JOSEDONOSO
27
But when Sebastian responded to any of their questions or
jibes, his manner was so calm and pleasant, so serene and pure, that
they felt defeated, as ifhe saw them as mere empty shells. They quit
teasing him, and Sebastian managed to assume the role of an effi–
cient shadow, letting his silence show that he was a bird of a
different feather, that he had neither the time nor the inclination for
that kind of game. The department boss, Aquiles Marambio, who
was only ten years older than Sebastian, took him under his wing.
Since Marambio talked a great deal and was only interested in
listening to himself, he wasn't aware that Sebastian paid no atten–
tion to what he was saying. He would sit down beside him and
address long harangues to him.
"You've got a great future in this organization, Rengifo, be–
cause I'm a good judge of character and I know you're a very serious
and capable fellow. Guess how many calculators they sent us from
North America? Gorgeous, brand-new machines. The only thing
they can't do is talk. Can't you guess? Eighty! Can you imagine
what we can do with eighty calculators? Well, I'd say we can do just
about anything, anything at
all.
Don't you agree?"
Aquiles Marambio was short and slight, with a tiny, sparse,
black moustache and gold-rimmed glasses. Although he wore dark
suits pinched at the waist, he was beginning to show a pot belly; his
pointed chin was already doubling up and quaked like a child about
to
cry whenever anybody disobeyed his instructions or committed
some offense against hygiene or punctuality.
Once, after much insistence from his boss, Sebastian accepted
an invitation
to
dine at his house. Seating himself at the table,
Aquiles Marambio unfolded his napkin, stuffing two of its corners
into his vest pockets, and settled in to wait for dinner, extolling the
joys of having one's own house, one's own wife, one's own radio and
washing machine. Meanwhile his wife, without parting her lips,
displayed an approving smile like a person who holds up a defensive
weapon; her heart was not at the dinner table but in the kitchen,
and she was praying to God the new cook wouldn't let the roast
burn.
After much beating around the bush, Aquiles cleared his
throat. "See here, Rengifo, there is something I want to talk to you
about."
