奇书网

Text A An Act of Vengeance（第1页）

TextAAnAgeance

IsabelAllende

TranslatedbyE。D。CarterJr。

[1]OnthatgloriousnoondaywhenDulceRosaOrellanoiththejasminesofivalQueehersoftheotherdidatesmurmuredthatitwasunfairforhertowinjustbecauseshewastheonlydaughterofthemostpowerfulmaireproviorAheyadmittedthatthegirlwasgandthatsheplayedthepianoanddaher，buttherewereotherpetitorsfortheprizewhowerefarmorebeautiful。Theysawherstandifandydressandwithherofflowers，athecrowdtheycursedherthroughtheirchedteeth。ForthatreasohemwereoverjoyedsomemonthslaterwhenmisfortuheOrellano’shousesowingsuchacropofdeaththatthirtyyearswererequiredtoreapit。

[2]Oofthequeeion，adaheSaownHall，andyouheremotestvillageseetDulceRosa。Sheyahsuchgracethatmaoperceivethatshewasbeautiful，aheyreturheyhadtheyalldeclaredthattheyhadneverbeforeseenafacelikehers。Thussheauioyaimonywasoprovetothetrary。Theexaggerateddessofhertraskinandherdiaphanouseyeswerepassedfrommouthtomouth，andeadividualaddedsomethingtothemfromhisooetsfromdistantposedsooahypothetiwhosenamewasDulceRosa。

[3]RumorsofthebeautywhowasfliorOrellano’shousealsoreachedtheearsofTadeoCespedes，whoneverdreamedhewouldbeabletomeether，singallhistwenty-fiveyearshehadimetolearolookatwomen。HewasedonlywiththeCivilWar。Eversincehehadbeguntoshavehehadhadaoninhishands，andhehadlivedftimeamidstthesoundofexplodinggunpowder。Hehadfottenhismother’skissesahesongsofmass。Hedidnotalwayshavereasontogointobattle，becauseduringseveralperiodsoftrucetherewerenoadversarieswithinreachofhisguerrillabaimesofforcedpeacehelivedlikeacorsair。Hewasamanhabituatedtoviolence。Hecrossedtheeverydire，fightingvisibleenemieswhehem，andbattlingshadoasforventthem。Hewouldhaveuedinthesamewayifhispartyhadnotwoialele。hthewentfromaeexisteowieldingporetextforgtherebellionhadendedforhim。

[4]TadeoCespedes’sfinalmissioiveexpeditionagainstSahahuweeredthetownundercoverofdarkeaealessoetheleadersoftheoppositiooutthewindowsinthepubligs，destroyedthechurchdoor，aheirhhtuptothemainaltar，gFathertewheoblocktheirway。TheyburhattheLadies’Clubhadplahesquare;amidstalltheclamorofbattle，theyuedatagalloptowardSenatorOrellano’shousewhichroseupproudlyontopofthehill。

[5]Afterhavinglockedhisdaughterithefarthesterofthepatioahedogsloose，theSenatorwaitedforTadeoCespedesattheheadofadozethatmretted，ashehadsomaimesihavinghadmaledestswhocouldhelphimtotakeuparmsahehonorofhishouse。Hefeltveryold，buthedidothinkaboutit，becausehehadspiedonthehillsidetheterribleflashofahuweerrorizedthenightastheyadvaributedthelastoftheammunitionihinghadbeensaid，ahemkbefhewouldberequiredtodielikeamanathisbattlestation。

[6]“Thelastmaakethekeytotherhterishiddenandcarryouthisduty，”saidtheSenatorasheheardthefirstshots。

[7]AllthemewhenDulceRosawasbornandhadheldherontheirkneeswhenshewasbarelyabletowalk;theyhadthoststoriesoernoons;theyhadlistehepianoandtheyhadapplaudedihedayofherasivalQueehercoulddieinpeace，becausethegirlwouldneverfallaliveintothehandsofTadeoCespedes。TheohatnevercrossedSeorOrellano’sminditeofhisreessinbattle，hewouldbethelasttodie。Hesawhisfriendsfallonebyoneandfihatitwasuselesstoueresisting。Hehadabulletinhisstomadhisvisionwasblurred。Hewasbarelyabletodistinguishtheshadowsthatweregthehighwallssurroundinghisproperty，buthestillhadthepresenindthimselftothethirdpatio。Thednizedhisstdespitethesweat，blood，aaolethimpass。HeihekeyinthelodthroughthemistthatcoveredhiseyessawDulceRosawaitingforhim。Thegirlwaswearingthesameashehadwornfortheivalandhadadornedherhairwiththeflowersfromthe。

[8]“It’stime，mychild，”hesaid，ghisrevolverasapuddleofbloodspreadabouthisfeet。

[9]“Don’t’killme，father，”sherepliedinafirmvoice。“LetmelivesothatIgeusboth。”

[10]SenatorAnselmoOrellaohisdaughter’sfifteen-year-oldfadimagiadeoCespedeswoulddotoher，butsawgreatstrengthiraeyes，ashewouldsurvivetopuiirlsatdownonthebedaookhisplaceatherside，pointithedoor。

[11]Whentheuproarfromthedyingdogshadfaded，thebaracrossthedoorwasshattered，theboltflewoff，agroupofmenburstiheSenatedtofiresixshess。TadeoCespedesthoughthewasdreamingwhenhesawanangeljasminesholdingadyingoldmaninherarms。Buthedidnotpossesssuffitpitytolookforasee，sincehewasdrunkwithvioleedbyhoursofbat。

[12]“Thewomanismine，”hesaid，beforeanyofhismencouldputhishandonher。

[13]AleadenFridaydawheglarefromthefire。Thesilehithehill。ThefinalmoanshadfadedwhenDulceRosawasabletostandandwalktothefountaihepreviousdayithadbeensurroundedbymagnolias，andnowitwasnothingbutatumultuouspoolamidstthedebris。Afterhavihefewstripsandythatwereallthatremainedofherdress，shestoodhadbeeain。Shesubmergedherselfier。Thesuhebirdthegirlwatchedthewaterturnredasshewashedawaythebloodthatflowedfrombetweenherlegsalongwiththatofherfatherwhichhaddriedinherhair。Onceshewas，dwithouttears，shereturheruiolookforsomethingtocoverherself。Pigupali，shewebaator’sremaiiedhimbehindahorseanddraggedhimupanddownthehillsideuntillittleremaiapitiablemuidedbylove，thedaughterwasablethouthesitation。Sheedhimidownbyhissidetowatchthedawngrowintoday。ThatishhborsfromSantaTeresafouheyfioclimbuptotheOrellanovilla。TheyhelpedDulceRosatoburyherdeadaiigesofthefire。Theybeggedhertogoahhergodmotheriownwhereory，butsherefused。Thentheyformedcrewstorebuildthehouseandgavehersixferociousdogstoprotecther。

[14]Fromthemomenttheyhadcarriedherfatheraway，stillalive，andTadeoCespedeshadclosedthedoorbehindthemandunbuckledhisleatherbelt，DulceRosalivedfe。Iyyearsthatfollowed，thatthoughtkeptherawakeatnightandfilledherdays，butitdidelyobliterateherlaughternordryuphergooddispositioioyiroubadourswenteverywhereprogherimagimentsuntilshebecamealivinglegend。Shearatfouro’clocktooverseethefarmandhouseholdherpropertyonhorsebadsell，hagglinglikeaSyriaodcultivatethemagnoliasandjasminesinhergardeernoonshewouldremovehertrousers，herboots，andherutonthelovelydresseswhithearomatiks。Atnightfallvisitorswouldbegintoarriveandwouldfindherplayingthepiaheservaraysofsweetsandglasseseat。MahemselveshoossiblethatthegirlhadnotendedupinastraitjaasanitariumorasaheCarmeliteheless，siherewerefrequeheOrellanovilla，withthepassageoftimepeoplestoppedtalkingabedyahemurderedSenatorfromtheirmemories。Somegentlemenwhopossessedbothfameandfortuooveretherepugbecauseoftherapeand，attractedbyDulceRosa’sbeautyay，pre。Sherejectedthemall，forheronlymissioh

[15]TadeoCespedeswasalsouhatnightoutofhismind。Thehangoverfromallthekillingandtheeuphoriafromtherapelefthimashewasonhiswaytothecapitalafewhourslatertoreporttheresultsofhispuion。Itwasthenthatherememberedtheapartydressahjasmines，whoenduredhimidarkroomwheretheairregheunpowder。Hesawheragaininthefinalsgonthefloor，barelycoveredbyherreddenedrags，sunkinthebraess，aihatwayeverynightofhislifejustashefellasleep。Peace，theexerent，andtheuseofpowerturoasettled，hard-wman。Withthepassageoftime，memoriesoftheCivilWarfadedaeoplebegantocallhimDoarahersideofthemouedhimselftoadmiidedupasmayor。IfithadnotbeenforDulceRosaOrellano’stirelessphantom，perhapshemighthaveattaiaindegreeofhappiinallthewomenwhocrossedhispath，hesawthefaceoftheivalQueen。Andevehesongsbypopularpoets，oftengversesthatmentionedhername，wouldhimtoexpelherfromhisheart。Theyoungwomahinhim，oghimpletely，untiloanditnoloheheadofaloableghisfifty-fifthbirthday，surroundedbyfriendsandcolleagues，whehesawiableclothagnakedamongjasmineblossoms，ahatthenightmarewouldnotleavehimierhisdeath。Hestruckthetablewithhisfist，gthedishestoshake，andaskedforhishatande。

[16]“Whereareyougoing，DonTadeo?”askedthePrefect。

[17]“Torepairsomeadamage，”hesaidasheleftwithouttakingleaveofanyone。

[18]Itwasnotnetosearchforher，becausehealwayskshewouldbefoundinthesamehousewherehermisfortunehadocditwasinthatdirethathepointedhiscar。Bythengoodhighwayshadbeenbuiltanddistaer。Theseryhadgeddurihathadpassed，butasheroucurvebythehill，thevillaappearedjustasheremembereditbeforehistroopshadtakenitiherewerethesolidwallsmadeofriverrockthathehaddestroyedwithdynamitecharges，theretheawoodencoffershehadsetafire，therethetreeswherehehadhungthebodiesoftheSeherethepatiowherehehadslaughteredthedogs。Hestoppedhisvehidredmetersfromthedoorauebecausehefelthisheartexplodinginsidehischest。Hewasgoingtoturnaroundandgobacktowherehe，whenafiguresurrouhehaloofherskirtappearedintheyard。Heclosedhiseyes，hopingwithallhismightthatshewhesofttwilight，heperceivedthatDulceRosaOrellanowasadvan，floatingalongthegardeedherhair，herdidface，theharmestures，theswirlofherdress，aheendedihadlastedforthirtyyears。

[19]“You’vefiadeoCespedes，”shesaidasshelookedathim，notallowiobedeceivedbyhismayor’ssuitentlemanlygrayhair，becausehestillhadthesamepirate’shands。

[20]“You’vepursuedmeendlessly。InmywholelifeI’veoloveayou，”hemurmured，hisvoicechoked>

[21]DulceRosagaveasatisfiedsigh。Atlasthertimehade。Butshelookedintohiseyesaletraceoftheexeer，oears。Shesearchedherheartforthehatredshehadcultivatedthroughoutthosethirtyyears，butsheableoffindiheinstantthatshehadaskedherfathertomakehissadletherlivesothatshecouldcarryoutherduty;sherelivedtheembraanwhomshehades，aheearlymwhenshehadedsisi。Shewepladidheexpectedhappieadshefeltitsopposite，aprofoundmelancholy。TadeoCespedesdelicatelytookherhandahepalm，wettingitwithhistears。Theoodwithhorrorthatbythinkingabouthimeverymoment，andsavhispuinadvance，herfeelingshadbeereversedandshehadfallehhim。

[22]Duringthefollowingdaysbothofthemopeesofrepressedloveand，forthefirsttimesiheircruelfatewasdecided，opeoreceivetheother’sproximity。Theystrhthegardenstalkingaboutthemselvesandomittingfatalnightwhichhadtwistedthedireoftheirlives。Aseveningfell，sheplayedthepianoandhesmoked，listeilhefelthisboandthehappinessenvelophimlikeablaahehepast。AfterdioSantaTeresawhereillrememberedtheaaleofhorror。Hetookaroomielandfranizedhisweddiedapartywithfaravaganoise，oneinwhitiretownate。Hediscoveredloveatahermenhavealreadylosttheirillusions，aohimhisyouthfulvigor。Hewaosurrouhaffedbeauty，togivehereverythingthatmoneycouldbuy，toseeifhepensateinhislateryearsfortheevilhehaddoneasayoungman。Attimespanicpossessedhim。Hesearchedherfaallestsignofrancor，buthesawoofsharedloveandthatgavehimbafidehusamonthofhappinesspassed。

[23]Twodaysbeforetheweddiheywerealreadysettiablesforthepartyinthegarden，slaughteringthebirdsandpigsforthefeast，andgtheflowerstodecoratethehouse，DulceRosaOrellanotrieddress。Shesawherselfreflethemirror，justasshehadonthedayofherasivalQueehatsheoloiodeceiveherow。Sheksheotcarryoutthevengeanceshehadplannedbecauseshelovedthekiller，butshewasalsoutheSenathost。Shedismissedtheseamstress，tookthescissors，aheroomohirdpatiowhichhadremainedunoccupiedduringallthattime。

[24]TadeoCespedessearchedforhereverywhere，gouttoherdesperately。Thebarkingofthedogsledhimtotheothersideofthehouse。Withthehelpofthegardenershebrokedownthebarreddooraheroomwherethirtyyearsbeforehehadseenanangeledwithjasmines。HefoundDulceRosaOrellanojustashehadseenherinhisdreamseverynightofhisexistengmotiohesameblandydress。Herealizedthatiuilthewouldhavetoliveuntilhewashememoryoftheonlywomanhissoulcouldeverlove。

[1990]

Notes

1。IsabelAllende:She，borninPeruin1942，isaovelist，journalist，anddramatist。Shewroteseveralnovelsaionofshortfi，aslaysandstoriesfor。Shehasreternationalpraisef。Manyofherbooksareheirfemiofviewanddramaticqualitiesofromaruggle。HerfirstheHouseoftheSpirits，wasmadeintoafilmin1994。

2。DulceRosaOrellano:达尔西·罗莎·奥雷利亚诺（女子名）

3。SantaTeresa:圣特雷莎