipó lito said. “I’ve already left him alone. ”

“He’s just set her up in a house in San Miguel, ” Don Fermí n said. “The one who used to be Muelle’s mistress. ”

“Did you also think the one you worked for before you were my old man’s chauffeur was a great man? ” Santiago asks.

“The Muse? ” Senator Landa said. “I’ll be damned, she’s quite a woman. Is she Bermú dez’ mistress? She’s a high-flying bird and if you want to keep her caged up you’ve got to have your pockets well lined. ”

“I think he’s already got away from you. Shit, ” Ludovico said. “Throw some water on him, do something, don’t just stand there. ”

“So high-flying that she put Muelle in his grave. ” Don Fermí n laughed. “And a dyke and she takes drugs. ”

“Don Cayo? ” Ambrosio asks. “Never, son, he couldn’t come close to your papa. ”

“He didn’t get away, he’s still alive, ” Hipó lito said. “What are you afraid of, I didn’t leave a scratch or a bruise on him. He passed out from fright, Ludovico. ”

“Who isn’t queer these days, who doesn’t take drugs in Lima? ” Senator Landa said. “We’re really getting civilized, aren’t we? ”

“Weren’t you ashamed to work for that son of a bitch? ” Santiago asks.

“It’s all set, then, we’ll see Odrí a tomorrow, ” Senator Aré valo said. “Today they’ve put the presidential sash on him and we have to let him spend his day looking at himself in the mirror and enjoying it. ”

“I had no reason to be, ” Ambrosio says. “I didn’t know that Don Cayo was going to treat your papa so bad. Because they were such good friends at the time, son. ”

When they reached the ranch house and he got out of the van, Trifulcio didn’t go to get something to eat, but went to the creek to wet his head, his face and his arms. Then he stretched out in the backyard under the eaves by the cotton gin. His hands and throat were burning, he was tired and content. He fell right off to sleep.

“That fellow, Mr. Lozano, that Trinidad Ló pez, ” Ludovico said. “Yes, all of a sudden he went crazy on us. ”

“You ran into her in the street? ” Queta asked. “The one who’d been Gold Ball’s maid, the one who went to bed with you? Was that the one you fell in love with? ”

“I’m glad you got Montagne released, Don Cayo, ” Don Fermí n said. “The enemies of the government were using that as a pretext to say the elections were a farce. ”

“What do you mean, went crazy? ” Mr. Lozano asked. “Did he talk or didn’t he? ”

“They were, as a matter of fact, and just between you and me, we can see that, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Jailing the only opposition candidate wasn’t the best solution, but there was nothing else we could do. The General had to be elected, didn’t he? ”

“Did she tell you that her husband had died, that her son had died? ” Queta asked. “That she was looking for work? ”

He was awakened by the voices of the foreman, Urondo and Té llez. They sat down beside him, offered him a cigarette, chatted. The rally in Grocio Prado had turned out pretty good, hadn’t it? Yes, it had turned out pretty good. There’d been more people at the one in Chincha, hadn’t there? Yes, more people. Would Don Emilio win the election? Of course he’d win. And Trifulcio: if Don Emilio went to Lima as a senator, would they let him go? No, man, they’d keep him on, the foreman said. And Urondo: you’ll stay with us, you’ll see. It was still hot, the late-afternoon sun was tinting the cotton fields, the ranch house, the stones.

“He talked, but he said crazy things, Mr. Lozano, ” Ludovico said. “That he was the second in command, that he was the headman. That the Apristas were coming to rescue him with cannons. He went crazy, I swear. ”

“And you told her there’s a house in San Miguel where they’re looking for a maid? ” Queta asked. “And you took her to Hortensia’s? ”

“Do you really think Odrí a would have been defeated by Montagne? ” Don Fermí n asked.

“I’d say, rather, that he made fools of you, ” Mr. Lozano said. “Oh, what a useless pair. And on top of it, stupid. ”

“So it’s Amalia, the girl who started work last Monday, ” Queta said. “Maybe you’re dumber than you look. Do you think nobody’s going to find out about it? ”

“Montagne or any other opposition candidate would have won, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Don’t you know Peruvians, Don Fermí n? We’re a complex bunch, we like to support the underdog, the one who’s out of power. ”

“Nothing of the sort, Mr. Lozano, ” Hipó lito said. “We’re not useless and we’re not stupid. Come take a look at how we left him and you’ll see. ”

“That you made her swear she wouldn’t tell Hortensia you were the one who told her about it? ” Queta said. “That you made her think Cayo Shithead would kick her out if he found out she knew you? ”

At that moment the door of the ranch house opened and out came the man who gave the orders. He crossed the courtyard, stopped in front of them, pointed his finger at Trifulcio: Don Emilio’s wallet, you son of a bitch.

“It’s too bad you didn’t accept the senate seat, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “The President had hoped you’d be the majority leader in parliament, Don Fermí n. ”

“The wallet, that I took it? ” Trifulcio stood up, pounded his chest. “Me, sir, me? ”

“You pair of fools, ” Mr. Lozano said. “Why didn’t you take him to the infirmary, you pair of fools? ”

“Do you steal from the one who feeds you? ” said the man who gave the orders. “From the one who gives you work and you a known thief? ”

“You don’t know women, ” Queta said. “One of these days she’ll tell Hortensia that she knows you, that you brought her to San Miguel. One of these days Hortensia will tell Cayo Shithead, one of these days he’ll tell Gold Ball. And that’s the day they’ll kill you, Ambrosio. ”

Trifulcio had knelt down, had begun to swear and whimper. But the man who gave the orders wasn’t moved: he was ordering him arrested again, a criminal, a known hoodlum, the wallet, right now. And at that moment the door of the ranch house opened and Don Emilio came out: what was going on there.

“We took him but they wouldn’t take him in, Mr. Lozano, ” Ludovico said. “They wouldn’t accept the responsibility, only if you gave the order in writing. ”

“We’ve already talked about that, Don Cayo, ” Don Fermí n said. “I’d be more than pleased to serve the President. But a senate seat is getting into politics full time and I can’t do it. ”

“I’m not going to say anything, I never say anything, ” Queta said. “Nothing in the world is any business of mine. You’re going to fuck yourself up, but not because of me. ”

“Wouldn’t you accept an ambassadorship either? ” Cayo Bermú dez asked. “The General is very thankful for all the help you’ve given him and he wants to show it. Wouldn’t you be interested in that, Don Fermí n? ”

“Look how he’s insulting me, Don Emilio, ” Trifulcio said. “Look at the terrible thing he’s accusing me of. He even made me cry, Don Emilio. ”

“I wouldn’t even think of it, ” Don Fermí n said, laughing. “I’m not cut out for a legislator or a diplomat either, Don Cayo. ”

“I didn’t do it, sir, ” Hipó lito said. “He went crazy all by himself, he fell on his face all by himself, sir. We barely touched him, believe me, Mr. Lozano. ”

“It wasn’t him, man, ” Don Emilio said to the man who gave the orders. “It must have been some peasant at the rally. You’d never stoop so low as to rob me, would you now, Trifulcio? ”

“The General is going to be hurt by your being so stand-offish, Don Fermí n, ” Cayo Bermú dez said.

“I’d let them cut off my hand first, Don Emilio, ” Trifulcio said.

“You people complicated this whole thing, ” Mr. Lozano said, “and you’re going to uncomplicate it all by yourselves, you bastards. ”

“Not stand-offish, you’re wrong, ” Don Fermí n said. “The time will come when Odrí a can pay me back for my services. You see, since you’re so frank with me, I can be the same with you, Don Cayo. ”

“You’re going to take him out nice and quiet, you’re going to take him nice and carefully, ” Mr. Lozano said, “you’re going to leave him somewhere. And if anyone sees you, fuck you, and I’ll fuck you besides. Understood? ”

Oh, you black scoundrel, Don Emilio said. And he went into the ranch house with the man who gave the orders, and Urondo and the foreman also left after a while. You let them insult you all they wanted, Trifulcio, Té llez laughed.

“You’re always inviting me out and I’d like to return it, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “I’d like to invite you to have dinner at my house one of these nights, Don Fermí n. ”

“The man who insulted me didn’t know what he was leaving himself open to, ” Trifulcio said.

“It’s all set, sir, ” Ludovico said. “We took him out, carried him away, left him, and nobody saw us. ”

“Did you lift the wallet? ” Té llez asked. “You can’t fool me, Trifulcio. ”

“Whenever you say, ” Don Fermí n said. “It would be my pleasure, Don Cayo. ”

“I lifted it but he didn’t know it, ” Trifulcio said. “Do you want to go to town tonight? ”

“At the door of San Juan de Dios Hospital, Mr. Lozano, ” Hipó lito said. “Nobody saw us. ”

“I’ve taken a house in San Miguel, near the Bertoloto Hotel, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “And besides, well, I don’t know whether you heard, Don Fermí n. ”

“Who, what are you talking about? ” Mr. Lozano said. “Haven’t you forgotten about it yet, you bastards? ”

“How much money was there in the wallet, Trifulcio? ” Té llez asked.

“Well, I’d heard something, yes, ” Don Fermí n said. “You know what parrots people in Lima are, Don Cayo. ”

“Don’t be so nosy, ” Trifulcio said. “Be happy that I’ll be buying the drinks tonight. ”

“Oh, yes, oh, of course, ” Ludovico said. “Nobody, nothing, we’ve forgotten all about it, sir. ”

“I’m a country boy, in spite of a year and a half in Lima, I’m still not sure of the customs here, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Frankly, I felt a little hesitant. I was afraid you’d refuse to come to my house, Don Fermí n. ”

“Me too, Mr. Lozano, word of honor, I forgot, ” Hipó lito said. “Who was Trinidad Ló pez? I never saw him, he never existed. You see, sir? I’ve forgotten already. ”

Té llez and Urondo, drunk now, were nodding on the wooden bench in the cheap bar, but in spite of all the beers and the heat, Trifulcio was still awake. Through the holes in the wall the sandy little square turned white by the sun could be seen, the shack where the voters were going in. Trifulcio was looking at the policemen standing in front of the shack. During the course of the morning they had come over a couple of times to have a beer and now there they were in their green uniforms. Over the heads of Té llez and Urondo a strip of beach could be seen, a sea with splotches of shining algae. They’d seen the boats leave, they’d seen them dissolve into the horizon. They’d eaten marinated fish and fried fish and potatoes and had drunk beer, lots of beer.

“Do you take me for a monk, a boob? ” Don Fermí n said. “Come on, Don Cayo. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve made a conquest like that. I’d be delighted to dine with you two, as many times as you want. ”

Trifulcio saw the cloud of dust, the red van. It crossed the small square through the barking dogs, stopped in front of the bar, the man who gave the orders got out. Had a lot of people voted already? An awful lot, they’d been going in and coming out all morning. He was wearing boots, riding breeches, a pullover shirt: he didn’t want to see them drunk, they shouldn’t have any more. And Trifulcio: but there were a couple of cops there, sir. Don’t worry about it, said the man who gave the orders. He got into the van and it disappeared in the midst of barking and a cloud of dust.

“After all, you’re partly to blame, ” Cayo Bermú dez said. “Remember that night at the Embassy Club? ”

The ones who were coming out after voting approached the bar, the woman who owned it barred their entry: closed because of elections, they weren’t serving. And why wasn’t it closed for those guys? The old woman gave no explanations: out, or she’d call the cops. The people went away, grumbling.

“Of course I remember. ” Don Fermí n laughed. “But I never imagined that you were going to end up being shot through by an arrow from the Muse, Don Cayo. ”

The shadow of the shacks around the square was already longer than the strips of sunlight when the red van appeared again, loaded with men now. Trifulcio looked toward the shack: a group of voters was watching the van with curiosity, the two policemen were also looking in that direction. Let’s go, the man who gave the orders hurried the men, who jumped to the ground. The voting would be over soon, pretty soon they’d be sealing up the ballot boxes.

“I know why you did it, you poor devil, ” Don Fermí n said. “Not because she was getting money out of me, not because she was blackmailing me. ”

Trifulcio, Té llez and Urondo came out of the bar and placed themselves at the head of the men from the truck. There weren’t more than fifteen and Trifulcio recognized them: men from the cotton gin, farmhands, the two houseboys. Sunday shoes, cotton pants, big straw hats. Their eyes were burning, they smelled of alcohol.

“What do you think of this fellow Cayo? ” Colonel Espina said. “I thought that all he did was work night and day, and look what he got for himself. A beautiful female, right, Don Fermí n? ”

They advanced as a platoon across the square and the people in the shack began to elbow each other aside. The two guards came out to meet them.

“But because of the anonymous note she sent me telling me about your woman, ” Don Fermí n said. “Not to get vengeance for me. To get vengeance for yourself, you poor devil. ”

“There’s been cheating here, ” the man who gave the orders said. “We’ve come to protest. ”

“I was flabbergasted, ” Colonel Espina said. “I’ll be damned, quiet old Cayo with a woman like that. Unbelievable, isn’t it, Don Fermí n? ”

“We won’t stand for any fraud, ” Té llez said. “Long live General Odrí a, long live Don Emilio Aré valo! ”

“We’re here to maintain order, ” said one of the policemen. “We’ve got nothing to do with the voting. Make your protests to the people at the tables. ”

“Hurray! ” the men shouted. “Aré valo-Odrí a! ”

“The funny thing is that I gave him advice, ” Colonel Espina said. “Don’t work so hard, enjoy life a little. And look what he came up with, Don Fermí n. ”

The people had come closer, mingling with them, and they looked at them, looked at the policemen, and laughed. And then, out of the door of the shack came a little man who looked at Trifulcio, startled: what was that noise all about? He was wearing a jacket and tie, eyeglasses, and he had a sweaty little mustache.

“Break it up, break it up, ” he said with a tremulous voice. “The polls are closed, it’s already six o’clock. Guards, make these people go away. ”

“You thought I was going to fire you because of what I found out about that business with your woman, ” Don Fermí n said. “You thought that by doing that you’d have me by the neck. Even you wanted to blackmail me, you poor devil. ”

“They say there’s been cheating, sir, ” one of the policemen said.

“They say they’ve come to protest, doctor, ” the other one said.

“And I asked him when are you going to bring your wife down from Chincha, ” Colonel Espina said. “Never, she can stay in Chincha, that’s all. Look how Cayo the country boy has livened up, Don Fermí n. ”

“It’s true that they’re trying to cheat, ” said a man who came out of the shack. “They’re trying to steal the election from Don Emilio Aré valo. ”

“Hey, what’s wrong with you. ” The little man had opened his eyes as wide as saucers. “Didn’t you oversee the voting as a representative of the Aré valo ticket? What cheating are you talking about? We haven’t even counted the ballots yet. ”

“Enough, enough, ” Don Fermí n said. “Stop crying. Wasn’t that how it was, isn’t that what you were thinking, didn’t you do it because of that? ”

“We won’t stand for it, ” said the man who gave the orders. “Let’s go inside. ”

“After all, he has a right to have some fun, ” Colonel Espina said. “I hope the General doesn’t look too badly on this business of taking a mistress so openly like that. ”

Trifulcio grabbed the little man by the lapels and gently pulled him away from the door. He saw him turn yellow, felt him trembling. He went into the shack behind Té llez, Urondo and the man who gave the orders. Inside a young man in overalls stood up and shouted, you can’t come in here, police, police! Té llez gave him a shove and the young man fell to the ground shouting police, police! Trifulcio picked him up and sat him in a chair: calm down, take it easy, man. Té llez and Urondo picked up the ballot boxes and went outside. The little man looked terrified at Trifulcio: it was a crime, they’d go to jail, and his voice gave way.

“Shut up, you were paid by Mendizá bal, ” Té llez said.

“Shut up, unless you want us to do it for you, ” Urondo said.

“We’re not going to stand for any fraud, ” the man who gave the orders said to the policemen. “We’re taking the ballot boxes to the District Board of Elections. ”

“But I don’t think he will, because nothing Cayo does ever seems bad to him, ” Colonel Espina said. “He says that the greatest service I did for the country was digging Cayo up out of the provinces and bringing him to work with me. He’s got the General in his pocket, Don Fermí n. ”

“Come on, all right, ” Don Fermí n said. “Don’t cry anymore, you poor devil. ”

In the van Trifulcio sat up front. Out of the window he saw the little man and the boy in overalls arguing with the police at the door of the shack. The people were looking at them, some pointing at the van, others laughing.

“All right, you weren’t trying to blackmail me, you were trying to help me, ” Don Fermí n said. “You’ll do what I tell you, all right, you’ll obey me. But that’s enough, don’t cry anymore. ”

“All that waiting just for this? ” Trifulcio said. “There were only two guys there for Mr. Mendizá bal. The others were just looking on, that’s all. ”

“I don’t despise you, I don’t hate you, ” Don Fermí n said. “It’s all right, you respect me, you did it for me. So I wouldn’t suffer, all right. You’re not a poor devil, all right. ”

“Mendizá bal was so sure of himself, ” Urondo said. “Since this is his territory, he thought he’d run away with the election. But he got stuck. ”

“It’s all right, it’s all right, ” Don Fermí n repeated.

THE POLICE HAD PULLED THE SIGNS off the walls of San Marcos, had erased the letters that said up the strike and down with Odrí a. No students were to be seen on the campus. Policemen were clustered together across from the founders’ chapel, two patrol cars parked on the corner of Azá ngaro, a troop of assault guards in the neighboring vacant lots. Santiago went along Colmena, the Plaza San Martí n. On the Jiró n de la Unió n at every sixty feet a policeman appeared, impassive among the pedestrians, a submachine gun under his arm, a gas mask slung over his shoulder, a cluster of tear-gas grenades on his belt. The people coming out of office buildings, the idlers and the Don Juans looked at them with apathy or with curiosity but without fear. On the Plaza de Armas there were also patrol cars and in front of the Palace gates helmeted soldiers were seen along with the sentries in black-and-red uniforms. But on the other side of the bridge, in Rí mac, there weren’t even any traffic police. Boys with the faces of hoodlums, hoodlums with tubercular faces, were smoking under the musty lampposts on Francisco Pizarro, and Santiago went along between bars that spat out the staggering drunks and beggars, the ragged children and stray dogs of other times. The Hotel Mogolló n was narrow and long like the unpaved alley where it was located. There was nobody in the booth that served as a desk, the narrow lobby and the stairway were dark. On the second floor, four golden lines marked the door of the room, which was too small for its frame. He gave three light taps as a password and pushed it open: Washington’s face, a cot with a blanket, a bare pillow, two chairs, a small chamber pot.