50 - CALLED

 50 - CALLED

Tonhão woke up calm that morning. An immense peace dominated his soul. As usual, he got up at three-thirty, drank his coffee with cornmeal, smoked a cigarette, put on his boots and off he went, heading for the mango tree, to start his work with the dairy cows. It was clear, not because it was already dawn, but thanks to the full and resplendent moon that shone in the sky... He began to wash the entire place, so that later on, when the asepsis was completed, he could drive the cattle there to be able to order them. Working alone wasn't very easy, but on the other hand, there wasn't so much work to justify one more person... so the thing was to go headlong into the job, even if he missed having someone to talk to.

The first rays of sunlight were appearing on the mountains, making that beautiful design, worthy of appearing on any wall, decorating the environment. The reddish-orange tone foreshadowed a hot day, which would be a surprise, since in the previous days what had dominated the weather was the cold... even the morning wind had a cozy, warm feeling... it wasn't that icy wind, which usually caresses bodies in the morning. Tonhão was packing the gallons of milk in the old oxcart, taking great care not to spill them... something not so difficult to happen. After carefully tying the containers to the cart, he began leading his team. It was a long road ahead, but he was in no hurry...

While he was driving his bullock cart, he watched the cows, which were already sheltering in the shade of the calypal tree, whose main function was precisely this ... to provide shade for the rest of the lactating cattle. Some cattle walked to the trough, where their feed was waiting for them, others went to the watering hole, but most were really looking for a shade to cool off... yes, the day would be hot. Which could mean rain later... which wasn't very common for the period, since autumn had already started for a good couple of weeks... in any case, the smell of eucalyptus leaves, spread across the wind that blew softly, leaving the air with a sense of peace, because it was an intoxicating and pleasant smell...

It was past ten when Tonhão returned to the herd. It was time to check the condition of the cattle, confirm that they were all comfortable in the field... In the trough, pieces of sugarcane, along with salt stones, for the animals to enjoy. And the abundant water in the trough made them calm, as they wouldn't have to travel far after the liquid so dear to living beings... The boy was busy dealing with the cattle, who didn't even notice Zacarias's arrival. Free from the sling, bursting with health... of course within the limits of age. Zacarias dismounted outside the fence that delimited the pasture, and headed towards the boy. When he put his hand on his friend's shoulder, he jumped back, so scared he was...

- Mr. Zacarias, don't do that, man of God...

- Our Lady... you almost reached the mountain, with that jump! Is all this fear, boy?

- I didn't see you coming...

- I noticed... I was distracted with the cattle, wasn't it?

- Yes... Mr. Zacarias, is there anything better in life than that?

- I don't think so... if they are calm, they make you calm, too...

- Besides the perfume in the air... honestly, I didn't want another life that wasn't this one...

- Well, that's exactly what I came to ask you... if you wanted to go back to dealing with the cattle, in the other pastures...

- Can I really choose?

- Of course, boy... if I couldn't, I wasn't asking you...

- In that case, I wanted to continue taking care of dairy cattle...

- Won't you miss the campaigns?

- You took care of both things... I can do that too, can't I?

- No... I took care of it because there was no one to do the job before.... and when I was traveling, my daughters took care of the service for me... in your case, who would you leave in charge?

- You're right... I don't have anyone...

- Unfortunately... but it's the cycle of life, boy... we are born, we grow up, we marry, we have children, we get old and a beautiful day, we die... it was like that with my parents, it was like that with your parents , it will be like this with me... and with you, too...

- Do you believe that last night I dreamed of my parents?

- Was it a good dream?

- Well, I was a kid and I used to run through the valley, as I did in my childhood... and my parents were there, taking care of me...

- So it was a good dream...

- More or less... suddenly, the dream turned into a nightmare...

- Like this?!

- Well... out of nowhere, the water in the river turned black....

- Know...

- What about the smell? My God, I cannot describe the terror I felt...

- And then?

- Well, then I woke up... I prayed, went back to bed and slept until the rooster crowed...

- That's good... so you want to continue with the dairy cattle...

- Yes, Mr. Zacarias... if I can, I prefer...

- Okay, so... if you need help, just ask...

The two men were silent for a few moments. Tonhão looked beyond the fence, and caught the attention of his boss and friend...

- Mr. Zacarias... someone is coming here...

Zacarias looked in the direction the boy was pointing. He mumbled more for himself than for his partner to hear...

- I bet it's Chief Vicente...

- It will be? What would he want with us?

- In a little while we'll find out... he's already very close.

In fact, after a few minutes, Juvêncio dismounted beside Zacarias's horse and, right away, walked towards the two. He greeted them and tried to cross the fence, so they could talk better...

- Mr. Zacarias, I went to your house and they told me that you were here..

- Yes, Seu Vicente... I've been soaking for a long time... it's time to go back to work...

- Would you mind if we had a little prose finger?

- You can talk, man... I'm listening...

- And the boy... ?

- Seu Vicente, here we are born in the midst of weirdness... don't worry, it doesn't matter what you talk about, he won't be surprised...

- If you're saying...

Realizing that Juvêncio wanted to talk more calmly, with no extraneous ears close to the conversation, Tonhão said goodbye to his boss and went towards the cattle, which were all scattered... he really needed to inspect the cattle, and that was the best time.... after the boy was already far away from the two, Juvêncio began to speak...

- You know that yesterday I was forced to sacrifice a citizen of your community...

-I heard... you were accompanied by the priest and five other friends....

- Yes... and I must confess that I had no pleasure in what I did...

- But it did... people are still shocked...

- What was preferable... to do what I did or let the beast attack people?

- But would he attack?

- Mr. Zacarias, the night before he simply destroyed an unfortunate person who was unlucky enough to cross his path. The unfortunate man's friend only escaped alive because the beast was too busy tearing the victim apart...

- I...

- I know what you're thinking... there should be another way to handle the situation... unfortunately, there wasn't...

- But...

- Seu Zacarias, luckily for us, he still conserved a little of his human perception, he wasn't totally transformed... but two or three more days and the metamorphosis would be complete. And then, my friend... only God can help us to help...

The two men were silent for a long time, deep in thought. Each of them trying to find a way out of the situations that presented themselves, aware that there was none... Juvêncio was the first to break the awkward silence between the two...

- Mr. Zacarias, I need your help to put an end to the manifestations that are attacking your region. Serious. But for that, I have to take actions that I wouldn't like... Do you think that yesterday's action, did I make her feel pleasure?

-  I did not say that...

-No... but the tone of disapproval is screaming in his voice...

- I cannot disapprove of your action... I was not present at the time....

- Exactly. Only those who were slapping their faces at that moment can give an opinion on what happened...

- I...

- Mr. Zacarias, listen carefully... I need you to tell me about all the monsters that inhabit this region.

- Why?

- Because the one who controls them is the Woman in White... even the ox Tatá she is influencing...

- How do you know?

- Because I saw her, my friend... not her, per se... but an image projected by her...

- Then..

- Someone summoned her... and the sooner we find out who it was, the less risk that she will hurt someone...

- And what do you suggest?

- Could you go to the police station this afternoon?

- Why?

- I wanted to hold a meeting... you, Doctor Alberto, Chief Duarte and Professor Alice... I think that the five of us together can find a way out of this problem...

- What time?

- About five, is that good for you?

- I will be there...

-Then I'll be waiting for you... see you later, Mr. Zacarias...

Juvêncio returned to Tornado, mounted and left towards the city. Zacarias watched the Delegate walk away, while he was lost in his thoughts.... what would happen from then on? Only God could answer...