Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen Torres

At five o'clock in the evening Fragoso was still there, exhausted, and he thought to himself that perhaps he had to spend the night in order to satisfy the large crowd that was waiting for him. At this moment, a stranger came to the square. He saw the Indians gathered in the tavern, and he walked over. He stared at Fragoso cautiously for a while.Evidently satisfied with the results of his observation, he entered the tavern. The man was about thirty-five years old.An elegant travel suit won him the favor of everyone. His thick black beard had not been trimmed for a long time, and his hair was a little long.Everything showed that he was in desperate need of the barber's services.

Hello, friend, hello!He tapped Fragoso on the shoulder lightly. Hearing these few pure Brazilian words without Indian native language, Fragoso turned around. Are you Brazilian too?As he asked, he continued to curl the hair of a Mayohuna woman. Yes, replied the stranger, a fellow man who wants you. OK!But wait, said Fragoso, until I finish curling the lady's hair! He rolled it a couple more times and it was done. Although the last to arrive had no right to occupy the vacant seat, he took the chair anyway, and the Indians who were pushed back showed no displeasure. Fragoso put down the curling irons, picked up the barber scissors, and asked habitually;

What do you want sir? Get a haircut, shave.replied the stranger. OK!Fragoso began to comb the visitor's thick hair. Then, the scissors also started to move. Are you coming from far away?asked Fragoso, whose mouth was never idle during the haircut. I'm from around Iquitos. Yeah, me too!Fragoso cried, I came to Tabatinga from Iquitos on the Amazon River!Your name?can i ask Of course, the stranger said, my name is Torres. When his hair was done in the latest fashion, Fragoso began to shave him; but, when their eyes met, he paused, went on with his work, and at last could not help asking:

well!Mr. Torres, are you?I seem to know you!Have we met somewhere? Will not!Torres said with certainty. Well I was wrong!Fragoso said. He's starting to finish. After a while, Torres picked up the conversation that had been interrupted by Fragoso's question. How did you get here from Iquitos?he asks. Are you asking from Iquitos to Tabatinga? Yes. I had come on a great raft which had been given to me by a kind farmer whose family was sailing down the Amazon. ah!Really, my friend!Torres said, you are so lucky, I don't know if the owner of the manor is willing to take me Are you planning to go down the river too?

Exactly. Sail all the way to Pala? No, only to Manao, I'm going to do something there. Well, my host is helpful and I thought he would be willing to help you with this. real? I can be sure. So what is the surname of the manor owner?Torres asked casually. Joam.Galar.Fragoso replied. At this time, he muttered to himself: I must have seen him somewhere! Torres would not give up on a conversation that interested him, so he went on to ask: So, what do you think Joam.Galar will agree to take me? I assure you again, I have no doubts about it, said Fragoso, that he would be willing to help a man as insignificant as myself, and he would not refuse a fellow man like you!

Was he alone on the big raft? No, said Fragoso, as I told you just now, he was traveling with the whole family.The whole family was good-natured, I'm sure, and there was a party of Indians and Negroes, who were all servants of the estate. Is this manor owner very rich? Of course, said Fragoso, very rich.The wood of the raft and its contents alone cost a fortune. Well, Joam.The Galars just came over from the Brazilian border, didn't they? Yes, answered Fragoso, with his wife, son, daughter, and Mademoiselle Mina's fiancé. Ah, he has a daughter?asked Torres. A lovely girl. She is getting married soon?

Yes, and a righteous young man, Fragoso said, he was a doctor in the garrison of Belem, and he would marry her as soon as the trip was over. good!Torres laughed, this can be described as an engagement trip! Both for engagement, but also for fun and business!Fragoso said that Mrs. Yaquita and Miss Mina had never been to Brazil, and as for Joam.It was the first time for Galar to cross the border since he entered the manor of old Magalaes. I suppose they had some servants with them?Torres said. Of course, said Fragoso, there was old Siebel, who had worked at the estate for fifty years, and Mademoiselle Lina, a beautiful mulatto girl who was more like a lady's companion than a maid.ah!What a lovely character!What a pure heart!What a catchy eye!Her opinion on all kinds of things, especially on Sibaten

Now that Fragoso had started, he began to pour out his love for Lina, and would have gone on if Torres hadn't got up to make way for the next customer. How much should I pay you?Torres asked the barber. There is no need to pay, Fragoso said, and money is not discussed among compatriots who meet at the border. But, says Torres, I think Well, we'll count later, on the big raft. However, I don't know whether I dare to ask Joam.Galal agrees Don't hesitate!Fragoso exclaimed, if you will, let me speak to him, he will be glad to help you in this case. At this moment Manoel and Benito came into town after dinner and stood at the door of the hotel to watch Fragoso perform his craft.

Torres turned towards them, and suddenly exclaimed: ah!I knew these two young men, indeed, I had seen them! Have you seen them?asked Fragoso in surprise. Yes, that's right!They helped me out of a rather embarrassing situation a month ago in Isthos Forest! They are Benito.Gallard and Manoel.Valdes. I know!They told me names, never thought we'd meet again here. Torres walked up to the two young men who looked at him but did not recognize him. Don't you recognize me, gentlemen?he said to them. Wait, Benito said, if I remember correctly, you are Mr. Torres, and you were the one who was entangled by a Kaliba monkey in the Iquitos forest that time?

It is I, gentlemen, said Torres, who have been sailing down the Amazon for six weeks and have just crossed the border at the same time as you! Very glad to see you again, said Benito, have you not forgotten that I invited you to my father's estate? Not at all.Torres said. Sir, if only you would accept the invitation!This way, you can rest and refresh yourself before heading out, before sailing with us down the river to the border!This saves a lot of time! indeed so.Torres said. Our compatriots are not stopping at the border, Fragoso said, he is going to Manao. Well, said Benito, if you will take the big raft, you will be well received, and my father will take you in.

I am very willing to!Torres said, allow me to thank you in advance. Manoel was not involved in the conversation.He let the eager Benito offer his services, while he himself studied Torres so closely that he hardly recognized his face.There is no sincerity in this man's eyes, his eyes are always evasive, as if he is afraid to meet people's eyes, but Manoel does not tell anyone how he feels, he does not want to hurt a compatriot in need . Gentlemen, said Torres, with your permission, I can go to the port with you at once. bring it on!Benito said. A quarter of an hour later, Torres boarded the big raft.Benito to Joam.Galar, who made an introduction and told of the encounter, asked his father to bring Torres to Manao. It is my pleasure to be of your service, sir.Joam.Gallard said. Thanks.Torres said he seemed to pause involuntarily as he reached out to his owner. We'll start at dawn tomorrow, Joam.Galar added that you can clean up first oh!It didn't take long, Torres said, and I had nothing but myself. You feel right at home.Joam.Gallard said. That night, Torres stayed in the room next to the barber. It was not until eight o'clock that the barber returned to the raft.He told the half-breed girl about his achievements, and said with pride that the famous Fragoso was already famous in the Amazon.