The Flight of the Condor: Stories of Violence and War from Colombia

Family Birthday Wishes

Family Birthday Wishes Germán Espinosa “Hello?” “Leonardo? It’s Berta. I’ve been trying to call you all morning.” “I went grocery shopping. How are you?” “Did you think I had forgotten?” “About what?” “About your birthday, silly. I sent you a little gift yesterday.” “Oh, yeah. Those lovely little guns. It’s exactly what I wanted. Thank you. I tried one out this morning.” “You’re welcome. And, by the way, happy birthday.” “Thanks, sis. I’m hearing a lot of noise in the background. Where are you?” “Not far from where you are. At Heroes’ Circle. I’m in my car. It’s a beautiful day.” “Where are you headed?” “I’m going to do a job. By the way, did you hear that Papa was killed last night?” “Oh, yeah. Before going to the grocery store, I stopped by the medical examiner’s office to identify the body. They didn’t leave much for the mortician.” “Do they have any idea who did it?” “The police think it was the Atuestas; they couldn’t pay him back the money he had lent them. But I’m not so sure.” “Me neither. I’m thinking it was Mama.” “Well, I suspected her too, but . . .” 55 “Look, Leonardo, I know you’re thinking that she really loved him. Imagine. Thirty-five years of marriage.” “That’s what I thought. . . .” “It’s true, she loved him very much. Remember that time someone tried to bump him off at the soccer stadium?” “Vaguely, yeah.” “She thought he was going to die. And it almost seemed as if she couldn’t live without him.” “Sure, sure. It probably wasn’t Mama.” “But it was, Leonardo. It seems they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.” “How much, more or less?” “About a hundred million. Even I wouldn’t have turned that down.” “Right. But, in any case, the old man was getting on in years. And he had had a very good life.” “Sure. And with all that money, Mama will be able to go on a good spree at Titi’s, like she’s always wanted to.” “Ah, that passion of hers for gambling. How she gets carried away.” “But it’s her only weakness. Why shouldn’t she indulge?” “Okay, you’re right, Berta. Especially with the price the Asprillas have put on her head.” “Of course; she could be done in any moment now.” “They’ve been talking to me, by the way. But the offer was too low. After all, one’s mother is one’s mother.” “How much did they offer you?” “Very little. And I had already been hired to kill a politician around that time.” “They came to me, too. And I think Papa as well.” “Papa mentioned something about it. But they were offering next to nothing.” “Yeah, almost nothing. I preferred to take on the Aguirre contract. Remember? The car bomb uptown.” “Oh, yeah, of course. And that reminds me, Berta. I’ve been hired for one next Monday.” 56 Germán Espinosa 57 Family Birthday Wishes “Uncle Jose died in the car bomb uptown. Tough luck.” “Yes, I was at the wake. He was in pieces.” “Uncle Jose had been working for the Aguirres as well. They told me you turned down a job for them.” “It’s a matter of principle, Berta. They didn’t want to use Ecuadorian dynamite. I have an arrangement with the suppliers in Ecuador.” “I did, too, at one time. But now they’re bringing over this marvelous gelignite from Holland.” “I’ll have to try it. By the way, did you know that it was Papa who planted the bomb at the foreign ministry? I think it was his last job.” “Second to last. After that, he kidnapped the attorney general.” “I had forgotten. He must have really enjoyed knocking him around, because the attorney general had never paid him for the car bomb at the railroad company.” “That car bomb was a big mistake. The railroad company was offering a lot more to kill the attorney general.” “What are you talking about, Berta? I killed him.” “Good money?” “Fifty big ones. They paid for my vacation in Miami.” “That reminds me, my visa has expired, but I’m friends with the consul.” “Me too. I met him at a reception in Nariño Palace.” “But, of course! I remember...