— I approached the cage, but I couldn’t see anything inside it. It was too dark — said Heitor.
Durval stared at the former army captain who continued his narrative about how he had been trapped with some kind of caged beast in an army laboratory. Heitor was a short man, but with a stocky body, muscular torso and arms for someone who must have been over 70. He leaned forward in the armchair, truly engrossed in the story he was telling, his legs spread apart made him seem solidly anchored in what he was saying. Durval felt that the man was speaking the truth, even though it was unbelievably bizarre.
The cigar in his left hand was brought to his mouth at regular intervals. Almost a ritual. He paused speaking a moment before his hand lifted, then inhaled a good amount of smoke, held it in his mouth and, with his eyes closed, slowly blew it towards the ceiling of the room. The atmosphere was already filled with a soft bluish haze. Then he opened his eyes and looked back at Durval, as if confirming that he was still there.
Durval remained motionless sitting on the sofa. He swallowed hard and blinked, trying to clear his mind for whatever would come next. He wanted to know exactly what was inside the cage. A little more watermelon juice would be great in this heat, or maybe even something to eat. He glanced out the window towards the balcony to see if Melinda was coming back. Maybe she would offer him something to snack on. After all, even the cats were being fed.
Seemingly hearing his thoughts, Melinda appeared at the door of the living room:
— Are you staying for lunch, Mr. Durval?
— Ahh, well, I don’t know.
— Of course he is, Mel. He’s eating with us — interrupted Heitor.
Durval gave a shy smile as Melinda headed towards the kitchen, swaying her beautiful hips in her floral dress. The woman was radiant.
— Durval, Durval! I like you, my dear. But you need to be careful with that Botelho. I’ve always told Mel that anyone involved with that guy is not a good person. But now, getting to know you better, you’re not a bad guy, Durval. I know how to judge people well. I know when they’re not a faithful dog, you understand?
— I think so.
Heitor let out a laugh.
Durval noticed that little by little Heitor was becoming friendlier and more at ease with him. This was good; he wanted to understand what the hell had happened in that laboratory and what all of that had to do with the corpse that had appeared in his kitchen a few days ago. Moreover, how the corpse could have simply disappeared without a trace hours later. Durval had a suspect who must be involved in all of this: Botelho. His friend of decades, a retired biology teacher, who now, according to Heitor, was actually a former army scientist who had conducted experiments on a man with horns.
Heitor resumed his story, and Durval felt that everything was about to fall into place.
Episode XXXIX continues in the next edition.
JOSÉ GASPAR
Filmmaker and writer
www.historiasdooutromundo.com