‘What happened to Charlie?’ asked Brinco.
Belvís looked at him in surprise. To tell the truth, Belvís always looked in surprise. ‘The Kid? The Kid’s here, in my suitcase. He likes it better in Conxo. More people to talk to. But you have to get out a bit.’
That was when Brinco announced, in that solemn tone he had, ‘Well, get ready. Tonight you’re going to perform at the Vaudeville.’
Belvís entered the stage with his suitcase. Cast an admiring glance at the Eldorado. Not because he was acting, but because it struck him as a magnificent ship with a skylark on its lips. He opened the suitcase. Took out the Kid. Sat down on the stool. Looked out for the first time. Realised there was a lot of noise since most people weren’t looking at him. At either of them. There was a long bar at the back where customers stood on their own, holding a glass. Checking out the terrain. With a hawk’s eyes. Another group was talking and laughing out loud, completely oblivious to Belvís and the Kid’s stellar presence. The only couples paying attention were those at the second row of tables, closest to the stage. Belvís searched for Brinco. He’d been there, in the corner, when he brought him in. Had introduced him to a girl with big eyes, whose name was Cora. He was searching for those big eyes in order to start looking around. But there was no one there. Neither Brinco nor Big Eyes. Only Inverno. The eternal lookout.
‘Thank you for your indifference,’ began Belvís. ‘I’d like to introduce you all to Charlie the Kid. An intellectual.’
‘Can I tell a story, Che?’
‘Course you can, Charlie. It’s what everyone expects… Just make sure you finish quickly. They’re important people and haven’t time to waste on your intelligence.’
‘OK. The other day I overheard a conversation. You know I’m always overhearing conversations. It was right here in Noitía, or maybe not. The point is, one girl said to another, “Listen, I’m in a quandary. The judge said I could choose between a million pesetas and a year in prison.” So the other said, “I don’t know why you’re even wondering. Take the money!”’
‘People are amazing, Charlie. I remember a bar like this, full of lowlife…’
‘Do you realise what you just said?’
‘Have I offended somebody?’ asked Belvís.
‘Course you have! Apologise to the owner. This isn’t a bar. It’s a… club!’
‘Pay attention to me, Charlie.’
‘No, I’d prefer not to,’ said the puppet, glancing at the ventriloquist and giving a jump. ‘Your hand’s enough. You won’t let go of me!’
And that was when the Kid looked around, very slowly, at the audience finally beginning to laugh.
‘Well, would you believe it? Look at them. Created in his image and likeness. Just imagine! That supreme being was a funny man. He must have been delighted!’
‘That’s right. Man was created in his own image and likeness. That’s what the Bible says.’
The Kid searched around for someone special to look at. A guy with a classic grumpy face. Bushels of hair in each nostril serving as a moustache. Projecting eyebrows over a pair of rodent eyes. Each wrinkle resembling a scar. He clenched his teeth and seemed to growl. Next to him, wearing a serious expression, was a girl.
It was her the Kid addressed. ‘Tell me, darling. What’s it like to sit so close to God, the divine grace?’
The couple reacted well and laughed. But in the group at the back, who hadn’t been paying much attention, there was a drunken scuffle. Inverno knew them. The first was Lelé Toén, one of Carburo’s men. The other, Flores, nicknamed the Graduate. He’d been in Noitía for a couple of days. A Mexican guest of Macro Gamboa. He knew he should leave them alone. They’d soon grow tired.
But for some reason Flores decided this puppet had to stop talking. He started shouting, staring at the Kid, not Belvís. Calling him a son of a bitch, his bald mother, and so on. Inverno thought it might be time to call Brinco. He’d be busy with Big Eyes, but he’d better call him all the same.
‘Calm down,’ said Lelé to the Graduate. ‘It’s only a comedian with a puppet. A clown. A lunatic.’
‘A lunatic? Nobody calls me a dirty pig.’
Stay quiet, thought Brinco at the other end of the bar.
But Belvís opened his mouth. ‘Did you hear that, Charlie?’
‘We were talking about God and someone changed the subject. Anyone got a ribbon to tie around a pig?’
The Graduate bent down and pulled a weapon from under his trousers, strapped to his calf. A change of subject. He aimed at the puppet and shot it in the head. Another shot rang out. Now the Graduate was moaning, the hand that was previously armed having been wounded.
‘Go pluck this cock outside before the police turn up,’ Brinco ordered Lelé.
‘The boss won’t like it.’
‘Who cares? In the Vaudeville, I’m in charge.’
Belvís was holding the puppet in his lap. Caressing it. ‘Can you hear me, Charlie? Can you hear me, lad?’
‘You’re lucky you weren’t shot.’
Brinco picked up some fragments of wood from the ground.
‘If the cops turn up, don’t say anything. The mouth is for keeping quiet.’
40
‘NOW THIS IS what I’d call a tax haven,’ declared Óscar Mendoza as he arrived for the party. Everyone knew he was joking and being serious at the same time.
Romance Manor had access to the sea, as Leda had wanted, but also a brand-new swimming pool. The gate to the sea really did give way to an Eden. A cove of fine white sand with a gurgling brook creating its very own garden next to the dune-working wind. And an old stone embankment for mooring boats.
Víctor Rumbo clapped his hands to summon the guests in the garden. He was obviously excited and managed to thread together a discourse that was sealed by applause and laughter.
‘As you know, the manor belongs to Leda. I’ll have to make do with the bed… But for Santi there’s something special. Come with me!’
He lifted his son in the air, sat him on his shoulders and directed the guests to where the surprise was waiting. There was a large open space covered by a blue canvas. Brinco gestured with his hand and a violinist began to play a waltz. Another gesture told some workers it was time to remove the cover since the guests were now surrounding the large rectangle.
There was the swimming pool. But it wasn’t empty. Out of the depths emerged a dolphin. Followed by a murmur of appreciation. Brinco didn’t need to gesture any more. Everybody fell into astonished silence while the violin bow arched over the cetacean’s back.
‘You wanted a friend? There’s a friend for you!’
Chelín followed Leda with his gaze. Managed to attract her attention. Took the pendulum out of his pocket and placed it next to the ground. It began to swing. She nodded, laughing. It was true. Now she was the one leading her son around the swimming pool while a group of men, partners and friends, surrounded Brinco with their aperitifs.
‘Brinco, your friends also have a surprise for you,’ said the lawyer with more familiarity than usual. ‘Come on then! There are marvels of nature for you too!’
The group headed towards the main gate, Mendoza and Rocha ushering them on.
‘And Inverno? Where’s Inverno?’ asked Brinco.
The lawyer clapped his hands and the main gate opened. In came a limousine with tinted windows, moving at a snail’s pace, followed by a group of mariachis with Inverno at the front playing the Mexican ballad ‘Pero sigo siendo el rey’.
The doors of the limousine suddenly opened and out stepped three gorgeous girls in revealing evening dresses.
‘Your Vaudeville princesses!’
They acknowledged the reception. Twirled around like models and then kissed Brinco.