The afternoon arrived and Candado was getting ready for Nelson to come and pick him up. As he had accepted the contract proposed by the old man, the old man told him to get ready, because he was going to pick him up. Of course, Clementina and Hammya did not know about this meeting. Their curiosity was so great that they spied on his every move. But, as Candado was very observant and perceptive, he already knew that they were spying on him, so he gave them false clues, like looking at the ceiling for more than ten minutes, walking in circles, looking at his watch for almost two minutes or talking nonsense. Even Tínbari, who was watching him, did not understand what he was doing.
-Hey, I think you're alone on the court," said Tínbari. Candado had been annoyed by this comment, so much so that he decided to clarify it. But, so that the two busybodies would hear him, he began to talk mentally to Tínbari.
-Don't bother, you piece of trash, can't you see I'm trying to throw those two off the scent.
Tínbari turned around and saw the two hiding behind the door.
-Ah, now I get it, yes humans are gossipy.
-That would be great if they were human.
-Right, one is a robot and the other is of unknown race, how silly.
-Shut up, Demonto, you were a human once.
-Yes, I was once a filthy, weak human, but that's over now," Tynbari clarified.
-Don't insult the human race, stupid.
-Oh well, whatever you say.
-You and I will have a lot to talk about once the meeting with Nelson is over," said Candado as he adjusted his tie.
-Yes, yes, yes, yes, whatever you say, Candado," said Tínbari in a nonchalant manner. Candado was annoyed that Tínbari spoke to him that way, as if he was making fun, but when Candado was about to reproach him, from his window he could see a light blue Justicialist car from the year of Juan Domingo Perón.
-It must be a joke, those cars are no longer manufactured in this country," muttered Candado.
-Ha, I had one when I was human," said Tínbari.
-Wait, those two are no longer at my door? -asked Candado.
Tínbari looked out to see if the girls weren't spying on him, but it turned out that they were tired of watching him do unimportant things and had left.
-No, they're gone," said Tínbari, raising his right hand.
-Well, it's time," said Candado as he opened the window.
-What are you doing? -asked Tínbari.
-I'll go down this way," said Candado.
-Ah, good luck then," said Tínbari.
-But I didn't say I would go down alone, no sir, you will help me down.
-Are you crazy? If I do, you'll look like you're floating, since you're the only one who can see me, except for your friends, of course.
-I don't care, can't you transport me or what?
-Ah, you're right, I can do that, but why did you open the window?
-To show you, piece of asshole, where I want you to take me," said Candado pointing to the car.
-Well, your wish is my command," said Tínbari. The demon approached Candado and took his hand with a smile.
-Close your eyes, because this could blind you.
Candado did not ask anything, but closed his eyes just as Tínbari asked him to, and, in the blink of an eye (metaphorically) he appeared inside the car. When he was inside, he slowly opened his eyes and saw Nelson looking at him in surprise. Then he looked at the back seat, where Tínbari was leaning back and waving at him.
-I'll be here if you need me, okay?
Then Candado looked back at Nelson a second time.
-Baby, normal people go out the gate of their houses and get into the car by opening that door next to you," said Nelson.
-Well, but it was the most feasible way to get out without being noticed.
Nelson said nothing more and started the car. Candado looked around in amazement. A justicialist car, almost nobody has one of those, and if they do, it's in museums. So Candado took courage and asked.
-Where did you get the car?
Nelson smiled and said.
-I've had this car for over fifty years, Dad," Nelson said.
-How so? The Justicialista was discontinued in 1955 with the overthrow of Perón, then they changed the name, the color and even the structure.
Nelson started to laugh out loud and answered.
-You seem to know a lot about history
Then he said that apparently his father bought the car in 1952 and gave it to him as a gift when he turned seventeen. He has used it ever since. His father was working as a school teacher in Buenos Aires when the general was overthrown, was fired for being a Peronist, and went from having a good job to working as a cashier in the supermarkets of the time, earning a pittance. Nelson never knew his mother, and he always blamed himself for not having prevented her death. For that reason, Nelson was always attentive, buying her everything she asked for, even the car. When he was ten years old, he told her that when he grew up he would buy a car, but his father said no, and promised him that he would buy it when he turned seventeen, and so he kept his promise, he gave him his car, and that made it very difficult for him, since his job was very far away and he needed the car to go to work. And that several years later he kept it because his father gave it to him when he had nothing. He will never forget her smile when he gave it to her.
-Wow, it's amazing that you've kept your father's gift for over fifty years.
-Yes, a son never forgets his father, no matter how old he is.
-Well, enough chitchat. -Where are we supposed to go?
-We're going to a house you might know.
-Where to?
-To the Peñalosa mansion.
-What? That house has been abandoned for almost forty years, nobody lives there.
-That's true, nobody, but that property belongs to the company C.I.C.E.T.A. In 1989, at the end of Raúl Alfonsín's government.
-What is C.I.C.C.E.T.A.?
-Centro de Investigación Científica Especialista en Tecnología Avanzada, or to make it shorter, White Science Laboratories, L.C.B.
-Ahhh, and what is that?
-It's where your grandfather worked, or rather, the founder of C.I.C.E.T.A. Laboratories.
-But, what is that place?
-Heh, you'll see.
He said nothing more; Nelson remained silent throughout the trip with a smile on his face. This was somewhat uncomfortable for Candado, but for Tínbari it was somewhat amusing. In fact, he didn't care about the consequences, since for him, as long as Candado's life was not at risk, everything would be fine.
It took them approximately forty-five minutes to reach the Peñalosa mansion. Curiously, this huge house was on the outskirts of town. The car parked in front of the iron gates of the house. Nelson got out of the car and entered a booth that was near the gate. Once inside, the door opened; it almost gave the impression that it had opened by itself. Nelson came out of the place smiling and walked back to the car without saying anything.
The car passed into what could be called a garden, as it was overrun by nature. Vines covered almost most of the wall, including the house. They parked in front of the huge gates. It was as if it were the Pink House, but this one was red, well, or so it seemed, since no one had painted it for a long time.
Candado and Nelson got out of the car and drove up to the entrance of the house. Nelson stopped and knocked on the door. Candado looked at him like he was crazy. The house was battered, dirty and full of cobwebs. It gave the impression that no one had ever lived there. Who would answer? However, the door opened slowly, and from inside it, the face of an old man appeared. He looked at him and said:
-You are just in time, Torres.
-Great, you see I'm not unpunctual," said Nelson.
The old man looked at Candado.
-Is this boy Alfred's grandson?
-Yes, he is," Nelson answered.
The man opened the door and invited them in. Candado followed Nelson with his guard up, as he did not trust the possible people who lived there. With his hand behind his back, he was holding his facon. Nelson, who knew that Candado was uneasy, told him:
-Don't worry, they won't hurt you.
Those words calmed Candado a little, and the old man managed to get him to lower his hand from his facon.
They walked for a few more seconds down the almost illuminated corridor until they reached a room with full illumination. In it was a group of six people, all of them senior citizens.
Candado stood in the center of those people, looking at all of them and with Tínbari watching him in the air, ready in case one of them was about to attack Candado.
-All right, guys, this person is Alfred's son," said Nelson.
-Grandson, Nelson, grandson," said Candado.
-It's a figure of speech.
The people looked at each other and began to draw their conclusions. Nelson put his hand on Candado's shoulder and pointed to a seat. Candado walked over and sat down.
-Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's time to introduce yourselves," Nelson advised.
One of the people got up and introduced himself.
-Hello, my name is Bruno Gomez, I am 76 years old and I represent El Gallo.
Bruno has black hair with white graying from his forehead back, has light green eyes, wears a perfectly trimmed dark horseshoe mustache and wears a green military general's outfit with medals on his chest.
Power: He has the ability to lift someone with his mind and can create diamonds as a shield.
Ability: None, he's good at everything.
-Hello, I am Miguel de Casas, I am 54 years old and I represent the Ñandú.
Miguel: Despite his age, he still has blond hair. His eyes are brown, and he wears an eye patch with a scar protruding from that wound. He wears white dress pants with dark boots, a black trench coat that reaches his knees, and a gray shirt with a red tie.
Power: Control of white fire, metamorphosis ability, flight, superhuman speed (even surpassing the speed of light) and invisibility.
Ability: Unknown abilities.
The third introduced herself.
-I am Elsa Button, I am 70 years old and I represent the Lynx.
Elsa: She has white hair, and her age is not evident in her appearance. Her eyes are of strange colors, one is green and the other blue. She wears a pink pearl necklace and dresses in dark brown pants, stiletto heels and a light blue short-sleeved shirt.
Power: Has the unique ability to mimic or copy the powers and abilities of his enemies and friends.
Ability: Ability to copy others.
The fourth introduced himself.
-Hello, you all know me already, but I wouldn't mind introducing myself again like when I was young. I'm Simon Garmendia, I'm 65 years old and I represent the Red Lion.
Simon: Originally from Canada, his hair is red and without gray. His eyes are dark and he wears restful glasses. He wears a smart gray suit from head to toe with a blue tie and has a big red beard that makes him look like the philosopher Karl Marx. He is always happy, which is due to a traumatic event in his childhood, when his parents were brutally murdered in front of his eyes. This unleashed an uncontrollable inner power, related to his emotions, such as sadness, anger, fear and others.
Power: He unleashes an uncontrollable bloodlust when experiencing intense feelings such as sadness, anger or fear. No one knows exactly what his power is based on, except Nelson.
Ability: Ability to repair any technological object.
The fifth introduced herself.
-Aldana Serpent: Hi, I'm Aldana Serpent, I'm 70 years old and I represent the Turtle.
Aldana: Despite her age, she looks like she is in her twenties or thirties. Her hair is long and black, her eyes are dark, her skin is brown and she wears a red diamond-shaped crystal on her forehead. He wears black glasses and dresses formally in light green men's clothing, accompanied by a pink tie.
Power: Her ability is related to life and death. She is long-lived and can tear out a human's soul with her hands. She can also create branches and roots from her hands.
Skill: She is an expert in surprise attacks, traps and other strategic skills.
The sixth and final one introduced herself.
-Well, it's my turn. My name is Rosa Pasturúti, I'm 50 years old and I represent the Dove.
Rosa: She wears a dark suit from head to toe, with a cape that looks more like gas. She is enveloped in black smoke that surrounds her, and her face remains hidden, appearing to be young.
Powers: Unknown.
Ability: Unknown.
When everyone introduced themselves, Nelson stepped forward and said.
-Well, ladies and gentlemen, today Candado is about to join us in the capture of Greg.
-Wait, the armadillo is missing," said Candado.
-The armadillo was your grandfather, and as you can see, he is dead," said Bruno.
-Thank you, by the way, who are you and what was your relationship with my grandfather?
-We are, or rather, we were Alfred's friends," answered Miguel.
-I was his clandestine lover," added Aldana.
-Shut your mouth," ordered Bruno.
-You see, we also worked here once, we were and still are scientists," said Nelson.
-Except for us, we were only security guards," said Bruno and Simon.
-Well, some of us, as you can see, were not cut out for science," said Nelson mockingly.
-Why am I here? -asked Candado.
-So you know the history of Cotorium and why humans have powers," said Miguel.
-Well, now this has become very interesting and I would like to know about it.
-Well, you can manifest now, Slonbari, the god of life," said Nelson, tapping the floor with his cane.
At that moment, the windows and doors closed by themselves, and in the middle of the meeting, a white vapor emerged from the floor and slowly grew until an inhuman but beautiful figure appeared in front of Candado.
-Good afternoon, I am Slonbari, the Bari of life.
Slonbari: He had very pale skin and no eyes; instead, he wore dark glasses. He possessed a perfect nose, and his hair changed color continuously, apparently according to his mood, but you could say that his original hair was white. He had no legs, from his waist down he emanated a gray vapor constantly. He wore a black cassock with a white ribbon around his neck, and had wooden hands. From his back protruded two beautiful white wings.
-Well, what were you supposed to be before? -asked Candado.
-I was a priest in the church of Spain, more than eight hundred and thirty years ago. For wanting to help others by preparing medicines, I was condemned at the stake by my own brothers, but a divine light transformed my body and I fled from that place.
-What was your name? -asked Candado.
-What was your name? I forgot it a long time ago.
-Well, how did you lose your eyes, don? -Candado asked again.
-My stepfather took them out before they burned me, accusing me of having raped women.
-I'm sorry if I offended you.
-Offended me? Hahahaha, you didn't. In fact, you're the first person to ask me these things, besides Alfred. But enough about me, I feel the presence of a friend behind you.
Candado looked behind his back defensively, so much so that he pulled out his facon.
-Hahahaha, no, son, he is not an enemy," said Slonbari laughing.
At that moment, Tínbari appeared manifesting a black smoke at the front of the room, allowing himself to be seen by everyone present in that room.
-Are you talking about my raven? -Tínbari asked.
-How have you been all this time, father of death? -Slonbari asked.
-You flatter me. It's amazing that someone like you would ask about my condition.
-I don't know, but it seems to me you're fighting each other with hints," Nelson commented.
-Shut up, old man," he continued, "There's still something unfinished between the two of us, Slonbari," said Tínbari, showing his claws.
-Stop, Tínbari, I order you to stop. We are not here to fight.
-Heh, whatever you say, Candado.
The demon ceased his quarrel and returned behind Candado.
-Well, I think you have something to tell me, so do it," said Candado.
Slonbari cleared his throat and began to count.
Cotorium, all life in the universe originated on that planet. There was once a gulant (unique, in the language of the Bari) whose name was Keplant. He was the only living being in the Úzergluk (Void, in the Bari language), which is what the universe used to be called. Keplant tells of it as a colorless, silent, dark and lifeless place. He always asked himself, "Why do I exist, what is my purpose?" Among other things. But once, while he was playing with his medallion, he accidentally created a stone-like structure, which caught his attention powerfully, so much so that throughout his life he tried to manage it, creating things. Until he created a planet, which at the time had no name. Keplant stood on it, walked all over it, but it was empty, there was no life. He went on and on and on, looking for the solution to his curiosity, how his necklace worked, biting it, kicking it and hitting it. Until he created a sun, he gave it another hit and created water, he gave it three hits and created vegetables, he gave it four hits and created a river. When he was about to give a fifth blow, his necklace was destroyed and turned into a kind of violet dust, which he accidentally inhaled. The dust entered his body, and after he did that, a violet flame came out of his hand, with which he created the sky and the clouds. Keplant became so excited that he began to roam the planet he himself had created, flying through the air using his power and creating mountains, rivers and seas. Until he focused on the center of the planet, where he concentrated all his energy on that point and created a huge tree, which was the first time he created life. The tree grew until it reached the clouds, and when its branches touched the sky, it began to rain. Keplant rejoiced and wept at the sight of that touching scene.
As an adult, he saw that nine strange fruits began to fall from the tree, and from inside, babies came out, five females and four males. Keplant raised them and named them: Sedbil, Pander, Rooboleo, Benst, Arús, Ícata, Venezy, Hammya and Sagarina.
-Wait, Hammya? Are you sure? -asked Candado.
-Yes, Hammya is the goddess of the planet Coleriam. Why?
-Nothing special. Could you fast forward a few years, please. I don't have all day," said Candado.
-Well, I will. It turns out that Cotorium, at the moment, is at war. The Rooboleo resistance is against the Black Zodiac alliance," said Slonbari.
-And what does that have to do with me? -asked Candado.
-My boy, it has a lot to do with it, because you have the powers of the god Keplant, or in other words, the blood of Keplant, and Pullbarey, the leader of the Zodian, is on this planet seeking the power you have. If Pullbarey were to kill you and take Keplant's powers from you, he would use them to win the war and be unstoppable. The world... no, the entire universe will be under the dominion of one person, him.
-He's here, isn't he? Tell me where he is and let's get it over with," said Candado, showing his flaming fist.
-Your bravery is commendable, but it won't be easy. Pullbarey is too dangerous for any human," said Slonbari.
-I'm not just anyone, I have a first and last name, you know, and it's Candado Ernest Barret.
-He is looking for you, try not to die, for now you are weak to Pullbarey," said Slonbari.
-I was trained in Tínbari's death box and I survived, I am not afraid of anything, not even death," said Candado with a cold expression on his face.
That look of Padlock's was beginning to unsettle Slonbari. Even though he could not see, he could feel the shiver of the boy's gaze running through his whole body. It was the first time a Bari had ever been frightened of a human being.
-Scary, isn't it, Slonbari? -asked Tínbari haughtily.
-Well, where is he? -said Candado.
-Yes, it could be," said Aldana.
-You still have time. While you wait those ten years, you can prepare," said Slonbari as he faded away.
-Ha, looks like the meeting is over," said Tínbari.
-I thought someone would be somewhat "supportive" of me, but I guess not," said Candado.
-Why do you say that? -asked Nelson.
-It's simple, my life is somewhat difficult. As if it wasn't enough to be in the eye of the storm with two major super powers, both the guilds and the circuits, and now not only do I have to deal with the F.U.C.O.T., but I also have to fight someone on the other side of the galaxy. Oh, come on! I know how you guys think: "Oh, look here I have a near-suicide mission, what are we going to do? I know, let's give it to Candado, he's sure to accomplish it, after all, he's just a kid with no social life, let's ruin him, because after all, he won't care."
-Well, Candado, you won't do it all alone; you'll have our help," said Bruno.
-Of course, it's not because I'm arrogant or anything like that, but aren't you guys a little "old" to be doing these things? -Candado asked.
-We may be old, but we're not useless, boy," continued Bruno. Well, comrades, it's time for us all to retire, after all, the meeting is over.
When they all heard that, they got up and headed for the exit door. But not before saying goodbye to Candado with a handshake and praising his grandfather. When Nelson was the last to leave, he looked at Candado and asked:
-Is something wrong, Candado? Everyone has already left.
-You go ahead, I'll stay for a while, okay? After all, I'd like to admire the house a bit," said Candado.
-Okay," said Nelson.
Nelson did as he said, he left, but left the door open so that Candado could leave. In the meantime, he began to talk to the air.
-I see you are not quite gone, Slonbari," said Candado.
At that moment, the Bari of life emerged from the ground with a white vapor enveloping him.
-What gave me away? -Slonbari asked.
-Nothing, I just spoke out of turn. I had no idea you were here," said Candado.
-Well, it worked. What do you want from me then? -Slonbari asked.
-I want you to finish telling me the story of that planet, please," said Candado.
-Well, it seems you were intrigued to know more about my world, all right, I will.
-Thank you very much, Slonbari," said Candado.
Then he continued.
After Keplant raised those children as his children, a small ship fell from the sky. People came out of it. Keplant hid the children and approached the people coming out of that small ship. The people began to talk to each other, and this helped Keplant to learn their language perfectly. He approached the people by camouflaging himself as one of them, and that strategy led him to meet the leaders of that crowd. Their names were Cot, Orux and Orium; these three people were the leaders of those people. He saw how the leaders helped their people, gave them food, water and protection. He understood that if they helped their people, why not help them too. So he decided to approach the leaders, not as an insider, but as himself. At first, they believed he was a threat, but when he talked to the leaders, they stopped believing that. Keplant told them that the best place they could stock up was under the biggest tree on the planet. The leaders listened and agreed, giving him a white gem as a symbol of friendship. Keplant guided them through the woods with his violet flame, and the road was long, but they had finally arrived at the place promised by Keplant. They were delighted with him for giving them a home in his house, and he said he was happy to meet others besides his children. Of course, they also played with the other children of those people.
There was peace and prosperity on the planet for several years. I don't know exactly how long, but I estimate about three or four thousand years from the data he tells. But that peace slowly began to fade. The youngest brother, Orux, had realized that the tree he was in was powerful and that it emanated immense magic from within. One day he met with his brothers and proposed to cut down the tree, but they refused. They said that this tree belonged to Keplant and that it was he who gave them a place to create their city and that he also gave them permission to cut down the forests if they needed them, but under no circumstances could they cut that tree. Orux felt offended, so much so that he abandoned his people to travel the planet, and that was the last time they saw each other.
Things had improved. Keplant's children had grown into adults. Keplant, however, had not changed at all, he had only grown a beard. To top it off, he was still creating planets all over the galaxy. In addition, he had created three more planets, whose names today are: Elerk, Coleriam and Naturian. While Keplant was busy creating planets, his children were spreading their knowledge throughout the city.
One night, after a hundred years, Orux returned, but not alone. He was accompanied by an army of stone-bodied monsters, intent on taking the tree by force, not caring that innocent people died in the process. Orux stormed the city, killing his own people and destroying everything in his path. It was a massacre, until at the top of the tree, Orux and his brothers fought over who would acquire the tree.
At that very moment, Keplant had returned from his journey and saw something he had never seen before: war. Driven by his instincts to protect the people, he destroyed all the monsters with his powers and saved the citizens. But while he was doing that, at the top of the tree, Orux destroyed an important part of the tree, causing severe damage to Keplant. Keplant, already injured, told all the citizens to evacuate, to take their belongings and get out of there, without criticism and without choice. They packed all their things and left the city.
Meanwhile, at the top, the brothers fought bravely against Orux. Until the latter gave a deadly blow to the tree, causing it to begin to release all its energy brutally and quickly. Orux, who was very close to the tree, was expelled by this energy into the sky and ended up dying from the fall. The two brothers, pained by this loss, knew that the tree would kill all their people if they did not do something. So they used what little of their magic they had left to compress the great power, which they succeeded in doing. Keplant watched as the brothers held hands, looking up at him, thanking him for saving their people. Just at that moment, they were absorbed by the energy, causing a huge explosion that destroyed the entire city and killed them. The tree had disappeared and, as a consequence, had harmed Keplant and his children. But it was not all pain, the tree spread its magic all over the planet, creating and empowering all citizens and even Keplant's children.
Keplant, raising his staff, baptized the planet with the names of the fallen, "Cotorium", in honor of Cot and Orium. That's where the name of that planet comes from.
-Interesting, what happened to Keplant, the citizens and their children? -Candado asked.
-After all that happened, Keplant wrote all this history in a book. Then he transferred his powers to the gem that the three brothers had given him and hid it in the planet's core. Soon after, he disappeared and was never seen again. He is considered, for us, a god. His children scattered in nine directions," Slonbari explained.
Slonbari continued with the story:
"Rooboleo took some of the people and decided to travel north, creating a city called today 'The Rooboleo Language'.
Hammya took some people to the planet Coleriam, with the intention that they could live in peace and free of war.
Icata took a large part of the population and they traveled to the west, settling there and creating three nations: The Acretians, the Zarrtes and the Ayokiz.
Sedbil and Pander traveled together, taking a group of people with them, establishing a border and creating two nations: "The Sedbil" and "The Panders".
Arús took his people to live underwater, thus creating "The Lodge of the Three Moons".
Venezi took his people to the mountains, thus creating "Los Tech" and "Los Telf".
Sagarina decided to stay and rebuild the city, thus creating "The Sacred City", what today is "The New Zodian Land".
Benst took the rest of the people to the plains of the planet, thus creating a great school called "Benst" after his great commander and right hand Mit'rell.
Slonbari had finished his account of Keplant's children and the history of Cotorium.
-Thank you for the report.
-This is the story I told everyone at the time, and now I tell it to you.
-Why?
Slonbari smiled.
-Why not? I'm sure it will do you good.
-...
Slonbari smiled and faded away without another word. By the time he finished telling the story of the planet Cotorium, dusk had already set in, and Candado began to run out of the mansion. As he reached the exit of the house, he saw Nelson leaning over his car, who signaled him to come closer. Candado smiled and went with him, preparing to return home.
When Candado entered, he found his grandmother, Hipolito and Clementina, all waiting for him at the door. They reprimanded him for his unannounced absence, and Candado apologized for the scare he had given them.
Finally, he went to the kitchen, where he found his parents, his mother Europa and his father Arturo, together with Hammya, who was sitting in front of them. His parents wanted to talk to him.
Europa and Arturo expressed their concern about Hammya's decision to stay in the city and asked Candado to explain why all this had happened in one day. They were eager for answers.
-Oh no
He sighed with discouragement.
Candado's mother, Europa Barret, is a beautiful woman with long black hair with violet tones at the ends. Her skin is white and she has clear, intimidating eyes. She wears a long white smock with a salmon-colored bow, black pants and stiletto heels. In the past, she possesses the same powers as her son.
-Take a seat, son, we need to talk," said Mr. Barret in a serious manner.
Candado father's name is Arthur. Unlike his wife, he has blond hair with some gray in his sideburns, dark eyes and medium skin tone. He has a scar on his forehead in the shape of a vertical I. He wears a light blue shirt. He dresses in a light blue shirt with short sleeves, gray jeans and does not possess any kind of power, but is skilled in fists and kicks.
Candado sat next to Hammya as his parents asked him about the situation.
-Well, I'd like to know how all this could have happened in one day? -asked Mrs. Barret.
-I don't understand you, what happened in one day? -asked Candado.
-Your mother means her, we both wonder "why is she going to stay here?" I would like you to answer us," said Mr. Barret.
-"You see, I had made a promise to a friend of mine and yours, Ricardo, or rather "el Rueda," some time ago, I just didn't think I would mean it," said Candado.
-Ricardo? And what's he got to do with all this? -asked Mr. Barret.
-She is his daughter, I couldn't refuse. You know what "el Rueda" did for our family," said Candado.
Candado's father looked at Hammya and, with his hands on the table, said:
-I see you are a fan of the color green, but I would like to talk to your dad, my dear," said Mr. Barret with a tone of delicacy.
-No, I'm sorry, you won't be able to be," said Hammya, still looking down.
-Why? -asked Mrs. Barret.
-El Rueda died, he had advanced cancer," Candado answered for Hammya.
-Cancer? He was supposed to have been cured a long time ago," said Mr. Barret in surprise.
-Well, I read in his letter that....
-Letter? Show me, please," said Mr. Barret.
Candado took out of his pocket the letter, all crumpled, and handed it to his father, who took it and read it. After a few seconds in silence, Candado's father left the letter on the table and after a few seconds he began to get sad.
-It is his handwriting, yes it is his handwriting," said Mr. Barret with tears in his eyes.
His wife held his hands to appease his pain. Hammya was still looking at the floor, but this time, he started to cry.
While all this was going on, Hipolito and Clementina were watching from the kitchen.
-It looks as if they were watching Titanic," said Hippolytus.
-Shut up, you insensitive old man," said Clementina.
After Candado's father calmed down, he stood up, walked towards Hammya and, when he was close to her, he leaned down, stroked the girl's head and said:
-You can stay as long as you want.
-Well, that's a big load off my mind," said Candado.
-What do you mean? -asked Mrs. Barret.
-Oh, nothing interesting, I'm just talking to myself," said Candado.
After Candado's father calmed down, he stood up and walked towards Hammya. When he was already close to her, he bent down and stroked the girl's head, saying:
-You can stay as long as you want.
Hammya looked up in surprise, then nodded shyly.
-Well, that's a huge weight off my mind," said Candado.
-What do you mean? -asked Mrs. Barret.
-Oh, nothing interesting, I'm just talking to myself," Candado replied.