o escort； wrapped in a cloak in spite of the heat； and with three mistresses； whom he installed in the same house； where he spent most of his time lying in a hammock。 He scarcely read the telegraphic dispatches that reported routine operations。 On one occasion Colonel Gerineldo Márquez asked him for instructions for the evacuation of a spot on the border where there was a danger that the conflict would bee an international affair。
“Don’t bother me with trifles；？he ordered him。 “Consult Divine Providence。？
It was perhaps the most critical moment of the war。 The Liberal landowners； who had supported the revolution in the beginning； had made secret alliances with the Conservative landowners in order to stop the revision of property titles。 The politicians who supplied funds for the war from exile had Publicly repudiated the drastic aims of Colonel Aureliano Buendía； but even that withdrawal of authorization did not seem to bother him。 He had not returned to reading his poetry； which filled more than five volumes and lay forgotten at the bottom of his trunk。 At night or at siesta time he would call one of his women to his hammock and obtain a rudimentary satisfaction from her； and then he would sleep like a stone that was not concerned by the slightest indication of worry。 Only he knew at that time that his confused heart was condemned to uncertainty forever。 At first； intoxicated by the glory of his return； by his remarkable victories； he had peeped into the abyss of greatness。 He took pleasure in keeping by his right hand the Duke of Marlborough； his great teacher in the art of war； whose attire of skins and tiger claws aroused the respect of adults and the awe of children。 It was then that he decided that no human being； not even ？rsula； could e closer to him than ten feet。 In the center of the chalk circle that his aides would draw wherever he stopped； and which only he could enter； he would decide with brief orders that had no appeal the fate of the world。 The first time that he was in Manaure after the shooting of General Moncada； he hastened to fulfill his victim’s last wish and the widow took the glasses； the medal； the watch； and the ring； but she would not let him in the door。
“You can’t e in； colonel；？she told him。 “You may be in mand of your war； but I’m in mand of my house。？
Colonel Aureliano Buendía did not show any sign of anger； but his spirit only calmed down when his bodyguard had sacked the widow’s house and reduced it to ashes。 “Watch out for your heart； Aureliano；？Colonel Gerineldo Márquez would say to him then。 “You’re rotting alive。？About that time he called together a second assembly of the principal rebel manders。 He found all types： idealists； ambitious people； adventurers； those with social resentments； even mon criminals。 There was even a former Conservative functionary who had taken refuge in the revolt to escape a judgment for misappropriation of funds。 Many of them did not even know why they were fighting in the midst of that motley crowd； whose differences of values were on the verge of causing an internal explosion； one gloomy authority stood out： General Te6filo Vargas。 He was a full…blooded Indian； untamed； illiterate； and endowed with quiet wiles and a messianic vocation that aroused a demented fanaticism in his men。 Colonel Aureliano Buendía called the meeting with the aim of unifying the rebel mand against the maneuvers of the politicians。 General Teófilo Vargas came forward with his intentions： in a few hours he shattered the coalition of better…qualified manders and took charge of the main mand。 “He’s a wild beast worth watching；？Colonel Aureliano Buendía told his officers。 “That man is more dangerous to us than the Minister of War。？Then a very young captain who had always been outstanding for his timidity raised a cautious index finger。
“It’s quite simple； colonel；？he proposed。 “He has to be killed。？
Colonel Aureliano Buendía was not alarmed by the coldness of the proposition but by the way in which； by a fraction of a second； it had anticipated his own thoughts。
“Don’t expect me to give an order like that；？he said。
He did not give it； as a matter of fact。 But two weeks later General Teófilo Vargas was cut to bits by machetes in an ambush and Colonel Aureliano Buendía assumed the main mand。 The same night that his authority was recognized by all the rebel mands； he woke up in a fright； calling for a blanket。 An inner coldness which shattered his bones and tortured him even in the heat of the sun would not let him sleep for several months； until it became a habit。 The intoxication of power began to break apart under waves of disfort。 Searching for a cure against the chill； he had the young officer who had proposed the murder of General Teófilo Vargas shot。 His orders were being carried out even before they were given； even before he thought of them； and they always went much beyond what he would have dared have them do。 Lost in the solitude of his immense power； he began to lose direction。 He was bothered by the people who cheered him in neighboring villages； and he imagined that they were the same cheers they gave the enemy。 Everywhere he met adolescents who looked at him with his own eyes； who spoke to him with his own voice； who greeted him with the same mistrust with which he greeted them； and who said they were his sons。 He felt scattered about； multiplied； and more solitary than ever。 He was convinced that his own officers were lying to him。 He fought with the Duke of Marlborough。 “The best friend a person has；？he would say at that time； “is one who has just died。？He was weary of the uncertainty； of the vicious circle of that eternal war that always found him in the same place； but always older； wearier； even more in the position of not knowing why； or how； or even when。 There was always someone outside of the chalk circle。 Someone who needed money； someone who had a son with whooping cough； or someone who wanted to go off and sleep forever because he could not stand the shit taste of the war in his mouth and who； nevertheless； stood at attention to inform him： “Everything normal； colonel。？And normality was precisely the most fearful part of that infinite war： nothing ever happened。 Alone； abandoned by his premonitions； fleeing the chill that was to acpany him until death； he sought a last refuge in Macondo in the warmth of his oldest memories。 His indolence was so serious that when they announced the arrival of a mission from his party that was authorized to discuss the stalemate of the war； he rolled over in his hammock without pletely waking up。
“Take them to the whores；？he said。
They were six lawyers in frock coats and top hats who endured the violent November sun with stiff stoicism。 ？rsula put them up in her house。 They spent the greater part of the day closeted in the bedroom in hermetic conferences and at dusk they asked for an escort and some accordion players and took over Catarino’s store。 “Leave them alone；？Colonel Aureliano Buendía ordered。 “After all； I know what they want。？At the beginning of December the long…awaited interview； which many had foreseen as an interminable argument； was resolved in less than an hour。
In the hot parlor； beside the specter of the pianola shrouded in a white sheet； Colonel Aureliano Buendía did not sit down that time inside the chalk circle that his aides had drawn。 He sat in a chair between his political advisers and； wrapped in his woolen blanket； he listened in silence to the brief proposals of the emissaries。 They asked first that he renounce the revision of property titles in order to get back the support of the Liberal landowners。 They asked； secondly； that he renounce the fight against clerical influence in order to obtain the support of the Catholic masses。 They asked； finally； that he renounce the aim of equal rights for natural and illegitimate children in order to preserve the integrity of the home。
“That means；？Colonel Aureliano Buendía said； smiling when the reading was over； “that all we’re fighting for is power。？
“They’re tactical changes；？one of the delegates replied。 “Right now the main thing is to broaden the popular base of the war。 Then we’ll have another look。？
One of Colonel Aureliano Buendía’s political advisers hastened to intervene。
“It’s a contradiction？he said。 “If these changes are good； it means that the Conservative regime is good。 If we succeed in broadening the popular base of the war with them； as you people say； it means that the regime his a broad popular base。 It means； in short； that for almost twenty years we’ve been fighting against the sentiments of the nation。？
He was going to go on； but Colonel Aureliano Buendía stopped him with a signal。 “Don’t waste your time； doctor。？he said。 “The important thing is that from now on we’ll be fighting only for power。？Still smiling； he took the documents the delegates gave him and made ready to sign them。
“Since that’s the way it is；？he concluded； “we have no objection to accepting。？
His men looked at one another in consternation。 “Excuse me； colonel；？Colonel Gerineldo Márquez said softly； “but this is a betrayal。？
Colonel Aureliano Buendí