Now she wanted this veiled elusiveness in herself,
shewanted to be addressed in the third person. Then in the darkness, suddenly,
softly he touched her, stroking herhip. The barefootsoldier leaped into the saddle,
and turned the horse to shore.
Gone in the fadeless fire, which has no death. Then
again, in the crowd, the words were re-echoed by the Guard
ofHuitzilopochtli.
Thou, Quetzalcoatl, thou wilt have to marry us,
said Cipriano. Thebig drum slowly, slackly exploded its note from the
church-tower.
The bride of Huitzilopochtli, he said, with a faint
smile. But it was a wonderful recognition ofher.
Now she was condemned to go through these
strangeordeals, like a victim. For it was but a shirt with flowers upturned at the
bottom.
Inside herself she kept very still and almost
thoughtless, takingno count of time. The barefootsoldier leaped into the saddle, and
turned the horse to shore. People were beginning to file into the
church.
And you are men who should be men of the Morning
Star. Two drums were violently throbbing against one another.
Now it isthe temple of Quetzalcoatl; our own
God.
She tieda piece of ribbon round her
waist.
Ramón stillstood below the great Quetzalcoatl image
with arm up-flung. And ifthe star has risen between us, we will watch
it.
Inside herself she kept very still and almost
thoughtless, takingno count of time. Then in the darkness, suddenly, softly he
touched her, stroking herhip. Inside the church, the drum began to
beat.
He closed the shutters till only a darkness
remained. It was again the solemn, powerful voice of Ramón. Outside the room was the
noiseof Juana sweeping the veranda.
Her voice had gathered strength till it rang out
metallic andterrible.
Ezequiel came striding along the walk, lifting his
hat.
In another world, in another life, inanother era!
Ezequiel had rolled up his mattress andwas hitching up his pants. Gone in the
fadeless fire, which has no death. Laughing rather shyly, she went along to the
salon. It is one of Ramóns; they are Quetzalcoatls colours, the blueand white and
natural black.
And on the day of flowers you, too, will come.
Ezequiel came striding along the walk, lifting his hat. And if there is no
marriage,there is nothing but an agitation.
Beyond the orange garden rose three tall,handsome,
shaggy palm-trees, side by side on slim stems.