AFTER YOU, COME THOU - Novels
by Mario Jose
in
English Fiction Stories
EPISODE I “When you come across the gaze of the lady you have always been waiting for, the threshold of bliss is disclosed. At that point do not give out, resist, as from then onwards the ...Read Moreis yet to come". Capitulation: A deal that contains clauses referring to the surrender of arms, territories or other unspecified. Cali, Colombia, November 29th 2017 - I´ve come home –mouthed out to the mirror of the gentlemen´s restroom at Cali Airport, one of the passengers of the one hour-scheduled flight to Bogotá-. Though he had the sensation of
EPISODE I “When you come across the gaze of the lady you have always been waiting for, the threshold of bliss is disclosed. At that point do not give out, resist, as from then onwards the ...Read Moreis yet to come". Capitulation: A deal that contains clauses referring to the surrender of arms, territories or other unspecified. Cali, Colombia, November 29th 2017 - I´ve come home –mouthed out to the mirror of the gentlemen´s restroom at Cali Airport, one of the passengers of the one hour-scheduled flight to Bogotá-. Though he had the sensation of
EPISODE II “An opportunity shall come for him to sound me out and likewise for me to sound him out; perhaps, when I become a lawyer –she made a promise to herself-, time would be ripe to schedule ...Read Moreformal appointment.” Guesswork: The review of the conditions in which a case is laid out as well as the perspectives it provides. Bogotá, Colombia, November 29th 2017 Valentina and the writer had been long distanced from one another upon boarding the aircraft: he was assigned a seat in row seven, while she ended up at the far back, where
EPISODE III “Love is an excellent reason to cause things to fail.” Eclecticism: A way to proceed in which an assessment together with an appraisal are made to attain the Middle Path, moving away from extreme ...Read Morebut at the same time admitting their fairness. Valentina stayed more than a week in Bogota, whereas the Loser Titan, from the third to the twenty seventh of December 2017, remained in Rosario with his family. Cards had been laid out, the die was cast, Valentina and the Loser Titan were now geographically separated because of their trips, but via
EPISODE IV “If the Creator gives me a chance for this life to pick out, a partner of adventures, doubts would vanish, then, redeemed, they would revive in your chest.” Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum: If ...Read Moreare yearning for peace, be ready for war. Cali, Colombia, From December 28th 2017 to January 3rd
EPISODE V “But she was disappointed, because he only said: Let me express my appreciation to the photographer and to the lady he has photographed.” Pacta Sund Servanda; pacta quantumcumque nuda, servanda sund: Covenants are ...Read Morebe observed; even nude pacts are to be observed. . Cali, Colombia, From January 4th to 14th 2018 Accompanied by her family and a close friend secretly in love with her, Valentina was celebrating the “Blancos y Negros Carnival” in Pasto, province of Nariño, lost amidst the human tide, watching the troupes in exhibition. Only when noise let her a chance and signal
EPISODE 6 “I have allergy, I can´t go fetch it.” Outrage: Abuse of the universal common sense. Valentina blamed ...Read Moreallergy attacks [she was having] on the exposure to long dancing nights at the Carnival; staying up late, going out to parties was something she was not used to. Because of her general health condition she got stranded at her parent´s home, undergoing a slow recovery process under the supervision of her mother, a stout sweet lady who was approaching her fifties. Her father had already called the Doctor, who failed to detect the cause of the allergy;
EPISODE VII “Look, Alba, what it´s happening to this rare bird is that he is deeply in love with your daughter. Balou’s blooming heart has been broken into million pieces. That´s all this is about. He has good ...Read Moreyet a surplus of uncontrollable loving energy runs riots inside him.” Notepad: Private data record (likely to make it available to the public) where high priority information is grouped by field of work, for investigation purposes or otherwise. Nugaró, Colombia, January 19th 2018 Less than ten thousands inhabitants live in Valentina´s parent’s village of Nugaró. The first hints of activity
EPISODE VIII “Be sure I won´t. I´ll be back in the village for the presentation of the book, with a braille copy for you in my hands.” Guarantee: Surety given by one person to another, committed ...Read Morekeeping to what is agreed. Cali, Colombia, January 19th 2018 After lunch and a short nap, The Loser Titan decided to wander around Nugaró. He walked out of the E.S.P.I., turned left, headed straight down the road up to the bridge that Sebastián Belalcázar, future founder of Cali, used to cross with his troops during the viceroyalty of Nueva Granada (territory of
EPISODE IX “It´s better for you to know that superior forces [compared to mine] have been compelling me to synchronise the encounter with Valentina. An encounter bound to be the consecration of my evolving path.” Mandatum ...Read MoreRem Suam: Mandate or business which includes an element of self-interest Nugaró, Colombia, January 19th, 2018 The quintet was dragged into the family home by Valentina´s mother (Valentina in twenty years’ time), a Mistress that effusively greeted Balou by offering him the smile of expectant heirs. Valentina´s house was one of the average middle-class´ of Nugaró: nothing was lacking or
EPISODE X “Live hard, die young, and you will have a nice-looking corpse”. Will: Psychic energy capable of maintaining or imposing one´s opinion and the resolutions made over the others, in the context of surmounting obstacles of ...Read Moresort. Nugaró, Colombia, January 19th 2018 The night was cool, street lights imposed themselves against the clear sky, full of tiny stars commanded by the ever-vigilant full moon. Screams waned except for the remaining night birds seated on the sidewalks. After bordering the public hospital René and Balou set foot on a wide street, undertaking a twenty minutes fast-paced
EPISODE XI “Now –Valentina lamented-, I will have to pay for my miscalculations”. Apostasy: The abandonment of the faith in God or Jesus Christ. Nugaró, Colombia, January 19th 2018 Gloria ...Read Moreto make up her mind in the proper way. The feature of feminine curiosity thrived well above any other and pushed hard to express itself outwardly, irrespective of philosophic arguments. In front of her was the mysterious present, stuff that became an affair of state. Where and How could Gloria find the spiritual strength to wait till seven o clock in the evening, arranged time
EPISODE XII “Only he who has been condemned is entitled to make a judgement”. Dismissal of a case: Ceased and desisted lawsuit. Renouncement to any purpose or intent. Suspension of the summary trial until further notice. ...Read MoreNugaró, Colombia, January 21th 2018 After a month staying out of the city, Valentina got back to her apartment in Cali. As soon as she walked in, she found a package on the floor, delivered on January third, with the label “Advanced Holy King´s present”. Another gift from Balou, which added to the one received in Nugaró, duly confiscated by her
EPISODE XIII “It´s better for you to keep off my daughter´s life, do you hear me?” Conservative Measures: A set of provisions whose aim is to cope with a tough situation, or to make way to a ...Read MoreNugaró, Colombia, January 22th, 2018 Without consulting his daughter, René issued some unquestionable directives concerning the flight plan he had envisioned: 1) To the security guards of the condominium where Valentina lived, he instructed them not to let, on any excuse whatsoever, Balou in. If necessary they were authorised to tell Balou that Valentina had moved away, elsewhere, so to
EPISODE XIV “Come on, let´s address the matter straightforwardly. You may wonder if Balou is and odd guy: He is quite more than that.” Factual error: Mistake. Incorrect discernment or false judgment. Disagreement between our ideas and ...Read Moreof other´s. Nugaró, Colombia, January 24th, 2018 It was a rainy morning when the room Balou stayed at became free. There had been a collision between a truck and a teenager riding a motorcycle (she wore no helmet by the way), due to road surface slippery conditions. The crash occurred just in front of the E.S.P.I. Less worried about finding the
EPISODE XV “I am going to kill you, Arepera, you ruined the moment just when I was about to demolish the fucking door. Hey you, forget it, I am joking. I cannot kill anyone. I am a ...Read Moreof peace. Trespass to chattels: Infraction, violation of common-sense dictates, infraction on the safety of property rights. Breakdown in law and order in public spaces, breach on the mastery of social graces. Cali, Colombia, January 27th, 2018 The Cali domicile of Valentina is an upper-class residential complex with an impressive control building access, workplace of receptionists and security guards.
EPISODE XVI “I find it hard to tell you, very hard, that Balou has been the Master of the game”. Dumb: stupid, stubborn, irritating. Cali, Colombia, 27th January 2018 Valentina had not taken any sleep-inducing ...Read Moreshe had only made it believe to her father. Instead, while the writer was embarked on the task of demolishing the flat door, she was on the task of reading his book (the only thing from Balou she had not left under Daniela´s care), switching it with David Fishman´s “Success is a decision”. Much to her chagrin, Valentina trembled with astonishment, because
EPISODE XVII “On grounds of sovereignty, you said that you were entitled (by birth) to give no explanations to anyone.” Recording: Written report on certain acts and declaration of will, of public or private significance ...Read MoreColombia, December 2nd 2017 Shortly after crossing Valentina at the airport, The Loser Titan wrote down a letter to Isis, which he kept safe until the appropriate occasion to be delivered arise. When he finished it, he felt like an errand-boy; as he put it into the envelope, he play-acted Julio Cortázar dispatching a letter on his exile in Paris.
EPISODE XVIII “Pay attention to what I say, Adolfo Sammartino, go tell The Loser Titan to stay behind the scenes, so that Balou could act thereupon”. Order: Notice from one court that empowers a lower court to ...Read Morean instruction, to make a warning or a confidential proposal. As soon as he ran into -and simultaneously distinguished- Valentina at the airport, on November 29th 2017, The Loser Titan remembered who he really was. Adolfo Sammartino, The Loser Titan, Balou, three in one version of oneself, three worlds fitting into the famous trinity of love, intelligence and will. Adolfo
EPISODE XIX “You have my word on that –Balou made a promise to the sure-fire winner Titan – but it´s worth-saying that in order to meet your request I will stand in need of role-playing”. Recklessnes: Dangerous behaviour seemingly ...Read Moreto have been previously evaluated, neglecting all the consequences possibly rising out of it. Cali, Colombia, January 18th 2018 Something needed to be done on the side of Juan José, the sure-fire winner Titan, at the beginning of this day. Juan José, son of Isis and raised by Balou during their living together. Given that Balou prevented himself from speaking
EPISODE XX “The point is that not only the Loser Titan wanted to bid farewell to the remaining staff but also to retired employees, those who had left the company well pissed-off with the boss”. Public-oriented emotional Scandal: Written ...Read Morefrom one person suffering from emotional disorder addressed to another person to whom he attacks on his morale and good intentions, which accounts for the reactions and psychic effects brought out by its publicizing, whether it be intended or accidental. Cali, Colombia, From 20th to 25th January 2018 It was a tradition in Bio-Rasta for every departing employee to have
EPISODE XXI “As you Argentinians like to say: the situation is about to reach the boiling point “. Ability: talent needed to pursue a profession. Good credits earned after a successful professional relationship doctor-patient. The ...Read Moreof The Loser Titan´s farewell letter caused a wave a puzzlement, and also nurtured a deep feeling of bewilderment on all of its addressees. Three of them, in fact, got so much concerned about the mental state of the quitter so as to call Isis to learn details about it. Despite being exiled in two thousand thirteen, Balou maintained with Isis a
EPISODE XXII “Be prepared to be those who activate the codes of light in the soul.” “Okey, it´s a deal –The Loser Titan took the challenge not quite knowing what to do actually-, I will be one of them.” ...Read MoreThe predesignated primacy that the soul should give to something, to someone or to the effects that an event may produce over the time. Order of preference to be respected. Cali, Colombia, June 12th 2012 By mid-year two thousand twelve, The Loser Titan had just finished the script of his novel “The meteor of the Final Judgment”. Like
EPISODE XXIII “¿Can you play it again for me, please? -The Loser Titan pleaded him by joining the palm of his hands as if praying. This song is going to make my head explode, if this has not already ...Read More“ Practice: The art of becoming proficient in any art, ability or skill. Girona, Catalunya, Spain, October 1st 2017 Isis and The Loser Titan arrived in Girona (the last destination of their journey) in the midst of an upheaval during which the conflict between the Spanish central government and the autonomous community of Catalonia -over the independence of the
EPISODE XXIV “I want justice. I want justice to be imparted impartially. “ Complaint: Grievance, source of pain caused by feelings being broken. Disagreement or discord. The accusation made to the offender by filing a lawsuit, the accusation presented ...Read Morethe court in order to take penal action against the author of a crime. Cali, Colombia, January 31st 2018 Engrossed in her thoughts, she looked out through the window. It was the last day of the month, late in the morning. Unlike her boss, she liked administrative hustle and bustle better than to spend empty hours before her desk waiting
EPISODE XXV “Distractions are not permitted. With me, everyone pays a hefty price tag for blundering. “ Two meanings of necessity: · Invoking ...Read Moredefense: it´s an apparently criminal conduct to be adopted, however, it´s justified on grounds of self-defense to counteract external aggressions. · Invoking Violence: When faced to the need to avoid a greater evil, the damages which are to be
EPISODE XXVI “Balou is a smart man and has gained an understanding of his situation”. Burgomaster: major of the eighteen centuries’ small German villages. Nugaró, Colombia, February 1st 2018 In the ...Read Moreof the ongoing afternoon, feeling somewhat relieved at Balou´s geographical distance, the model became invigorated by the indulgence of the wise tree and
EPISODE XXVII “- ¿What did you think of? - I thought of dying, I thought of how cumbersome it would me for my mental structure to process such a heap ...Read Moreinformation flooding into my expanded conscience. Quid: it describes the mistake of getting persons, things and cases mixed up. During the
EPISODE XXVIII “God Almighty, give me greatness of spirit to forgive” Damage: It´s the consequence that derives from an action which undermines the morality of a person or causes a detriment to his assets. ...Read MoreArgentina, February 9th 2018 The access stairway to the house resembled, for its length, those which interconnect the halls of the Palace of Versailles and the
EPISODE XXIX “Please, forgive me so that I could go on in peace, for God´s sake let us meet in person, with or without Valentina”. Passport: Letter of safe passage delivered to enemies, where the itinerary and ...Read Moreplaces for accommodation and luggage storage are stipulated. Nugaró, Colombia, March 14th 2018 René set up in his own house the office where he usually does the planning of intelligence activities. To that end he had adapted an old storage of junk, whose walls were now decorated with portraits of the most renowned secret agents in modern history. The ideology of
CHAPTER XXX ‘So long that I stick to my plan, my chances are not slim’. Auction: Publicly held sale at which property, persons, goods, gems are sold to the highest bidder, involving third parties looking to invest. Cali, Colombia, ...Read More21st 2018 - I´ve got two news for you, Valentina. That´s the way Venancio Pombo greeted her as she was storming off the University. A mass of students rushed towards the public transport stop, which made their shoulder bags sway. The rush hour was approaching at the end of the afternoon. He had decided to pick her up because he
EPISODE XXXI ‘If wandering around the world without rhyme nor reason in search of I don´t know what bestows me with the membership of the New Age movement, then I agree with you, I belong to the tribe’. Abdication: ...Read Moreact of giving up sovereign power or quitting a high-ranked position, after being
CHAPTER XXXII ‘As I said, Balou´s love for your daughter is real, and here they are two hard evidences of it, which should be regarded as the penances he did to compensate the damages caused’. Release: Settlement of accounts. ...Read Moreof legal charges. Nugaró, Colombia, March 31st 2018 René woke up before the alarm clock started ringing. He noiselessly took his pyjamas off and after a moment of undefinition, unlike the elegant outfits her daughter normally wears, opted for a simple tight blue jean with a Mexican-buckled belt combined with a Hawaiian unbuttoned shirt, which made him look like a
EPILOGUE Balou had nothing but to swallow his pride and go with Antonio Péccora to the refugee of Villa de Leyva, where both sneaked in. ‘What for? Perhaps Antonio Péccora had gone crazy?’Balou wondered to himself. The Caltanissetta-born mafioso ...Read Moregiven his word of honor to the M.O.S.S.A.D., the ‘Sicilian Mafia-friendly’ Israeli secret service, about taking charge of the repatriation