17 - THE COWHERD

17 -  THE COWHERD

The kids were in an uproar. And it was not for less. After all, through the cloud of dust raised on the horizon, a large entourage was approaching. They had heard that a famous cowherd was driving a herd to Saint Helena, and they were curious. After all, walking the plains for days and days, herding the cattle, taking care not to lose any head was not an easy job. And the kids kept imagining themselves as part of the entourage, living in their imagination the adventures that the cowboys certainly lived every day….

From the distance of the raised dust, it was still a good couple of hours before they reached the farm, but the boys were already lining up all over the fence. They knew that when the cattle arrived at the border of the farm, they would have to be careful, because accidents with the animals could be fatal….

After a long time, they began to hear, in the distance, the characteristic wail of a screech... it was certainly the herd at the head of the herd, leading it to its destination. They came at a slow pace, so slow that the kids were even getting discouraged from staying there waiting for the arrival of the entourage. Some gave up and left, after all the sun began to hide behind the mountains and the day began to give way to the approaching night. So the wait of the boys who bravely resisted was paid off. Finally, the clarion of the alterosas could be heard loud and clear, guiding the group of animals slowly towards the entrance of the farm.

Some boys hurried to open the gate so that the entourage could continue its journey without having to make another stop. After almost an hour with that bovine wave passing through the creek that had become the road, the last head of cattle was herded along with the rest of the herd and the rider who closed the group threw some coins to the boys as a way of saying thank you. But they were so busy following the cattle that it took some time for them to get down from the fence posts and begin to share the treasure that the herdsmen had so generously offered them.

Juca and a few other cowboys rode towards the cowboys to help them guide the herd to the pasture reserved for them. There was a clear, crystalline stream that cut through the entire pasture, as well as troughs where the animals, tired from the journey, would find salt and cane segments to enjoy. After an hour or so, everything was in order, and everyone went to the big house, where they finally dismounted and were received by Mr. Nardi, owner of Santa Helena.

- The trip was calm?

- With the grace of God, your Nardi…. I think it was the smoothest trip we've ever faced...

- I'm happy… how many head of cattle arrived?

- Two hundred… we lost thirty heads during the trip… two we slaughtered for our consumption, five were attacked by jaguars, three we lost to piranhas in an ebb we passed and the other twenty strayed from the group and could not be found…

- And you still say that the trip was peaceful?..

- All cowboys are standing strong. That alone makes me feel that this trip was peaceful, calm…

- But only two hundred heads arrived... you lost thirty of the group...

- With all due respect... you paid for two hundred heads, and that's what you're getting. I don't understand why you are asking...

- Look, I...

- Let me ask you a question… have you ever touched cattle, ever in your life?

- Of course not... that's why I have the cowboys, who understand what it's all about...

- And what do you understand?

- Farming, my son. When I got here and saw this big world of land, I was already imagining the rice, the wheat, the potatoes that I would plant here…

- And ended up becoming one of the biggest cattle ranchers in the region...

- And I ended up becoming a cattle breeder... but it was by chance... the former owner of the part where I raise cattle was very old and had no family... one day he came to me with an offer that I couldn't refuse... he sold me everything behind closed doors and with the money from the sale said that he would go back to his land, that he didn't want to die here...

- And where was he from? Do you know that I don't know, my son? I think it was Spanish, but I'm not sure...

- You are Italian...

- Son of Italians… I was born in this blessed land, really…

- Right here?

-Yes… my father founded Saint Helena… when he arrived here, it was buggy land! And you, Seu Cardoso?

- Me what?

- Where are you from?

- Well, I'm from the world…. I don't have a definite stop, not yet….

- So you like to travel the roads...

- Yes… and having the sky as a blanket… it’s a good life, until today, at least… I know that one day I’ll end up taking root in some pagoda… but the time has not yet come to hang the guaiaca…

- Speaking of guaiaca… let's settle your payment… I think your people are dying to receive it, don't they?…

- I think so… how many heads are we going to take to Santa Rita?

- Three hundred… and you can't miss any…

- Don't worry… they will all arrive in one piece and in perfect condition…

- But you lost thirty heads when you came here...

- We lost... but you bought two hundred head of cattle and received two hundred head of cattle... there was no loss at all.

Nardi shook his head. There was no way to argue against the cowboy, because he was absolutely right. Losses during the trip were part of an extra contingent that the cowboys used as a security reserve, as a lot could happen during the long trips they had to make on the roads. And they had to give thanks to God when they didn't face cattle thieves, who often ambushed and killed members of an entourage, to subtract the herd...

- Are you going to rest for a few days at the farm?

- It depends on how quick you are to deliver the order. If we can rest for a couple of days, we'd be very grateful... if that's not possible, no problem... we'll hit the road tomorrow...

- Don't worry… The cattle aren't expected there in Santa Rita for about a fortnight… I think they can make the trip in about eight, can't they?

- Yes… but since they are going to the slaughterhouse, it is not good for them to lose weight, so we go more slowly… we rest tomorrow and the next morning we are hitting the road…

- Grateful…

- Well, then I'm going to retire, because the walk was tiring... see you later, Mr. Nardi...

- See you later, Cardoso...

And Zé Cardoso went to the barracks where he and his comrades were going to spend the night. It was still a long way off, but he could already smell the food that Chiquinho, the entourage's cook, was preparing. The good smell increased his hunger even more…

- It's not enough to be good with the lasso and the bola, you still have to be good with pans too, living creature?

- We need to eat well, boss... as my father used to say, an empty bag doesn't stop standing...

- Well, then let's eat and sleep... tomorrow we rest and the day after tomorrow we hit the road...

And so, they ate their meal, played a little guitar and sang, to ward off the sadness of life, and finally straightened their skins, and went to rest to recover the energy lost during the day.