These events actually took place in Arealva and the city remembers them, even though it refuses to talk about them, just as it avoids speaking of the Hangman, the Terrorists Who Poisoned the Milk, the Bishop Who Went Crazy, or the Lynched Men. It's characteristic of this people to want to expunge memory. I haven't altered dates or changed names, despite many of them still being alive and others being my friends. Like Christina Priscilla, Adriano Portella's ex-wife, who doesn't appear here but who gave me an interview by fax* clearing up the disguised relationship between Antenor and her husband. Adriano wasn't elected** and moved to Florida after a noisy trial focusing on lobbying in congress.
The amount of money startled the court and alarmed the press, revealing all sorts of secret financial machinations in the country's interior. Antenor, through the attorney Bradio, furnished the necessary proof to the court. If you go to Miami, look up Portella. He sells electronic goods to Brazilians and is opening a restaurant serving feijoada on Saturdays and dobradinha on Wednesdays. *** He plans to open a pastry business and turn it into a franchise operation. I interviewed Rita, Efrahim's daughter, who runs the Victoria I Aerobic Academy in Poços de Caldas.**** From her comes the version of the Focal fire, just as her father told it to her. It was a trauma, the obsession of her life, a frozen instant in her existence. Tall, redheaded Rita left Arealva—Efrahim was afraid the Godfather would rape her. That's what he had promised her grandfather while playing cards. She admitted it: "My grandfather was a crook, we were poor because of him, it took my father a long time to get back on his feet." This city replicates the history of Brazil—it was settled by exiles. Unfortunately, the chemicals in the fax paper weren't right, and Christina Priscilla’s comments have disappeared into a gray stain. I'm not getting ahead of the facts or spoiling any surprise. Portella is a minor figure, so don't worry.
Address: 9877-B Collins Avenue, next to the Bal Harbour Shop, Twenty-four-hour instant service. Portella has become an assiduous worker. (Who could have guessed?) It's likely that he'll make his fortune in the United States, the land of opportunity. His foreign bank accounts have never been discovered. (Because no one bothered. Did anyone try?)
Special discounts for readers of this book. Rua Guido Borim Filho, 450A, Pinheiros Park, Poços de Caldas.