Childhood of the Dead

Childhood of the Dead Read Free Page A

Book: Childhood of the Dead Read Free
Author: Jose Louzeiro
Tags: FIC037000 FICTION / Political
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Alencar turned his attention to the phone.
    IV
    Dito shook the dirt from his clothes. His eyes were still red. They had crossed a long stretch of woods, up to the foot of the hill. No one felt like talking. When they got to the main ascent up into the slum, where there was no more danger of being caught by the snitches and dealers, Manguito decided to break the silence.
    â€œDo you think we should return through the cemetery?”
    â€œNo. We escape by the other side. Only later, I’m going to show up there. They’ll have to tell me who shot Pichote.”
    They arrived at the bar. Manguito and Smokey went around behind the small shack, while Dito went in cautiously, and approached Crystal who was still playing pool.
    â€œHey, man! I thought you’d forgotten our appointment.”
    Dito remained quiet.
    â€œWhere’re your little friends?”
    Crystal noticed Manguito and Smokey approaching. He sat on the pool table and began talking.
    â€œIt’s gonna be a big job. First some free samples. After, when they are well hooked, things thicken. But in this small job only, you will take five hundred grand. It’s enough to keep the wolf away from the door for a long time.”
    â€œAnd what do we have to do to get so much money?” Dito asked.
    â€œAs I said,” Crystal answered, “almost nothing.”
    Dito didn’t much like this guy, who talked incessantly and acted as if he knew everything, and thought everything would be easy. They hadn’t even begun their first job and he was already absorbed with their future.
    â€œAnd where will we get the money?” Dito asked objectively.
    â€œTwo hundred thousand cruzeiros from me and the rest in Sao Paulo. At this address.”
    Crystal took a card from his pocket showing it to Dito.
    â€œDo you know where it is?”
    â€œOf course I know.”
    â€œWell it’s there. A big house that’s ready to be demolished. There is work going on there, but the workers are all part of the group. You go in and ask for Deborah. Then one of the workers will stop what he’s doing and ask you to follow him to her presence. You’ll like it. Fine people, who don’t begrudge payments. You might even earn a bonus. It will all depend on you.”
    Dito reached for the card but Crystal pulled it away, smiling and gesturing.
    â€œNone of that. Material proof is dangerous. You have to memorize: 1072 Lavapés Street, two houses before the gas station.”
    â€œAnd what’ll we take?”
    Crystal pulled small bags from his pockets.
    â€œThis stuff. I will sew them to the inside of your pants myself.”
    While this man with strange mannerisms and a pock-marked face, always smiling, fidgeted around, Dito thought about Pichote: his wide-open eyes, his hand unfurled with Starry’s flowers.
    â€œFirst you,” said Crystal addressing Manguito.
    The boy took off his pants, keeping his undershorts. Crystal turned the clothes inside out, opened a small box, where there were more little bags, thread and needle.
    â€œI have to make like I’m a tailor for everything to work out. The goods will be secure like this. Even if they put their hands in your pockets, they won’t find anything.”
    Dito continued to observe this man so patient and talkative. When he finished sewing the bags to Manguito’s pants, it was Smokey’s turn. Only, he had no undershorts. He was embarrassed to be naked, so Crystal found him a towel.
    â€œWhen you come back, I swear I’ll buy first-class clothing for everybody. Clothes and shoes.”
    Dito wasn’t worried about that. He was worried about returning through the cemetery and, from there, to try to take the train to Sao Paulo. His thoughts appeared to echo those of Crystal.
    â€œDon’t even dream of catching a bus at the bus station. You would be caught, easy.”
    Dito said he knew that. Crystal wasn’t satisfied.
    â€œThe policewomen

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