47
Suitcases in the bed of the blue pickup: only Renata’s and Demetrio’s, because the relatives would return to Sacramento as soon as they said good-bye to the green-eyed gal at the hotel in Piedras Negras. Clearly each truck would carry its own extra can of gasoline (as usual), and the simple task of filling eight such cylinders took time. More than two hours, to be precise. Let’s also add that there was a skinny man whose hair stood on end by the name of Manuel Soto Pizarro, who sold fuel informally and had a tank on the outskirts of Sacramento, one that was almost always full of the precious liquid because he almost always had very few sales, but when this ensemble journey came about: oh, my: what a windfall, for he got sold out. And this, then, is what followed: the caravan moving with proper slowness toward the border. A caravan led by Demetrio’s truck: impetuous modernity. A caravan seen off by a crowd of people of all ages, a true swarm staged in the main plaza, among which Doña Zulema and Doña Telma were seen, showing up momentarily and bidding an effusive good-bye. Squashed bodies: theirs, who at the last minute declined to make the trip … So futile, as well as an unforgettable hassle, for sure. Was that whole melodramatic course of events even worth it — no! too much lavish groaning. Better to think of Demetrio being happy with that rural lass, who was, among other things, skilled at culinary concoctions, and on to other issues, an omission that was also fortunate, no (grim, grown-up) guesswork there. Immediately crass would be the seven hours there and seven hours back, at the very least. The worst would be traveling (back) at night, onerous and, of course, sheer exhaustion would evoke bad thoughts. Hmm, just to think about those considerate relatives making the sacrifice for no reason — well! What Doña Telma did instead was say good-bye to Doña Zulema with a heartfelt hug. Both knew they might never see each other again. Returning alone to Parras: the mother, by train, yes, now for the imminent tedium, also the uncertainty of her intuition that whatever would befall her would not be so horrible. The good part is that Doña Telma would soon see if everything there was in order; she would have to pray the whole way for it to be so. In fact, when she left Sacramento she knew that a new chapter in her life had begun. Something reductive and red. The seed of a precursory idea, yet to see how it would germinate …
48
Seesawing, constant shiftings, wishes cut short, a sudden braking and a sudden brutal acceleration. Thus the pace. Let’s call them “capitular jumps,” which made the trip one of constant renewal (so to speak) from one surprise to the next.
Renata, feeling like a very tender wife, wanted to cling to Demetrio’s arm. We could say that he drove with one hand, the skillful devil, believe it or not. He freed himself from her grip only to change gears: One moment, many one moments, and she allowed him the moment.
There were lapses in their conversation, which, if they could be drawn, would be shaped like protuberances, something that rose oblong, and oblong descended, the peak being two or three vigorous sentences, then a waning, for the emotions seemed to have a high degree of ephemeral intensity and … the silence lasted … and new waves, new protuberances and … Out of everything they talked about during the trip, we will highlight the following:
“Listen, my love,” Demetrio began, “I need to tell you something.”
“What? Dearest. Tell me,” said his beloved.
“When we move to Parras, we’ll have our own room in my mother’s house.”
“We are going to live with your mother?”
“For a little while. I figure about two months.”
“What about our privacy?”
“Our room is very private, and my mother is very discreet, more than you can ever imagine. In addition, I am making so much money at the pool hall that we will soon have an enormous house on the outskirts of Parras. I can even promise you that.”
“I will go wherever you take me. But I want privacy. A lot of privacy.”
“Really?”
“Yes, yes. Don’t forget that.”
Demetrio turned and planted a solid kiss on her cheek. Explosive surprise. She wiped off the bit of saliva left by the furtive smear: her fingers were trembling.
“Don’t do that again. Wait till we get to the hotel in Piedras Negras.”
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Penitence. Repressive feints. Desire on the verge. Insidious respect, still. How much longer till …? Pain below. Pain above. Pain — where?
“You can’t wait, can you?”
“To tell the truth, no … I want, I want …”
“Me too, but you must understand …”
49
Glorious, exuberant, incredible arrival. The trucks were parked along the width of the country hotel, strategically placed. An event that was — inimitable? The cream-colored building in question was two stories high, though fairly imposing. An outstretched building. Modernity in the countryside, for Piedras Negras was still about two miles away. That is, the circulating air mussed the hair. Well — why did Demetrio choose this place? Had he been here before? According to what the newlyweds discussed on the way, they were going somewhere far away from any city thicket. Supposedly they would find something somewhat like paradise, and they found it and very evident it was … Demetrio’s lucky star, et cetera … Now let’s watch the crucial scene: the big guy got out of the truck, tucked in his shirt, and went in to request a room for himself and his wife. This action was watched by the accompanying kin, who were no longer sitting and waiting but rather had placed their feet on the ground (heads like pennants), including Doña Luisa, who began to cry a little.
Renata was the only one who remained seated. She didn’t want to get out. Instead, she cracked her knuckles, so anxious was she for her husband to get a room. Meanwhile she thought: Will it hurt when he sticks it in, or the opposite? A few minutes later she thought: This very day I will lose my virginity. And a little later: My mother never told me anything about the sexual act. Everything will be new for me. Finally, about fifteen minutes later, Demetrio sauntered out and made a gesture with his hands — what did he want? Yes, they should unload the suitcases, there was a room, a beautiful one overlooking the road and the tilled fields beyond. And Renata got out and offered to help. She raised her hand to say good-bye to her gawking kin, who nevertheless didn’t leave, who watched as she entered the building behind Demetrio, who was carrying everything. Outside, the remnants of stoicism. So many gentlemen, so many ladies, all with long faces. Some with more tears than others. A frenetic gathering. It’s just that Renata was on the verge of losing … that’s already been said — and what would it be like? What kind of wild dumping inside — a lot? Not to even think about the cruelest of the cruel. Perhaps first there would be a more sentimental wave good-bye. In fact, the cry spread; cries in the open air; many, of many. A few of those outside were just smoking and staring. Others, farther away, were smoothing out the shapeless dirt. Otherwise: motel, depravity, the dusk that colors and discolors, here and there … Then: if you like, imagine the naked heat: minutes, attrition, more and more. Though first Renata had something to do. Imagine the nature of the wait. Then it happened. After they’d settled into the room, Renata said to Demetrio: Wait a minute. She walked over to the window and opened the curtains wide. In front of her was the array of trucks and the relatives posted next to them. It was getting late. Renata lifted her hand and began to move it from side to side; those below, watching, mimicked her. A total, grandiose good-bye. You should have seen the people crying as they moved their arms. More and more movement over here and over there, until the trucks started to depart. A reluctant row — perhaps? — : slow going, and once everybody had left, Renata kept waving good-bye: indefatigable oscillation of her arm that Demetrio observed from a chair. When supposedly nobody was left to say good-bye to, this deduced from the distance of the motors, the anxious wife closed the curtain and now finally …