One Hundred Years of Solitude

as slippery and as smooth as
melted soap, and one had to
guess distances in the
darkness. Arcadio left
Amaranta with Úrsula and
made an attempt to face two
soldiers who had opened up
with heavy firing from the
corner. The old pistols that
had been kept for many years
in the bureau did not work.
Protecting Arcadio with her
body, Úrsula tried to drag
him toward the house.