From the helicopter, José Luis watched mountainous landscape slip away. He felt more than relieved that this hell was finally over. What had he thought about when he accepted the indigenous man offer in Lima? Beside him, Sato was trembling in his sister’s arms. Zuberi was sitting beside a soldier. Everyone has plenty of questions to ask, but no one dared to talk for the moment. Then, Mikumi started speaking and revealing the terrible quite interesting story behind the three men's experience. . .
***
When José Luis got off the plane, he finally felt at home and out of any danger. However, something still was annoying him. Las Huaringas did not help him finally. He still had to talk to Montserrat.
José Luis was walking in his district before finally decide to go to the apartment. He had been nervous, but now he was detached from the situation. He only wanted to know the truth. . . No matter what it she would say, he would be able to live with it.
He was now before the revenue house where they lived. He entered in the hall. How many times had he climbed up the stairs holding Montserrat’s hand? How many times had he inserted his keys into that lock? He opened the door. “José Luis! Is that you?” asked nervously Montserrat. He saw her appear at the door frame of the living room. She had wept. When she saw him, she brought her hands to her mouth in disbelief.
“Oh! José Luis! Where were you? We have been looking for you. Are you OK?”
“We have to talk,” said José Luis. He did not want to explain himself and he wanted to know the truth as soon as possible.
“Wait! But what do you want us to talk about?”
“You remember the night I disappear? The one when you went to eat
with your friends?”
“I. . . Yes, of course, I remember. Why do you ask me this question?” said Montserrat obviously embarrassed.
“You were not really with
your friends, weren’t you?” asked José Luis.
“Oh. . . I-I-I. . . No, I was not, but. . . Ah. . .” stammered Montserrat.
“I will tell you what I saw. You kissed a man. In that street! In front of the house!” said José Luis pointing at his right towards the window.
“I. . . Yes, I-I kissed him. But. . . It is more complicated than you think.”
“Then, what is it?”
“I don’t know! I. . .” Montserrat stopped speaking. Her cheeks were red. There was sweat on her forehead.
“You love him?” asked José Luis.
“Yes,” finally said Montserrat after a long pause and looking at the floor.
José Luis looked at her. She raised her head to look at him. He touched lightly her cheek with his fingers and she looked away. José Luis made a step backward. He looked at Montserrat and pursed his lips.
“I’m sorry, Montserrat. I have to go. . .”
He walked towards the door.
“Wait,” said Montserrat.
José Luis did not look back at her and closed the door behind him.
***
The sun was the king in the sky and the air was not too humid. José Luis who was holding a moving box in his hands looked at his parents’ house. A salty breeze was stroking the young man’s hair and skin. The door opened and a black-haired woman appeared. José Luis smiled as he saw his mother. “Come here, mi niño!”
“Oh mamá, I’m so happy to see you!”
They hugged each other and entered in the house. It was the end of a story for José Luis and the beginning of a new one. . .