Saying that, he feels the return of compassion. He tells the Archbishop about Jeremiah as a lay saint. He speaks of their nights of chess and JeremiahÂ’s work with children. Then he speaks to the Mayor about purchasing JeremiahÂ’s photographic plates for preserving the images of a generation. The Archbishop is scandalized that Dr. Urbino would think a suicide saintly, but he agrees to the idea of making an archive of the negatives. The Mayor wants to know from whom to purchase the negatives. Dr. UrbinoÂ’s tongue burns with the secret and he only says he will take care of it. He feels redeemed by his loyalty to JeremiahÂ’s lover, whom he had repudiated earlier.

After a few short speeches, the band plays a popular tune and guests stroll along the terraces. Only those who sit at the table of honor remain in the drawing room. They do so to celebrate the fact that Dr. Urbino had drunk half a glass of brandy in one swallow. Earlier he had done the same with another liquor. After many years, he wants to sing. He would have if a disturbance had not stopped the band from playing. A car stops in front of the portico and Dr. Marco Aurelio Urbino Daza and his wife get out. They are carrying trays covered with lace. It is the dessert. Dr. Urbino Daza explains that before the storm, the sisters had asked him to bring the dessert, but he had left the KingÂ’s Highway because someone had told him his parentsÂ’ house was on fire. Fermina Daza reminds Dr. Urbino that he had called the fire truck to rescue his parrot. Aminta de Olivella is radiant with happiness and serves the dessert even though everyone has already had their coffee. Dr. Urbino and Fermina Daza have to leave before tasting it so he can have his siesta before the funeral.

Dr. Urbino tries calling the bird but no response comes from any of the neighborÂ’s trees where everyone thinks the bird is. He awakens from his siesta feeling very sad. He doesnÂ’t feel sad for his friendÂ’s death, but for his sense that he is living his last days. Until he was fifty, he had been aware of the size and weight of his internal organs. He would lie in bed after his siesta and feel them one by one. He slowly discovered that he was the only one left of his generationÂ’s legendary group portraits. When he had realized he was losing his memory, he remembered his professor saying, "The man who has no memory makes one out of paper." However, this tactic doesnÂ’t work because he forgets which piece of paper he has left information on. He is most disturbed by his lack of confidence in his ability to reason. He feels he is losing his good judgment.

He knows that most fatal diseases have their own odor. None is as specific as old age. The only consolation of his old age is the extinction of his sexual appetite: "sexual peace." He realizes that he is attached to life by a few thin threads. The only reason he is so careful not to break them is that he is afraid he will not find God when he dies.

Fermina Daza has been busy cleaning up the bedroom from the mess made by the firemen. She sends him his glass of lemonade and reminds him to get ready for the funeral. He has two books in his hands, one of whose pages are still uncut. He asks the cook to get him the paper cutter but when it is brought to him he is already reading the other book and almost at the end. He reads slowly, noticing a slight headache. He is irritated by the idea of having to change for the funeral. He stops reading and begins to rock in his rocking chair looking out at the messed up trees in the patio. He had forgotten his beloved parrot when he hears him say "royal parrot." He is on the lowest branch of the mango tree. He calls out to the parrot calling him a scoundrel. The bird responds, "YouÂ’re even more of a scoundrel, Doctor."

Table of Contents | Printable Version