Chapter VI

           Itwashighnoon,andtheraysofthesun,thathungpoiseddirectlyoverheadinanintolerablewhiteglory,fellstraightasplummetsupontheroofsandstreetsofGuadalajara.Theadobewallsandsparsebricksidewalksofthedrowsingtownradiatedtheheatinanoily,quiveringshimmer.TheleavesoftheeucalyptustreesaroundthePlazadroopedmotionless,limpandrelaxedunderthescorching,searchingblaze.Theshadowsofthesetreeshadshrunktotheirsmallestcircumference,contractingcloseaboutthetrunks.Theshadehaddwindledtothebreadthofamereline.Thesunwaseverywhere.Theheatexhalingfrombrickandplasterandmetalmettheheatthatsteadilydescendedblanketwiseandsmothering,fromthepale,scorchedsky.Onlythelizards—theylivedinchinksofthecrumblingadobeandinintersticesofthesidewalk—remainedwithout,motionless,asifstuffed,theireyesclosedtomereslits,basking,stupefiedwithheat.Atlongintervalstheprolongeddroneofaninsectdevelopedoutofthesilence,vibratedamomentinasoothing,somnolent,longnote,thentrailedslowlyintothequietagain.Somewhereintheinteriorofoneofthe’dobehousesaguitarsnoredandhummedsleepily.Ontheroofofthehotelagroupofpigeonscooedincessantlywithsubdued,liquidmurmurs,veryplaintive;acat,perfectlywhite,withapinknoseandthin,pinklips,dozedcomplacentlyonafencerail,fullinthesun.InacornerofthePlazathreehenswallowedinthebakinghotdusttheirwingsfluttering,cluckingcomfortably.

           Andthiswasall.