João Mau-Tempo leaves, and as he walks down the corridor for what seems like the nth time, he sees, coming out of another door, flanked by a large escort of guards, So-and-so and Whatsisname, their eyes meet in recognition, they’ve been badly beaten, poor things, and João Mau-Tempo, as he walks across the courtyard, feels his eyes fill with tears, not because he’s dazzled by the sun, he’s used to that now, but out of an absurd feeling of contentment and relief to know that the two men have already been arrested, and that he wasn’t the one who betrayed them, no, it wasn’t me, what a relief that they’ve been arrested, but what am I saying, and he weeps twice over, once out of contentment and once out of sorrow, and both times he weeps to have seen them here, they’ve obviously been beating them up, as sure as my name is João Mau-Tempo, that policeman was spot-on when he said I have the right name for the times we’re living through.
He went back into the dungeon and told the others what had happened. They saw that he had tears in his eyes and asked if he had been beaten. He said no, he hadn’t, but continued to weep, his heart filled with sorrow, any contentment he had felt quite gone, replaced by a feeling of mortal sadness. The men from Monte Lavre gathered around him, those of the same age, that is, because the younger ones moved away, embarrassed to be near a man whose hair was already white but who was crying like a child, is that what awaits us as well, they thought. These are scruples it would be best to accept without further analysis or discussion.
It was after midday when the situation took a turn for the better. They were led out into the courtyard, where they were reunited with their families, who had come from far and wide, those who could, and who were only now allowed into that anteroom of authority, having been kept waiting outside the barracks, penned in by the guards, where they redoubled their sighing and sobbing, but when Corporal Tacabo turned up to give the order to let them in, they were filled with hope, and there were Faustina and her two daughters, Gracinda and Amélia, who had walked the four leagues from Monte Lavre, what a wearisome life they lead, along with others, mostly women, There they are, and the guards finally relaxed their security measures, ah, what hungry kisses might then have been heard throughout the glade,* what do you mean glade, the poor creatures embraced and wept, it was like the resurrection of the dead, and as to kisses, that is not something in which they have much practice, but Manuel Espada, who had no family there, stood looking at Gracinda, who had her arms about her father, but she was already taller than him and so could look at Manuel over her father’s shoulder, of course, they had met before, and this was hardly love at first sight, but afterward she said, Hello, Manuel, and he replied, Hello, Gracinda, and that was that, and anyone who thinks more is required is quite wrong.
The families were still engaged in this festival of embraces when Lieutenant Contente and the PIDE agent came out into the courtyard, and the speech they gave emerged from their two mouths simultaneously, it was impossible to know which of them was imitating the other, or if there was some mechanism at work, connected to Lisbon perhaps by electric cables, that made them speak like that, like two phonographs, Lads, be careful from now on, this time we’re letting you walk free, but be warned, if you get involved in any such terrorist activities again, you will pay twice over, so don’t be so foolish as to be taken in by false doctrines, doctrines spread by the enemies of our nation, if you come across pamphlets on the roads or in the streets of a village, don’t read them, or if you do read them, burn them immediately afterward, don’t give them to anyone else or repeat what you read, because that is a crime, and then both you and your innocent families will suffer, if you have a problem to resolve, don’t go on strike, go to the authorities, who are there to inform and help, that way you will be given whatever is fair and lawful, with no need for fuss or upsets, that’s why we’re here, and now go and work in peace, and may God go with you, but before you leave, you have to pay the cost of gas for the truck that brought you from Monte Lavre to Montemor, you’re the ones who did wrong and you’re the ones who have to pay, the State can’t be expected to do that.
They scraped together the necessary money, having rummaged around in bags and pockets and handkerchiefs, there’s the money, Lieutenant Contente, at least we won’t be in debt to the State, because we know how hard up it is, it’s just a shame the trip wasn’t longer, because we already know the Monte Lavre road. These words were not, in fact, spoken, the narrator took the liberty of adding them, but the following words were spoken, by the PIDE agent, alone this time, Now that you’ve settled your bill, go back to your homes and may God go with you, and be sure to thank the priest here, who has shown what a friend he is to you all. At these words, Father Agamedes raises his arms, as if he were standing before the altar, and people don’t know quite what
