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Article #35: A Night in Huancayo - A Short Story

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Chapter One question remained: what did he want in
1 return, if not money?
"You help me, I will help you, and the
He had been in Huancayo for two weeks, car ill not cost u a dollar."
hand not really got used to it; the Plaza He was becoming a broken record,
de Arms carefree composure he liked. repeating himself.
In the countries he had visited-which They both started walking back to the
were many-few were lit up like this plaza, side by side, passing 'Koky's'
church. Yet he been told, and was aware restaurant,
the side streets were to be feared at Chapter Three
night (ah, yes in deed, there was a 1
difference between day and night in this "Wish we had time for a cup of coffee,"
Andean city); likened to the implied the Voice, "but I suppose we are
haunting-ness of the Dark Ages, with its both too much in a hurry."
cobblestone streets, and its Spanish "Coffee, yes, why not, I have a little
balconies. He had come form the 20th time to spare, if there is a place open
century, United States. at this hour of the night, or should I
2 say morning."
The bus was a passenger vehicle; it was "There is a place I know of, they make
being loaded, he knew it was going to Huancayo Pancakes, as some American
leave by one O'clock this very day, leave called them, big as elephant ears, in hot
to go to Lima, Peru, through the Mantaro oil, and with ..."
Valley, and then the Andes, and onto the "Let's go..."
Imperial city of Kings. They put boxes "As I was about to say, it is an outside
upon boxes in the side hold of the bus, café of sorts, stools around a wooden
along with the baggage left on the table, a big umbrella for a roof, but you
outside of the bus, two men lifting up get what you pay for."
the heavy loads, baggage and boxes, Having said that, they both entered the
silently, as if they were on a mission, man's car that the Americano thought was
throwing them into the hold like sacks of a taxi, and they sat in the front, damp,
potatoes, tossing them into the deepest dark mildew smelling front seat.
part of the hold. "A tinge wet," commented the Americano.
The bus was being made ready for its trip ('He will fulfill my destiny')) both
to Lima, and the Huancayo rains had putting their faith in the hands of the
stared (December rains); the rains rose other.))
and descended from city to city, town-let He wanted the car, it was his salvation,
to town-let, village to village, black and the voice wanted what he wanted, an
clouds shifting all day long, drifting end to his dilemma-perhaps both would be
throughout the valley. saved once and for all by the other, this
The rains engulfed the whole region thought had entered both their heads,
(within a short period of time), from, they both (strangers and all) got sight
and to include Concection, to San of faith, in each other.
Jeranimo, Cajas, and Sapallanga, was 2
flooded, and the heavy downpour in The car circled around the plaza, down
Huancayo, flooded the street likewise. several streets and the headlights found
The rains were heavy, and the cities the outside dingy and grayish café- a
first stank, and then got swollen with few folks sitting on stools, eating those
the seepage of waist, especially in elephant ear-pancakes, and pouring some
Huancayo. He felt he was not all that liquor (hidden in their coat pockets)
safe in the rains, and wanted to get onto into their coffee cups.
the bus. You could hear the oil boiling, sizzling
3 in a large heavy looking metal container,
Beyond the Andes had become the last hope over a small gas stove.
for an American fugitive, as he called "I don't know this part of Huancayo;" He
himself, a veteran of the Vietnam War told the driver, he was only acquainted
(know in Huancayo as the Americano). with the plaza are for the most part, and
Here he thought he felt safe, avoiding a few streets in El Tambo, where his
justice to keep his freedom, which could sister-in-law lived.
be purchased in Peru. This was the gate They left the car and sat and drank
to tolerance, so he called it, if it was coffee, ate a pancake, hot and greasy,
not to be had here, than where (?) He was but tasty.
lost for a plan 'B' perhaps condemned to The dark sky, and misty lit moon, gave a
be imprisoned in a concrete jungle in the somber silhouette to the mountains that
United States where his visa was a one rose up behind the city.
way ticket to Hell and freedom He looked over towards the mountains,
unobtainable. Only one thing mattered, a beyond them was freedom, Bolivia-(Bolivia
new identity, and here he found it. although were among the Andes), this was
He had blackmailed fate, married a his new vision, his plan 'C'.
Peruvian, found his way to Lima, changed "Yes," said the driver.
his name, got a residency card, and paid "With the car I can be in Bolivia in no
a few people off. time."
4 He put his keys in his pocket and drank a
The Bus tickets were sold out, and he second cup of coffee.
could not pay even double the amount to "Let's go," said the Voice, "and get on
get another ticket (even too late to with it, get it over with, so you can get
bribe other passengers). on your way," then he pointed his finger
He had made his plans to move on, not towards 'Liberty Hill' saying abruptly,
sure where, but Lima would be a "that is where I want to go! We will not
centralized point to start, and then attract any attention there."
elsewhere, he was familiar with the city A moment passed, the cup of coffee was
slightly. This bus was the last way out finished, the driver looked up as if he
of the Andean city, on this holiday was visualizing something, then down, as
weekend. He was the only gringo, in if he was emotionally drained-a sigh came
Huancayo, and felt he was the only out of him, a long sigh, quiet sigh,
unescorted foreigner. said, "Do you believe in life after
He asked the bus driver if he could pay death?" he was looking at the perused
double fare, and sit in the isle. An when he asked that question.
absurd idea for even if he had talked the "I'd like to say I'm not sure, never
driver into it, allowing it, where would known anyone to come back from the dead
he sit-everyone had mounds of luggage by to explain its environment, but I'd like
their seats in the isles...but I suppose to believe there is a heaven and hell."
in desperation or despair one tries Chapter Four
anything. 1
(Haunted he was, and paranoid of As they drove up the hill to the Park, he
capture)) who knows what logic was earnestly said, "There is only one think
reasonable for his reality)). that can match poverty, and that is
Chapter Two death. It's been one hell of a life
1 trying to survive. If there is a
It was early in the morning (3:00 AM), struggle to survive after death, I will
and the Plaza de Arms was almost deserted soon find it out."
-but for a vagabond (beggar in the 2
morning, vagrant at night, he had seen You could look down upon, and over and
him before), sleeping hunched in the throughout, the city of Huancayo, see its
doorway of a shop, across the street roof tops, see it all, all that was there
stood, Lugar Cathedral. The vagrant was to see that is, and at night, only
sleeping, hunched in tightly. He became lights, and shadows, and noisy cars,
aware of a second homeless soul, as he musical garbage trucks.
walked indecisively about, paced the The driver got out of the car, with a
plaza platform, and stared at the two sigh of relief, and a grinding of his
street people. teeth, said (after filling his lungs), "I
He took no further interest in the two am prepared."
down-and-out, as they wakeup and stared, The other man sat stone still in the
watching him pace. He kept his watch, right side car seat and thought ('...he
still fearful of the police, though he wants to go to sleep forever!')
had done no wrong in Peru. "My name is..." said the smaller man, and
Fearful, he kept in the shadowy areas of before he could give his name, the driver
the plaza, the cathedral. He walked about standing outside the car by the car door,
slowly, as if he were about to be said, "No, I don't want to know, just run
captured at any moment, while trying to me over, promise me you will, I'll turn
design a new plan. my back, walking down the road." (The
He stopped for a rest, heard steps behind keys were in the ignition, and the car
him, nearer and nearer they came, he then was running, and the big man was moving
started back up walking. If he got slowly down the road, as he said he would
arrested, he would be questioned, and his be, and he meant what he said).
wife would find out he was missing He nodded his head in dismay, trying to
(leaving), she was sleeping at her figure out what to do next. They were
sisters in El Tambo (a district of both happy, both had whet they wanted;
Huancayo), thinking all was well. both would get want they desired in a
2 moment that is, providing a certain
He then disappeared down a side street, a criteria was met
very narrow cobblestone street, adjacent The big man turned around in surprise
to the plaza. Now those footsteps were (the car had not moved). His eyes said:
next to him. The shadow of the man behind what are you waiting for, but the Perused
him was large, larger than his. could not of course see his eyes, but he
"Are you lost?" said a voice in Spanish. felt them. ('He doesn't look like a man
He shook his head 'no' and kept on that wants to live, rather one that
walking (the street lights allowed the cannot kill himself, needs someone else
shadow to see). to do his dirty work for him.')) The
"Americano?" Indirectly, questioned the following moment of silence is
voice. nondescript.))
He didn't answer the voice, but continued 3
walking, looking at the red-shadowy tile 'Yes,' he told himself, thinking of the
roofs on the houses and the moon's glare. past, 'Vietnam, 1968, war, heavy. No one
(He knew very few people in the city understands war, how can they, I can't
spoke English, and he spoke very little even explain it to myself. That is why I
Spanish.) have to have these keys, have to go
"I'm not the police," said the voice, in someplace before someone finds me. If I
smooth English, with no British accent. try to explain it to anyone, tell someone
He did not believe the voice and about it, it all will come back to me,
continued his pace, although he did take and haunt me, it never becomes clear in
a quick look behind him, noticing the my mind.' (He shook his head out of his
large man was not wearing a police trance state); the large man was moving
uniform, but rather rough looking along, moving down the road, in the
civilian cloths, with a motley looking middle of the road, as he had said he
jacket on (gloomy like his facial would be.
appearance). 4
It was a chilly night, wet, light rain Big Man
intermittently. He had been arrested, he "Yes, he'll come, it's not hard to
told himself: too many times in America, understand him, and he's killed for fewer
he wasn't going to take any unnecessary reasons. He has violence in his eyes. The
chances now, not here, not anywhere. He only thing worse than being dead is poor
knew he had papers on him, showing he was and I've been that for a very long time.
a resident, but he'd have a hard time And soon I'll see if fact is fact or
explaining himself with the little fiction"
Spanish he knew to the authorities, and Vietnam War
he did not, DID NOT! What them to find "We had many losses in Vietnam (the war),
out that he really was, not who he was, hard to take at times, it comes and goes,
or what his papers said he was suppose to comes and goes, like a plague of
be. grasshoppers in the middle of a desert,
"I saw you looking at the itinerant men swarming overhead. He's really just one
back at the Cathedral," said the large more-nothing to sustain him here on
man (who seem to be educated but down and earth, terribly strange, is this night in
out himself), "So I got thinking...!" Huancayo."
He showed indifference to his statement Morning
he didn't care what he looked like, he She received the news her husband was
wanted him to vanish. He needed to find a dead, some kind of a car accident, or
place to stay, figure out his next step, perhaps a robbery (the police said, yet
a new plan, he was wet, and getting were still investigating it), where the
hungry, and he had missed the bus, he robber also took the car. The news was
wanted to get out of Huancayo. received with cramped insides.
"Do you want to get out of the city?" the She gave the death certificated to her
voice asked. lawyer, a few day later, and surprisingly
He did not reply. A few more feet, and he found out she had an insurance policy.
could turn about and knock the guy out She would be rich now, and perhaps have
with a solid punch to the side of his that bowel of shrimp soup, Cuy Colorado,
head. her husband used to tell her he was going
"Here," said the voice, holding out a set to buy her at the most expensive place in
of car keys, "I can help you, you can Lima.
help me, even you can go to Bolivia you Afternoon
wan, fro a price of course!" She looked about for her husband, in the
He swathe keys, they looked like car keys house, calmly-he had not been there all
in the feeble light. He felt it was now night, so she told her sister.
safe to stop and confront his ghost, his She showed no sign of irritation, she
second shadow... didn't listen to the radio, or turn on
"Porque! (Why!)" He asked in Spanish. the TV for news, either, didn't know of
3 the man run over by his own car. She
"Do you think I need to get out of showed no sign of irritation, and tried
dodge?" He had learned a few words in to show proper etiquette to her sister
Spanish, but only a few, but the shadow throughout the afternoon.
seemed to be quite able to carry on a "Where do you think he went?" asked her
good conversation in English. sister.
"Come with me, I can assure you a way out "After Vietnam I met him, and he was
of the city, and on your way to wherever, exhausted from the war, he had jitters
even Bolivia." all the time. Smoked cigarette after
"I'm not in need of a taxi!" cigarette, he was always unhappy it
"Ah, yes...!" then he stared at who he seemed, and often unfeeling. In the
figured was the taxi man, who wasn't beginning he talked so sweet, he caught
really a taxi man, whom didn't seem to be me off guard, like a fish hooked me and
a policeman neither. brought me into his heart, yet I never
('He must have known it was a holiday understood him."
weekend, and all the buses were full, "Well then, we must find him," said the
that is why he is perhaps offering me a sister.
ride ') "He made me think he was happy when it
He said to the person who he thought was was just a moment of happiness in our
a taxi driver, "Your car is worth its life. I do realize seldom is one fully
weight in gold this evening, I mean, happy let him go, let him be, and we can
early mourning! Whoever have not left, keep our pleasant moments, I sense they
are stuck in this isolated city. I'm sure are all we got, or will ever have
you can get paid double for your together. It is the best thing we can do
services." for each other, I fear. He keeps
(The big shadow didn't fully understand thinking someone is after him. Not sure
the Americano, stared at into his face.) where it all comes from: a dream perhaps,
"I'm not worried about the fare, do you or illusions, a war thing, you know, that
want help me amigo?" PTS soldiers get, or some unknown reality
This surely was his way out, if the large he never told me."
shadow, Peruvian Shadow, was upfront If Death Had Wings
about helping him get out of the city, If I saw death and death had wings I
and it seemed he was sincere, yet he was know were I would go- Someplace between
puzzling. Yes indeed, hope was no the heaven and hell,-- In the form of an
table, as they say, or in his bowel of eternal soul: Where peace and hunger is
soup; with his American passport, he did no more;
not need a visa until he got to the If I saw death and death had wings That
boarder and they would just stamp it is where I would go-, Yes, that is where
automatically there, and the car perhaps I would go! If only death had wings
was full of gas, so he hoped. Wings, wings, wings I'd put them on my
"I want to leave Huancayo before sunrise soul...!
(he murmured:' I hope')." #1562 12-10-06
His arms were tired and wet, lying like a Epitaph
rug hanging on a cloth line downward by -For the Voice, faring forth from day to
his sides. day was too punitive for him to live
"Se Vende (for sale)" said the Voice, among the human race-(or so it would
adding, "the car." seem). He was not thinking their
"How much?" he asked the voice. thoughts; liken to the perused, but who
"You help me, and I'll give you the car, was the pursuer (?) He had had
no dollars involved." enough-whatever must come did not come
This was too good to be true, and He knew quickly enough to change his mind. The
when such deals emerged, there was staggering thought perhaps became
always, a hidden price. synchronized simultaneously with the
"What?" he asked. other's to run; the invisible pursuer;
"Nothing too difficult," the voice thus, both accomplished their mission
implied. (even though it may seem, sound and be,
"What is exactly...nothing?" he asked. frail and feeble.
He looked at the large man, perhaps in No one awoke either one-of the terror
his 50s, but looked more like he was that evidently griped them. Two engines
close to 70, yet he was to agile, for of self destruction-the effect of their
that age. He looked deep into his harsh actions upon others was little less
eyes, hard dark eyes, life had been remarkable. They halted their lives but
unbreakable on him, he concluded, as it an instant, then sprang forward to finish
had been for him, yet we all have a it, renewed.
breaking point, so he pointed out to his I have no words wherewith to describe the
second self. aftershocks-all I know is all involved
This large calm, quiet total stranger disappeared into the tangled undergrowth
could provide his salvation, but the of the forest of life and death.






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