TE19 Iberian Adventure

Four by Four

aware that his life has been nothing more than decoration, a meaningless pastiche. Now that he’s sick, no one can stand to see him twisting in pain; nobody wants to hear his complaints or cries. Not his family, not even his best friends. It’s a terrible story,” he concludes. “A man is dying and is alone.” He pauses. Ignacio hangs on his words but doesn’t understand. They sit in silence for several minutes. Only the ticking of thewall clock is heard, the distant voices of the boys playing paddleball. The Headmaster continues, smiling weakly now. “Theman can only be soothed by resting his feet on the shoulders of a young, healthy servant, the only one who doesn’t feign compassion, but truly feels it.”

He stops speaking and observes Ignacio closely.

“And then what happens?”

“What happens? It doesn’t matter what happens. His servant provides relief. The man doesn’t want to see anyone else, not even his children. That’s what happens.”

“But does he die?”

Ignacio feels slightly disappointed. The story sounds too simple to be in such a famous book. A sick man. A man in terrible pain who only feels better when he puts his feet on the should of his servant. A rich man dies. That’s all. Why has the Headmaster told him this story? He thinks that 87