Childhood of the Dead Read Free

the bricks. His aide answered by telling him the bricks were being stacked up in a pile in the same sector where there was a problem. Dr. Alencar showed some nervousness.
    â€œWhat problem is this you’re talking about, Seu Laerte?”
    The mulatto smiled.
    â€œGalego and Big Jet followed the orders . . . .”
    â€œWhich orders?”
    â€œTo stop urchins from robbing the cemetery. At least one of them won’t bring us any more problems.”
    Dr. Alencar set his glasses down on the table. He was a bit apprehensive.
    â€œHow did this happen, Seu Laerte?”
    â€œIt’s hard to tell. But from what Big Jet tells me, Galego hit one of the punks. To avoid complications, I sent the body to the third chapel.”
    â€œLet’s see how this happened,” Dr. Alencar said, standing up and leaving the room.
    The supervisor followed him.
    The third chapel was the smallest of all. It had not been used in years. Nowadays, only unused material was stored there. The manager entered with care to avoid staining his clothes on the shovels and hoe handles in the room.
    â€œHow old could this boy be?”
    â€œAbout ten. But they know how to do things you wouldn’t imagine.”
    â€œWhere is Galego?”
    â€œHe’s left. Both he and Big Jet.”
    Dr. Alencar wasn’t concerned with the boy’s death; what bothered him was how to get rid of the body without problems.
    â€œGet me Galego and Big Jet. No matter where they are.”
    Dr. Alencar returned to his office. He turned on the air conditioning, answered the phone, took notes, smiled, spoke softly. The supervisor called a man in uniform, and told him to find Galego and Big Jet’s whereabouts.
    â€œDr. Alencar wants to speak to both of them.”
    The manager stayed on the phone, apologized for something he wasn’t able to do — which the security supervisor couldn’t figure out and was not interested in knowing — took from his pockets other invoices for delivery of materials and set them on the table.”Each one says three loads of stone, but it was only one.”
    Dr. Alencar looked at the receipts and smiled.
    â€œAnd when does the driver want to be paid?”
    â€œHe said he’ll stop by next week.”
    â€œAnd alley 125 is already all cemented?”
    â€œNo. The two masons haven’t shown up since last week. I think I’m going to get others. Someone willing to work hard.”
    â€œI don’t understand, Seu Laerte, how it is that we can let custodians go about armed in the cemetery.”
    The mulatto pulled a cynical smile and clapped once.
    â€œWell, doutor , that’s what we’d agreed. A caretaker is much cheaper than a guard. And it doesn’t cost to do both things at once. What we didn’t foresee was this swarm of punks showing up. It is unbelievable what they’ve robbed from the graves. Now, maybe things will get better. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.”
    â€œI hope you’re right. Can you imagine if this gets out? If Big Jet and Galego talk?”
    Laerte looked at Dr. Alencar incredulously. “Do you think they are crazy? Who would be the losers but them?”
    â€œAnd have you thought about how to dispose of the body?”
    â€œYes, but I was waiting for a word from you. Who knows, you may have a better idea.”
    â€œSeek an out-of-the-way place and have it buried tonight.”
    â€œYou’ll excuse me, but I believe that, in cases like this, the more discreet we are, the better.”
    Dr. Alencar settled back into his chair. “What do you suggest then?”
    â€œThat we open an existing grave and place the body there. It’s safer.”
    Dr. Alencar smirked. “That’s a good idea. Do this yourself; don’t let Galego or Big Jet know about it. If tomorrow, then, they decide to accuse us, they won’t have a way to prove anything.”
    The supervisor grinned again and Dr.