Страна слепых

           "Thefoolsmustbeblind,"hesaid. 

           Whenatlast,aftermuchshoutingandwrath,Nunezcrossedthestreambyalittlebridge,camethroughagateinthewall,andapproachedthem,hewassurethattheywereblind. HewassurethatthiswastheCountryoftheBlindofwhichthelegendstold. Convictionhadsprunguponhim,andasenseofgreatandratherenviableadventure. Thethreestoodsidebyside,notlookingathim,butwiththeirearsdirectedtowardshim,judginghimbyhisunfamiliarsteps. Theystoodclosetogetherlikemenalittleafraid,andhecouldseetheireyelidsclosedandsunken,asthoughtheveryballsbeneathhadshrunkaway. Therewasanexpressionnearaweontheirfaces. 

           "Aman,"onesaid,inhardlyrecognisableSpanish—"amanitis—amanoraspirit—comingdownfromtherocks." 

           ButNunezadvancedwiththeconfidentstepsofayouthwhoentersuponlife. AlltheoldstoriesofthelostvalleyandtheCountryoftheBlindhadcomebacktohismind,andthroughhisthoughtsranthisoldproverb,asifitwerearefrain— 

           "IntheCountryoftheBlindtheOne-eyedManisKing." 

           "IntheCountryoftheBlindtheOne-eyedManisKing." 

           Andverycivillyhegavethemgreeting. Hetalkedtothemandusedhiseyes. 

           "Wheredoeshecomefrom,brotherPedro?"askedone. 

           "Downoutoftherocks." 

           "OverthemountainsIcome,"saidNunez,"outofthecountrybeyondthere—wheremencansee. FromnearBogota,wherethereareahundredthousandsofpeople,andwherethecitypassesoutofsight."