Subject: Book 3 Chapter 9 Part 2 Author: Nancy (63.10.127.247) Date: 11-04-1999 01:21 Scene 5 Exhausted, no longer responding to the cruel insistence of Renato's spurs, Renato's horse comes to a halt at a fork in the road. One descends to a poor village of shacks and the other leads to the dark promontory on which Juan is building his house. It is a place of savaje beauty known as el Cabo del Diablo. Renato follows the second path and comes to the door of that very house in construction. He bangs on the door demanding that it be opened. From one of the windows Segundo shows his head. --¡Abre esa puerta, estupido! ¿No oyes que llamo? ¡Abrela y corre a decirle a Juan del Diablo, que Renato D'Autremont viene a ajustar sus cuentas, que si es realmente hombre, no se esconda… que salga…! Segundo tells Renato that Juan is not there but Renato breaks through the door before Segundo can open it. He is full of anger and demanding to see Juan. Segundo swears that Juan is not there but Renato assures him that Juan is there and that he came with a woman. He tells Segundo that if he is silent for her, not to bother, that it is best that he tell Renato wher they are or it will cost him his life. In so saying Renato has placed his hand on one of the guns he has on him. He draws it and points it at Segundo's chest. Segundo takes a step back and again swears that he doesn't know anything. Renato furiously calls out to Juan, as he wanders through the rooms of the house in search of him demanding that he show himself. As Renato is looking for Juan, Monica comes in and asks Segundo what is going on. Segundo recounts what has just happened and Monica tells him to leave her alone with Renato and to do his best to keep Juan away until Renato has left the house. Monica rushes Segundo out of the room just as Renato has re-entered. Renato immediately proclaims that it was true that Monica was with Juan. He quickly goes to her but Monica's cold serenity detains hima nd he pauses with the gun in his hand and asks her where is Juan. Monica says she does not know and Renato tells her that she lies like everyone else to save Juan. But Renato says that this time no one will be able to save Juan. -- ¡No voy a dejarte! Si ese amor que tantas veces me has jurado es verdad… -- ¡No puedes dudarlo! Pero no sigas, Monica, no vas a detenerme con esa estratagema. Tu lo sabes todo, lo sabias todo, y lo callabas… ¡Que ridiculo me habras visto en tu interior cien veces! ¡Que risible, que empequeñecido y miserable, frente a ese canalla que todo su placer me ha burlado…! -- El fue el burlado, el engañado, el vendido… El no sabia que Aimee estaba comprometida contigo; el no sabia nada de ella sino lo que ella quiso contarle… Aimee jugo con los dos, pero era Juan del Diablo el traicionado… -- ¡Le queria… le gustaba!… Antes de ser mi esposa, fue su amante…¡Se toda la verdad! Me la grito alguien demasiado estupido para disimularla (Ana! LOL)… la arranque de unos labios que tenian demasiado miedo para ocultarme nada, para disimularme nada… ¡Aimee era la amante de Juan! Monica tells Renato that indeed that was true prior to Aimee's marriage with him. She tells him that Aimee deceived Juan and sent him on a long voyage in search of fortune and that when he returned triumphant and happy it was only to find out that the woman he thought was his was already married to Renato. Renato asks Monica where she got that story and Monica tells him that it happened before her eyes. Monica tells him that that is why she let herself become Aimee's scapegoat. --Por desgracia, paso frente a mis ojos. Solo cuando era tarde, me di cuenta exacta de toda la verdad… Por mi sangre de hermana, por las lagrimas de mi madre, que vi correr en defensa de Aimee, calle cuando acaso hubiera debido gritar. Por eso acepte luego todos los sacrificios para salvarla… por eso me deje arrastrar como victima, para ser pisoteada, humillada, acaso muerta en las manos de Juan. ¡Por eso me someti a todo! Estaba pagando, Renato, pagandote el delito de haber callado… Monica defends Juan before Renato, telling him that he was not responsible for what happened. But Renato blames Juan nonetheless because Aimee loved him and always looked for him. - -- ¡Pero ella le amaba! Le quiso siempre, le busco siempre…¡Que claro lo vi todo de pronto… come se descorrieron cien velos con una sola palabra…! ¡Gestos, miradas, el champaña de mi noche de bodas…! Renato's hand has tightened around the gun he is holding. His eyes are flashing with his desire for blood. As if guessing his dark thoughts, Monica has taken him by the shoulders. She tells him that from his reaction she gathers that he has only ever loved Aimee. Renato denounces having loved Aimee and tells Monica that she does not realize the extent of his humilliation. Renato tells her that he cannot desist even for her. He tells her that even it wasn't necessary for him to know what had happened between Aimee and Juan for him to want to kill him. He tells Monica that Juan has humilliated him just in having taken Monica from his side, and thus sneering at his love for her. What hurts him even more is that Juan has all the right to do so and that the only way that Renato can take that right away from him is killing him. --La ame en una hora maldita, pero nada tiene que ver con el amor. ¿Es que no comprendes? ¿Es que no mides todo el alcance de la burla que me ha herido y manchado? Yo era un hombre de honor…¿Como puedo seguirlo siendo, si en la mirada de un villano hay una burla para mi candidez de esposo? ¿Como puedo dejar que viva Juan del Diablo, pensando en la sonrisa que crispo sus labios cuando supo que el despojo de su pasion era la esposa inmaculada, que yo habia llevado hasta el altar? No puedo detenerme, Monica, ni por ti, que me despreciarias en el fondo de tu alma… --¡No…no! ¿Como podria yo despreciarte si tu… si tu renunciaras a esa torpe y tardia, a esa injusta venganza? --¿Injusta? Pero ¿es que no comprendes que ni siquiera era necesario saber lo que se, para buscar el combate final? ¿Quien te arranco ahora de mi lado? ¿Quien te trajo hasta aqui, burlandose de mi amor y de mi hombria? ¿Y como no habia de burlarse? Tiene toda la razon, todo el derecho de hacerlo… Y ese derecho no puedo arrancarselo mas que quitandole la vida… ¡lavando mi deshonor con sangre! Renato shakes off Monica's hands and quickly walks to the window and then the door, anxiously looking for Juan's arrival. Renato believes that since Monica is there that surely Juan can't be far off. Despondently he turns to Monica and tells her that he will wait for Juan for as long as it takes, and that surely it won't be long before Juan tries to come near Monica. Monica tells Renato that once he carries out his vengence, if he is able to carry it out, that he should not come near her, nor speak or even look at her again. She questions whether he hasn't done enough that he now wants to spill more blood that will come between them. Renato is struck by her words and tells her to stop talking to him as if there was some hope for his love. He tells her that it is only a strategy to dominate him and then tells her to deny it. --¡No hables como si le dieras esperanzas a mi amor, Monica! Es solo una estratagema para dominarme… Niega que solo me hablas asi para obligarme a desistir de un desquite en el que esta empeñada toda mi dignidad, al que no puedo renunciar… --¿Ni al precio de mi misma?-reta Monica desesperada. Renato questions Monica over what she is about to promise. Monica questions what she can possibly promise. She asks him if it's not enough to know that any of Juan's blood, if it should be spilled, would erase any possibility of union between them. Renato tells her that it is not fair that only a threat should come from her when she can fully see that he trembles before her at the very glimmer of hope of love. Then he consents that only with the promise of her would be be able to desist. But before he can finish his sentence, Monica interrumpts himand tells him that that is not what she meant. What she meant was that he would not be able to kill Juan without killing her first. And then Renato burts out in anger that he will never let her belong to Juan. --No digas eso, no le defiendas asi, porque solo de oirte hablar como si le amaras, me siento enloquecer. No, no, ahora mas que nunca puedo gritarlo: no seras nunca suya, no te abandonare en manos de Juan, te disputare como se disputan las fieras, y que venga si quiere ese bastardo… Renato tells her that the only way he will desist is if she promises herself in exchange and Monica tells him that she cannot promise because Juan is still her husband. Then Renato tells her to promise him that she will save herself as up to that point, that she will go back to her convent until hermarriage is annulled. He wants her to promise that once she is free of Juan she will allow him to be by her side and compensate with his love that error he made that she has not yet forgiven him for. And then, out of desperation, Monica tells a white lie. Or rather she promises only part of what he demands and lets Renato believe what he would in order to get him to give up his idea of vengence. --Solo una cosa he de prometerte, y es igual que si la jurase, Renato: me guardare como hasta ahora… Y no sera gran trabajo guardarme. Tienes mi promesa. Vete ya. ¡Sal por aquel lado! Monica then quickly pushes him out a side door and then runs to the front door and calls Colibri. Colibri informs her that Juan is coming and Monica makes him promise the he will not say anything about what he has heard or seen . She tells him that is for Juan's own good. Colibri replies that he knows because all she does is for Juan's good. Then Monica says that she will answer Juan about anything he wants to know and she sends Colibri out the same way that Renato left to make sure that he is far from the house. Just as Monica pushes Colibri out, Juan has arrived. He looks at her with surprise and tells her that her visit is just as unexpected as Renato's. --Una doble sorpresa, Monica. Tu visita, tan inesperada como la de Renato… Pero ¿donde esta el? Segundo me dijo que habia venido a desafiarme… Monica tries to downplay the seriousness of Renato's visit and tells Juan that Renato had not even bothered to wait for him, that Segundo had exaggerated the whole ordeal. She tells him that Renato was told the whole truth without lack of details and that he feels offended. Juan tells her that he was also not spared details, that he experienced everything himself. Monica tells Juan that there is no comparison because Juan's pain was over a disillusion, and Renato's pain is over shame and that his offense demands blood. Monica also exclaims that no blood will run between them while she lives, that Aimee's was enough. Juan then accuses Renato of having killed Aimee and Monica explains what happened. Of course, Juan is not pleased that she defends Renato. --Efectivamente, basta. El la empujo a la muerte, ¿verdad? --¡Oh, no, no… eso no! Fue un accidente desdichado. El propio Padre Vivier me lo ha referido. Se empeñan en mancharlo, en acusarlo… El nada sabia de Aimee… casi nada. Fue Ana, la torpe complice de mi pobre hermana… La encontro en tu casa al ir a buscarte… y la obligo a hablar. Bien puedo imaginarme lo que saldria de aquellos labios… comprendo que Renato enloqueciera… -- Tu siempre comprendes a Renato. En el encuentras disculpables hasta los crimenes… Pero, no te preocupes, no tengo ningun interes en juzgar sus actos, ofendiendo con ello tus sentimientos mas intimos y tiernos. Para ti no es un hombre, es un idolo, un semidios, y los dioses tienen derecho a todo, ¿verdad? Amargamente ha apretado Monica los labios sin responder a Juan. ¡Que extraño y lejano le parece en aquellos instantes, que frio su corazon, que injustas sus palabras! Pero la horrible batalla esta ganada. Puede respirar, tranquilizarse. Renato esta lejos… se aleja llevando en el alma una esperanza vana y una promesa que repentinamente se le antoja ridicula. Defenderse… guardarse, pero ¿de quien? Los ojos de Juan pasan sobre ella como si resbalaran al mirarla. Inmovil en medio de la destartalada sala, parece aguardar que ella le diga adios, que se aleje cuanto antes la que es solo una intrusa en su vida y en su casa. Sordamente humillada y dolorida, Monica se dispone a marchar… When Monica tries to leave Juan informs her that her carriage was dismissed awhile back, after Renato's departure. Monica asks Juan to explain himself and Juan tells her that she will not be able to leave. When Monica asks him if he is going to stop her he says that he won't but the laws that protect the owner of the lands around them will. He informs her that the valley, the road, and the beach are closed to them. He tells her that they are trapped and that he laments that the house is not yet habitable for her and that unfortunately once again she will pay the price of being the wife of Juan del Diablo. Suddenly Monica takes a look around her and realizes for the first time what is going on: Con esfuerzo, han penetrado en la mente de Monica las palabras de Juan, y su vista se extiende a cuanto la rodea, como si por primera vez lo mirase, como si solo ahora se diera cuenta cabal de que pisan sus pies aquel famoso Cabo del Diablo que tantas veces oyo nombrar a Juan… Este la ha llevado hasta la puerta. En el lugar en que se bifurcan los senderos hay una linea de soldados que se extienden cruzando el camino carretero, aislando la playa y el Peñon del Diablo de toda posible comunicacion con Saint-Pierre… As if in disbelief, Monica asks Juan again if its not possible to leave. Juan tells her that its not possible to go either in or out. He tells her that the owner of those lands does not give them permission to even step on them, and since there is no other way out, he hopes to starve them or wait them out until they surrender. He tells her that the fight is to death and that he brought it about… Monica asks him who the fight is against, and Juan tells her that he knows she does not know anything about his affairs or about the place that gave him his name. Then he asks her if he can show her the place. Juan takes Monica by the hand and together they cross the house's threshold. A wave of movement goes through the rank of soldiers and Juan calms Monica by telling her that they will not do anything to them if they do not try to cross the white line that has been drawn to mark the property line. He finds the irony in the situation because the white line is marked along the bottom of the rock they stand on, which means that even the state has recognized his right to that place where he grew up. He explains that the white line reaches the other side of the rock but that his part also contains the beach. Monica asks him what all this means and he tells her that it means that the area where they are is free. He tells her that the owner of the land around them would make the poor people of the area pay for the use of the beach to fish and the use of the land to set up their homes. Juan says it was a good business for the landlord until he (Juan) came to disrupt it and the landlord's response to their opposition has been to resort to the law and defends his rights with soldiers. Monica looks on Juan with admiration. Without realizing it she has come to lean on his arm and looks from him to the group of people beyond them. She continues to ask him about the situation and Juan recounts how he has fallen short in his efforts to help. --¿Es eso lo que has estado haciendo todo este tiempo, Juan? -- Si… pense redimirlos, pero soy un triste redentor. Se rompio una cadena, pero se alzo un muro… Cuando no puedan mas, se rendiran. Eso dice Noel… Y habra que pasar por todo cuanto se le antoje al propietario, que aun sera mas cruel. ¿Comprendes? Monica asks Juan if he has given up and he tells her that he will never give up, that he will fight until the end, and if worse comes to worse he will go down with his ship as old captain used to do. As he says this Monica is struck by the idea of Juan's boat. She tells him that they can still get out via the sea. And Juan tells her they could do that of they had boats but the boats that the people have are too small and weak to risk going out into the open sea beyond the rocks that jut from land. He also tells her that el Luzbel has once again been confiscated. Then he stops and asks her why she would worry about what is going on. Her attitude makes him believe that all this actually matters to her. Monica affirms that it does. Monica steps away from Juan and looks out into the ocean. She watchs the waves break against the rocks. She feels Juan draw closer and is overcome by the desire to turn around and wrap her arms around Juan. But when she turns, Juan is also thoughtfully looking out into the distance and Monica's jealousy gets the best of her and she storms away from him so quickly he is not able to stop her. Como en contradiccion con sus palabras, se ha apartado de Juan, ha dado unos pasos alejandose a lo largo de las piedras filosas, y volviendo la espalda a aquellos ojos clavados en ella, queda mirando las olas estrellarse… Le ha sentido acercarse, siente el anhelo de volverse bruscamente para mirarle cara a cara, el ansia loca, absurda, irreprimible, de echarle al cuello los brazos anhelantes… Pero al volverse muy despacio, el rostro de Juan tiene una expresion vaga, su mirada se ha vuelto lejana y hay en Monica como una sacudida, como el espolazo de una idea malsana, al preguntar: -- ¿En que piensas, Juan? ¿Acaso una gruta en la playa?-Y con ira contenida, exclama--: ¡Entonces, te dejo con tus añoranzas! Se ha ido con paso tan rapido que Juan no acierta a detenerla, como si mas de correr volase sobre las aristas cortantes de aquellas rocas, negros cuchillos afilados al golpe del viento y del agua; menos agudos, sin embargo, que sus pensamientos; menos desgarradores que sus ansias…