Time to Die Page #4

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or sent back to prison at any minute.

Brought together to die,

after agonizing separately for a lifetime.

No, Juan,

I prefer my life as a shut-away widow

pining for an absent man.

Don't ruin your beautiful eyes.

What have we done

to deserve such punishment?

It's thanks to you.

I learned to knit

while waiting for your letters.

Poor Juan,

you've even lost your eyesight.

Time puts an end to everything, I say.

How awful.

I can't even make out

the hour from here.

You're killing yourself

shut away in here.

Two years remain.

If I don't respect

my own house, who will?

Mariana, let's leave for another town.

You're asking me 20 years too late.

In those days,

I would have gone wild with joy.

Today, I could go mad

with desperation.

We'll help each other to make up

for all the time we've lost.

Stop dreaming.

The Truebas' hatred would follow us

to the ends of the earth.

We wouldn't have a minute's peace.

What right do I have

to subject my son to such anxiety?

I've waited my whole life

for this moment. And now...

Leave him with me. Come.

Say hello to Uncle Juan.

- How are you?

- Very well, how are you?

- Good.

- Now go play.

He seems like a very mature boy, I say.

Juan Syago!

- Don't go out.

- Don't worry. Nothing will happen.

Please be careful, for God's sake.

Leave town, Juan. This is no life.

I've waited 18 years

to see you again, Mariana.

I'm not going to leave you now

just to satisfy a madman.

He pursued him for days on end,

at home and away,

looking for a reaction.

He threw at him

everyguileful provocation there is.

He hounded him more

than any man could take.

Until the poor wretch

could take it no longer...

and killed him head-on, like a real man.

That's why what you and your brother

want to do is so unjust.

Besides, Juan Syago is bulletproof.

- Don't say foolish things.

- It's true, Dad.

I've heard it said many times.

It all started when Juan was

hit in the back with some buckshot

in a hunting accident.

I was the one who treated him.

Nothing but a few scratches.

Well, it's time for my siesta.

Give me a kiss.

Not like that, a real one.

Where are you going?

I'll go with you.

I'll be back in a bit.

You better let me pass.

Leave your pistol with me.

Take it.

You take it, Mother.

I couldn't find it.

I told you, those ones got washed away

when the river overflowed.

Trueba!

Listen closely to what I say, kid.

I didn't come back here to fight.

I just came back.

But the hardiest man will lose patience

if he's hounded even in the graveyard.

- I looked for you all over town.

- Now you've found me.

I've just come to ask you to leave.

We were all just fine

until you came back.

Do not bring upon us

further problems.

Don't be so formal.

It makes me feel older than I am.

Let's leave this place.

The dead have ears, I say.

Where are you off to, Julin?

I'm looking for Pedro, ma'am.

He left just a minute ago.

He was waiting for me here.

Do you know where he went?

I don't know, Julin.

Won't you have some coffee?

Not now, ma'am. Thanks.

Come in, Julin.

Have you gone mad?

Have a seat.

We'll wait until Pedro comes back.

- I'm in a hurry.

- I know.

But now you'll just stay calm.

I won't let you ruin my life and

your brother's because of your follies.

On the contrary, Sonia.

Pedro is like a son to me.

I won't get him mixed up in this.

- Where did he go?

- I won't tell you.

It's better you told him, Daughter.

Pedro went to look for Juan Syago.

- Don't make that face, he's unarmed.

- Even worse.

Enough of that.

You know that Juan Syago

didn't kill an unarmed man.

- Now give me that pistol.

- No.

Give it to me!

Go look for Juan.

See if you can make him lose patience

and kill you like a dog.

Beat it!

Julin!

You old brute!

You're craftier than

the long-tailed devil himself.

- That's quite a horse.

- I brought it for you.

Leave right now and end all this.

Come on, don't be stubborn.

Life's more complicated than you think.

This can't be settled with a horse.

Let's go.

Don't go back to town, old man.

My brother won't give up easily

what he spent so long waiting for.

I've also waited many years

to come back.

Old man!

Have you seen Pedro?

I ain't seen nobody, Julin.

Leave me out of your troubles.

Just between you and me,

I really hope you leave.

I'd hate to see you die.

The crown that you fashion

is the one you must wear, I say.

You're the most stubborn old man

I've seen in my life.

And you're the most disobedient son.

I like the way you are.

Anyone else in your place

would have split town in a hurry

or lost their temper already.

I wasn't like this before.

I had to learn it.

If not, by now I'd have

the best horse ranch around

and I'd be a decent old man

with a son about your age, I say.

I want to be like that too.

What's the matter?

It's better they don't see us together.

Old man!

You old brute!

Old man!

- Have you seen Juan Syago?

- He died.

When?

Didn't they kill him

about 20 years ago?

If people see you with me,

things will get even more tangled up.

The crown you fashion

is the one you must wear, as you say.

He's the best horseman.

I've never seen anyone handle

spurs, crop and rope like that.

He's a real man.

No need to tell me.

I remember it well.

I'll see to it that he stays here.

He'll teach me all his tricks.

Watch out!

Chicken! Stop whining to that kid.

Coward!

Drop your gun.

Throw it to the ground.

Drop it.

Give me that.

Now it's serious. This game is over.

Leave town immediately and don't

come back until further notice.

- Go on, Godson.

- I will, Godfather.

I've got to pay the bill.

How much is the damage?

Seven.

I'll be back, old man.

I'll settle this matter once and for all.

Pack your things.

You're leaving for the barracks.

- Maybe they can make a man of you.

- I'm not going anywhere.

No?

And you're going to stop

harassing Juan Syago.

And who are you to crow so loudly?

I'm Ral Trueba's son just like you.

No way, not anymore.

A chicken can't be the son

of a man like him.

Think it over, Brother.

He can't have been so good

with horses if he lost a race,

nor so quick with a pistol

if they beat him to it.

Shut up!

Let's just content ourselves

with calling him a good father.

That's more than enough

to remember him as he deserves.

Shut up!

You don't even know what honor is!

Trueba!

I'll expect you within the hour.

Where?

You know where.

Take any horse you want.

My saddlebags.

- Can't I give you anything more, pal?

- Nothing.

Thanks, pal.

Take something to eat.

Hey, buddy!

Yellowbelly!

I knew you'd run out.

Drop your gun, old man.

Bend your knee, son...

so I can give you my blessing.

I'll be just fine like this, old pal.

And stop playing your little game.

One of these days,

you'll put a hole in your hide.

That's what we were born to do, son.

What's the matter?

I've come to say good-bye.

Will you come back?

I don't know when, but I will.

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