p. 93

desgracia -- misfortune
argamasa lunar -- moon-like concrete
se estremeció … -- shook to its foundations (stirrups)
naturaleza desatinada -- wild nature
pueriles -- childish
con una parsimonia … -- with a parsimony somewhat like sacred rigor
depuritivas -- purifying
tatuado sin piedad … -- so mercilessly tatooed that sailors would be put to shame

p. 94

apoyada en -- leaning on
báculo -- staff
diligencias más difíciles -- most difficult procedures
criterio -- judgment, taste
le desenredó … -- She untangled her hair strand by strand
cuando la tuvo … -- When she had her decked out like a larger than life-size doll
discos fugaces … -- elusive records on an old-fashioned phonograph
ciénagas del pasado -- swamps of the past
abigarrada -- motley - of mixed colors
arañas de lágrimas -- tear-shaped chandaliers
almacenar -- to store
a lomo de indio -- on the backs of indians
manantiales remotos -- distant springs

p. 95

contrabandista -- smuggler
los chivos … -- the goats committed suicide from loneliness
prostíbulo -- house of prostitution
la traspuso … -- he caused her to disappear forever in the impunity of the desert
acribillado … -- riddled with bullets in a fight between rivals (over a woman)
siguió apacentando … -- she continued feeding on her dreams of grandeur in the shadows of the concealed house.
dar cuerda y … -- to wind and set the clocks
bruñir la cristalería -- to polish the crystalware
cubo del avestruz -- the ostrich's bowl
regó los yerbajos … -- watered the desert shrubs
mal presagio -- bad omen

p. 96

caldo tierno -- fresh broth
apenas si … -- she barely managed to remove the pot from the stove as it was beginning to boil over
guiso -- stew
casi al instante … -- almost immediately Erendira appeared with the steaming soup tureen
advirtió sus modales …-- noticed her sleepwalker's look
aturdida -- bewildered
aprovechó … -- he took advantage of her being at the wash tub

p. 97

la noche … -- night caught her without her being aware of it
había chapuceado -- had been playing around
lamparones de almizcle .. -- stains of musk and tears
abanico de plumas -- feather fan
código del orden … -- list of nighttime orders
últimos oficios -- last chores

p. 98

las gavillas de … -- Porfirio Galan's gang
extraviarse en el … -- to get lost in her delirium
las fallebas -- the bolts
atiborrado de -- piled high with
manada de perros -- pack of dogs

p. 99

el bastidor de … -- the frame of the gilded piano
abatimiento … -- impenetrable dejection
escombros -- rubble, ruins
No te alcanzará … -- Life won't be long enough for you to pay me back for this mishap
la llevó con … -- she was taken to the village storekeeper
Ante la espectativa … -- While the grandmother waited indifferently

p. 100

Todavía está … -- She's still quite immature
faltarle el respeto … -- a lack of respect for virtue
a este paso -- at this rate
La tormenta amenazaba … -- The storm threatened to unhinge the house
la trastienda -- the back room
como si … -- as if he were taking her to school
cobertizo -- shed
intemperie -- bad weather

p. 101

balandro al garete -- a drifting sloop
ramalazos -- lashes
se oían … -- were heard distant shouts, the howls of far-off animals, the cries of a shipwreck
ensopados -- soaking wet
el fragor de la … -- the din (deafening noise) of the storm
arañazo -- scratch
bofetada -- slap
con el largo … -- with her long jellyfish-like hair floating in space
la derribó … -- he knocked her down into the hammock with a brutal blow
franjas de luna -- moonbeams
zarpazos espaciados -- methodical thuds
desbaratandosela … -- dispersing it in long colored strips that waved like streamers
los rumbos del … -- where the smugglers were

p. 102

los saldos del incendio -- what remained from the fire
chécheres inservibles -- useless junk
el carguero -- the person who loaded the truck
terminó por … -- he ended up taming her with tenderness
De aquí en … -- Here's where the world begins
Pendiente del diálogo -- Hanging on every word of the conversation
hurgaba … -- stuck her finger into a sack of rice

p. 103

se apresuró -- He hurriedly took it away from her
Ya su esclavo -- Your slave has already paid himself on the right hand (for helping himself - to Eréndira)
una mujer enlutada -- a woman in mourning

p. 104

lo digo … -- it was all my idea
verdadero tamaño -- true measure of his courage
por mí -- it's okay by me
no le correspondió -- she didn't wave back
solar baldío -- vacant lot
improvisaron un … -- they improvised a shelter
esteras -- mats

p. 105

la remató -- finished her off
pestañas postizas -- false eyelashes
la yesca -- the flint
se acostó … -- Erendira lay down on the mat the way an amateur actress would have done at the moment when the curtain was about to go up.
llevaba de cabestro -- leading by the halter
sus afeites póstumos … -- her posthumous make-up and purple-trimmed dress
en ayunas no está mal -- she doesn't look bad to someone who hasn't eaten for a while
lo tendrá de oro -- she must be made of gold
No seas estreñido -- Don't be a tightwad

p. 106

la abuela comprendió -- the grandmother realized that a man who earned his living by making other people wait had more than enough time to bargain.
Te lo rebajo -- I'll give you a discount
cortina corrediza -- sliding curtain
Fue un trato … -- It was a good arrangement
una cámara … -- a camera with a mourning sleeve on a tripod and a background of a lake with listless swans
abanicándose -- fanning herself
parecía ajena … -- seemed detached from her own fair (bazaar)

p. 107

se internó en …-- she went off into the desert in search of other places better suited for recovering the debt
angorillas -- litter
paraguas desvarillado -- umbrella with missing ribs
sin darle alcance -- without catching up to it
rumiando los granos … -- chewing on the grains she was taking out of a cord pouch where she also kept the money

p. 108

al paso del … -- was keeping pace with the donkey, exhausted by the heat and the dust

p. 109

el alboroto-- the clamor (noise)
fue un chorro de agua … -- It was a stream of cool water on the Sunday torpor of San Miguel del Desierto
con el pellejo … -- with skin cracked by the harsh weather and a squirrel-colored mustache
esperaban turno -- were waiting for their turn
guarnición local -- local garrison
como si … -- as if they were camouflaged for combat

p. 110

mazo de billetes -- a wad of bills
para no desperdiciar … -- so as to not waste the free music
en el regazo -- on her lap
gavillas iguales -- equal piles
de ámbito lúgubre -- of a mournful appearance
eres pavoso -- You're frightful looking
Contagias … -- You bring bad luck
dragoneante -- corporal

p. 111

solozó -- she sobbed
chillidos de … -- shrieks of a frightened animal
de buen talante… -- in a good mood but brandishing the devastating staff in earnest
Desconsiderados … -- Inconsiderate slobs!

p. 112

Parecía visible … -- He seemed to be visible in the semi-darkness because of the glow that came from his beauty.
hechizada -- bewitched
Traelas puestas … -- Wear them tomorrow
Ulises asomó -- Ulysses' head appeared

p. 113

me siento … -- I feel as if someone had beaten me in the kidneys
mantarraya … -- a luminous manta ray
Tate sosiego -- Don't worry

p. 114

por casualidad -- by chance
su determinación …-- his determination had weakened
advirtió su … -- she noticed his distress
apaciguando -- calming

p. 115

despistar-- to throw people off the track
la seriedad con … -- the seriousness with which you invent nonsense
locuaz -- talkative
la índole -- her disposition
a tan escasa … -- such a short distance away from misfortune
carretas cargadas … -- carts loaded with flowers
todo el pueblo … -- all the village was golden like the sea with flowers

p. 116

crucifijos en alto -- holding up their crucifixes
sacudía sus hábitos … -- shook their burlap habits and rough beards
muros ásperos … -- rough whitewashed walls
una grieta natural … -- a natural crack in the glazed clay earth
No pasen esa raya -- Don't cross that line
palanquín de tablas -- litter made of boards
ánimo entorpecido .. -- spirit dulled by the dust and sweat of the desert
se mantenía en su altivez -- she maintained her haughty air

p. 117

eludió el encuentro … -- avoided a head-on confrontation so as not to break her head against his intransigence
por las buenas -- willingly
cedió asustada -- frightened, she gave in
cuerpos sigilosos … -- stealthy, mute bodies, creeping along like an infantry patrol
ráfagas de luna -- moon beams
toldo de mosquitero -- mosquito netting
trataba de perforarla … -- He was trying to perforate it so that it would rain
sus disparos … -- his shots were furious and useless

p. 118

para que haga llover -- to make it rain
en un taburete … -- on a stool that was too narrow for her supernaturally large buttocks
se la llevó … -- the devil's taken you
en estado de sitio .. -- a fortified city in a state of siege
cargó sus bártulos … -- loaded his belongings onto his bicycle rack

p. 119

desmerecido -- ingrate
chinchorros -- hammocks
cabeceando … -- nodding on her throne and chewing the uncooked grain from her pouch with the invincible indolence of
a resting ox.
guirnaldas de focos … -- wreaths of colored lights
gorra de ala … -- hat with a turned-up brim
cananas -- cartridge belts

p. 120

rostro estragado … -- face ravaged by her vigil
Se equivocó de puerta -- You've knocked on the wrong door.
el matute -- smuggling

p. 121

los maitines -- matins (the first service of the morning)
tijeras de podar -- pruning shears
el rudo balandrán … -- hermit's rough linen cassock
para que encalara … -- to whitewash the steps every time someone went up or down the stairs
embarrados -- muddy
desbravando las vacas… -- taming/subduing the cows with a blow to the neck in order to milk them in the stable
las había visto … -- she had seen them sweat like tanned stevedores hauling water from the cistern, irrigating by hand a hardy garden that other novices had cultivated with hoes in order to plant vegetables in the flinty desert.
revolcarse en … -- roll in the mud without letting go until two novices with leather aprons helped her subdue it.

p. 122

lo degolló … -- she slit its throat with a butcher knife
quedaron empapadas … -- were soaked with blood and mud
monjas tísicas -- tubercular nuns
montaraces -- wild, uncouth
aguando la cal -- preparing the whitewash
clavicémbalo -- clavichord
sin parpadear -- without blinking
mantuvo su asedio … -- she maintained her granite-like siege
sin tomar ninguna … -- without making any decision

p. 123

rastrillaba … -- combed the desert in search of
arcón de generos … -- chest of cheap cloth
dormían despernancados -- slept spreadeagled
las más retrecheras -- the most crafty
los sacaban a … -- they drove them from their hammocks by hitting them with rifle butts
a la fuerza -- by force
mujeres encinta -- pregnant women
los cohetes … -- the firecrackers and chiming bells
totuma -- gourd
vestido de andrajos -- dressed in rags

p. 124

soportó -- she put up with
caliche -- limestone
la peste de … -- the stink of goat hair
el castigo … -- the punishment of the Elpistle of St. Paul hammered out in low Latin under the immobile, scorching sun
la artimaña … -- the trick of the unforeseen wedding
Eréndira se encontró … -- Eréndira found herself once again under the spell that had dominated her from the moment of
her birth.

p. 126

no le quitó … -- didn't take his eyes off of him while they were pruning the sick trees
de mala gana -- grudgingly
mecedor vienés -- Viennese rocking chair
hojas ahumadas -- smoked leaves
haz de luz -- beam of light
esquivos -- remote

p. 127

estaba pendiente …-- he was intent upon

p. 128

caja de caudales -- safe
habían pasado … -- had gone from pleading to threatening
puerta blindada -- armored door
se le agotó … -- he ran out of tobacco

p. 129

camisa de … -- plaid shirt
se fugó -- he escaped
arrancó -- picked
cuál era el rumbo … -- in what direction Erendira had gone
nadie le daba … -- no one could tell him
comitiva electoral -- the electoral campaign retinue
avalara su moralidad … -- to vouch for her character with a letter written in his own hand
las puertas … -- the most tightly barred doors
percudida -- stained, dull
telones idílicos -- idyllic backdrops
chupacobres -- brass blowers

p. 130

esplandor virreal -- viceroyal splendor
bañera de peltre -- pewter bathtub
fulgor infantil -- childish glow

p. 131

desaliento -- discouragement
ballena -- whale
lechuza -- owl
Cuando empiece … -- When she begins dreaming that you're going to leave, we'll already have crossed the border
empuñando … -- gripping the pistol with the confidence of a movie gunslinger, he imitated the sound of shots to excite
Erendira with his audacity
ni que sí .. -- neither yes nor no

p. 132

suspiraron -- sighed
el abrigo de …-- under the shelter of the tent
charanga -- brass band
estaba tratando de … -- he was trying to repair the bellows of his camera with wads of gutta
percha -- (rubber-like substance from the gum tree)
despierta a … -- it awakens in people the desire to have their picture taken

p. 133

troñuno -- cheapskate
la parte que … -- your part
aceptó las cuentas -- he accepted her figures while he unraveled the tangle
el viento despavorido … -- the fearsome wind was about to uproot the tent

p. 134

Eréndira no supo … -- Erendira didn't know what to do to conceal her agitation
la muerte … -- death is on the loose
palideció … -- became pale with rage
Entonces, lárgate … -- Then beat it! You lowlife!
Se sentía tan ultrajada … She felt so outraged that she continued ranting against him while Erendira helped her to bed.
rezongaba -- muttered
se sobrepuso al rencor -- She overcame her rancor
madrugar -- to get up early

p. 135

el soplo de … -- the wind of her misfortune
Se asomó a la noche -- She looked out into the night
Se perdió en las … -- She disappeared into the shadows of the wind

p. 136

recurrió de imediato -- she immediated appealed for help
reten local -- local detachment
borraba las huellas … -- erased the tracks of the fugitives
en cada estribo -- on each running board
lona impermeable -- waterproof canvas
ametralladoras -- machine guns
chivatos -- stool pigeons
Por lo menos … -- At least have the decency to not be out in broad daylight

p. 137

en la defensa -- on the back bumper
divisó -- spotted, caught sight of
sin más amparo … -- without any more protection against sunstroke than a handkerchief tied around his head
voltereta -- somersault
corrigió el rumbo -- changed direction

p. 138

estaban estragados … -- they were done in from fatigue and thirst
dormitaba -- was dozing
guantera -- glove compartment
la martilló … -- she banged it several times
destartalada camioneta -- beat up pick up truck

p. 139

escudriñar los … -- to look closely at the small details
desenlace terrible -- terrible outcome
atravesamos … -- we crossed the entire desert
amor errante -- wandering love
lienzos de … -- hanging canvas signs
dormitaba a través -- dozed across
bazares abigarrados -- gaudy bazaars

p. 140

garito público -- public gambling den
pregones gritados -- shouted announcement of wares
apatridos y vividores -- people without a country and shysters
pavoroso murciélago … -- frightful heavenly bat
ardiente resuello … -- burning sulphuric breath
remanso de sosiego -- restful backwater
rescoldos del fragor -- embers of the urban clamor
rosa náutica -- compass
galería de trinitarias -- balcony

p. 141

Pues, yo me voy … -- Well, I'm going to find out what that (prematurely born) runt has that's made out of gold.
se incorporaron otras -- others joined them
comparsa bulliciosa -- a noisy throng
cargaron … -- they lifted up Erendira's bed and carried it into the street
atropello -- outrage, abuse
Cáfila … -- You pack of traitors, you bandits!
pollerones -- sissies
criadillas-- balls
rechiflas -- mocking whistles
escarnio -- ridicule
paso alegórico … -- the allegorical tableau of the chained penitent
enroscada -- curled up in a ball

p. 142

ciudad fronteriza -- border city
réplicas de picotilla … -- cheap replicas of the paraphernalia lost in the disaster of the mansion
recua de indios -- team of Indians
a la sombra … -- under the shade of a church canopy
chaleco de lona … -- a sailcloth vest
lingotes de oro -- gold bars
estoperoles colgados -- hanging trinkets
Cuando yo te falte … -- When you no longer have me … you won't be left to the mercy of men because you'll have your own house in an important city.

p. 143

Eréndira no emitió … -- Erendira didn't let out a sigh that might reveal her thoughts
Se sometió … -- She submitted in silence
charcos de salitre -- saltpeter puddles
sopor de … -- torpor of the lakeside towns
como si … -- as if she were reading it in the cards
desfiladero opresivo -- oppressive canyon
piltrafas de … -- snatches of Jamaican conversations
clarividencia del porvenir -- clairvoyance of the future
despertó sosegada -- she awakened relaxed by the sound of the sea
delirio de vigilia -- the delirium of one who hasn't slept
dama de alcurnia -- lady of noble birth

p. 144

Ya iba a echar … -- she was about to pour the deadly water (into the canal that supplied the bathtub)
estuvo cavilando -- she was pondering

p. 145

Esta vez no … -- This time I won't stop you. But I'm warning you: wherever you go your father's curse will follow you.
Así sea -- So be it

p. 146

el puro placer …-- the sheer pleasure of the risk
una dicha recóndita -- a hidden joy
tripulación de locos -- a crew of madmen
esponjas -- sponges

p. 147

temblor de tierra -- earthquake
cobertizo de astromelias -- "starsong" canopy
guacamayo -- macaw
trabuco de matar … -- cannibal-killing blunder buss (a short gun with a broad muzzle)
respiración descomunal -- monstrous breathing
¿te atreverías? -- would you dare?

p. 149

relleno de origen -- original filling
Descarado -- Impudent devil
Desarmada … -- Disarmed by his lie, which had hit the mark
a su diestra -- to her right
un soplo arrasador -- obliterating puff

p. 150

tiene ganada … -- has won half of heaven
Que le aproveche -- Eat it in good health
Había comido arsénico … -- She had eaten enough arsenic to kill an entire generation of rats
concilió … -- she fell into a natural sleep
trancas -- bars
los parapetos se … -- the defenses came crashing down
las trancas se salían … -- (caused) the bars to move out of their slots by themselves

p. 151

recapilando -- recounting
detalles más ínfimos -- the smallest, most negligible details
lo previne -- I warned him
cuchillada -- cut (hole) made by a knife
lo atrevesó una … -- she shot him a deadly look

p. 152

Dios -- God be with you, child
un mazo de -- a clump of hair
mechón a -- lock of hair
peluca de plumas .. -- a wig of radiant feathers
mecha de detonante -- detonating fuse
Tápate los oídos -- Cover your ears

p. 153

deflagración radiante -- radiant glow
estalló -- exploded
tromba de … -- whirlwind of smoke from wet gunpowder
la encontró … -- she found her with her wig singed and her shirt in tatters but more alive than ever, trying to put out the fire
with a blanket
se escabulló -- he slipped away
los pianos … -- pianos don't blow up by themselves
actitud impávida -- impassive attitude

p. 154 el cuchillo de destazar -- the carving knife

p. 155

le atestó … -- he stabbed her a second time in the side
gemido recóndito -- muffled moan
gruñiendo de dolor … -- grunting from pain and rage
se aferró -- he gripped
fuelle -- bellows
tajo -- cut

p. 156

embadurnaba -- smeared
se arrastró -- he dragged himself
gritos desgarrados -- heart-rending cries
vestigio más ínfimo … -- the slightest trace of her misfortune

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"Muerte constante más allá del amor"

p. 55

dársena -- dock
buques -- ships
a pleno sol -- in full day light
recodo -- bend
sin rumbos -- without direction
torcer -- to twist, bend
escala ineludible -- an unavoidable stop
furgones -- vans
farándula -- show business people
indios de alquiler -- hired indians
cohetes -- fire crackers
camperos -- farm workers
comitiva -- delegation

p. 56

empapada -- soaked
lector perseverante -- persevering reader
régimen -- diet
fritangas de chivo -- fried goat meat
chinchorro -- hammock
soberbia -- pride
pudor -- modesty
albedrío -- (free) will
reposado -- rested

p. 57

pérfida -- sly
se disputaron la suerte ... -- were competing with each other for the chance to shake his hand
no se compadeció -- he didn't feel sorry for
recuas de indios descalzos -- teams of barefooted indians
Acalló -- He silenced
en reposo -- at rest
machacado -- chewed over
derrotar -- de defeat
expósito -- abandoned
intemperie -- bad weather
puñados -- fists full
los falsos animales cobraban vida -- the fake animals took on a life of their own
revolteando -- fluttering
hojas de fieltro -- felt leaves
los sembraban a espaldas de ... -- they planted them behind the multitude in the saltpeter ground
armaron una fachada de cartón -- they set up a cardboard facade with fake houses

p. 58

caliche -- limestone
a fuerza de ser armado y desarmado -- owing to its having been set up and taken down
estaba carcomido -- it was eaten away
retazos -- bits and pieces
bajo la enramada fresca de ... -- beneath the cool arbor of a house make of unfinished boards
descuartizó -- he chopped into pieces
se había fugado del penal -- he had escaped from the penitentiary
huerto de coliflores -- cauliflower garden
estaba criando -- was raising

p. 59

no se rindió -- didn't give up / surrender
condenado a pudrirse -- condemned to rot
guarida de bucaneros -- buccaneers' hideout
estacas del cercado -- fence posts
el revés de la farse -- the back side of the farse
puntales -- prop post
armazones -- frames
asediado -- besieged
de buen talante -- willingly
encaramada -- who had climbed up on
bulla -- noise

p. 60

estruendo de carcajadas -- burst of laughter
en cuyos lomos -- on whose back
consigna -- slogan
gestos -- gestures
ceniciento y mustio -- ashen and in low spirits
bata -- robe
guarnecida -- adorned with
desidia -- slovenliness
cabeceaban -- were nodding

p. 61

sentía el hartazgo -- felt fed up
sábalos -- a kind of fish
gusarapos -- worms/larvae that breed in water
pozos -- wells
dominio sustentado en la complicidad de la muerte -- self control supported by his complicity with death
ya saben de sobra -- you know well enough
aguas podridas -- putrid water
escaños -- bench
se desplegó -- it unfolded (opened) its wings
se aplastó ... -- it smashed itself against the wall

p. 62

arrancarla -- to tear it off
picaporte -- latch
escudriñó -- he scrutinized
soñolienta -- sleepy
aleteando -- fluttering
se posaron -- they landed
taburete de escolar -- a student's stool
lisa -- smooth
crines de potranca -- a colt's (young mare's) mane
percudida -- ingrained with saltpeter

p. 63

catre de campaña -- cot
tatuaje corsario -- pirate's tatoo
corazón flechado -- a heart with an arrow through it
zafaba los cordones -- untied the (boot) laces
aposento -- room, chamber

p. 64

candado -- padlock
un propio -- a messenger
cabrón franchute -- French bastard
escalofrío -- shiver
recónditos -- remote

p. 65

axila -- armpit
sucumbió -- he surrendered to

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