litude。 He would get up at five in the morning after a light sleep； have his eternal mug of bitter coffee in the kitchen； shut himself up all day in the workshop； and at four in the afternoon he would go along the porch dragging a stool； not even noticing the fire of the rose bushes or the brightness of the hour or the persistence of Amaranta； whose melancholy made the noise of a boiling pot； which was perfectly perceptible at dusk； and he would sit in the street door as long as the mosquitoes would allow him to。 Someone dared to disturb his solitude once。
“How are you； Colonel？？he asked in passing。
“Right here；？he answered。 “Waiting for my funeral procession to pass。？
So that the anxiety caused by the public reappearance of his family name； having to do with the coronation of Remedios the Beauty； was baseless。 Many people did not think that way； however。 Innocent of the tragedy that threatened it； the town poured into the main square in a noisy explosion of merriment。 The carnival had reached its highest level of madness and Aureliano Segundo had satisfied at last his dream of dressing up like a tiger and was walking along the wild throng； hoarse from so much roaring； when on the swamp road a parade of several people appeared carrying in a gilded litter the most fascinating woman that imagination could conceive。 For a moment the inhabitants of Macondo took off their masks in order to get a better look at the dazzling creature with a crown of emeralds and an ermine cape； who seemed invested with legitimate authority； and was not merely a sovereign of bangles and crepe paper。 There were many people who had sufficient insight to suspect that it was a question of provocation。 But Aureliano Segundo immediately conquered his perplexity and declared the new arrivals to be guests of honor； and with the wisdom of Solomon he seated Remedios the Beauty and the intruding queen on the same dais。 Until midnight the strangers； disguised as bedouins； took part in the delirium and even enriched it with sumptuous fireworks and acrobatic skills that made one think of the art of the gypsies。 Suddenly； during the paroxysm of the celebration； someone broke the delicate balance。
“Long live the Liberal party！？he shouted。 “Long live Colonel Aureliano Buendía！？
The rifle shots drowned out the splendor of the fireworks and the cries of terror drowned out the music and joy turned into panic。 Many years later there were those who still insisted that the royal guard of the intruding queen was a squad of regular army soldiers who were concealing government…issue rifles under their rich Moorish robes。 The government denied the charge in a special proclamation and promised a plete investigation of the bloody episode。 But the truth never came to light； and the version always prevailed that the royal guard； without provocation of any kind； took up bat positions upon a signal from their mander and opened fire without pity on the crowd。 When calm was restored； not one of the false bedouins remained in town and there were many dead and wounded lying on the square： nine clowns； four Columbines； seventeen playing…card kings； one devil； three minstrels； two peers of France； and three Japanese empresses。 In the confusion of the panic Jos？Arcadio Segundo managed to rescue Remedios the Beauty and Aureliano Segundo carried the intruding queen to the house in his arms； her dress torn and the ermine cape stained with blood。 Her name was Fernanda del Carpio。 She had been chosen as the most beautiful of the five thousand most beautiful women in the land and they had brought her to Macondo with the promise of naming her Queen of Madagascar。 ？rsula took care of her as if she were her own daughter。 The town； instead of doubting her innocence； pitied her candor。 Six months after the massacre； when the wounded had recovered and the last flowers on the mass grave had withered； Aureliano Segundo went to fetch her from the distant city where she lived with her father and he married her in Macondo with a noisy celebration that lasted twenty days。
Chapter 11
THE MARRIAGE was on the point of breaking up after two months because Aureliano Segundo； in an attempt to placate Petra Cotes； had a picture taken of her dressed as the Queen of Madagascar。 When Fernanda found out about it she repacked her bridal trunks and left Macondo without saying good…bye。 Aureliano Segundo caught up with her on the swamp road。 After much pleading and promises of reform he succeeded in getting her to e home and he abandoned his concubine。
Petra Cotes； aware of her strength； showed no signs of worry。 She had made a man of him。 While he was still a child she had drawn him out of Melquíades？room； his head full of fantastic ideas and lacking any contact with reality； and she had given him a place in the world。 Nature had made him reserved and withdrawn。 with tendencies toward solitary meditation； and she had molded an opposite character in him； one that was vital； expansive； open； and she had injected him with a joy for living and a pleasure in spending and celebrating until she had converted him inside and out； into the man she had dreamed of for herself ever since adolescence。 Then he married； as all sons marry sooner or later。 He did not dare tell her the news。 He assumed an attitude that was quite childish under the circumstances； feigning anger and imaginary resentment so that Petra Cotes would be the one who would bring about the break。 One day； when Aureliano Segundo reproached her unjustly； she eluded the trap and put things in their proper place。
“What it all means；？she said； “is that you want to marry the queen。？
Aureliano Segundo； ashamed； pretended an attack of rage； said that he was misunderstood and abused； and did not visit her again。 Petra Cotes； without losing her poise of a wild beast in repose for a single instant； heard the music and the fireworks from the wedding； the wild bustle of the celebration as if all of it were nothing but some new piece of mischief on the part of Aureliano Segundo。 Those who pitied her fate were calmed with a smile。 “Don’t worry；？she told them。 “Queens run errands for me。？To a neighbor woman who brought her a set of candles so that she could light up the picture of her lost lover with them； she said with an enigmatic security：
“The only candle that will make him e is always lighted。？
Just as she had foreseen； Aureliano Segundo went back to her house as soon as the honeymoon was over。 He brought his usual old friends； a traveling photographer； and the gown and ermine cape soiled with blood that Fernanda had worn during the carnival。 In the heat of the merriment that broke out that evening； he had Petra Cotes dress up as queen； crowned her absolute and lifetime ruler of Madagascar； and handed out copies of the picture to his friends； she not only went along with the game； but she felt sorry for him inside； thinking that he must have been very frightened to have conceived of that extravagant means of reconciliation。 At seven in the evening； still dressed as the queen； she received him in bed。 He had been married scarcely two months； but she realized at once that things were not going well in the nuptial bed； and she had the delicious pleasure of vengeance fulfilled。 Two days later； however； when he did not dare return but sent an intermediary to arrange the terms of the separation； she understood that she was going to need more patience than she had foreseen because he seemed ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of appearances。 Nor did she get upset that time。 Once again she made things easy with a submission that confirmed the generalized belief that she was a poor devil； and the only souvenir she kept of Aureliano Segundo was a pair of patent leather boots； which； according to what he himself had said； were the ones he wanted to wear in his coffin。 She kept them wrapped in cloth in the bottom of a trunk and made ready to feed on memories； waiting without despair。
“He has to e sooner or later；？she told herself； “even if it’s just to put on those boots。？
She did not have to wait as long as she had imagined。 Actually； Aureliano Segundo understood from the night of his wedding that he would return to the hous