On
occasion a short-story will hit me with the force of a title wave. One
such story is contained in a collection of tales, Devil Talk, by America author
Daniel A. Olivas. Here it is, a flash fiction that can be read in less than five
minutes. Once read, reflect on all the implications of the beauty's
actions. Can you detect any political overtones?
LA GUACA
There
was a man who owned the finest restaurant in the village. Though no
name adorned the establishment, the villagers dubbed it La Guaca, the
tomb. The man, as well, had no name, at least that the villagers knew.
He was a complete mystery, a man apparently with no family, no origin,
no history. They called him El Huérfano, the orphan.
One
evening, as the villagers gorged themselves on enchiladas, tamales, and
other delectable dishes, El Huérfano rose from his usual seat and the
corner table and cleared his throat. The room fell into silence.
"I
plan to take a bride," said El Huérfano to the startled villagers.
"But," he cautioned with a raised, elegant finger, "she must be perfect
in every way."
Most of the families had a least one unmarried
daughter because the revolution had taken from this earth most of the
villager's eligible young men. So this announcement raised great hope in
the hearts of the parents and their daughters.
"I invite all of
the village's señoritas to feast here tomorrow night," said El
Huérfano. "No one else may come. And I will choose my wife from among
the guests."
"How will you choose?" an older woman asked. But El
Huérfano turned and disappeared through a back door. A great cheer
filled the void because the mysterious but wealthy man would make
someone's perfect daughter a bride.
The next evening, all of the
village's single women swarmed La Guaca dressed in all their finery.
Through El Huérfano was not the handsomest of men, times were hard and
there was little chance of living a comfortable life without a marriage
of convenience. Remarkably, all of the women found seats in La Guaca and
they waited. The tables sighed with great platters of food and bottles
of fine brandy. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, El Huérfano
appeared.
"As you know," he began, "I search for the perfect wife."
The room murmured in anticipation.
"Before
you sits a great feast," he continued, noticing one particular beauty
who sat motionless amid the others. "But it is poisoned."
A horrified gasp rose from the young women.
"The
poison is so potent, it will kill in a matter of minutes." El Huérfano
now whispered, "But it will not harm a perfect women. If you wish to
leave, please do. Otherwise enjoy your dinner."
Only one women
stood and left. The others slowly served themselves and commenced
eating, each believing that she would survive. After a few minutes, the
first victim fell. And then there was another and yet another. Finally,
only the most beautiful woman was left. She stood and walked to him.
"You shall be my wife," he said as he moved his lips to hers.
She
leaned forward and they kissed. El Huérfano could taste the wonderful
feast from the beauty's lips. But then his eyes bulged and he fell back.
"No!" he sputtered as he dropped to the floor.
"Yes, my love," said the beautiful woman. "Yes." 
American author Daniel A. Olivas, born 1959
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