Free The Seven Madmen by Roberto Arlt Page A

head flung down on his arm on the tabletop.
    "So, you're going? You're going, for real?"
    "Yes, I want to see if our life can get better, see? Take a look at my hands," and, taking off her right glove, she showed him a hand cracked by the cold, eaten by lye, pricked by needles, and blackened by sooty pots.
    Erdosain stood up, in the grips of a vision.
    He saw his unhappy wife in the vile throes of cities of iron and cement, passing under the dark slashes where the skyscrapers threw down oblique shadows, under a looming tangle of black high-voltage wires. A throng of businessmen shielded by umbrellas passed by. Her little face was paler than ever, but he was in her thoughts even though the breath of strangers touched her cheek.
    "Where, where is my little boy?"
    Erdosain cut in on his own vision:
    "Elsa ... you know this ... come back anytime you want ... you can come back ... only tell the truth, did you once love me?"
    She raised her eyes slowly. Her voice filled the room with human warmth. To Erdosain she seemed to come to life.
    "I always loved you ... now, too, I love you ... why did you never before speak like tonight? I feel I'll love you all my life ... that other man is nothing but a shadow compared to you."
    "Darling, my poor darling ... what life has done to us ... what life has done."
    A painful wisp of a smile turned up the corners of her mouth. Elsa looked at him a moment, her eyes warm. Then, she made a solemn vow:
    "Look here ... wait for me. If life is the way you always told me, I'll return to you, see? and then, if you say so, we can kill ourselves together ... Are you happy?"
    Warm blood surged through the man's temples.
    "My love, you're so good to me, love ... give me your hand," and while she, still overwhelmed, smiled, timidly, Erdosain kissed it. "You're not angry, love?"
    She lifted up her head, grave with joy.
    "Look here, Remo ... I'll come back to you, see? And if it's true what you say about life ... yes, I'll be back ... I'll be back."
    "You'll be back?"
    "With everything I have."
    "Even if you're rich?"
    "Even if I have all the millions on earth, I'll be back. I swear!"
    "Darling, my poor darling! You're a pure soul, but yet, you never really knew me ... it doesn't matter ... what life has dealt us!"
    "It doesn't matter. I'm happy. You see what a surprise you're in for. You're all alone ... suddenly, creak ... the door opens ... and it's me ... I've come back to you!"
    "You're all in a ballgown ... white shoes and a pearl necklace."
    "And I came alone, on foot, through dark streets, seeking you out ... but you don't see me, you're all alone ... your head—"
    "Tell me ... go on ... go on .. "Your head sunk into your hand and your elbow on the table ... you look at me ... and all at once ... "
    "I recognize you and I say, 'Elsa, is it you, Elsa?'"
    "And I answer: 'Remo, I've come home, remember that night? That night is tonight and outside a cold wind may blow, but we feel neither cold nor pain.' Are you happy, Remo?"
    "Yes, I swear to you I'm happy."
    "All right, I'm leaving."
    "You're leaving?"
    "Yes ... "
    A swift spasm of pain contorted his features.
    "All right then, go."
    "It won't be long, my husband."
    "What did you say?"
    "Remo, I'm telling you: wait for me. Even if I have all the millions in the world, I'll come back home."
    "All right ... good-bye then ... only kiss me."
    "No, when I get back ... good-bye, my husband." Suddenly Erdosain, in the grips of a nameless spasm, grabbed her hands brutally hard by the wrists. "Tell me: did you go to bed with him?"
    "Let me go, Remo ... I didn't think you—"
    "Confess it: did you or did you not sleep together?"
    "No."
    In the doorway stood the Captain. A vast weariness made the nerves of his fingers go slack. Erdosain felt himself falling and saw nothing more.
    Layers of Darkness
    He never knew how he got himself over to his bed.
    Time ceased to exist for Erdosain. He closed his eyes in response to his aching body's need for sleep. If he had had