Marcelo Birmajer’s new story: Mr. Quique and Dr. Gil

Quique disappeared when Laila visited him. Laila’s entry into her residence another woke up inside Quique: doctor Gil. She is not waiting for him hot water for the wife, but there is a banquet, which includes all sorts of exotic drinks.

Laila arrives in a little while, and Dr. can hardly enjoy. Gil did even half that hour, covering his mind in fear of Laila’s transience. Laila did her will to doctor Gil, chose the movements and the scenarios; Gil danced to their tone.

Laila suddenly laughed, or was frustrated at a word Gil hadn’t yet uttered. He told her he had let her down, which was not enough, doubting his manhood. And Gil too. He was so different from Quique that they were like two different people.

And aren’t they? The bodies are different, and so is the spirit. But if someone kills Quique, Gil will die in the same act. Both shared the same existence. They are not twins or Siamese twins; Only in the literature did they find reference: Stevenson’s nouvelle, The Strange Case of Doctor Jekill and Mister Hide.

Quique put the water to receive Genoveva. Her arrival comforted and encouraged her. To him he was cavalier, clever, mysterious and magnetic..

Genoveva asked to be given more time, a promise, she was jealous and worshiped him. Genoveva’s devotion to Quique is expressed in many details: at first, the sensual dedication. Also in cooking for him, giving him gifts, taking interest in the smallest inconvenience of his life and profession. Quique is a master builder. Genoveva advised and accompanied him.

When they exchanged their gestures of love and intimacy, Quique preferred to leave Genoveva. He didn’t dismiss it, but he said he preferred to stay alone.

After he left, he drank a delicious whiskey with pleasure, ate raw fish with elegance, and watched a movie until he fell asleep soundly like a rock on top of a mountain. Sometimes, he forgets Genoveva. But a few days later, and he called her, she came or waited for him, deliberately repeating the ceremony.

Even the house will vary diametrically depending on whether the guest is Genoveva or Laila. With Genoveva, books and papers were scattered, the dishes were dirty, the bed was not made; and Genoveva herself was in charge of the arrangement.

But Laila will only admit to entering a neat house — often Genoveva’s new arrangement, before leaving—; and Dr. Gil tried to leave everyone undisturbed for that meeting.

But there is something more than the disposition of the elements: an ontological and indeterminate change, that is Quique’s apartment was turned into a bachelor pad, bohemian and torrid, when Genoveva arrived; or an aseptic office, soulless and dumb, when Laila arrived.

Genoveva was absent and Quique slept soundly; Missing Laila, Dr. Gil had insomnia before and after. Gil is a doctor in Etymological Sciences.

These two creatures live in the same but unnamed creature, they can’t be together much longer. Dr. went. Gil to a smart man of different categories to end his trial. Can the scholar remove Gil from the equation, and leave only Quique, to act the same way as Genoveva and Laila?

He no longer had to tolerate Gil’s loneliness, his hunched gait, his lack of swing; anxiety and dependency. Only Quique’s vital rhythm will remainher upright posture, her fierce scent, her spontaneous beauty and her charming independence.

Professor Luzbel, the wise man in question, an expert in the unknown sciences, after a brief hearing on the case -knowing that he knew it-, offered to cure Gil’s weakness in exchange for his soul. “Gil’s soul?” Quique asked. No matter, Luzbel replied: it’s just a soul for the two of us. not even two. But this is not something I can explain to you. Just sign here.

At the inner door of Luzbel’s office, a burnt wooden sign announced his title in an unknown language. Quique signed with a drop of blood on an eternal parchment. It was only then that Mr. Quique and Dr. Gil.

Quique left that meeting willingly. His weight was less, a strange freedom aroused in him. But Luzbel’s progress has not been fortunate: when you die, and I’m not saying that will happen anytime soon, your soul and that of Dr. Gil will be part of my estate. My domains are a mystery: you will have endless to compare them.

But the only thing Quique could think of as he walked home was facing Laila. Now yes: I will subdue him, I will be his devotee, his cook and his worshiper. I want to long for it, long for it, deduce it. Quique sought to show Laila all she could; and perhaps, eventually, remove Genoveva.

But Laila did not attend. It’s not Thursday, or the next, or any other day of the week, or of subsequent weeks, of months. He seems to have completely left them, Mr. Quique and Dr. Gil, without knowing about Gil’s dismissal.

In his relentless search for Laila, Quique did not find any address, phone number or address of any kind. And after a year, connecting the dots, carefully following clues, using unexpected sources, she comes to a desperate and deadly knowledge: Laila was only Genoveva when she met Quique.

wd