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Chapter 3
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Theutteranceofthatphraseseemedtogivehimamelancholysatisfaction.Thehubbubofvoicesroundhimwasgrowingstrainedandhoarse.Inthesuddenpausestheexcitedgrimacingofthefaceswouldsinkallatonceintothestillnessofprofounddejection.
Meantime,theexodushadbegun.CarretasfullofladiesandchildrenrolledswayingacrossthePlaza,withmenwalkingorridingbytheirside;mountedpartiesfollowedonmulesandhorses;thepoorestweresettingoutonfoot,menandwomencarryingbundles,claspingbabiesintheirarms,leadingoldpeople,draggingalongthebiggerchildren.WhenCharlesGould,afterleavingthedoctorandtheengineerattheCasaViola,enteredthetownbytheharbourgate,allthosethathadmeanttogoweregone,andtheothershadbarricadedthemselvesintheirhouses.Inthewholedarkstreettherewasonlyonespotofflickeringlightsandmovingfigures,wheretheSenorAdministradorrecognizedhiswife’scarriagewaitingatthedooroftheAvellanos’shouse.Herodeup,almostunnoticed,andlookedonwithoutawordwhilesomeofhisownservantscameoutofthegatecarryingDonJoseAvellanos,who,withclosedeyesandmotionlessfeatures,appearedperfectlylifeless.HiswifeandAntoniawalkedoneachsideoftheimprovisedstretcher,whichwasputatonceintothecarriage.
