Manuel Rivas - All Is Silence

‘You’re lucky you weren’t shot.’

Brinco picked up some fragments of wood from the ground.

‘If the cops turn up, don’t say anything. The mouth is for keeping quiet.’

‘NOW THIS IS what I’d call a tax haven,’ declared Óscar Mendoza as he arrived for the party. Everyone knew he was joking and being serious at the same time.

Romance Manor had access to the sea, as Leda had wanted, but also a brand-new swimming pool. The gate to the sea really did give way to an Eden. A cove of fine white sand with a gurgling brook creating its very own garden next to the dune-working wind. And an old stone embankment for mooring boats.

Víctor Rumbo clapped his hands to summon the guests in the garden. He was obviously excited and managed to thread together a discourse that was sealed by applause and laughter.

‘As you know, the manor belongs to Leda. I’ll have to make do with the bed… But for Santi there’s something special. Come with me!’

He lifted his son in the air, sat him on his shoulders and directed the guests to where the surprise was waiting. There was a large open space covered by a blue canvas. Brinco gestured with his hand and a violinist began to play a waltz. Another gesture told some workers it was time to remove the cover since the guests were now surrounding the large rectangle.

There was the swimming pool. But it wasn’t empty. Out of the depths emerged a dolphin. Followed by a murmur of appreciation. Brinco didn’t need to gesture any more. Everybody fell into astonished silence while the violin bow arched over the cetacean’s back.

‘You wanted a friend? There’s a friend for you!’

Chelín followed Leda with his gaze. Managed to attract her attention. Took the pendulum out of his pocket and placed it next to the ground. It began to swing. She nodded, laughing. It was true. Now she was the one leading her son around the swimming pool while a group of men, partners and friends, surrounded Brinco with their aperitifs.

‘Brinco, your friends also have a surprise for you,’ said the lawyer with more familiarity than usual. ‘Come on then! There are marvels of nature for you too!’

The group headed towards the main gate, Mendoza and Rocha ushering them on.

‘And Inverno? Where’s Inverno?’ asked Brinco.

The lawyer clapped his hands and the main gate opened. In came a limousine with tinted windows, moving at a snail’s pace, followed by a group of mariachis with Inverno at the front playing the Mexican ballad ‘Pero sigo siendo el rey’.

The doors of the limousine suddenly opened and out stepped three gorgeous girls in revealing evening dresses.

‘Your Vaudeville princesses!’

They acknowledged the reception. Twirled around like models and then kissed Brinco.

Leda heard the music. Recognised Inverno’s strong voice. Came to see what was happening. Santiago was playing with the other boys, so she went on her own. Or almost on her own. Chelín followed her at a short distance. Because he knew her, he realised she would turn around angrily as soon as she saw the limousine and the welcome given to the girls from the Vaudeville. And he was right. Leda spun around in a rage, rushed up the stairs leading to the terrace and first floor.

Chelín went after her. ‘Wait. Where are you going?’

She eyed him like a stranger. Like someone who’d lost touch with reality. ‘What do you care? To tart myself up!’

‘Leda, you know I always brought you good luck.’

Good luck? She was about to carry on. Another lunatic. But she set her eyes on him. Recognised him. It had been ages since she’d felt so much like crying. She didn’t cry. She stroked his cheek with her fingertips. He was very thin. A child’s gaze with steel spikes on his chin.

‘That’s right, Chelín.’

‘Remember when we used to hunt for treasures? I discovered something. I discovered there are only treasures under the ocean. That’s where shipwrecked and dead people keep them. That’s where you have to look for them. Under the ocean. Say “ocean”, please.’

Leda listened to him with surprise and concern. There was something wrong with him. He wasn’t well. He’d fallen again. There was nothing more unsettling than an unsettled gaze. She smiled, and he did the same. That worked. She placed her cheek against his. Concave — convex. That also worked. ‘Ocean.’ Then a kiss. A little peck. She turned on her heels and ran up the stairs.

‘A little saliva,’ he mumbled. ‘How lucky I am!’

Brinco summoned Chelín. He was holding Cora, his favourite from the Vaudeville, by the hand. ‘Now you’re going to see the second thing I like best to do in the world. Where are the stars, Chelín?’

If it was meant to be a joke, he didn’t understand. His mind was elsewhere. Stars? Oh, of course, what a fool! He ran to fetch the firework launcher. There they went. A sun, a palm tree and then a Bengal light that descended very slowly.

When Cora looked down from the sky, she blinked. She didn’t want her eyes to cry. But her eyes had a will of their own. She could hide everything except for her eyes, God damn them.

‘That’s the most special present anyone’s given me for a long, long time.’

Víctor went into the bedroom where Leda was. He was still in his party outfit, but she’d decided to put on silk pyjamas. She was seated in front of the dressing table, compulsively brushing her hair.

‘What is it, girl? Everyone’s asking after you. You suddenly disappeared.’

‘How I wish I could disappear! You should have told me you were going to bring the whole harem to the house.’

‘Leda, they’re just employees who work at our clubs.’

‘Employees? Our clubs? Don’t talk to me like that!’

‘What do you want me to call them? Whores? One whore here, another there. They’re here because they want to be! Go and open the gates and tell them to leave. You’ll see how many actually do.’

‘Like dogs. Dogs won’t leave either, Brinco. What do you take me for? You buy these girls like cattle. How much did you pay for that one?’

‘Which one?’

‘The one without a right toe.’

The toe. That blasted right toe. Why did they have to wear sandals? He’d already warned them. Don’t dress like that, girl, you look like a slave. You make it look like I chopped it off with an axe.

‘I didn’t cut her, for fuck’s sake. It was already cut.’

‘Oh, I see. She was branded when you bought her. I’ll take the amputee. Aren’t you a good boy, Brinco, you son of a bitch?’

‘All right, so I know a thing or two about prostitutes…’

Suddenly his rage boiled to the surface. She deserved a good hiding. He tore open a drawer, rummaged around and pulled out a leather-bound bible with a zip. Holy Bible . Nácar-Colunga BAC. He opened it, threw it on top of the bed. As the leaves fell apart, hundred-dollar bills floated down on top of the covers.

‘A bible for each one. Do the sums.’

Leda couldn’t come down. She was indisposed. Something she’d eaten. The same old story. That’s right, something she’d eaten or drunk. She had to look after herself. Víctor Rumbo took his leave of all the guests. Some of them inebriated. Like Chelín. He was turning into a real pain.

‘Brinco, you know I always, always brought you good luck.’

‘Sure you did.’

‘Always!’

‘Always.’

Óscar Mendoza asked if he’d invited Mariscal. Of course he had. Why hadn’t he come?

Brinco pointed to a hill in the night. Said, ‘Look, Óscar. He’ll be up there. Watching everything. Happy and solitary as a wolf.’

VARIOUS MESSAGES ARRIVED from Mariscal. Nothing about Flores. If the Graduate couldn’t look after himself, that was his problem. But there was something else. And this worried him. Mariscal wanted to see him in the Ultramar. Something was beginning to stink. What was beginning to stink? Money. When it came to money, Víctor Rumbo knew a stink meant only one thing. The lack of money.