cuentos de barro - DSpace Universidad Don Bosco

Un coletazo formidable hizo crujir el
bote. El chucho buscaba fijo, abriendo
las cuatro patas y hundiendo la cola.
Soltaron. Se apercoyaron a las bordas
y trataron de nivelar. Un segundo
coletazo ladeó el bote. Dos sombras
eseantes atacaban con furia.
— ¡Levante el fondo ligero!
—¡Aguárdese!
Un tercer coletazo echó de bruces al
indio que tiraba del fondo. La caída
hizo volcarse al bote; hubo un griterío
salvaje; las colas golpeaban en la
cáscara del bote como en un tambor.
Grandes rosas de espuma se fugaban
en círculos, empurpurando la plata
mansa. Después, todo quedó quieto.
* * *
Agrupados en la orilla, los moradores
del valle escrutaban la noche. Los
gritos habían levantado a las gentes. La
ña Gerónima, gorda y grasienta, con su
delantal de cuadros azules, comentaba
temblorosa.
—¡Avemariapurísima!...
Los viejos de quijada de plomo
cabeceaban, como diciendo:
—Pa que veyan...
48
A formidable sway of the shark’s tail
made the boat creak. The mutt was
tried to keep its balance by speading
its four legs and tucking his tail. They
were finally able to unhook the shark.
Grasping onto the gunwales they
tried to level the boat. A second slap
side-swipped the boat. Two s-shaped
shadows furiously attacked them.
“Pull up the anchor, now!”
“Hold on!”
A third assault threw out the man who
was attempting to pull up the anchor
overboard. His fall caused the boat to
flip over. A savage screaming could be
heard as sharks’ tails continued to hit
on the sides of the boat like a drum. Big
roses of foam escaped in concentric
circles, coloring purple the formerly
tranquil silver light. Then, all was quiet.
* * *
Grouped on the beach, the people of
the village scrutinized the night. The
shouting had awakened them. Señora
Gerónima, chubby and greasy, her
apron with blue squares, spoke in a
shaky voice.
“Holy Mother of God!”
The elders with chins of lead nodded as
if they were saying:
“We told them so...”