Deep Down

Deep down
(English version of the novel No fondo)
Raquel Couto Antelo
Preparations To tell this story well I have to begin by introducing all the people who plays the leading roles in it. I hope to do it right: Andrs: He is... he is a petty detective, an excop, he didnt left the police with disgrace, he just had shot out before the thing became serious, we all know that civil servants salary is not huge, of course not. Carlos: He is a lawyer, yes, it could be worse. He studied to get rich; but, as we all know well, nobody became rich working so he married Alicia. Alicia: She is a rich kid, not so kid actually, she married Carlos because everybody was getting married and he was the only one she believed he let himself. Paco: Our poor little Paco is a cop, without ex, an active policeman, not here, at the capital. He is a bit cheeky so-and-so and a bit unscrupulous but around here a Paco always has something to do. Alberto: He is a good guy, a bit womanizer and very cheeky; but a good guy, a policeman too; I put them together because the sooner we go through them the better. Mara: She is exceptional, a workingwoman, with three kids, a housewife... she only has a little fault, she is a councillor; no, this is not the fault, the little fault is being a Councillor of Culture... in this Council. Josefa: She is also a councillor and workingwoman, a Councillor of Education no less, forty-five years old and leads life to the full in her spare time. I dont judge her, Im eaten with envy; I wish I can live like that at her age. 2
Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo
Carme: Its not that she is exceptional; she is a saint, divorced from the Councillor of Town Planning, which is a crime on its own, marry him not divorce him, and among other things she is also Alicias mother. The Council: By the same cop token I should talk now about the rest of the Councils people but they are really odd fishes. Salva: He is, explain... he is so nice, but so hard to
Sandra: She is fantastic, tender, sweet and always happy, optimistic by nature and as everybody must have some fault she has the worst of all, she is hooked, yes, hooked on gossip TV shows, no less!! Ramn: He is, is, divine; well, we are not going to lie, Ramn is... Handsome? No. Noble? No. Affectionate and attentive? No; but he is the main character and therefore if we have to say he is handsome, noble, affectionate and attentive we say it and thats all. Xiana: She can be described with one and only word D-i-v-i-n-e... but the really plain full-truth is that she is the very main character and furthermore, she is me. And some other character will appear around, but only if the script demands it. If you want to read this story well you have to read it very fast, its complicated I know, just picture yourself as Juan Pazos at the Alfaiate telling that its dawning a new day thing to a devoted audience. I will try to do short chapters to give you time to breath; anyway, if you see you are getting blue and the full stop doesnt come youd better take a breath.
And, lastly, the story leads to an end, it might seem it doesnt by the numerous interruptions, but I swear over the Sin Chans Galician version it does. Now everything is clear we are ready to start.
Chapter 1. The beginning I was wandering around the Mars Park taking advantage of the low tide, the fancy open-air cafes and the lots of tourists; they came all the time, they are everywhere, so I supposed I could get something... a job I mean, I was unemployed. Fine, get lucky, if you dont believe I wanted a job when I was getting money doing nothing I must say the truth, but it was more interesting the other way. The fact is that I was wandering around, looking here and there; there were lots and lots of people, Im telling you, there were families with children and dogs and cats, what a party! I was really absent-minded looking backwards while I was walking forwards; in other words, I was walking all twisted, and when I tried to put my head in the same direction as my legs I embedded in a body, lord what a body! He was Ramn, he was as big as I remembered him, physically speaking, I didnt mean he was the light that lighted my life and so. Once I bumped into him, when I still havent looked up to see his face, and as one was jobless but well brought up, I apologized, the usual in this cases, and he said: You are drunk Xiana!
Actually he didnt say this, its a tribute to the phrase You are drunk Sue Ellen, because I think its funny and because I felt like writing this here. What he really said was: Dont worry, it doesnt matters, I already saw you were in a world of your own. Bloody hell Xiana! Its you! I havent seen you for ages! Come, have a drink with us and we talk for a while.
I went, for three reasons mainly: 1. Because I had gone fishing and I saw a clear chance of fishing, I mean, resit something. 2. I was tired; I had being walking for hours. 3. It was for free. We went to a table where other two men were waiting for us, and as it was a few metres far and I have an incredible mental agility I had time to think, its not showing off, its the truth: 1. What a lucky devil I was finding him again after so many years just by chance, what a fortune! What a delightful surprise! 2. If he saw I was walking absent-minded... how is that he didnt move aside not to collide with me? And to sum up, was it a coincidence we collided? And we arrived at the table. Yes, I couldnt think more than two things; there were only a few metres, take it easy. There were Paco and Alberto, I knew it because Ramn introduced them to me, it wasnt that I knew them or they had their names written on their faces, no. Alberto was handsome, a real handsome man, with the colgate smile included. Not Paco, I can say it gently but he is clearly not handsome. What they three had in common for sure, because Ramn wasnt good looking either, even though he had his point, was a kind of shamelessness and cheeky that made them very attractive. I thought I had ended up in that table by the chance of appearing on the Mars Park; but I was wrong, as the conversation was going on I realized that the thing had more depth. Ramn began the conversation with a subtle and casual this is the writer while we were sitting down. I, of course, sat down in one go, wouldnt 6
I? I didnt expect him to read that novel and, particularly, that he recognized himself under the main character name. It was obvious I was wrong; he wouldnt drop it that way, taking the mickey, if he hadnt. That was all I needed, I almost had declared my eternal love for him among other even more embarrassing things. His friends didnt make too much as if to go deeply into the wounded, anyway; in fact, later, all was more natural and there wasnt any mention more to the literary subject. Ramn was acting as the typical person from A Corua hosting the typical persons from Madrid, it is like that, they cannot help it, I liked him but the guy is just like that; the thing is that he started to explain all the clichs while they were nibbling a Galician octopus portion because I dont know why they all got so into the Galician octopus, maybe its the same that makes me get into the spring rolls at the Chinese restaurants, who knows? And with that beginning it was a matter of time the conversation went trough the treasure story. Story that was not true, I want to make it crystal clear, but it happens the same when a ship shanks, it might carry eucalyptus to the celluloses that once they had sunk they always contain a safe full of money. Lets see, Im not really quite sure about it, but the natural instinct is saying it isnt when the other is saying it is to make him look stupid. So, he was telling the story so badly, fine it was a legend but it had to be told like it was, being faithful to the oral tradition, or better shut up. It wasnt at the Megainternational Bank it was at the Universal Savings Bank I specified. Yes, what she says Ramn said almost without stopping talking, I mean, without interrupting the story of the treasures legend.
But his was a story full of inaccuracies, and I had to interrupt him every single word because it was a complete disaster. Well, you tell it then Ramn said very angry, very sexy, of course, but really very angry.
And I did so, not because he had told me to, but because if it had to be told, it had to be told well, or better not to do it.
Chapter 2. The treasure The arrival of the tsunami had been confirmed for March according to all the experts forecasts. This time the epicentre wasnt at Becerre, the news said it clearly, the mayor had sold it as an achievement, the third point of the electoral programme be, at last, the epicentre of an earthquake and I wouldnt assure categorically it wasnt like that. It also coincided the economic cycle began to grow and they could take out all the undeclared incomes that had been accumulated in the private strongrooms of the big banks since the introduction of the euro. They couldnt take them out before without arousing suspicions. Its not that I like talking but if they said they were going through a bad patch they couldnt go spending money in a rush, sure they didnt mind what the rest of the mortals thought, its that the Treasury might suspect something, which is what truly matters. In short, in the banks coffers, in the real ones, in the ones that contain wads of hundreds not in accounts entries; in these, there were loads of money, but loads of loads and they were overflowing with money. At the city, which really took the biscuit, I mean, the loads, was the Universal Savings Bank, and as its own name indicates it is Universal and omnipresent. The biggest strongroom of the Universal Savings Bank was at the head office, but the head office of the centre, of the city centre not the business centre super-modern ultra-innovative complex. Who was going to suspect that having the operating centre at the Industrial State they kept the money at the city centre? But that is the way it was, and it was not to arouse suspicions and to avoid robberies, because at the centre, where the head office was, it was almost impossible to park something powerful enough to do something bad
enough. OK, there was some hold-up, as in all of the banks but in spite of what the press, the bank and the insurance companies said, they never held up more than a few thousands, so few. When the tsunami menace was firm they launched the evacuation plan, it was a plan prepared by the councils experts advised by North American specialist, from Hawaii, from the PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center), who were very experienced in tsunamis. No, they didnt come here or anything. What really happened was that the Council completely ignored the Seismograph Institutes reports. Come on! A tsunami around here? No way! Maybe that big waves that knocked the promenade baluster down again, it almost happens every winter and came in handy to hire that companies that, by chance, were always the same; I neither say the Council sent the waves on purpose to maintain his friend-companies that exaggerate the figures without any problem, but its a remarkable coincidence. The thing is that the Seismograph Institute insisted so much, and so much they pestered that forced them to pay attention, not by conviction but because the rat bastards of the Institute talked with the press and the panic spread all around the city frightening the Council. So, to silence the rumours they couldnt think a better way out than give a press conference to say how the whole thing was well planned, incredibly studied and how they had all-all-and-all under super-mega-control. Obviously they hadnt, they didnt even know from which point they had to start. The full council meeting took place at the Tapestry Lounge, which was already praiseworthy, and under the slogan of we are not going until we find a solution they closed themselves by the inside. Of course civil servants had another slogan that its not only a slogan but a basic and unshakeable principle that prevails over every other rule or slogan: when its time to leave, its time to leave. Considering they had gone in the lounge after 10
coffee hour, at about 13:45 hours, and they had to leave to each ones office to tidy up before leaving at 14:00, they had to be more than fast and agile planning the strategy. The crisis cabinet was in crisis proper and for two minutes they were looking at each other, and other to each, without speaking until one swine had the regrettable witticism of saying maybe we should tell the truth. Shit on the bloody party discipline and in your fucking mother Cabanas, sod you! The mayor said.
Cabanas had so funny ideas! Afterwards, who knows who, because after the fit of the mayor nobody dared say a word and bugged him more, it wasnt that important but, then, the briefcases didnt go where they should, and the end of the month was coming soon and the holidays too and the detached house in Oleiros had its expenses. The shy voice said, we can search in the google. And what asked. the fuck is that? The mayor
The Councillor of Education, the one who knew about these things, opened the laptop, the Internet and the google. As it was not matter of thinking too much and, as they had only few minutes left, they went to the point, she wrote down tsunami and there appeared hundreds of entries. She went down with the cursor urgently searching an emergency evacuation plan. The mayor didnt understand the expending in ultra modern computers if they had to write it down word by word. They made one last try tsunami emergency evacuation plan. And then Pacific Tsunami Center appeared, or something like that, it was written in English and the only they could see clearly was the tsunami thing; this and that it was in Hawaii. The mayor got upset and said that it wasnt the moment to search travel bargains. The Tourism
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Councillor, the one who was in charge of travelling abroad to promote the city and that supposedly had a degree in English of the Oxford University and that even could speak with a Glaswegian accent, sat down in front of the screen and started to read his way. Its understandable that the plan was only one page long despite the original was larger; the thing is that they only chose the things they could almost understand for sure. Then, they thought it was fine to quote the source, because you must quote the sources and, above all, to have someone to blame. The press bought it, more or less, because they thought they had given them a clear and concise summary of a wider plan, and because the press already knew there was a PTWC whose headquarter was in Hawaii that watched the Ocean, well experienced in evacuations in case of tsunami events and that even made exercises. The press did know. Its also understandable it didnt work quite well, even though, I must say, the thing didnt go as bad as it was planned, there werent big losses. When they told the people to evacuate in style, to pack and leave, people got the giggles, they werent to pack and leave their houses, that still hadnt paid, to go to nowhere and loose everything. Another thing the Council didnt count on because in Hawaii they only had to rebuilt their huts and that was all the mayor thought. So they had to create a compulsory expropriation agreement, the Council committed to help them with the reconstruction of their houses or to provide others with the same characteristics with the disaster area aids they were going to receive. Its not that the people wasnt afraid of the tsunami, its that the people didnt trust a single inch the Council, so, therefore, they had to evacuate by force two days before the terrible 12
event. And they got it! And they even finished in time to let the first evacuated the chance of calling the Council names under the sun because at the end there wasnt going to be any tsunami; but there was, broadcasted live satellite link and followed live by millions of dazzled spectators that saw the Riazor sandy area like they said it was centuries ago according to the simulated photographs at the San Pedros promenade, when the sea moved away; and then they saw, too, how the water came back and covered it all and destroyed everything going through. It didnt only affected the city, a bit, a bit also affected the rest of the coast, but as A Corua was in the very epicentre and it has that turtles head shape in words of Manuel Rivas, former Manolo but not yet, acted as a breakwater and curbed the effects over the rest. It was that shape too which prevent the waters to go back to its normal place, acting as limit, as storage; in other words, made the water stay at the same level, not the former level but above, above the buildings and above everything. And there it began, everything got flooded and with the water the rumours arrived: the Universal Savings Bank had to leave in a hurry and left behind all the money... You see, while you watch a tsunami live on TV you are plenty of time to think whatever silly thing you want. The legend sprang up when the journalist asked the President of the Universal Savings Bank about this rumour and he denied it completely saying that they were fallacies and contemptibleness. Who follow the gossip TV shows know well it was a clear confirmation of the rumours. So, under the water, in the very centre of the old A Corua city, deep down, there is the biggest strongroom of Galicia full of money, lots and lots of money, that money that comes in wads, waiting for someone to go down and rescue them.
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Chapter 3. They say They say I pointed out.
And I pointed it out to make it clear it was a legend, because these amateur tourists were always in the way and we had to rescue them from drowning because they got caught to a door down there. Well, it seems feasible Paco said. Yes, it could be true Alberto added.
I knew it, they loved these stupid things, I was about to go to a bank and ask for a loan to open a bar and tell stories to that idiots, I would have them quite busy. They had four beers in the meanwhile I told the treasures story and they were paying attention. Ramn looked at me saying he would tell it better, sure! How could he? He didnt know half the information, all inaccuracies; but criticizing is easy. A silence fell, not awkward but a bit tense and, as I had finished my drink and seeing the legend thing had had it and that Ramn was in a bad mood, I thought I should go. Are you going already? Ramn said. Yes, I am I said. again, I
He grabbed my hand and I sat down couldnt believe it, what a loose I was! -
Lets see Xiana, if the treasures story was true, do you think there would be a way to get it? Ramn asked. Well, with the right equipment, a lot of time and knowing how to open a high security strongroom, sure I said.
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I must admit my voice was kind of contemptuous, but he didnt have to get like that: Really Xiana? I have just remembered why I dumped you He said frantically. ha... sure the reason was my witty haaaa, haaaaa, and shouldnt it be of that metre-ninety tall blonde... it? ... It should, of course.
Ha, ha, answers, because shouldnt
He noticed it, or so seemed to me, because he changed his cocky face to a real softie. Im not the one to blame. What do you do? Paco asked.
He dropped it just like that; I didnt even know he was talking to me. Ramn clear it up with a bad look, he was really sensitive. I told him I didnt do anything, that I was unemployed. Ramn kept looking badly at me. He knew more than he showed, I also noticed it; but I was not going to confess in front of a cop which business was mine, we were getting on very well, but I was taking care. Fine, I can tell it to you, it doesnt matter now. I was recoverer, it was a new job born after the tsunami. People left in a hurry and, later, as they were settling down at their new homes, they realized they had forgotten little things, those little things that always get lost in the moves and that when you realize you dont have them it makes a hole in your heart: your first Communion photo album, your lucky tie, etc. And you will say, where is the mystery? The thing is that, how can I say it? That was the cover, I mean, the excuse, because we had few orders of that kind, really few, some from time to time. On the other hand, we had a different kind of orders, just a bit more self-interested, the typical, one jeweller that had already received the insurance compensation for a bunch of platinum rings he had
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into the counter and, afterwards, gets homesickness and wants to hire us to go down and recover them, without telling it to the insurance guys, of course. And, there were also the other orders, those that didnt come exactly from the legal owners of the things we had to recover, you see, they kind of knew that so-and-sos uncles grandpas sister in law had something into his mattress and they asked us to recover it, with the intention of giving it back to him, of course, but with all the mess and the trouble maybe they couldnt find him, but it was better that an acquaintance had the goods... I didnt ask too much questions, exactly none and I didnt use to recover all the items people ordered, that was what I told them, the same the dressmakers, didnt they always keep a piece of fabric when they made a dress? I think we have to keep the traditions and thats that. I wasnt afraid, I mean, there was a kind of gap in the law between the sea treasures recovery law and the private property law, because they still hadnt agreed if the land flooded by the tsunami was maritime or private property. My theory is that if the sea always gives back what is not its, and it kept occupying that territory, it meant it was its, and as I said before, thats that. Anyway the job we were doing wasnt very well thought, people didnt feel comfortable with others taking their things. They said we were getting rich at their expense, but as they couldnt catch us they had to put up with it and, when they needed it, ask for something. I wasnt getting rich, the most I could get were things to swap at the central shops, sometimes I could get food for the whole month, or the latest generation equipment, you know: radars, prospectors, immersion equipment, the usual.
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I understand that you do other jobs or, al least, that is what your record says Alberto dropped.
My record? Oh my god, did I have a record? Paco and Alberto are in the trade Ramn said with sarcasm.
Fuck, what a lucky shot! There was no problem, anyway; unless I confessed they had nothing, nothing at all; they knew what I do, and so what? If they didnt catch me red-handed they had nothing to do; yes, they could lay a trap with a false order, or maybe a client let the recover out of the bag; if they were so clever, their brightness was enough to set a nocturnal patrol, but they didnt like getting wet so they never got to catch us. What fools you are! There is nothing down there I said. Well, we are because... going to know it soon
Paco started to say, but suddenly he gave a jump as somebody had kicked him bluntly to shut up. I took a quick look around to get a signal but I didnt see anything, even I appreciated it because the treasure topic ended there. And also finished there the evening.
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Chapter 4. Pacos mistake (Part one) Andrs could hardly forget that 7th of July, he arrived at work as every day; I mean, late, bad and dragging. His boss called him to his office, that wasnt surprising either, he always was doing things wrong, not because he was useless but because he wasnt motivated; or in other words, his motivations didnt came from the right places. The chief, calm as he used, with the calmness years of career and of having seen every kind of things gave, said. Put the weapon and the badge on the table and leave, I dont want to see you again.
And Andrs dropped his last joke in the police station, shouldnt it be the badge first? He said insinuating the chief was afraid of him; but the chief wasnt afraid, he was cautious, years of career and of having seen every kind of things told him that Andrs couldnt do much with a badge but with a gun... Then, he left the office so satisfied, saying he had resigned; but he hadnt, they fired him, discreetly, of course. The chief did it because Andrs father was a friend of him and the internal affairs were approaching dangerously. He just knew it from the beginning; he took after his father but without his cunning. Andrs father had the virtue of knowing how flexible the thin line that separates good and evil was. Andrs hadnt, he was as subtle as a cow making Camarias lace. It was a disgrace to Andrs father because of the embarrassment during the Saturday cards games and the Sunday soccer matches, if the thing got a bit tense the subject would come out, in fact, it came out every time it was necessary to undermine the opponents morale. But deep down he felt a strong relief; only god knows how many Iberian hams he 18
had to career.
give
to
the
chief
in
his
sons
short
It also was a relief to Andrs, not half! He thought he could keep on with his job but avoiding his fathers, his chiefs and the boring guys of the internal affairs lectures. But he forgot a little detail; the people he did business with only were interested in him because he was a cop. It was obvious, but Andrs hadnt time to think... or brain. Luckily for him, he had that second-hand cars salesman charm that men liked so much and he got to keep the contact with his academy partners, Paco, Alberto and Ramn. They three had more or less the same ethics, although they had a bit more of shame and more than a bit of fear, they not only had joined the police by vocation, but also because they wanted a steady job where they couldnt give them the sack easily, which gives us a clue of their efficiency. Thats how he got the private detective licence and opened an office in his flat, without the residents association permission or a plate on the door; but there is an office at that flat, his neighbour certainly says it here comes such a people! but who is going to pay attention to a poor lady that is known as the grapevine of the neighbourhood. He is earning his living, from time to time he gets a great fright, but having the one and only latest Jaguar of the city more than repays him. Andrs most important client, or at least the one who gives him more job, was the mayor, birds of a feather flock together, although in favour of Andrs we have to say he was a client inherited from his father. He didnt pay badly and he was a grateful man, well, to be more precise I should say he was a vindictive and resentful man if you didnt do what he asked to, therefore, and following for the first time in his life his
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fathers advise, Andrs did everything the mayor ordered. From his relation with the mayor Andrs got many contacts, really good contacts, really dosh contacts, he ended up working for the Council in general, he was like the caretaker of the dark side, he knew everything about everybody; and, in the long run, that was the best pension scheme. The mayor calmed down as he got older, the calm an amassed fortune gives, of course; but his relax didnt make a hole in Andrs finances, the councillor of Town Planning took his place, and the poor man had more and more work because there were fewer and fewer pieces of land free even they were absorbing more and more bordering councils. Andrs, in this field, was multi-functional: he looked for new land, threw old women out of the interesting buildings... the usual in this department. In spite of everything they became friends, Andrs even had dinner at his place on Fridays; but this stage only lasted until he broke the heart of the councillors daughter, Alicia. The truth is that Alicia only was a weekend affair; but the councillor got so worked up thinking the individual could got his beloved daughter pregnant and she would have to share her inheritance with him that he took out a cheque, wrote down the zeros he knew Andrs would like and put and end to that matter. Andrs took the cheque as surreptitiously as he could not to show he just was going to dump the girl for nothing and the grateful he was because he plenty knew the councillor was going to use the cheque stub to rub it in to Alicia and convince her he was a shady character. The councillor would regret it, two years later, when Alicia married Carlos, the lawyer. Although Andrs didnt go back to the councillors place, they still had dinner on Fridays, mostly since the councillor got divorced; other cheque 20
for Andrs, because he had to half-seduce Carmen, councillors wife and, even he couldnt, on the photos it looked like he could, and it worked for the judge. Carmen never forgave him, she regretted the times she cooked for him on that family Fridays. In one of those dinners the councillor brought a friend, the Universal Savings Banks manager. Inviting him was not a coincidence; they had been doing business for years, not councillor, his daughter. But this time he had asked for someone trustworthy.
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Chapter 5. Pacos mistake (Part two) Andrs was that someone trustworthy. The Universal Savings Banks manager set the issue out directly, plainly. Have you ever heard that story of a treasure...? The Universal Savings Banks manager got to ask before Andrs interrupted him with laughs.
The manager didnt like that howl of laughter interruption of his potential future partner, but the councillor told him with the look to be a bit patient, that the kid was worthy. The manager didnt trust too much, but kept on with the presentation stopping Andrs from answering the question. Its true, down there is a safe bursting at the seams of money; but we didnt left it because we were in a hurry, or because we forgot about it. We left it on purpose, we left it because it was the most convenient, is it clear? answer, not because he had murderous look, but because the foot into his leg in a room for doubts.
Andrs didnt dare noticed the previous the councillor stuck way that didnt leave -
It isnt necessary either to say if they were undeclared incomes or my lovely aunties inheritance; none of us works for the Treasury and we dont like making questions either, do we?
Andrs didnt even move. It was we, I, who spread the rumour, to see if someone felt like doing our job; but we werent very lucky. Some crazy people went down, or at least they are saying so all
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around the Internet forums, but the money is still there. And thats what you need me for...
The Universal Savings Banks manager looked at him badly, made it clear he didnt have to take anything out because there wasnt anything. Andrs got confused; he imagined it was a set phrase like this conversation had never existed; even he didnt understand what in aid for were so many euphemisms. And he neither understood why they hadnt gone down before for the money or why they wanted to go then. Nor the bank manager nor the councillor were willing to clear that doubts up and Andrs stopped thinking about it, they put over the table one of those cheques he liked and that was enough. He promised them discretion and the whole package, he just would find the way to steal some wads nobody could tell, or find someone to blame if they did. Andrs knew a pair of recoverers that helped him from time to time with the cases, especially if it was necessary to dive looking for an old file in some public organization. One of those recoverers was Salva, but he didnt do business with him since one day Andrs left him stranded in one of his errands when the police played up. The other was in prison, not because of an Andrs errand but for other little things less deep but also water related. Then, in the face of having to give the cheque back or became a scuba-diver, phoned Ramn to see if he could do something for his recoverer friend or, maybe, recommended other, because even he was living in unirrigated lands he still kept the contacts. Ramn lived happily, dreamt, a good car, a two, or three... He Andrs, he was going very sure of wanting he lived the life he had good flat, a good girl, or was pleased to hear from to take a holiday and not to go abroad, it had been 23
long since those summer evenings laying on the beach with his friends till dusk. Days before he had to throw away a bookcase eaten by the moth and when he took out the box full of pictures got homesick; he had just talked to Paco and Alberto about coming with him, here they would have a place to stay, and there were tourist as in the South, thing that convinced them immediately. Andrs listened all that homesickness stuff, he, that had not the slightest intention of spending the summer in the city; one has to hear such stupid things Andrs said to himself while the other was talking about the matchless blue of the Orzn sea. Look Andrs, your guys thing is complicated, he is in solitary confinement, he went too far and played a dirty trick on a guard, I dont think they let me talk to him, nor he wants to talk to me Ramn said without interest.
Andrs realized quite well Ramn was not willing so he had to tell him the dosh story, at that point Ramn saw easier speak to the prisoner. And he went, of course. He couldnt find out much because, in fact, the guy was not very talkative. Lets see, I understand you dont want to tell me the name of one friend of yours; but Im sure you know some not friend of yours that does the same as they do, do you know what I mean?
He did know, of course he did, the cop wanted him to say one of his mates name and then have him up when he did a job for them as they had done to him; of course he knew, he was not idiot. And of course, he told him Xianas name, mine, because he hated me, because I was better than him, because I caught better and I had more job, because I was smarter and they had never caught me, because he was a motherfucker and a coward that didnt mind 24
throw trash over me... and who knows which other dark reasons he had. Ramn hadnt heard my name for years and he didnt know well if it was the homesick time he was going through or if he really was longing for seeing me, but he liked it. Well, the truth is that I write this for the sake of the argument, a fantasy that makes me happy, maybe he didnt remember me at all but I am happier thinking he did and thats that. After leaving the prison, standing in front of a traffic light he remembered my foul temper, I mean, he remembered the foul temper I had and the scene I made when I found him with that top model, and he thought that maybe hed do better to tell me the whole thing straight and not listen to Andrs warnings, because in the end I should be more proactive if he told me the truth than if I found it out half way, I was capable of... But then he thought it better, he discussed the topic with Paco and Alberto, they didnt know me but the other had told them our story his way, he was the poor victim of course, bitch and a half was I... they got into their head that it was better Andrs way, keep the secret to them. In front of a bunch of beers they planned the strategy, they decided to take a holiday earlier and come here to supervise the move, Andrs would be on charge of finding me, following me and making a report of my movements. They would meet me by chance and bring the treasure thing up, and as I like talking a lot I would prattle on and then swallow the bait, they wouldnt take me into right there, they would make me wish for it. Afterwards, knowing me, I would have the hum in my head and would be looking forward to taking out whichever I had to take out but as it was my thing, and once out of the water they would give me some coins and they would keep the rest because I am stupid. Then, they would keep half or perhaps a bit more, depending on how many there were, and give the rest to the Banks manager and if he
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suspected something they already had me to put the blame on. As a plan it was not bad. They liked it, and even its simple it may work Ramn thought. And it would work if Paco hadnt given that jump on the chair. Yes, so big the Pacos mistake was, so big that it needed two chapters.
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Chapter 6. With the water on the heel Paco had never seen the sea, on television of course, he didnt miss a chapter of Bay-Watch, but he had never seen it in person. He admired a lot the bay-watchers from the TV show, he recorded every chapter to admired them many times, many, really many. The reason wasnt the one you are thinking about; it was that he identified very much with them... with the aim to serve and protect... of course. He woke up by the change of pressure as the plane began to go down, and the poor man almost had a fit when he opened his eyes. Ramn should warn him before about the amount of water surrounding the airport; a huge amount, the man thought he was going to meet the sea liked or not, in one go, without swimming trunks or Pamela. He was trying to fit his head out of his knees and the front seats back after taking the life jacket from the place the stewardess had said it was and luckily it was. When Ramn realized something weird was happening, instead of unblocking him, gave Alberto a shout to split their sides laughing for a while. And the while lasted until the stewardess pounded the beat, kept a tight rein on them and disentangled Paco from the front seat, oh my god what a stress! And people say they are on the Barbies. But as soon as he saw the beach, with his feet on the sand, started to think that he wasnt wrong and it was the biggest thing ever seen. He worked out where the middle was and walked determined to that point; he left the shoes with the socks inside on the sand, rolled up his trousers and walked to the water. The first impression was shocking but natural: bloody hell, how cold it is! it had never crossed his mind the temperature of the water, the bay-watchers threw themselves into the water with such lack of concern that he thought it was as warm as a swimming pool, 20...
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it was three degrees over zero in the moment Paco got his nail into the water and he didnt know if it was because of that but he felt a slight dizzy feeling when he looked at his feet and saw the wave going away, as if the ground was moving. Other thing that shocked him was the strength; the waves didnt have that idyllic beating of the Californian sunset, or maybe his legs, from exposure, didnt respond as they should. He went out to the sand and looked around, everybody was playing and swimming happily as it was the usual; then he thought he was the odd one and tried again, if all that people could, he also could; he took a run and jumped into the water like he had seen Pamela do so many times. You can tell he was concentrating on other business because he jumped in just in the moment the wave moved away and he ended diving headlong into the sand, he could hardly get up and when he finally stood up, other wave came from behind and knocked him over again... and the guy had not even a miserable Carmen to hold. From this first contact Paco drew three conclusions: 1. The sea is a motherfucker, very bad temper. cold and with
2. Ramn and Alberto are two motherfuckers that are going to laugh at their holy arses as soon as I can stand up and go next to where they are falling about with laugh. 3. The bay-watchers are not lifeguards, they are superwomen, but of the good ones, even if its just for running along that hostile elements edge. Afterwards, he walked to the sand where Ramn and Alberto were crying, but literally crying, with laugh; he dragged them and put them in the water, because Paco wasnt handsome at all but big and strong... And thats how they three ended playing the fool in the middle of the beach, smeared with 28
sand, soaked up to the ears and making an appalling exhibition of themselves, although people went home with something to tell. In short, he lost his fear of the sea and at the end of the day it was as he had born in the very salt water, he moved so well from side to side that he looked like the little mermaid. But Paco had that dizzy feeling, that ground moving under his feet feeling, again the first time he saw Sandra. The truth is that Ramn hadnt offered to take me to my places door, just in case there was a spider hanging from the light bulb at the landing or so, disappointed me. I wasnt lucky. Or maybe I was, because it reinforced my theory that Pacos jump was not owed to the excitement of the chat and they were up with something. I looked several times out of the window and the car wasnt there, then I phoned Sandra and Salva. Come here right now I said I had to tell you something.
They arrived quickly, Sandra was strolling around nearby, we were meeting to see Glamorous Heart, a gossip TV show we liked; Sandra more than me, she was so hooked on and not only on this but every gossip show, I mean everyone of them. She really likes becoming fond of things; in fact it was the only fault the poor girl has, because she is very nice, beautiful and sweet. When we caught something we didnt show it to her because she was a kind of Diogenes and wanted to keep everything, she had a busy house, from time to time we brought her things to care, beautiful things we couldnt use to exchange. Salva arrived quickly because he is like that, quick. Especially in those days, he was so stressed because the trials date for the mess Andrs had pushed him into had already came out and he didnt do anything but going from one side
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to another. He was making a list with the last things he wanted to do before going to prison, he was not going to prison, almost for sure... that was what his lawyer told him. The conversation with the wonder trio didnt seem much to them; to Sandra less than Salva because the show had just began; Salva told me that, although I probably was paranoid, he was going to make some enquires all around. And while Marquitos de Buenacuna was telling us the so in love he was with his future fiance with whom he was going to Fiji for their honeymoon and to whom he had given a latest model Mercedes the first day he met her, I mean, two weeks before, because he realized she was the woman of his life, I imagined how wonderful it would be driving a Mercedes latest model while Mozarts music sounded; Salva imagined how wonderful it would be waking up each day in a different country, going through tropical beaches and the exciting cities of the world, from luxury hotel to luxury hotel like George Clooney in Oceans Eleven... and Sandra imagined how wonderful it would be that someone realized she was the woman of his life in the very first moment he saw her.
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Chapter 7. The Last Judgement It wasnt really the last, there was chance of appealing. Salva was very nervous, walking from one side to another while his lawyer, Carlos, was chatting with other not bothered at all. We arrived late, I more than Sandra, well, fine, Sandra arrived on time; I was on time because the trial was delayed otherwise... You are late, where were you? - Salva said hysterical when I arrived.
Well, I didnt know what the hurry was; it was so boring. The first time I went to a trial I was so excited because I thought it was like in the movies, sharp attorneys, unexpected witnesses; but the truth is that they are boring, the lawyers dont walk along the court and they had to wear a cloak like Harry Potter, and... In short, the lawyer had already told him he had nothing to worry about. And since thought. when do we trust heard lawyers? me I he
If you ask me, the lawyer turned round immediately. -
because
They are going to put me away, they are going to put me away, Im sure Salva said walking from one side to another.
Sandra tried to calm him down hugging him; but it seemed to him more sympathy than comfort and got worse. She sat down and started to think in her own business. The first thing she saw of Carlos were his feet, rather his shoes, Castilian, handmade, first class leather and she even guess the brand before seeing that little label on the heel which she thought it was so common and which I would write down here but as they dont give me any commission I wont do it. The thing is that
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Sandra thought, without knowing who he was or seeing his face, he should be a very interesting man because with such a good taste wouldnt be other way. When she raised her eyes saw he had a striking resemblance with Marquitos de Buenacuna, who was her ideal of heart-throb in that moment. Actually they didnt look alike, the thing is that this rich people dress all the same plus she wasnt used to deal with them. Carlos had just got his eyes on her as soon as she went in and was trying to make himself seem interesting; but Sandra was daydreaming and he had to do a few walks along the corridor and even though she didnt realize until he stood in front of her. In fact, he was about to give up, but when he saw that fascinated look knew the fashion show was worthy. Salva, luckily, didnt notice his lawyer was more interested in Sandra than in his defence. The trial didnt go too well, the judge was a bitter dinosaur that didnt understand Salvas nervous jokes. Furthermore, Andrs testified in favour of the plaintiff saying certain things of Salvas activities that hed better kept to himself and, over all, he put all the blame on Salva. Carlos could ask Andrs if he required Salvas services very often; but it was like coming to terms with the charges and, however much to his regret, Salva made a very bad impression. I couldnt stand Andrs, just since I saw him waiting at the entrance. All the story of the trial stemmed from one of those recovers we did, Salva had many contacts, I went as I liked, he earned more... the thing is that Salva had to recover an item with two owners and when the second owner realized that the first was about to put his hands over it reported the robbery. The first owner said that he didnt know anything, that once had talked about it with Andrs, Andrs said that he was a detective and no 32
way he would go into the water but theyd better talk to Salva that knew a lot about these things, and they caught him with the loot at home. Thats life. Thats what we knew then. As soon as the judge took the mallet and said: the case is remitted for decision we left the room, Salva didnt want to, he was afraid they didnt let him pass through the door; but I pulled him out and there were nobody waiting for him, luckily, because he insisted so much I almost was afraid to go out. Carlos invited us to have a drink and talk about the trial, actually he spent the whole time flirting with Sandra and Salva didnt do more than repeating names of places he wanted to visit, and things he wanted to do, I played along with him until he said: Then, are you going bungee jumping with me tomorrow at the sea control tower?
Is this guy completely insane? Completely and totally insane! Going bungee jumping? Me? Wasnt I incapable of diving backwards with the oxygen cylinder from the boat? Of course, I go down gradually, Im not an animal. I had to put an end to that ravings, he was well trained, physically I mean, enough to nothing happens to him whichever craziness he did; but that was not the problem, the problem was that he happened both going bungee jumping or showing his bottom to the mayor, and contrary to what one could believe, the last was much more dangerous. And afterwards Im wanting underwear explaining himself. going to put a poster models Salva said
He would dare for sure. To keep him and for all if someone the legend. amused I insisted that he told us once if some of his contacts had told him was searching the famous treasure of Suddenly Carlos stopped flirting with 33
Sandra and turned his ear to us. Andrs, that was at the bar speaking with one of the lawyers of the rich guy that had reported Salva, also turned round to listen. In that moment I seriously thought about learning to speak lower. It wasnt that important either. That issue always attracted the attention, but Salva had taken a dislike to Andrs and noticed that it was more than curiosity about a legend. Carlos or was acting dumb or he really was, because he said he had never heard such a thing; Salva began to tell us what he had found out: I talked to the ox (one we knew but we are naming him this way for security reasons and by coincidence) and told me he didnt know anything, that probably they were some tourists stupid things.
He had a short break and looked Andrs up and down from the corner of his eye. But I plenty knew it wasnt going to be enough for you and went next to little fresh (other we know and that for security reasons and by coincidence we are going to name her this way), she told me that there was something, and its said they are in a hurry because of something the council is going to do soon.
He had a short break and looked Andrs up and down from the corner of his eye again. Something about town planning...
Andrs was, the poor devil, so stretched and twisted over the circle of the seat that fell over and he could manage to put his foot on the ground just in time not to crash. Salva smiled mischievously.
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Town planning? Carlos said excited my father in law...
Sandra looked at him violently; thanks they were two eyes of a striking green because if they were two penknives he would die instantly.
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Chapter 8. In Venus Veritas (Part one) Your father in law? Sandra asked with a voice from beyond the grave. Yes Carlos said with good kids voice and tone of I didnt mean to. Sure! She said adamantly. Your father in law, what? Salva asked impatiently unaware of the scene of jealousy and regret. My father in law is the Councillor of Town Planning Carlos answered.
We were astonished, it was the first time we met a councillors son in law, at least it was for me. Salva asked him if he knew of the existence of some plan for the disaster area. Carlos said he didnt, but his father in law didnt talk too much about this things because his ex-wife, here it appeared a ray of hope in Sandras look, he meant his mother in law, there the foul mood came back to Sandra, she was the Councillor of Social Services and if she got to know they were giving money to Town Planning instead to Social Services, as things stood, she would table a censure motion. Get your act together and bring it up, we have to confirm Salvas information as soon as possible Sandra said using a gossip TV show collaborators vocabulary. Well, I dont know if I will be able... Carlos replied what is more... what do you really want to know? was him the was
Salva still was keeping an eye on Andrs, who almost sitting at our table and as he saw interested in the matter deduced he was on right track. He told Carlos to guess if there 36
or wasnt planned any action over the disaster area. Carlos promised he would try his best and, even Sandra didnt trust too much, he convinced Salva. Salva didnt mind at all Carlos confirmation, he actually knew that Little Freshs information was first-hand information and it didnt need contrast. Anyway, Andrs had already confirmed it with his reaction and, above all, he got to keep out from his head that obsession with the bungee jumping. Carlos left in his gorgeous car and we went with Sandra to his place because she was very upset, in the same morning she had met her Prince Charming, the bastard who broke her heart and the adulterer that tried to seduce her, the poor lady wasnt used to so many emotions all together. We left her watching TV with the salty biscuits jar and a still light mineral water, covered with a blanket and with the remote in her hand. The programme Nor Glamour Nor Heart was about to begin, it was an acid version of Glamorous Heart. Salva got me to go to spy Andrs with him, you tell me where we were to find him, it was more than two hours since we had left him grabbing the cafe bar not to fall off the stool from being so stretched over our table. But Salva, that knew him very well, found him immediately in a brothel that had a coloured fountain in the neon sign, I had seen it many times going along the road, but I had never imagined myself at its car park getting ready for going in. I neither imagined myself wondering if Salva was regular of that kind of establishments because I didnt thought he was like that... well, at this point I preferred to think I wasnt interested in that matter, although I kept on thinking about it for a while and I felt like washing my hands after touching him. All men are pigs, all of them, without exception!
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As soon as we went in and they saw Salva three girls in a very warm way approached him and the weird thing is that he did pay attention to them, and why did I have on my mind he liked men? Oh, yes! Because he told me he was gay fifteen years ago when we met. They all are pigs. And while I was torn between the Salvas sexual leanings he was walking to a private room hand in hand with the three top models that I didnt know what were doing in that dive beautiful as they were; thats life. And I remained there standing alone in the middle of a road club, of a hostess bar, of a den of iniquity surrounded by affectionate couples and cheap wine, I said cheap to dramatize the situation, maybe it was expensive, it isnt my intention to debase the brothels wine cellar at all. Lady, I think you came into the wrong club One mans voice said in my ear. Yes, I think I did too I said without looking at him, trying to move away a bit because they tickled me when they talked to me so close to the ear and it gives me a mixture of teeth on edge and malicious pleasure I cant describe, and neither it was the time to feel randy in a place like that because I didnt get paid until the tenth. I can show you the way out if you want He said in my ear again. felt like
He made my hair stand on end and scrubbing my ear to stop that feeling. -
You know, the thing is that I came with a friend I said he went out over there... Well, I dont think he needs your company now He said.
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Well, Im not leaving without him, the rat bastard has the car keys, so get moving I said annoyed at the same time I turned round to see at last the face of that impertinent.
I shouldnt, if I got a bit horny with him talking in my ear, seeing him was worse, he looked like a pseudo-actress with a degree in science Polish ex-lover. Im quite sure I didnt dribble, at least not consciously, but my pupils probably dilated all they could. Then you should wait He said. have something while you
Oh, well, that is going to be kind of impossible, Im broke; you could invite me, couldnt you? I asked while I was thinking it was natural they charged for that, he was too much to be for free. No Miss, I couldnt. Dont worry, she is with me Salva said at last lets go Xiana, I had a party ready for you there in the private room.
He had a lucky escape thanks to I still was amazed with the Adonis because otherwise I would kill him, I really would, how could he leave me standing there alone? He took me behind a maroon velvet curtain that I tried not to touch because only god knew who had touched it before and how long it had been since the last time they got it clean. At the private room there were the three cheerful girls with a champagne flute each, I looked at Salva telling him clearly that he was the gay not me, and what the hell he was expecting me to do, because he just knew that I, try, just the needed.
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Chapter 9. In Venus Veritas (Part two) While the girls were partying among them Salva told me with a gesture to sit down, to listen carefully and, above all, to keep silence; I mean, he pushed me up to make me trippe and fall on the couch, he knocked his ear twice with the index finger and afterwards put that same finger in front of his mouth. I did my utmost and I shrugged my shoulders to tell him I didnt hear a thing, seeing we couldnt speak. He killed me with the look and knocked again his ear with the index finger and then the couchs back. So I did the same he did, in the ear on the couchs back thing as much disgusting as it was; not in the knocking thing, I could notice that side of his face was a bit red. At last I could hear some voice out of our private-roommates funny bustle. There were two nervous men, nervous because of the anger, not because of the other, given the circumstances this point should be clarified. Actually they were the councillor of Town Planning and Andrs. You should know to whom you told what you didnt have to tell The councillor said. I told what I needed to get what we two wanted, or better, what we three want; but I spoke about what I knew, and I didnt know anything about an action over... and he did Andrs said going on the defensive. There is not such plan, man; how I have to say it, there isnt, the so-called Salva pulled your leg, you fucked him at the court and he took revenge on you The councillor pretended. You say Andrs said without conviction.
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They were arguing for a while about what you dont tell me and you know and what you know and you dont tell me; afterwards, to my surprise, it came out Ramns name, I looked at Salva to clear him up I had realized that the Pacos jump on the chair really had a meaning. Several bottles of wine later, which I made it clear to Salva he was going to pay because I wasnt going to get into debt: You dont have to worry about my son in law, he has had it, he is more focused on me not taking him out of the will than on knowing what Im involved in, Ill tell him some silly excuse and if he knows what is good for him he is going to believe it. And youll see what to do with the others, werent they the people you wanted for the job? The councillor said. Yes, sure Andrs said pretending to agree.
In that moment the councillor got up and left with a see you. Andrs didnt move at all, or if he had, he had done it silently and we couldnt hear him. Suddenly: Whats up? Andrs said speaking with somebody we have to talk about that issue I told you, something doesnt tally.
Silence. No, no, I had just told you it was weird they wanted it right now, why now and not before? Excuse me?
Silence. Well, if I hadnt, Im telling you now, we are still in plenty of time Andrs shouted, he seemed angry.
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Silence. Im here at the Venus, come Andrs said.
Silence. What do you mean with where is it?
It consoled me Ramn didnt know about that dive, because I deeply believed he was talking to Ramn. What the hell! Its the fountain Andrs explained. one with the
Silence. Ha, ha, ha Andrs laughed that is! That is! I just knew you would remember.
There is no exception, pigs, all of them, all, all. Salva looked at the empty bottles over the table and told me to go. I replied that no way, that he should pay or better shouldnt come in, that he was a tight-fisted. He gave me a dirty look but he neither insisted too much. The triplets kept on partying, and while we were waiting Salva went close to them; I didnt want to look just in case I liked it and lost my strict, sound and defined sexual schemes. They didnt take long, maybe fifteen minutes. They sat down among laughs and silly remarks as I really could do the one in red... and some other refined things like that. When they calmed down they went to the point, the treasure point, not the club point proper. Ramn told Andrs it was natural the councillor hided the real reasons, they all did, but anyway it didnt make a difference, whatever the reason was, we were going to do the job and they were going to do well out of it. And also, yes also, he told him it didnt matters the son in law-lawyer-rich kid 42
investigated whatever he wanted to because we were going to do the job and they were going to do well out of it. May I ask how are you so sure Xiana is going to do it? Andrs asked nervously. Because I know her, she cant fight against her instincts and if she knows that as well as getting money she is going to fuck the Council she is going to do it more than pleased. But she is not going to fuck them; she is going to help them Paco said. Help them? How? Ramn asked.
Paco explained them that if the councillor wanted to recover the treasure and I did it; that was helping, not getting in the way. A silence fell. Paco, look, why dont you go out and bring some girls Ramn said.
Pig, pig and pig. Paco got up and left. Ramn told Andrs not to worry, he would convince me in case I backed out, which he doubted. But he didnt say it like Im telling you, he said it with that voice the men had when they think they had everything under control, you know, when a woman is overjoyed with one word of him and she didnt see more than through his eyes. Salva looked at the floor. The skull threesome welcomed the hostess with laughs and toasts. And as the treasure thing seemed to reach an end, I told Salva to say goodbye to our company and pay. I was waiting for him standing at the hall, where the super-machoman had came to trickle my ear, expecting to be
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luck again because, in that moment, I needed it so much. But I wasnt, I just was down thinking about what I had done badly to make that love from the past not only wanted to use me to do a dubious legality job but wanted to steel from me and, above all, he was a disgusting with absolutely no feelings; I, that dreamt about a Prince Charming, one of these with a beautiful name such as Caspian. Along the few metres that separated the Venus door from the Salvas car I swore one hundred times, Salva didnt say a word, even I am quite sure he preferred me to low the volume because he was waving down. Fuck him off I said putting an end Do they want me to take out the treasure? Do they want? Do they? Well then, Im going to do it, not half Im doing it, and you are going to help me; but we will let these vipers down, if they think Im going to give them all I find, from the quarter not the half, they dont know who I am.
And as I was imagining my revenge I was shouting louder and when we got into the car I happened to look at the car besides ours and I saw Paco looking at me. I went as white as a sheet and Salva said an I told you but you didnt pay attention with a know-all voice. At this point I had no choice.
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Chapter 10. With no glamour, but with heart He pretended being asleep, and about time too! It didnt work, I knocked twice on the window and although he refused to open it, he did at last. Hi Xiana, how are you doing? pretending he was waking up. He said
I told him to get out to talk and he did, with reservations, but he did. He told us he didnt know more than what I had told them and than what he supposed we had heard at the Venus. We didnt believe him completely, at least I, Salva remained convinced as soon as he said that was what Andrs had told them, because Salva plenty knew Andrs only said the strictly needed and, if it was possible, only what was convenient for him; and what is more, he omitted all that could prejudice the rest. I didnt know if Paco was as naive as he seemed, but he deserved some trust of me, after all he was the only one who I could officially exclude from the pig category. In front of Sandras building, Paco hesitated to go in, he knew it was not my house and the door looked pretty bad. But we didnt give him time to run away; we went in with our key because Sandra probably still was on the sofa, the programme Nor Glamour Nor Heart lasted five or six hours. Salva went to the kitchen and Paco and I went to the sitting room. In fact, Sandra was watching the screen, she only averted her eyes a moment while they were advertising the ring tones; but the voice over releasing the following hours contents captivated her again. Paco stood up for a few seconds and then he suddenly sat down; yes, it was in that precise moment when he felt that dizzy feeling of the first time he had the sea under his feet. Salva came in with chips and biscuits and mesmerized
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watched the telly, without talking... well, Paco was watching Sandra. All the collaborators were at the set; Ara Cancio, our favourite, got an exclusive interview with the Marchioness of Ripip. The marchioness wasnt keen on sets and the interview was a bombshell. The sudden cancellation of the wedding of the marchioness son had unleashed the rumours that his fiance had been unfaithful to him and the former subsequent marchioness annoyance. That night they were going to clarify all our doubts, they were going to dispel all the rumours, they were going to lay the cards on the table. The Marchioness of Ripip would tell it all, all of it. Before proceeding to the interview they used to have a debate where Ara Cancio dropped little phrases of the coming, and the rest tried to give their arguments for and against. Sandra and I were in favour of the fiance; the cheating on thing was a marchioness trap, for sure. Salva said that the marchioness smelt a rat and decided to intervene before fiance took half of her fortune, which was the only thing that bitch was interested in. Paco didnt take sides because he didnt want to go against Sandra. The press photographer Artur Salmos maintained that there were some photos of the unfaithful going round the main magazines editorial offices of the country. Ara Cancio said the marchioness had talked openly over the photo thing and they said they really existed. Artur said that it was what suited her because she didnt want his son looked like a cuckold. Charo Fermn said she was a Rosalas personal friend; who was the fiances name and he was a very reliable girl, with her MBA and a job in a Board of directors and she was so much in love with the marchionesss son. Vismi Gonzlez suggested that maybe the cheeky one was the heir and, also, maintained that there were 46
photos going round the main tabloids offices of the country and even abroad.
editorial
There, the conductor stopped the debate and introduced the interview. The truth is that it was a big disappointment. Of course she talked about cancellation of the wedding, she said it was a bride and grooms issue and she wasnt the one to talk about it, although Ara made the question in thousands of ways; even Paco said if they had people like her making interrogations nobody was going to slip away. What she did talk about was the supposed trap to his future daughter in law. She said that never ever would do something like that to anybody, that she loved her as a daughter and that she was a very good girl, very hardworking, and that came from a good family. Sandra and I looked at each other reading our minds: the marchioness was such a false... When Ara asked about his sons squandered behaviour she tried to justify it saying he did what all twenty-something did, that he was young, he wanted to live life. She informed on herself, she didnt want his son got married, of course she didnt, you could easily notice it. Ara insisted on the photos matter and she assured there werent photos at all, she was absolutely sure. After the interview the debate was really fervent, at the set and at home. I noticed the marchioness had paid to withdraw her sons pictures and had paid also to circulate the Rosalas. Sandra was certain about this last thing, but she thought that if there were some photos of her son she wouldnt mind they published them because she was a kind of open-minded plus it helped the no marriage cause. Paco said the daughter in law had planned the whole story to get rid of the little marquis after the wedding but for some reason things anticipated. Salva said the so-called Rosala was a nasty bitch dying to be famous and she didnt mind get marry or not as long as she appeared on TV, because he had just heard they had
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offered her a programme in that channel which pays the beautiful girls for appearing.
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Chapter 11. Three are a crowd, four are bloody marvellous What Paco? Are you joining us? I asked in the interval.
Paco looked at me surprised, Salva looked at me shocked and Sandra looked at Paco as it was the first time she realized he was there. Paco didnt know what to say, I neither give him time, I answered my own question saying he would and in that precise moment I decided it was about time to take action. Lets go! I said. Now? Paco asked. Now? Salva asked. Now? Sandra asked.
Paco asked it because he hadnt time to warn Ramn, Salva because he hadnt time to go home for the equipment and Sandra asked it because there still was the last hour of Nor Glamour Nor Heart left. No, when the programme pointing at the telly. ends I said
Sandra breathed with relief, Salva made as if to get up but I told him I was going down alone, he had to be on watch at the surface with Sandra and Paco. I included Paco because I thought he was a decent person, not the kind of decent people that is so grateful for including him in the group that doesnt give you a stab in the back; no, that kind which is decent but you have to keep an eye on just in case he feels like being loyal to his friends. Paco got up and went to look out of the window, the reflection let me see he had the cellphone on his hand. It wasnt that important,
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if he was talking with Ramn, supposing he had left the Venus, he would be wasted enough not to come underwater in the early morning. The last time after the commercials didnt bring too many surprises, a porno actress and a Revue great name. It could be a freaky and an old fashioned singer, a porno actor and a forgotten widow... The credits hadnt finished yet when I told them to go, because that was why I was in charge for. Sandra came without answering back, I think to forgot, because the under cover of darkness had never appealed to her; Paco came because Sandra did and because he had agreed something with the others, or that was what I suspected; and Salva to see how it all ended, he didnt have much to loose. On the way, Paco didnt do anything more than ask where we were with more and more frightened voice. It was understandable because the city, at night, was pitch dark, at the zero zone I mean, there only were a few lines we could recover, we connected them to electric mains, without permission of course; even though we could almost walk without seeing. Anyway that night there was full moon. Yes, that was the reason why I had taken the plunge so impetuously. We had to go my home first to pick my wetsuit up, the water is still colder at night and its not very advisable got into without it, at least I wouldnt do it. As we were walking down the Finisterre Avenue the darkness was more obvious and Paco appeared hugging Sandra without wanting to, maybe unconsciously, but Sandra took it in the innocent side. In that moment she saw him like that, like an innocent being stating out in the night world, in the real one, not in that of neon signs that confuse. The tide was high; it reached the Hiltom door. I told them to wait for me there, I had to pick the boat up, one of those boats we didnt have because 50
one municipal regulation declared them ilegal on the zero zone. Each one had its hiding place and nobody knew the others, mostly as a precaution than distrust. I hided mine in the Cine Pars building, it was at the very centre, nobody could get there without a boat, they had to swim for a while and knew how to do it, the rubble made the bed more dangerous than the quicksands. It was a small building that withstood very well the sea attacks and it had upper floors where I could keep the cylinders and some other thing more in case of emergency. The city was in silence, I supposed they were fishing, but the real fish, the one you eat. With the full moon, in summer, the most took advantage of that for fishing or having parties, tourists liked the clandestinely and they spend lots of money, even though it wasnt a known thing, it wasnt interesting it was, not only because the police could turn up but because the legal business got very serious when they took too much clients away. It was not the case; there couldnt be too much people with the high tide. Anyway there wasnt too much activity. I started the boat, I got a bit worry seeing there were only three fuel drums left, I forgot about it, if the thing lasted much we would have to row. I took them by surprise, luckily for Paco was grabbing Sandras arm, Salva was talking on the phone. Paco looked backwards very often while Sandra and Salva got into the boat. He seemed to have doubts, but he also got into. Afterwards, when he saw himself among the rubble, and the buildings shadows with its bare columns and the windows into pieces were the only scenery his face became the face we all had the first time we saw that landscape, between trembled and moved. I remember I felt some kind of respect for those buildings that refused to give the place back to the sea, that stood there to be seen, not to be exchanged for new ones, but for loving them with their faults.
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The Universal Savings Bank was easy to find, it had on its roof a silver metal globe that shined with the moon like a retro discos crystal ball. We went inside up to the stairs, I stopped the engine, Salva got down the boat and tied it up to the foot, I mean the leg, of a fake half stark naked Roman statue they had as supposed good taste decor at the head office of the famous institution. Paco got down and Sandra after him, to help me with the oxygen cylinders. The glasses had a walkie-talkie to talk to Salva; it rarely happened something, but I neither wanted to die right there. I had brought one more cylinder even I hoped not to need it. I heard Paco asking Sandra about the coverage. Coverage? Here? Sandra asked without realizing that she was talking with a foreigner no, there isnt any here, they cant, this is the zero zone, its not legal, the companies have to let this area free or they loose their permission.
Sandras voice sounded more and more like an echo until I stopped listening. The torch was showing me the Universal Savings Banks famous basement and, contrary to what you could think, my heart beat strongly, excited, and what if the legend turned out to be real?
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Chapter 12. Deep down. First attempt The water was cold and as much as I did my utmost to think there werent sea monsters, or dead bodies with their feet into a concrete block, I ended up thinking about it. Even though I went ahead, I mean, I went down. The staircase winded round in the depth, but it appeared before me an exquisitely decorated landing that leaded to a room so spectacular that it seemed to me worthy of attention. I figured out it was the strongroom waiting room because it was an antique sitting room, classy, suited to make people with money feel comfortable leaving there all their dubious origin wealth. Close to the wall there were an oak table with thick legs and drawers with ivory inlay, and luckily I was able to think it didnt fit into the boat because suddenly it began more interesting than the blessed treasure legend. Just between the table and the wall there was a chair, also made of solid wood, apparently without damage. As much as I went down I always was amazed by a scene like that, almost intact, preserved, waiting, it was exciting, it made me feel welcome. I swam all around the room searching the safes door, but it wasnt there. I thought as much the legend was a fraud. I left the sitting room and kept on down stairs. Down it all was concrete, some fish came to the light, one bit my feet and I almost died instantly, not by the pain but just by the fright. I dont know how much I went lower down, the pressure gauge cylinder was at the middle, but the stairs still went on and there was no more than stairs and fishes. I didnt want to look up because I was regretting it. At last the going down became wider and the stairs ended in a big room, covered with a bright metal, steel probably. I went round, slowly, expecting to find the safes door, or not to find it, who knows, sometimes its
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better let legends be legends and prevent the disappointment. I didnt see it, the room was round and continuous, there wasnt the wheel that looks like a rudder I always see in the movies, neither the little wheel with numbers and lines surrounding it. I had to go round again slower and closer to find out where the door was because there had to be a door; I couldnt believe that now, that at last I thought the famous legend was true, now they had convince me, there wasnt such a thing. I took the right hand glove off to touch the surface, I shouldnt, the skin smell attracted Gastns little descendants, I had never heard these animals hurt anybody but when I found any by chance I was scared shitless seeing those sharp teeth. I dont know why they do it because they didnt even approach to bite me, nor had food around but they always opened their mouth when we were face to face, I suppose it was some kind of driving away thing like squid ink. And if that was the aim they really got it. I went up and down along the wall several times until I found the split, it was just opposite to the staircase, I didnt notice it touching, it was when I move away and the light reflected in two colours, the metal had the shines up in one side and down in the other. I cant understand why I didnt see it at first. At that point I banged against the wall from one side to another, I wasnt strong enough because the pressure made it hard for me to move. I was determined to find out the way to open the gate, if there was a gate, it would be funny I was banging against a simple wall. I looked side to side again, there had to be a button, or a lever, or something; of course there was the option it opened with a key or a remote. Come up. I repeat. Come up Salva shouted in my ear Come up right now!
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Im coming, just a moment I said. Dont just a moment me! Come up now! He ordered.
I had no chance but doing what he ordered, he seemed serious, but I was leaving with the feeling of failure and the steel room in my mind, checking by heart the entire place. Suddenly I saw it, I saw it clear, it had to be on the handrail, somewhere. I went down again. The handrail was a steel bar, stuck on the wall with the gap enough to hold on well, there wasnt any ornament and when I reached the very bottom, the end, it occurred to me I only had silly thoughts. Come up, for god sake! Salva shouted.
I turned round to go up, it got dark, silenced, peaceful. Where are you? Salva shouted from far away Bloody hell, come up!
I could hear the small water currents dodging the short-sighted architects whims. Come up right now! Salva said disturbing that moment of peace Come up, for heavens sake! He seemed desperate.
His desperation broke the peace I was feeling, slowly, I was winning through with the torch. Im going down, something was speaking desperately. happens Salva
I kept on going up, I didnt understand Salvas exasperation but I neither realize that I should calm him down. Bloody hell Sandra, hurry up with the fuck cylinder! Salva was saying.
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I could see him already, from below he looked even more hysterical that on the surface. I laughed. I went out of the water next to the boat. I saw Paco coming urgently and Salva following him with the eyes up to me, his face showed a despair I didnt understand, maybe something had happened in the meanwhile I was down. They gave me a hand, and I felt that peace of the depth again.
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Chapter 13. Inner peace Welcome Xiana Xavier Carimbano said its a pleasure you are here with us tonight.
I sat down; the truth is that I was a bit nervous, the audience was clapping warmly and the meeting Xavier Carimbano moment was very exciting. I met Charo some months before during a charity dinner Rosala Cundns had invited me to; and in which she introduced me her husband, at last. I wasnt in a hurry to meet him, nor I gave my life for that kind of things; but I promised Sandra a picture of the specimen the day I told her I had met Rosala. I had met Ara at Cuquitas wedding; she wasnt sat next to me but with the dancing time and the after midnight drinking she finally greeted everybody, displaying her temperament and charm. My relationship with Artur and Vismi is a bit more complex, its not they are a nuisance, but sometimes Im fed up of having them behind me everyday. I have never reached the point of making a scene, nor to them, nor to the girls that are always waiting for me at home holding their microphones; but sometimes I felt like missing that times I could go out with the sleep in my eyes and the bad temper in my face. When the studio manager told the audience to sit down and the music stopped, I looked at Xavier; he was looking at me with his irresistible smile and I sort of get a bit horny. But he didnt give me time; he repeated the welcome and told me it was a pleasure and that they were very grateful I was there. The truth is that I went because Sandra would kill me if I declined the invitation; I plenty knew they were going to push me but Sandra was on and on saying that she didnt see the problem, that they werent going to take anything out of me, that it was a big amount of money to wash my image given it to charity and make a good
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impression. And after a month on and on every day, every hour, every second, she even phoned me when she was with her boyfriend, so much she did that I had to talk to him to see if he could manage to keep her a little more busy. In short, I was scared shitless. A summary video with the last three months news opened the show; actually it was there when they started to talk about me, when I began to appear in the photos. Before that, they only followed me because I showed up at parties out of the blue and I aroused their curiosity. I think that was my big mistake, because I drew too much attention to myself, because I drew too much attention to myself accompanied by very handsome boys, and because I drew too much attention to myself accompanied by very handsome and famous boys, and because I drew too much attention to myself accompanied by very handsome and famous boys in well known and very frequented by lots of celebrities followed by lots of journalists places. But I didnt do it on purpose; it came out that way, one thing led to another... The hardest part was seeing how they put him into prison, I didnt see it coming, neither did Paco, in fact, it was he who told me the news; however, while I saw him escorted by the guard I was surprised I felt sorry for him, because it served him right. Ara probably noticed it because that was the first thing she dropped. In the meanwhile we saw the images I could notice that, in certain moment, the spectre of guilty showed in your face, am I right? And why did it disappear instantly?
The best way of approaching the issue was with the truth, because only god knew how many aces they had in their sleeves and I rather have them on my side than face up to them.
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Ramn is an ex-boyfriend, there isnt remorse, we were young and the truth is that we didnt keep in touch; I heard about his arrest through a mutual friend and Im so sorry for him, because he is really nice.
I lied a bit; the nice thing just meant he didnt commit any felony, he had never assaulted anybody with or without a reason and he wasnt cruel either or took advantage of the people when they were at a disadvantage; but he really was a pig, and he always had been. The thing is that, deep down, there still were some feeling reminding. I dont like seeing him in that situation; but thinking I have something to do with the crime hes accused of is secondary and without any legal foundation.
Ara sniggered; Charo changed her posture and her face and Visme shriek with laughter. Artur interrupted me saying that of course there was any legal foundation; in fact, he had received some very reliable information about it. I also argued that until that information was considered suitable by a judge it hadnt any legal validity and it only were mere speculations. Charo got more upset. Ara asked me for the origin of my fortune because in just two years I got a place in the high society and without having sex, in principle, with a celebrity. I clarified with pleasure that I had made some good investments when the economy was growing and I wasnt the only one, afterwards I spent time enjoying my fortune because I understood that was the money for, and I was right, I dont have them to rot in a bank. Charo fidgeted. And where did you get the money those investments? Charo asked. to make
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From an inheritance incredible calm.
said
with
an
Charo couldnt take it anymore. She appealed to our friendship, to the afternoons at the Rosalias home and she asked me to be sincere. Did the so heritance really exist? Because the Treasury doesnt know anything about it.
I told her that it did exist although it was not a heritance in the strict sense of the word, I didnt like talking about it because it came from a person that had received a compensation for the tsunami and that person didnt actually loose the insured item, and that was the item that person transmitted to me once dead. I wasnt lying; the Universal Savings Bank hadnt declared the loss of the treasures money, it was their fault. I also said that I did declared that item, and the Treasury had never asked me where it came from, and if they hadnt done it maybe it was because they were more interested in the collecting than in the origin lawful or not of my incomes. Charo seemed to calm down, as my answer got prove my arguments and not make her look bad with the programme. But Vismi had more aces in his sleeve and asked me if that person had favoured more people with its generosity because Ramn had claimed something very similar in his defence. I answered that I didnt know about that, but it could be possible because thanks to the tsunami a lot of the underground economy had came to light and they had to give vent to them. And that so generous person might be a bank senior executive? Vismi asked with sarcasm.
I clarified among laughs it wasnt my situation and I neither knew any bank senior executive 60
generous in any way. The audience laughed. The charm conductor smiled. -
clapped
and
And is it Ramns? Vismi asked again, also smiling.
I repeated that I didnt know the details of his case. And it was true, I couldnt get anybody told me how Ramn had appeared under arrest accused of stealing the Universal Savings Banks secret treasure. I didnt understand how the Bank was able to report to him and how Ramn was able to accuse himself or let them accuse him. I wasnt in touch with Alberto and Salva was travelling around the world, and since he had change his place of leaving to the Caribbean we only talked about his travels and the inner peace. It was like a tacit pact, we didnt talk about that day again. Sandra was the most discreet of all, she kept on living as she used to and she seemed to enjoy more Salvas and my adventures than the money she had, she was happy and thats that. But there are evidences that you two were involved at that time Artur said. If there are evidences they will call me to testify soon, for the time being they mustnt have them as clear as you. There are also evidences recovering submerged things tsunami Artur. you worked after the
No, I dont believe there are, maybe there are some gossips, there are a lot of gossips of many people; and, even so, recovering doesnt imply any crime. I dont see you refuse adamantly the accusations my colleague is doing Ara said is there a reason?
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And there the thing got hard, because I got nervous, because they noticed it and because they started to bring out statements... Whats up? Nothing, its all right, she fainted, her take a breath, its all right. Is she dead? What are you saying? Are you nuts? let
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Chapter 14. Taking a breath Feeling at dry land I took a breath and woke up from the dream, Paco was walking hysterical from side to side, Sandra was next to me and Salva was checking the equipment. After a few minutes I felt refreshed, completely clear-headed, as I had woken up from a good nap. Salva was tense, I could notice in his face he was torn between the relief of me being well and the keen to knock my face out because I hadnt gone up when he told me to. Sandra was not bothered at all, as she plenty knew nothing bad was going to happen, I appreciated it because I was so relaxed and didnt understand Salvas hysteria. Pacos reaction was despicable, Sandra told me he was electric trying to find an explanation to be involved in a death. As they two calmed down Sandra asked me what I had found down there, if I had seen the famous strongroom, if I got to open it. Do you see the wads? Salva said hysteric again.
Sandra looked at him badly and told him to calm down once and for all because he looked like an hysterical old lady her exact words. Salva shut up because he knew Sandra only talked politically incorrect like that arriving the beginning point of the anger. I told them what I had seen. And as I hadnt seen much of the safe I took pleasure in the perfect table and chair thing, until Salva sighed with too much energy and I decided it was time to get to the point. I described the best I could what I had seen at the last floor and I saw the disappointment in their faces. Paco asked me if I was sure about not finding a button, Salvas theory was it opened with a card, that there had to be any keypad somewhere. Sandra, that surprisingly was very involved in the story, said
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that once she attended to a lecture series at the Universal Savings Bank about the nowadays television, the days when the lectures were of course, and she saw how the staff only had to put a card next to the door to go in, she said the next to the door thing had nothing special but the door opened; they said it was a smart building. Although the two hysterics laughed at her, for me, as I had seen the scene down there, it seemed to be the most reasonable explanation. Paco suggested I could go down again because there still was an oxygen cylinder left. Both Salva and I looked at him badly; how easy it was to say go down, these unirrigated people think this is like having a bath on a Sunday afternoon. I carried them to the waters edge, the tide was lowering, then I went to take cover the equipment, and went back swimming. When I arrived next to them the day was dawning and Alberto and Ramn had come to welcome us, they had alcohol and smoke faces; but they were very serious. Nobody was talking. I didnt say hello to them, I supposed Paco had phoned them as soon as he set foot on land and got signal. Ramn stared waiting for me to say something, he seemed annoyed because I wasnt surprise he was there, or maybe he was annoyed because I was there without telling him. Anyway he didnt say a word and I didnt say anything either; I took the wetsuit off, collected my things and told Sandra and Salva to go. In the way home we didnt talk, we were tired, it was almost six in the morning, it was getting time to go to bed. It was around midday and I only got up because I had just charge the cellphone and the battery was full. It was Ramn; he asked me if he could come around home, I told not to, I preferred we met at the central shops bar. I told him we would meet in half an hour, but I took it easy because the tide didnt lower until the afternoon, so we couldnt cross, at least, until two in the 64
afternoon, maybe I should clarify it to him, but it was his fault he phoned me at such hours. I was surprised he was still there, he didnt seem angry, or he was pretending to take me by surprise or he was pretending because he thought I teased him and he didnt want me to realize I had caught him in the trap, I didnt ask because he had very bad temper when he got angry and it wasnt that interesting provoke him. What does exactly mean there wasnt a door? He dropped before I sat down.
Well no, there wasnt, I answered. He took a breath deep enough to fill up with patience and knocked the table. What the hell was there, then?
When I explained to him what I had saw, he said I was wrong, that wasnt the basement, there had to be other entrance, that I had to go down again and do the job well once and for all. It surprised me not only his forceful spirits but also the fact he was ordering me. He noticed it and told me, not at all bothered, that Paco had told him we already knew, that we knew everything, then what for he is going on with the pretending; and that, by the way, he had a great time at the Venus club, and that he hoped I had too. What a hiding he deserved! I took him as an example and I shut up like a bitch, or better, like a bitchs son. I didnt tell him Sandras theory, the one I thought it was the right one, and played along with the going down again thing; but I made it clear that as sad as it sounded I couldnt do it until the next month, when I would be paid, because I was broke and I had no money for another oxygen cylinder. He took the wallet and gave me money quick as a flash. I didnt need it, I could get as many cylinders as I needed and almost for
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free; but I wanted to have my own safe just in case there wasnt such treasure. And while I was keeping the money I thought if an abandoned and half flooded smart building would be still smart.
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Chapter 15. Artificial intelligence, Natural intelligence And if it is still smart, where could we get a card? And if we managed to get a card, would it be still good for the old head office? Or would have the codes changed? Is it enough? Ramn asked quite laud. Excuse me? I replied. Im asking you if the money is enough? Ramn repeated you were in trance, I dont know if its too much or too few.
I told him that it was enough by then, suddenly I felt embarrassed taking his money and I was about to give it back to him; but the money didnt want to come out of my wallet so I got up with my remorse and left. Ramn came behind me and asked if something was wrong, he said I seemed distant, he asked if I was fine and he apologized for yelling at me, he hadnt slept much and was a bit irritable. I just was thinking about the card thing and I didnt notice his regret so I couldnt take advantage of him, not asking for money, like with the oxygen, but emotionally. I suppose he left on his own, I was too busy with the artificial intelligence issue. I called Sandra to ask her when the next lecture at the Universal Savings Bank was taking place. She was astonished; she would never expect such a question. She answered, as I suspected, she had no the slightest idea but we could go up to there and find it out. Alicia looked at Carlos with mistrust, she thought he had been absent-minded for several days and, above all, too much concerned in his fathers business. She didnt know much about the Councils things, just few things her mother told her; but
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Social Services werent much of her interest, there were no more than problems, too much stress. Her father only talked about housing estates, sidewalks and things like that. Carlos had been, at first, an oasis, but she was more and more certain that what her cow friends were always saying about Carlos was with her out of selfinterest was true. She, deep down, knew it easily could be true, he had always been very ambitious, but nice, or handsome at least. She actually had thought it in the morning, at breakfast, she was going to put an end to that situation and talk openly with her husband, she would ask the question: What is happening to us?
And she would wait patiently for his face trying to show he had no idea what she was talking about, he would tell her that it all was her imagination and that his life would be meaningless without her. She also waited he would appear the following day with a bunch of roses, red, without thorns, and he would apologize for neglecting her, for assuming lots of things and he would spoil her like the first time. But she didnt dare, she was only capable of talking about the weather. But daring or not ask the question she wasnt going to let that grief last not a second more. And it was there, while she was putting the dishes into the dishwasher where she decided to take steps. When he said goodbye to go to the office she followed him; but her peep toes heels made too much noise and Carlos caught her red-handed. She was able to pretend in time she was going shopping and Carlos didnt raise any snag, it was what she used to. That clearly showed Alicia that following her husband to his work wasnt a job for her. If she had to choose between wear the latest fashions and know the truth about what she suspected about her husband she had right in front of her a dilemma with a difficult solution; so, she decided 68
to call that ex-boyfriend with whom she had shared so many good moments, and with whom she had shared so many sordid moments to tell her cow friends. Yes, she was thinking about phoning Andrs, she really wasnt thinking about it, she thought about it in the way home to swap the high heels for the trainers she had to play tennis at the club. She phoned him from home, she couldnt help some kind of teenager excitement while the waiting tone sounded. She also imagined a scorching scene over the offices table coming from Andrs attempt of consoling her before her husbands infidelity. Whats up, man? So are you enjoying the family life? Andrs said with confidence.
Alicia stood paralyzed, not knowing what to say. Listen! Andrs shouted Eeeehhhh!
Alicias heart beat strongly, like the first time she went into her parents bedroom looking for condoms. Bah! He got the cordless and the remote mixed up again, I hang up, are you listening? Andrs shouted again fuck you off!
Alicia didnt know whether to kill her father or let him live to see how she got divorced from the lawyer he liked so much to marry the, how did he call him? Professional crook and unexpected gigolo. If she wasnt so posh and if she wasnt looking at herself in the mirror she would swear something like son of a bitch, but no, she didnt. His father kept in touch with the swine that had tried to make his daughter loose the virginity, that was all a father had to know; with the swine that had testified at the divorce trial his wife was a tart. It didnt matter, as Scarlet said, she would think about it tomorrow.
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She took the phone and dialled again.
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Chapter 16. Apart and thats that She dialled with steady hand; she left apart the rich kids indecisions. What now? Come on! Have you thought what you want yet? Andrs asked if your ex catches you using her phone she is going to kick your ass. Yes, I already know what I want Alicia answered with a voice from beyond the grave. hear how he
Andrs didnt answer; Alicia could moved suddenly, like sitting up. -
I didnt expect you to shout with joy when you heard my voice but neither this silence Alicia said with sarcasm.
After a few seconds Alicia spoke again, this time with a demanding voice. She asked him for an at once answer and to be inexperienced it worked because Andrs stuttered some unintelligible words she didnt understand but that make it clear to her he was sorted out and at her mercy. For a few seconds more she thought how her life would be if she had sorted him out then instead of letting her father take care of it. She wondered if he would still be so handsome, if her heart still would jump like before seeing him. But, again, the Scarlets wise advice came to her mind, lets think about it later. She told him she needed his help to do a little job, Andrs tried to refuse to do it, but she didnt pay attention and insisted until he agreed to meet her. As soon as she hung up he was panicstricken, if the councillor found out he was involved with his daughter again he was going to be really pissed off. But if Alicia let the cat out of the bag with the councillors wife the situation wouldnt be better, she could report him
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for perjury and all the trials he had been false witness in would be questioned and who knows if overturned. Weighing his options up got calm and decided he had done the right thing accepting Alicias invitation. He looked back and recalled himself frolicked with a young and exciting Alicia, after all, the decision was quite right, he thought chuckling. They agreed to meet at a cafe in O Burgo, one they knew well from their youngster times, Andrs was already sat at the table when she arrived even she was on time. Alicia thought he was under her thumb, but she preferred not being overconfident because she knew where the overconfidence with that petty heart-throb led to. Andrs got up seeing her approaching, he did it out of respect, as a sign of admiration, and he did in the whole sense of the word; he had been there for half an hour looking attentively at every over thirty women that came in through the door, he was working out if she had aged badly, if she had put on weight, she had stopped having her hair dyed, if she had it cut in housewife style; but when he saw her going in with that top model parade, that diva presence, that everything, he remained astonished, from head to foot, he all. The motherfucker is so gorgeous! He thought to himself, pretending he was slobbering all he could pretend. Alicia didnt realize how pleased Andrs was with her presence and she was very perceptive at that, especially since she had got her first grey hair. She wondered again and again if she still kept her charm, and when a man looked at her just a bit she analyzed him to know if he did it with admiration or just not to bump into her. In her defence she said most of the times was with admiration. But this time she was too busy looking at Andrs, no, he wasnt as handsome as she remembered; in fact, in a first look she felt condemnation to herself for laying naked next to him. Andrs had the aged, actually there hadnt been more than a few years, 72
of the excess: too much alcohol, too much cigarettes, too much parties. But as she sat down opposite to him and he looked at her with that heart-throb eyes she found a George Clooney charm worse than the petty heart-throb one. It was the waitress intervention which made the mutual admirations take a break and Alicia listen Scarlett in the ear again saying let it go by now and go to the point. Andrs was listening not to a single word she was saying; he went from recalling the funny evenings to imagine the nights of wild passion; and when Alicia asked him when he was going to start he answered immediately. He said without knowing to which he was answering, of course; and it was after finishing the coffee, when he woke up, that he asked exactly what she wanted. Alicia, then, looked at him directly and yes, at last, she realized Andrs lewd look. She smiled to her inner, said to herself you are going to get what for. Patiently she explained she wanted him to follow her husband, Carlos, because she suspected he was cheating on her and she gave him a picture, his jobs address and some other detail. Andrs took the photo and saw a pretty face guy with rich kid look, snooty and, above all, not completely stranger. He tried to remember, but he couldnt place him and, as it was more entertaining keeping on checking Alicia, he preferred thinking he maybe had seen him with the councillor once. Alicia said goodbye to him with coldness, to screw him, now she knew she still had her charm was going to make him pay it dearly. Andrs gazed at her while she was leaving the cafe. Shes gorgeous! Andrs thought again.
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Chapter 17. Blue eyes actors face There isnt any lecture scheduled this month, the uniformed know-all girl said. Sandra turned round to leave and I was walking behind her when I saw, at the gift shop, a lovely poster of a painting I had in my hands by chance time ago, it attracted my attention and I went to see how much it cost. The original didnt seem much to me; but I was sure it cost a lot, I was going to do a rule of three with the posters price, even though it was a not a very exact sum really. Sandra came after me without interest, the abstract art wasnt much of his like. While we were checking the prices my ear listened a conversation between the shop assistant and one of the hostess. It wasnt that interesting either, they were talking about a dinner they should have the night before and they were laughing at one of his colleagues, who, apparently, had got up with someone not very refined at the karaoke, they had recorded it all with the cell and the song sounded quite dreadful. The best thing was that, while I was looking from the corner of my eye to see the crazy nights video, I rested my subtle attention over one strap they both had hanging from their necks and that ended in a card. Card, the magic word, we didnt have to wait until the next lecture, there were two cards. And what is more, in a moment I had to straighten the sight to pretend because they realized there was a shadow staring at them I drew the conclusion, through the glass, that all the uniformed people had one. 74 The card you saw, was like those? I asked Sandra in low voice. Like which? voice. Sandra answer had also in low from
Like the ones they all their necks I said.
hanging
Sandra looked around without focusing, as she was seeing nothing they say at The Never-Ending Story. What the fuck! There was no more than people with cards hanging from their necks and the girl didnt take notice. I had to gave her a nudge and point with my finger to one guy at the corridor on the other side of the glass, with gel on his hair and that, since he noticed the move, looked at us with blue eyes actors face... and, there, I was quickthinking. Yes, its not cool I say it but I was bloody quick-thinking. In short, I was quick-thinking and I got half horny as he really was a blue eyes actor and as he was really hot, which he was; even under other circumstances I didnt let him believe it so easily. Sandra stood apart, leaving each to their own, because I had told her I had met Ramn that afternoon and that, after all, I still liked him. She, being as she was, would be hoping I made my mind once and for all. After a pair of looks and a call on the receiver, the guy left. I followed him with the look to see where he was going but I lost him. We were going out of the gift shop to think it carefully when the security guard intercepted us. Was it so easy to find out we were planning something? He is calling you The guard said pointing behind me.
I turned round; he was the gorgeous in his uniform with his blue eyes actors smile waving me to wait for him. I waited, of course I did, I would wait for a man like that the time he needed. Youll say Im exaggerating, but if you had seen him walking in slow motion along that polished marble corridor you would understand me. He took us to have something at the cafe. So natural he was, I can say he was lucky he could work in a company that let him go to the cafe to hook up with girls during the working day. All the way, like with the
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security guard, I thought they had caught me. But he was talking so relaxed that or he was so good at pretending or he really believed I kissed the floor he treaded. No, his beauty didnt reach that point. We had a drink, Sandra was in a world of her own, when shes not interested, she is not interested and thats that. I suppose she was dealing with one of her transcendental doubts, anyway, it was one of her virtues, she never complained with the what a boredom, or sighed exaggerating, nor she showed annoyance, she was just in a world of her own. The handsome told me how stressing his job was and that he had stolen so valuable time to his boss to have a drink with me because he was brave and risky like that, because he didnt care about his boss, even though he looked nervously over my shoulder every two minutes. He also told me the super-complicated it was to organize an exhibition and how demanding the artists were; I agreed with him that most of them were big fibber. He was bugging me so much that I worked out I would have to get him drunk just to take his card. Luckily, two girls past by and pointed at the clock, it was what saved me. He smiled with relief and made antics to the girls and they danced the Pulp Fiction dance. I started to think the guy in the video of the gift shop was the blue eyes actors face; but, also luckily, while I was thinking this I took the card, so fast I was that not even Sandra left her trance; and, the best, not even the blue eyes actors face realized. He was immersed in the dance thing and, in seconds, more uniformed people arrived and joined the musical. I woke Sandra up with a nudge, she already warned me I had her arm stewed, and we slipped away among the dancers as we could. At the door we began to run as if four Tax Inspectors and two of the Work department were chasing us.
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Chapter 18. This card is priceless We didnt stop running, halfway I shouted Sandra to look for Salva because we were going to try it again right then, just then, then. We took different ways while we kept on running, I went to the sea but I didnt realize that we were in daylight until I arrived at the waters edge; I didnt care, looked around unceremoniously and jumped into the water, it was cold, I should thought I wasnt wearing the wetsuit at the waters edge, and no, I realized when I was soaked and frozen, but the classic in for a penny, in for a pound was quite right. Salva called me hysterical, dont you dare to start without me. Of course I was about to dare, but once I had told Sandra to bring him, the normal was waiting or better shut up. I was waiting for them behind a building, I didnt want to risk someone past by and began to ask questions. They didnt take long, Sandra was excited, as when we had left the Universal Savings Bank, with that life it gave playing little pranks. Salva brought all the equipment, he remembered to bring a wetsuit for me, I thanked him not very warmly, I was frozen stiff. They got up into the boat and we went to the old San Andrs Street. It went faster this time; we knew where things were. They waited at the surface and I went down without doubt, to the bottom, faster, faster. I carried the card so grabbed they couldnt take it out of me not even dissecting me with laser. Once down I started to pass the card all over the wall, I didnt leave any piece without touching and apparently nothing happened. The deception made me take it easy, think better what I was doing. The card, possibly, didnt belong to the same system, so I couldnt pass it all around so hastily, the wall might be very
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sensitive, but I also should have to give it time, it had been long without having a card so close, or maybe it need its time to start. So, I resumed Sandras idea and imagined where the door could be, I worked out it, in someway, should open opposite to the stairs, it fitted the best, they werent going to make rich people go in under the stairs. I looked backwards and worked the stairs centre out; I went up to the ceiling, even though it was obvious it couldnt be there because or there wasnt gravity or the riches were quite tall. But I didnt want to leave nothing behind either. I went down to a reasonable height, but nothing happened. Afterwards, I went to the right and looked up and down up to a metre and ninety more or less, step by step, slowly. And the calm bore fruits; I didnt realize at first, it was a blue light that mixed with the fishes eyes little flashes reflecting the torchs light. But I past again, I dont know, a sixth sense maybe, but I did. The second time the flash was more intense, it didnt go unnoticed, but the door didnt open. Even though it was clear that was the right place because I went a bit further up and it didnt react. I called Salva to ask for his opinion, he sighed with desperation. Sandra, over Salvas voice, said that in the movies there always were two keys, one for the bank and another for the client. What a mess Salva said angry. me to try a bit more was slow because of we two thought the we were.
Then he sighed again and told in the same place; maybe it the inactivity. It was funny same, what a couple of bitches
And I tried again. I spent there twenty minutes and suddenly I thought I was going to die. The first thing I noticed was a strong vibration, I was talking to Salva through the walkie-talkie and upstairs they didnt feel anything so I supposed 78
it wasnt a tremor. I went back to that idea later, when the noise was so deafening I couldnt hear Salva. Nothing on the wall. After a few seconds the noise was even more deafening and the wall began to vibrate, not much, just like a cellphone or less perhaps. And the sesame opened, at last, letting me see for a moment a spectacular chamber, like the Pharaoh ones, intact, until the water started to cloud that tinned peace. When it completely opened I went in, not without fear, if it closed nobody could get me out of there. But the treasure was calling me and I couldnt help it. Inside, there was a table like the one at the upper sitting room, impeccable, only moved from its place by the water avalanche, the chair got stuck too. Then, as Salva said on the walkie to the point, what the fuck with the chairs and the tables, on the wall there were little boxes with little security locks which little keys to open them I didnt have. On one side there was a narrow corridor that led to other room a bit smaller and of course grottier than the others, there, there was the classic strongroom at last, with its wheel rudder style. The excitement didnt let me talk, Salva was shouting thinking I had fainted again and I wasnt able to tell him that, at the end, the treasure was real, for god sake it was real! Yes, it was too much rush, at that moment I only could confirm the treasure safe existed. I swam as fast as I could to go up; when I arrived I took out the oxygen mask and shouted like crazy, it opened! The strongromm exists! It opened! It opened! Sandra and Salva jumped for joy and asked me to tell them all, everything and all. We were overcome with emotion; we gave a damn about money; that was a magic moment. After a long while of laughing, jumping and dreaming about what we were doing with the money I
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changed my cylinder and Salva gave me a packet of explosive, slowly and with scared face. Ill be careful I said.
Sandra looked at him saying not to suffocate me, it was going to be OK, actually I understood him, we didnt know how much the foundations could withstand, they had been badly treated, maybe too much.
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Chapter 19. No rubbish bag, please Before going down Salva checked there was oxygen enough for the operation or, as he said, to have time to go up. I went down again and as I was going into the chamber I couldnt help feeling a Twelfth Night strong emotion I almost had forgotten. The structure seemed solid, the thickness of the steel walls was so tremendous and I even thought the explosive wasnt enough and, because of that, I took my time to find the right place. The truth is that I had never faced a strongroom like that, I wish; but in my innocence I imagined it would be the same as others I had the honour of meeting in some occasion, only a bit bigger. Without a doubt, and while I was thinking about it, I realized I was wrong; but I had to begin by one place. I decided to use only half the charge. Other mistake of mine, even though I hoped to be right with the position of the charge and if the power wasnt enough I could end it with the rest. The error of judgement was in the obvious possibility that I was wrong placing the charge. I handled the explosive carefully and even more carefully I place the detonator. I went to the stairs to press the button, up to the next floor, to run away if it was necessary, the idea of ending buried down there was terrifying. I warned Sandra and Salva to take cover just in case, because I was going to press the button. I took a deep breath and pressed. I didnt hear the explosion, the water just swept me away, I mean, it sucked me and for a few minutes I lost control of everything, I felt the nightmare fear of that day I was learning to swim in the very waters edge of San Amaros beach and a wave knocked me down... what? Arent there waves in San Amaros beach? Well, fine, the wave wasnt that big, I was little and it shocked me. I crashed against everything. The metallic noise I heard from time
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to time terrified me even more because I had never seen a cylinder break but it could be easier than it seemed. Inside, the bubbles were going up flying away between my unsteady arms. An imprecise time gap later the bubbles disappeared, the turbulence calmed down and the water was clear again and, at last, I could see the treasure chambers contents. What is there? What repeated insistently. is there? Salva
There were lots of briefcases, like the metallic ones in the spy movies, piled up, as the little security boxes from outside; in fact, if some of then hadnt moved I couldnt feel the difference. I took one, they all had a combination and a little lock, we werent so lucky to have one or the other so I tried to break it and, as the water didnt let me try hard, I took a pair of them and went up. Salva took the cases out of my hands, not to help me to get out of the water, but to see what they had inside. He started to beat them before Sandras appalled look. I still was into the water and Salva looked more and more like one of the 2001: A Space Odyssey gorillas. When Sandra got fed up with listening the wild Salvas hits, she took one of the briefcases, she forced it open with a iron bar she found around there and opened it. And we opened our eyes. I can say, with no doubt, I had never seen so many fifty-euros notes together, never, nor I would see them again. Salva took that briefcase and gave her the other to be magic, and so she was. She opened it with a simple manoeuvre, and we saw another amount of notes. 82 How many did you say there were? Salva asked throwing up his hands in horror. A lot, there are a lot I said desperate.
Yes, desperate, how could there be so many money in the world and we live with so few? All of this said seeing only two cases. What are we doing? Sandra asked. Take them all Salva and I said at a time.
It was as we read our minds, dont leave not even one; that was our goal. We were going to have big difficulties taking away that huge load of money from there without arouse suspicions or attract busybody looks. In that point we invested a bit time more to think the strategy and, in that point too, Sandra stopped being so helpful as before, because se began to say things like: We can use a helicopter... Sandra! Or maybe a balloon... Sandra!! Well then, this thing that looks like a down jacket with two ropes She said meaning a paraglider.
She kept on for a while giving such helpful ideas like that, in the meanwhile Salva and I were thinking about a mixed animal strategy, you know, something in between a snail strategy and Troyas horse one. Thinking with the agility that characterizes me, and knowing they were there for a reason, I resumed the two oak tables in the respective rooms idea. The biggest trouble was the damp treatment, they didnt float, I could see it clearly and I got surprised. On the pros side we had they were so beautiful. I didnt convince Salva, he showed me with his face he would put up with it if there wasnt other option; of course there were more options, there were office fittings enough, but apart from getting a tellingDeep down. Raquel Couto Antelo
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off from the scrap guys it was going to be difficult to justify in front of Ramn the reason why we had came back to pick up some filing cabinets. Oh! Havent I tell you yet? We agreed not to tell them anything, not a single word. If the treasure issue came out again, I would tell him I had gone down once more and I wasnt able to open the strongroom supposing there was something, which of course, I had just told him it was only a silly lie for tourists.
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Chapter 20. Familiar track Carme was looking at her daughter having breakfast. She thought she was acting weird, but it neither seemed that important, sometimes she had that mystic phases. She thought she maybe had put too much pressure on her to be a good woman and had ended up burying some intellectual vocation of the kid. It wasnt the case. Alicia was thinking around the idea of telling her mother the Andrs thing; she obviously didnt realize Carlos was sitting at the same table and thank goodness he drew attention to himself because Alicia had just find the exact words to express it preventing her mother had a fit. Carlos also noticed the distance Alicia kept with him on those days, but he didnt pay too much attention because he had Sandra in his head. He had never thought about cheating on his wife, more for fear of his father in law than for love. He loved her, he couldnt say the contrary, nobody could; but it wasnt a captivating passion of these they say you feel when you are truly in love. We must say, also, he had never felt that passion for nobody in his life, for nobody until he met Sandra. Alicia stood alone at the kitchen and enjoyed the peace remaining in between they left and the cleaner lady came. She thought. She thought again. No, better dont. She was thinking about calling Andrs but, in the end, she decided it wasnt the best idea; it was he who had to phone, yes, that was the best. She always rushed and if Andrs noticed it he would have the control of the situation back and her plan to make him suffer would fall through. Andrs wasnt going to call her, at least for a while. He didnt have anything to tell her, when he realized Carlos was Salvas lawyer he preferred to let it slip by until the trial past, he was
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smart enough not to force the situation. He got to pass the buck to Salva, if Carlos was good he would get him out easily and they all would be free at the end, safe and sound. But if he got too closer and the so-called Carlos realized maybe he could claim dark motivation and give the mess back to him. So two or three weeks past by, what seemed too long to Alicia, the uncertainty for the Carlos weird behaviour, the emotion of having a reason to leave him and live an exciting life with Andrs, for a few months, and then other man and... And then she received Andrs call; her heart beat fast. When do we meet? Andrs asked with tired voice.
Alicia wanted to say I cant tomorrow and it went out a whenever you want, she spent all the day revising the phrase to get into her head it didnt sound too anxious. The truth is that she got it, the get into her head thing because to tell more truth she actually sounded anxious; and, what was worse for her, Andrs noticed it; although the little animal luckily was thinking about other things and supposed the longing was owed to know about her husband not about him. They met at the same cafe of the last time. It seemed the most practical to Andrs. It seemed very romantic to her, as it was their secret place, it wasnt secret or anything, but the imagination was like that. Andrs put together the pictures he took to Carlos, they were unimportant, they really were innocent; but he took too much trouble to show a secret in Salvas ear looked like a snogging with Sandra, I would say following the school of the tomato. Alicia arrived late, calmed down, divine to be more exact. Andrs was worried, he was afraid Alicia didnt keep on paying him, he was afraid the set-up was too good and she just was 86
happy with that; it wasnt the usual, with that bite, all women wanted to know more: Why? What does she have? What does she give him? All those silly things Andrs listened once again. It was what he ate of. If someone cheated on him he would resolve it with two punches in the face, but women and our transcendental doubts were a lot more profitable. Alicia took the photos with her two hands, she looked at them, she had that look Andrs knew as abandoned woman syndrome; he reckoned more or less five minutes before she started to cry her eyes out. He was wrong, as with everything in this new Alicia. Is this all you have? Alicia asked with demand. All? Andrs said trying to find a fast excuse.
It wasnt very helpful, it seems Alicia also followed, as I did, the school of tomato and could recognize a set-up as soon as she saw it. Andrs began to get nervous and it made him got angry and as a result getting even more nervous. Alicia rested on the back of her seat and looked at him with distance, she was searching that George Clooneys charm she had seen in the last date, but she couldnt find it. There is something Andrs said at last. Yes, this can be everything, by the shadows you can tell there were two more persons Alicia said with security.
With such security she even believed she knew what she was talking about, never in her life had stopped to count the shadows of anything... And, in that very moment, she reached three determinations that would make a difference in her life:
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1. Carlos wasnt useful not even to get divorce from him. 2. Andrs wasnt divorce. useful not even to get
3. She was really worthwhile.
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Chapter 21. Forwards Andrs was disillusioned, taken aback, she took the photos and left, without saying a word went out through the door as divine as she had come in. He didnt know how to take it, if he had to stop working for her, if he had to go on keeping an eye on her husband, he didnt think about it anymore either, Alicia had gone so angry that didnt pay him so until he saw a wad of money inside an envelope or a cheque inside an envelope, he had great faith in the envelope thing... this way, when they asked in trials if he had been given money he calmly could say he wasnt. He had been given an envelope; the inside was other issue. Alicia got into her head spending more money with that story was a total waste of it, she was fed up with the boring life she was leaving next to Carlos, she was going to do as Elena and announce a temporary end of the together living. She would see how she managed the situation later. At the same time, she thought about finding out who were that people her husband seemed to be so close to. It wasnt that she minded he had an affair, she clearly could see the girl was pretty but if that was what her husband was looking for she was reluctant to give it to him, she would need a complete operation from head to foot and, to be practical, it was easier change her husband. The first thing she did was calling her mother to tell her she was going to dump Carlos, Carme didnt throw herself through the window or tear her hair out, or anything; she said a you are a big girl, you know what is the best for you Alicia didnt expected but appreciated. She thought it would be as easy to tell it to her father or even easier, because his father didnt like Carlos. She was wrong; the councillor was kind of conservative in the family business and he made such a scene, a scene that would get the old Alicia upset; but to the new Alicia didnt cause
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more inconvenience than took the cellphone from her ear and press the red key.
away
She had to face the most difficult part, talk to Carlos. She was classy; she didnt use the phone, not the so fashionable text. No, she waited for the dinner, he should suspect something when Alicia asked her mother to leave them alone for a while; but he didnt, not even crossed his mind such a thing. He thought, instead, it was just one of those silly things his wife did to rekindle the flame of passion, one of those things she read in the Cosmopolitan and that she believed they worked and that he didnt mind depending on the mood. The truth is that when he heard the give us time was about to split his sides laughing, what the hell was this Cosmopolitans number about? He thought about not attaching importance. Of course, later, the thing was getting clear and as the thing was getting clear he was getting serious, she told him she was going to live on her own, he could do what he wanted although she doubted her mother wanted him at home not being her there. He almost plenty knew that, even his relation with his mother in law was good, he didnt think it was so good. When she finished to say all she had to say, what wasnt much, asked him if he had any doubt. He had a lot of questions, but he didnt feel like asking them, of course he wondered why, if someone had told her something, he was dying to tell her there was nobody else, but he also was dying to take that time Alicia was talking about and was afraid that if they talked to each other she felt homesickness and say it was a joke and they kept on as always. She got up and went to the bedroom, he carried on sitting there thinking where to go, he neither was needy, he earned well his life and had the bachelors flat the council had given him when the tsunamis expropriations. He stopped thinking, got up and went to the box room, took one of the suitcases and went to the bedroom to take the bare essentials. 90
Alicia didnt expect him to make a desperation scene, but neither he left so not bothered as normal, as he was going to take a plane to go to a routine meeting in Madrid. She wasnt looking at him, she pretended to be sleeping, she was beginning to feel she pulled her leg in it and she had handed his running away with the bitch on the photo on a plate, after all it was her who pushed him away, at the trial he would say she had dumped him and the bitch had come afterwards, just to heal his battered heart. She was about to turn round and ask him to stay, but she decided, just for once, be a woman and face the consequences of the decision she had taken, if she was wrong, she was wrong. When he finished to mess around, he closed the door and left; few minutes later her mother went into the room to ask her if she was fine. She hadnt need of her mothers love for long, even had been a nuisance when she was younger, but in that moment was so important she was there. She said everything was going to be OK. The following day, quite early, she phoned Andrs; he, as soon as he saw the number, said to himself a I just knew it and picked up confident, he expected her to ask for a date to give him the money and to ask him to keep on with the investigation. Where does that bitch live? Alicia said without a good morning or so. Excuse me? Andrs, that liked going to the point but not like that, asked.
She made it clear to him she was talking about the woman on the picture and Andrs, pretending badly, told her he didnt know, she noticed he was trying to have her so she threatened him to tell his father he was hanging around her again. She did it naively, it was the only threaten it came to her mind, she didnt knew her father was so scared stiff of her relation with Andrs either; but he
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did know and didnt want to tempt fate. He neither wanted to make it so easy for her not to get paid, so he met halfway and give her my address. No, in one way or another they always ended saying my name. She didnt doubt it, she got up, dressed up as divine as she could and came to my place. Determined, until she began to see abandoned houses and the empty shop windows with their rusty doors. Even afraid she kept on.
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Chapter 22. Afloat Over twenty Sandras surrealist suggestions later we thought of using the spare oxygen cylinders to refloat the tables. It took me such an eternity to load all the briefcases on the tables that I almost gave up. The cases exceeded the tables limit so I had to pull some pieces of the ground floor carpet off to wrap the entire parcel and to tide it up with the blinds traps. And even so, the worst came when we had the two tables with their respective chairs out of the water and we had to carry them to the boat, and the very worst was carrying them home. Salva couldnt believe the size of the tables, he imagined they were humble desks nothing like those that seemed more dining room tables; and he couldnt understand, either, the need of taking the two chairs, although they helped to pretend. They were only two chairs, they didnt mean a big extra effort, but Salva had to get worked up and he did. Sandra was dazzled by the chairs so she agreed with me and Salva, not to put up with us, called one of his contacts to bring a lorry, we would think how to take them up stairs later. It was the good thing my house had, it was all mine, although nothing worked and it wasnt a good idea left the parcels on the ground floor because, sometimes, people came to sleep, at the very least. As Salvas friend unloaded the goods in the street, we looked at each other and almost decided to leave them there and take the briefcases up gradually; but I wanted the tables anyway, who knew, maybe some day I got to restore the building and turn it into my great mansion. I had the money right then, I might do it; of course maybe it was not very good idea to draw attention to myself. Sandra took the chairs up with determination. Salvas friend looked up and suggested we should find a motor pulley and took all up through the window; between us, we hadnt even thought about
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it, I had the excuse of being under water for long, but Salva should be ashamed. It wasnt to tell it to the lorry driver, there are things that its better not to say; but I had something we could use. It wasnt a motor pulley, it was a dragging motor, it made an appalling noise and I had to stop using it because humidity didnt agree with it, and you just tell me what it was useful for if it couldnt touch the water. It came to our two minds, I left Salva paying the lorry driver and watching the goods, it was not necessary to tell him, it was obvious he had to watch them. I went up stairs excited and suddenly at the landing before my door was Sandra, the two chairs and a weird silence. Before I opened my mouth she told me in a very low voice there was someone up there, and she was afraid. No, sometimes she doesnt think clearly, if you are afraid run down as fast as you can, dont wait to see if they kill you. But Im almost sure she didnt even think about it so I tried not to put a very bad face. It probably was Ramn or some of his clique, such a big effort and they came to take the treasure away, well I was going to deny it till the end, at Snoopy I was. I tried to see through the stairwell who it was but I neither could hear anything or see nothing. I was almost sure it had been Sandras imagination and I went up confident. There was someone actually, one lady of A Corua, with all the letters, I didnt know her then but she was Alicia. The truth is that I dont know which one was more afraid, Im quite sure she was, although considering the way she looked it wasnt much; I had that naive idea that when some of them faced one of us, in a situation like that, they started to run, of course they wouldnt be in a building like that. Do you live here? Alicia asked.
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I told her I did, and asked something; I asked it politely voice, not to drive her away just a client. She really looked like girl. -
if she wanted and with sweet in case she was she was a rich
You arent the one on the picture She said giving me the photo Andrs had taken to Carlos and Sandra. Well, Im not I said expecting Sandra didnt come up because the photo was very deceptive. The rat bastard lied to me She said angry.
I thought she was talking about Carlos and tried to calm her down, I told her that I was sitting at that table and it wasnt what it looked like. She didnt seem to listen. I told her Carlos was a friend of mines lawyer and the girl was other friend of my friend. No, Andrs is the rat bastard She said at last he told me the girl in the picture lived here.
Andrs? I didnt need to say I didnt like him, she noticed it in the way his name sounded. I told her, he obviously had lied to her as was to be expected. She seemed to be very talkative so I opened the door and invited her to go in. I also called Sandra to come up, because the poor girl had been waiting for a while. When Alicia saw Sandra, her face lit up with such a spite look that I thought it ended in an argument and since Sandra knew Alicia was Carlos wife she was a bit aggressive but, not knowing how, they began to chat so peacefully. I turned on the telly and went down to the third floor to start the dragging motor.
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It started with not problem, making the noise I remembered it made, but it started. I took the windows out of the frame and threw the cable to Salva. Suddenly I heard behind me: What the hell is that racket?
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Chapter 23. Pretending Alicia shouted from the door. Its this machine, we are going to bring up a pair of tables I said pretending naturalness. Hire a removal firm for god sake! The walls are resounding Alicia said.
I looked at her astonished because to have come to my place without an invitation, got angry with Sandra and interfered in my business she was contributing too many opinions. Go to watch the TV or get lost I said without giving more options.
At first she looked at me scared and I even thought she was going down stairs, but in just few seconds she was standing at the door again. Im not leaving She said I dont have where to go.
She stuck as if it was my fault, what is more, as if I had to solve it. She could sell half pearl earring and rent a hotel room for several days, and it didnt seem she liked living alone for long. If she was mad at Carlos shed better become friends with him again, I thought they were one for the other, without a doubt. Well then, go to watch the telly I said you just know where to go. And afterwards? She said. And afterwards what? I asked. Do you let me stay? She said.
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Not at my place, but I will find something for you I said in a bad mood. You are said. one of these, arent you? She
Of which? I said. The ones that wander around the Old Corua She said. Look girl, dont be such exquisite because I can do both bring up the table and throw you down I said.
This time she thought I was serious, and I truly wasnt, its the typical I told Salva or whoever instead of fuck you off which is less refined. But she took it seriously. She didnt say anything more and went up with Sandra. It was all I needed, other person in the way. At least, none of the Ramns clan had put in an appearance. Salva shouted from the street nobody could got that thing up, I thought it all was going well because the motor didnt smoke; because of that and because I was minding the Alicias thing. I stopped the motor and went down. The table hadnt moved not the slightest. People looked at us as if we were crazy. I didnt think there were so many people in the street; the thing is that this circumstance limited our chances; we couldnt take the material step by step, which was our last option. At this point... yes, its truth, we are always arriving at points like this, but life is like that and thats that. As I was saying, at this point we had to apply the theory of the spots after a chocolate indigestion, if you cant eliminate them youd better cover them with whatever is needed.
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We would be on watch, discreetly, of course. The way of hiding those two big shapes in the middle of the street was pretending a stuffed crepes stall; maybe it sounds grotty, but in Paris there are many; but, of course, as they are in Paris they seem more refined. Anyway, that was the only thing we could do taking into account the time and the means we had. I took down the little cooker we had to heat the coffee up when we spent the night at the Old Corua, the posh said. It could seem more reasonable use a thermos flask, but Salva liked the coffee made in a pot and freshly cooked, he is a kind of gourmet. And I liked making sandwiches in the frying pan that resulted less squashed than in the sandwich toaster. I know, to the point. We used the tables as a counter placing them in L, we hardly could move them to the sidewalk to make an U with the folding table we took down, leaving a way out to the buildings entrance. Those curtains I had kept to give as a present for Sandra when she got married served as tablecloth, they covered the stall with glamour, not half, I took them at the Finisterre Hotel, in a super luxurious room. It is kind of stingy as a wedding present, but I wanted to use it as fabric to make a wedding dress, if Scarlett could, we also could. They were maroon and golden, spectacular. We took down one of the water drums, flour (the cooking one, we didnt deal with the other), eggs, cocoa cream, cheese to spread and cooked ham. That was all we had. People looked at us with curiosity, maybe with disgust, the comments were of distrust; but as soon as the frying pan got hot and the first crepes were going out and the breeze and the midday hunger did their job, that impromptu stall was a success. And the success brought Ramn, Paco, Alberto and Andrs and didnt bring Carlos because he was afraid of meeting Alicia and, although, not even crazy, he would imagine she was at my place he didnt appeared around.
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Ramn looked with distrust my new business, Paco bought a crepe, Alberto kept the distance but he had a malicious smile and Andrs had the same distrust look Ramn had. Whats going on? Are you changing your trade? Ramn said Do you have a license?
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Chapter 24. Stuffed crepes Of course I have a licence I said with security, Salva was serving the people with an ear in the talking and an eye on the briefcases. He was angry because the business had been so successful we couldnt do shifts and he might have a date. Ramn stood in front of the counter watching the customers without talking too much. The others were beginning to get worked up, to look at their watches, to snort, to look around, but Ramn didnt pay attention. Paco was getting apart of the group slowly, trying not to attract attention, you could easily notice it but nobody cared and he got into the building. He probably hadnt told his friends he liked Sandra. I didnt mind, Sandra was able to take care of herself and she might thank a friendlier face or, at least, one she knew from some days before. Andrs and Alberto realized Paco was missing when some blonde tourists, of these they say that take your breath away, came around and the guys pulled Ramn to go after them. The girls decided to take a pair of crepes and spent a while at the stall, talking to us. Ramn didnt seem to be interested in them; the others, all of the others around them, yes they did; Ramn was immersed in I dont know what, staring into the distance, or it was what I thought then. When the girls left, which I regretted because the sells had increased in such a way it was hard for us to make so many crepes, although it really didnt matter because they werent in a hurry at all, its the great part of having the customers amused. Alberto and Andrs left with the girls, Ramn told them he was going but he didnt move a bit. How is that you are setting a business? Wasnt the money I gave you enough? Ramn asked, apparently without double meaning.
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Yes, of course it was enough, the thing is that we were so bored watching TV and suddenly we thought about this to spend the afternoon I said.
Maybe it didnt sound too much convincing, but he didnt say a word, he only stood there. Salva was all hard at work and even he had forgot about the dates and the bad mood, they sure werent that important. With the night came the dark and the people left. No. Not all the people. Ramn kept on standing there and Salva was about to loose control, thanks goodness his cell ringed and it seemed to be something so super-mega-important he didnt mind leaving me alone with all the pickle. Yes, with no remorse, he dropped the apron over the table and left. I noticed in his look a hes your friend, deal with it, I had a look at him saying youll want us to divide up the money equally, he answered with another look of sweetie, Ive been here more than six hour making crepes and one has his needs and I answered I know, but I have here a situation and he waved goodbye with a look of good luck, I may be back before he leaves with a kind of sarcasm, I mean, with a lot of sarcasm. And I saw myself standing there alone, in the dark, with maroon velvet sheets, fine, they werent sheets they were curtains, but seeing I had no way out and it wasnt on to leave all that dosh in the middle of the street, I would take the chance, nobody went around there. If never anybody went over there it wasnt that important left all there, but I couldnt, and you would say, why it was that important if a few hours before I was broke, what was wrong in keeping being broke, but no, I couldnt. Why dont we go up stairs? Ramn asked.
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But this time with meaning, or at least I felt it like that, with a meaning of this I needed he had for so long, and then I went and said: No, I dont feel like.
I was about to say I had a headache and because it came to my mind before the didnt feel like thing, because I would say it straight. But I really felt like. And he too. Yes, his face was so disappointed when he heard I wasnt going up stairs. Why? He asked.
I said I had at home an annoying woman who had dumped her husband and had been talking about his faults for hours and, as she was having a bad time, I didnt want to tell her to go to hell but, as I neither want to put up with her... I ended telling him to go up if he wanted to. No, I prefer staying here with you He said and what are we going to do, then?
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Chapter 25. Carlos dear Carlos looked in his inner, he didnt know well the reason why she had done such thing to him, he began to think about that distance he had noticed in the last days of their together living, and the darkness of the night and the emptiness of his bachelors flat led him to the conclusion that Alicia had an affair. He had never thought about that, he always felt her so devoted and lack of imagination that he not even got jealous when men looked at her at the restaurants. She was very conservative, but a woman conservation not mans, not that kind they wear they wedding ring and go after whoever that moved... as he did, he thought. He had never done it, although it had crossed his mind very often, but he really didnt do it, he justified himself. He tried to sleep but he ground was hard, so he grabbed his cellphone and called his father in law. The answer lasted but, as he insisted and the councillor shouldnt know how to switch the phone off, he answered at last. Whats angry. going on? The councillor asked
Carlos told him they had to talk because he was worried about Alicia. It wasnt kind set out to a father his daughter was involved with someone else, as she was a whore; even the councillor was like he was, he wasnt just like that to drop the thing plainly. He told Carlos to go to his place because if it were as urgent as having to phone him in such hours he would have to see him. The council worked out he would take half an hour, of course the councillor did the maths counting he was at his ex home, he didnt know Carlos was living at his bachelors flat, in other words, over two hundred metres far from his place; I mean, five minutes. He was at the Venus, where else he was going to be at that hours in a quiet 104
day, he didnt have nothing to do at home, and the people from the council let the cat out of the bag with his ex-wife, which was not that important in the love life way, but it was in the professional one, because she was such a bitch, he said; I would say she was just a bit vindictive. Carlos arrived in the five minutes we had worked out, ringed the bell and waited, and ringed the bell and waited; and he ringed the bell again, and again, and he kept on ringing until a neighbour answered shouting so loud he didnt feel like pressing buttons anymore. Well, not totally anymore, he took his cell and phoned his father in law again, just in case he had fell asleep, just in case he had fainted, and just because he felt like, because if he couldnt sleep the rest either. The councillor picked up with resignation, thinking Carlos was going to tell him it had been a moment of desperation, that all was fine and he didnt need the meeting. So he had to be agile finding an excuse not to be at home at that hours, he used the work meeting thing, which was a euphemism everybody understood. Carlos was so glad to see his father in law that he didnt notice the alcohol and bad life stink he was giving off, not even the poor man was staggering, well not poor, he was rolling in money, just man. The councillor also was happy his son in law was there, it would be hard for him to go into the building on his own. And what happened from them on was a load of circumstances. Carlos needed a friend; even he wasnt real, one that listened his problems. The councillor needed, nothing, he didnt need anything, but he was plastered and he didnt know what he was doing, well, he really did. Once the councillor was laying on the sofa and Carlos sitting on the latest relax armchair they began to talk, each one about his thing without realizing the other was speaking. Carlos was telling the temporary end of the together living
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thing. The councillor said he was celebrating he was working in a deal. Carlos told him he was living in his gloomy and lonely bachelors flat. The councillor said he was about to have a lot of money and he was going to make a swimming pool at the loft, with hot water and beautiful girls. And, almost at the same time, they two said something that was going to change their lives, Carlos said Alicia had a lover; the councillor said he was getting the famous treasure of the famous legend. As if suddenly they noticed each others presence, all the alcohol the councillor had in his blood got automatically evaporated, and Carlos got a malicious smile. Carlos thought about that meeting with us at the cafe in front of the Court House; the councillor saw Andrs face, that was the reason why the son of a bitch was so glad, he even had suspected he was hiding something of the treasure story, he was going to grab him by the balls and drag him up to Betanzos, bastard he repeated in low once and again. That gave Carlos time to assimilate the treasure thing and plan the strategy to extract information, and dont believe he was thinking about Santra, no, the lawyer was thinking, as a lawyer, about himself, as the rest except us, he was thinking about taking the money from the old man once the old had taken it from us. So buried himself was counting the chickens before they were hatched that he didnt even listen the times his father in law had said the Andrs name, he was thinking the best strategy to go back to the swimming pool and therefore to the treasure. The councillor kept on with the son of a bitch. The truth is that he had no chance, Carlos got up, went to the cupboard and opened the doors searching the bar, knowing his father in law there had to be one. When he was opening the last door in the bottom he found the Maltas whisky, twelve years rum and the entire repertoire. He didnt need too much, a pair of ice cubes, a not very clean glass, and something indeterminate 106
from several bottles, expensive of course; and the councillor gave it all away, which wasnt more for us, but Carlos saw the light.
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Chapter 26. Deep down. Second attempt (Part one) Nothing, we can stay here, great and this stars are tonight I said naturally. the so night is beautiful
Ramn looked at me as if he had noticed I was teasing him, or if he didnt believe a word. We can have a drink or something He said. No, if the other calls for me... you know I said. Dont worry the others stairs He said. are with her up
I didnt count on that, I didnt remember Paco had went up, and the worst was that I didnt imagine he did, anyway I tempted fate and said: What others? Sandra and security. Paco at least He said with
Still lost I kept on going. Really? Do they? I said. Yes, at least they are at the window, the separated must be the one I dont know He said with security, pointing up with security and looking at me with security. Oh yes, I pretending. didnt remember it I said
What a big mistake! What was I going to invent now? 108 Lets go! Im beginning to think trying to avoid me He said.
you
are
No way I said pretending the thing is that...
And as he saw I was taking long to reply he said: If you want I can help you to tidy this up, I say it because it seems hard for you to leave the stall. Noooo, not at all I said dont worry, there are only four little planks. Come on, it seems you are so worry, come on He said laying his hand on the maroon velvet fabric of the curtains.
I should show too much panic in my eyes because his face showed a very bad malice that increased as he squeezed strongly the fabric. I almost had a fit. No, come on, around, where grabbing his make him let all. leave it there, nobody comes do you want to go? I asked arm, getting a bit horny to the curtain free once and for
He smiled and let the fabric go, without hurrying up, he exploited my anguish till the end. The three housewives were looking out of the window; Sandra should come down to mount guard. I dont know what they were doing standing there; looking to the horizon, or to the ground, what was the difference? I hoped that she was kind enough to watch the briefcases in the meanwhile she looked at the stars. Of course, if her reasoning was Salva had gone out, Xiana had gone out and I had to stay here, taking care of this two pains in the neck she probably gave a damn about the treasure. Thank goodness she was better person than us. Ramn had the car parked on the abandoned areas limit; and, even though on the way he mentioned
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with sarcasm the tidy up thing, he didnt show signs of suspicion; but, anyway, I didnt want to be overconfident because I knew him and his sudden appearance out of the blue should have an explanation, and my target was finding it out. I wondered which was his. We were to a bachelors fashionable bar newly opened and very famous in those days. I say the bachelor thing because there were a lot of thirtysomething persons very affectionate, yes, its a subtle way of saying desperate, but I belonged to that clan so Im going to express it like that, affectionate. I had never been there, it wasnt within my means or my patience, as soon as they smile at me I felt like running away, and I usually was too tired, so I saved the effort. This time was different, as I took the man from home I didnt have anything to worry about. We sat down. And the problem I had to face was the talking. After ordering and settling down I didnt have much to say, so I put the face of being interesting, of having a lot of mystery inside and a very fascinating life to let him answer the questions. The truth is that I didnt know how to put that face, but that was my intention. He neither had too much to say, or at least he took long to talk and when he did it told me about the years he had been abroad, about his life, about everything, Im telling you he gave a splitting headache. I almost thought we was doing it on purpose to make me confess I was stealing from him, in inverted commas the stealing thing, because the money wasnt his; we are going to say lie. But he kept on talking, not even as a torture was normal. Sure he noticed it on my face, because he started to ask questions, not important, just to keep an innocuous talk, and what about you? What do you think? What dont you think? And so. Afterward they played a more quiet music and people began to dance, Ramn invited me to go to the dance floor, which wasnt such a thing, it was the place between the tables and the bar. And we 110
danced. It was so romantic, so romantic and so peaceful, oh god, he had stopped talking, and my head stopped to go round and at last I could enjoy the man, at last. He really danced well. I dont know if I reached the point of closing my eyes, I think I did, its the only explanation I find. The only thing I know is that I woke up sitting on a bench, relaxed; it still was dark so I thought I hadnt been there for long, or that was what I believed then.
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Chapter 27. Deep down. Second attempt (Part two) I sat up and looked around to see where I was, I noticed a deafening noise approaching me, it was easy, the silence was so deep that I could hear a fly. I must admit I almost got scared, it seemed it was coming to me, but I couldnt see anything and I didnt understand it because the stars gave visibility enough to see something if it was there, and I didnt see it, I couldnt see anything, I could only hear that noise. When the noise couldnt be stronger I saw a light on the horizon, a bulb in front of me that in seconds turned into a spotlight that looked at me right in the eyes, interrogating me, I was scared to death, I wanted to step backwards but, as I was sitting down and as I wasnt able to stand up and run away, I only was able to push myself, I mean, built-in the back of the bench, so built-in I was that I didnt know how I didnt break it into two or how I didnt remain there as a crochet runner. When I thought a sluice gate was going to open and a footbridge was going to slide and a short big headed someone with long fingers and homesickness look was going to come down pointing at the sky with the lit up index saying hooome, the noise stopped and the light switched off, a blue light switch on under the thing that was looking at me and I saw clearly a kind of helicopter folding the propeller down and packed itself turning into a cube, and then it went down, the light switch off and the peace came again. It was automatic, I got up and went to take a look, there was nothing, only a cliff and water, just water, salt water I suppose, the tide was high, not enough to touch it, but the thing is that being sea water it might be salty. I went around looking at everywhere, it was Oza and everything was as calmed as it should be. I walked to the fishermans tavern next to the old train track, I wanted to have something to wake up, to 112
get focus, although I was afraid of telling such a story to somebody. While I was walking I tried to take my purse, I had to ask Salva to come and help me to go down and see what there was. I touched and touched but I hadnt the purse, it probably had fell down on the bench, I was laid down when I woke up maybe I had used it as a pillow. I turn round to the bench, it still was silence, it still was dark except for the stars, there was nothing at the bench, I sat down desperate, not only had a memory lapse of god knows how many hours, I had lost my cellphone and I didnt have money or memory enough to remember any phone number. I didnt achieve anything by going to the tavern so I went home, I was tired but I had nothing to do there. When I arrived home I expected to find Alicia and Sandra on the couch, with the telly on the commercial channel and papers and salty biscuits bags laying all around. But I was wrong. All was in silence; I was beginning to think I had gone deaf as a result of the noise of the supposed helicopter-space ship-extraterrestrial ship, I only could hear silence. I didnt have the key, I remembered it in front of the entrance, I rang the bell but nobody opened. In that case, the only thing I could do was taking a stone, breaking the so hard to preserve intact glass and opening the door from the inside. At my places door it was more complex, I took a wire and put it into the lock, I turned it round and round like in the movies but the lock didnt open. I went down to the first floor; I took the lever and, with it, I took the oak door apart. It was obvious they werent at home, inside there was, of course, silence. I was hungry, so I turned the TV on and had something to eat, I was starting to think it had been ages, that I had been into a space-time whole of these they talked about and that when I met my friends again they would be forty, four kids and a house in the good area. The commercials channel was as usual, I pressed the
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teletext and breathed with relief and with a bit of sadness, I had made my mind with the idea of being ten years younger than the rest and having something interesting to tell. No, it only had past a day, just a day, there my exciting life vanished to became the same as always. What a disappointment! And there I was, seeing a fantastic vacuum cleaner, eating cold meats; finding the cold meats in almost the same condition I had left them should give me a clue, but until I saw the day on the screen I didnt back down. Yes, there I was so disappointed; completely disappointed, all and completely. When I finished I went to look out of the window, yes the window, that window where Sandra, Alicia and Paco were when I left; the window where they were watching the stuffed crepes stall, the tables covered with the velvet curtains, the velvet curtains that hided the briefcases full with money we had rescued from the Universal Savings Banks basement. And I was looking at the horizon and looking at the street, that silent and dark horizon with a few stars, that empty and silent street. Empty and silent? Silent of course, but empty? Empty! Empty? How empty? The money? Where was the money? My heart stated to beat strongly, really strongly, and I to walk hysterical from one side to another until I sat down opposite to the telly and remembered it had been a day since I had left the entire thing there in the street, they probably had found a good place, Salva might find an answer to the transport problem. I had to talk to him, it was late but I had to know what he had done. Salva took long in opening; I was about to believe they all had run away to the Caribbean, in fact Salva was always saying that was what he wanted to do. He opened the window and looked down as and old-times housewife, the ones that shouted: Joshua if I catch you, Ill kill you, it was 114
weird, he usually opened just like that, but, of course, it was late.
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Chapter 28. Deep down. Second attempt (Part three) He opened the door, grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. He was shouting but stopping his voice as it he wanted to speak in low, I didnt understand why, he lived alone, who were we bothering? Fuck you girl, here you are at last, where have you been? Salva said upset I phoned you hundreds of times. They stole my cell, the bag, everything I said.
I told Salva what I had seen; I must say that, at least, the suspicion of his face went off; but the truth is that his face was a mothers face in a hangover day, of the daughter I mean. He didnt believe a word I was saying, especially the folding helicopter thing; in that point, it wasnt his eyes were wide open as before, there, he tried not to laugh, he did a big effort but not very effective. When he finished laughing, I mean, when he was more or less able to keep a tight rein on the laugh, I asked him about the tables and the briefcases. He looked at me surprised; it wasnt exactly what I needed in that moment. He said he thought I had hidden them... as he had left me on charge and they werent there the following day, he supposed I had taken care of it; and even he tried to pretend, I noticed a bit of mistrust, of distrust, I think he almost believed I had run away with the money. I have to say that I also noticed a bit of remorse. He told me that Sandra had seen me leaving with Ramn and that when Paco, Alicia and she left, there wasnt anything and they supposed I had come back to take it with me. They were at the window; anything? I said.
didnt
they
see
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I dont know, they didnt tell me anything about that, anyway Sandra didnt know the money was there, she thought we had taken it with the pulley Salva said.
What a disaster, everything tallied and, at the end, I was the one to blame, I shouldnt leave, each one had done their bit, Paco kept Sandra busy, Ramn kept me busy and Salva had managed to keep himself busy. Never mind, it doesnt matters, we could take some briefcase but we were too much greedy Salva said not bothered at all.
He made coffee and we began to think about it, to count our chickens before hatched them, and we end laughing at ourselves. We almost agreed to give a miss, they pulled our leg, we did all the work and we slaved away again. And with reasoning like that we got angry and went out for an explanation. We didnt know what to do, the last track we had was my dancing with Ramn so we went to talk with him. Salva opened the entrances door with a master key he had, he said that if we ringed the bell Ramn wasnt going to open; I hoped they hadnt gone to the Caribean yet, which was what we wanted to do. Andrs had face of waking up in a bad mood, he was on his underpants and leaned against the door frame like the seductive man he was, just natural, blocking the door. We want to speak with Ramn I said. And so what? He said.
He told us he was neither Ramns secretary nor his mother to ask him for permission; that Ramn had gone to the ncora Hotel few days before, because he probably needed privacy. And Paco? I asked.
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Paco is sleeping, if you didnt wake him up, of course He said brusquely.
While Andrs was talking I listened noises inside and I made efforts to see among the gaps he left, I only could see a pair of womans legs that came out to the corridor and suddenly came back to the inside. I looked at Salva and told him to go; even the curiosity ruled me it wasnt that strong to prefer knowing who was the owner of those legs before where the swine Ramn had hidden the money. We were to the ncora Hotel, they didnt let us go in, they said they couldnt disturb their clients; it wasnt a waste of time either, at least we knew he still was their client, he still was staying there. Thing that began to worry me because if he hadnt gone it wasnt him who had taken the money, then, the hotel room was for the privacy thing, so he was involved with someone else, what a jerk! As we had nothing to do there and Salva had just lain awake let me convince him to go to Oza, where I had told him I had seen the folding helicopter. He agreed not because he believed me, but because in the way he was splitting his sides laughing at me and because he felt like hearing the story again. What he didnt expect was that he would see the blue light I had described I had seen coming out of the water and the deafening noise which was pretty louder than I remembered going round over our heads. We sat down on the bench, Salva sat down because he was dazzled and he couldnt stand up. There were four helicopters going round and our presence didnt seem to bother them. They didnt seem to be doing anything useful; they werent carry anything and they didnt go out of the old port limits. Salva felt the feeling of building-in the back of the bench I had felt hours before, the spotlight came up to blinding us, then it suddenly switched off and the blue light let us see how it folded on its own. Salvas eyes were popping out of his head 118
and I heard a voice wouldnt you think I was going to let you keep it all, would you?, it was Ramn, that was what he had said in my ear the day before, just before closing my eyes, I suddenly remembered it.
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Chapter 29. Deep down. Second attempt (Part four) When Salva got to close his mouth we looked at each other and we read each others mind, while the other lights flew about on the horizon we walked to the cliff, we werent afraid, we had that excitement of the discovery, of the investigation, of the rescue. The water was lower than it seemed, the light came from a metal platform that probably went over rails to the inside of the mountain, that was more imagination than sight because the cliff was too straight to see further up, we had to put our head a bit more out, I had no intention of doing it, and Salva said that no way because he was still asleep, and I was crazy, that it was not our business and he weighed more than me and he was stronger than me so he could hold me better. I was about to tell him I would do it, not because I was convinced of it but because I was curious; it was a good job he noticed it and thought that maybe it was better idea go along the coast to see if we find the way down. We didnt find it; we only found a projection where I supposed the gateway the helicopters used to go in was. It was simply fascinating, in the distance we could see the Santa Cruzs, Santa Cristinas and Burgos lights, the day was dawning, the lights came to us, the helicopters ones of course, to withdraw of course. In an orderly fashion they were disappearing under our attentive look and under our tired feet. For a while the folding helicopter mystery had made me forgot the phrase I had remember a while before wouldnt you think I was going to let you keep it all, would you?, I heard again and I got depressed and infected Salva, so we ended sitting down on the bench again staring at the horizon without seeing a way out.
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Dont get embarrassed! If you want we can go down and see it close up An authoritarian voice said behind us.
Salva looked at me from the corner of his eye to see what I was going to do, I looked at Salva from the corner of my eye to see what he was going to do. We turned round at a time and very slowly, just to be caught in profile in case they shut at us, the odds they hit us were fewer, on the nose maybe, but maybe they do us a favour. He was a uniformed man, pardon me, he was a breathtaking Adonis inside a made to measure uniform; after the same old pupils dilation I was relief he wasnt a policeman and he didnt come in an aggressive way. Not the slightest, he had a smile almost comparable to the Universal Savings Bank blue eyes actors. I got relaxed, Salva kept on dribbling and the uniformed seemed not to notice me although the shout was in plural. And without meaning to exercise my natural cowardice, or to let a friend down in face of the danger, or to run away as fast as there were sales at the China Mxica, I did it, of course I did, I was not going to waste the opportunity. Salva would understand it, just in case I was wrong with the looks, which was unlikely. At first I walked slowly, then I took a run you could see the trail from the Meras lighthouse. I went home, I wanted to make myself look spectacular to go back to the Ramns hotel, and see if the receptionist, the director and whoever dared say Ramn wasnt there. I had in my wardrobe a suit from before the tsunami that I had never I would use again, but that I had kept just in case, and the case was just there. It was bit loose, sign that I was better then, I mean, I took few exercise, I really was a mushroom on the sofa. A quick look on the mirror, bah, I was not pretty bad, weird, but not bad.
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Well, it seems Ramn said.
am
at
the
wrong
door
Fuck, the day had started hard and it was getting worse, just one fright after another, it was opening the door and seeing Ramn leaning on the frame not at all bothered, not at all worried. Maybe I was wrong about him. Where do you go so elegant? He asked.
And he liked what he was seeing as much as he criticized me, sure, I think I had surprised him. He said we had to talk, if he could come in; but even being at my homes door, with the door opened I said wed better go to a bar because I didnt get all dressed up to stay at home. He said he didnt need excuses and that if I didnt let him go in he would talk right there on the landing, that he didnt mind at all, it wasnt much what he had to say. I didnt like the tone he used, I could get as cocky as him and I told him that if it was so little he should drop it once and for all, and he did it. You have to go down again and bring the rest He dropped. What rest? What asked upset. are you playing at? I
The rest of the money, you only took half of it, wouldnt you have it hidden there at home, would you? He said half joking.
I made it clear to him that we had taken all what I had found and that if there was something more there wasnt at the strongroom and, above all, I had not the slightest intention of being used again. He sniggered and said that it was fine for him if I was so naive to think I could lie to the rest, but he knew me very well and he went three steps ahead. He made it clear to me that he was going independently and that he had no intention 122
of sharing the money out with his friends, but that the councillor wasnt so easy to please, that he didnt swallow the I dont know thing I had told him and that I had just played a dirty trick on him so I had to go down again and bring the rest up to give it to the councillor, because he had just place the suitcases and he couldnt back the operation out. He completely disconcerted me; it wasnt the first time he did the dirty on me, and yes, I had been too naive thinking I was able to trick him, but I didnt see the point on bringing his friends and leaving them in the lurch, although it tallied with what Andrs had said. Of course I also thought it all was a comedy to take more advantage of me; he was plenty capable of it. Anyway I told him he could manage the situation as he wanted but without my help. He left and while he was going down the stairs. Well see...
And maybe it was for the echo and the bad mood the kid was in that it sounded too gloomy. I had to speak with someone, I had to phone Sandra, but I remembered my cell had been stolen, I mean, he had stolen my cell. I run stairs down, it was time for him to tell me everything wanted or not.
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Chapter 30. I am into the washing machine I grabbed his arm and made him turned round to look at me. What are YOU playing at? I asked. was not his servant and that if be happy not getting any profit trouble, because he didnt know with.
I told him that I he expected me to he was in a real who he was messing -
I know it quite well He said with a cold and distant voice.
Sure he knew, but it neither was to admit he was right so easily. It neither tallied he gave his friends away, it wasnt that I thought he wasnt capable of doing it, of course he was, but because the others wouldnt let him go like that, especially Andrs. In short, things didnt tally. I still was grabbing his arm and, to have the bad mood face he had and to be as angry as he was, I felt him so calmed down, he hadnt tried to release his arm from my hand, neither he bothered the interrogation; but there was something even more weird, when I was asking questions like What are you playing at?, when I was getting more upset, he looked down. Sure, there was something going on. When he dropped me in it, and I was really experienced, he usually looked at me right in the eyes, face to face, to make me believe what he was telling. Xiana, no way they saw me with a blonde, I spend the whole afternoon at the library...
Yes, looking at me right into the eyes, the rat bastard, with a sweet smile and with steady pulse, like the CIA agents that past the polygraph taking two personalities on, just like that, just a bit 124
less thorough, because I catch him polygraph or so, but he tried at least.
without
It was different now; he didnt even try to pretend, as he wanted me to find the swindle out. You have to go down there again, and take it all to the surface He said. No way I said smiling.
I smiled because it came up like that, because I found his insistence, his need funny; he didnt find as funny as me and got even more serious, which was difficult. Do it He ordered. No I replied. Do it or you are going to lose more than you think He said threatening.
Even that his look didnt show that intention, maybe he was playing misleading, as the two personalities thing didnt work now he was trying the false answers thing. More what? Time? Patience? Dont worry, I am plenty of them, I can afford the luxury I said.
He looked at me right into the eyes, he looked at the arm I was grabbing, he looked at my hand, took it apart as it suddenly bothered, turned round and kept going down the stairs, at the landing he turned round to me and insisted: Do it... or you are going to lose more than you can afford...
And he left, I mean, he tried to go out, I went after him, I wasnt going to allow him to threaten me and far from it I wasnt going to let him the
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last word with no option for replying. I was able to hold his shoulder, he stopped but he took long to turn round, I was about to run up stairs and lock myself in my place because that delay seemed like he was trying to calm himself down, to hold the keen to kick me in the arse, he was really capable, not of kicking my arse, I hoped, but of shouting me until I was unconscious. But I didnt, I was so afraid I only could take my hand off his shoulder. He, when he noticed I had withdrawn my hand, turned round slowly, taking a breath, and I dont know if it was I with the fear or him with the emotion but I had the feeling he had his eyes filled with tears, although it was only that, just a feeling because I had never seen him moved, OK, fine, when his soccer team won and so, but not moved of emotionally moved. He looked at me, grabbed my arms, as if he wanted to immobilize me, I was starting to fear the worst. He looked down, let my arms free and grabbed my neck, he got closer and he kissed me; then, he let my neck go with a caress and said with a very sweet voice: Do it.
A kick in the arse would hurt more without a doubt, but the effect wouldnt be so devastating, I stood there looking at him leaving without really seeing. When I came round I went up stairs to phone Sandra and tell her Ramn had kissed me; I was stressed trying to find my cellphone when I remembered, again, they had stolen my purse, the cell and everything, and that, probably, the thief was the James Bond had just seduced me with a kiss. I didnt think about it anymore, I run down stairs and went to Sandras home. To tell the truth I thought it was weird she took so long to open, she wasnt the fastest woman on earth but I had been a pain in the door for fifteen minutes and even her infinite patience was out of that limit. I tried one last time and, as I 126
saw it was impossible, I decided to go in by force. It wouldnt be the first time she felt asleep on the couch with the headphones on and then she said we left her abandoned, apart, that we didnt go to visit her... I took a run and hit the door and I opened it. I wasnt that strong, it got unlocked if you hit it a sharp blow in the very middle... some kind of manufacture defect. The flat wasnt in a mess, nor showed signs of violence, all was in its place, the telly switched off, the kitchen was tidy and the couch blanket was folded over its back. I sat down and I began to think, she couldnt be with Paco, it wasnt normal that having a flat where they could be alone they were staying in other with two other men and another woman. I gave a step backwards later and got focus on the woman at the Andrs, what if she was Sandra? That would explain why she hid so faster, maybe she was embarrassed I saw like that and... She wasnt Sandra, she is too naive to be embarrassed of being involved with someone, she did it and thats that, what explanations she had to give to anyone! And Alicia? What if the betrayed woman thing was a trick to make friends with us, or worst, what if she was so jealous that she decided to get rid of Sandra? I got up; I walked round again to see if I could find something. Suddenly I heard a humming from somewhere, it sounded hollow, as knickers in the washing machine, hollow and metallic. I went to the kitchen to check if she had left the washing machine on, at least it would indicate that she wasnt too far, that I was a hysterical and that I had to find a good excuse not to have to pay the doors repair. The washing machines door was opened and the noise had stopped, once I was there I ate something. Suddenly the humming appeared again. It came out of the washing machine for sure. I looked inside; it was a cellphone. I took it, the humming kept on. It was my phone. It was my phone!
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What the hell was doing my phone into Sandras washing machine? The first thing that crossed my mind was that I was so drunk that, as Salva had said, I had no idea where I had left anything and I had made the purse robbery up. OK, what really first crossed my mind was the bloody bitch stole my bag and I would keep on thinking it if I hadnt found it on the washing machine. The humming kept on. If Sandra had stolen my purse, she would take whatever she needed and give it back to me, and I wouldnt realize at all; it was obvious. She could do it at any moment and she didnt need to put the phone turned on inside the washing machine. Fine, it wasnt her. The same person that stole my purse kidnapped Sandra. That was the most feasible, the most logical. The humming was going on. Was the humming going on? I noticed it at last; I stopped thinking about everything and picked it up. Hello?
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Chapter 31. Magic Hello? I repeated. Who are you? One womans voice said from the other side. Why are you asking me who I am? Who are YOU? I inquired.
What was that of phoning me and ask who I was? Who was she phoning? Well then, I was that. How could she ask me who I was? I was I! After a deep silence and a bit before hanging up the woman said with acidity: Lets leave the stupidity apart, I havent heard from my daughter for four days and Im getting nervous.
I told her that probably it was better she called her daughter, because I wasnt the lost and found daughters department and maybe the police could help her because they were paid for that. She said, with a lot of sarcasm; that she was very grateful for my invaluable help, that the talking to the police idea had never crossed her mind, that thanks and thanks again and that if I was able to leave my stupidity apart maybe we could get to understand something. Not half! I hung up. Yes, I hung up, of course I did, I hung up on a desperate mother that hadnt heard from her daughter for four days. And so what? I could recover jewels or vases, but not daughters. That wasnt my thing, that wasnt my responsibility, that wasnt concern of mine. Well, fine, OK, remorse ruled me, I began to think about Sandra, who was also disappeared and I phone her back. The first beep not even sounded.
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Her name is Alicia and I found this number next to the phone. Its the only thing she left at home The woman said.
Alicia? If she was the same Alicia I knew the thing was not that important, she seemed to get on quite well and to be bad-tempered enough not to be put up for long in case of kidnapping. I decided not to tell her this last thought because, counting how mums are, she would probably understand they would kill her instead of they would pay her for taking the sweet Alicia away from them, which I really wanted to mean. I told her I had met one Alicia that had been at my place because she suspected her husband was involved with one friend of mine, and that she seemed to know get on well, but that I hadnt seen her again. She said I was right but Alicia hadnt phoned her since she left and she didnt answer the phone and, as she had that spoilt kid irresponsibility, maybe she had found a heartless man who saw her platinum visa and... I told her about the last time I had seen Alicia and that she didnt seemed easy to be had, and that my friend had also disappeared, the one she thought was involved with her husband. Maybe I shouldnt. Oh god, wont you think...?
I think she thought her daughter had killed Sandra, but I didnt let her end the sentence, just in case it was truth, which I didnt believe it was... The woman despaired and started to tell me Alicias entire life, from the moment she got married until the moment she stepped out home. It was surprising my cells battery lasted so much. When the woman began to cry I promised her I would do all I could to find her daughter and phone her back and so.
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Apart from the uncomfortable situation of the beginning and of the end I got pretty interesting information. Andrs name was the most interesting of all; I had to go back to his flat. I knocked several times but nobody opened. I got my ear close to the door and I could hear the telly and peoples steps. I got as closer as I could, so embedded I was in the door that I almost looked like Spiderman. I could hear it clearly; it was Glamorous Heart. I put my finger on the doorbell and I pressed until it dozed off, the finger not the doorbell. It works at my place, but not at Andrs. I was fed up of standing there and called Salva. He was clear and concise: I got success, dont disturb me, screw the money.
He was saying that in the frenzy of the moment, but once the fever had gone, you will see who was to be screw and from where. I did what he told me to do, I left him alone, of course I had to pester someone I went to find Ramn, at the end it was his entire fault, so it was he who had to solve it. He wasnt at the hotel, but as I was so dolled up, a great woman would said, they were very kind and told me they had given him a note with a date at five in the afternoon at the central shops. I had to get used to the blouse again, the not button the blouse up thing worked better than shouting, theres no comparison; the skirt also helped, to the getting information, maybe not so to the central shops. At five was a weird hour, still tallied with the high tide, and I worked up it didnt low down until seven what meant that until eight the shops didnt start to open. Yes, that was the most beautiful hour because they lighted them with candles and relieved the smell of sea with incense, which gave the place a magic atmosphere.
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The date at five meant he was going to meet someone from abroad or someone that didnt go around there very often, which didnt make sense except he didnt want anybody to see them together. The son of a bitch was going to meet a married woman! An inexperienced married woman because the time was a beginners choice... He was going to meet Alicia! If Ramn was meeting Alicia, the one at Andrs place should be... Sandra? It tallied with the Glamorous Heart thing but not with the not opening the door thing. I recalled I had my phone back. I called her. The number you are dialling is off or out of signal.
If the one at the Andrs had fall asleep watching TV... Sandra always switched the phone off to watch the telly. I almost was relief, at least was in a known place and if she was kidnapped they were treating her well, she had all she needed with the telly. I waited excited for the hour of the date, excited and hidden. Ramn was the first, he was surprised the sea flooded it all, the water still surprised him, he was like the guy in the movie I know who you are that fell in love each time he saw his doctor, of course he had the excuse of his mental disease. The woman arrived half an hour after, later, she was a married woman for sure, she wore the wedding ring. I expected other kind of woman, but maybe I had never got to know him, that was why we never would be together. They greeted shaking hands, so maybe it was I who misunderstood the situation. The woman took an envelope out of the pocket and gave it to him with a clandestine gesture, he looked around and put the envelope into the inside pocket of his jacket. Then, they started to walk, that made it harder for me to follow them, but one 132
is an expert and they didnt get to shake me off. She walked looking ahead and Ramn was gesticulating forcefully. I couldnt hear what they said even I was getting closer and closer. They stopped. An official car with dark glasses and a car driver with a council badge on the lapel arrived. It wasnt that I had x-ray eyesight; it was that the guy got out of the car to open the womans door. She got in and they vanished along the cero zones abandoned streets. Ramn walked to the starting point, I went after him. The tide had lowered and, inside the building, the first candles were on, we still had to wet our feet to go in but he didnt mind, me neither. I had no choice, I actually minded but I wanted to know what Ramn was doing. I plenty knew what I had to do but I should thought about it for too long and, once inside, I lost him; he wasnt anywhere. Well, I was sure he was there; it still wasnt possible to out through the back door. I went up the third floor and looked from the balcony how it all begins to light up, how it was filling up with people and the racket of the haggling died away the echo of an empty building. When I raised my head and look to the front, Ramn was looking at me smiling, he was smiling with that smile that paralyzed and took neurons away because it made me forgot all the bad things and enveloped him with an out of the ordinary air of magic, goodness and charm. Was it impossible to immunize against him, then? Its easy with the low tide I heard on my ear.
I tried to see who he was, but a pair of huge arms corned me against the balustrade and a head didnt let me move mine. Anyway, I plenty knew who he was. Who is the woman you were talking to?
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That is not a information you need he said again on my ear. But I really needed that information; in fact, I wanted that information and so I let him know. He remained in silence breathing on my neck. Maybe it was the magic of the place, or the horny he made me feel, but I couldnt even giggle because I didnt want to spoil that paradisiacal feeling. Why dont we have anything? He said at last.
I would say no because it had been long since I were so close to happiness; but his head was not longer on my neck and his arms not longer on the balustrade, the magic had vanished, so the best was to feed my stomach, I hadnt eaten for hours and I supposed he was paying... I hoped. I ate like crazy, the cook looked at me badly, I almost ate all the portions she had done for the evening. Where does that way lead? He asked. To the wood I answered. What do you mean? How is going to be a wood there? He said sceptic.
Of course there was a wood, we got up and left the central shops from the back door. The path wasnt very comfortable, but, at least, there wasnt rubble. It was getting dark and Ramns face was showing the panic they all showed the first time. I supposed to calm himself down he began to tell the entire story.
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Chapter 32. The story (Part one) The day I received Andrs call Ramn started to say I began to think how my life would be if I hadnt left when I had done, and the truth is that I felt homesickness. Plus the money issue, it always suits, of course I was tired of hearing stories about the amount of wealth buried and the truth is that I didnt think Andrs was serious; but Paco and Alberto felt like coming, they didnt know the city and we could have a good time. We were walking slowly jumping from stone to stone, the tide still hadnt totally lowered and we did what the sea let us, I didnt use to go around there, there wasnt anything interesting to see. When I saw the easy it was to talk you into I thought I was going to retire straightforward and it even began to got into my head there really was money. I must admit the zero zone impressed me, I suppose its the same face everybody had the first time, what forest do you say there is around here? And he kept on not minding my answer the problems came afterwards, sometimes I want to kill Andrs, but friends are like that. They called me up from the central, the one here, it surprised me because nor Paco nor Alberto were called and we hadnt heard anything that deserved such a urgency, either. I responded, of course I did, it pissed me off, I was on holidays, they dont let me switch off not for once. Actually, what pissed me off more was they didnt call the others up too, whats up? Am I the village idiot? He didnt look at me, I was nodding, but he kept on talking. The superintendent asked me why I had come, I thought it was weird, he plenty knew I was born here, I didnt tell him the truth, I told him it
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had been long since I saw my family and all that stuff. He looked stern and told me there was a person that wanted to speak with me, someone from the council. I asked who it was but he didnt answer; he only said I should have the phone on and I should answer when they called me without any delay and without any kind of excuse. Dont believe Im scared of them, they paid me for availability and, even sometimes I pretend not to hear, I dont want them to suspend me either, one has to eat. Of course yes, this man is one of these they talk and then get cold feet as soon as the boss raises his voice; sure he was, a cafes revolutionary, of course. They called me a few days later, it was a woman. There I thought the thing was getting interesting, and I was right, although not in the way I expected, on the first call she only said her name was Mara and we had to meet in a discreet place. You tell me if it wasnt to build up my hopes. When I saw her I slowed down, its not she was awful, but she is a bit overripe in my opinion, you know what I mean. Not half! Of course I did understand, pig! She should be a top model to please the guy. The first she dropped was she knew I was involved in the treasure thing. Im telling you, she said in the treasure thing as she knew everything we had agreed with Andrs. I denied it all; she probably had no proofs, maybe Andrs had let the deal out of the bag, which I had anticipated, discretion is not one of his virtues, you can not say the contrary. And so what? Andrs had let the cat out of the bag! In the treasure thing I only had to say I was playing along with him, that I did believe it was true and, as you say, that it was a fairy tale for tourists, and thats that. But the woman didnt mean that, she knew 136
everything, all and everything, that we had spoken with you, that you knew Salva, your entire history, my entire history, our entire history he said pointing at us, referring to our relation so I had to take her seriously. Yes, I took her seriously but with caution, especially when she began to tell me a story different from what Andrs had told me, and even more when the story the so-called Mara made more sense than the Andrs. I almost didnt know where I was stepping on, the water reached my knee, I was intrigued, at last I could know the truth, all the truth and only the truth... or that or it was another story Ramn was telling to make me go to the basement again, but it was so interesting... Andrs had told me his councillor friend wanted the money and so, that he had real knowledge it was there and that, even we shared it out, there was a lot. Thats worked for me, there were some unsolved questions as why now? and some more, but who thinks about that trivialities in such moments. The so-called Mara was Councillor of Culture and told me plainly she only was interested in taking revenge on the councillor of Town Planning for leaving her department without budget; that she would get all the information I needed and that she wanted that, by all means, the councillor didnt get the money; that, if there was money it should remain down there and that if she had to pay me the same sum I found she was prepared to do it. I had no idea about how much money should be into the Universal Savings Banks safe but I doubted that a Councillor of Culture could equal the figure; she noticed my distrust and sign a substantial cheque I have already cashed and that
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far makes up for the money you took out from down there. I almost killed him, what for had he stolen my money if he already had the cheque? He deserved to be killed, murdered, decapitated...
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Chapter 33. The story (Part two) Why did you steal my money, then? I said angry since I couldnt put up anymore. Do you mean the money you stole and that you tried to keep it all and not share it with us? Ramn asked with sarcasm. Of course, we did all the work and...
He interrupted me breathing patience in and kept on with the story. As you will know, money doesnt bring happiness and what makes Mara happy is the councillor doesnt get the Universal Savings Banks money, and above all, the Universal Savings Banks basement remains as always. I suppose you get it He said it as it was obvious, what I was going to get! I see you dont, I took long too, why was so important a basement among all of the basements of the zero zone that had been abandoned for so long? The importance is crystal clear, especially if the councillor of Town Planning is in between, isnt it? And you should know it better than me; you people from the zero zone were expropriated, owed to the declaration of disaster area and so. Most of them were happy and satisfied and dont even remember the flat of the centre of the city, or the traffic noise, or the dustcart at five in the morning along the narrow streets. On the other hand we have, of course, that other people, you for example, that liked to disagree and you are always wandering around the zero zone. The truth is that you arent that important in this story, either; if you didnt take the compensation and you still live in your houses, even without electricity and running water, and even the sea comes out through the drains; what a thing! Your problem. Before we had those slums and now we have you, though you are less annoying
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because you dont go out of the ghetto and you are kind of tourist attraction. When they get tired of you they find something to put you in prison, which is easy, and thats all. Was the money an excuse to put us in jail? I asked.
Are you in jail? Im saying you are not that important, just one tile of the jigsaw, a fringe benefit, as if you have an aspirin to cure a headache and it cures a pain in your toe, you know what I mean. Or you are pretty bad informed or you know the deadline to refund the compensations is about to expire. Maybe not, you dont have anything to refund. And as it obvious nobody used such a privilege, who is going to dive in such a well of rubble. As you should also know, once the deadline has passed the council becomes the legitimate and official owner of all that land. It becomes public, so to say. Little Venice I interrupted. I see you ARE informed He said. I have heard about it but I thought it was one of the mayors eccentricities, or a false rumour of these that go round to make fun of him, it was quite possible.
But even though that wouldnt be the most important part of the story because the improvements are being made no matter what, the plenary session approved the town plan a few days after they finished the compensations payments, and not only because the mayor wanted to, but because the people that had put the founds as guarantee demanded it, its clear that they didnt give them for free. You are probably wondering what the strongroom has to do with this all of course I was when the Universal Savings Bank accepted the multimillion 140
euro compensation, as you can imagine, they had to renounce everything they had left there, and, as you also know well, not everybody who renounces are prepared to really do it. They werent in a hurry, I mean, they couldnt do it before because they had to wait for the legal deadline no to have to give explanations. The truth is that they didnt count on you were so fast; at least its what I think, because I didnt and Maria either; thats why we had to take it back to depths, so to say He looked at me half in a patronizing way half calling me idiot not to anybody could tell. Luckily for me you werent telling the money thing all around. So nobody knows the money really exists, you got to take it out and it was in the street within whoever reach. Are you telling me a Councillor of Cultures revenge can be so twisted? She even isnt going to recover what she gave to you in that cheque, according to you I said.
The thing is not as simple as stealing money, part of the safes content was the councillor commission for granting the work to the Universal Savings Banks construction company. And the most important of all was a briefcase that was among the ones you took out and the ones you didnt take out. The briefcase contains a very specific information, that, apparently can change the course of EVENTS. He said with mystery. Ha, ha, ha I laughed not at all bothered, thinking he was teasing me. Dont laugh, you have to go down there again and took out all the briefcases you left the other time He said quite seriously. I didnt leave any, we made a big effort to take them all I said. Im serious He said.
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Eh! Stop threatening, and by the way, where is Sandra? If you dare hurt her you will get what for! Are you listening? I said, also quite seriously. Sandra? I dont know, she probably is somewhere with Paco, last time I saw her was at your window, and now you mention it I neither have seen Paco again. Paco is a kind of loving so maybe he convinced her to go on a honeymoon He said very suggestive. Its weird I said then, what did you are going to lose more than you can afford stand for? I didnt mean it, Xiana; I cant believe you still dont know me He answered playing it down. I do know you, yes I do, why did you leave there laying on a bench in front of the folding helicopters cache? I asked. I didnt leave you laying anywhere; while we were dancing you fainted, I said faint to be kind because you were really drunk. I took you home; I left you there, on your bed, alone... as far as I know. Sure I said looking at him right inside the eye to guess if he was lying.
My first instinct was believe him, but I was surprised to see how unperturbed he listened folding helicopters, without turning a hair, as it was the most natural. What is more, I hadnt drank a single drop of alcohol and I didnt faint, or maybe I did, but against my will. Where is that forest you told me? He asked changing the subject, trying to play my abandonment down.
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We are arriving I said. How is it possible there is a forest here? He said. There is, do you remember the Mndez Nez gardens? I asked. Fuck you off, that is not a forest He said with contempt. Sure not, that is not a wood; but nobody knows why, a species from New Zealand, a huge tree full of roots that lived on the gardens, started reproducing, multiplying and spreading. The old docks are now a forest, almost a jungle. So you say, and Santa Cristina? why can it be seen from
Of course you can see it, but with the high tide it looks like a garden I said with mystery. Im looking forward to seeing it He said with incredulity.
The truth is that we took it easy, from the central shops to the wood it didnt took more than fifteen minutes walking quickly and without many puddles; but Ramn wasnt able to walk and talk at the same time, he could if he used short sentences, but when he kept the time of the story he stopped and he explained himself, as he couldnt do two things at a time or as if with his emphasis wanted to convinced me the story he was telling me was true.
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Chapter 34. Conspiracy What are we doing now? Mara asked. We are going to do what we have to do Carme said.
Mara knew Carme was serious, she would go as far as it required, even though she wasnt sure it was appropriate to get too involved in the situation, at the end she had personal reasons that could increase the cruelty of the revenge. Josefa was looking at them in silence, she agreed with her colleagues but she didnt want to get involved in a story that seemed to take up too much time. At the end it was a conspiracy and her years of civil service taught her that, as much as spare time they had, there were things they could only be done at night, and also, thanks to her wide experience she knew that, at night, she had better things to do. Dont take it on the personal level Mara said.
Carme didnt even pay attention, she punched the window, making it clear that of course she took it on the personal level, it was personal. Her ex had it in for her, he enjoyed each dirty trick and, until then, he always had won; but the time to stop him had come, and if the justice didnt do it she would. She didnt know well how but she would find the way and stood there thinking, staring at the opposite balcony. Mara was walking nervously from one side to the other. 144 Maybe said. its a silly thing but... Josefa
But? Mara asked excited.

But maybe there Josefa said.
is
not
tsunami
at
all
Of course, and maybe there is Carme said going out of the trance. Sure Josefa said.
Carme knew quite well there was a chance but everything pointed out it would, and they had to be ready, as soon as they signed the expropriations it would be late to act. There has to be something we are not seeing Mara said. I dont give a damn, they can keep it all for themselves, I dont mind, Im going to live my life and stop worrying, when people complain about the schools bad conditions they will give me the money Im entitled to She said resigned. Yes, or they will blame you for everything, they will request your resignation and you just can say goodbye to your career Carme said.
Josefa saw, for the first time in the entire morning, the need for her to get involved in the business. Well, right, if things are like that they will get what for Josefa said the first we had to guess is who is going to guarantee the compensations; there is where the business is. Guarantee? Mara asked is it necessary? Of course it is Carme confirmed, even she had no idea what she was talking about.
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Before the coffee time they sat down in front of the window and stared at the Square with a kind of homesickness, of missing, of it was beautiful; and they tried to imagine it flooded or destroyed by the waves and they sighed disenchanted. At the coffee hour they plot the spying plan, they would talk to Noelia from Administration, she would talk to Argimiro from the caretakers, that knew... and they spun a net that it seemed more Camarias lace by the fine they knitted it. The aim of the net was to have access to every document signed, to everything the councillor of Town Planning signed, in and out of the council, in and out of the legality, in and out of wherever-god-wanted. As a good work of art the nets value increased in the time, they collected so much information they had to rent a flat as operation centre because the volume of papers began to arouse suspicions. And as a good work of art, in time, it made them very happy. At last it happened. The Universal Savings Bank guaranteed the compensations and crossing dates and names and codes, they found a whole series of fax, e-mails and notes that set a direct relation between the councillor of Town Planning and the Universal Savings Banks manager. There were three ways of action: the official one, which was the one of the guarantee; the unofficial, which was the one of the granting the Little Venice works to the Universal Savings Bank managers construction company; and the illegal, we are going to call it plainly like that. The granting of the works had a double direction, one from the council to the Bank to thank the guarantee and one from the Banks manager to the councillor to thank the granting. In short, they all were very grateful. They had decided the best way to channel all that amount of undeclared incomes was leaving it abandoned there deep down, into de strongroom, it was practically impassable, the insurance would cover the loss so it wouldnt cost a cent to the Bank and the councillor only had to wait a pair of years, thing that came in handy because it gave him time to create the fake 146
companies he needed to channel the millions he was going to receive. And then we had the way out, the one Carme, Mara and Josefa needed. The deeds all the people that had taken the compensations and the exchanges for the evacuation moves from the zero zone gave to the council. Those that give the council the property of all the zero zone, the ones they had to protect with their life; those which, in exchange for a few five millions of euros, the three councillors accomplice and the councillor of Town Plannings traitor had hide among the suitcases with the millions of euros that were going to remain sealed by the tsunami water. What does it mean they are into the Universal Savings Banks safe? Carme asked hysterical. This guy is stupid, completely absolutely stupid Josefa said. and
He was counting the money and, as all the suitcases look alike, when he saw them all closed he didnt knew where the papers were and he was not going to open them, he didnt want to arouse suspicions Mara said with understanding. He didnt want to! He didnt want to! Useless! In this fuck council they are all a bunch of useless! Can you not count on anybody? Isnt there anybody who can do things right? Carme muttered.
It was true, they had paid him for bringing the papers, discretely, but for bringing the deeds to them, they even got a little box of these the big businessmen in some companies of dubious ethics, it wasnt they liked it but, of course, it was the safest. It would be rare someone missed the deeds, all the contracts were signed and they would only need them in case of complaint, which was not very
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likely because, in spite of nobody thought about the tsunami as an event with real chance of happening, people were in a hurry to leave, especially since there was a rumour going round that the most important tycoon had done it yet. So, it was not likely the guys of Town Planning realized the documents were missing and in the moment Little Venice started to run they would took out the deeds demanding the land and obtaining an obscene amount of dosh. This was the point where the debate intensified, Maria said it was better took out the deeds at the beginning of the works, so they had to pay them if they wanted to start with the pickle. I must say that they didnt use works as dosh, pickle... its me who uses them to summarize all the thing. Carme said she didnt see it clear, if they took the deeds at the beginning they might decide not to do the work so it would be better to take them out in the middle, when they were well into the works so the only way to take some profit out of there was paying them. Josefa, who didnt get upset easily, said that if they waited for the works to be half done and they asked for more money than the half had cost the others were not going to pay, so appear in the middle of the works would limit the money they would ask for. The best, according to Josefa, was wait until it all was finished, just about to open, so if they didnt give the dosh they became the legal owners of Little Venice and, therefore, more than stinking rich, with the future ensured and being the envy of the Jet Set. Mara said it was a good reasoning but they would spend ages on courts and they even run the risk of the justice looked under the blindfold and lost out. It doesnt matters, that clumsy put his foot in it and we dont have anything Carme said disappointed. Even... Mara was about to say.
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Even nothing Carme interrupted. Even nothing, no Josefa intervened if the deeds are with the money, and only we and the clumsy know where they are, we only have to wait until they take all the suitcases and steal the one with the deeds. They dont know the deeds are there, they are not looking for them, we will. And how are we going to rescue that specific briefcase? Carme asked with a kind of relief. We will see, if it goes as planned we are plenty of time to think it well Josefa answered the clumsy will keep his mouth shut, wont he? Yes, he is not interested in this business, he wanted the money and is going to ask for an extended leave of absence and make a filming course, it seems he always wanted to be an artist or so, he is not making troubles Mara said. Fine Carme said.
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Chapter 35. Lost If the faces of the people that saw the zero zone for the first time were of amazement, the face of the people that saw the wood for the first time was indescribable. I suppose its the same feeling you have when you are dead and you find out you can cross the walls or when Neo played with the liquid metal mirror; the feeling of changing of world, or so to speak, of having a foot in the other word. But what the hell? Ramn strength to end the sentence. said without
The last afternoon sun almost couldnt go through the branches of those huge trees. He had the excuse of being a beginner on the subject, not me, and even though I made the same mistake everybody made in front of that spectacle, because that was the only name that can do justice, spectacle, of spectacular. Lets go I said defiant. Where? He asked shocked.
When I said to the wood he looked at me with jumpy kid face, an adorable face, too much temptation not to give in. Without leaving him any alternative I entered in the deep of the forest. He looked behind, studying the alternatives, it even seemed to me he was going back, but he wasnt. He looked at me again and began to walk indecisive. I was confident, I dont know why, I had never been alone into the wood, I neither remembered the last time I had walked among the green giants, of course they werent as giant or as many as the ones I had in front in that moment; but Ramns weakness made me stronger, as a parasite that live on its host.
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I imagine my idea was to scare him until he confessed all he had to confess, at the end it was what they used to do, just instead of locking him into a room with a mirror I got him into a lively wood. And it worked. The conversation was trivial, this is impressive the ground doesnt seem too much firm the air seems so pure how beautiful the sunlight looks among the leaves and, I cannot determine the moment, he confessed that he had took me in, that Sandra was with Paco, held, even she wasnt quite conscious because they two were with that silly thing of love and it was easy to take her in. He didnt say a word about Salva, it wasnt necessary the shameless would be with the helicopters handsome man. He told me about the suitcase they were after and what he did with the others he had stolen from me. I thought you told me you had given them back to the depths I said. Officially I did, thats what the councillor believes, but as you will understand its a big lost threw that money down there, especially if I can keep it in a safe place and enjoy a peaceful retirement.
He should noticed it on my face, on mine the one he had, of course I understood, that was the retirement I had planned for me, thats a laugh! Dont look at me like that He said serious I didnt want to use you. Ha! It came out without meaning. Seriously, we divided the money in four and I didnt even touch my part He said with some kind of affectation. Sure, you still hadnt time, I dont know how you managed to count and share it out in not more than a day I said.
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He smiled, sincere, he said laughing they didnt count it; they only shared it out roughly. I told him I wasnt going down to the basement again, that there wasnt anything left, and that I didnt feel like they caught me red-handed and thought I had stolen all the dosh that wasnt supposed to be there. Thats all I needed, made all the work, being broke and being the one to blame. He said he understood, Andrs was also worried about the councillors reaction when he realized the suitcases were missing, but he also said it would happen as later as possible. He changed the tone of his speech; he began to remind me the first Ramn I had met, that funny, natural and sincere guy that made you feel you had found what you were looking for. Yes, fine, I had a crush on him again. It might be the chlorophyll. I fell down. Thats it. One is not perfect. The dream of love made me got more lost into the forest and any chance of going out that remotely could exist in my head vanished automatically. I didnt know it, the I was lost thing, I kept on walking on the cloud of magic surrounding since I had went into the central shops that evening. You know? He said grabbing my arm to make me look at him I think you are right.
I looked at him surprised, not because he had said I was right, that of course had surprised me, but because I didnt know what he was talking about. Thinking it carefully, I believe you are right, there is nothing left in the safe He said looking around listen, you know where we are going, dont you? Sure, of course I know I said pretending self-confidence, I had not a clue, but the I was right thing was very interesting. She thinks their accomplice put the deeds in one of the suitcases, that he cocked it up,
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and right now, if I had to choose between you are mistaken and he cocked it up, I think I will choose he cocked it up but not in the way the councillor believes.
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Chapter 36. What do you say you said? Thats not fine for me Alberto said as he heard Ramns plan, the others looked at each other, he was serious, as he really didnt see the point. Ramn looked up. He didnt attach importance; Paco and Andrs agreed with him so they decided to go ahead. Paco, far from objecting was jumping for joy; he didnt like lying to Sandra but it was a lesser evil compared to an infinite number of days next to her. It wouldnt be difficult for Andrs to keep Alicia busy; he believed he had lost his charm, that there wasnt chemistry between them, but he would find a way, if he had to exploit the cheating husband thing he would but Alicia was going to fall again or he stopped being who he was. Alberto got up and left, he went for a walk, with friends like that who wanted enemies. Yes, well, Paco with Sandra, Andrs with Alicia and Ramn was going to the hotel to leave room at Andrs place, so he had to play gooseberry with the randy detective and the merry divorced and with the lovely teddy bears couple. Well no, he was not willing to do it. And what really drove him mad was that Ramn didnt even realize, that he hadnt think about him not a single second, and what drove him even madder was that he thought of Paco in the first place. Whats the matter with you? Ramn asked behind him.
Whats the matter with me? Alberto repeated sulked, Ramn looked at him with the face he looked at his girlfriends when they got a bit hysterical. Dont look at me like that; you plenty know what Im talking about Alberto said indignant.
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Ramn wide opened his eyes, had to focus for a while because he really had the feeling the lover of the night before was making a jealous scene. You dont know it, seriously? Dont wait for me to tell it to you, think about it And he started to walk leaving Ramn behind.
Behind and speechless. He has a hope! I have a lot to worry about but this guys paranoias And he went back home.
Alberto kept on walking for a while, of course he didnt pay attention to he way and got lost; it was crystal clear he was going to get lost. Luckily he had the phone to call for help, because it didnt occur to him to learn the name of street where Andrs lived, either. While he was waiting for Ramn to arrive and, it might be he was ashamed of the situation, he thought about the plan from another point of view. He saw it as a plan, like always, like the ones they used to launch. He forgot about Paco, at last he had played the most important role, he got to infiltrate with success in our group without arouse suspicions, Alberto wasnt surprised because Paco was so naive nobody could think he acted in bad faith. He smiled, at the end he smiled. He thought about it from the money point of view and saw it clear, he didnt get a woman but he neither had work to do, just money to receive. Ramn stopped the car as soon as he saw Alberto, who was sitting down on a building entrance and he could hardly see his head, Ramn almost thought he had left and wasnt going to stop. Hey, listen; go ahead with the Alberto said as he got into the car. plan
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Im glad you think that way because we have to launch it today Ramn said. Today? Alberto asked surprised. Yes, Paco phoned Sandra to have a drink and she said Xiana and Salvador were making crepes in the street Ramn said. Ah Alberto said not understanding.
Ramn turned the radio on and kept on driving just like that. Arent you going to tell me what does making crepes in the street mean? What is it, the plans code? What the hell are you talking about? Dont you count on me anymore? Alberto asked hysterical.
Ramn turned the radio off and looked at him with that look of freezing the blood to make him shut up once and for all before that feeling of the night before lover Alberto had made him feel hours ago came back. Alberto got it; he didnt need explanations or clarifications of any kind. He remained quiet and looking to the front as a good kid. According to Paco, Sandra and Alicia are at Xianas place, Andrs is not certain of getting off with Alicia so, by now, Paco is in charge of the larks. And you and I have to look after Xiana and Salva, well I after Xiana Ramn said. How is that? What are you telling me, I had to snog the gay? Alberto asked going back to the hysterical tone and Andrs what? He takes the dosh and thats that?
Ramn took a deep breath.
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Thats right Alberto, Andrs takes the money, as you can understand if we set all this up is to take the money, someone has to take it He said serious. But... do they have it yet? Alberto said excited Did they take it out? When? Well, I dont know, we suspected they did, you just know how odd the girl is Ramn said. Who? Xiana? Alberto asked confused. Whats the matter with you? Is not the oxygen at A Corua enough for you or what? Ramn said angry Sandra, the one Paco talked to, the one that told him the other two were making crepes in the street. The crepes in the street again! But what kind of metaphor is this? Alberto said.
Ramn took another deep breath. What the hell metaphor are you talking about? They set a stall up in the street because they couldnt take up the tables they took out from the basement and they didnt want to leave them alone in the street, that was what Sandra told Paco, literally, do you get it? Ramn shouted. And what for does Xiana want two tables? He doesnt have room at her place Alberto said.
Ramn looked at him, stopped the car and doubleparked, switch the engine off, took a deep breath and he said very gently: You are going to come with us and do all we tell you to do and thats all.
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Alberto looked at him not understanding, but very conscious, sure Im going to snog the so-called Salva, the minimum chance Ive got Im skiving and this man can make a threesome if he wants to, he was saying to himself, looking at Ramn starting the car from the corner of his eye.
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Chapter 37. What did you say I said? He spent the whole trip pretending a calm he didnt have because he knew it had to be that way; Ramn had spoken to him seriously and it wasnt convenient to make him angry, the last time Ramn spoke slowly he ended carrying out all the raids of all the industrial estates brothels. Quiet, quiet he thought the way to disappear just like that; but he couldnt, Ramn took him grabbed up to my street and didnt let him go out until Andrs and Paco were next to the car. Whats going on? Alberto asked. He says you want pointing at Ramn. to skive Andrs said
Im not going to snog the gay no matter what, keep the money for yourself Alberto shouted, he made a short pause no, youd better give the money I have already done my part of the job. Did you do what? Andrs said upset you did nothing... Down the volume, they are going to hear Ramn said.
Then they walked not at all bothered towards the crepes stall, Paco remained beyond the discussion, he was thinking about Sandra, if she looked at him right into the eyes she would find out he was lying to her and about how to put in order his ideas not to be discovered. And he sighed each time he listened his name in Sandras mouth. In the moment Ramn approached to speak with me, Alberto stepped backwards to lose sight of Salva, he even thought Paco was a good candidate when he saw him so involved tasting the crepes. And when
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Andrs give a damn about the plan and told him to leave with those beauties he breathed with relief. It didnt last. The relief wasnt such a thing. One phone call clarified all his doubts, a part from what had clarified them seeing that a crepe was a crepe and thats that. Ramn told them the hen, he meant me, was at the hen house already, and that the chickens, he meant Sandra and Alicia, were at the chicken house already. He said it just like that. Alberto looked at Andrs from the corner of his eye. He really regrets not taking part in Ncora Operation - He said with sarcasm. the
Andrs was apathetic, once he had someone to spend the night with, he didnt mind if she was Alica or other, this time was other and he didnt see the need of changing the partner, either. But there was. In that moment Andrs got rid of the beauty tourists and looked very serious at Alberto to focus in the business. Its our turn, now he said with a solemn voice. He dialled a phone number and said things like oblique propeller half ton maximum power upright fold and when he hanged up said a lets see how long they take and pulled Alberto out of the bar, dragging him again to the tables street, my tables. That was all the explanation Alberto received. When they arrived at the street was pitch dark, dead silent, the headlights warned them just in time to brake. Alberto got worked up by the braking, by the darkness and by the silence. Andrs not even paid attention to him. Alberto was going to turn the radio on and a punch on the hand made him realize that Andrs didnt feel like, he got out of the car, he could smell the sea. He looked around nervous, suddenly he thought the sea was at his feet like a treacherous emptiness that was going to devour him as soon as he dropped his 160
guard; he could only see, on the line of the cars lights, the tables and the darkness. Suddenly he heard an intermittent noise in the distance, constant and monotonous, he thought it was his watch, he looked to his wrist, no, his was digital. He put it close to the ear, it might make noise anyway, the noise became lauder, he looked back to his wrist shocked, alarmed, as fast as he could undid the clasp and threw the watch away. Andrs stared at the darkness without willing, not at all bothered. The noise, now, was obvious; Alberto was still looking to the ground, terrified, waiting that at any moment that second-hand watch bought to some desperate guy went off mowing his life. He closed his eyes and raised his head to smell the air for the last time; it smelt of sea. He breathed again, he felt inner peace and opened the eyes, he saw a blinding light, just like the one they described on the mystery radio programmes his parents listened when he was little, they didnt say anything about the appalling noise that came with it, but that might be the interference of that watch that far from being stolen as he had always suspected, it was a fake. He felt ripped off, not because of the noise, but because the thirty euros he had paid, the swine that had sold it should be grateful those were his last minutes, because he would knock his teeth out with a well-deserved punch. The light was going down to the ground, stopping being so blinding, stopping being over him, leaving Alberto without a mystic experience from the profound Galicia to tell his parents. Andrs got out of the car without spirits, just like the entire day, apathetic. It seems you work by the hour; you are slower than the horse of the villain He belched out.
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Take it easy, man A figure coming out of the light said, as Alberto would say, from the helicopter we say, because we just knew it was a helicopter Are these the bundles? Thats all? A smaller one would be enough; do we take them to the warehouse and wait for new instructions? Yes Andrs ordered.
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Chapter 38. The lively wood In what way then? I asked. What do you think? Ramn answered looking at me right into the eyes. Well, with the record you all have, probably he mistook, the poor devil, and he put the papers, I dont know, into his own suitcase I said with sarcasm. Exactly! He said, as I had discovered the gunpowder. The truth is that it was to be expected, they wouldnt expect seriously the other was going to do the job just like that I said.
Ramn seemed to be surprised I didnt trust the so-accomplice and, believe or not, he even reached the point of saying I always was thinking the worst of people. The truth is that to be them all half criminals they were a bunch of amateurs. Well have to find the civil servant Ramn said. We will I said. If we finally get out of here He said with sarcasm looking around.
The truth is that, even he said it without sarcasm, he would be right; I had no idea where we were walking on, with the additional problem of the tide coming in, which was leading us more and more to the inside of the wood, probably it was throwing us out to dry land, but the only thing we could see were trees and more trees; I even got to think the city had grown. The darkness was more and the water was reaching more the heel.
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How much is going to come in? Ramn asked looking to the ground I dont feel like dying drown He said seriously. If I could see the watch I would tell you when it lows, but the truth is that I had no idea, I dont know where we are or where we have to go out for I said without intention.
Without the intention of saying it, because I meant to make some joke over the coward men were when they were taken out of his natural habitat and you just see what came out. Luckily, the darkness didnt let me see his face either, but with that deep sighs he made I could notice quite well he was angry; luckily too, he couldnt see my neck either because if he could he had already strangled me, Im so sure. Well Im fed up walking yet He said so youd better find a place to spend the night, I dont walk any more, Christ!
These last words were said raising the volume, without pretendings, to let me know he was really upset. I couldnt do much, I couldnt see anything, I almost didnt feel my feet, because the atmosphere was hot but the water was so cold and we had been walking wet for a while, I couldnt tell when we walked dry. He stopped, as the little kids when they say they dont want to walk so you had to carry them. I dont know if this was what he wanted, I wasnt to of course, maybe the other way around. When you find the civil servant, what are you going to do? I asked to keep him amused, to cut that awkward silence.
He didnt say a word. I saw a clearing, the moonlight let us see a kind of crag, I went there, I didnt say anything to 164
him, I was going in an explorer way, I wanted to see where we were and dropped it to him naturally and not to make the impression I had no idea as actually I hadnt. He came after me, without a deep breath, without a noise; in fact I thought he had stood down. Hey this is the dyke? Ramn said behind me.
Yes it was, of course, we were on the crags at the end of the dyke, we had been walking over the docks and the fabric the roots had weaved, I supposed. Ramn sat down quiet, without any reproach. I sat down next to him. I dont know He said.
I looked at him not knowing what he was talking about. I mean, I dont know what Ill do when I find the civil servant He said looking at me. Screw you, because I dont think he is going to give you the deeds I said. I dont think Ill find him, I dont think Mara trusted a nobody, its weird He said half-heartedly. What is weird is that you didnt think about it before, at least you have the money, well the ones of you that have it I really had a chip on my shoulder.
He put his arm over my shoulders and got closer. You are still angry He said sniggering.
I didnt even bother to answer; the guy said I was still angry, seriously? If the fool mood hadnt prevented it I would plot right there how to steal
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the money from suited him. -
him
again
and
see
how
fine
it
There is more than money in this world He said.
I didnt punch him on the face because I had an arm immobilized and with the other I couldnt reach where I wanted. I was looking at him from the corner of my eye, upset. He was looking at me into the face. He got a bit closer. The night is beautiful tonight, isnt it? He said.
He got a bit more closer; his face brushed mine. I looked at him from the corner of my eye.
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Chapter 39. Weaving the fabric He had to become his father in laws inseparable friend and find the so-called Andrs; that in one hand, in the other he had to phone Salva. He had to reach the money before the councillor, because once the councillor touched the dosh there wouldnt be any chance to recover it. It seemed to him his father in law didnt trust Andrs very much, and he wasnt surprised, of course he had the perfect excuse to contact him, Salvas case, that pro bonus case he had accepted without will was bringing the benefit of the opportunity. In one side Sandra, in the other Salva and in the other Andrs. Salva hung up the phone at the first tone, he was waiting for the ruling and he couldnt allow himself the luxury of not answering. He answered with anxiety; at first Carlos didnt realize where Salvas nervousness came from and suspected he knew his dark motivation, thank goodness a few how are you doing fine, thanks made him understand, because none of them were able to say a word. Salva because he didnt want to jinx the thing, he was convinced he was going to jail, and Carlos didnt want to say anything because he plenty knew explanations not required fault admitted and he wanted the issue to come out as natural as that day at the cafe. He got Salva agreed to meet him that night, the time didnt seem suitable for him, but Salva went hysterical and wanted to meet him right then. The Andrs thing needed more planning, he had to go to the office and find his lawyers phone and with whichever legal excuse take him in. Yes, he had all well planned. He surpassed his father in law in knowing the other part without the need of the middleman, and even though he could resort to them to waste time. In that point of his reasoning he thought it would be better to keep the distance with the so-called Andrs, just in case he let the
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business out of the bag with his father in law and he smell a rat. Salva took advantage of the Carloss call to skive the crepes, because he had been working the whole evening and he couldnt take his footache anymore, he was getting calluses and it was hard to get rid of them, and he refuses to let his perfect feet go. In a first moment he was panic, he not even noticed it was too late for official announcements, the fear didnt let him think clearly. It didnt let him think clearly about the weird of the phone call, either. Carlos was already at the bar, Salva almost didnt recognize him without the designer suit he always wore and without the hair gel that fixed that unfashionable quiff, leaving place to a fringe very indi that took away from him the snooty posh, remaining only the posh. He was cute, Salva thought suddenly stopping worrying, he sat down at the table and began a friendly talk based on Carlos new look. Carlos welcomed the subject; seeing the hysteria had disappeared he went into the friendliness and the joke. And joke after joke and, taking advantage of Salva smelt of crepes and that he had said he was fed up of tourist, dropped the treasure thing. Between laugh and laugh and triviality and triviality Salva finally told him everything, completely everything. In his defence we will say he was euphoric and tired, two conditions that decreased the attention as they said in the Traffic Departments commercials; it wasnt that important either, because Carlos thought the money had been left laying around on the street thing was a joke, especially after Salva had also said his wife was sleeping at a place from the zero zone which was quite incredible, so he took his victim statement with the due precaution. Afterwards they went to the partying zone, Salva because he kept up with the rhythm, Carlos just for pretending.
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While he was about it, he needed exactly a pair of minutes to get lost and leave Salva alone, actually it was Salva who got rid of him, without meaning, its that the night absorbs him. Carlos took the chance to go to my building, with all the discretion he could get, not because he minded someone could see him around there, but because he didnt want to face Alicia, in the unlikely case she was there. He felt betrayed when he arrived and saw there wasnt anything in the street, there wasnt the party Salva had said, or the tables or the suitcases, not even the track there had been anything ever. Just for the sake of it, because he didnt believe Salva had lied to him like that, particularly because Salva was a bad liar and he hadnt notice not a single tic, he went up to my place, it was silent. He leaned the ear against the door; he didnt knock to check if there was someone inside, he still was afraid of the idea of an unpleasant meeting with Alicia. As he was going down he went into every floor just in case we had taken up the goods, he was a bit disappointed when he saw we hadnt, but also felt a bit of trust seeing the dragging motor was there, where Salva had said. With conflicting feelings he went back to loneliness of his home, and the loneliness mixed with the night lets the mind fly with too much freedom. He grabbed his briefcase, took out his diary and phoned Andrs lawyer. The lawyer gave him the phone number, of course he did, he had better things to do than argue at that hours about such a stupidity and over such a client, that made him earn a lot, but he always involved him in such pickles... Andrs picked up the phone because he thought it was a client and the helicopter thing was half resolved, the biggest problem he had to deal with was Alicia and it neither was a sacrifice. Carlos didnt plan the strategy before calling; that is other thing the darkness without under cover has, they should go together as a good aggravating. He
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stuttered at the beginning, bad. He quoted some points slash six from the Penal Code and, and Andrs got tired of listening and hanged up on him. In that moment he was glad he hadnt say his name, nor who he was, and there it went along the phone line all his professional prestige. What he understood from the phone call, the only and the most important thing, was that feminine voice so familiar he could hear on the background.
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Chapter 40. Being meticulous The councillor didnt know what he had said and what he hadnt; but he plenty knew he had let the cat out of the bag; he had that cheating on his wife feeling, that feeling of informing on himself before his wife realized; actually Carme only needed to look at him from the corner of her eye just for a thousandth of a second to know the hair dyes number of the woman he had been involved with the night before, but the poor devils innocent imperiousness understand it like that. The thing is that he had that uneasiness feeling. He had to talk to Andrs to see how the thing was going, although he didnt feel like because he had to act like a protective father. He took a breath and phoned, he felt a kind of relief when he didnt answer and after three black coffees he called his friends to go out. Andrs interrupted him, he said it wasnt necessary he controlled him because he knew perfectly what he had to do, and as he had taken the trouble he should know the thing was well softened up, that they would call him back as soon as they counted the money. If he had on his mind ending in the Venus, since he had heard that news he would end there for sure. Andrs hung up with the anger you hang up on a relentless annoying boss, and kept on monitoring the helicopter manoeuvres into the hangar. He monitored it with impatience. The machines turned off and the silence was reassuring. Did you open the briefcases? Ramn asked coming in through the door with a sad look. So, you just got rid of Xiana Andrs said not taking the eyes off the briefcases.
Ramn didnt answer. He approached the pile of briefcases and began to open them, Alberto went the other way around, Andrs didnt move.
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Are there as many as...? He asked. Come here, give a hand and in the meanwhile you count them Ramn answered with coldness.
Andrs did what he told him because that wasnt a witty answer it was an order and, yes, there were as many as they had told them. He wasnt able to understand the deception on Ramns face or the longing he had to open all the briefcases. When they finished Andrs said he had to phone the councillor and Ramn stopped him, he asked why he had done it and just when Ramn was going to answer and solve all his doubts the cellphone rang, not his but mine. I dont want not even imagine how it got into his pocket, but the truth is that it didnt require too much effort to guess how; one of us was light-fingered during the unconsciousness period of the dancing. Ramn looked who it was, on the screen appeared Sandra, he hung up the call to make it look I was busy and I didnt answer because of that, afterwards he delete all the files and kept it in the pocket again. It seems that Paco isnt doing very well his part, go and help him Ramn said. Alberto looked at each to do? other with
Andrs and complicity. -
And what are you going asked with distrust.
Alberto
Ramn said nothing, said he was going to go for a walk, they didnt trust, they were afraid he did the same they had done to me. They deserved it; they judged him by their own standards. He noticed it, of course he did; their faces showed it all, so he told Alberto that they could keep the key code, he was better than them and he trusted his 172
friends even they didnt deserved it. It was fine for them, at first, because they thought that if he didnt have the facilitys key code they were the only ones that could go in, so if Ramn trust them he was reliable. Of course, in the way home to help Paco to keep Sandra and Alicia entertained, they thought he had given in too fast to be as money-grubber as he was, and that maybe the key code was not necessary to get into the warehouse and that maybe... in the end they called Ramn to see what he was doing, they caught him at the kitchen, at Sandras kitchen, and he almost had a fit. He was walking around the flat trying to find the right place to leave the cell so I didnt suspect he had taken it, or he had been at Sandras place afterwards trying to hide it, and then his phone rang and mine fell to the ground. He didnt know how to react, at first he wanted to answer the call, then he wanted to pick my phone up which was on the ground in front of the washing machine. Andrss voice shouting through the cell hurried up his reflexes; he bended down, threw my phone inside the washing machine and answered Andrs. What are sarcasm. you doing? Andrs asked Ramn with said
Nothing, Im doing gasping for breath.
nothing
Where are you? Andrs said relentlessly. Me? Im... He said almost without breath. And? Andrs insisted. And its not your business He said almost completely recovered I hope you are doing your part, arent you? And I hope you are not at the hangar... Andrs dropped.
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What the hell hangar, but what are you saying... I dont have anything more to do, what is more, you have the code, you are paranoid, you are distressing Ramn said serious.
Andrs was happy with that, it didnt seem an excuse to him, it was more a telling-off, he hoped the night was good for Ramn before he went back home. OK, OK... later. Andrs apologized we meet
No, Im staying at a hotel, if I have to deal with you and the two women Im going mad, you are the death of me He said with tiredness.
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Chapter 41. Dawn The morning sun opened my eyes, my bones hurt, I was laying down over Ramn, with my face on his shoulder and even though I felt like I had slept over a rock, I got up more tired than before the sleep. The neck all twisted and I dont know more because I didnt feel, nothing, not the legs nor the rest. He was sleeping, he looked quiet and happy, too quiet, for a few seconds in that pleasant morning I was panic-stricken, and what if I had slept over a dead body? Yes, I might be selfish, but at least sincere, that was the first thing I thought. I know I should think, for god sakes dont let him be death! Which I also thought, even afterwards, the first was the revolting feeling of being over an off piece pork fat. But in my defence I must say it lasted a few thousandths of a second, just little thousandths. When I reacted, after that little thousandths of a second, I leant my ear over his chest and it beat, with a little heart murmur I guessed, but it made bumbum-bum-bumbum as a clock, and he was breathing, the air went in and out of his chest harmonically, and the paunch, that brewer paunch, also did, more loud than harmonic, but it did. And I was so concentrated looking at that whale that came out of the horizons blue line when he woke up. The calmness of his face vanished as he opened the eyes and proceeded to moans, which consoled me, not only I was getting old. He sat up and looked around. And the wood? He asked surprised.
I hadnt even noticed it, I also looked around and the forest had gone, there were some trees left, more or less the same there were at the former garden. I didnt even try to pretend I knew it; I shrugged my shoulders and accepted the wood disappearance as a universal true and thats that.
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They may be as that flowers flowered by night I said.
they
only
He looked at me not very convinced, it seemed my explanation hadnt been enough for him, but he didnt say anything, he waited for a few minutes and then got up, went down to the water to wash his face, Id rather wait to get into the water completely, the tide was high and the only chance to get the dry land was swimming and since he realized he took it easier. We sat down for a while waiting for him to gather his strength to swim the two metres to the waters edge, they even were less than two because the tide was getting lower in the time he lasted to get ready. In dry land I asked him what we were going to do, he wasnt surprised I had included myself in the question; I imagined he imagined I was not willing to give in more than those millions of euros they had just stolen from me. Are we going to talk to your civil servants accomplice? I asked. Sure He said adamantly.
While we were walking he phoned the councillor talking half in code, it seemed he needed her permission to step forward. When he hung up he looked calm and secure. Lets see Xiana, seriously, do we trust each other? He asked it seriously.
I doubted, he was talking serious and I seriously doubted. Well, I didnt want to mean that, I actually wanted to mean if I can trust you He asked also serious.
So serious he was talking that I got the giggles. 176

Well, it doesnt matters He said walking fast and speaking to himself you are the only thing I had so I had to put up with you. Anyway you are the only one who knows the whole story, at least the whole one I know.
I looked at him condescending; did I know the whole story? The whole story he knew? Maybe I did, but at that stage it was hard to believe. He made a pair of calls more and we went to have breakfast, we stood there until he received a text, then we left. We went to an open ground, not to have a roll in the hay, no longer arrived another car and stopped next to his, from it got down a grey haired man, with poor devil look and feel sorry eyes. Ramn get out too and invited me to go with him, of course I did, I wanted to find out everything about the business. Whats up? Ramn said to the unknown man. Nothing The other man said. Dont say nothing Ramn said. Well, you say The other man said.
I almost went back to the car because I was about to lose control, whats up, nothing, dont you say nothing, well you say, what kind of conversation was that? Lets see Argimiro, where are the deeds? Ramn asked at last. With the rest of the briefcases, you just know it Argimiro replied.
There, Ramn got serious, he shouted at him in the way he did when he got mad and the other got much more poor devils face. I almost felt sorry for
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him, not Ramn, Ramn punched the cars bonnet, the so-called Argimiros car not his, of course. The poor man jumped backwards fearing he was the next. I swear blind, at a fine time I was going to be here He said pretending to be sincere.
Ramn knew a lot about it, he saw through him immediately. Ramn told him he was there because he had to be there to make the movement and also told Argimiro not to infuriate him. The man looked down, and when he looked up again, he told Ramn he didnt know more about the deeds than he had put them into one of the briefcases he used to hide the money, that he made a mistake, that he was a poor scatterbrain, that he was a halfwit and kept on with a string of self-compassion arguments that Ramn listened breathing patience. I was staring at them with curiosity. I felt sorry for the man, I didnt think Ramn was wrong but there was a chance. Ramn raised his hand again, to hit the bonnet I hoped, because I didnt feel like meeting a violent Ramn; but Argimiro, that might know him better than me or might have something to hide, was afraid. No, you are right, no, I have them, I have them He said covering his face with his hands on the defensive, the CSI would say.
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Chapter 42. Argimiros connection Go ahead Ramn said pointing at the car to get into.
Argimiro put his hands down slowly, distrusting it was a mislead movement to catch him unawares and punched him right in the nose and he wasnt convince until Ramn began to walk and opened the door. I suppose he would think that the open ground wasnt the last thing he wanted to see in that sunrise. He didnt say a word in the car, he kept still as he was sentenced and the seatbelt the chain. Ramn, that knew everything, went to his place, parked and looked at Argimiro. This is it, cockiness. right? Ramn said with
Argimiro nodded, it was a detached house painted in salmon pink, with a clothes horse at the porch. He also took his time to get out of the car, it was clear he didnt feel like letting the chicken go, but he hadnt other option, Ramn had that determination on the look that gave him back the old times charm. Argimiro was a civil servant of the lifelong dull civil servants; he had entered the corps because someone pulled strings for him, as it should be. He wasnt very ambitious, he had never stood for any party list however much they insisted, he neither took part in any intrigue however large the sum they wrote down on the cheque was. He was a thrifty that was happy with working not much, spending a lot of time with his family and having a hobby, not very expensive, that let him switch off both, family and work. He was unshockable and he saw them coming as soon as they asked him about his granddaughter, who was his proud and the main reason they slip away from him at the coffee time; and, also, the they want something indicator.
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Of course, in that turbulent times of briefcases and deeds he was the only one they could trust, it took him years to earn that upright mans reputation and, even thought he hadnt done it on purpose, it was going to be more profitable than all the little change they dared to call bribes they had spared for his years of duty. He had in front of him, in a same day, a truck full of euros and some deeds they would be much more valuable than the euros. He plenty knew the notes were marked, they neither had blind faith in him; but he also knew that put the pressure on him was admitting too much. He doubted a bit more with the deeds thing, he didnt see the profit so fast, in fact it was his wife on the phone who told him to take them just in case because they didnt took up too much room either. He thought, as always, she was right so he took one of that folders remaining from some European subsidy and kept the deeds in it, he put the money into a cardboard box of paper to recycle, some hundreds of bundles. He began by his part and then the briefcases they wanted to bury and from time to time he went to see his cardboard box, pulled the worn out sticky tape off, smelt the scent of the euros and sniggered. Nobody distrust him, when the councillors asked him about the deeds he put that Monday face of not having any idea of what they were talking about and they bought everything he wanted to. When they came for the suitcases with the money they didnt even took the trouble to count them, not even to open them to check if they were empty, in that moment he thought he had robbed too few, but he also thought he had to be cautious and he put his malice face again. For a long time he went to work as he had done every day, without changing a single thing of his routine, or fell for excessive luxuries, or drawing attention to himself. Afterwards, he retired and lost touch with the councils people and it was then when he took advantage to build what would be his retirement in a Caribbean island 180
he had bought, there were a few months left to the works to begin and the deeds were worth his childrens future, his granddaughter, and they two even they lived for a thousand years. He didnt even get nervous when the councillor called to tell him they hadnt find the briefcase down there, although he was surprised they found him and they took the trouble to search for the deeds, he thought that interest wouldnt remain for long, they would be entertained with other things. He simply said they had to be there, or maybe other person had taken them. But again his wife had an eye for the main chance and told him to make some copies just in case he had to confess. The original deeds were kept with his houses deed, the islands papers, the familys book and some American postcard from an unruly uncle. And there they would be mixed with the family insignificance. The others were in the safe of the house, together with the golden watch they gave when he retired, the pearl necklace and some other jewel from his wifes family. Argimiro went before us, move the clothes horse aside and opened the door with that civil servants calmness and with that willing of poor devil that made me feel sorry for him. Since he opened the door his wife on her slippers, apron and with the same poor devils face Argimiro had came out; looked at us as if we were from the Tax Office and grabbed her husbands arm to cheer him up. He caressed her hand and went to the living room like the one in High Noon. The woman stood leaned against the kitchen doors frame with distressed air seeing us going after her husband. At the living room he told us to sit down and took down a painting with a bunch of pink, red and blue flowers. His wife offered us a coffee we declined, Ramn because he was busy staring at her husband, me because I was busy watching Ramn. Without a doubt, to me, he had recovered his former charm. The lack of the painting showed the safe, Argimiro
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placed between the safe and us not to let us see which numbers made click when the little wheel went round. It opened at last and took out a folder tied with a maroon lace. He put it on the centre table, undid the lace and gave it to Ramn. Ramn opened it, not because he didnt trust Argimiro, he had so much faith in his tough guy attitude that not even had crossed his mind the poor devil was taken us in. But he opened it, touched the paper, checked the deeds official stamps and put them against the light, I dont know why, they werent marked, nor a serigraphy. He looked at me with satisfaction and tied the maroon lace again. He made a gesture to Argimiro saying everything was right and we left. Argimiro kept on with that jumping little kitty look that got to move me.
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Chapter 43. Argimiro disconnection We were in silence, I didnt speak because I had nothing to say, and Ramn didnt speak because he was so full he couldnt believe it. At the traffic lights he took a quick look to the back seat to make sure the folder was still there and he smiled satisfied. We went to the hotel, parked the car and went up using the service lift, to be a so refined hotel could have an elevator a bit more suitable. No, the elevator ends at the hall and dont want people see us Ramn said. I
I dont know what so much secrecy was in aid of, the folder didnt had a big neon sing that said stolen deeds, but everyone has their paranoias. Mine was I didnt trust him, but as he also said, he counted on that, he and I. As soon as we got into the room, he through the keys over the table, closed the blinds, switched the lights on, of course he should do it the other way around but it was his room so he decided. When the daylight couldnt get in he sat down on the bed and opened the folder, it was one of these accordion folders that would weight a lot because it was thick as an encyclopedic dictionary with ultra-thin pages. He spread the deeds out over the bed; he was looking for ones in particular. I sat down on a chair next to the door, I didnt know if getting closer, and given he didnt invited me and that, in some business the less you know the better, I decided it was better not to do it. He took his time to choose the ones he was looking for, just a few, twenty or so, he checked them again and left them on the bedside table. Afterwards he took the folder, tied the lace that closed it, got up, gave me the deeds he had put on the bedside table and told me to kept them because he couldnt let them at the hotel. Then, very
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kindly, he invited me to go with him carrying the thick folder. He made me go down using the service lift again and go out of the garage on foot, that smelt of close, unleaded petrol and burnt wheel, and yes, I had to go out on my own foot. When I arrived at home I took a nap, all my body hurt, because sleeping under the stars light might be very romantic but too bad for the bones. It was dark when I woke up, all in silence, I didnt have any lost call on the cell and nothing to do on the diary, just nothing to do, because I didnt had a diary. Then, to spend the time while I listened the latest gossip news, I took the deeds Ramn had given me, they didnt seem interesting to me, just some buildings of the city centre, some of them from the old San Andrss Street, others near the central shops and some other at the Marina. But they werent big building plots, nor the former owners were well-known names. I looked at them again, slowly, to see their interesting point, the pages were very dry, I had to wet my finger over and over to be able to turn the pages, I felt a kind of disgust because I always recalled two things when I automatically did that gesture, one The name of the Rose and the other only god knows where that paper had been before. The paper showed my index damp fingerprint, and strangely enough my finger was turning into a black colour pretty suspicious, poison I thought, no, it should be blue I imagined, because in the movies it always was blue. I gazed the paper, not without some kind of panic, and I saw, with some relief, the letters were smudged, a good thing from the healths point of view, but it didnt seem too good from the deeds point of view. How was it possible the letters of some deeds written with a typewriter, of those old typewriters that left mark even without ink, of those they had a heavy awful metal table with wheels, were fading? How possible it was? I checked all the pages again; in that moment I was more concern about finding the smudged letters 184
mystery out than about the consequences of half destroy the deeds Ramn longed for. The paper seemed normal, it didnt smelt of anything out of the normal, and the letter actually looked like the typewriters, there werent black lines next to the edges that showed a photocopy and I couldnt do much more, one saw CSI but had a clear lack of means. So amused I was that I didnt even hear what should be Ramns first knocks on the door, Im saying this because which I did listen were quite violent and his face was the one of having been there for long and of being thinking I had gone away to the Caribbean with the famous deeds. What the hell is going on? I asked using the attack as defence. Nothing He said in an unfriendly way nothing.
He moved me away from the door to go in, I didnt let him because at the hotel he had made me go in using the service lift and I was going to make him sweat. Just a little because from unfriendly went to serious and from there to an expression I didnt like, I move the hand aside and he went in a hurry searching the deeds, he didnt say it, he had it all written on his face. When he saw them scattered he censored me with the look, and when he realized that as well as being scattered they were smudged the first thing he did was coming next to me and check my hands, it would be a very deductive behaviour in me, in him was a habit he picked up in his job and distrust. He began to shout hysterically, to walk from one side to the other as he was in labour, he took that relaxing breath he always took to fill himself with patience and looked at the deeds again. Well, you can read them well anyway He said at last.
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Yes, you can I said with sarcasm.
He didnt realized my words meaning, but I insisted, you know its weird the letters got smudged, maybe they are not real, sure the pity Argimiro used the same make feel sorry technique street trades use, you know this, you know the other. He took long to pay attention to me, as if my words resounded into his head and the echo took long to arrive. When it arrived, he raised the sight and looked at me as if I had discovered the most amazing thing of the world. He left the deeds scattered like they were, grabbed my arm and we run down stairs.
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Chapter 44. Argimiro reload Ramn drove like mad muttering things like if the councillor finds out mothers fucker Im going to break his legs son of a bitch and so on without interruption until we arrived at Argimiros house. I was chuckling but Argimiro had played a quite dirty trick on us. He slammed on the brakes and the airbag almost came out, he got out of the car running, he didnt even wait for me and threw himself to the door. He banged against the door a thousand times and when he got tired, I mean, two thousandth of a second later, he took out the gun and shot twice in such a way that bumped me more off than the braking. No, it wasnt that he shot at me, he shot at the lock. The door opened shyly and Argimiro and his wife put their heads out of the window, hugging each other with the same poor devils face they had during the previous visit and not showing panic at all for what had happened, as if they hadnt listened the shots or it was the most natural of the world. Ramn went in and I got out of the car, slowly, I should got out in a hurry as soon as I saw him took out the gun, to tell him to be sensible, to tell him not to do such a thing, I mean, to make him see reason; but, deep down, I was enjoying the spectacle and at the end if Argimiro had the cold-headedness to lie to him he should face the consequences and if Ramn killed him he had guns permit so he was grown-up enough to take on his faults. When I got inside the married couple were crying like in the sardines funeral, loud but without feeling. Ramn and his lighted eyes were aiming at them with the gun and steady hand; he looked like other person, it seemed a movie. He told me to look around everything until I found the deeds. I didnt like him ordering like that so I told him to do it on his own, because I was not his servant, the kid was getting high and mighty. He
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looked at me with his lighted eyes and aimed at me with his gun, at me, Argimiro looked at the door from the corner of his eye but he realized I was seeing him. Ramn took it badly I didnt faint before his authority and he lighted up a bit more, but as he saw I still didnt pay attention set the safety back and looked at the couple. Where the hell are they? He shouted.
Argimiro looked at his wife and his wife at him, but they really didnt say a word, nor their looks informed on the hiding place. But in spite of the general lack of collaboration there was in that living room Ramn didnt give up; he got closer to a pottery figure they had in the cabinet, he took it firmly and threw it to the ground breaking it into peaces. They looked at each other again, without giving way. Then, Ramn took other figure that looked more expensive than the previous and gave it the same ending. And so he did with all the decoration the middle class living room cabinet had without the couple turned a hair, until he opened the glass door and he grabbed a plate with golden edges and blue refined flowers with green leaves which was part of the china on the shelves. He didnt even need to touch the refined china completely; the woman threw herself to his feet, in a figurative sense, and begged not to drop it. Ramn did as he wasnt paying attention and took the plate out of his place, he raised it as he was gathering his strength and looked at Argimiro. Argimiro looked at his wife who was seriously crying, seriously, truly and with desperate despair, and in just a second Ramn had the deeds on his hands instead of the china. Ramn let the plate go because he wanted to take the bunch of deeds with his two hands to make sure they didnt mess him about again. He sat down on the sofa and opened the folder, checked one by one all the deeds, this time he took his time, not to verify their authenticity because he was as good as me with that, I mean, not good at all; but to 188
analyze the couple reactions. The woman kept on crying desperately looking at the china on the shelves, and her husband was consoling her, not a single peek at Ramn, not one waiting for his blessing, not one of its passing. Nothing, the only thing they were worried about was to put the plate back on the same place it had been a few minutes before that unfortunate incident they could hardly forget. Ramn was pleased and left, without saying the classic come on or nothing, he left and I after him because I had nothing to do there. He got in the car and started it on although I still wasnt in.
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Chapter 45. Power I was able to open the door before the car began to run and I threw myself over the seat, I mean, over the folder with the deeds inside. And that was the Ramns biggest mistake, didnt take me into account and let the deeds within my reach. The truth is that I wasnt thinking about doing anything with them, since I had left my job I had certain level of allergy to papers, contracts, deeds and whichever thing that pointed out and clear a will of commitment. But he bugged me, it was a miracle I didnt sprain my ankle getting into the car, and he had to pay for it, who did he think he was? I fasten the seatbelt in a hurry and afterwards I pulled it slowly to let me stand up enough to take the folder and once I had it over my nap I heard the Power calling for me, blinding me. Ramn was too concentrated on putting his foot down to realize what I was doing. I opened the folder carefully; I didnt want to make any sudden movement that revealed my betrayal. Not going as far as open the folder completely I checked the names and addresses, I only took three, I wasnt sure which ones had Ramn chosen the other time, but I knew there werent none of those three. I wanted to save time, if I took one of the deeds he was interested in he would discover me earlier, and at the end, with three well placed I could do a great business. I took them out smoothly and then I faced the first problem. I knew the papers thing was a bore, if it was a CD or a flash memory I could hide it easily, but the deeds were a bit more difficult. In a first moment I hid them under the folder waiting for a brilliant idea that took long to come. When the car stopped we were in front of Andrs house, I was surprised because I thought the deeds thing was a private and independent business of the suitcases one. Ramn stopped, turned the car 190
off, put the handbrake and the gear and the whole thing, got out of the car and went away, ignoring me again. I didnt get angry that time, I even pretended not to see him to save time and hide my little treasure during his absence. Suddenly he came back and he almost caught me red handed. Im coming; dont worry He said urgently.
I shake my head making a innocent face that if he wasnt in such a hurry he would see it was false, but his unexpected visit made me be more careful, I waited for him to go into the building and keeping an eye on the entrance I looked for a place to hide my deeds, they were already mine, and totally mine. I went into the glove compartment, into the doors pockets, everywhere and there wasnt anything I could use, so I took the jacket on the back seat, it was Ramns, it smelt a mixture between tobacco, alcohol and expensive cologne. I put it on even it was hot. I unpicked the lining at the armpit level, just a bit, the needed to get the rolled deeds into it, once in I unrolled them, the truth is that the jacked looked some kind of rigid but it didnt show too much, unless somebody hugged me of course. I tied the folder again and rehearse the most natural posture, the most logic excuse to take the jacket and, above all, to be wearing it. He went in as energetic as he had left. Sat down and started the car without a word. He looked at me and made an odd gesture but he didnt say a word. Where are we going? I asked. To the open ground He said keeping the sight on the road.
Oh, how well it sounded at dusk, the open ground, well, it could sound quite sexual or pretty terrifying, in that moment, sure under the expensive cologne influences, I saw it on the
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sexual side. Yes, sure, of course, and I was so into it, to tell the truth. Are you cold? He asked. No, Im not I said still immersed.
Cold? How could I? It was hot in the summertime, the sun was on our faces, the car didnt have air conditioning, the windows were closed, and dont forget I was wearing a suit jacket, plus the typical heat of the impure thoughts. And the jacket? He insisted. What jacket? I said in a world of my own. The one you are wearing He said with a sweet voice why did you put the jacket on if you are not cold?
There, the surprised one was I; I expected he was angry because I had encroached his jacked without permission, but his voice didnt seem to go that way. No, you see, I felt cold before, I may catch cold, you know of being standing I said with clumsiness trying to refill some holes that let the water run flooding in I can take it off if it bothers you. No, not at all, its that And he didnt say more.
He didnt say more until we arrived at the open ground. He looked at the watch and took the folder with the deeds. He didnt even look at me. He opened the folder and, as had done before, he spread them to choose those he was interested in. This time instead of the bed he used me to do it. The truth is that sometimes he really got to make me feel invisible. Sure. He was moving fast, looking at his watch every second. When he found 192
all the deeds he wanted put the rest back into the folder, he tied it and looking at the watch again he breathed with relief. So, you actually are giving them to her I said. Of course, what did you think? He asked. You were answered. going to take them all I
Whats up? Dont you ever hear that people that are too greedy can end up with nothing? He said smiling its not worth mine while to betray her. Betrayed her completely you mean I corrected him, referring to the deeds he had taken away from the load. These are part of the deal He said. Of course, thats why you take them before she gives them to you, to save her the effort I said with malice. Of course He answered smiling also with malice.
It didnt take long to the official car to arrive and Ramn got out with the folder and gave it to the councillor. I felt a big relief because he left the door opened and the draught run through the car; when I took out the jacket it wouldnt smelt of tobacco, alcohol and expensive cologne, it should smelt of Xianas dehydration and even I dont understand how he didnt thought it was weird I was sweating buckets. He said goodbye with a handshake, the woman took the folder with insecurity, with a kind of distrust I think. She didnt look as satisfied as
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the other time. Will they be the authentic ones? She seemed to think. Lets go to your place Ramn said firmly getting into the car. Why? I asked. Why nothing, well have to go to somewhere or do you want to wander around the whole day? He said, this time, stroppy.
He didnt talk in the way, but he drove calmly. Why those deeds in particular? I asked.
He was driving. I thought the deeds thing was one private business or yours, didnt you say you need so badly someone to trust? I kept on talking.
He was driving. Is Sandra at Andrs place?
He was driving. I stopped talking because I was about to confess I had stolen the three deeds as long as he said a single word. I was getting nervous, he didnt even breathe loosing his temper as always I drove him mad. Suddenly he stopped, he double-parked and looked at me. Take out the jacket! He ordered. Excuse me? I said with squeaky voice, trying not to give myself away more than my voice had done. Its impossible you dont feel hot, you are sweating, Im sweating; take the jacket out He said again firmly.
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But... I said without finding any excuse, because I really was sweating like the before of a deodorant commercial.
He was staring at me seriously, I didnt know what to do, I didnt mind much he found out either, he plenty knew that as few reliable I was, I was the best he had, that was what he had said, anyway I deserved that little portion of profit. He got out of the car and took a deep breath. He went round the car, opened my car and said. You are making me feel randy with the damn jacket, take it out once and for all He ordered, serious.
I took it out, of course I did, if I was a smart girl I wouldnt, I would take advantage of him, but he seemed so upset and sincere that I did it. I gave the jacket to him, he took it and went back to his side, he threw it on the back seat, sat down and started the car again. Thanks He suffocation. said getting over the
I was looking to the other side not to let him see me smiling, after all I still had my charm... or I was a prize idiot and gave him the deeds back without any resistance, at the end he felt randy with everything, he should be used to, why was it going to make him feel so much anguish? I looked at him. I stared at him. I stared right at him. He stopped the car again. OK He said stretching his arm to the back seat, taking the jacket and threw it to me I dont know why I said anything, it wasnt that important...
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Chapter 46. Reaching rock bottom I didnt put it on, because he started the car and the seatbelt that was like a rope didnt give room for so many manoeuvres, but I grabbed it as if my life depended on it. He didnt say anything when we arrived home, I was cautious enough not to open my mouth until I had kept the deeds in a safe place. He sat down on the couch, stretched his arms out all along the back and got relaxed, he waited for a while, he took the remote, switched the telly on and put his feet over the centre table, making himself at home, I would be angry if I hadnt to go to the bathroom so urgently to take the deeds out of his jacket and kept them in some ingenious hiding place. Inside of the bathroom the imagination couldnt run too much, I didnt have a secret trapdoor or anything. I tried to roll them again inside of the lining to take them out through the hole I had made, thing that was kind of difficult and I almost had to unpick all the lining, he could see the hole anyway. I left them under the bathroom cabinet, it wasnt too much witty but it was the only place I found. I washed my face and pour some cologne over the jacket just not to smell pretty bad and I went out to put that intruder in his place. Dont make yourself so comfortable, you are not at your place I said giving him the jacket.
He took it and left it over the couch arm not attaching importance. Take your feet out of the table I said again.
He put his feet on the ground and kept on watching the telly. I sat down on the other extreme of the couch; he looked at me and tapped next to him to 196
ask me to get closer. We was acting weird, I was afraid, I still thought he knew something about the deeds I had stolen from him and he was pretending to catch me by the neck and strangle me until I confessed. He tapped again to make me go next to him. The second time wasnt scary at all, but who did he think I was? A dog? He looked at me. Are you fine yet? He asked.
He was asking it in a good mood, or so it seemed. Dont you smell of cologne? Or of that fake thing you use instead He said, apparently with no malice.
Of course I didnt like it, of course it was bad quality, but one goes as far as she can, and it smelt good. He turned around up to find the smell, without, incomprehensibly, reaching the jacket stuck to him. And, as he wasnt able to find the source of the scent, he came next to me. Its you He said.
No way. It was the jacket. Im not I said.
He got closer to, in his words, checked it out, but as well as he approach his nose, his mouth did too, that made me think he was sincere when he told me he was feeling randy. The truth is that it might be contagious because as he was going along my neck my temperature was increasing more and more, and lot more. And as he was going down to the shoulder and his hand undoing the blouse I was abandoning myself to a feeling of pleasure I hadnt experimented for long and without wanting it my hands were pulling his shirt out and undoing the belt in a accomplice
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choreography that ended indefinite time later.
on
the
floor
some
My heart beat strongly and I was overcame with a restless feeling. I wished it was the same as with some of that handsome men that past through my life, but it wasnt, I was looking at him laying on the ground almost asleep and I only felt like hugging him and telling him I couldnt live without him and all that stuff I knew it was a silly thing to say because in two minutes I couldnt put up with him. What are you going to do with your life? Ramn asked looking at me.
And there it was, the two minutes had gone. I didnt answer, not even looked at him, if I went mad maybe I would try to take advantage of his vulnerability and neither was my style sinking so low. What are you going to do with the money? He insisted.
I took a breath, at least he didnt took the you are in the wrong track lecture way. Im thinking about coming back He kept on talking, laying face up and looking at me.
Coming back? Coming back. But I dont know if Im ready...
He wasnt, I could tell it crystal clear, he still was at an awkward age and as soon as he met all his ex, and the new ones became also ex, he would feel claustrophobia again and would leave. Everything is so different, so weird, its like a fresh start and I like it, I like you, but...
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But you dont know how long the novelty is going to last, do you? I said to save time.
And, at last, he turned his face and looked at me gently, with no offence. Yes, right, I dont know if its adrenalin or its real He confessed. Its adrenalin I said.
And, liked or not, he nodded; at the end it was an excuse, a replacement for the typical this was what it was, dont you think there are anything else, but a bit more classy.
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Chapter 47. Adrenalin Xiana, what are you doing laying down there? You are going to catch cold, wrap you up Sandra said kindly.
I saw her like in a dream, not wanting to wake up, tired and with the back shattered. She brought the couch blanket and wrapped me up, or that was what I imagined she did, I was fighting against my eyes to keep them open but to tell the truth, without too much enthusiasm, and without too much success. Xiana, wake up Sandra said again next to me.
And I woke up not at all bothered, half-heartedly and with a buried happiness for finding Sandra again, feeling so good, so peaceful and, especially, so alive. She was looking at me in a strange way, as she wanted to say something without being able to do it, she didnt do more than look at the blanket she had covered me with and behind me. When she got tired of me not understanding the signs, took my face with her hands and turn me round to make me see Paco behind me and Alberto, Andrs, Alicia and, of course, Salva splitting his sides laughing. I wrapped myself in a hurry, I put up with the shame as I could and walked to my bedroom so honourable and without saying a word. I dressed up although, however much I tried, I couldnt take away the naked feeling of waking up in front of so many people. At last, I went out to face the music, I kept on noticing funny looks, of course it was my perception. Wasnt Ramn with you? Andrs asked.
I didnt remember him, he was getting into the habit of leaving me laying around while I was unconscious, kind of prince charming but on the other way around; instead of coming to wake me up 200
he took advantage of me being asleep to run away, it was a interesting review of the classics, dreadful, there is never a Caspian when you need him. I thought he was here, it seems he got what he wanted and doesnt need you anymore He said without mercy.
And I dont know if he was talking about the roll in the hay or the deeds or the two things, the thing is that the rat bastard was right. Didnt he tell you where he was going? Alberto asked. Well no, he didnt I said at last and what are you doing here? Werent you missing? Missing? Sandra asked alarmed. Of course, I phoned you thousands of times and you didnt answer, I didnt know where you were, nor did Salva I said.
Sandra looked at Paco with angry eyes, thing that dispelled the doubts about her involvement in whichever was happening. Paco shrugged his shoulders, and Alicia seemed to enjoy the lovely bears confrontation, she was watching Andrs with accomplice eyes and grabbed him by the arm not to let him escape, you see, I had to learn that because they always escape from me. Salva looked at me not wanting to be involved in the pickle, as if it had nothing to do with him, and we began an argument over I didnt say, you did say so, it was you, what the hell I was going to be everybody joined to, it took us a long time and it didnt look like it was going to end if suddenly we hadnt heard a huge knock on the door and firm steps approaching us.
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I turned round hopeful, thinking it was Ramn that had come back, the rest also turned round to see who it was and even some of them laid their hands to their ankle or their armpit, god knows searching what. It wasnt Ramn; he was Carlos that came in hysterical, kind of hulk, with his shirt half undone and out his trousers. Where is the money? He shouted, as if he was mugging us.
Andrs took Alicias hand off his arm, he placed himself in front of her and, afterwards, in front of us all acting as a human shield standing up to Carlos. Which wasnt very hard because as soon as he saw such amount of people looking at him he got scared to death, he pretended not to, but you could tell it on his face and on the times he looked behind, I suppose fearing somebody came in and caught him by surprise. Anyway, Andrs did his macho man duty in Alicias eyes, which was the only one paying attention to him. In the meanwhile Sandra, Salva and I said ones to the others four things in low voice, the classic: I didnt know, I didnt mean to, it doesnt matters, dont worry, what are we doing with them? What do you know? And the money? Carlos repeated several times that he wanted the money, that his father in law had told him we have it and that he wanted it. Andrs, with Albertos help, tried to convince him with cheap negotiation techniques, knowing of course Carlos wasnt holding a weapon or wasnt scary at all. Anyway they got to calm him down and to convince him that the money still was in the depths, I smiled with sarcasm when I heard such a thing and Carlos came to us. Do you know where it is? He asked me.
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I told him I didnt, and it was truth, but I knew they have it, I didnt know where but I was sure they have the money, for sure. They all looked at me badly, including Sandra and Salva. Im telling you they took it I repeated.
Sandra looked with suspicion at Paco again and, again, that Alicias look. Of course, she made me really mad. No, you see, it was Ramn and these twos idea I said pointing at Andrs and Alberto.
Sandra took a breath of relief and Paco a bigger one. We dont have anything Andrs hurried to say. No, sure we dont Alberto corroborated. But you know where it is I said.
They killed me with the look. Is it true? hysterical. Do you know? He asked
Andrs was looking at Alicia asking her to take part, to do something, but she, as a good spoilt rich girl, was waiting for him to solve the situation and she didnt say a word. Well, and if we know, what? What do we have to tell you? Or you Andrs said looking at us with contempt.
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Chapter 48. Against the clock Carlos was a poor devil but he has his proud, and he didnt like at all the closer Alicia and that snooty guy were; and he didnt like it because during the temporary end of the together living he realized how he needed her and how in love was, no; it was because he didnt have anyone to be close to and make her feel jealous and to make her see what she had lost dumping him. He looked at Sandra from the corner of his eye to try his luck, buy he didnt find the spark of the first day, that day Sandra thought he was a rich kid of the refined ones. And as every poor devil full of proud, sulked and with not much to lose made a fast movement to the back part of his belt, which was almost instantly accompanied by the Andrs, Alberto and Pacos same automatic movement to the ankle and the armpit. Carlos was faster and in a blinking we had a cannon as big as Argentina aiming at us, sure, to all of us at a time, the gun was pretty big. Salva and I looked at each other holding a malicious laugh back that was trickling among our teeth. The truth is that the thing was pretty huge, nor Freud, nor the bloody hell, it was too big. Sandra was looking at us with her innocence, foreign to our wicked deduction. Paco was looking at Sandra and Carlos, the little parts of Carlos he could see behind the gun; it wasnt a look of jealous, but worry. I almost dare say he was about to act as human shield like Andrs had done at the beginning. And I say at the beginning because once there was a gun involved he wasnt keen to defend us. I want the suddenly. money now! Carlos shouted
And we almost had a fit, an awkward silence had felt waiting for something to happen, even we really werent ready it did. 204
You He said aiming at Andrs raise your hands, and you too He ordered to Paco and Alberto.
Alicia kept aside, as the problem hadnt anything to do with her, she wasnt surprised at all by her just a couple of days former peaceful husbands behaviour, either. Once the three men of the house raised their hands, gave themselves up to a complete posh kid that didnt know anything about nothing, Carlos demanded they said where the money was, they resisted for a few seconds, the time Carlos needed to pull the safety. They told him even the safety doors coordinate in binary code and the treasure guards DNA twelve marks. Carlos, even with the squeamishness, he had that lawyer sharpness of not trusting even his own mother and grabbed Andrs by the neck, in that way of grabbing by the neck that immobilizes and they began to walk. Before walking out of the door he said wed better dont follow them if we value in some way our friends life. Yes, fine, a little rookie mistake, dont ask him for too much. Salva and I hadnt time enough to run after them. Dont think badly of us, the rest didnt try to stop us either. We went down keeping the distance, not to spoil the fun Carlos was having acting like the movie bad guy because he really was doing his best and Andrs deserved it for sure. They were going to the helicopters place, but we took long in realizing because they went by the Santa Cristinas side, of course we couldnt find a way to go down from the Ozas side. In front of the guard it was Andrs who spoke, we were lucky because Salva had frolicked with one of those uniforms some nights before and gave the poor man a lecture about the other guy that you could easily see he didnt feel like hearing, but
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he did because he was polite and let us go in not to take us anymore. Once in we could see Andrs standing, with calm expression, I mean expressionless, with no intention; Carlos was in front of him walking restless from one side to another, with fast step and short turn. At his back there were industrial cages filled with our suitcases, our treasure. The scene surprised me, I expected to see Carlos jumping for joy, opening the suitcases hysterically, throwing the notes to the air saying: Im rich Im rich I am rich. But no, he was worried. He didnt even realize we were there, we neither went in saying hello or so but we had made some noise. Carlos took a look at his watch, and started to sweat. God, what am I doing? He said taking his hair off his face and looking to the ceiling. What am I doing? He shouted.
Take the money and run I told Salva in low voice, he wide laughed and this time he did find out we were there; he wasnt in such a daze. What are you doing here? I told you not to come or I would kill him Carlos shouted approaching Andrs with the gun on his hand. Well, its that we dont give a damn I said do him what you want.
He looked at us shocked, as if we had no feelings, he at us, he that was aiming at us with a gun that looked like a massive cannon from some warship. Well then, the money is mine He said.
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Well no, we dont see you keen to take it, why are you still thinking? Salva said. I dont have time, what am I doing? I dont have time He said.
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Chapter 49. Countdown Why are you in such a hurry? Salva asked with malice. What? I dont have time to childishness Carlos said serious.
And so serious he got that forgot he was wearing a gun and that had Andrs scared to death and especially that had Andrs scared to death behind him. Andrs did the usual in this cases, run as fast as he could to get out of the firing line leaving us at the mercy of that psychopath. And Carlos didnt realize at all, he didnt stop to look at his watch and say: I have no time I have no time. If you are so run out of time you should start to take the money, there is a lot I said. Where is it? Carlos asked turning round to where Andrs should be.
And he was surprised Andrs wasnt there, but he kept on going around to see if someone could explain to him where the money was. Then we heard steps at the end of a dark corridor and he started to walk and we after him, just to see if we could get something and not thinking about what could be waiting for us into that darkness. Carlos walked determined, nervous and with the watch on his mind. Salva was laughing because it was the first time he saw Carlos nervous, it always was him who calmed Salva down, and Salva had to put up with that everything is going to be all right topic. We walked behind Carlos without not taking into account it was darker and darker, that we didnt know what was in there, and that we didnt know the way out yet. Salva was calmer, it was clear that the thing with the security guard was bearing 208
fruit. We kept on walking until Andrs appeared in front of us, heading a little hunky squad that got our pupils dilated, maybe not Carlos, it wasnt his thing. We took advantage of being some steps far from Carlos to turn round, and not because we didnt like what was expecting us ahead; it was more to prevent, and just not to waste all the possibilities of catching something up; but we had no chance to think about which corridor we wanted to go through. No, no That man said stand there, not a single movement.
But he wasnt speaking only to us, Andrs showed a face of surprise and Carlos of despair and, one as well as the other, were afraid, sure their faces showed fear and this counting the man was only followed by two like him, three men with such a paunch they seemed to be pregnant of triplets and cholesterol cheeks. What a lot of known people around here; this is how you repay me! The man said. No, you see... Andrs said.
Carlos looked down and threw the gun aside; it didnt matters because nobody cared. The man with the paunch and cholesterol cheeks made a face to us to get closer to the security guys, behind Andrs, Carlos also moved even the gesture didnt include him. With another slight head movement the man called Andrs next to him, Andrs went with his usual cockiness, but not as plenty as when he talked to us. Salva was fraternizing with the sexy squad and Carlos looked his watch with sadness. We couldnt hear what they were talking about; we only could see Andrs pretending calm and his
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nervous hand playing with the back pocket of his trousers revealing him. The old paunchy man was making gestures of shouting, of being making a good scene. The two paunchy escorts were paying attention to the talking, without taking part. We were staring at them when suddenly the lights switched on, all the lights, and all paled into insignificance, the hunky guys not so hunky and the paunchy men not so paunchy and the way out not so way out, some peaceful steps were approaching and some long shadows came to us with a terrifying calm. We all were quiet, almost without breathing, waiting for an alien that would devour us as soon as we blinked. Whats up councillor? Ramn said coming in slowly. Here he is, the big traitor The paunchy one, who obviously was the councillor, accused. There is always someone worse, always Ramn answered in an enigmatic way.
Where is the money? One cannot trust anybody, look the poor devil of my son in law, there, looking down The councillor said with contempt. The money is where it was, deep down Ramn said. You say? But who do you think I am? One of these Madrilenian you tease? I had a truck waiting at the outside and, according to Andrs, it is here, you see? There are traitors everywhere The councillor said.
Ramn didnt turn a hair, as he just knew what he got. They argue for a bit more and at the end the councillor took his cellphone and with a now he had there an army. 210
As you can see you dont have too many chances, if you dont want us to close this stall down give us the dosh The councillor said quietly. You cannot close the stall, this belongs to the Cost department, you have nothing to say about it, you wish that kind of power, I have already told you the money is not here Ramn said with security.
Andrs looked at him with distrust, but not distrusting his strategy worked, just distrusting Ramn had played a dirty trick on him and, actually, the money wasnt there anymore even he had the key code. Go ahead, search what you want Ramn invited the councillor, with calm, while he told the security guys to move aside.
The security team opened a gap separating Salva from me to let the councillors army pass. The army, before a councillors sign, moved forward along the dark corridor behind us. Ramn was waiting impassive, looking at the councillor, challenging him. The two councillors friends went after the army as soon as one of them came back to say it was clear. And you? Dont you want to go with them? Ramn asked. You shouldnt trust them either, they are a lot to share with Andrs said.
The councillor tried to stay calm but the greed ruled him and walked away, of course, with calm. The secret of the power is on the calm. Carlos looked at his father in law, asking for permission to go with him. Dont dare move! The councillor ordered.
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Carlos obeyed, defeated, without self-esteem. Ramn was calm, expressionless, seeing the councillor disappearing in the dark, Andrs was next to him, with his nervous hand still in his back pocket. And all remained in silence again. Everybody out Ramn shouted in low voice.
The security guys grabbed Carlos, Salva and I and we followed Ramn and Andrs along the corridor. In the outside there were some motorboats waiting for us, Ramn was standing, seeing us boarding. I followed the rhythm the night beat, letting them carry me, not saying a word, not knowing where we were going, but calm down.
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Chapter 50. Stoppage time We didnt go far, they left us at the Lorb harbour without giving more explanations than the needed, it was what the protocol demanded in cases of civilian population with all the tickets to became hostages; we hadnt run away, they got rid of us. Yes, to avoid potential personal damages, they just got rid of us. The motorboats stopped at the edge of the wharf and we got out, Carlos, Salva and I first, I almost thought they had made the travel just to throw us there in the very water edge. Ramn and Andrs got out after us, the security guys remained impassive in the motorboats. Well, here it is Ramn said looking at us.
To we three, nothing personal or moving. Fine Carlos said defeated.
I didnt say anything, Salva was staring pushing me to talk, but I didnt say a thing, if he acted like a professional and impersonal me too. And keeping the distance we said goodbye right there, and just like that the treasures story, the conspiracy thing, and the Little Venice stuff ended. All that had to end ended, all of everything and thats that. Right? Andrs asked.
No, it actually wasnt a question, it was a right of these the men say when they go shopping with their girlfriends. Ramn looked again at we three, waved a cold goodbye and left. They got in the motorboats and disappeared into the darkness of the night, into the silence of the sea. The truth is that I hadnt time to react, Salva was afraid of the storm and was hiding under
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Carlos protection, we went up to the town to find a taxi, that Carlos paid for, because us, as always, were broke. On the way home I thought once again about the way they took us out of the hangar, they could, at least, sent us home with the security guys, who were so good looking and Salva already knew how they worked. I didnt expected that was the end, when I was at the boat I mean, I wasnt ready and I couldnt react, one punch in the polite Ramns nose would be the right thing to do. And, even though, when the taxi stopped in front of my building and I went up stairs I was hoping to find him sitting down on my couch again. And no, he wasnt. My house was in silence with the intermittent noise of the sea going up through the sewer system, as it had been before the short adventure of the treasure. The following days were of resumption, of low tide, of salty biscuits and blanket on the couch in front of the telly. Paco and Sandra on the small one, Salva and I on the big one. Yes, Paco stayed with us, without money or profit, things love has. We took the money and profit thing for granted of course, as the innocent thing, because we didnt really ask it; as the matter of fact from the motorboat day on we avoided the treasure issue up to the point of not watching Pirates of the Caribbean as much as Orlando appeared on it, or watching the Treasure Island as good as The Chieftains Original Soundtrack was. We didnt hear about Alicia, Carlos or Andrs again; its not that we miss them, its just a remark. We neither talked again about that topic. Actually during the resumption we didnt talk much about anything; I didnt want to put Sandra in the awkward position of having to defend Paco; Salva didnt want to put Paco in the awkward position of having to defend his friends; and Sandra, Paco, Salva and absolutely everyone who knew me a bit didnt want to hear me go on and on about the 214
foolish, naive, gullible I was and the pig men are,... The money? The money ended where it had to end, because its well known the saying money calls for money and we didnt have any, Ramn either, but he had what its known as position of power and negotiation power. By what I found out later, when the bygones became bygones at last, Ramn and Andrs came back to the hangar and made a deal with the councillor to share out the treasure, not of the councillors free will, but of the impossibility of going out if they didnt reach an agreement. If it hadnt seemed logic to me they all had came with us leaving the councillor and his army in the inside with the money; less logic it seemed to me seeing the councillor coming in with all his army along a dark corridor without leaving someone at the entrance. I didnt think it carefully then, it was later when I needed the things made sense. They didnt, it only could be explained using the greed as excuse, the councillor thing I mean. Ramns was easier, obviously not all his strengths were the ones he showed, plus the hangar was a central facility, kind of clandestine, but central. The councillor was happy with the amount the people from Universal Savings Bank had promised as commission; he decided, just like that, hed rather keep the money and find a bad explanation to not give the Banks manager all his part than look good but with less money. The explanation he offered to the manager, as you just can imagine, was that we, Salva and I, took a percentage for the recover. They shared the rest, which was quite a lot, equally among Andrs, Alberto and Ramn. They should be happy when Paco, in his blindness of love, phoned them to say he was out of the business before Salva and I arrived home and told Sandra she had been only an entertainment, because
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she hadnt and because, at the end, his feelings were truly real, the only good thing remaining, the only thing that let us look with a smile at the zero zones clean-up works. I neither heard again about the councillors, if they intended to get Little Venice, they had done it silently because no scandal had been published on the media, not even on the grapevine. And we saw how our way of living was vanishing while the local elections confirmed the happy people were with the zero zone recovering for all the citizenship. And nobody remembered already the recovers, or the central shops; nor the tourist came searching sunk treasures stories, or clandestine parties next to the Tower. Yes, I had the impression that the title Nobody will talk about us once dead was true. It wasnt I was getting older, which actually I was, or that I was seeing near our end, which I didnt. It was a feeling of you can not fight against the earth rotation as much as you think that if you walk in the other direction you can. The sea always goes back to its place.
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Chapter 51. The sea always goes back to its place Or maybe not, because the sea kept on the same place it had invaded with the tsunami, and it didnt move as much Little Venice they built on, and as much useless docks they tried to make. The works were slowly, surely but slowly, the tide, as Im saying didnt make things easy. We neither, at nights we went down to the former zero zone and boycotted the machinery, in a silly way because the only thing we knew about mechanics was how to turn on the boat, the motor pulley and four things more; but we did some damage. We did a silent resistance, like little mice nibbling the flour packets, its not much, but if every night they nibble one different packet it hurts a bit more. When the clean-up works were getting closer to our houses the resistance was getting less silent and less naive; we went to the grocery to buy eggs on offer to threw them to the guys on the machines, and not even the police dared vacate us; they didnt count on our shrewdness, the Chapuln Colorado would say, and the truth is that Im not surprised, Salvas house as well as Sandras had been demolished the day of the Glamorous Hearts special marathon about the wedding. We stayed awake all night not to lose a single detail and when they went back to their places, the next afternoon, all they found was an open area of worn away concrete. At first I thought Salva was teasing me, because he knew I had been dreaming for days they pulled our house down and we had to sleep into a shop window without a blind; but when Sandra called so nervous, I believe it. She wouldnt play with such a thing, she was a serious and responsible girl, plus Paco was crying hysteric behind her, which made it more credible. That was the first and only battle we lost, which taught us a lesson; lesson that we learnt carefully. Salva, Paco and Sandra moved into my building, we made a shift quadrant
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not to leave ever the building empty and we had an emergency call to ask the rest for help. Yes, that building you see at the end of Little Venice, that so beautiful and original that doesnt match the rest of the architectural joint, that, that is our building. They were in such a hurry to finish and such pain we were that they preferred to restore the building instead of pulling it down, and even though it was complicated for them because they had no option but doing it with us inside, nor the assault forces could take us away, its what having a bit of gone soft dynamite to hand has. After a lot of years we could have drains, running water and elevator. Well, the elevator was a novelty, as well as the front made of gresite in bright colours making a spectacular mosaic. So beautiful it is that they even reached the point of wanting to occupy the ground floors and some of the empty flats, unsuccessfully of course. At the ground floors Salva and I set a take away crepes restaurant, not a kind of greasy food restaurant, its a classy place, the thing is that we didnt feel like putting up with people. In the other ground floor, Sandra set a bookshop, she didnt earn as much as we did, but she earned her life and she could read for free all the gossip magazines. We had seen the opening ceremony on television, sat down on the couch as we used to do, we recognized the mayor and nobody else. We even made jokes laughing at ourselves for getting involved in a botch plot like that, at the money that had past right in front of us and we had left go, and at that, at least, we had discover our hidden vocation for cooking crepes. From time to time Ramn past by our stall accompanied by a blonde that wanted to come in and buy something to eat even though he didnt let her. It seemed to me the same girl every time. In pieces I rescued from Pacos absent-mindedness I knew he had came to stay, the blonde and that girl of years before 218
looked dangerously alike, but the weird thing is that I wasnt even disappointed, it didnt cause more feelings than the curiosity to know what he was doing here in A Corua if he had as many money as he should have. I supposed it was for pretending, I didnt want to ask Paco not to go into the deception. The months past by pleasant and merry, boring and monotonous, I would say; and even we were doing well I still had the feeling it couldnt end like that. It was a more comfortable life, without a doubt, but I missed that excitement of the darkness, of the finding something amazing every day, and especially of being stinking rich getting drunk with the jet set. Yes, disappointment, I was overcome by disappointment from time to time. The divorce occupied all the programmes, we closed one hour earlier and Paco had ordered a pizza for the four of us, it was a bit late but still in time, if the commercials lasted a bit the delivery wouldnt interrupt us. So anxious I was that I pressed the entryphone as soon as I heard the first loud ring, I opened the door and waited with urgency from the telly. They rang again and I opened again, a bit angrier this time, especially because the rest were so not bothered on the couch and I was standing there mounting guard, they could invite some time to their places, for gods sake! I was dealing with these thoughts on my mind, preparing a telling-off, probably undeserved, for the delivery guy, when out of the elevator came an old couple that looked like rich people and that brought an evil desperation in the eyes that took me back to former exciting years, they went in determined not even waited for an invitation and stood in front of the telly to catch all our attention. After them the delivery guy came in that got round the telling-off because the dying to know had suddenly blotted the anger out.
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You are these that before... The said without wanting to talk too much.
woman
We were surprised somebody remembered those times. The pizza guy was putting the ear while he searched some coins he had to give me back. Keep the change, it must be hard to find, go away I told him.
He left not wanting to. I closed the door and went ahead. We are those mysteriously. that before... I said
I noticed a spark in Salvas look and other in the visitor couple. You know we had sued the Council The men said.
And he said it as if we really had to know. You should know it She said.
She seemed not to like our ignorance. They looked at each other with annoyance, as they were wasting their time, disappointed. Well then, we are not well informed He said.
He said they had talked to a journalist, that shouldnt be very good because Sandra worked in a bookshop and we hadnt heard a thing about that stuff, and that he had given them the name of an I-dont-know-who that had a restaurant in the central shops, that had told them about other that sold candles, that had talk to another that was living in Sada now, that knew about... in short, they ended coming to us.
220
By the things we could tell from one and the other they had sued the Council for their rights over Little Venice; it seemed that years ago, when they were moved into and enjoying the peace of their detached house resulting of the compensation for the zero zones evacuation, some friends told them that the people from the Council had went around asking them to sign the renunciation of the potential rights they could have over their former properties on the zero zone. They signed, of course they signed, they came with the deeds and that shoddy document they had signed when they received the economic compensation. Later they knew they had visited all their former neighbours, and, at last, they found out there were other two owners apart from them who hadnt been asked for the signature. So surprised they were that compared their documents with the ones the people that signed had, they could tell the shoddy document they had signed when they received the compensation for leaving the zero zone was a simple receipt of the money, just that, without anymore clarification. They also saw the new document explained clearly the renunciation to whichever right they could have over their former properties, turning into ineffective the deed in the Councils hands even their names were in them. They felt inspired; there had to be something to scratch, for sure. And even though they imagined there should be a reason why the Council hadnt contact with them, they talked to a trustworthy lawyer that saw he could do well out of it, from one part or another. The lawyer told them the first thing to do was taken a legal action against the Council for usurping their properties. In the time the trial lasted they found out that the Council didnt have their deeds, they knew it because woman number one that played ludo with woman number two that had coffee with man number one that... knew a councillor that told him some councillors had tried to take it all bringing the deeds of the properties, but the Council was able to react in time because they took the list with
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the owners and made them sign the renunciation making ineffective the deeds with the former holders name on them, which they forgot to change in its moment. They took advantage of the owners innocence and they were lucky they still had some, innocence I mean. As they were talking my memories were refreshing and that flash moment made me remind the deeds I had hidden under the bathroom cabinet and that I had completely forgotten. And from the moment I remembered it on I didnt do more than trying my face didnt show it and finding a good excuse to go to the bathroom to make sure they, actually, were there. Salva noticed something was happening to me, even I dont think he suspected such a thing; he thought I wanted to get rid of them because they brought back bad memories. There was anything left down there, dont ask us to go there, there is nothing we can do Salva said.
The olds were disappointed, completely disappointed, they sat down and their sad gloomy faces got to move me, and the rest too. I told Sandra to come with me to the bathroom; she was surprised, and more surprised she was when I asked her to move the cabinet carefully, and even more when I took out the deeds the olds were talking about and that she thought were completely foreign to us. And that? She asked in low voice. I stole them from Ramn I answered.
She put a happy surprise face, as if for the first time she believed that thing I always was saying about moving on.
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Are you going to give them to the couple? Sandra asked. Yes, sure I said didnt you see their faces?
And, in that very moment, I realized that a lot of pity and so, but the olds had taken the compensation for the evacuation and we had done the entire job and hadnt earned a single cent. Maybe, wed rectified. better make a deal I
The old couple still were distressed, Paco were trying to console them and Salva was trying to hear the telly. Well, lets see I said trying to speak with sweet voice although sergeants voice came out instead here I have three deeds, but I also feel like having the half of all.
They looked at each other, they didnt listen the the half of all thing, nor they remembered they had rheumatism and osteoarthritis, they got up, they jumped for joy and kissed everyone, and said we were their saviours, that they just knew it, that our reputation was well deserved... Salva looked at me with the same surprised face Sandra did, and with a spark of greed when he heard the half of all thing, of course. I accepted the token of thanks without getting moved or abandon my sergeant position and, especially, without letting go off the deeds, I was grabbing them as my life depended on them again. Once the euphoria went off I repeated the half of all thing, they seemed not bothered at all; they made a pair of phone calls and in a short time we had standing at our door another old woman and a
223
couple of olds more, its not Im disrespectful, they really were elderly.
being
The thanks scene repeated again and Salva insisted on the half of all thing before I did. They made a last call and the lawyer came not so excited and insisted pretty more than the olds in taking the deeds with them. Which they didnt of course, the olds didnt like it much but they understood it. The lawyer didnt like it at all but, as Salva stood next to me like a bodyguard and Paco and Sandra did the same and, above all, we had a reputation in some circles for being formidable, they said goodbye gently and we agreed we would meet at the trial, where they would give us the half of all. The trial was quite quiet, on the Council party they brought several lawyers, Carlos among them, that seeing us took him down a peg or two, they even offered a preferential treatment to the olds, that as much as preferential it was it would never be like the half of all. The councillor of Town Planning was talking to the ex of his son in law and looked at us, we also took him down a peg or two, and we still hadnt took out the deeds issue at that. When it came out it was worse, for them I mean, it was great for us. The judge made the olds give the compensation for the evacuation back, just peanuts, and the Council give the former holders their land back, and we caught the half of all. A big amount of money, but a huge amount of money, there were two super luxury hotels, a landing stage with mooring and a pay and display car park, a giant amount of money. Especially because we hadnt any expense, the works were financed by the people that had financed them and the judge considered that it was the Councils fault start the works before having the things in order. They didnt even complain, they were grateful they only were three and not all, as it was about to be. 224
But dont think it was to our head have the future more than secured, of course not. Sandra kept on running her bookshop and with Paco, she had a multiple childbirth and the kids run up and down the stairs the whole day shouting like out of control Sin Chans, but happy, very happy. Salva and I set a chain of take away crepes restaurant all around the world; he, with his part, bought a private jet and he doesnt step the foot on the ground not even by pure chance, if he isnt at his Caribbean mansion, he is in the Toscana and if not in Kenya. Me? I getting late to my flight, I had already left Ara Cancio, she goes on and on, but I had to convince her that Im not going out with any blue eye actor, as much as her sources say so... what I dont know is where her sources would hear such a thing.
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Index
Preparations ............................................. Chapter 1. The beginning ................................. Chapter 2. The treasure .................................. Chapter 3. They say ...................................... Chapter 4. Pacos mistake (Part one) ..................... Chapter 5. Pacos mistake (Part two) ..................... Chapter 6. With the water on the heel .................... Chapter 7. The Last Judgement ............................ Chapter 8. In Venus Veritas (Part one) ................... Chapter 9. In Venus Veritas (Part two) ................... Chapter 10. With no glamour, but with heart .............. Chapter 11. Three are a crowd, four are bloody Marvellous ................................ Chapter 12. Deep down. First attempt ..................... Chapter 13. Inner peace .................................. Chapter 14. Taking a breath .............................. Chapter 15. Artificial intelligence, Natural Intelligence .............................. Chapter 16. Apart and thats that ........................ Chapter 17. Blue eyes actors face ....................... Chapter 18. This card is priceless ....................... Chapter 19. No rubbish bag, please ....................... Chapter 20. Familiar track ............................... Chapter 21. Forwards ..................................... Chapter 22. Afloat ....................................... Chapter 23. Pretending ................................... Chapter 24. Stuffed crepes ............................... Chapter 25. Carlos dear .................................. Chapter 26. Deep down. Second attempt (Part one) ......... Chapter 27. Deep down. Second attempt (Part two) ......... Chapter 28. Deep down. Second attempt (Part three) ....... Chapter 29. Deep down. Second attempt (Part four) ........ Chapter 30. I am into the washing machine ................ Chapter 31. Magic ........................................ Chapter 32. The story (Part one) ......................... Chapter 33. The story (Part two) ......................... Chapter 34. Conspiracy ................................... Chapter 35. Lost ......................................... Chapter 36. What do you say you said? .................... Chapter 37. What did you say I said? ..................... Chapter 38. The lively wood .............................. Chapter 39. Weaving the fabric ........................... Chapter 40. Being meticulous ............................. Chapter 41. Dawn ......................................... Chapter 42. Argimiros connection ........................ Chapter 43. Argimiro disconnection ....................... Chapter 44. Argimiro reload .............................. Chapter 45. Power ........................................ Chapter 46. Reaching rock bottom ......................... Chapter 47. Adrenalin .................................... Chapter 48. Against the clock ............................ Chapter 49. Countdown .................................... Chapter 50. Stoppage time ................................ Chapter 51. The sea always goes back to its place ........ 2 5 9 14 18 22 27 31 36 40 45 49 53 57 63 67 71 74 77 81 85 89 93 97 101 104 108 112 116 120 124 129 135 139 144 150 154 159 163 167 171 175 179 183 187 190 196 200 204 208 213 217
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Deep down

(English version of the novel No fondo)

Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Chapter 3. They say They say I pointed out.

Ha, ha, answers, because shouldnt

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

If you ask me, the lawyer turned round immediately. -

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Town planning? Carlos said excited my father in law...

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Silence. Im here at the Venus, come Andrs said.

Silence. What do you mean with where is it?

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

From an inheritance incredible calm.

And is it Ramns? Vismi asked again, also smiling.

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

She took the phone and dialled again.

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Like the ones they all their necks I said.

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

3. She was really worthwhile.

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

No way I said pretending the thing is that...

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

Well, it seems Ramn said.

Deep down. Raquel Couto Antelo

I told him that I he expected me to he was in a real who he was messing -

I know it quite well He said with a cold and distant voice.