Читать книгу The Plumed Serpent. Historical Novel - Life and Love after the Mexico Revolution онлайн

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‘Oh, but figures always lie!’ said Kate. ‘Statistics are always misleading.’

‘Maybe two and two don’t make four,’ said Garcia. ‘I don’t know if they do. But I know, if you take two away from two, it leaves none.’

‘Do you think Mexico might die out?’ she said to Don Ramón.

‘Why!’ he replied. ‘It might. Die out and become Americanized.’

‘I quite see the danger of Americanization,’ said Owen. ‘That WOULD be ghastly. Almost better die out.’

Owen was so American, he invariably said these things.

‘But!’ said Kate. ‘The Mexicans look so strong!’

‘They are strong to carry heavy loads,’ said Don Ramón. ‘But they die easily. They eat all the wrong things, they drink the wrong things, and they don’t mind dying. They have many children, and they like their children very much. But when the child dies, the parents say: Ah, he will be an angelito! So they cheer up and feel as if they had been given a present. Sometimes I think they enjoy it when their children die. Sometimes I think they would like to transfer Mexico en bloc into Paradise, or whatever lies behind the walls of death. It would be better there!’