SYNCRON3

SYNCHRONIC III {10th. tale in English.} {14 in all} A TALE OF SCIENCE FICTION BY ALFREDO JUILLET FRASCARA 17.08.1997.- Alternative number three of Synchronic. PROLOGUE: SOME INFORMATION BEFORE THE START: Era: 2.100 Christian Era. Place: Santiago Chile. Location: Ditto. Personages: Malvo Gomez. Felix Delorme. Raphael Vermoon. Sergio Mateluna. @@@@@@@@@@@ CHAPTERS OF THE OBRA: N¦ 1.- Sinchronyc page 2 n¦ 2.- page 9 n¦ 3.- page 36 THE END page 64 ===================================================================== Chapter I. Synchronic. Malvo Gomez was smiling. finishing the dictate by the telephone. He was advertising some rooms for rent, in his own house. The advise was for three rooms, the best located and so he was asking a good chunk... Malvo was living at Santos Dumont, in a large house inherited from his great grandmother. The house has gardens and a couple of trees. In front of the house was the Cerro Blanco , with some gardens, trees and a radio station on top. Malvo has a adjutant ,Sergio Mateluna, a young thin native of 20 years old, who uses long hair and loves to read SF tales, and went to walk to Bellavista street...a place full of artists and bohemian people. - Master, there is a carload of letters for you."- Sergio told him, going inside his sancta sanctorum, or Library and drawing room. - Some of them are perfumed ? - No, except this, that seems to have been perfumed by the Pancho."- The helping hand replied, smiling. It was a CTC collecting bill, smeared with cat's urine. - Damn cat ! I'll show him !"- Malvo said, going out to the rear garden. The cat saw him and fly to the roof. - Damn stupid ! - He yelled, throwing some stones to the cat, with a lousy aimed eye... - You fail again, Chief !"- Sergio laughed. - Next time I'll shoot the bastard !"- Malvo said, feeling elated. Three days elapsed, Sergio Mateluna opened the door, and a couple of guys asked to see the rooms. They were admitted,, they liked the rooms, and they decided to rent them. Sergio leads them inside the SS. of Malvo, who didn't offered chairs to the visits, as the room was too narrow, with the Computers, the book shelves and the safe box. - Good afternoon, Sirs. The price is $100.000 {Chilean currency] by month, plus another month as a security you will leave the room properly repaired." - Good afternoon. I am Raphael Vermoon and he is Felix Delorme. " - Nice to meet you. Sorry there is no chair here, pals." - No problem. We need a place like this, quiet and at the same time near downtown. We are students of Astronomy."- Veremoon said. - Oh ! Then you could tell my future."- Said Sergio Mateluna. - Jerk ! That is Astrology ! This people here are astronomers, that loves to look into the sky with their telescopes..."- Malvo said. - Oh ! I forget."- Sergio replied, laughing, as he was well aware of the fact, but he was trying to make amends with the new room mates. - We have the money ready, Mr. Malvo Gomez, with a deep voice. -Good ! I will enter some details in this form, and we could sign the document...Please handle me your I. D. "{ Identification cards.} They placed the I.D. in front of him, and he write the names and numbers in one of his Computers. Ten the paper was ready to sign. - Here and you, Sir, as a second in charge of the debts, here."- Malvo indicated them. - There ! Now gave me the keys."- Felix said. - No keys aloud, Sir ! We are going to open the door...let's said until 23.00 hours. A decent hour, I guess."- Malvo said, counting the money. - But sometimes we could arrive later !"- Felix protested. - No problem ! You tell me in that occasion you are going to arrive late, and we will wait for you dressed..."- Malvo grinned. - O.K."- Vermoon decided.-We are moving this same afternoon. " - Suit yourself."- Malvo wink and eye. Sergio leaves the new renters at the door, and he return to the office. - Money at last !"- Malvo said, counting again the wad.'- This money will provide some food and wine for our needs. " - Very good ! Did I prepare the car ? - Is it not ready ? Go ! "- Malvo said, and he leave some bills at the safe box. No need to tent the fortune... Then he drive to the Supermarket, with his aid de camp, and bought several bags of food and wine. - At least we have food for a couple of months here, Master !"- Sergio said, when they were returning to the house. - Yeah ! At last . Well, now I will gave you some dug, as your pants are rather filthy. Buy yourself some jeans.' - No, thanks ! I will buy a gray pants ! And a black shirt. "- Sergio replied. - AS you wish. And cut that hair ." - No, Master ! It is the distinctive I use ! Leave my hair alone !"- Sergio complained. They arrive to the house, and Malvo went to his office, seating there to see how less money he was. - Ready, Master ! The food it is storage already. Can I have my million pesos ? - Million pesos ! You're nuts ! Here, take $15.000 and buy yourself something."- Malvo replied , giving the other those bills. - Thanks. With this I will travel to the Bio Bio. Bye."- He said, going out of the house. Malvo reads some science fiction ,saw some TV. programs...the new renters arrive, and he opened the door, staying around to see the kind of furniture those new renters were going to use in his rooms. He saw some old beds, a large table, and equipment, electrical equipment he was not sure for what purpose could be serving. The truck went , and the renters close the doors. - Good. - Malvo said, retiring to his place. He wrote at a copybook the furniture he saw, and also he puts there " Two new renters, Felix, a toad of a man, and Veremoon, a large and cadaverous guy, with a Boris Karloff kind of voice... He chuckled. Sergio returns , and Malvo handled him the paper. He reads and he said " Seems this guys are a very second- hand kind of astronomers. No telescope, master." - Yeap. No telescope, but perhaps they look at the star with some others gadgets. Perhaps radio waves."- Malvo hypothesized. - Perhaps. Some kid of nutty professors..."- Sergio smiled, remembering his SF books. - This guys are going to spend electricity, for sure. So we must keep an eye on the counter."- Malvo said. - Do you eat, Master? - No ! Go and fetch me a pair eggs, a good beefsteak, a glass of wine and a whole bread." - You fasting, Master? - Go , you !"- Malvo yelled. Sergio grinned, and went to the kitchen. Malvo heard some noises in the rented rooms, something as furniture being moved . Well, it was obvious, the people were organizing themselves in those big rooms... After a while, he eats the aforementioned dish and wine, and he write some more in his P.C. - Chief, did I use the gun ? To show them some respect."- Sergio Mateluna asked. - Go. But just one shot, please."- Malvo said. - Yes, master ! I don't want to call here those pacos {cops}.Remember the last time they came here with a carload of armed men, just because they saw you in the street with your revolver? - Do not remember me that situation ! I was so afraid, I forget the papers, and the Lieutenant was already pointing me with a big gun !"- Malvo said. - But you were not guilty ! Why the afraid? - Are you not reading the newspapers I scattered in the bath room ? Lots of people die just because some jerk it's too nervous not to pull the trigger ! It happens all the time."- Malvo said. - No need to put yourself in a rage, master ! Well, I will go to shoot a little .Pardonnez moi, Master."- Sergio said, taking the old and battered bird shooter, and he banged at the rear garden. The noise from the rented rooms subsided until the next day... Sergio carried the breakfast to Malvo, who was half awake. - Good morning, master. Do you sleep well? - Good morn'. Yes, that Internet is killing me...I was there until six ." - Now it's eleven o'clock, Master. I put a stair and we can peek into the renters' rooms." - |clever boy."- Grinned Malvo, looking in the tray. A cup of milk and a bread and butter... - And what do you think of them? - A pair of ruined scientific, who are trying to attain something. The rare thing, master, it is the mirror. It is no ordinary mirror, I assure you ! Too big, and there are some wires attached at the back." - How rare, indeed. "- Malvo replied, looking at the TV set. - Did I put the TV ? There ! Oh ! A nice picture of Madonna !" - Good hembra, that. Full of fire." - Yes, and just my size ! Because the gringas are too big for me !"- Grinned Sergio. - She is of Italian descent." - Oh, yes ! Some funny name, too ! But a beauty. She also sings."- Sergio said, devouring the silhouette of the singer. - Seems you are out of girls, this days." - Oh, Chief ! Women loves a guy with money in his pocket ! I cannot invite them to a jug and a hot dog ! "- Complained Sergio. - Too bad. I will gave you $10.000 today. "- Assured Malvo. - Fine ! I will buy myself a shirt, too. There are some offers at Patronato. "- Sergio said. - You did that. And bathe yourself ." - Master ! I bathe myself last Saturday !"- Sergio puts an offended face. - Well, go to prepare the lunch. What are you going to cook today ? - Oh, secret, Master ! But you will end licking your fingers. That I assure you." - You better do that. " Sergio went out with the tray, and Malvo dressed himself. Then he walks the two blocks to the journals dispenser, and bought the "Mercurio", where he reads about the financial times...Just for fun. He return home , and secluded himself in the office, reading the newspaper with some music from the radio... - Master ! Lunch is served."- Sergio announced, bowing. - Good, boy ! There I go."- Grinned Malvo, leaving the office. He lunched at the kitchen, as the dining room was rented... Salad : chicory and garlic. Soup : of chicken. Second : ravioli with a beefsteak - Nice lunch, Sergio ! Your hand keeps on being the best this side of the Mapocho !"- Malvo said. - Thanks for those kind words, as the best Restaurants are this bank of the river."- Sergio said, remembering the TRattorias of Bellavista Boulevard. - I am going to the cinema, to day. It's Wednesday, the theaters are exhibiting their treasures at half the price. No matter the cinema are full of kits."- - Go, Master ! Entertain yourself ! You spent a lot of time digging the Internet ! Go and rest yourself a bit !"- Sergio urged. - Yes, I will. Well, you keep in charge this mess. Bye !"- Malvo said, walking to Santos Dumont Street. In order to take a bus, he needs to walk two blocks, thing he did. He climbs the bus, and pay the fare : $160. {Chilean currency}. The bus began to move, sorting the holes the rains had donned in the flimsy road. A hundred other big buses went crawling to downtown...Several vendors climbs the bus, offering their cheap merchandise : chewing gum, chocolate, band aids, pencils, cheap magazines for kids, a real flea market without descend of the bus ! At last, he arrive to the Ahumada Street, and went to a cinema. ----------------------------------------------------------- By the meantime, the Adjutant spent his time spying on the new renters, perched atop a stair, looking by the transom. When Malvo came back from his leisure trip, Sergio cornered him ,to tell the last news. - Master ! This guys are real scientists ! They are working with that mirror ! One of them is very mad at the other, saying he change the coordinates ! They went to the other side of the mirror ." - No kidding ! Like Alice in Wonderland? - Nice film eh? But no, they are really traveling to the other side !" - Must be a worm-hole spawner ! " - Kind of Time Machine ? - No, they shift the Dimensions...they traverse through that mirror of them...if it is true. - Take a peek ! - I will. Lead the way, Sherlock !" They went to the stair , and looked through the stained glasses of the little window atop the door. The Mirror was shining in a special way. - It looks like water. Very interesting."- Malvo said. - They are at the other side. " - But perhaps they went to the South Pole to buy cigarettes." - No way ! I had been spying here all afternoon ! They are at the other side, Master !" The room was empty. The boxes and wires were scattered around the "mirror". - It is like " Star Gate ", eh, Master ? " - Yes, only the female is missing." - Which female? - Oh, that gorgeous blonde..."- Malvo said, descending. He went to his office, and began reading " The Time Machine " of Herbert George Wells... He began by reading "... "It took two years to make. Now I want you clearly to understand that this lever ,being pressed over, sends the machine gliding into the future,, and this other lever reverses the motion. This saddle represents the seat of a time traveler .Presently I am going to press the lever ,and off the machine will go. Have a good look at the thing. Look at the table, too, and satisfy yourselves there is no trickery. i don't want to waste this model ,and be told I am a quack." - Master ! I have an idea."- Sergio said, entering the room. - Yeah? - Guess you can take it all for yourself."- Sergio said. - How? - Very simply. Wait."- Sergio replied, and went out of the Library. Malvuo saw the light went off. - Presto ! No renters."- Sergio grinned, when he came back. - No kidding !"- Malvo laughed heartily. - Now, please , descend from your throne, and let's go to that room!"- Sergio urged. They opened the door and Sergio also opened the shutters from the window, so the tame light of the late afternoon gets inside the deserted room. The paraphernalia of the site was bathed in that golden glow. - I am giving you a Worm Hole Spawner for free ! also, you can rent the pair of rooms, now their inhabitants are in vacations."- Sergio commented, disconnecting the wires from the sockets. - Guess you are right. Those guys probably are in a better part, now."- Malvo said. Sergio went to the main panel, to re connect the electricity, so they could work under electricity lamps. Malvo searched for a console, or control apparatus, among the wiring and boxes. He find several, so he said to Sergio: ' - Where is the controller? - I saw them moving this."- Sergio directed him to one of the metal boxes, who has several tuning knobs. - I see. So we can enter the "Mirror" now... choosing. Good."- - Are you going to rent. again ? - Yes. I need money. We will move this furniture to the other rooms. Also, we will put this "Mirror " in the dining -room." - - Do you want to probe it now, Master? - Well ...I..." - Let me be the one. The first to go."- Sergio asked. - Where ? - Of course not where those two guys are ! They can be waiting to came back ! We turn this knob a little...so ! " - - Switch on ! - Malvo said, connecting the wires. The "Mirror" began to flicker , and regained that watery appearance. - Want a rifle ? - No, Master ! I'm going to take a peek... and get back. See ya !"- Sergio said, and he walks into that surface ! Malvo waited, looking at the mirror, and reading from the book "The Time Machine.." He went to close the doors properly, for the night. He came back. He became worried. He looked at his watch : 21:00 hours... He take notice of the numbers in the dials, writing them on paper. /Then he enters the Mirror, carrying his "HS" revolver 38'. He felt a sensation of nausea, but then he was at a stony platform. The sky was red, and the air was chilly. The mountain was surrounded by a dark wood, that stretched in all directions. No traces of Sergio Mateluna. Malvo looks around the mirror, that was visible , on the floor. The slabs were put together without cement or otherwise. - Sergio ! "- He called , and his voice echoed in the distance . He repeats his cries several times, coughing with the effort . Malvo looked at the trees ,expecting to see the body of his servant walking to him...but not such thing happened. He remembered , then , how that young fella came to his life: his father employed him at his Bicycle Store, and when he died, Malvo keeps on employing him, as his Adjutant. Sergio was clever, unhappily he didn't finished his studies ,se he was not able to work in the technical world he was inhabiting. Thing not uncommon in Santiago, where half the population didn't finished his studies, and became what the haphazard dictates. - Damn !"- Malvo said, kicking the floor. The sky became more and more dark, and the wind became a gale. Malvo came back to his house. - Bad idea ! But it was his idea ."- He told the mirror. He disconnect the machine ,and went to the kitchen, where he prepared his dinner: a big piece of meat, two fried eggs, chili and a piece of bread. All was hot and smelly. He drinks a glass of wine, thinking. In that night the Adjutant must be hiding someplace, so he will not return to the Mirror, in the night. So he will connect the machine in the morning. He wash the dish and pan, wash himself and went to bed. Suddenly, the lights flickered out... Another disconnection from the Company... In the morning he connected the machine, who was named the "Mirror" by him, and he went the other side. It was pitch dark. Not a light, not even the stars. He came back to the door in the time /space ,re-entering his room. - Lucky me !"- He said, disconnecting the apparatus. If he missed the mirror at the other "side "...! Somebody was ringing the bell, so he went to see who was. - Good morning. You Malvo Gomez ? "- Said a tall dark man. - Yes, I am." - I bring you a citatory. I am an officer of the Police of Investigations. Can I go inside ?"- He asked, with a kind smile but with eyes of stone. - Yes.'- Accepted Malvo, disliking the idea. Inside, the officer jumbled with a leaf of papers he was carrying, and he produced a little piece of brown paper, where it was typed the name and address of Malvo, and also a date. - You must attend the 3th. Tribunal, four days from now." - All right. Do you know why? - There is a denounce against every Gomez who could have rented a person who works to make him the sole owner of an old building at San Pablo Street." - Oh, that ! I wasn't . " - But you must go and tell that to the Judge." - I will." - Well, I am going, now. Nice house. - Yes, it was from my grand grandmother. Lots of years in the family."- Malvo retorted. The guy went out, and Malvo saw a piggy faced man waiting near the door for that officer. He called the lawyer he knew, and then he was busy all day, going to the lawyer's office and carrying papers. That night he went the other side of here. It was day time, and the red sky was like a furnace, and the stones were hot. He looked at the woods. Their dark appearance was there, just the same, no matter the hot weather...No traces of Sergio. - Damned bratt !"- Malvo said, descending the hill. The tall trees were real huge, each one eight meters wide. Also, at the foot of them, the weeds were entangled ,difficult the way. A strong smell of rotten leaves were present. The insects were existing ,and some were biting at his naked parts, with fierceness. - ANK ANK - ARRGH !" The terrible growl chilled every bone in his body. Malvo gripped his revolver, thinking it was a toy to present battle to such an animal capable of uttering such a bellow . - I'm going !"- He muttered, and retrace his steps ,as quickly as he was able. He climbed the stony hill, and find the glittering mirror at the usual spot. He walks through it, and disconnect the machine. - No way ! A terrible pace, indeed !"- He said to himself, walking to his bottle of whisky "White Label ". He takes a mouthful of the liquor, feeling the heat going down his stomach , and up his brain. He regained some courage, and laughed a bit.. - You were scared, he ?- He asked himself, grinning. He did a draw of the "other " place. A mountain, a big forest, and some beast growling as a Dinosaur ! Then he reads ...{1}"That who after death keeps his faculty ! Those words came from the shadows . First you must walk by the road to hell and to the grotto of Proserpine ,daughter of Ceres. In the middle of the overwhelming darkness ,until Tiresias. He is without eyes, shadow in hell. So full knowledge that the thin fleshed ones knows less than him . Before you arrive to the end of the road , knowledge shadow of a shadow and notwithstanding that, you will go in his search , no matter you know less than the drugged beasts. " Malvo stops his chanting . The day was in his middle : it was noon. The hour of the spirits... Malvo went to his PC. and typed a message for the newspaper, asking for ex soldiers. The advertisement brings lots of ex soldiers to his door. He chooses seven of them, rejecting the rest, as he didn't want to expend too much. The men assembled, he told them: Gentlemen: I have a problem here, and I choose you to solve the case. My adjutant Sergio Mateluna went to a forest and he never came back ." - How many days he is missing? - Asked Marco Poncio, a tall blonde guy. - Five days ago. I went there, but the place it is real big. No traces of Sergio. Really, a desperate case." - We will search for your employee, Sir. I know how to track a man. "- A dark, Indian descendent man said, in a hushed voice. His name was Francisco Castro. - Great ! I will search for a month. Your wages will be $200.000 for each one. The equipment I am going to provide will be yours, at the end of this expedition. " - When we dep art, Sir ?- Marco asked. - To- morrow. Remember we are going where there is no telephone, so keep in mind there will be no callings home."- Malvo explained. The guys realized it was for real, and swore they will be ringing the bell at eight hours, next Monday. Malvo bought food, clothes, back-packs and knifes. The next day the explorers arrived in time, and Malvo gave them the clothes and backpacks. - Now ! You looks like Rambos !"- He joked, directing them to the Mirror.- This is the same as in the picture " Star Gate." Just a little humbler. We are supposed to cross the other side of this mirror, that is in fact some kind of a door, and we will be there. "- - "Like in Star Trek."- Marco Poncio said. - Not quite."- Malvo replied.- Lets get moving." They walked the other side . Malvo was the last, and he takes a long glance in the direction of the machine, that this time would be marching without stop. A interruption in the system, and nobody were going to reactivate the energy... Then he crossed the threshold. - Hey ! It 's that the forest ?"- Asked one of the explorers. - Yes. It is big, isn' t it ?" - It is a whole country ! But, no matter. This Indian here will lead us to our goal."- Three men were following Francisco Castro to the feet of the mountain. The guide was inspecting the soil , in time to time. They all reunite at the forest fringe. Castor said :- " There are traces of single man descending the hill. Straight to the woods. Once inside of it, it will be more easy for me to see the path." - Damned Sergio ! He was supposed to just take a peek !"- Malvo explained. - But he began searching for something interesting, perhaps, to show you."- Castro retorted. - Possibly."- Malvo 's rage subsided.- Let's get moving." They walked inside the forest. Castro was leading the party of eight, using his skill to trace the faint signs of SErgio's steps... - This Indian knows what he did. I served in the same Company, back at the Buin."- Laurencio Mardones said to Malvo. Castro retrace his steps quickly, and snorted :- " Don not call me Indian any more, you hear ? I am tired to hear you call me that. " - Calm down, man ! All right, all right !"- Laurencio Mardonez replied. They keep walking, hearing the birds singing to the morning. The trees were big , green and moist. Swarms of flying insects began to bite the men, who stops their march , to put some ointment over their faces and arms. - Lile VietNam.- Laurencio said. - You were there? - No, but I had seen lots of pictures."- Laughed him. Then Castro said : - I had seen imprints on the soil, bigger than any animal I know. "- And looked at Malvo, accusingly. - I do not know about animals here. Never seen one."- Malvo replied the implicit question. - Better we didn't laugh or do too much noise. With this pop guns there is little we can do against a beast ."- CAstro said... They find a stream . and they drink the water, that was cool and limpid. They eat some canned food in the march. - Can you see the trail ? - Yes, but it is dimmed, now. The guy walked pretty fast. I wonder how he could keep on marching in a straight line. "- Castro told Malvo. - The only solution is he was using a compass. Clever boy."- Malvo amazed himself. - He passed by here about three days ago. We are getting closer."- Castro informed. - So we could get hurry and catch him out ?? - No way, I must find the clues. I am going after him the fast I can."- Castro replied. They walked all that day in that gloomy forest, finding several carcasses laying around. - Our friend the big animals were there... but the imprints are two days long. "- Castro said. - This man reads the forest !"- luoercio Vargas said. He was a tall lean man, with bright eyes and a long knife at his belt. It began to rain. Castro keeps on walking, straining his eyes for the little details in the branches or in the floor, looking for the clue... At night, they stopped under a big tree, lighting a fire. Some insects came flying to the flames, burning themselves with a hiss. Malvo opened the bags with the food, and he passed the canes around, also some beer . Suddenly, a powerful bellow was heard, faint and in the distance. - Guess our meat eater is angry by the rain. "- Castro said, looking East. - I hope he stay where he is."- Malvo replied. - Yeap, the fire will not hinder him in his way...to us."- CAstro muttered, eating the beans from the can. They slept near the fire, and in the morning the rain stops. The red sky was clouded, as usual. Castro puts his back- pack and began to move. The others followed him: Malvo didn't resent the fact Castro was the leader now, as he was unable to find his own track in that half lighted forest. A mountain was visible by the trees, and Castro was leading to it. - Your adjutant went there."- He explained to Malvo, who was looking at him curiously. - Fine.'- Malvo said. He was relieved, as he was thinking the guide was choosing the hill for his own personal motives. The trees became scattered among the foot of the hill, that was devoid of vegetation: just rocks and earth was visible from there. Big boulders were standing all over the place. Castro was absorbed looking for the clues, that was why Marco Poncio looked first at the wall of rocks and find that... - ! Gold ! My Fortune, Gold !"- He yelled, running to the wall of rocks. A polished surface were shining there, yellow and warm; it stretched more than a hundred meters, and six meters high. - My God !"- Malvo said, in shock. - Here is your adjutant."- Castro said, from some rocky formation. Malvo looked there, with wide opened eyes. Nobody was in sight. He walks to the site, and in the floor he saw a pair of bones, a leather belt, and a buckle. It was the old American Eagle...yes, it was the belt used by Sergio. He began to cry, seated in the floor. From above, a faint rain became to pour, mingling his tears with the rain drops... - He was attacked by a beast...a large beast... he run for shelter, but he didn't make it. See that hole, in the mountain ? He was heading for that place. Not enough fast, I am afraid."- Castro muttered. - He was so...young !"- Malvo sobbed. He take the buckle. - Some went early than others, Boss. The lad was a relative ? - No, just and employee... but very faithful, and ... obedient."- Malvo tried to compose himself. But he knew he need to end the suffering , so he permitted himself to cry a lot that day. They buried the scarce available bones. The rest of the expedition was very busy trying to get some gold out of the wall, using knives and also bullets. - Look, Sir ! At least five kilos of gold !"- Marco Poncio shows Malvuo, when he went to the wall. - Amazing."- Malvo said, weighing the chunk. - We can return with pick and shovels !"- Poncio said. - Or a good dynamite box !"- Laughed Vicente Gonzalez, a dark skinned man of burly constitution. - Yes, i guess we may, now Sergio is find."- Malvo replied. They slept over the hill, near the cavern. A fire was lit, and the men were so excited they barely sleep until the morning. - Now we get back !"- Malvo said. Castro began to retrace his steps , and this time they walk faster than before. The backpacks were heavy, at least 20 kilos each one was carrying there, throw away canteens, clothes and other utensils. - I will buy me a new car and a bungalow !"- Lupercio Vargas said, walking in the rear of the line. - And I will go to Bermudas !"- Raul Reyes laughed, jumping every root he finds in his path. - I never thought this will happen !"- Claudio Lizama, a big muscled man said. Following Castro, in three days they were facing the mirror. Malvo gave a deep sigh, as he was afraid the machine weren't there at his return... They came back to Santiago de Chile. Malvo disconnected the apparatus, and he put his hand in the different machines, sensing for overheat, but none was too hot. The men went to the bath room, and then they assembled in the first yard. - Well, gentlemen, here we end the trip we began a week ago. I offered you a wage, but now you have more gold than you ever dreamed of. So good bye, and good riddance to all ! - Malvo said. - Not so fast, Mr. Malvo ! There is a lot more gold there ! We must go back !" - Marco Poncio said. \ - Yes ! You cannot leave us behind !"- Felipe Norambuena added. - Of course I can ! Do not forget I was the employee and we already accomplished the objective of this trip : to find my unfortunate Adjutant. Now I can rest ; I no longer thought he is somewhere searching the dimensional door. "- Malvo explained. Castro intervened := " Well, I think this is over ! Guys, take your packs and let's go !" Malvo reminds them the convenience of to sell the gold in small quantities, adducing :'- Chilean law said all the gold in this land is of the government. They will not believe stories about other worlds, and you will be imprisoned. So beware !"- They went out, some of them without a farewell ...Castro was the last to go, and he said :- " Do you want to go there, Mr. Malvo ? - Perhaps... i am just arriving, and want to repose my feelings." - Of course. Take your time. Here is my phone. You call me, I will guide you there, such a beautiful country ! Good bye." Malvo closed the door, putting the card in his pocket. Chapter Two Santiago de Chile. As Malvo wasn't assisted, he puts an advertisement, asking for a maid. He chooses the handsomest of the women available, a big blonde woman, called Svetia Laurencia, 23 years old. - A nice house. I like big houses. "- She said, looking at everything with her shining green eyes . - Great. We need to clean everything here. Also you must go to buy groceries ,wine..."- Malvo ordained, handling her $10.000. He went to his office, where he write the adventure in the "other" side. At 14:00 hours she calls him to lunch. The potatoes were half boiled, and the steak was half fried... Malvo called her and said: - I cannot eat this shit. You are fired." She takes her bag and went out of the house, banging the old door... Malvo climbs to his old Peugeot and went to eat at a Chinese Restaurant. The hunger subsided, he regained his normal self, so paid and gave a tip. Then he went to the Plaza Brazil, and bought a newspaper. He reads how in the new " partner" of Chile, Canada, some Salmon producers, were promoting a accusation of Dumping against Chilean Salmon producers, as they cannot understand how the Chilean salmon costs $2.06 dollars and the U.S.A. and Canadian are selling they products a 15% higher ....They said it is too little money . The Canadian worker costs $ 1.435 dollars per month, and a Chilean worker costs $ 480 per month ! 4 times less ! Also the waters in Chile didn't freeze as in Canada, so they get a year round production ! The case will be judged by an U.S.A. judge. Malvo remembered how the Chilean were killed in the Gold Rush of the 19th,. Century in U.S.A., when they became too much competitive....The Little Chile, a Chilean town, was burned and the people killed. Good bye competitors. ' Hey ! You here ?"- A voice was heard. Malvo looks up, seeing Brando Rosende, smiling at him. - Old class mate ! How do you do ?"- He replied. - Fine ! - The other said, seating at his side, on the bench. He was tall and burly built , with black hair and using an overcoat. - I went to saw you...some two months ago. But you weren't present at your Atelier."- Malvo said. - I wasn't here ! I was in Chicago, to see how the Lake was." - Oh, a great voyage, indeed !" - Yes, and how beautiful that lake it is ! And the city ! Big, great city ! I became in love with it . But I also get in love, years ago, with Buenos Aires !"- Brando explained. - And do you bring something from there ? - Mostly memories ! You know, it is possible to spent a little money traveling, but there is little left for souvenirs. Perhaps a bag, a little battery radio, things like that... but nowadays all came from Taiwan or Hong Kong. China. The same tale in all places." - Amazing. - Yes. And you, did you travel ? - Yes, I went to another planet. - Very interesting. You in some Hindu sect ? - No, in person ! I went through a ?Dimensional passageway." - No kidding ? - It was a rescue party, searching for my former assistant, Sergio." - Oh, I remember him ! A kind of a hippie, or something...he and a blonde, what was her name ? - I forgot. Well, the lad was eaten. - Anthropophagi ? - My guess is that is was a Dinosaur. - My God ! - I heard some bellowing in the woods, twice. I didn't set my eyes on the beast, really." - Believe me, you are an artist . - Why?- Asked Malvo, grinning. - Yes, you have a wonderful imagination. - Thanks, but it is not being applied here. - Do you heard about Stephen Hawking ? - Yes, a scientist and his hobby, the Black Holes !" - Malvo replied, as his personal hobby was to read everything available in correspondence with the Outer space. - I meet him, in person, back in England. - You were there, too ? - Yes, with the " Matucale Ballet". I was the Painter. I called Mr. Hawking by the telephone, and his Secretary told me, after some exchange of ideas with the scientist, that he were to receive me in his home at an appointed date. " - Very kind of him, you being an ignoramus."- Malvo remarked - Yes, a kind man. Here in Chile they did a real show with him, interviews, radio and TV going wherever he did. Also to the Antarctica "- Brando informed. - Well, they said he is the Einstein of this days."- Malvo grinned. - He told me his contribution it is the Theorem of the singularity , who said the Time must have begun with the Big Bang, and its end with the Black Holes. Also he claims the discovery that the energy isn't wasted inside the Black Hole...he said there is a escape from it."- Brando exclaimed. - I read, once, the energy went to another dimension."- Malvo muttered. - Hawking sad the Back Holes puts limits to the science's predictability .If some information is loosed inside the Black Holes, then the scientists will not predict the future accurately." - All this just by looking by a telescope..."- Malvo remarked. - There are now several other ways to look unto a star, you know. Once somebody asked him if the Science is some kind of a new religion, and he replied:"- It's different, the science works. " Also he believes the physic laws could - in the future,- explain the human conscience."- Brando said. A drugged man approached them, asking for a match. As they didn't have, the guy said :"- What's the matter with this S.O.Bs. ?" Another guy, who was cleaning a car , yelled at him not to molest the "gentlemen", so the drugged man went his way, walking with unsteady pace. - A pity this people throw themselves into the drug."- Brando said. - Look here, this men are the sons of those drunkards we saw in our childhood. Not all men rise as men, you know."- Malvo asseverated. - Most sure thing. We are not all made equal, guess there is a very important difference ,somewhere inside the brain."- Brando said. - Yes, the painters paint their inner visions, and the writers create around themselves the world they should like to live in. I know, being myself both things."- Malvo exclaimed. - Let's go to your machine. I am dying to see it ."- Brando said. - I have the car parked near. Let's go."- Malvo accepted. OTTOGRAFIA REALIZADA HASTA AQUI. 00000000000000000000000000000000000 ------------------------------------------------------------ Brando saw the machine, and was excited. He didn't know a word about the gold...yet. Malvo felt the urge to goes back to that virginal planet...so he called Castro. - No, Mr. Malvo, in this days I am very busy buying houses ... I want to buy them, improve them and sell them... with a profit. So why don't you call me in a couple of weeks ?" - But, man ! I told you not to move the gold in quantities !" - Well, no problem, Mr. Malvo ! There are guys that buy the gold and asks no question, if you gave them a discount..." - Yes ! I know them ! But you are buying houses ! You know the Government is hungry trying to grab people from the drug business ! I guess you heard how they are searching the people from the Cartel of Juarez ! They take the cars, houses, and they put the guys in prison ! "- Malvo was horrified. - No problem , Mr. Malvo ! You worry too much ! Relax ! Call me whenever you like, but change your mood !- Castro said, and he hang up. Malvo was enraged with those people. Now the tax collectors will inform the Police and they will try to know from which source the money was obtained... So he takes his personal belongings, and went to his another house, sited in Robles Street, also in Recoleta Boulevard. - Do not worry too much, Malvo ! The gold is not Chilean ! "- Brando said, when his friend told him the news. - Here I will be safe."- Malvo asserted. - I think you are seeing too much TV ! "- Brando laughed. - Do not believe the TV news are all lies. There is a law about gold. If it is not from Chile, then the gold must pay taxes at the frontier. " - When are we going to the other side ? - Soon. I want to put some fences at the windows, and then we could go. There are too many thieves in this days..."- Malvo replied. So he searched for some workers, and in those travels he saw several times cars of the police near his old house. So he called Castro, but the guy was not available at his telephone number. ' - We are ready. The machine is working fine."- Malvo told Brando. ' - Then lets take a peek !" They traverse the door into the another dimension, and they saw the woods and the red sky. - But this is incredible ! And very strange !"- Brando said, amazed. - Pity I hadn't find Castro, I doubt we can find the gold." - And are you too much interested in the gold ? Enough problems you have already with it !"- Brando said. They went back to Earth. - Well, I will go home to pack. See ya !"- Brando said. Malvo saw the fences, painted and ready to resist the attack... he paid the workers, and went to see the SD house. Two police cars, painted dark blue, were waiting there with the officers dressed with ties and white shirts. Malvo keeps on driving, and he saw Castro, walking to his house from La Paz Avenue. He stops the car, and called him. - Castro ! You going to my home ? - Mr. Malvo ! Yes, I were walking there... my car was taking by the Police !" Castro climbs to the old Peugeot , and Malvo went to his Robles Street house, talking with the man. - You were right ! Some of the other members of the Expedition became millionaires with the gold , and they began buying half Chile ! So they were spotted, when the tax payments were asked . They swear you gave them the gold...The officers didn't believe them !" - Who is imprisoned ? - Everyone of them ! I escaped because God Almighty proteged me ! I was absent when they came to my house to notify me , and when I arrived to the block, a neighbor advised me the Police were after me ! Pity, all the rest of the gold was at my safe box. "- Castro explained. - My house of Santos Dumont it is being vigilated by the Police. Sure thing they want my head."- Malvo grinned. - Sure. - So I moved. There is my another house ! It is smaller, but I have here my machine." - No kidding ! - Yes. I take all my valuables here. " - You were right. Forgive me ." - Do not worry. I saw too much TV...so I learned."- Malvo replied, and he parked the car inside the property. Castro walked inside, and went to the bathroom. The rig bells: it was Brandon, who carried a suitcase. - Near missing a car crash ! The damned taxi driver almost banged his car against a house ! He was running at 120 km. per hour ! "- He complained. - Castro is here. The guide." - Oh, the Indian fellow ? - So not call him that ! He is very proud. - O.K., it is this racist ideas we get at that Academy... you remember ? - Of course. The time was after a war, so we get some of the info... "- Malvo smiled. He clearly remembered his overall covered with swastikas and medals penciled all over the chest and back ! They played not cowboys and Indians, but nazis and communists ! - So now we will headed unto the gold ? - Yes."- Malvo smiled, setting the machine. - Mr. Malvo, are you traveling right now ?- Castro said, coming from the bath room. - Yes. Some inconvenient ? - Malvo asked. - Not at all ! The better, for me, now they are after me... " -Let's take the bags to the other side, then. I will leave the engines running for an hour; then it will stop providing electricity to the Mirror. Then it will re- start a week from now, for two hours . " - Too little margin of time !"- Complained Brandon. - Well, we will be there waiting for the mirror to appear. I cannot leave this machine working for months ! So I decided this method. Two hours a day, beginning from a week from now. If we want to keep exploring, no problem. The machine will be opening the door each day for two hours. "- Malvo explained. - And if the engines didn't work ?- Castro asked. - Then the system will use the electricity provided by the general electric system, the one who provide energy to all the city. "- Malvo grinned, because that was a well thought system he invented for this occasion. - Should be some person, here, waiting for us, seeing all it's O.K."- Brandon said. - Please ! Every time I leave something in somebody's hands, I found the damages was due to the person in charge. Please, let this to me."- Malvo asked. - Your funeral."- Muttered Brandon, paled. They carried all the bags to the other side. - Oh. what a beautiful sight !"- Castro said, when looking at the landscape. The forest was surrounding the mountain, and the air was warm, the light provided by the star of the system, who was over the clouds. - Beautiful ! Well, let's see what we can carry. "- Castro added. After some while, they began to walk downhill, leaving the rest of the bags waiting for them under some stones. Castro begun to guide them through the forest, that was gloomy and in silence. - Too much silence, here. Perhaps it is some kind of danger."- Castro said, after a half hour of march. - Do not be paranoid ! No danger here !"- Brandon said. Castro grab his hand and forced him to kneel. - See that imprint, buddy ? It is a Tyrannosaur ! I study some imprints back in Earth, after my last voyage here... Terrible lizards, those Tyrannosaurus ! So do not forget to walk in silence..." Brandon pushed the other aside, red faced. He disliked the Indians also to be told he was wrong in some appreciation - Wait ! I heard something."- Malvo exclaimed. The earth shook. Then a dinosaur emerged from the near by trees, running against them. Each of the humans run in different directions. As Brandon was kneeling, he was the slowest, so the monster bites him first. Half his body was captured inside the giant mouth. The grinding teeth broke every bone of his chest, with a horrid noise, shaking his head from side to side. By the forest Castro catch up with Malvo, saying : - We must climb a tree ! No salvation down here ! So they climb a big tree, just in time, as the Tyrannosaur appeared and brawled at them. The growl shakes the leaves, and some other monsters replied from the distance. - My God ! "- Malvo trembled, and almost fall down, with the impression, but Castro grabs his arm. - Now take some spirit, man ! We are safe here."- He said. But the big Tyrannosaur were not decided to loose the pray, and began banging the tree with his powerful head. The humans began to climb higher and higher, and they were almost at the top, when the tree began the incline. - Try to jump to another tree !"- Castro said, and they jump in unison. From then on, they were traveling as fast as they could , walking by the branches in silence, so they leave the enraged dinosaur in the distance. - My God ! We almost fall."- Malvo said. - We are in the good direction. Follow me."- Castro said, and he descended to the floor, and they began marching at full speed. - I hope the mirror stays in place."- Malvo said. - We are not going to the mirror ! We are in for the gold."- Castro exclaimed. Malvo shuddered in fright, but he puts his free will in the hands of the Indian at least, a fortune were going to sprout from this adventure ! - Pity we loose the food, chief !" - Oh, I will not go back to fetch it !"- Malvo exclaimed. - There is plenty of fruits here. Take, eat."- Castro said, giving him a potato- like fruit. Malvo eats it. Not very pleasant, but he managed to retain the fruit in his stomach. At night, they climb a tree and slept there. All the animals were growling and screaming in fright, down there in the dark. Malvo counted more than 70 big bellowing, and his perspiration went profusely over his face and hands. Castro slept at intervals, with a gun in his hand. But nothing happens to them. At dawn, all the fierce cries subsided, and the birds appeared, yellow and red, flying gaily over the trees. They descended, and Castro finds the trail once again. - We will arrive there in three hours more, Chief. Have confidence."- He said. Malvo didn't replied, as he was terrified. They arrived to the site, and just in time to see the sun goes down. Then they slept in a cave. At dawn they began to work,, hitting the gold and replenishing the bags with gold. - We can carry no more than three bags each one. No more."- Castro said, and it proves rioght, becouse they hardly could walk with the weight. At last, they arrive to the Mirror, and went through it to Earth. Once the bags solidly reposing on the floor , Malvo disconnected the machine. - There ! We are safely back home. Pity there is one less of us."- He said. - Yes, poor Mr. Brandon. Eated by a dinosaur..."-- Castro replied. Malvo takes a bath, and CAstro beguin calling some people, to sell the gold. - There are several guys ready to buy the gold. Mr. Malvo. They payed half the price, but asked no questions about the procedence of it."- Castro infdormed. - Half the price ! No less... well, there is plenty more of it, down there..."- Malvo shrugged his elbows. - We will get several millions... For a ride, it is not at all bad, don't you think?"- Castro said. - Yes, man. But think of it : each time we go, this machine keeps on running by itself. A failure, and adios muchachos. We should be stucked there for life !"- Malvo informed. - Mm ! Bad thing... next time, I go and you wait here. Of course, I will need some help, perhaps a motorcycle... with it I can go several times a day !"- Castro said. - Guess yhou could, and also being chased by several dinos !"- Malvo grinned. - Do not be a water - feast, Mr. Malvo !"- Castro replied. - Well, let's get on with the selling ! WQhen this people will be ready to pay ?"- Malvo asked. - To-morrow. I must carry the bags, with you. In the car, of course. WE will meet those guys somewhere, and we swap the bags. O.K. by you ?" - O.K., I will carry my old '38."- Malvo said. - Yes... I will carry another one. "- The guide said. They went to buy a motorcycle, and they eat at a Restaurant, in Bellavista Boulevard, where Malvo spotted several aquantainces, among them , the beautiful Javiera M., who was enchanted to meet him. - How do uyou do ! I lost sight of you since that trip we made."- Malvo said. - Oh, I was in New York ! In the big Apple... nice place, indeed. I came to Santoago to sell some parfumes.. . And you , what are you doing now ?"- The gorgeous blonde asked, fixing his electric blue eyes on him. - I am doing some adventure tourism trips, with this man here, Mr. Castro .He is my best guide."- He presented him. - Nice to meet you, Lady. "- Castro said, standing from his chair. - Me too. And where are you traveling, south of Chile?"- She asked. - To another planet."- Malvo replied. - Ja ja ! Yes, the south of Chile is like another planet, all right... Well, I will leave you now, men, as I must go with my friends... Here is my card, Malvo . Called me any time."- The tall blonde handled her card to Malvo. They saw how Javiera walked out of the REstaurant, qith several couples. - Nie looking woman, Mr Malvo . " - Yes, I meet her in a trip, some years ago... "- He replied. They asked the meal, and drnks wine,heavily. Then they goes back home, hiitting the sack in no time. At dawn, Malvo takes a shower. The sound of the water wakes up Castro, who made a phone call. - Good morning, Sir ! We are meeting the guys at ten, in the La Paz Cementery. "- He informed afterwards. - All right. Let's get moving, then."- Malvo said, and takes the Peugeot out of the house. They travel south, and turn right : the General Cementery was there, with the guards, the mourners and the usual flowers over the chariots. They went to the old sector, where big stone structures were .Also the people there were scarce. They stop in front of a big tomb. - They are watching us. There, in the rear..."- Castro said. - Yes...A big blue car.."- The blue car start its engine and came to their side. Two persons went down, and Castro also descended, saying to Malvo :- Chief, you stay here. Just in case." Castro talked with the guys, and they opened the rear of his car, where three bags were opened, showing the money . Castro takes the golden bags from the Peugeot 504, and went there, showing the content. They were satisfied, after probing some examples with the acid. Castro takes the bags and climbs to the Peugeot. - Let's get oput of here, Chief. "- He said. Malvo starts the engine, and the car moves along the narroww street. - Hey, came back !"- Somebody yelled. - Better you take speed, chief. Something is going to happen, here."- Castro said, looking backwards. Several men were running after the Peugeot, handling guns. - Bang ! - They are shouting at us ! "- Castro said, beguining to fire his gun against the men.. Malvo gaves full throttle, and they began racing by the ill paved roads . The other car was after them, too. They arrive to the outer door , and they descend the ramp, missing by some inches another car who was passing by the street... Two bullets hits the rear glass, throwing the pieces against them. Several little cuts were produced in the neck of Malvo and in the face of Castro, who was looking back. - Bastards !"- Castro yelled. Malvo was with the throttle pedal against the floor, so the car jumped to the corner, and turns left. - Take. Use it: I will be driving."- Malvo said to Castro, handling him his gun. Castro went to the rear seat, and began firing against the blue car, who waas bullet- proof, as the projectils banged against the glass without much damage. Malvo arrive to Independence Avenue, and head nsouth, not ccaring about the red lights. The blue car was near them, and several guns were trying to hit the inocupants, without too much acuracy, due to the erratic course Malvo was following. Suddenly, a big bus turns in a corner, and banged against the blue car, sending it against a wall, where it crashed, throwing a cloud of bricks and dust sky high. - Slow down, chief ! Nobody is chasing us, now ! The bus send them to the Cementery !"- Casstro laughed. - Blessed be Jehova ."- Malvo exclaimed several times. They arrive to the house and went to see the money , spilling the content on the dining table. - My God ! A lot of dug, eh, Chief ? No wonder they were wantong to take it back !"- Castro exclaimed, seeing the mountain of dollars. - I hope they cannot trace us here."- He said. Castro paled , saying :'- Perhaps they can ! I called them from here , in the morning !"- Malvo thought a little while, and he shrugged, saying :- " No matter. The big bosses were in that car, I guess. Also, we have more ammunition for our guns. We must keep our eyes open." They count the bills , and in all there were $ 5.000.000 dollars in all. - Good amount of money, to go spending at the Bahamas."- Malvo said. - Bahamas ... always I had heard of it, but never went there. In fact, never I was out of Chile." - This time you can go out... with a faked Paspport. Plenty of money to do what you please."- Malvo assured. - Yes, I guess we both must went out of circulation, for a long season... Those punks are really mean."- Castro said, putting the money back in the bags. - Well, I guess you are right. To-morrow I will fetch us both some papers, and we will fly over the problems ,for a while."- Malvo said ,adding: Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost." - Dante. - Yes , do you read it at school ? - And memorized, too. It was exciting."- Castro grinned. They prepared the trip , buying airplane tickets. '' '-Very expensive, this way of traveling.¿' Castro said. ' . -Could be, but the fastest manner, too. If you prefer a bus, forget it. Several months delay, and that provided you were not killed in Central America.-' Malvo said. '' '- Why, too much guerrillas ? ' ' Castro asked. ' Of course ! It is a modus vivendi mow, the sole occupation fo entire families. For them, a human life costs nothing. They wat to be knowed, respected and feared...¿' Malvo signaled. They closed doors and windows, prepared the alarms against burglars, and depart , two days after that conversation, in a LAN Chile airplane. Not that the airplane was builded by LAN , as all the planes are of United States of America construction... '' - In eight hours we will be in Bahamas.-¿' ' '- Malvo said. ' '- Bahamas ! The GREat Bahamas, and the other islands... I expect to find exactly what I saw in the booklet¿: beautiful women, nice blue sea , and cocoteros.¿' Castro sighed. ' -- I knew not that mood of yours !¿' Laughed Malvo, as the indian was very `poetic. ' - Guess I am going just becouse the Police is after me. I prefer the green forests of the south than the beauties of the indians.¿- Castro asevered. Chapter 3. UFO LOVERS Malvo went to Bahamas, but his spirit remain in Chile, so he didn´t enjoy as he should had been. Castro was a women´s hunter, so he almost didn´t see it at all, and when a week was elapsed, he takes a plane to Chile, leaving Castro at the island. In Santiago Malvo return to his daily life, but he also went to a Club where the UFOs were the main theme. There he meet some UFO lovers, on of them shows him a Ufo machine, and smuggled into Chile as truck spare parts. The brain of it all was Mr. Carlos Plata, Argentinian. The object was storaged in Los Andes, inside an old barn. The group, the Star Gazers, were 7 persons, and fly several times to the coast and back, trying to master the apparatus, that was really a wolf in the air. They were needing more fuel, who was the group´s hindrance, as it was expensive, but Malvo payed for it, so they decided to gave a big leap, going to the Moon ! After some love affair of Malvo and Srta. Mirna Deven, they went. In space Malco and Mirna makes love, that was for them both a wonderful experience... they landed at the Sea of Tranquility... In that same days, the Long Nosed Greys decided it was time to dig another mine in the Moon, so they searched in several parts...and spotted the old model of Vimana posed there in the Sea of the TRanquility.... All the earthlings were abducted in a hurry ! '''''''''''''''''''''''''''' A big revolution was started near the home land of the Greys (A star in the Constellation of Orion), so all humans were being used as kamizake pidgeons, aboard a flying bomb ,they guide the artifact past several barriers , and try to land, after throwing a ton of bombs over the cities of the enemy...The one who fails in the Barriers, were not needing to be worried by the landing ! Also, the Greys assured them that they will be rewarded with a trip home, when the conquest were over... Malvo was ushered in a cabin, after a briefing. The machine was small , and several others were ther, in the vaults of the cigar chaped UFO.... Malvo saw in front of him several enemy ships, red in color, brilliants in the upper part. He has not more time to see those details, as several misiles activated the far objects detector (long range radar) and he calculated fast ,to reply with his rockets. This was easy, as he was an implant who was connected with the ship, who was having a fast computer . He fired three misiles, and he saw , amazed , that the weapons he was carryong easily suprased those of the enemy. All his aprehensions dissipated , he engages himself in the battle, smashing four of the enemy vessels, and trying to catch them when they retreat...the ehnemy was heading to a tiny planet, that soon was filling all his videoscreen... He send several missiles in pursue, but they were not at the appropiate range, so they were lost in space. He keeps on accelerating, this time he catch up with the rear of the line, and he cut in two the enemy vessel, in a shower of sparks. It was like a little sun, gaving light to all that sector , for a couple of seconds... Suddenly, from the surface of the planet, some violent rays were coming his way, and he frantically tried to scape from those lethal fingers of a yellow color. His cabin was illuminated with that eerie color. He set the machine in automatic, releasing from his head the plugs that were attached. Then Malvo realized it was a terrible mistake, as the vessel began to dance violently in the space, with such a fury, that he thought his brain were going to wento out of his head by the hears ! He managed to pug in the gadgets, and with two strokes he send zooming a dozen missiles against those terrible canons. Three of them blow in unison, provoking a maze of heat only comparable to the sun. A midnight sun... Then a satellite was in full sight. It was a natural one, and he saw three enemy ships going there, their tails ablaze. He went there: the canons from the planet were in silence, perhaps because of the blast he made, but perhaps in any minute those fiery mouths could beguin again firing at him... The satellite was rugged, no atmosphere at all. Big mountains were present, and he approaches to the surface, lookking for the enemy. An ancient crater, some 40 kilometers wide, was in full sight, In one of the walls of it a Base was emerging. He tried to avoid it, turning the ship away, but a captor beam was already on him, and the little vessel became entangled in that force field... Malvo gave full energy power to the engine, but then all the energy was dumped , and the vessel went to the surface, smashing against the sand . He looses conscience for some minutes, and when he awoke, the darkness inside the ship was total. He unfastened the plugs from his head, feeling the sticky substance that it was his own blood, running by his temples. He crawled to the consoles, and he punched some buttons. for not avail. The energy was out. He heard some noises poutside the hull. He went to his seat, in the pitch dark, and waited. The innere lock opened, some beings get inside, using torch lights and uniforms with helmets on. They grabbed him and after some minutes, he was dressed with one of those space suits . He was carried outside, and Malvo saw some vehicles near the vessel. The enemy pushed him inside of one of the trucks, and they went by the plain, the wheels sending the sand up in the ether, some four meters high. An entrance in the wall of the cliff yawned in front of them. The vehicle gets inside, and then by a corridor, that was also a lock. They descended, and they all release their helmets, Malvo included. He saw they were human beings, not those strange little greys. He was ordered to follow , and they carried him in front of an officer, who was seated at a desk, in the middle of a room where some other people were working in front of strange machines. ' '- You an Earthling."- The human said. He has a very white face, dark eyes ,blonde hair and thin lips.He was using a gun in a holster, at his waist. But nobody were pointing at him. - I am a chilean- Malvo said. - You will be judged . The majority of you came here by obligation. We must fight against you. There are some earthoings that had doned much hurt to our civilization."- The alien said, with unblinking eyes. He was carried to a stretcher, and tied . Then began the testings, blood samples taken, X rayed, scanned.... He was released, and they gave him a hot soup, and while he eats , one of those blondies talk to him. - News for you, chilean. You get three impnats on his skull, one is the usual -near the -optical -nerve. Very difficult to pull it out. " - So you are trying to remove them all ? ' - Our surgeon will gave a try. If he fail, then they will try to mangled those artifacts."- The tall man replied, with ease. - I expect to be in one piece, when you guys finished ."- Malvo mumbled, finishing the soup. Some minutes elapsed he was tied in another bed, and this time he saw a lot of rare gadgets all over the place, and he thought those artifacts were going to end fumbling inside his skull.... He was drugged, so he looses conscience in no time. '''''''''''''''''' Chapter 4 Castro arrives to Malvo´s house, in the peaceful street of Robles, and he searched for him by deserted rooms.He finds letter to him on the desk, saying Malvo was at Santos Dumont house. The key was in the envelope. Castro wait until the darkness fall, and then he went to the big house aforementioned.There, he lit the big PC of his former boss, looking for a file...with his name, He found it, he opened, and reads..." Santiago, 21 agoust 19..., Castro : I had found some guys that recovered a UFO vessel. I am patronizing the proyect, and we are ready to go to the Moon... I hope to came back in one piece, to tell you haow it goes . See you later ! Malvo." - To the Moon !" - Castro yelled, amazed. He went to the back yard, just to look at the satellite, expecting, perhaps, to see the UFO machine hovering near the roof ! As it was already september the 5, he decided to wait in that house, to hear what Malvo chooses to tell him. Castro spend a whole month waiting , and at last a letter arrives to Malvo´s address, of a person in Argentina, asking for the other members of the team. Castro was very nervous, so he fly to Argentina as soon as he bought a place in a plane. He arrives to Mar del Plata, and then he went to the address the man gaves in his letter " Liberacion Number 345, Mr. Helio Varini. He rings the bell, and a blonde woman opened the door. Castro said who he was, and showed her the letter. She said " Please came in. I will call papa in a second." He sets at a comfortable arm chair. Soon a man in his forties came to the room, sying he was Helio Varini. ' - I am CAstro, a friend of Mr Malvo Gomez. Nice to meet you. I received this letter at Mr Malvo´s house...You see, I was waiting for his return, but until now, not a sign of him."' - CAstro informed. ' - Oh, you don´t know how worried I am ! They went to the Moon in that alien craft, my relatives and a friend ! I hope they are alive ! too many time up there... "- Varini said, seating heavily at another chair. -Mr Malvo puts the money, and my relatives the machine. They e- mail me and said they were going to the moon ! since then I am waiting..." ' - Varini added. - In my friend´s home I found a message for me. He told me the same thing.Only I guess they should had came home, as it was their first trip. Do you know how many food and air they were carrying ?- Castro said. Varini mumbled a few thing for himself. and then he said " We have here another vessel. Only it is in a bad shape. We found it in a lake, perhaps how many years it was sunken there ! - Varini informed. - Let ´s go see it !- Castro urged. - But I have it not here ! It is some 45 kilometers from here. In a farm. Perhaps it can be repaired, you came to morrow and I will be ready."- Varini said. The daughter, the gorgious blonde, came inside the room, and offer some beverages. Castro was very interested in her, but she ignored his inflamated glances... When he was outside that house, Castro was thinking in love. He was not handsome, and women ussually avoided him. A pity, for himself... He found a decent Hotel , and the room was having a WC included. He takes a bath, as the air was different, kind of sticky, and the heat was very pleasant. He went downstairs, and gets a meal at a good REstaurant, where some chinese were the owners. Several Argentinians were there , eating and talking in ushered voices. He was amazed , as the Argentinians he ussually saw in Santiago were loud mouthed ! Perhaps in Buenos Aires the education was better than in the other towns. When he return to Varini´s house, he was already waiting at the front door, with a car running and two other males present. - Let´s go ! This childs must return to their jobs ! - He urged. Castro seats inside the Van, and the driver makes a trip at good speed. The farm was fine, and the UFO was under some tarpaulins. It was almost a ball, and the entrance was by the upper part. Inside, the humidity was great. making Castro sneeze a couple of times .Varini and the rest were using torch lamps, and the good man was explaining some of the machines to CAstro. - My relatives takes some parts, to repair the other UFO.So you see, there are missing parts here. I don´t understand too much, they were the wise guys ."- He was explaining. Castro have any idea of what he was seeing. He was a totally ignorant man, in this matters. Also, he thought the whole machine was a wreck, pass the point of repair. He thought he could be easily wrong... - I don´t have how this could be reapired Mr. Varini. I am not a scientific man, just a plain man. I guess we must keep on waiting for their return."- He said. - Well, that´s figure. Now we return to the city, as this boys must work. "- Varini said, grumbling some words to himself. Castro return to Santiago in a plane, and he visited both Malvo´s houses, finding he was still absent... ------------------------------------------ Chapter 5. Strange domains. By the meantime, Malvo was recovering from the operation. The implant was removed, but also some of his memories were missing. He was recovering in a slow way. The Nordics has brilliant medecins, but they were not magicians... Fedron, his appointed Instructor at the Hospital, told him the story of the GReys and his race. - They are the by-product of thousands of years of evolution, together with tamperings in their DNA by themselves. That is why they look now as devoided of emotions, feelings ... they resemble insects, flying from alien race to alien race... They even colonized planetary systems with other races, finding environments to their planetary louse... They milked them at will ! "- The Nordic said. ´- You depict a terrible plot.". ' -- Castro reply. He was bedded , as he was feeling dizzy, and the alien was in front of his bed, looking at same samples. - Perhaps those races could had evolved in a better way ! Perhaps some others could had been extingued, but in freedom ! - Fedron said. Malvo said " - At Earth the Greys are saying they evolved us, and they invented religions. But we have only their word for it." - Yes, they told us the same thing, about the RH factor... could be possible. We identified them as enemies some twenty years ago. Unfortunately, they managed to grab our system, at Zeta Reticuli, toghether with a great number of our population. We fly to this star system. Pity we are loosing again. "- Fedron informed. - They are recruiting earthllings to fight their war. I was abducted together with some other terrans, when we were visiting the Moon. - Malvo remarked. - It the usual thing. Some of you even achieve a landing, and the it is hard for us to chase the humans , as they are not willing to surrender easily. "- Fedron snorted, and went out of the room. After a few more days, Malvo was able to walk unaided, and they gave the opportunity to be of help. Malvo accepted to join forces with the Nordics, that were human beings like himself. Fedron said " You will be serving at the Station Number 300, as there are a web of orbiting Stations round the planet, to fught the enemy vessels. It is a risky job, but it must be accomplished, as other rouds leads to surrender." - I am ready. - I will recommend you to your superiors. Good luck." - Thanks for everything. "- Malvo replied. ORBITAL SPACE STATION 300 At the Base, who has more then 200 members, the canons and radars were protruding from the sphere like the pointing tips of a shell fish. The humans present there were 18 in all, representing ewvery nation in Earth... They were used to made reparations outiside the hull, helping the Nordic technicians. Some jews were present, they were very proud to be so, and they have a Lieutenant, Zarie Natanya. Some Americans were there also, their names were Glenn Schwarz and John Fingernail, from Arkansas both men. As they were blonds, they were very similar to the Nordic race. The latin people there ( 2 Argentinians, 3 Chileans ) with their black hair were easily spotted. The latin people were there not because they like it, but because there were no other place to stay. So they seldom talked to Malvo. There were also an Arab, Mustafa Salami, and he was preasing the Nordics wherever they were near him. Malvo was taken outside the hull, and he felt real terror, seeing the abyss of space, with million of stars burning in the distance. He grabs one iron handle and he was stuck there. The jews went to his aid, and instructed him not to look to the stars, but to the surface of the Orbital Station. By the radio, the Lieutenant Natanya said " Calm down ! Relax, don´t do a thing . Breath hard, stay here, we will make your part of the job and we will came here when finished." - Thanks."- Malvo said, and he get used to be there ,dangling in front of so many galaxies... He then vomits, and it was very unpleasant, as he cannot wipe the interior of the helmet. Two hours ans a half he was there, and the work was doned by the jews, who came back and help Malvo gets into the hull, where he could went to wash himself . Hours later, Lieutenant Natanya and Oliver Uland went to his cabin, and ask for a chat. . Came in, folks. Have a seat. - Malvo invited, and they seat in his bed, only furniture of that room. - We are interested not to loose a man outside in space. So we are here to instruct you about the labour to be doned outside. Works the Nordics expect us to fullfill." - Natanya said. - Correct. I am ready._"' Malvo replied. - We saw you out there and you were looking pretty bad. Before our arrival here, humans were a discharted material here, the Nordics are very cool critters, notwhithstanding the fact they talk pretty about spiritual gifts they said they possess... They are very interested in their Orbital station , and a lot less interested in us, their former enemies. Sometimes sick people were carried outside, to perfom task they weren´t able to do. A lot die when loosing feet and they were carried away in space. "- Oliver Uland, a thin tall man said. - And they have no ships to go to the rescue, here ? - There are two bubbles, but they are not strong enough to stay too much time working. Also, the Nordics are the pilots, people not too much interested in searching people in the wastes of space, in the middle of a war. "- Natanya said. - That figures. - Malvo sighed. - Well, now we are going to teach you some basic tricks , beguining by the simple rule of all¨: when going outside, fast ! The stomach well out there, if there is food inside, and then came the vomits, the head ache, tremblors... Another thing, you must pay atention to yhour equipment, in advance. -Do not trust in some other people ´s checking your suit. If something don´t fit a hundred per cent , you ask for a replacement. Get it ?"- Oliver Uland said. - I understand. Anything missing the perfection, I ask for a new spare part. " - Well, now I must go. I live you here with Oliver, to keep on with the basics. Bye !"-- Lieutenant Natanya said, and he went to the corridor. Oliver beguin to teach Malvo about the inteligent use of the tools, in 0 gravity. Malvo was instructed in them , but he realizes the humans gave them another aplications. ' - In theoru you can weld almost everything with a type G2 welder, but sometimes it is very dangerous , as there are leakings and you can be blowed out to space. There is a much better way, and it is to glue and paste, with those other materials. - Oliver said, and he was gaving him lots of examples. The next time Malvo went out, he was fully instructed, and as he attached to the jews, there were not nproblems for him in the future. Natanya was very helpful, and almost went smooth. Two months elapsed, and Malvo knows almost every human at the Station, as the place was reduced for too many people. The latin people were remembering their homes, and the jews were ploting how to return to Earth. One day, a dozen crafts were refueling at the station, and the pilots told the men the last news : the Greys were almost the winners, there were no more than a hundred Nordics ships, to the thousands the GReys were sending to the battle. - Soon they will be here."·' - Natanya told his men, when they were working outside the Orbitakl Station. '- They will rescue us."- Oliver said. ç - Wrong. They are like insects, without emotions. We are enemies for them. They will kill us all."- Natanya expressed. - And what do you suppouse we must do ?- Malvo said. ' - We must take one of the vessels , and escape. It is our only hope."- Natanya said to his men. - How ? There is too many of them, now."- Oliver said. ' - It is now or never. If this pilots depart to another mission, we will be here in this Orbital Station, with two shuttles that are able just to land in the nearest of the planets, at the most. Now we will fly to one of the vessels... There !"- Natanya said, showing them one of the ships that was being refueled. - They will never suspect we could enter that ship by one of the cargo doors. Who is with me ?¡ They all follow him. It was a very difficult job, to fly and hit the hull of that ship, a leap of more than a hundred meters, just using the welders as jets... When arriving to the war ship, they opened a hatch . using their tools. The air swooshed out, killing everyone inside. They close the hatch. and Natanya run to the pilot seat. where he began starting the engines.. Outside, all was in turmoil. with the bnodies of the frozen Nordics dangling in the ether. The vessel gave a half turn, and depart, increasing its speed with every second ... - Atmosphere achived ! "- Malvo heard Natanya´s voice, speking by the radfio transmitter. - Fasten belts ! We are beign followed ! "- Natanya growled. Malvo seats in a chair, inside the control cabin, seeing Natanya and a copuple of men trying to cope with the guidance system. In front of him he saw a monitor, and several indicators running , but he knew not for which purpouse those instruments were, so he didn´t move a finger... ''- Full speed achieved ! "´' The voice of Olover said, by the radio transmitters. Natanya change the direction, and they all saw a coouple of misiles zooiming to the left. ´' Somebody knows how to use the rear canon ?' Natanya asked. but nobody knew , so he told Oliver to keep driving, and he went to pope, where he began firing, and at each shoot, the vessel trembled. After some minutes , Natanya returns to the control room, and he said " They are too many, and they will soon hit us, so we will gave a Jump. 5,4, 3, 2, 1, 0....!!" The vessel enters the hyper space, and all became glossy, silent.... The engines were being used at full power, so the air became very hot... Suddenly, the spaceship was again in normal space, and the stars were alll around us. ' - We are back. ..Somebody see the enemy ?"- Natanya asked , and they all went to look by the different port holes, and they see no enemy whatsoever. ' "Good. We get lost . Now, let´s study the stars a bit... Sol must be somewhere !"- Lieutenant Natanya said. Malvo walked inside the ship, this vessel has several decks, and canons in some strategical points, so he could seat there and look at the stars across a glass ! The sight was very beautiful. The control cabin has three main monitors, who presents the captain with front. rear and lateral views. After some hours, they find Sol, and LieutenantNatanya said " It is at 3 parsecs away. This ship seems to fly pretty fast, so I guess we are not needing another Hyper Jump. " In the next days, the Sun was getting closer and closer. The planets weren´t visible,. yet. Eight days, and the Sun was the biggest object in the vicinity, so they were happy to see they were arriving safely. The lieutenant calls Malvo, to tell him " We are going to descend in Tel Aviv, but we can throw you out in Chile, if you like." - I have nobody in Tel Aviv, and I don´t speah hebrew. I prefer to be landing in Santiago." - All right, then. We will leave you there. "- Smiled Natanya. The vessel went down the clouds, and the mountain field that is Chile was in sight. Natanya was very sure now ,handling the vessel,. so he lands in a clearance, on the Cerro Blanco hill... in front of Malvo´s house, in Santos Dumont Street. He went down the vessel, and walks to his home, after seeing the battered ship went up like a weather ballon... The house was dusty, and the electricity out of service, due to lack of payments. He takes a bath... at least he has water. Then he search for money, but there were just a few thousands, all the rest was used in his adventure. He went outside, to buy a newspaper and some bread. The date was 9 years elapsed, since his departure. A long time. He went to see his other house, and there the water wasn´t available. The weeds in the front yard, the spider webs in the rooms, ans a stale air makes him return to Santos Dumont. He manages to pay the electricity bill , with the rest of his money, and then he used the Dimensional Machine, to went for gold, with a big bag of bread at his shoulder... The fresh air, the red sky were saluting him, and he descende at a trot. He was sure he knows now the way, so he confidently began his march. A big dinosaur was in his path, and the head of the beast moves in the air, directing his eyes on him. It was a stegosaur. His front legs were like tree trunks, and his breath was hot and smeling to leaves. Malvo run for vcover, behind a tree, but the Stegosaur payed him no more atention,and munched a couple of branches, where the leaves were more thick. Malvo, with his heart pumping hard, walks to the trail , after the detour he did to avoid the beast. all that day he marched, and by night he ats a full bread, perching on a branch, some 20 meters high. A month he was at the Dinosaur´s Planet, and at his came back he was shoeless and with one side of his body aching, as one incident with a Pteranodon almost cost him his life. He went to bathe , but there were not a drop of water . He slept in his bed, as the night fell . At dawn he puts some old shoes he found in a box, and dressed in wrinckled clothes, went viositing the gold buyers of downtown. Several of his acquaintances were in jail, some others flew from his former posts. Nothwithstanding that, he meet some new ones, who offered him a third of the value, as the gold this time was mingled with stone, and the refinement job was to be doned. He accepted , and for 30 kilos he received several millions, he used paying all his debts and shoes and clothes...gasooine for the old Peugeot, and then he went to lunch at Plaza Brasil, those chinese dishes he were longing for... Pekineese duck, Mongolian meat, and Cokes.... When he return home, Castro were there. - Chief ! How glad to see you !"- Castro saluted him, embracing his battered body. - Hi ! Please don´t huge me ! I am recovering from a previous huge...a Pteraonodon makes a divce at me ! He missed with his beak, but he gaves me a terrible punch with one of his paws !"- Malvo informed. - Oh oh ! You were at the Dino´s galore ? Searching for gold, Chief ?"- Worries Castro. '- Oh, yes ! I were previously kidnapped by the controllers of Earth, those Grey ppunks ! But with some aid, I return home some tiome ago ! But penniless ! So I get back for gold. "- Malvo said, and he descended from the car, meanwhile CAstro were closing the iron curtain. He takes some bags from the car, mainly vegetables, and went to the kitchen. He wasa two big boxes lying side by side there, and Castro opened them showing bottles and other stuff. - Chief ! I was in England ! Nice country, there, just a lousy climate ! And a woman there, she ws very kind, helps me buy some whisky and other niceties, also clothes ! I bring it all by plane ! Guess I am penniles , too !".- Castro grinned, and he puts several whisky bottles on the table. - Looks terrific ! "- Malvo said, and produced a couple of glasses. They seat there, ion the chairs, and told themselves their particular adventures. THE STORY OF CASTRO. ------------------------------------------------------------------- This is what Castro did since he last saw Malvo: He went to FRance, and being there some weeks, calling Malvo, and finding not answers in the phone, return to Santiago. Here he reads a message, where Malvo told he was going to the Moon in a repaired UFO vessel. Then a letter from Helio Varini arrives, asking Malvo about his relatives. So Castro went to Argentina, talks to Helio, and seeing a wreckage of a UFO , he return to Santiago. Here he waits for Malvo, and as he didn´t appears , he went to FRance. In Paris he visits several boulevards, ending in a Karate school, where he practices.As he was looking for a job, the contact previously done ends by rejecting him, so he went to England, to forget about that. He finds London as an exciting world , the bars, pubs, the squares, muesums and bibliotheques, the sex shops, the fine looking women... The theatres with their amusing plays, so he decided to stay there for a while. He is not an intelectual, but the atmosphere permeates him. He suffers from osmosis, the soin of Arauco in a modern society, vibrant, exciting... And the women are hothouse flowers, white faces in where big blue eyes looks unto him with grace. Thanks to his gold, he can spent all his time in the pubs and representations, buying objects at the SEx Shops, visiting certain places where he obtain happiness... Every night a world of its own, and the days resting for the night... He meet some women and with them he visits Bristol, where he found another world going on ... he swimm in pleasure, and the gold keeps him on top of the wave ! Until one day he awoke looking at his last wad of Sterling Pounds, and he realized he must came back to his gloomy lands... He bought a place in the next trip to Chile, and putting all his souvenirs in a couple of boxes, he return home, seeing the sun shining on London, for his last time. Later, the Atlantic, a vast expanse of dark blue water from horizon to horizon, with the sun reflecting here and there pinpoints of light. They descended in USA, and refueled. The night , flying south, always south, running down the crust of the world... Lima, with its hot air, the smellling at burning suns and dried hills... flying again by the night, over deserts and a hundred hills, and then Pudahuel, the landing and Castro sensing his legs asleep, the people clapping their hands in delight... After the fumbling with the boxes, he gets into a car and went stright to Santos Dumont, where he sees somebody was living... and then Malvo arriving in his car... -------------------------------------- Malvo told his tale , and added " - I have just $7.000.000 in all. The rest I used paying bills and buying food and some gadgets that weren´t working. " - I guess you would permit me to go to Dino´s, to collect some gold. There is also the UFO at Argentina, if you want to rebuild it. " - Dear friend, I will not rebuild old junk ! Also I have no idea how. But if yuou want to collect more gold, I ´m in !"- Laughed Malvo, answering. - Veru good ! But this time we can go in scooters... I learned how to drive them in France ! There are fast, easy to drive, and can take some load without problem. "- Castro said. - All right for me. But I prefer a motorcycle. The scooters takes a lot of friend´s front teeth, when throwing them out because of a simple bump"- Castro remembered. They buyed a scooter and a motorcycle, second hand. They went to the Cerro (Hill) Blanco (White) and they go up and down the step road, practicing hard. Then they bought food and went to DIno´s , after a night´s sleep. They were carrying some gasoline casks, for the came back. They appeared at Dino planet in the morning, and the clouded sky was there, with the somber forest down the hill...waiting . - " About eleven in the morning ! Ffresh air and not that filthy air of Santiago !"- Castro yelled, and raced down the hill. Malvo smiled, and went after his guide. Castro were driving straight by the knowed path. In three ocassions they spotted dinosaurs ( two megaterios and a young Carnosaur ) , who seems not interested in so noisy animals such as them... They arrived to the gold fields at eighteen hours, sort of, bathed in transpiration and soiled ; apart for a couple of fall downs, nothing hurtful was happened. Castro silenced the engine, and dismounted, saying " - We arrived, Chief ! See ? Piece of cake !" They found the gold bags of their former trip, five in all , weighing about 15 kilos each, 75 lilos in all. " We can carry three in each vehicle, Chief ! Plus another we could dig until dark. Let´s go for more richness !"- Castro said. They used the shovels and pics there were carried in the precedent trip , and they worked until they couldn´t see a thing. Then they take cover between some boulders, inside sleeping bags, with guns handly. That night passed in peace, but they slept in turns, as they were nervous , hearing the distant hollow cries of a dozen frightened dinos in the near by forest... Before dawn they were in the move, carrying the bags to the behicles , and tying them to the rears. When the light came in full , Castro said " O.K., let´s go , Chief ! Do not tempt the fortune by staying here a minute more ! Follow me !" Malvo sttarts the engine , and went after Castro, who was driving in a erratic kind of way, due to the weight the scooter was carrying. The air was already humid and hot, lots of rocks and tree trunks in the way, things they sorted with the engines bitting hungrily. Suddenly, several dinosaurs appeared in front, crossing the road to the Mirror. Castro managed to cross, but Malvo saw his instant death, so he chooses to hit the bushes head on ! One of the Stegosaurs finds this very upsetting, and stamped his foot on the ¨Bultaco¨machine, bending the frame: Malvo was already climbing a tree ! The big heads were ten meters above the tree he choose to climb, but those hervibores weren´t particullarly interested in him so he was left unharmed. The great bests went their way, munching the leaves, and the silence returns to that place. Malvo went to the motorcycle, and it was beyond repair. The golden bags were entangled in the rear wheel. A mechanic sound was heard, and Malvo saw Castro, returning. - What´s wrong with you, Chief ? I told you to stick to my rear !" - But one of those beasts were in the middle of the track ! I was forced to jump...One of the dinos steps into this motorcycle..."- Malvo said. - A pity ! Lucky it didn´t caught fire ! - Castro exclaimed, going down of his scooter. Between the two combined efforts, they were able to desentangled the gold rocks from the rear wheel, but the bags were mere rags. Malvo said " You go now, carrying the gold to the Mirror. Then you return here for more, using new bags." - We are far away from the Mirror ! Do you think you can wait here alone ?- Castro replied. - I am seeing a big tree, yonder there. I will wait up there."- Malsvo assured. CAstro started the scooter, and he went to the MOirror, sorting the fallen tree trunks. The light from heaven were red, throwing its reay under the leaves. Malvo heard no more the engine´s roar, and then he heard a branch cracks at his right side. He run to the tree, and when he was at 4 meters from the floor, he saw a green and black form hits the trunk. He climbs a little more, and look again, but there was no animal down there. Possibly the beast went in the near - by bushes... Hours he was perchiong therre, trying to see some movement... Then he heard the scooter treturning, and he went down, trembling. He waves to Castro, and run to him. - All normal, at the Mirror ! I leave the gold at the room, and I came here with the empty bags. I also put some more gasoline in the tank ! I saw a couple of Diplodocus caming here ! - CAstro informed. - I saw something lurking by this vecinity ! - Malvo said. - Castro looked worried, and asked " What could it be ? I jut take a glimpse ! It´s very fast."- Malvo replied.- Green and black...with scales." Castro sneezed, and said " Better we go now. I can return later. First thing , I carry you out of here. To'morrow I will return from the rest of the gold. I cannot do two trips...ook at the shadows, it´s about eighteen hours, here." Malvo climbs to the scooter, and Castro gaves full throttle, so when they wer3e passing near the broken motorcycle, they saw a trinagular head , green and black , emerging from those bushes.. The scooter soon was out of reach, with Malvo looking at the rear with frightened eyes. They arrived almost dark to the Mirror, and they went to the¨"other side " on foot, carrying the scooter with them. Malvo disconected the circuit, and he rest on a chair, looking the yellow stoes in the floor... Castro takes a shower, and he went out of the house, sying he will contact some guys, to sell the gold. Malvo used the flame thrower to met the gold , in an iron casket. That way he made several ingots , roughly weighing two kilos each... Malvo return at 01:00 hours, and he said all was arranged for the morning. So in the first hours of the next day they were selling the gold ingots at several stores, where the gold was tested using acid. The buyers made the same question once ans again, mainly, from where the gold was obtained, and if ti was stolen. Castro were answering with half truths, and the payhment was always below evel, as the buyers were gratifying themselves in that way... At fourteen hours, they were returning home with the money, mainly checks. Millions of pesos... that were rescuing them from the fauces of poverty. -To morrow we will go to cash this checks .- Castro said. Malvo went to buy food and stuff to a Supermarket, and liquor. They prepared a banquet, and they drink until achieve oblivion...because they were needing to erase the dinosaurs from their memories ! Several days were used changing those checks, as some of them were with future dates. They also went to sell gold to Valparaiso and Concepcion... - This time I will not burn my money as before. "- Castro said to Malvo. - It is difficult to live as a poor man ,being rich. But you must learn "- Malvo replied. - There are some golden rocks waiting, Chief ! I will go get them soon "- - Why not now ? - Malvo asked, and so Castro prepared his scooter, and went to the Dinos Planet , returning some six hours elapsed, with the gold. - Chief ! There was a procession of dinosaurs , you will not believe ! Perhaps it is their matting season !"´- He informed. - But them why you dont return here ? - Because it was at my returning to the MIrror ! I was in hidden six times ! And boy ! They have real sticks. there !"- Laughed Cstro, leaving the scooter near the entrance. Malvo melted the gold, and they were selling it by three weeks in a row, as the former buyers weren-t availables, as they said they were without cash. Castero bought a loft, in Santiago, and he furnished it in a futuristic fashion.Then he intended to buy the Dimensional machine to Malvo... - I am not selling it. It is my pet."- He replied. - perhaps then, to made a copy if it ? I can pay some engineers..."- Castro proposed. - No way, because they could disrupt some of its parts. - malvo denied. Malvo visited CAstro, to use the Jacuzzi his employee had. Also he loves to see the new gadgets Castro find in the city, and placed at his loft. - It is a house to be in it all day, this.,"- Malvo said. - Oh, perhaps I will leave this city and this house ! I feel I must go visiting some new places !"- Castro asseverated. Malvo was busy remodelating his two houses, and in one of those trips he saw his friend Jan Yee, who was arriving from France. - How many time not seeing you ! And how is your atelier ?"- Jan Yee asked. - No, there is no Atelier, since a lot of years ! Now I am not working."- Malvo said. - I was in FRance. Beautiful caountry, that. Love is the law, and people are in love with the night hours ! Oui! In the sunny afternoons, people paraded under the trees, they talked and laugh under the shade... By night, they seat for hours in a cafe, out in the street, looking at the beautiful women that promenade without haste...I laugh and I talked about philosohy, with painters, singers, common people !"- Jan Yee remarked. .- Well, lets go to my home ! There we can chat without all this noise."- Malvo invited, as the sound of trucks, buses and cars were almost defeaning. - I accept ! I am free until sixteen hours...when I am dated with a chilean girl !"- Jan Yee grinned. At his house, Malvo shows him all his paintings, who were almost a thousand... - You have enough material here, to put three expoositions ! Why don´t you ?"- Jan asked. - I think it will be a waste of money... - But, man ! You must have some optimism ! "- Jan Yee said, and he praised a couple of the oil paintings. The cook prepaired some delicious dishes, and they eat under the 16 lamps of the dinning room. - Oh. I missed so much this chilean wine ! Not that the others sre bad, you know, but this tastes to... memories."- Jan Yee said, and he get a little drunk , and he gets asleep, his head on the table. With the cook, Malvo carried him to the guests room, to sleep his nap. Malvo takes several oils, and send the cook with them, to be framed at an atelier. At 18:00 hours Jan Yee appeared , yawning. - My friend ! I guess I abussed of your hosptality ! ¨ . - Not in the least ! I am glad you could rest here." - Well, now I must leave, to see that wench over there... Thanks for the lunch. See you !" And he went out of the house, smiling. Jan Yee climbs to his car, and drive fast to tha house of Cresida Lopez, that was located at the east part of the city, in the big home of her father, an old politic. He was received by Charles, the bodyguard of Don clotario. - Good afternnon, Carlos ! Is Cresida in the house ?" - Yes, Don Jan. Wait in the living room, I will call her."- The big man answered. Jan walked by the rugs, and he seats at an arm chair. The room smelled at pines, and in the walls were hanging several oil paintings, together with some family photos. Cresida enters the room with a brisk pace, dressed in a lily coloured vaporous fashion costume. She was slender, 1.80 meter high, and with pale blue eyes. - Jan , Jan ! How are you, darling ?"- She hugged him, smiling - Very sorry to be late ! I hope you could pardon me ."- He replied. - Oh, it is not important ! I imagined you were busy. ..Do you still love me ?" - My love..."- Jan said, kissing her lightly. She likes to be kissed that way, and she closed her eyes. Then they seat at a sofa. - We must forget to take tea with my friends, too late now...19.00 hours... but we can go to the Theatre.We have enough time, the obra beguins at 20:00 hours."- Cresida said. - Very well."- Replied him. After some moments, Don Clotario enters at the room, and seeing Jan, he saluted with a handshake, saying " I hope you could go to the inauguration of my new Social Saloon! It is located at a popular sector of the city !"- - Of course, Don Clotario ! Count with me !"- - Very well ! To morrow is the day ! Eleven in the morning, I will carry you !".- Don Clotario said, departing. - He is very interested in that idea of him ! - Cresida smiled. They went to see " The Tempest ", and they enjoyed the play, hand in hand. After it, they went to dance and take a couple of drinks. At the other day, Don Clotario went to Jan Yee´s Hotel suite, and woth some other gentlemen arrived to the Inauguration . The Political Seat was located in Santos Dumont street. - I have a friend living near this house !"- Said Jan. - Go get him ! We want the neighbours interested in my political campaign ! Tell him there is empanadas and good wine !"- Brawled Don Clotario, laughing.Then he went inside the house, where more than a hundred people were gathered. They all cheered him. Malvo opened the door to his friend, who told the reason of his visit. - Ah ! A political meeting ! I like them, as I can see lot of funny things happening there ! I will go !"- Malvo answered, and he puts a jacket, and went with Jan to the street. The media was there, the TV, some radio stations, the place was in turmoil Don Clotario saluted him, and placed both friends near the podium , where he takes the microphone, and beguin addressing the crowd. looking at the TV cameramen. - Citizens ! Neighbours of REcoleta Avenue, friends of mine ! We are reuned here to inaugurate this Political Seat as God commands ! We will serve the community from this tribune, as long as I could be elected as a Diputado..... in the next elections ! I offer to fight against drug adiction, against the actual system of punishment to car drivers who forgets the restriction digits, I will gave the streets back to the citizens ! I will protect the Ice Fields from the hunger of other countries, that are so interested in made us a littler country !" The people sheered him, and he takes a glass ofwater, and said " We are the people ! We must beguin to live as we see more fit ! The Church is fighting to leave the law unchanged, since a hundred years ! But now the married people, that for some reason or other , split in two his marriege, and lives with another person, cannot take the divorce, becouse of those monks that they are not even married ! Like the Captain Araya, that commanded his soldiers and stayed at the beach ! " The crowd cheered him but some of the women made gestures... - Women of Recoleta ! I am not talking you are going to be unproitected ! The man who wants to divorce, he will be needing a lot of money to gave you all ! But we must think in the hell those kits are living, seeing their parents fight each other from morning to night ! " Don Clotario then beguin speaking of money, citing some studies his staff did, and he ended promising jobs for all the diemployed. A volley of applause defeaned Malvo, who received a empanada and a glass of wine in that moment, from the hand of a young female. Then a Rabi talks, saying he knew Don Clotario as a genrous contribuitor in behalf of the poor, an honest man, and he pray Jehovah to help him in his campaign. Some other persons addresed the people, and then it was all over, and the fans of the democracy began to eat and drink, talking of politics. Malvo went out, saying to Jan " I must be going, now. Good bye." - Oh, no ! I go with you. But first, let´s say good bye to Don Clotario, he has a good memory, and he will be searching for us, afterwards." Don Clotario was very busy, explaining how he were going to gave free breakfast in at the public schools, so they wait . Afterwards, they tell the gentleman they were going out. - Oh, no ! You must go with me to some place ! Seat ! "- He commands, so they seat and wait for three hours, hearing all the plans he was expounding to the neighbours . Then they went all in several cars to The Querencia, a good restaurant, in the upper class side of the city, where they dine, 34 inviteds in all. Don Clotario asks about the gifts Malvo had, and Jan Yee tod him Malvo was a painter and a writer. - I am a man who wants my friends prospers with me ! We help each other, undertand ? One hand cleans the other ! - Don Clotario expounded. - I am glad to hear that, and I thanks your confidence in me !"- Malvo replied, putting the money in his pocket. - A friend of the fiancee of my daughter must bne a man of honor ! "- Don Clotario said. Jan asked Malvo iof that job was an hindrance for him, and if so, he could ask somebody else to do the job. and present the work as finished to Don Clotario, saying his friend Malvo did it. - I pray you don´t ! I can do it , and it will be an entertainment dor me. Something more useful than those hundreds of oil paintings nobody wants."- Malvo aseverated. Cresida appeared at the REstautrant, in a melocoton coloured dress. All the males have their eyes glued in her figure, that was superb. She smiled gently, and kissing Jan Yee, said to his father " Congratulations, for your new political place ! Your speech appeared in the TV news !" - Thanks, dear. Take a seat by my side..."´- Don Clotario smiled to her. They eat an earthly dinner, with red wine, grilled meat, fried chicken, steam cooked fishes, lobsters, Tetrao Coturnix eggs, scargots a la creme, deserts and coffe ... The music began after the deserts, and Jan with Cresida went to dance, inviting Malvo , who went there, and danced with a tall british lady 50 years old. After two hours, Don Clotario called his fans, and in a caravan they went to Valparaiso, where they aboard the " Jules Verne ", a tall yatch he owned, and went to sea, waiting for the dawn of day.... CHAPTER 30 RAFAEL VEREDIX AND FELIX DELORME. Rafael Veredix said " The dimensional door is missing !" - - Are you sure that this is the site ?"- Felix Delorme asks, turning himself very pale. - Clear as a bell ! Don´t you see the garbage I put around the place , those wires and stuff ? - Yelled Veredix, utterly dissapointed. - Then what are we going to do now ?"´-- Felix asked, grabbing his belly in despair. - Let me think"- Asked Rafael, pacing to and fro. They were in a ravine, with tall walls of granite at both side and sand in the floor. The minutes mounted. The air was nice and warm. Suddenly , Rafael Veredix said " Guess the question is like this : the machine ,lacking electric energy, stops. So now we stay put, and the door will appear when the electricity cames back." - It sounds logical to me. " - Sighed Felix Delorme, feeling a little better, and he wipes some perspiration from his forehead. .- -We have time"- Whispered Rafael Veredix, and he went to seat with his back against a bolder. His eyes were surveiling the place where the door were going to appear... It grew dark, and the door didn´t appeared. The pale sky turns in a black velvet, where strange star configurations were visible. - Guess we must seek for shelter, perhaps among the boulders- Felix said. - Let´s go."- Mumbled Rafael Veredix, standing up. So they slept among rocks, waking at intervals. At dawn, they went again to the spot, and there were no passageway interdimensional to Earth. Felix Delorme said " I will go to drink. You stay here." - O.K."- Grumbled Rafale Veredix, who was very worried . Too much delay were configuring a serious failure, so the most possible thing was they were going to be living the rest of their natural lives in the new world... Or perhaps, he thought, the hostess at Santos Dumont were in delay with his payments to the Company of Electricity, and the Company cut the energy .... When Felix came back, Rafaael walked by the ravine to the fountainn, that was amidst some trees . It tastes good, the water... He was near the fountain, when he saw a deer, walking carefully to the water... He wish for a rifle, but he was without even a gun ! hE CAME BACK TO THE SPOT, WHERE fELIX WERE THROWING STONES TO SOME lizards... - Not yet . - He said. . So you see. Guess they robbed us our invention, and also leaves us marooned here. "-- Felix said, throwing another stone. - Really ? - Look, that pair was very queer ! The young man was forever spying us... even by the transom ! _' - Felix said. - And now you tell me ? - I guess it wasn´t important, at the time... They are with our invention, now. That is for sure."- Felix growled. - Incredible."- Rafael said. - In the XX Century the personal ambition goes first of all things. That explains."- Felix said, cutting a lizard in two pieces, who start running in different dfirections... - We must evaluate this situation,."- Rafael Veredix said. - It is very simple : we have my uncle Guilermo´s invention, and they stole it . Now we are in a terran planet, with breathable air and water. "- Felix enumerated, .' - " And I am hungry. Better we search for food, before we became anthropofagus."- Rafael pondered. With a last glance to the spot where the Dimensionakl Door should had been, they beguin walking to the fountain, where they drink asa mush as possible, and they keep on marching. At mid afternoon they were in a plain, with the hills faintly visible at their backs. Some bushes provided shelter from the heat of the native sun. - Let´s take some rest "´-- Felix Delorme asked, perspiring profusedly. The afternoon was very hot, and the pale blue sky was a furnace, but gave them streght, some how. Half an hour they were there, and then they beguin to walk again. - Good bye Santiago"- Felix Delorme complained. - Bah ! It was not a so fine place ! The "pacos" `(cops) weren´t kind at all ! Forever chasing car drivers that turns where they shouldn´t , or with a issing bulb, little nuisances like that, enables them to take the license and fined them with payments ! Also the people were loving to sue you for any motive, and then the Tribunals, with those large rooms full of people waiting for five or six hours, just to be asked by a Secretary two or three matters, in a elapsed time of just ten minutes ! Ridiculous ! The smog, the contamination.... the jammed traffic, the thieves lurking everywhere, the assasinations in the middle of the day ! "- Rafael enumerated, and he was out of air. . - Rafael ! You really was discomforted there ! "- Marveled Felix. - Yeah ! That´s why I used my uncle Guillermo´s inventioin ! "- Rafael Veredix mumbled. They keep on walking, and then a road was in front of them, leading to a walled sity. Some peasants were walking after some carts, loaded with legumes. The people were middle sized, with short legs and prominent foreheads, so their eyes looked deep set. Felix try to talk with them, and the language was totally alien. Mingling with them, they get inside the city, pass the guarded door, where wwarriors using coat of arms, swords and lances were posted. - We are in the Middle Ages. "- Felix Delorme sighed. - Right. And I hope they didn´t have some good religion as the Christians had in Earth, or some Saint Insition could get interested in us ."- Rafael trembled. They went wth the carts, by a wide street, that ended in a big square, where hundred of tiny tentes were selling anything inmaginable. - Wow ! A Persian Market ! I will not miss Santiago´s buses !"- Said Felix, ironically speaking. - Let´s take a loook. I am starving."- Rafael said, and they went by one of the many narrow corridors, full of people . Some lanterns were lit, so they were able to see the thousands of products hanging from posts, and legumes in boxes the commerciants were exposing. HUndred of people were milling around, not very well dressed and certainly not smelling to roses, either. Hardware, kitchenware, dresses, shoes. Knives, swords, hats... Ropes, tin pans, drumms, chairs... All was there . Rafael managed to take a fruit, and then another, that handled to his cousin. They went eating and looking, and they were noticeable just because of their clothes, as the other people were using robes and tunics, grey in color , for the most part. Felix grabs a bread, as big as a frying pann, so they went by several narrow streets, and ended in a desert street, where they eat it. - Not so bad. Tastes as my dog´s cookies."- Rafael said. - Eat and do not criticize the gift of God. "- Felix said, thanking the Lord for their luck _ : another day in the wilderness, and they were beguining to starve. - Yes, I guess we are lucky this people here are humanoids... they eat food like us. Guess we would ahd been in problem, if we were in an society of insects..."- Raffael said, munching with pleasure. After all, the Fido bread wasn´t so bad , after all ! - Do you remember those guys in palanquins ? Guess they are the GReats of the Land ! We could even work for one of them !"- Felix said. A heavy rain begin to fall, and they seek for shelter, finding it in an alley, where several other people were dwelling. A fire was lit, and they approached to it, as they were wet. - Among this people we will be fine."- Felix Delorme said. - I hope that."- Rafael acknowledged. The crwod were formed by women of the easy life, old ragged fellows stinking of dung, young delinquents with hard stares...They seldom talked to each other, immerse in their dark thoughts. They looked at them when arrived, but soon they payed not more heed. Some trumpet sounds were heard, far away in the city. Over them the big walls made of bricks were dark as the night itself. Over the walls they saw , at intervals, some guards, pacing the night . From the top, those warriors were able to see kilomeers away ... in the day, as in the night nothing were visible, as the fileds that surround the city weren´t inhabited. The earthlings decided to sleep in turn, but when Rafael was asleep, one of the young punks tried to take his shoes off, so Felix gaves him a punch in the face, throwing the guy to the floor, who sprang and made a dive .using a 30 centimeters knife. Rafael was already awoke, and between the two, and using burning sticks from the fire, they fought against several bums. With the noise and the shouting , a mounted guard of six came to the place, delivering kicks to everyone they could. so the bums and the earthligs run for their lives alongside the narrow and dwindling streets. Rafael and Felix run for more than twenty blocks, and they stop to take air under a roofed door, in a desert street , in another sector of the walled city. - Luckily they didn´t captured us !"- Panted Felix, seated on the stone floor. - Guess they are not interested in bums at all! They just choo us out ."- Rafael said, leaning against the wall. They rest under a door sill, but in the early morning a palanquin arrive, and the guards shoo them out. As the action was seen by the aristocrat in the palanquin, they were called under his presence, inside of the mansion. He was a tall man, in his late years, standing near a fire, qho asked them some questions. As they answered in Castillian, so they couldn't understand each other. The noble man approached a candlestick near their faces, looking at their faces. Then he retired from the saloon, ordering his servants to gave a room for his guests... They gave them a room in the servants' quarters, and also some jobs to do, help with the palanquins and so they passed the days, learning the language in two months elapsed. So they knew the city was called "Carrera", and the Liustrafergo,, or Prince { from the House of Senrevi} was the Governor. There were another eight cities , ruled by governors appointed by a King... - We must made us a name ! We should stop being servants !"- Felix Delorme said. - Good idea. But how? "- Asked Rafael Veredix. - I had seen the native Jet Set : it is formed by the Generals, and people of the Court. As it will be difficult for us to made a career in the Army, with our age, I propose we became Courtesans."- Felix asserted. - How ? - First , we must make aqcuantaince with some courtesan, or we must help the kingdom in some special and notorius way."- Felix said. They began trying to do a battery, and at last they succeed, so they also made some little engines. - My man ! We must do some useful things ! With an engine...I get it ! Fans !"- Felix exclaimed. They gave one to the owner of the house, Lord Coeur. He was aastonished, and he promised to help them economically, and sell the new machines to the aristocracy. - But we must gavea richer appearance ! I know a famous goldsmith, and he can encase the battery and the engine in a beautiful box. I will present the first fan as a present, to our Governor. In three weeks more, he has his birhtday party.'- Lord Coeur said. The goldsmith arrive in that afternoon, he was Nillice, a stout man in his middle forties, who in the same day made several desings, every one of them a precious work of art. In the birthday party, Lor Coeur presented the gft to the Liustrafergo with this words " This little gift is the product of studies doned in my house, Honorable Listrafergo. You will see that it is formed by a water of power, and a little metalix heart, that revolves inside." The Senrevi pater familias observed with curiosity the instrument, the thin cables and the engine inside of a precious golden box, and he heard the faint humm of the engine. . It is very remarkable your gift, Lord Coeur. It likes me "- The liustrafergo said in a potent voice, to be heard by all. The invention was very praised in that party, and in the next days Lor Couer received lots of petitions ; they all want to buy the new gadget.. Lord Coeur said to the earthlings " Your fan interested the rich people. We must produce a 83 more fans...at a good price." - Magnific ! Then Your GRace will provide us with money, to build those 83 fans !" - Felix asked. - You get it. We will sell the product, and you will be rich "- Smiled the Lord, and so it was. Six years selling different electrical gadgets to the Court made the two "inventors" powerful landlords, and the Lord income was also great. - We cannot complain ! We are famous and our products are in great need. " Rafael Veredix said. - Above all, the batteries."- - Of course ! And it is because we hadn't produced Hidroelectric Plants ! If we do them, we' ll face the end of the Battery Industry, as it is now."- Felix Delorme replied. He was fatter and dressed in velvet. - But somebody someday will invent it ! That will be the first day of our decadence."- Rafael said. They were in vacances, in a house near the sea. - We are married to the cousins of the Listrafergo himself ! What more we can ask of life ? "- Smiled Felix. - Ah !The fortune smiled to us when those punks stole our Dimensional apparatus."- Rafael Veredix expressed. - So it is ! There are things that in the beguining seems to be for worst, but they are for good. "- Felix Delorme assured. Blepati, the wife of Felix Delorme, came from the house, smiling. - LaZY ONES ! Are you going to stay in the sand all day long ? Let's take a bath !"- She said, grabbing Felix arm, and making him stand up. They went to the surf, and they laughed and played a little while. The waters were very cold, so they run to the house, trying to take some heat from the exercice. Felix and Rafael were sure they will never have babies from them, as they were married for two years and never a pregnancy were isnsinuated. They were not biologist, and the medicin in that society were very primitive, so the manipulation of genes were out of the question. That night they were served by 20 servants, and the guests were young and happy people, like their wives. After the desert, a message was received, saying Lord Coeur was dying in the city of Carrera, and he was calling them. - We will go to the Carrera in the morning, a day's march in coach.- Felix said. - Poor Lord ! He is old. "- Blepati said. At dawn , both men gets themselves into the luxury coach, and the six horses being whiped, they beguinthe trek to the main city. - This wasteland ! So beautiful forests, with so many streams and lakes, and nobody living in the vicinity. This is a very few populated country."- Felix said, , looking by his window. - Oh, my friend ! Do not make me remember the contrary, back at Earth ! I remember when going to the beach, in Chile...those large caravans of cars and trucks, climbing the hills like ants, at 30 kilometers per hour ! And nobody to complain to ! The policitcs asking for our votes, and after the election, you cannot even approach them , to ask for some action !"- Rafael Veredix said, munching a sandwich. - That is why the gringos said the State is your enemy. And they should know, with those hundred of years in democracy..."- Felix smiled. - My man ! But democracy did serves only if you are living in a small society ! Kind of the ancient greek polis, and I tell ancient, as Greece has his democracy back just a hundred years hence ! Now Greece is like every other democracy in the world ! "- Rafael said. - It is a blessed thing that here the old kingdom system still works ! No need to gave the power to the people yet !"- Felix snorted. The rest of the way they did in silence, as the road wasn't good. In front of the Lord Coeur's palace they dismounted, and the doors were opened. They were received by the Lord lying in his bed, a great work of carved wood. - My sons, I am leaving this life. Soon I will depart to the other world."- The Lord said in a feeble voice. Felix and Rafael looked each other. Never before the old man had called them like this... - But Lord Coeur ! Surely you are not going to die !"- Felix said. - It is noticeably that you are not from this land. It is an ancient custom of the aristocracy to know when it is time to die. "- The Lord said. - Well , if you have some secret way to know, lend me the secret."- Felix whispered. -- Oh, it is very simple,Felix ! Wait until you became an aristocrat !"- The Lord replied, with some humour. - Then I see no clairvoyance in my future."- Whispered Felix. - My family will arrive to-day, possibly. I will gave them some of my possessions, but to you I will gave this palace, where you had been for so many months. Both of you will be receiving the palace and all that is inside of it, including my servants. "- The Lord Coeur muttered In that moment some officers came, and the Lord signs the necessary papers, handling the documents afterwards to the earthlings. The Lord asked a little solitude, and they all went out of the room. Felix said " We will go now." - Oh, yhou cannot ! "- The Majordomo of the mansion told them."- It is the custom that the inheritors of the house must bury the owner of it.It is also a gfreat honor the Lord Coeur did to you."- The old servant informed. Rafael and Felix began organizing the ceremonies, and they were very busy, when the other inheritors arrive, as they asked for rooms and meals for themselves. For five days the Lord was receiving his relatives, and in the sixth he died. He was buried in a big tomb, resembling a tower, where also his parents were entombed. The Majordomo, Farfandel Delor, said " It is the custom to leave untouched every utensil of the palace, for six days." ' All right, you see then that everything remains untouched."- Felix replied. But then their wives came, and they opened every door in the palace, touched everything, and also used the silverware in their meals. ' Do not pay atention to the old costumes ! This old Majordomos are all alike ! They pretend to stick to the old habits, but in the night they are carrying away as much as they can !"- Blepati said. ' You should put a guard in the entrances ! In that way, nobody can take away our herency!"- Aua, the wife of Rafael Veredix, said. They did as the women said, and also slept at the Palace, that was very comfortable. They find gold and silver not in safes, but in the hardware. The dresses of the Lord amount to a thousand, and there were some adorned with pearls and gold. - He was very kind to us, gaving us all this treasures."- Felix said, when they were having dinner. - This is another race. In Chile, for a little house the brothers stabs one another. And here not a word was spoken against us, all the relatives of our Lord Coeur behaves as diamonds of 14 karats."- Rafael remembered. - Our wives are dividing the gold and silver of the house, so we will have equal shares in this herency. "- Felix said. - I wish to serve the poor people of this city. I will gave free lunches for all."- Rafael assured. - I will use the money to increase the production. In that form, I will be helping the working class."- Felix smiled. In the days that followed, they did what they said, and the poors in front of Rafael Veredix' s house were more than a hundred, each day. Then Felix heard about gasoline, being used in another city, to lit lamps. He obtained some , and he began trying to invent an engine, thing he did after some months of struggle. Then he put it on a frame with four wheels, and the first car in that world began to roll. He send the invention to the King, who was so delighted he asked for a hundred more, so they were very bussy doing them. - Pity it is all for free ! The king received and he don't pay !'- Felix told Rafael. - Well, a hundred cars are a lot too many, but we can sell between gifts. "- Rafael said. So they were delivering two to the King , and selling one to the nobles. At the end of two years elapsed, the King received the last car, and then he called them to his palace. - I am very pleased with your invention. I guess the kingdom will be providing better roads to our cars ! But that is another matter, now I will repay you for your gracious gift. From then on, you will be governors of our two new cities in the south, Siem for Felix Delorme, and Simjeito to Rafel Veredix. "- The king said, and the documents were placed in front of both astounded earthlings. - We thank you very much from this enormous grace you gave us. We will be serving you at the top of our abilities."- Rafel said, bowing . The king invited them to dinner, and it was a very big party, who ended some three weeks after. They went to the aforementioned cities, that were not as populated as Carrera City, and also they were frontier cities, for ever in arms, as the bandits asolated the south lands of the kingdom. They made some armored cars, and then the bandits flew from the vicinity, gaving a respite to the cities of Simjeito and Siem. - This site is very wonderful, and there is lot of things to improve.Good it will be to invent the telegraph, and also the telephone."- Felix wrote to Rafael, as they were apart more than three humdred kilometers, due to the governancy of both cities. So they re invent both things, and then they were more in touch with each other. As they couldn't have kits from their wives, they died some thirty years elapsed, without leaving descendants, buried with them the desire to see Santiago for the last time... The end. ------------------- Santiago de Chile, 11 october 1997. Alfredo Juillet F. -------------------

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