God, he was in trouble, so Mr. Zhang tried to act normal, emphasis on tried, when after Dung went to bed, he made it to the living room in time to hear the latest evening news.
- The table is ready, come and eat. – Your wife said.
The man saw the full table, everything that was greasy, mashed potatoes, countless fried francs, roast ham, among other delicacies spread across the table.
As he began to eat, placing everything he could on his table, eating with his hands, as he spoke, he looked like a Viking.
His wife watched the news while he ate with his hands, a perfect barbarian.
- So it was, at last, that birdwatchers everywhere recorded that the country's owls behaved very strangely today.
His wife was commenting angrily.
- They should remain more hidden, that's not possible, they look like there were 1 to 1 million. – She said, to no one in particular.
- Who do you talk to? – He questioned her.
- With some invisible spirit, my buds, or maybe some haunting. – She said, in response.
Meanwhile, he saw the damn table set, the thanksgiving banquet, where there was everything, at that time, he wondered if he wanted to follow the path she planned, eat until he burst or die of a heart attack, but the thought flew away. , came his hand on a chicken leg, tearing it with his teeth, then spoonfuls and more spoonfuls of rice and beans.
His anxiety was making him hungry and on the other hand fat, damn his wife's genetics or magic that didn't make him fat, she was lucky to have been born with this magical power to suck everything in like a black hole or a sponge, she spent everything on creating a barrier around the house.
As the news continued, she seemed worse, in a bad mood.
- Eat it before it gets cold. - She said.
The television...
He ate nonstop.
Although they normally hunt at night and rarely appear in daylight, hundreds of these birds have been seen today flying in all directions since dawn.
- According to experts, they cannot explain why owls suddenly changed their sleeping pattern.
- I know..., you don't know, damn foolish wizards. – His wife said.
While the announcer allowed himself a smile. – This is very mysterious.
So now, with Renan Albuquerque, with our weather report.
There will be more owl storms tonight, = Renan.
- Incompetent bastards. – Your wife said it again.
- I think the end of the war may have come, they didn't say anything to you.
- Bad or good news hasn't arrived yet. – She said, towards him with pursed lips.
Again, on television, where the commentator said. Eduardo,” said the meteorologist, “I can’t tell you, but it wasn’t just the owls that behaved strangely.
So today, listeners from all over the country have been calling in to complain that instead of the downpour I promised for yesterday, they've been getting...
- You're too unfortunate to say anything about my sister. – The woman continued.
- An eagle, pigeon or owl. – She complained.
Anyway, the stars were so maybe someone was celebrating bonfire night, a simple mark on the damn fireplace. – The woman sent a withering look that left him worse than he was before, he felt guilty.
Even this week, earlier this year, but I can promise a calm night without rain for today.
To top it off, it started to rain, storms, lightning and thunder towards the sky.
- Not even to get the weather right. – She replied.
Was Mr. Zhang paralyzed in his armchair, among the shooting stars across the country?
A rain among owls flying during the day?
Mysterious people wearing capes everywhere?
And a whisper, a whisper about the Liang Huang...
Then, Mrs. Zhang entered the room carrying two cups of tea.
There was no point, he would have to say something, then he ate, tried to catch his breath, then he cleared his throat nervously, with food in his moustaches and thick beard.
- Um..., darling, you, and..., well..., love, you..., Liánhuā, darling, haven't you heard from your sister lately?
As expected, Mrs. Zhang looked shocked and upset. After all, they usually pretended that she was fine, that her sister was on vacation, that she would come back after that damn mission.
- Damn foolish ice cream wizard, if anything happens, I'll make everything as bad as possible for him. - She said.
- Not so far. - She responded, throwing a murderous look in his direction. - Why?
– Funny news – murmured Mr. Zhang. – Owls..., shooting stars...
The woman turned towards him and said...
- Birds, owls, herons, I know that shooting stars... don't say anything. - She said. – Even if I wait for news. - She said.
- I know I saw a lot of strange-looking people in the city today... – He said.
- And? – said Mrs. Zhang. – Did they talk to you; say something they didn’t say to me? – She questioned angrily.
- No..., it wasn't that... - He tried to separate...
– Well, I thought... maybe... it had some connection with... you know... her people.
- Sometimes, I think they try to come to me, when the worst is over, so I know..., to stop me from destroying a castle. - She said.
Mrs. Zhang sipped the tea with her lips pursed as she said, in which Mr. Zhang was unsure whether he would have the courage to tell her that he had heard the name “Liang Huang”.
The fear was greater than the shame, so he decided that no, if something happened, he would not be the cannon fodder, instead, he spoke in the most nonchalant voice he could:
– Their son... would be around Dung's age now, his birthday is over, right?
– I suppose so – replied Mrs. Zhang, still dry. – I sent a gift. - She said.
– What’s his name again? Ernesto, right?
– Hikaru, you know that our visit was the previous month before he turned 5 months old, because so many questions, about a name that you know, which is this, if you want to know my opinion, if I don't receive any of the news, heads will go to roll. – She threatened.
- Why the question? – She questioned.
- No one sent a message; did anyone contact you? – She questioned him.
- Not yet, but you know what they say, bad news travels fast. - He said.
The man trembled like a green stick, but hid that he was afraid of the woman, the beast of war, as he knew everyone knew her.
- I suppose so. - She said. – So far, I haven't received the news I expect, they may be preparing. - She said.
– Oh, yes – said Mr. Zhang, feeling a horrible sinking in his heart. – Yes, I agree with you.
So, just in case, he said, as quickly as he could, shutting up, so as not to get over it, then, he didn't say another word on the subject on the way to the room where he went to bed.
- You do not come? – She questioned her, while Mrs. Zhang was in the bathroom, Mr. Zhang slowly went to the window and peeked into the garden of the house.
- I'm expecting guests... – She said.
- That cat was still there. - She said.
Then, she turned around. – Does this black cat have green eyes? – She asked in his direction, while observing the beginning of the street from her house, looking at the light, which began to fail.
- Does he look like anyone? – She questioned, turning towards her.
- He has green eyes, yes, around his eyes, there are circular marks. – He said, as if he was expecting something.
Wasn't he imagining things?
Could all this be linked to...
- Damn you. – She said, seeming to breathe fire from her mouth.
- I'll tidy the kitchen, I'll wait for visitors, go to bed, dear, that's between me and the others. – She said, heading towards the cleaning room, taking out the cleaning utensils.
- It's going to be a busy night. - She said.
My gods, he was going to wear tampons, hope she didn't destroy the street.
Could it be the Liang Huang’s? If there was... if it transpired that they were related to a couple of... well, he didn't think he could handle it.