FERNANDITO STOPPED ON the other side of the street and looked at Daniel through the bookshop window. It had started to snow when he left the house, and by now the streets were almost deserted. He observed Daniel for a few minutes, waiting to make sure he was alone in the bookshop. When Daniel walked over to the door to hang the CLOSED sign, Fernandito emerged from the shadows and stood in front of him, a frozen smile on his face.
Daniel looked at him in surprise and opened the door. “Fernandito, if you’re looking for Sofía, she’s spending the night at her friend Sita’s in Sarriá, to study for some exam or—”
“No. I was looking for you.”
“Me?”
The boy nodded.
“Come in.”
“Are you alone?”
Daniel gave him a puzzled look. Fernandito stepped into the bookshop and waited for Daniel to close the door.
“Yes, what is it?”
“I have something for you on behalf of Señorita Alicia.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“No.”
“What is it?”
Fernandito dithered for a moment, and then pulled out what looked like a school notebook from inside his jacket. He handed it to Daniel, who accepted it with a smile at the apparent innocence accompanying that air of mystery. As soon as he read the word on the cover of the notebook, his smile vanished.
“Well . . .” said Fernandito. “I’ll leave you. Goodnight, Don Daniel.”
Daniel nodded without taking his eyes off the notebook. Once Fernandito had left the bookshop, he turned off the lights and sought refuge in the back room. He sat down at the old desk that had already belonged to his grandfather, turned on the reading lamp, and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He felt his pulse accelerating, and his hands shook.
The cathedral bells rang out in the distance as he opened the notebook and began to read.