Free The Killer's Tears by Anne-Laure Bondoux

shouldn't be so many at the counter. You'll be in the way.”
    Paolo opened his mouth to protest. He wanted to remind Luis how respectable it was to go into a bank with a child. That was what Luis had said the other day! What was different now? Paolo looked at Delia. Of course,
she
was the difference.… But, suddenly, Angel pushed him toward Luis.
    “The child wants to go,” he said.
    “It's not necessary,” Luis said again.
    Just then, the doors of the bank opened and Paolo caught a glimpse of the gray-haired woman, who was welcoming the first clients with a jovial smile. He wondered if she would offer him another sweet. That would make two talismans!
    “Take the child with you,” Angel ordered.
    Luis sighed and took Paolo's hand.
    As they entered the bank, the heat blew on Paolo's face. He smiled. Nothing had changed since two days ago. It was the same peaceful place, the same padded atmosphere that made one feel one was inside a bubble.
    Delia and Luis whispered secrets in line. At the counters, other people were also talking softly, and all the hushed tones sounded like the rustling of the wind in the trees.
    Paolo pulled on Luis's sleeve. “Do you think I can have a glass of water?”
    “Go ahead,” said Luis.
    Slowly the child went over to the fountain. He admired the pile of cups, the tap, and noticed a pedal at the foot of the machine. He took a cup and pushed on the pedal with his right foot. A clear stream of water ran from the tap. Paolo put his cup under it and waited until it was full. With care, he brought the cup to his lips. He did this a few times with growing pleasure.
    In his house at the tip of Chile, water was in short supply. Whenever he saw the bottom of the pitcher, he always hesitated to pour again, because it meant that he would have to go out into the cold, the wind, the rain, and walk to the well and pull on the chain, which hurt his fingers. Here all he had to do was push on the pedal and he could drink until he dropped.
    “You should stop, child,” a man who was passing near Paolo told him. “This fountain is not a toy.”
    Paolo blushed. He threw away the cup and joined Luis and Delia. They both had their elbows on the counter and were leaning forward. Paolo pulled on Luis's sleeve.
    “What now?” Luis said, out of temper.
    “Do you think I'll get another sweet?” Paolo asked.
    Luis shrugged and turned away. Abashed, Paolo insinuated himself close to the counter. He wanted to make sure that it was the nice gray-haired lady who was there, but Luis's body hid the teller's face.
    “What do you need an authorization for?” Luis was saying tensely. “I'm in a hurry.”
    “That's the rule for large amounts,” the teller answered. “It's the law.”
    “Very well! Call the bank manager!” Luis said excitedly. Then he felt Paolo between his legs and gave him a nasty look. “Go play somewhere else!”
    “The fountain is not a toy,” Paolo answered.
    “Then go outside with Angel!”
    Paolo hung his head down. He did not like the way Luis was speaking, or the way he acted, or looked, or … It was Delia's fault. Luis was different since he had met her. With a heavy heart, Paolo went to the exit. This time, he would not be getting a sweet. He felt sad. And when he pushed the door open, tears came to his eyes.
    “Where is Luis?” Angel asked.
    His throat tight, Paolo did not answer.
    “What's the matter?” Angel knelt in front of the child. “You're crying? Is it because of Luis?”
    Paolo nodded.
    “Is it because Luis no longer wants to buy the sheep?” Angel wiped the tears running down the child's cheeks. “Don't worry, I promised that you would have your lamb. One way or the other, we'll get one, I swear.”
    Suddenly, Angel saw a change come across Paolo's face. The child's sadness was replaced by a look of astonishment. Paolo's eyes were fixed on a spot above Angel's shoulder. Angel tried to turn around, but Paolo grabbed his face roughly between his hands.
    “Don't