On the last day of the assembly, they again went up the hill to paint. Xurde did not sing, they barely spoke. Erendi bore a melancholic face and a tired look. They were in a hurry to finish the painting, because they didn't want to have to take it with them to their next destination, and they wanted to put the finishing touches on it today. Xurde dedicated themselves to feeling the winter’s breeze, to observe the motionless sun, and to dance. As dusk approached, they remembered the colored clouds in Roane's painting.

 

–But, you see? That person who painted it, Roane's painting, they also went beyond what they could perceive, didn't they? Because those fantastically colored clouds...

 

– They weren't fantastic.

 

Xurde frowned.

 

– They were not. The clouds were like that then.

 

– Pink, violet and green?

 

– It was the pollution.

 

–What?

 

–They really had those colors, because of the smoke produced by the cities.

 

–Oh really? And then, what are this amber, and this blue, and this violet, and this blackness coming from the bottom of the left margin?

 

Erendi turned, they put down the palette and brush and hugged one of Xurde’s legs.

 

–The night before I woke up from the accident, I dreamed that I was with you in the ruins

of a city. You wore a spectacular red dress, and a crown of beautiful lilac everlastings. You would put your hands on my chest, and the city would begin to come alive around us, filled with people dancing and the sounds of many different kinds of music. Then these blue, amber and violet colors began to draw impressive trajectories around us. And suddenly it became night. Dark night and no moon, there was silence and people disappeared, you grabbed me by the neck and sex, and it seemed that you wanted to kill me. The city began to dissolve like a sheet of paper in fire or water. And your violence turned me on and drew me in. I felt like I wanted you to! But then you released me and kissed me very tenderly on the lips, and you gave yourself fragilely into my arms, and we stayed looking at the firmament, until I woke up. It was a wonderful dream.

 

–This is outrageous! Inconceivable! I come dragging this anger all the way!

 

–What happened?

 

–I have been dismissed! They say I can't continue participating in the moderation teams! Just like that! After all the work this three days! With barely have slept! What three days! All year! All the last ten years!

 

–What do you mean you can't continue participating?

 

–They have barred me! I will not be able to be part of any organizational team for the Planet Assembly, at least for the next ten years! One for each in which I have participated!

 

–But Raku, you knew the customs about it. You knew this moment could arrive.

 

–But the only thing I have done has been given my energy and my dedication to the collective decisions. I haven't hurt anyone!…

 

Raku continued shouting from the hill until the sun had set well deep behind the mountains. Their voice could be projected for several kilometers around. Erendi gave the final strokes to the cobalt blue of the upper part of the painting. Xurde prepared the things to go down to the tents.

 

–Raku, I feel very weak. Please stop yelling.

 

Raku turned to Erendi and looked at him with eyes as big as saucers. “I'm going down,” said Xurde. When they reached the bottom, they left everything neatly packed, joined Aramo for a light dinner, and told them that they preferred to spend the night in their tent.

 

The celebrations for the end of the Planet Assembly began. Among the young trees they smelled everywhere a multitude of small bonfires, and heard music and the voices of many people.

 

–Were there many houses here?

 

–Like in Quilcué. A little older, and the people a little older, too. I was one of the last children in the region... This forest makes me feel very good. I've been walking through it from start to finish these days and I've recognized almost all the places that I used to frequent. I feel like those memories live in the trees now, and it makes me very happy… –Aramo gently poked the small bonfire with a stick –.

 

–Are you going to travel the world with your lovers?

 

–I really doubt it. I think I couldn't go that long without speaking my language.

 

 

[...]

 

 

–This is the real thing!

 

–It is frozen! How can you get in!

 

–I don't care, it's just for a while! Come on let's go!

 

Feles had a square with a hole, and they taught Ariel how to see the eclipse in the ground, without damaging the eyes.

 

–Go with Bjorn, come on. Then I’ll cover you well with this blanket and we will get warm later at home.

 

Ariel got excited, undressed and dived into the sea just as the Moon placed itself over the Sun above the horizon. A wind without temperature ran over the surface of the water. The tide became dizzy, and began to spin in small disordered vortices, dismembering the waves. Ariel and Bjorn held hands and looked at the sky, steadying themselves on the shifting sands under the icy water. The limits of the horizon grew darker and larger, the seagulls stopped chirping and for a moment the sea remained almost completely still and became silent.

 

–The xaciu! –Bjorn shouted, squeezing Ariel's hands. – The calm sea!

 

A coldness emerged without trajectory. Their frozen bodies were filled with fear for a few seconds, and for an instant the discs in his vertebrae softened and began to slide in the direction of the water. But the Moon continued its irresistible path and the Sun shone again over the horizon. The seagulls screamed all over the beach and their muscles were refreshed elastic to get out of the sea.

 

Also in Madrid everyone was waiting for the eclipse. The hills next to the little camp were filled with people. Raku and Erendi had gotten up very late and more in love than ever, talking about the ruins of the cities and their next destination.

 

Xurde and Aramo collected everything to return to Rueda. Before going up the hill, Erendi gave Xurde the painting. Raku put Erendi on their back like the first day. As the Moon began to become visible touching the place of the Sun above the horizon, they prepared a small feast. On the hill everybody was silent. During the eclipse, Raku, Xurde and Erendi hugged and kissed. The three million people who were in Madrid in this moment began to howl and sing, creating the effect of an immense collective voice. It seemed that the Earth was speaking to the stars.

 

–Do you know what Roane says at the end of the book?

 

–What do they say.

 

–That nothing can compare with the pleasure of naming.

 

–Pleasure cannot be compared.

 

They felt fullness.

 

While the Moon once again became spherical and white on its eternal celestial journey, Aramo asked a group of young people next to them what had been decided about the future of humanity in the Planet Assembly.

 

–There was a lot of good debate, but the decision was left for the next assembly.

​