Chapter 26
Edited by Higashi
TRAVELLING
WITH A SOON TO be toddler was a nightmare. Julián had waited for
news from his brother for another two weeks, but none had come. And
in the end, he had had to give up on the idea that he would return
and take Esperanza back.
News
about the strange new disease began to appear more and more
frequently on TV and other media. Many people began to turn to the
saving faith of vegetarianism. But, although the number of sick
people kept increasing steadily, social alarm was almost non
existent.
People
had no problems with a prion because, after all, the thing was not
even a virus, and if one or two idiots had had too much red meat in
their diets, it was entirely their fault.
Julián
was appalled by the reactions of the ordinary people he would drag
into conversation. The subject was none of their concern, as if their
minds were fogged or clouded.
Well,
in fact they are. The sisters with the opulent arses are back at 9
p.m.
Nobody
cared about something in the news, and no talk-show dedicated even a
single program to the growing number of patients who were turning
into drooling slugs.
Understandable.
I would be doing the same if I was in their place. I should be glad
everybody is willing to look the other way.
The
many history books he had read had made him reach the conclusion that
masses, no matter how supple they looked, had a turbulent and mean
core, well-hidden under the surface of civility, and Julián feared
the day they guessed that there was no salvation for them.
The
growing fears about their own safety pushed Julián to the road. He
had no idea how to drive a car, and travelling by train or bus with
the baby drove him very nervous. What if someone asked him about
Esperanza? True, he had a written authorization from his brother to
take her around, but he didn't want to push his luck too far.
Swallowing
his pride, and getting himself ready to flash the money to the twerp,
Julián spoke with one of his brother's former friends—one who had
quit the glorious nationalist movement to dedicate himself to the
world of lorries.
