The Fountains of Silence(69)

“Ay, ?gracias!” says Rafa.

“He wants to see your friend fight again.”

“When? We’ll be ready!”

“Sunday. Just said he’ll be in touch about a fight in Arganda del Rey. But if he’s calling around the morning after the capea, seems like a good sign to me.”

A tingling spreads across Rafa’s back. It is a good sign. It’s a great sign. He’ll head straight to the cemetery after work to tell Fuga.

Last night Fuga was restless. He insisted they must return to the pastures to train. “No,” said Rafa. “If the promoter is interested, he will help us find proper training.”

“There are a million reasons this rich man could change his mind,” argued Fuga. “But I’ll prove it to him. I’m better than everyone else.”

It’s pointless to argue with Fuga. But maybe he doesn’t know Fuga as well as he thinks? Fuga doesn’t smile for many, only children and bulls. So why did he give his winnings and smile to Ana? Sure, he’s asked about his sister before, but never in a way that implied he liked her. Aspiring bullfighters shouldn’t have girlfriends anyway. As the saying goes, a married bullfighter is a finished bullfighter. Success requires complete focus. He explained that to his girlfriend yesterday when he broke up with her.

Rafa scratches his head, recalling her furious reaction. Her anger had surprised him. He didn’t realize she cared so much. Women are so confusing. His sister Julia is the most confusing. Last night she huffed around, saying she’d rather Ana end up with an amateur bullfighter like Fuga than the rich Texano.

What did she mean? What could be so bad about the Texano?





88



Puri dries the dishes at the sink, devising a way to raise the topic with her mother.

“I think I’d prefer not to volunteer at the clinic,” announces Puri. “The Inclusa is a much happier place.”

“It’s not your choice. Sister Hortensia has assigned you to the clinic because she believes you will contribute there. You will serve as instructed, dear.”

“But it’s all so distressing. Women can be so irrational.”

Her mother turns from the table. “Excuse me?”

“Of course, not you, Mother. But the other day as I was leaving the Inclusa, a woman stopped me on the street. She was frantic. She said that her baby had been taken for baptism and was never returned to her. It was very strange, as if she thought someone was hiding her baby inside the Inclusa. She gripped my arm so hard it hurt.”

“She took hold of you?”

“Yes. I saw Sister Hortensia in the window and suggested the woman speak to Sister.”

“Did she?”

“No.” Puri shrugs, trying her best to appear casual. “She ran away.”

Her mother turns slowly back to the table. She speaks to Puri over her shoulder.

“Did Sister mention seeing the episode?”

“Yes, we discussed it. We agreed the woman was suffering some kind of mental collapse. Sister told me to pray for her.”

“Yes, you should,” replies her mother quietly. “There is so much misfortune in the world. We must help whenever we can, Puri.”

“Of course. You and Father have set a wonderful example. You took care of Ana and now Julia appreciates all the things you send for Lali. It must be so difficult for Ana without parents. But Sister says that it’s better to have no parents than the wrong parents. I think about that each day when I’m with the children at the Inclusa. I wonder, though: Once children are adopted by the right parents, should they ever know about their wrong parents?”

Puri steals a glance over her shoulder. Her mother sits, a block of erect silence, slowly stirring the spoon around and around in her coffee. And that’s when Puri realizes.

Silence has a voice of its own.





89



Lens: clean.

Film: loaded.

Spare: three.

Flash: just in case.

Suit coat. Tie. Wallet. Passport. Notepad and pen.

A beat pulses through Daniel’s mental checklist. He’s excited, but calms himself with assurance. Ben would only trust him for a minor assignment. There’s no pressure.

Carlitos greets him in the lobby. “You look very nice, se?or! But, ay, where is the cowboy belt buckle?” The bellboy pistols his hands.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be back soon. Say, Buttons, can you send word to my parents that I’m with Ben Stahl and will return in a couple hours?”

“Sí, se?or. I’ll see that they get the message.”

Ben leans against a marble pillar in the lobby. His clothes are fresh but Ben is not. He hasn’t seen his bed.

“Are you okay?” asks Daniel. “You look rough.”

“Fine. You’re starting the day, I’m finishing it. Just waiting for a pack of due backs and then we can leave.”

Lorenza approaches with the package of cigarettes.

Ben drops a large bill onto her tray. “Thanks, toots. Keep the change.” He turns to Daniel. “So, you nervous?”

Daniel opens his mouth to speak but Ben interjects.

“Don’t mess this up, Matheson. I’m taking a chance on you so you better be on the stick. You have your passport?”