Mr. Carmelo

Don Carmelo Pinzón has renounced to be King of San Tiburcio del Sur. leaving his son as heir sovereign. A sorrel leaves the country riding a sorrel that has no idea of its immediate fate. Carmelo thinks he knows, He wants to enjoy what is left of his life, traveling the world and its mysteries, without having a preconceived plan, because the closure of his mentality is rusty by the enormous sum of money he carries on the back of a resigned mule that follows in his footsteps with the fidelity of a Sherpa from Tibet.

The first night of his new adventure passes with the natural discomforts of sleeping in the middle of the jungle, under the light of the stars, which do not illuminate, they are only thirsty, he stretches himself on the hard ground of unknown lands and wrapped in his zarape that does not warm. A far cry from what he had been accustomed to in the palace of his reign. A bed with a plush king-size mattress covered with covers filled with goose feathers and pillows that looked like pieces of passing clouds, and above all, warmed with the sorcerer's breath of a woman to taste. His horse was not entirely happy either, he missed his manger and the food on time.

From the third night, the sorrows became more tolerable and the conviction that this was what he had chosen to change his life for something more entertaining. And he was enthusiastic thinking that he was at the gates of another realistic world full of beauty and entertainment. The promise appeared on the horizon

Chapter 1

Civilization

A huge valley, bristling with buildings and chimneys that spewed smoke as if civilization were permanently smoking.

"Civilization!" he exclaimed, with a joy felt only by one who has never paid taxes.

He stopped in front of a little ranch. A man worked next to the stable.

"Good afternoon, my friend.

The man looked at him with that rural distrust that detects problems before they officially present themselves.

Carmelo offered to sell him the horse and mule. At a very low price. The peasant examined the animals with an expert eye. I didn't want to buy them. But he liked them.

"I can't buy them, my friend.

"Then I'll give them to you," Carmelo said with rehearsed magnanimity. I don't need them anymore. I want them to be in good hands... especially the horse. He was my darling. -- He lied elegantly.

The truth was simpler: he did not intend to enter the city riding like a redeemed Quixote.

The man's face lit up and changed the gesture to one of kindness. Carmelo unloaded the mule and said goodbye. The man, seeing that Carmelo was throwing his baggage bag on his back, took pity and offered him the help of a laborer to accompany him. Carmelo gladly accepted And he thanked him and assured him that the pawn would get a good reward.

Two hours later he discovered CIVILIZATION

When night fell, he was already walking through streets illuminated with civilized life. He discovered a hotel and hurried in its direction. The lavishly lit marquee was the façade of a luxurious hotel. This did not intimidate Carmelo at all. When he arrived at the gates, he unloaded the boy and thanked him with a hundred-dollar bill. The poor man was happy to find himself in his hands more than he could earn in a month as a field laborer.

Dragging his luggage and his sack of bills, he entered the hotel and went to the reception desk. The manager looked at him with contempt and told him >> to leave the building. <<With the same gesture of superiority, Carmelo raised his voice to ask for the best room the hotel had. The receptionist was surprised and resumed the attack telling him the amount it cost per night; with the assurance that he could not afford it. Carmelo took out his wallet and said that he would pay him in dollars, for seven days in advance.

The man changed his attitude and with a servile caravan, apologized to him. A bellboy in a colorful uniform took him with his muleteer's luggage to the elevator. When they reached the door of Suite XA, the waiter opened the door and Carmelo was left in one piece when he saw the excessively luxurious room. Soft carpets dulled his steps, mirrors with golden frames multiplied his image. He looked attentively at a mirror that reflected his entire body, and was about to shed tears; he looked painfully ungainly, dirty and miserable, contrasting exaggeratedly with the luxurious environment. It was a far cry from the image of King Tiburciano. He caught his breath and handed a ticket to the bellboy, who never understood what was happening with this controversial guest. Carmelo still chewed on his surprise and dedicated himself to going through every detail, appreciating its beauty, luxuries that, even though he was king, he had never seen in his life or anything like it. Lost in his wanderings, he felt the demand of his ravaged organism. He picked up the phone to order food, He was told that at that time, the kitchen was already closed.

"Well, let them open it." Carmelo roared with the assurance of his new personality. He had the same money before, but as a sovereign, it was not necessary for him to exercise the power of his money; it was enough for him to ask for it..

"I want a chicken dish and a fish dish and a bottle of your best champagne."

Chapter 2

The city greeted him with smoke, the noise of horns and the snoring of engines and an indifference that Carmelo had never experienced before.

No one looked at him twice. It was as if it didn't exist

That detail hurt him more than the hard earth of the jungle.

He walked along avenues full of luminous shop windows, restaurants with unpronounceable names and benches that promised security, a word that had always seemed relative to him.

He stopped in front of a clothing store.

He observed his reflection in the glass: dusty boots, sweaty shirt, eight-day beard, and uncertain dignity

He entered. A clerk with a professional smile approached.

"Are you looking for anything special, sir?"

Carmelo was about to answer: "From panties to hats."

But he restrained himself and laughed to himself.

of their needs,

- Yes, of everything, miss. Something... discreet.

He ended up buying three suits, four shirts, two pairs of Italian shoes that were not Italian but from Guatemala and a coat that he did not need, but that reminded him that he could still afford unnecessary luxuries.

He paid in cash.

The clerk's smile grew wider, to the verge of coquetry.

Carmelo came out of the dressing room looking like a heartthrob of Italian cinema of the last century and filled two trash cans with dirty clothes. He went out dragging the millionaire sack in search of a bank; But first he went into a hairdresser's.

The hairdresser was more discreet, seeing his client's shorn hairdress. He asked with a sly chuckle.

Carmelo hesitated. No one had ever asked him that question without protocol.

"Don't let it seem," he paused. that I have been a king.

The hairdresser smiled without understanding the joke.

After well-intentioned scissors, he was left with a cut that made him look like a fourth private, but it was better than what he brought... He looked in the mirror and felt refreshed. He was no longer the King, he smiled at the hairdresser who did not know if he was going to receive a slap or a tip. It was the latter, and he returned the servile smile.

He bought a briefcase with a bombastic brand and stuffed it with bills.

With the new refined appearance, but dragging his sack of old clothes, he entered the International Bank. He looked for the manager's table and as he approached, he remembered the similar situation when he opened his millionaire account for the first time. The manager looked first at the sack and then at Carmelo's eyes, who took a seat in front of the manager without waiting for him to invite him. He explained that he wanted to open an account and manage it with a credit card. To the manager's question, Carmelo put the briefcase in front of the manager and quite naturally told him. "With what's here." The clerk opened the briefcase and let out an exclamation that could be heard throughout the room

"I can offer you the best card in the world, Mr. Pinzon

Minutes later, Carmelo came out with his golden VINSA card, and with his sack almost empty.

His gaze wandered through space, he saw a plane flying through the sky. "That's the next step," he said to himself.

He looked for a travel agency.

The travel agency was air-conditioned and smelled of good coffee.

A young executive received him efficiently.

"Destiny?"

Carmelo hesitated, he did not have a defined plan

He looked at a globe resting on one of the desks, walked over and began to spin it with the fingers of his hand. A few moments later he pointed at it with his index finger, and made it stop, to the orange blossom, pointing to a place on the balloon, pointed to it and said;

--There!