UNA TRIBU POCO CORRIENTE (2)

"Se veían muchachos espigados y serios, de ojos morunos y narices corvas de torero, hombres de melenas rubias y bigotazos, barbudos de pelo rojizo y pómulos salientes que denotaban origen eslavo.

Casi todas las mujeres eran jóvenes, con gruesos moños negros aceitosos suspendidos sobre la espalda. Entre las más jóvenes, destacaban dos de tipo completamente nórdico. Eran gemelas y rubias como mazorcas de maíz, con nariz respingona, cara ancha y ojos de color miel. Éstas no viajaban en carro, sino en un descomunal automóvil de tipo americano, muy anticuado, convertido en "roulotte", y con cortinillas de flores en las ventanillas. El jefe--que resultó ser el que Catalina y María acababan de ver en el campo--era el marido de una de ellas.

En conjunto, todos parecían más bien adinerados, pero Mari Juana, a pesar de haber hecho el agosto con ellos vendiéndoles vino, aceite y otras provisiones, tuvo buen cuidado de encerrar las gallinas con llave en el gallinero, y como algunos de aquellos gitanos durmieron en el zaguán de la posada, no dejó de tomar la precaución de poner a su nieto Estebanillo a dormir atravesado delante del portón.

A primeras horas del dia siguiente, la plaza estaba casi desierta. Todos los gitanos habían desaparecido. Se veía solamente un mulero con sus bestias cargadas de tejas y piedras de encalar. Había pasado la noche en la posada y se aprestaba a seguir su camino hacia la Venta de la Ciénaga."

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AN UNUSUAL TRIBE (2)

There were tall and slim young men, with deep, dark eyes, hawk-nosed like bullfighters; men with blond hair and big mustaches; bearded red-heads with high cheek-bones denoting Slavic origins.

Almost all the women were young, with greasy thick black buns hanging over their backs. Among the women, two stood out due to their Nordic look. They were twins, fair-haired like corncobs, snub-nosed, wide faced with honey-coloured eyes. They didn't travel by wagon but rather in a huge American-style vintage car, converted into a "roulotte" (trailer), with flowered curtains on the windows. The chief--who happened to be the man Catalina and María had just seen in the countryside-- was one of the twin's husband.

In general, they all looked well off. Nevertheless, Mari Juana who had made a mint selling them wine, oil and other provisions, made sure the hens were locked in their coop and, since some of the gypsies slept in the inn's hall, took the precaution of having her grandson, Estebanillo, sleep on the floor across the large door.

In the wee hours of the following morning, the square was nearly empty. All the gypsies had disappeared. Only a mule-keeper was there with his animals loaded with tiles and white-washing stones. He had slept in the inn, ready to continue his route towards the Marsh Country Inn.