Partes: 1, 2

On the way they met Professor Benito, Don Theo introduced them, professor Benito said, I Am to serve you at the school house, I attend the telegraph office there too, when ever you need it.   I am glad to meet you professor, good bye.   I wish you have good luck said professor Benito.   Bye Theo.   Professor Benito left them.
Well Don Theo, what do you want to tell me?   They were passing just in front of el Padre Miguel church, who was out side there.  Come Roberto I will introduce El Padre Miguel.   Good morning Padre Miguel, look I introduce you the doctor Roberto.  I  Am glad to meet you Doctor, I hope you will be very lucky.   Theo said to Roberto, the electric power in El Palmar was installed owed to the intervention of el Padre Miguel and Professor Benito, They are very well estimated and respected all around the town.   Well Doctor I have to go, said el Padre Miguel.   At that moment they watched some people passing over whistling, el Padre Miguel turn over and answered them whistling too.   What does el Padre Miguel told them?  Roberto asked.   Nothing but God bless you my children. 

 Don Theo and Roberto continued walking again, Roberto asked Theo, Why are They wishing me good luck?   Set down Roberto, said Theo.  Do you see those houses, the blue one and the white one?   Yes I do.   They are Isidro and Nicolas houses.   They are witch doctors, and all people use to go with them looking for healing.   Tell me Theo, that"s why el padre Miguel wished me good luck?   Yes Roberto, do you remember yesterday I told you I was going some place at the mountain range?   Well,  I use to go there to listen the one hundred voices bird, that bird tells me when it"s going to rain, and every thing that is going to happen.   That is why I knew the doctor we were waiting for, was you, since the firs time I saw you.   - Roberto was amazing -   Furthermore, near up here is the "Doña Buena Esperanza" place.   And who is she asked Robert?        

One day, Don Theo said, many years ago some men went looking for me very early in the morning, and told me that they found a woman with a girl, sleeping in the door of the church, I went there and I awaked them up, as soon as they awaked up, they asked for some thing to eat.  I ordered some thing for them to eat, people got some food rapidly.   I asked the woman how do they came to El Palmar, but she did not know nothing.   The only thing she wanted was to stay here.  At that time, We had an empty house, we made some small repairs on it, and up to day they are still living there; well, the mother died but her daughter, Doña Buena Esperanza, is still  living in that house.        

Once I talked with the mother and she told me she was working on a prostitution house, and in that house they forced her to consume drugs, and that was why they ran away and walked for days until they arrived to El Palmar.   The last time I saw her, she told me they fled because on the prostitution house they were forcing her daughter to become a prostitute like she was.   And what do they do for living?   Roberto asked.

Look, out side their house they placed an advertisement where they printed:   "We will take off your bad luck ".   She knew how to prepare an herbs brew that they uses to wash and scrub with her hands, the naked body of her costumers, and she take her clothes out too.   Do you say both of them must be nude?   Yes that is it.   How many times did you do that, for taking your bad luck out, Theo?  Only once, when my wife was sick.   What do you do when she was scrubbing your body with her hands and the brew?    Well, I was restraining my breathing, and I closing strongly my hands.  You may not touch her, because if you do that, she may become sick.   But I must to tell you, her daughter is much more beautiful than she was.  Her daughter is blue eyed, her hair is blond, and her body is wonderful.    And… what is the matter with your bad luck?  Roberto asked.   Well, little by little but it was going out.     Well Don Theo, I am very surprised about every thing you told me, but I have to go to my office.   By the way I invite you for dinner tonight at home, I want to introduce my wife to you.      

Thank you Don Theo, I will be pleased to be with you.     
Roberto was walking way to home, when he met some people who greet him by whistling and he answered raising the hand, and he was very glad for that.   When he arrived home and realized no body were there, he sat down at the entrance, thinking, I look like Don Theo, I Am sitting down any where.
After a while, no body went to see him for medical attention, and as it was very hot, he decided to go to the river, to take a bath.   Passing near the white rocks place he turns to see the place where a group of women was taking a Bath.  
Roberto reminded what Don Theo told him:   The day when the women goes to take a bath there, they send their husbands to visit   Doña Buena Esperanza.
The doctor undressed behind a tree, and after a while he was in the crystalline water of the river, he felt some body was throwing small pebbles near him, he turn the head to see what was happening and saw it was Dahlia, she told him by a sign it was time to have lunch.   Roberto got dress and went with Dahlia to have lunch.            

During the lunch time he asked Dahlia - writing in her note book-   How long you saw me naked?.   She smiled and answered on the note book:   It was not very long.      
When lunch time was over and Dahlia was living carrying her basket, and before to cross the door to go out, She stopped and turned her head back with a flirting smile.   Taking a long and deep breath, Roberto intended to think, why do they sent me to this beautiful place of people so plain and nice, warm, and so full of mystery and magic.   After that he went out to take a walk with out know where he was going, and then he saw el Padre Miguel, coming in a hurry, Padre what happen, may I help you ?   The old man Moses is dying, he is one hundred years old and he is asking to confess with me.  Roberto was to continue his walking, but he decided to go back and then he met Dahlia, she was writing on her note book:   What can I do to have blue eyes?   Roberto read the note on the Dahlia"s book and having no answer, only said good bye by shaking her hand, wandered why had she made him such a question.   At that moment, el Padre Miguel was coming back and Roberto asked him:   What happened with old man Moses?   El padre Miguel told Him, He is dead.   I am sorry, we had couldn"t do nothing. Well Padre,   I"ll see you later.            
That night Roberto was knocking at the Don Theo"s door house, Theo received and said him.   Come in Roberto I"m going to introduce you with my wife.   I"m glad to meet you Doctor, my name is Maria, Theo had talked me a lot about you, come in and set down to eat some beans with meat.   I am pleased to meet you Doña Maria, and thank you very much for all your attentions for me.     
How long are you going to be with us?  Doña Maria asked to Roberto.   I have instructions to come to El Palmar for six months, after that time, I have to go back.   I only remind the document in which the Rector and the council members of the Medicine School gave to me and said:   This document is the order for you to go to the community of "El Palmar", for a period of six months of social service.   As long as you had covered all the required credits of the Medicine School.  That document was signed by the Rector and the Councils. Roberto was looking an antique bookcase full of old books and asked:  Whom those books are?  They are mine Doña Maria answered, and yours, you may have any one you wanted.   Thank you very much Doña Maria. Every time Doña Maria and Don Theo were distracted, Dahlia approaches to serve  Roberto some thing, she touched his arms with her body.                     

A little while after the diner was over, Roberto got up saying:   Thank you very much Doña Maria and Don Theo, your dinner was very good, and I was pleased to stay with you, but I have to go.   They were going to the door house and Doña Maria said, tell me Roberto, have you some time visited Doña Buena Esperanza?   Roberto answered nothing and Doña Maria said, Theo use to go very often, coming back very tender and loving, after he visit her.   Roberto turn to see Don Theo asking him:   Don"t you told me you had visited her only once?                                                             

Don Theo nodded smiling maliciously.   Roberto said good bye and went out. At home Roberto took out the yellow shirt he was wearing, and at that moment he listened Don Theo calling for him, Roberto opened the door and said:   What can I do for you Don Theo?   I invite you to go the vigil over the deceased old man Moses.   It will be at the first house on this street, I will stay there all night long, but you can come back any time you wanted.   I"m going ahead, and I will wait for you there. 

Roberto went to the old men Moses house, some dogs where barking at the entrance of the house, he realized that many people was going out.   A old Moses relative approached and said him:  You can"t come in.   Tell me why I can not come in?   Don Theo went where Roberto was and told him.   Roberto it is because of the color of your shirt, it is bad luck at the funerals, that"s why people are dressed in white color.   That color means purity.   Well Don Theo I"m going to change my shirt, every day I learn some thing new here.   

That night Roberto was sleeping and felt some one kissed him at the mouth, it was a woman, she undressed Roberto and her self, he did not ask who she was, and the hours were going by until she left.  

Next day Dahlia came in with Roberto"s breakfast, he received her with a smile and she answered the same way and sat down in front of him as it was usual, to serve him the food.   Roberto suddenly remember the earring he founded in his bed last night, he extended his arm to take the earring and showed it to Dahlia, she showed hers him and nodded in sign that that earring was not her.   Dahlia went out with out her basket.   Roberto wandered whose that earring was.        

The doctor went out home and met Don Theo.   Good morning Roberto, I went to the mountain very early this morning, to listen the one hundred voices bird and the birth told me it"s going to rain soon and also told me some thing is going to happen.   They continued walking their way and Roberto was thinking why don Theo told me some thing is going to happen? And why he didn"t said good by?   Walking alone Roberto noticed the people passing through were whistling him, he only raised his hand, and was so distracted that he didn"t perceived he already was passing in front Doña Buena Esperanza house, until he listened some body calling to him by his name, and when he turn over, he saw a beautiful woman.   Are you the Doctor?   Yes madam I am, what can I do for you?   Nothing, just that they told me a doctor had arrived to El Palmar and I hadn"t  met you.   That"s why I called you, and they also told me you don"t have any costumer.   Can you see that house where the white smoke is going out?   That is Doña Rosa house, she just bear her baby yesterday.   Next is Doña Margarita house, her husband came to me to take out his bad luck.

Roberto was watching Doña Buena Esperanza from her feet to the head and her beautiful blue eyes.   She realized the way he watched her.   She took his hand and told him:   If you need me, you may come to see me any time.   They said good bye and Roberto continued walking his way, he was very impressed about Doña Buena Esperanza beauty. He was passing in front of Doña Rosa house, Isidro the medicine man was coming out, he saw Roberto, and all of the sudden he throw a white dust over Roberto.   Many men who were there, looking what was happening, ran away as well as Roberto did, and he asked to the men why that man made such a thing, one of them told Roberto that the witch man threw bad luck dust to him.   Then Roberto raised his shoulders and continued walking to his office where no body was waiting for him.     

A little later Professor Benito arrived shouting:   Roberto, Roberto.  What is the matter?  He asked. A Doña Azalea"s son is very sick, professor said. 

Taking his suitcase Roberto went out running and asking professor Benito:   How old the boy is?   He is twelve years old he answered.   How often do the boy gets sick?   It is the first time he gets sick.

There were many people out side Doña Azalea house, Professor Benito speaking in a loud voice said them:   Let us get in.   In side the house they saw Isidro, attending a boy, he was putting a hand full of salt in each hand of the boy.

Roberto approaches to the boy to examine him and he realized he was very ill.   Withdrawing some pills from his suitcase, Roberto asked for a glass of water.   As soon he had the water in his hands, he opened the boy"s mouth and made him to swallow the pills.   Roberto asked if the boy had had some thing else before.   Doña Azalea told the doctor that the boy was feeling bad and she called for Isidro to attend him.   Isidro gave him a beverage and all of the sudden after he drank the beverage the boy felt down, unconscious and trembling.    

After a while they noted the boy was beginning to react with the pills the doctor gave him and he said:   The danger is passing over, he will get well, keep giving him the pills, one every four hours, Robert said  .   Thank god, and thank you Doctor said Doña Azalea. 

Roberto was going out from Doña Azalea house, where all people were whistling.  

Now they know what you had made Roberto, professor said.  Roberto said nothing.   Is the boy going to heal with your pills Doctor?   Professor Benito asked.   Roberto was leaving and asked:   Professor do you believe that the hands full of salt in the hands of the boy are better? 

When Roberto arrived to his home there were no body but a boy waiting for him.   The boy delivered him a paper with a message signed by Doña Buena Esperanza .   The message said:   I will wait for you to night Doctor.

As Roberto had nothing to do, he decided to go to the river to take a bath, when Roberto arrived to the river, he saw Dahlia swimming almost naked on the white stones place, her wet dress allowed Roberto to see her beautiful body.

Roberto was in the crystalline water when he felt some body was throwing pebbles, he turn back to see who was there, and he saw Dahlia standing over a rock, showing him all her nice body.

When they finished to take a bath and were dressed, they went back home together.   Dahlia with the deaf-mutes language, was trying to explain Roberto what she felt when she touched her body with any reason with his. 

Latter, Don Theo arrived Roberto"s house shouting, Roberto hurry up Doña Margarita is giving birth a baby and she is having problems with it.  When they arrived Doña Margarita house, they founded Isidro and Nicolas attending her, and when they saw the doctor, they left the patient and coursed the doctor.  Two hours later, there were many people out side Doña Margarita house; among them was Professor Benito and el Padre Miguel.   Roberto came out and saw a pot throwing black smoke.   What is that?  He asked.   It is a way people use to indicate danger.   Then you may take it out.   Doña Margarita is fine with her two babies. They said to me, you don"t want the baby because thirteen is a bad luck number, Doña Margarita told her husband. Don"t you worry about that, they are fourteen sons and you are going to have not any one more, doctor said sharply.   I swear you doctor, I didn"t wanted, but she pushed me, Doña Margarita"s husband said.  That evening Roberto came out home and just in front of Doña Buena Esperanza house, started to whistle with out any rhyme or reason, Doña Buena Esperanza listened the whistle and opened the door inviting him to come in.   Roberto came in and asked her:  Can I help you in something?   No, I am going to help you, furthermore I think you are very interesting and with out any problem.   Get undress she told him, at the time she was taking out her robe, that was the only clothing covering her beautiful body, which Roberto could not avoid to watch.                                                                                                                                      

Completely naked both of them, initiated the rite to take out the bad luck.   She began washing with her herbal preparation, all the naked Roberto"s body, rubbing with her hands and her body, starting from his feet, to his head.   Roberto remembered what Don Theo told him about the rite to take out the bad luck, crippling his hands, closing the eyes and containing the breath.   He felt it was more intense every minute until he cried, I can"t, I can"t no more.   At the end of the rite, her naked body was stuck to the Robert"s body.             

Going out, Roberto stopped and asked her.   May I come again any day?   She approached closer him, and watching his eyes said, I will wait for you.   He was saying good bye when he realized, she lacked an earring like the one he founded in his bed, wandered if was she the one who was visiting him by the nights.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Arriving  home, Roberto saw the food that Dahlia had left on the table for him to dine, but he wasn"t hungry, so he undress him self and fell slept.         

Next day Roberto was out side his home at the moment el Padre Miguel was passing over there saying:   Hello Roberto, you should wear a white shirt, that color means purity, how are every thing?   Not very well it is almost the time for me to go back to the City and I haven"t had patients to attend.                                                                                       

Dahlia was coming in with Roberto"s breakfast, and el Padre Miguel realized how Roberto greeted her by shaking her hand, and asked Roberto:   How many times had you greeted her by shaking her had?   Only twice he said.   Then you have to be very careful, if you do that for three times, it means a marriage engagement.   Roberto didn"t say any thing about that and invited el Padre Miguel to have some thing for breakfast.   El Padre Miguel thank him, and said  I have to go to do some things, probably some other time.                                                                                          

This time Dahlia didn"t stayed with Roberto to serve the breakfast, only left a note on the table for Roberto saying:   I will wait for you at the river at sunset time. Roberto was going out for his walking round, and Don Theo was coming looking for him, drying his sweat with a colored handkerchief, and told him:    Roberto I"m coming from the mountains, I was seated dawn the tree shadow where the one hundred voices birth sings, but it didn"t came this time.   So I better went to my land to take advance of the irrigation water.   Don Theo you better come with me to my office, I will give you some pills, you have to have two in the morning and two by night.   When you finished all of them, you will tell me if you feel better or not.   Don Theo left and Roberto stayed seated down on the entrance of the office.   The people passing over greeted him by whistling and Roberto answered them by raising a hand.   It was the time to have lunch and Roberto was still there seated down. In this moment Dahlia arrived with the food and sat down in front of Roberto.   She was looking at him for a while, and all of the sudden, she got up and left.   Roberto was just looking at her and raised his shoulders, with out paying attention for that.                                      *                                                                                                                                   

The time was going by and Roberto was only thinking about his going back  to the city and reminding the words of the driver who brought him to El Palmar:  Remember, they are eight hours driving through the wilderness and jungle to go back to the city.                                                      

Afternoon Roberto saw Dahlia going to the river and a little after he decided to go to the river too.   She was swimming at the white rocks place, quite nude, she perceived the doctor was watching her and she went out the water and dissemblingly she invited him to go in the river with her.   He turned back and left.                                                  

On the way back Roberto meet Don Theo with el Padre Miguel, and Professor Benito, when they were greeting each other.   At that moment a group of men were coming  with Samuel, one of Don Theo"s Sponsors driving a drunk man, and Samuel shouted them:   Tied him to that tree, and Roberto commented:   What"s the matter he is only a little drunk?   Don Theo explained him, every body likes to have some drinks, but the one who make a mess is tied to a tree, until drunkenness pass over.   For example when Samuel gets drunk he usually hits his wife.                                                    

 Well Roberto we have to go, we will have a meeting with all the community leaders to agree about the details for El Palmar holiday next May the twentieth.   By the way Roberto, when are you going to leave?   To me it will be good to leave tomorrow Roberto said, I have no patients to attend.   I hope you may stay here for the town holyday, said professor Benito, and asked him:   Why don"t you go to see Doña Buena Esperanza?   They didn"t say any thing else but, good bye and each one of they went out their way.                                                                                                                

Roberto was seated down at the door of his office waiting to become a little later, and Dahlia was coming back after to take a bath en the river.   She stopped just in front of Roberto and with a picaresque gesture, she went away slowly. When the night arrived, Roberto was on the way to Doña Buena Esperanza place, Dahlia realized where he was going to, she followed and saw him coming in Doña Buena Esperanza house.        

Doña Buena Esperanza was waiting for him and she said:   Tonight the rite will be deferent.   Roberto was surprised and asked, what I have to do?   She took her robe out, he was fascinated.   She undressed him and said:   This time I will not use herbs preparation, at that time she was rubbing his naked body with her hands and joining her body with his.   The moment came when she took the initiative, she embraced  and drove him to her bedroom where the surrender was total and unconditional, until the day light surprised them.                                                                                            

Roberto was dressing up and asked her:   Do you do that with every body?   It is the first time I do this, she answered.   I will wait for you tomorrow, because I need you very much, and forget about the bad luck.

Roberto was going back home and met Don Theo.

It is very good to see you Roberto, Don Theo said.   What can I do for you?  Roberto asked.

Dahlia was weeping all night, I don"t know what happened to her.   I will check up her at lunch time.   By the way Don Theo, you told me yesterday, you were going to do the arrangements for El Palmar holyday, but it will be in May the twentieth, that means two months, isn"t it to much time in advance for the preparation?  

No Roberto we celebrate that day because it is the beginning of the raining season  and we have to prepare to be on time to have good germination and good results in every thing we do.

The time was going by and Roberto was thinking, what it was happening.   Why my luck is changing?   In that moment el Padre Miguel came in and saw Roberto was having more and more patients, and shouted:   Doctor Roberto your luck is changing.   Why do you thing my luck is changing?   Roberto asked.   Theo told me it was because of the visits you are doing to Doña Buena Esperanza every night, every body knows that, that"s why people thing she transmitted to you her good luck.   The one hundred voices birth told that to Don Theo.

Next day Roberto was entering to his office and saw many people waiting for him.   A chubby woman came closer and said:   Doc we wish you heal us.   And what are all of you seek of?   I don"t know but when you will attend to me, remember my name is Withered Flower, but you are not withered Roberto said, you are very well, when you fell seek you can come any time.

Roberto went to his room and saw the basket with his food for lunch, but Dahlia wasn"t there, so he had to have lunch alone and almost to finish Don Theo came in.   What can I do for you Don Theo?   Roberto asked.    I"m coming back from the mountain and I listened the one hundred voices birth and it told me your luck is going to change, and told me some thing is going to happen.   I hope the birth may be right, and you Don Theo, have you feel your legs better with the pills?   I am very well thank you and your pills.

Since then, Roberto"s luck began to change, and as the patients start to look for him to attend their illness, it was necessary to order by the telegraph for more medicine very often.

The time was going by and Roberto continued visiting Doña Buena Esperanza, and receiving from time to time his night lady visitor, until El Palmar holyday date arrived.

That very day of " El Palmar" holyday on the honor table of the celebration was Roberto, aside Roberto was el Padre Miguel watching a group of girls dressed with her typical garments, seated around an other table.   Roberto asked el Padre Miguel, why the girls were in a separate group.  They are the more beautiful flowers of the place, and they are a contest to found out which of them is the most beautiful girl on the region, said el Padre Miguel.

And where are the girls boy friends?   They don"t have any boy friend, if you want to marry one of them you just invite to dance the one you like more.

And what happen if some of them take me out to dance?   Oh my God, we have to go right away to the church to marry you.   But if I don"t even know her, how can I marry her?   That doesn"t matter.   What can I tell you? Those are the local customs.        

Don Theo offered them some kind of rum to drink and said:   Roberto did you noticed Dahlia is dancing with Valentine?   He is a good boy, not vicious, hard worker, and they already had saluted by shaking their hand twice.  

And how do you like the marimba music Roberto?   All of the marimba players came from many places around here, they agree to play all together the same music pieces at the same time.   Well Roberto, said Don Theo:  I don"t know if it is because of the rum effect, but I see Dahlia is a little more fatty don"t you thing?  How do you like all of that Roberto?     

I like very it much, every thing is very nice Roberto said, and at what time does all thing usually finish?   He asked.

Until tomorrow morning, they answered.

Don Theo I have to tell you that I have to leave El Palmar very soon.   How soon do you have to go?  Well I came here only for six months and I have stayed here for more than eleven months.  So probably I will go back on the helicopter next medicine shipment.   Well Don Theo I have to go home now, if all of you excuse me.   

Next day Roberto went to his daily accustomed course, and met El Padre Miguel, who showed him a message that said:   I am going some other place to live on -signed Valentine-.   I have to show this message to Don Theo, he was planning to marry Dahlia with Valentine.

Roberto continued his way and when he arrived to Doña Buena Esperanza house noticed that the Doña Buena Esperanza advertisement had been removed.   At that moment Don Theo reached him and said;   Roberto I was looking for you, Dahlia and my wife are very ill.   What happened?  Roberto asked.

I don"t know, I"m going to look for the one hundred voices bird, to know what is happening.

Roberto immediately went to see Doña Maria and Dahlia.   He saw Doña Maria first, and founded her very bad, and told to her, I"m going to get some transportation for you, it is necessary a surgery on your abdominal hernia.   No doctor don"t you do that, I will die here, you better make me that operation, you do the best you can make here, and you better attend Dahlia, she is very bad, I can wait.      

Roberto gave a shot to Doña Maria in order to mitigate the pain, and called el Padre Miguel to get some women to help him to attend Dahlia.   She gave birth a beautiful boy.   After that Roberto went right away to prepare e necessary to operate Doña Maria.  

He told her how risky it was, because he had not the best means to do that.   You do, what you can, but tell me, how is Dahlia?   She is very well and so is your grand son, but now I need to talk with Theo about your operation.   Don"t wait doctor please go ahead. 

After a while, Roberto finished Doña Maria operation, and went to check Dahlia.   She was sleeping with her son aside her, both of them perfectly well.    

Professor Benito came in with a telegram, and as he was in a hurry, as usual, he left the telegram over the Dahlia"s bed.   Roberto was attending Doña Maria when Dahlia awaked up and saw the telegram, it was for Roberto, with instructions for him to go back immediately to the city, Dahlia grieving because the telegram content, fell slept again.

Roberto went back to check Dahlia and found the telegram, Dahlia continued sleeping because of the medicine she had had that afternoon. Don Theo came back home with a baby in his arms.   Roberto took the boy and placed him near Dahlia. She was still sleeping.  

Roberto told Don Theo every thing had happened. The boy Don Theo brought was blond and blue eyed.   I founded him under the tree where the one hundred voices bird sings, he said, and the bird told me that they saw Doña Buena Esperanza floating on the river.   Nobody could do anything to help her.   But the Dahlia"s baby was brunet, he looks like Valentine, probably that"s why Valentine run away.   And how is my wife?  Don Theo asked.  

She is very well, in few days she and Dahlia will be completely recovered, come with me Don Theo, Roberto said. Going out, Roberto was surprised to see all the people that was seated down out side Don Theo"s house.   Professor Benito approached near them to explain Roberto why all that people where there, all of them came to see Doña Maria, She arrived here many years ago and she never wanted go back.   Go back to where?  Roberto asked.   she came  from the city, she was a school teacher, when she arrived here there were no school and she stayed here to teach everybody to read and write. Tell all these people they can go home, every thing is all right with Doña Maria, said Roberto.                                                                                  

They realized Doña Buena Esperanza was dead, and they wanted to know who is going to take out us our bad luck, I"ll ask el Padre Miguel to explain them that question, professor Benito said.   No said Roberto, you tell them Doña Buena Esperanza left, because they are no bad luck here any more, so tell they can go home. Roberto turned over and saw two men going out and asked who they were, I have eleven months here and I never haved saw those two.   Professor Benito answered, they are Jose the blind one, and the name of other one is Tomas, who usually gets Jose out side to take a walk, but it"s not usual for them to come to El Palmar.   I"m going to tell you what the one hundred voices bird told Don Theo, about one blind man that was going to come to live in El Palmar, and by the whistling of the people we was informed that they were living in a group of houses ahead El Palmar. How, I wonder, does a blind man can come until this place alone?  Roberto said.  Nobody knows how he came, Tomas possibly came with him, professor Benito said, but people say  he came alone.   That is not possible, and when does Tomas arrived?    Roberto asked. After a while, professor Benito said:   The one hundred voices bird told Don Theo, some one was going to come to talk with Jose.   When that person came here, he asked where he could find Jose.   Later we knew that that person was Tomas, who came to ask Jose"s pardon.   Pardon?  Asked Roberto but why?                                          

Professor Benito answered:   Tomas had an operation of cataracts in both eyes and they said the pain was so strong that he became crazy; about those days Jose went to the hospital to visit a friend, and when he was going out the hospital, Tomas went over Jose beating him and taking out his eyes with the hands.   And how do you know all of this?   Roberto asked.   From the one hundred voices bird who said professor Benito.   After that Tomas went to jail and when he came out he was looking for Jose, until he found him, nobody knows who told Tomas where Jose was. And Jose forgave Tomas?   Roberto asked.   Professor Benito said:   When they met, Tomas told Jose, I am guilty, but I didn"t know what I was doing.   Roberto was amazed and asked, and what does Jose did?   Jose took his handkerchief to clean his nose and embraced Tomas, answered professor Benito, and he told Jose, now I can go and live in pace.   Jose asked him where are you going to?  I"m going back to the city.   Do you have family?   No I don"t have any family said Tomas.   Jose embraced Tomas again and told him, stay here to live with me, and since then they live like brothers.   Roberto was astonished about the professor Benito story and commented, this place is wonderful.                                                                                 

 -The day came when everything was calm and the noise of a helicopter was listened.   Professor Benito sent a boy to tell Roberto that the helicopter pilot was waiting for him.                                                                                                                                    

They where there many curious people with sad faces to see Roberto to go away.  Roberto was to board the helicopter when he saw Dahlia approaching him with her two boys and she wrote in her note book:   They are your sons.   Roberto put his luggage on the helicopter and he saw Dahlia had a knife to cut her veins and he prevented her to do that.   The pilot said Roberto:  Well doctor are you going to go or you will stay here, he turn to see Dahlia and said I"m going to stay here, he got down his luggage and stayed looking how the helicopter was going up to the sky and went away.   He took one boy in his arms, embrace and kiss Dahlia.   Don Theo told Roberto:   The one hundred voices told me you will not leave us, because the children are your sons.   Roberto say nothing and realized  Doña Maria was there, he approaches and kiss her and said her:   I"m going to marry Dahlia.  The tears came out from Doña Maria eyes.   Roberto talked el Padre Miguel who was there and told him:   In this very moment I want to Marry Dahlia, is it possible?   Let"s go right to the church said el Padre Miguel.   In that moment Don Theo started to whistle the way they usually do, and many people answered him the same way.   What did Don Theo said them?   Roberto asked.   He gave them instructions to prepare some food for the party after you marry Dahlia, said el Padre Miguel.                                                                                                

Some villagers went to prepare the celebration.   Dahlia did not understand what was happening, Roberto wrote in her note book:   I"m going to marry you, let"s go to the church.   Dahlia approached Roberto with the other boy in her arms and kissed him with her eyes full of tears of happiness.                   

They were going way to the church, when the baby Roberto was carrying in his arms started to cry, as well as the baby Dahlia had in her arms, she stopped just in front of the church door, uncover her nice breasts and Roberto approached the baby to his mother breast, and she did the same with the other boy.                                               

El Padre Miguel was coming to the entrance of the church to receive the bride and bridegroom and after to see what was happening said:  well I"m going to wait for you,  you just let me know when you finish nursing your sons to marry you.  The small church was crowded with all of the town people who assisted to the wedding.  The villagers took out from their houses the chairs for the celebration. The women cut flowers to adorn the places of the bride and the bridegroom for the wedding.   The musicians arrived with the marimba and they were ready to receive the bride and the bridegroom with a special melody for them.   Every thing was rapidly arranged.   The villagers began to arrive with food, they were dressed with their typical garments, men in white dresses and women with their hand made dresses, their gold earrings and necklaces shining with the sun light.  The bride and the bridegroom were coming out the church and nearly all the villagers were on the wedding celebration place, some of them just arrived at the same time still buttoning their dresses.  The marimba was playing a nice melody, and all the people received the bride and bridegroom applauding and singing the song the marimba was playing.    The bride and the bridegroom, as it was customary began to dance, but each one with a baby on their arms.   When the melody finished, they went to the honor place, and when they were seated down, the boys awake up crying, Dahlia uncover her nice breasts to nurse her sons again.   Roberto surprised said Dahlia, on the way they communicate.   "Do not uncover your self in front of everybody".   It is the usual way to do this here Roberto, all the women does this in the same way.   Roberto say nothing else. The marimba was playing and most of the invited people were dancing.   Doña Maria and Don Theo were also dancing, and she said:   Theo why don" you luck for another Doña Buena Esperanza?   When you were going to see her, you usually came back home very loving.   I"m going to luck for another one, Theo said. Later, almost in the evening, the bride and the bridegroom were leaving, everybody started standing up applauding and wishing them happiness.                                                            

All of the sudden, everybody were silent looking some men carrying a woman on a improvised wooden small bed, asking for the doctor.  Roberto said them:   I am the doctor, what is your problem?   One of them said, this girl suffer some kind of attacks, she tremble very much, and she is unconscious since yesterday, that is why we brought her here.   How long has  she suffered  this sickness?   Not very much, said the man.   Well, O. K. bring her with me, I have to check her.  Arriving to his office Roberto said to them:   Come in and place her down in the floor, I"m going to examine her.   Just wait for me, I"m going to accommodate my family at home.   Going to his room, Roberto found a couple of cradles and after to lay down his sons and make some signs to Dahlia, he went out to check the sick woman. Watching her, he realized she was a very nice and pretty girl.   Roberto gave her some pills and with some difficulty made her to swallow it, saying:   We are going to wait to see what the effect of the pills will be. Roberto asked the men, where do you come from?   We come from a community located up in the mountain range, one of them said, the name of the town is "The Gladness".    It is far away, about half a day by mule back.   Roberto very amazed asked them:   At what time did you left "The Gladness" with the sick girl?   Very early this morning, but as we came carrying the woman, we walked all day long.   Don"t you know "The Gladness" town didn"t  you?   No said Roberto I never knew about that place.   And how do you know about me?   Roberto asked them.                                                                  

You know how the people of this region use to talk among them by whistling. They are some muleteer who often pass trough here, they listened people of El Palmar whistling and the muleteers came aware there were a doctor here and they told us about you.   We at "The Gladness" community communicate among us by singing and dancing.   I don"t understand how do you do that said Roberto.  Look doctor when you visit "The Gladness" you will see people singing and dancing, and that is the way we use to talk.   What is the rhythm do you use to sing and dance?   Roberto asked.   No doctor we don"t use any rhythm to sing and dance, we just talk that way.   Roberto amazed commented, this places are marvelous, saying that he turn over to see the girl, she was reacting and asked the men to go out, because she want to tell the doctor some thing.   Roberto stayed there locking at her, noticing the beauty of the highlander woman asking her for her name.   She stayed silent and he asked again. What is your name?…   My name is Geranium she said.   What is your problem?   I don"t know may be my heart.   Well what do you feel?   She didn"t answer.   Roberto realized she didn"t stopped to look at him, Then he asked:   Can you walk?   She, standing up slowly walked a little.   Do you feel well?   Yes I feel well, she said.   O.K.   You have to go to the river to take a bath there, but don"t you do that in the white stones place, because the woman here, use to take a bath there when they want to be come pregnant. Geranium was taking a bath in the white stones place, while Roberto was getting some thing for them to eat, and said the men who brought Geranium to El Palmar,  where they were going to sleep, out side in a shed.   And Geranium will sleep in the office, he told them.                                                       

Roberto came back with the food and asked for Geranium.   She is in the river they answered.   Roberto went to the river looking for her, and he was very surprised to see her naked, taking a bath in the white stones place.   She invited him to go with her.   Roberto stayed still watching and saying her:   You have to go out and come with me  to have supper.   She went out close to him.   Roberto stayed watching her beautiful body, and Geranium said:   Can you go to see me to "The Gladness"?   If some time you don"t feel well, send me a telegram with some of the men who brought you here.   O.K. let"s go, you need to rest and you have to go back home tomorrow, I am going to give you a pills flask for you.                                                                  

Next day Roberto was saying farewell them and one of them asked:   Can Geranium go back by walking?  Does it harm her?   She will be well, and if she feels bad let her to rest for a while, she have a flask with pills, she can have two pills and she will feel better.                                       

Geranium told the doctor:   I will wait for you at The "Gladness". Roberto came in to his home to see Dahlia and their children, she was nursing both of them, and in that moment Roberto listened somebody shouting out side, he went out and saw Don Theo and asked him, what is the matter Don Theo?   I am coming back from the tree where the one hundred voices sings, it told me that Jose the blind have powers to do many things.   In the other side, my wife Maria is fool, she told me it will be good to get another Doña Buena Esperanza, because I was very affectionate when I was coming back after to see her.   Roberto laughingly about that question, gave Don Theo some pills, telling him to have one of them once in a while and with that, Doña Maria will be pleased.                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Every thing was going normally well, Roberto attending the community patients.   Dahlia was happy with Roberto and her sons.   One day, they were having lunch and Dahlia asked Roberto on her way:   Way do I have one boy with blue eyes?   Roberto answered her in the same way:   Remember when you asked to me:   What do I have to do to have blue eyes?   Dahlia didn"t understand and stayed looking at Roberto.                                                    

- The days was going by, Roberto was receiving medicine and attending the community people, all of the family lived in Harmony.   And one day Roberto was attending a patient when professor Benito was calling Roberto to deliver a him a telegram, it comes from "The Gladness, I"ll give it to Dahlia.   She read it and became sad.   Roberto came in and Dahlia gave him the telegram, he realized that Geranium was very ill and they were asking him to go to "The Gladness" as soon as possible. Roberto met Don Theo and explained him the telegram content.  Don"t you worry Roberto I will get you a good horse, When do you need it?   For tomorrow morning said Roberto.                                                                                                             

 Next morning, Don Theo and Dahlia carrying her children said good by to Roberto.   After many hours on the way, Roberto was arriving to "The Gladness" and asking to people he met at the entrance of the town   Where can I found Miss Geranium?   They answering him by singing and dancing where she was.                                               

He was in front of Geranium house and saw a man coming out, who stayed watching Roberto but they didn"t greet each other.   The door was open and a short man received Roberto who asked for Geranium, the man said:   And who are you?.   I am the El Palmar doctor.   Some days ago they take Geranium to me at El Palmar very sick and yesterday I received this telegram, showing it to the man.   Roberto asked him:   Who are you, and what is your name?   I am Geranium"s father and my name is Ishmael and well, you may come in, this girl gets sick every time Don Elias come home.   Come in doctor, Geranium must be at her bedroom.   Geranium already was listening Roberto"s voice and she went to bed, laying down pretending to be sick.   

Roberto began to check her and asked don Ishmael:   Can you leave me alone with her?   O.K. doctor, meanwhile I"m going to see Don Elias.   As soon as Don Ishmael went out, Geranium opened her eyes and said Roberto, I am not sick but my father wants to exchange me for some Don Elias lands.   Roberto was amazed.   She told him:   Here is the medicine you gave me, I had haven"t it.   Roberto asked her, does your mother knows what your father wants to do?  Listen Roberto I have no mother, she die long time ago, I don"t either have any brother, neither sister, I am the only daughter, do you understand me Roberto?        

Roberto was looking at her.   Standing up she went to the other room, after a while she shout, I have finish Roberto.   He looked out and saw she was taking a bath and came out completely naked saying:   Do you remember you told me, do not take a bath at the white stones in the river Roberto?   He didn"t know what to say. 

Don"t you have a boy friend?   Yes but he is not here.   You better get dress, your father can come any time.   He will come until to night and will come back drunk, she told Roberto.

With out say any thing else she took the initiative, beginning to undress Roberto, kissing, and driving him to the bed saying:   I"m going to show you I"m not sick.

It had pass the moment when they were naked and the give up was total.   He was getting dress and said her good bye.   She said him, I will be waiting for you soon.   You can send me a telegram with the people who brought you to El Palmar. 

Roberto was arriving in his way back to El Palmar, Don Theo, el  Padre Miguel and Dahlia with her boys received him, she ran and kissed Roberto,  they asked him how the sick woman was?   Roberto answered, he was doing his best to save her.   Don Theo said:   This horse is a good one, you make it in a very short time.   Yes said Roberto, The problem is that I have to do it often and it will be very hard, but my profession is like that and my duty must be accomplished.   Don"t worry Roberto you may account with the horse as many times as you needed it, said Don Theo, saying good bye to Roberto and El Padre Miguel.   I"m going to the tree where the one hundred voices bird sings.                                                                                             

El padre Miguel said:   It is incredible, every thing the one hundred voices bird say, becomes true. Don Theo saying nothing left them.   

Three days later, Roberto was at home, Professor Benito got in and delivered a telegram from "The Gladness" for Roberto, saying:   your presence is required urgently.   Next day very early Roberto was going way to The Gladness, and met the mule drivers and as everybody knew Roberto they greeted him. 

When Roberto arrived to The Gladness he met Don  Elias who asked him, who are you?   I am the doctor, I come to see Geranium, Roberto didn"t know that he was the person who Don Ishmael wants to exchange Geranium for some lands.   Don Ishmael asked Roberto, doctor how did you see Geranium last time?   Very delicate, it will be good for her to see her fiancé.   My daughter has no fiancé Ishmael said.  -Roberto remained Geranium told him she had a fiancé-   Geranium listened Roberto and when Don Ishmael and Roberto came in to the Geranium"s room, she was lied down with her eyes closed.   Don Ishmael said:   Meanwhile you see her , I will go to see some lands.   Roberto distrustful watched out through the window and listened Don Elias saying:   This is the last time this doctor see her.   Don Ishmael nodded to confirm.        

Roberto secure after to see they were going far away, came back to the Geranium"s room, Geranium wasn"t there, he called for her, she didn"t answered.   All of the sudden she came in naked saying:   Roberto, give me my medicine, she gave up her self again totally, telling:   I want to have a son with you, it"s better to be pregnant than to be married with Don Elias.       

Roberto was to depart saying her, if you need me you know how to call for me.

In the afternoon Roberto was arriving to El Palmar and met Don Theo who said, you came back very soon Roberto, and how is your the Gladness patient?   She is reacting well, I hope she soon will be fine with my medicine.  Roberto quickly came in to his home and ran to see his sons, and Dahlia received him with a kiss, and asked on her way:   When are you go back to The Gladness?    He answered in the same way:  I"ll go back only one more time, I hope, it is very far away.      

Next days Roberto continued his live with the family in good harmony, and having not to much work to do, he took his sons with him to have a walk around the country house, and in that way the days were going by.

One day when Roberto was attending a patient, and professor Benito just delivered him a telegram.                                                                        

Next day Roberto was going to The Gladness.   No body was waiting for him at his arrival.   He thought it was not normal, he shout is some body home?   Geranium answered.   I am alone, you may come in, I"m getting better.  All the doctor"s treatment was the same  than before.   Roberto got dress and said her: I will wait for your telegram.         

Roberto was going way to El Palmar when suddenly a man appears aiming his gun to him shooting twice, one shoot struck on the head and the other one on an arm.   Some mule drivers passing over there recognized Roberto, and they carried him to El Palmar.   Some other people of the region saw Roberto on their way to El Palmar and passed the notice to Roberto"s friends, telling them what had happened and in what conditions Roberto Was.

El Padre Miguel arrived in the moment when the men was getting down the mule Roberto wounded.   Professor Benito realized  what happened and went to send a telegram, asking for help, and for some doctors to attend Roberto.

Doña Maria and don Theo arrived one hour later, They were crying and they had not noticed Dahlia.

They placed Roberto over a blanket.     

Doña Maria went to look for Dahlia and she explained her on her way, what happened to Roberto.   Dahlia went out running with her babies, difficulty she kneeled and crying kissed Roberto.   At that moment a helicopter noise was listened, two doctors jump down with a small bed to take Roberto with them.   Dahlia gave the boys to Doña Maria.   Dahlia opposed to the doctors to take Roberto with them, in her note book she wrote:   If he is going to die, he will die with me.   The doctors insisted many times to take Roberto with them, but Dahlia never permitted it.   Finally the doctors left.  

El Padre Miguel asked Don Theo:   What are you going to do?   Don Theo said:   I knew it was going to happen to Roberto, and I know he is not going to die, because the  shot in the head didn"t affect nothing important.   Roberto is going to get well soon.   The one hundred voices bird told me.  

The end

 

 

 

 

Autor:

Manuel Flores Mancera

México

Extraordinario guión (registrado inédito) para una gran película. Busco productor