The Lacuna
Page 39
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He said it was the Codex Boturini, about the peregrinations of the Azteca. On the advice of gods they left Aztlán in search of their new home, and took 214 years to find it. The long page was divided into two hundred fourteen small boxes, each one recording the main thing that happened in that year. Not good, mostly. A head hanging on a rotisserie over a fire! A man with eyeballs falling out! But most of the years showed simply their search for home. Anyone could feel the anguish of this book—what longing is keener? Pictographs of weary people walking, carrying babies or weapons. Small, inked footprints trailed down the full length of the book, the sad black tracks of heartache. When completely unfolded, the codex stretched almost the whole length of the studio. That is how long it is possible to walk, looking for home.
November 2
Day of the Dead. The señora made altars all over the house to recall her beloved dead: ancients, half-born children. “Who are your dead, Insólito?” she keeps asking.
They request a suspension of all writing, this notebook put away. César will enforce the ruling. They set their trap and pounced in the Painter’s study at lunchtime, husband and wife in one room for once, for this purpose. For security. No more of your little notes. We’ve promised extraordinary measures for the Visitor, you can’t imagine how frightened he is. Devil and dragon in one lair, the Painter sitting at his desk, and she pacing the yellow floorboards with rippling skirts, a tiny tempest. Not even a market list. They claim César is becoming agitated, convinced he’s sleeping in the same room with an agent of the GPU. “Poor old General Wrong Turn, I know he’s confused,” she said. This woman who has said many times: Sóli, to stop painting would feel like being dead. She understands what she’s asking. To stop writing and be dead.
“It’s for safety,” he added. A man who throws paint in the face of safety.
Where are your dead, Sóli? Here, and the devil take it, a notebook for the altar of the dead in this lonely house. Dead and gone, the companionship of words.
Report from Coyoacán
This record of events will be submitted to Señora Frida for weekly inspections, or at any other time she requires, for purposes of security. According to her authorized instruction it is to harbor no opinions, confessions, or fictions. Its purpose is: “To record for history the important things that happen.” The señora’s sympathy for record-keeping is noted with gratitude—HWS, 4 January, 1937.
9 January: Arrival of the Visitor
The petrol tanker Ruth arrived from Oslo at dawn this morning to discharge its only passengers at the Tampico docks. The landing party were brought from the ship by a small launch, under the watch of Norwegian guards, and welcomed onto Mexican soil by the following persons: Sra. Frida, Mr. Novack (American), and General Beltrán representing the government of Mexico. Diego R. still hospitalized with an infection of the kidneys. The Visitor and party were taken by government train to the capital.
11 January: Arrival of the Visitors in the House at Coyoacán
He is to be known here as “Lev Davidovich.” His wife: “Natalya.” Because of the danger of assassination, a welcoming party assembled at the San Angel house to distract attention while Lev and Natalya were secretly brought here to Coyoacán. Their secretary of many years is expected to arrive here in the coming week. He did not travel together with them, but through New York.
12 January
The visitors are settled in the house, the former dining room serving as their bedroom with Lev’s study in the adjacent small room. Lev in extraordinary spirits, despite his years of travails fleeing from Stalin and recent twenty-one days at sea. He steps through the glass doors of his study into the sunny courtyard and stretches himself, flexing his arms: a compact, muscular man, truly the Russian peasant to lead a revolution of peasants. He seems built for a life of work rather than confinement. When he’s working at his desk, his broad hand clasps a pen as if it were an ax handle. When he smiles, his eyes shine and his cheeks dimple above the little white beard. Delight appears to be his natural state. Does a man become a revolutionary out of the belief he’s entitled to joy rather than submission? This surprising man looks up at the bright Mexican sky, remarking that with only one country on earth that will have him now, he’s glad this is the one.
He could leave this house for a stroll if he liked, though of course he would have to be guarded. In Norway they were indoors under house arrest since last September, Natalya said. Stalin threatened trade sanctions against Norway unless the government rescinded his asylum. And we can be sure, Stalin already knows he is here.
14 January
Arrival of the secretary: to be known in this record as “Van.” Tall, blond, broad-shouldered as a footballer, it’s good he traveled separately. Such a d’Artagnan as this fellow could hardly walk down a street without attracting attention, as the señora will shortly see for herself.
Lev’s study and bedroom are the most secure part of the house, as they form an interior wing jutting into the courtyard. Good light from the portico doors facing the courtyard and magnolia tree. Van is keeping very busy there today, unpacking books.
16 January
Sra. Frida will be shocked to see her childhood house so transformed. It was a good choice to move her father to San Angel, all Sr. Guillermo’s things are packed away. The exterior walls have been painted plumbago as requested, so it is the Blue House she wanted. But really, a Blue Fortress. The courtyard wall is raised to a height of seven meters, and the masons are moving their scaffolds now to begin bricking up the windows. The men agree these security measures are needed. From the tall wooden doors on Londres Street, visitors now enter through a guarded vestibule into the courtyard garden.
The courtyard is still the jungle it was; the masons haven’t trampled the flowers completely. The house retains its original U shape, with the long front room facing Londres Street (fireplace and leaded-glass windows intact) to be used for dining and political meetings. Lev’s bedroom and study make the other long wing. The string of tiny rooms across the back, connecting the two main legs, will house everyone else: Perpetua, the house girls Belén and Carmen Alba, the secretary Van, the cook HS, bodyguards Octavio and Felix. The windows in these small rooms face the exterior on the Allende Street side, so all are being closed by the brickmasons, making them dark little cupboards. One guard is posted out on Londres at all times. Sr. Diego is now feeling well enough that he brought over his Thompson machine gun.
November 2
Day of the Dead. The señora made altars all over the house to recall her beloved dead: ancients, half-born children. “Who are your dead, Insólito?” she keeps asking.
They request a suspension of all writing, this notebook put away. César will enforce the ruling. They set their trap and pounced in the Painter’s study at lunchtime, husband and wife in one room for once, for this purpose. For security. No more of your little notes. We’ve promised extraordinary measures for the Visitor, you can’t imagine how frightened he is. Devil and dragon in one lair, the Painter sitting at his desk, and she pacing the yellow floorboards with rippling skirts, a tiny tempest. Not even a market list. They claim César is becoming agitated, convinced he’s sleeping in the same room with an agent of the GPU. “Poor old General Wrong Turn, I know he’s confused,” she said. This woman who has said many times: Sóli, to stop painting would feel like being dead. She understands what she’s asking. To stop writing and be dead.
“It’s for safety,” he added. A man who throws paint in the face of safety.
Where are your dead, Sóli? Here, and the devil take it, a notebook for the altar of the dead in this lonely house. Dead and gone, the companionship of words.
Report from Coyoacán
This record of events will be submitted to Señora Frida for weekly inspections, or at any other time she requires, for purposes of security. According to her authorized instruction it is to harbor no opinions, confessions, or fictions. Its purpose is: “To record for history the important things that happen.” The señora’s sympathy for record-keeping is noted with gratitude—HWS, 4 January, 1937.
9 January: Arrival of the Visitor
The petrol tanker Ruth arrived from Oslo at dawn this morning to discharge its only passengers at the Tampico docks. The landing party were brought from the ship by a small launch, under the watch of Norwegian guards, and welcomed onto Mexican soil by the following persons: Sra. Frida, Mr. Novack (American), and General Beltrán representing the government of Mexico. Diego R. still hospitalized with an infection of the kidneys. The Visitor and party were taken by government train to the capital.
11 January: Arrival of the Visitors in the House at Coyoacán
He is to be known here as “Lev Davidovich.” His wife: “Natalya.” Because of the danger of assassination, a welcoming party assembled at the San Angel house to distract attention while Lev and Natalya were secretly brought here to Coyoacán. Their secretary of many years is expected to arrive here in the coming week. He did not travel together with them, but through New York.
12 January
The visitors are settled in the house, the former dining room serving as their bedroom with Lev’s study in the adjacent small room. Lev in extraordinary spirits, despite his years of travails fleeing from Stalin and recent twenty-one days at sea. He steps through the glass doors of his study into the sunny courtyard and stretches himself, flexing his arms: a compact, muscular man, truly the Russian peasant to lead a revolution of peasants. He seems built for a life of work rather than confinement. When he’s working at his desk, his broad hand clasps a pen as if it were an ax handle. When he smiles, his eyes shine and his cheeks dimple above the little white beard. Delight appears to be his natural state. Does a man become a revolutionary out of the belief he’s entitled to joy rather than submission? This surprising man looks up at the bright Mexican sky, remarking that with only one country on earth that will have him now, he’s glad this is the one.
He could leave this house for a stroll if he liked, though of course he would have to be guarded. In Norway they were indoors under house arrest since last September, Natalya said. Stalin threatened trade sanctions against Norway unless the government rescinded his asylum. And we can be sure, Stalin already knows he is here.
14 January
Arrival of the secretary: to be known in this record as “Van.” Tall, blond, broad-shouldered as a footballer, it’s good he traveled separately. Such a d’Artagnan as this fellow could hardly walk down a street without attracting attention, as the señora will shortly see for herself.
Lev’s study and bedroom are the most secure part of the house, as they form an interior wing jutting into the courtyard. Good light from the portico doors facing the courtyard and magnolia tree. Van is keeping very busy there today, unpacking books.
16 January
Sra. Frida will be shocked to see her childhood house so transformed. It was a good choice to move her father to San Angel, all Sr. Guillermo’s things are packed away. The exterior walls have been painted plumbago as requested, so it is the Blue House she wanted. But really, a Blue Fortress. The courtyard wall is raised to a height of seven meters, and the masons are moving their scaffolds now to begin bricking up the windows. The men agree these security measures are needed. From the tall wooden doors on Londres Street, visitors now enter through a guarded vestibule into the courtyard garden.
The courtyard is still the jungle it was; the masons haven’t trampled the flowers completely. The house retains its original U shape, with the long front room facing Londres Street (fireplace and leaded-glass windows intact) to be used for dining and political meetings. Lev’s bedroom and study make the other long wing. The string of tiny rooms across the back, connecting the two main legs, will house everyone else: Perpetua, the house girls Belén and Carmen Alba, the secretary Van, the cook HS, bodyguards Octavio and Felix. The windows in these small rooms face the exterior on the Allende Street side, so all are being closed by the brickmasons, making them dark little cupboards. One guard is posted out on Londres at all times. Sr. Diego is now feeling well enough that he brought over his Thompson machine gun.
