#As cores da escuridão - Capitulo I

Aqueles foram os dez metros de filme mais longos que alguma vez vira. Armando Cebola, assim lhe chamavam, era Armando de nome próprio e Cebola de alcunha que já vinha desde o tempo do seu tetravô paterno e que não morreu no passar das gerações nem na natural, mas acentuada, evolução do tempo e do espaço que atingiu a família na imensa epopeia que fizera seu avô, e depois seu pai nas terras do Ribatejo, na viagem dilacerante de sentimentos à longínqua França ou dos anos que o calendário não determinou e que o relógio não contou quando, seu pai, viveu ermidas na Serra da Estrela, fundido num emaranhado de floresta silenciosa, onde os pássaros calados eram cúmplices do seu desassossego emocional.

# The train driver (3)

(continuation)

A faint beep reported that the composition was within fifty meters of a reduced speed zone. Peter resumed his post and began slowing down from 19 miles to 8 miles. And then another station. The immobilization was gradual and at that moment the young reviewer was already walking along the aisle to the first door he had found.

He put the key in the slot, let in three passengers, and, stretching himself a little, looked the outside toward the back of the composition. He waited for a moment, then took the key out and handed it to the cabin, which he could follow.

# The train driver (2)

(continuation)

The clock ticked at 5:48 in the morning when Peter began his last day of work at the service of the British Railways. It was with great nostalgia in his chest that he placed his right hand, open, over the composition, on the last day he was to drive it.

- How I miss you! - he whispered, alone, enveloped by an enormous night darkness, continuing. - But life is cycles and mine is about to end in this task. - he felt a tear trickle down his face. - It's wrong, the whole process; It is wrong to throw a person into retirement so abruptly, inhumanly,

# The train driver (1)

Peter Steel, 55, married, father of two girls, Rachel and Margaret, aged 23 and 25, respectively. He was a man of 180 centimeters height and a well-defined character, had decided from an early age that one day, when he was old enough to work, he would want to be a train driver; Perhaps this idea arose through the indirect influence of the maternal grandfather, when the latter, on December 25 and after the family lunch, after having gone to the collection and returned with a huge box.